ESPN has done something it rarely ever does.
On June 18, ESPN posted a new story regarding free-agent defensive lineman Mike Pennel and a murder investigation in the Dominican Republic. Among other things, the story cited unnamed sources to support the notion that Pennel knew the woman whose remains were found on property he previously owned. ESPN has now deleted the story and posted an item with this title: “ESPN update to Michael Pennel Jr. story.”
Here’s the full text of the update: “On June 18, 2026, ESPN published a story about Michael Pennel Jr. and an investigation into the death of a woman in the Dominican Republic who disappeared on September 5, 2021. ESPN has determined the story contained errors and has removed it. Since the publication of the story, Pennel’s representatives have provided ESPN with documentation, including travel and financial records, supporting Pennel’s statements to ESPN that he was not in the Dominican Republic at the time the woman disappeared. Pennel’s representatives also issued a statement, which may be found here.”
(Frankly, that’s not an “update” — it’s a full-blown retraction.)
The statement posted by attorney Brian Wainger says that “Mr. Pennel had nothing to do with the death or disappearance of Ms. Roche and was never a suspect or person of interest in that investigation. He did not know her.”
The statement also explains that “Mr. Pennel’s personal records including his passport and other travel documents, banking records and photographs along with their geotracking locations confirm Mike was not in the Dominican Republic in September, 2021 at the time of Ms. Roche’s disappearance, or in the weeks before or after it.”
Wainger writes that “Mike was in Denver, Colorado being treated for a sports injury at the time and was signed by the Atlanta Falcons on September 15, 2021.”
“Mr. Pennel’s Dominican attorney, Cesar A. Duran, never told anyone he expected Mr. Pennel to be arrested,” Wainger adds. “Mr. Pennel owned but never lived in the property where the remains of Ms. Roche were found. Mr. Pennel’s video surveillance system captured several people unlawfully trespassing on the property the night Ms. Roche disappeared. Mr. Pennel saved the video surveillance and shared it with the Dominican authorities who did not know it existed.”
It’s a stunning development. ESPN deleted an entire story, and it has publicly acknowledged that the story “contained errors.”
A link to the update currently appears on the front page of the ESPN website, near the bottom of the list of headlines along the right rail. As of this posting, there’s no mention of it anywhere on the ESPN NFL home page, which scrolls all the way down to the report from the middle of May that the Chiefs and Broncos will play in the first Monday night game of the 2026 season.
We had posted an item on ESPN’s now-deleted Pennel report. Given ESPN’s deletion of the item, our article has been deactivated and the corresponding tweet has been deleted.
A 12-year veteran, Pennel played 2025 for the Chiefs and the Bengals.
Chiefs Clips
Consider it National Tight Ends Day (Taylor’s Version).
With the wedding of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift happening later this week, we’re told that many tight ends from throughout the league will be heading to New York to attend the festivities.
It’s no surprise. The annual Tight End University has created a new brotherhood among the men who are expected to block like linemen and to catch passes like receivers. Kelce founded the TEU with George Kittle and Greg Olsen in 2021.
All signs reported to Madison Square Garden being the epicenter of the gathering. And there surely will be plenty of citizen journalists with their iPhones ready to get pictures of anyone and everyone who will be there for it.
If you’ve heard of Joe Delaney, you already know what this post is about. If you haven’t heard of him, this is for you.
Every June 29, we remember the former Chiefs running back who gave his life while trying to save three drowning children.
Born in Texas in 1958, Joe Delaney grew up in Louisiana. He played college football at Northwestern State in Natchitoches.
Joe Delaney caught the eye of the Chiefs, who made him a second-round pick in the draft 1981. He rushed for 1,121 yards as a rookie, earning a Pro Bowl berth and helping the Chiefs to their first winning record since 1973.
The 1982 strike, and a detached retina, limited Joe Delaney to 380 rushing yards in his second season. But he still had a bright football future.
Then came June 29, 1983. The children were struggling in a man-made pond in Monroe, Louisiana. Joe Delaney didn’t hesitate to help.
“I can’t swim good, but I’ve got to save those kids,” Delaney said. “If I don’t come up, get somebody.”
Joe Delaney lost his life that day. He was only 24. He left behind a wife and three young daughters.
He hasn’t been forgotten. The Chiefs put Joe Delaney into their Ring of Honor in 2004. Last year, the Pro Football Hall of Fame featured Joe Delaney in a “Character” display.
We honor and remember Joe Delaney every June 29. I still remember reading about Joe Delaney’s death in the newspaper. It’s the kind of sacrifice few would ever consider taking.
Joe Delaney’s story hopefully will continue to inspire all of us to take risks in the name of what’s right. There are many ways to help others without making the ultimate sacrifice. Even the smallest sacrifice can make a difference for someone in need.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid won’t be wearing one of the latest offerings from the Tommy Bahama collection to the Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift wedding.
Via Nick Brinkerhoff of USA Today, Reid picked up his tuxedo for the event on Thursday.
Peters Clothiers in Kansas City posted on Instagram an image of Reid trying on his formalwear for the upcoming ceremony. Reid’s attire suggests he’ll be one of Kelce’s groomsmen.
The New York Times recently reported that the wedding will happen on the weekend of July 4 at Madison Square Garden.
Speaking to reporters during the Chiefs’ mandatory minicamp earlier this month, Reid said he “cant talk about” the wedding. Someone has been saying just enough to make it clear that it’s coming soon.
And it needs to. The Chiefs have their first training camp practice on July 29.
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and megastar Taylor Swift apparently will be tying the knot in New York City. At Madison Square Garden.
The New York Times reports that Swift has rented the iconic sports arena for July 2 through July 4.
Per the report, a 100-person gathering is planned for the Garden on July 2. On July 3, roughly 1,000 will be there.
The Times also reports that a permit was filed with New York City to close the streets around Madison Square Garden from July 2 to midday July 4. Also, several members of the Chiefs have booked hotel rooms at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square around July 3.
Amtrak police officers, per the report, have been told to expect a Kelce-Swift wedding on the weekend of July 4.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid, when asked earlier this month whether he’ll be attending the wedding, said he “can’t talk about it.” Enough people have been talking about it off the record to allow the Times to nail down the key details.
When Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes returns from a torn ACL, an undrafted rookie may be protecting him.
Chiefs right tackle Kahlil Benson, who went undrafted after spending five seasons at Indiana and one at Colorado, has quickly emerged as a candidate to start, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN.
Benson will be competing in training camp against Jaylon Moore, who played 15 games for the Chiefs with six starts last season. Benson and Moore were splitting reps with the first-string offense at minicamp, and the decision to trade Wanya Morris to the Falcons was prompted at least in part by Benson looking ready to contribute as a rookie.
Benson, who will turn 24 in August, began his college football career in 2020 at Indiana. He tore his ACL and didn’t play at all in either 2020 or 2021, but he became a starter at right guard in 2022, then started at right tackle in 2023. In 2024 he transferred to Colorado and spent time at right tackle, right guard and left guard. In 2025 he transferred back to Indiana, became their starting right tackle, and helped the Hoosiers win the national championship.
In college, Benson wasn’t viewed as a future NFL player, and that’s why he wasn’t drafted, and also wasn’t among the 319 players invited to the Scouting Combine. But he’s quickly changing perceptions in Kansas City this offseason.
The offseason programs around the league have largely wrapped up for 2026, with players and coaches around the league now experiencing some time off.
But training camps are just a few weeks away from opening.
The NFL announced the camp report dates for all 32 teams on Monday, with the first ones opening up in less than a month.
Below are the camp locations and report dates:
Arizona Cardinals: State Farm Stadium | Rookies: 7/22 | Veterans 7/22
Atlanta Falcons: Atlanta Falcons Training Facility | Rookies: 7/24 | Veterans: 7/28
Baltimore Ravens: Under Armour Performance Center | Rookies: 7/24 | Veterans: 7/28
Buffalo Bills: St. John Fisher University | Rookies: 7/21 | Veterans: 7/28
Carolina Panthers: Bank of America Stadium | Rookies: 7/21 | Veterans: 7/22
Chicago Bears: Halas Hall | Rookies: 7/25 | Veterans: 7/28
Cincinnati Bengals: Paycor Stadium | Rookies: 7/25 | Veterans: 7/28
Cleveland Browns: CrossCountry Mortgage Campus | Rookies: 7/23 | Veterans: 7/28
Dallas Cowboys: Marriott Residence Inn Oxnard | Rookies: 7/28 | Veterans: 7/28
Denver Broncos: Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit | Rookies: 7/22 | Veterans: 7/28
Detroit Lions: Meijer Performance Center | Rookies: 7/25 | Veterans: 7/28
Green Bay Packers: Lambeau Field | Rookies: 7/27 | Veterans: 7/28
Houston Texans: Houston Methodist Training Center | Rookies: 7/21 | Veterans: 7/28
Indianapolis Colts: Grand Park | Rookies: 7/27 | Veterans: 7/28
Jacksonville Jaguars: Miller Electric Center | Rookies: 7/25 | Veterans: 7/28
Kansas City Chiefs: Missouri Western State University | Rookies: 7/28 | Veterans: 7/28
Las Vegas Raiders: Intermountain Health Performance Center | Rookies: 7/23 | Veterans: 7/28
Los Angeles Chargers: The Bolt | Rookies: 7/23 | Veterans: 7/28
Los Angeles Rams: Loyola Marymount University | Rookies: 7/25 | Veterans: 7/25
Miami Dolphins: Baptist Health Training Complex | Rookies: 7/21 | Veterans: 7/28
Minnesota Vikings: TCO Performance Center | Rookies: 7/26 | Veterans: 7/28
New England Patriots: New Balance Athletics Center | Rookies: 7/21 | Veterans: 7/24
New Orleans Saints: Ochsner Sports Performance Center | Rookies: 7/28 | Veterans: 7/28
New York Giants: Quest Diagnostics Training Center/The Greenbrier | Rookies: 7/23 | Veterans: 7/28
New York Jets: Athletic Health Jets Training Center | Rookies: 7/25 | Veterans: 7/28
Philadelphia Eagles: Jefferson Health Training Complex | Rookies: 7/28 | Veterans: 7/28
Pittsburgh Steelers: Saint Vincent College | Rookies: 7/28 | Veterans: 7/28
San Francisco 49ers: SAP Performance Facility | Rookies: 7/18 | Veterans: 7/25
Seattle Seahawks: Virginia Mason Athletic Center | Rookies: 7/17 | Veterans: 7/24
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: AdventHealth Training Center | Rookies: 7/27 | Veterans: 7/28
Tennessee Titans: Vanderbilt Health Football Center | Rookies: 7/23 | Veterans: 7/28
Washington Commanders: Commanders Park | Rookies: 7/24 | Veterans: 7/28
The murder case against former NFL first-round draft pick Darron Lee includes evidence that he used ChatGPT for advice on how to deal with an “unresponsive” person.
Via Madison Sims of Local3News.com, the family of the victim in the case, Gabriella Perpétuo, plans to pursue accountability from ChatGPT for facilitating those efforts.
“The defendant in this case engaged ChatGPT to cover up a crime,” attorney C. Mark Warren told Sims. “We feel like that it’s important that ChatGPT and all AI platforms have guardrails in place where they can engage, but not engage without consequences.”
There’s an inherent ready-fire-aim quality to AI, with millions of users essentially serving as the beta testers. Companies like OpenAI are using the real-time experiences of everyone using the product to fine-tune it.
That process will give rise to a wide range of problems. OpenAI already faces litigation alleging that ChatGPT served as a “suicide coach.” And there’s more than one such case.
As to Lee, if Perpétuo was unresponsive but still alive, Lee’s decision to use ChatGPT for advice on how to handle the situation — and ChatGPT’s willingness to comply with the prompt — may have squandered the last opportunity to save her.
Especially if the response from ChatGPT was anything other than, “Call 911 right now.”
When a life is lost, justice comes in various forms. Lee faces first-degree murder charges. The family has filed a $50 million wrongful-death lawsuit against him. ChatGPT and OpenAI may have liability, too.
The AI revolution will give rise to plenty of legal questions. The responsibility of such companies to program their products to act properly in such situations will be determined either through regulation or litigation.
For most new industries, there’s a Wild West phase that plays out before the legislative and/or regulatory components of state and/or federal government can catch up. That’s where the civil justice system becomes critical to the creation of clear standards through the application of settled principles (primarily, negligence) aimed at forcing these companies to treat those who use their products with an adequate amount of care and respect.
The Chiefs have a new tight end on the roster.
Wednesday’s transaction report from the league shows that they have signed Mason Pline. The Chiefs had an open spot after trading tackle Wanya Morris to the Falcons, so they did not need to make any corresponding move.
Pline tried out for the Chiefs at their minicamp this month. He signed with the 49ers after going undrafted in 2024 and spent the season on their practice squad. He moved on to the Saints as a waiver claim last August, but did not play in any games with New Orleans.
Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, and Jared Wiley are the returning tight ends from the Chiefs’ 2025 roster.
Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice has been released from jail in Texas.
He was serving a 30-day sentence for violating his probation, having tested positive for THC.
Video from KDFW shows Rice checking out of the Dallas County Jail before jogging through the door to exit the building, avoiding reporters’ questions as they ran after him. He went directly to a black SUV, which drove him away.
Rice recently underwent knee surgery, though he was allowed to do some rehab work while he was in jail.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters last week that he thinks Rice will be ready for training camp in July. The wideout is set to return to Kansas City to continue his rehab, Reid said.
