Christian D'Andrea

5 days ago | ftw.usatoday.com | Christian D'Andrea

Welcome back to FTW’s Beverage of the Week series. Here, we mostly chronicle and review beers, but happily expand that scope to any beverage that pairs well with sports. Yes, even cookie dough whiskey. Despite my recent turn toward agave, I remain a relative tequila neophyte. A decade-plus of avoiding the spirit thanks to the same kind of bad experience most of us have with it (thanks, Pepe Lopez!) left me to play catch-up while churning through beer and whiskey and developing my palate there.

5 days ago | ftw.usatoday.com | Christian D'Andrea

Predicting the first round of the NFL Draft hours before it starts is a fool’s errand. Unraveling it 364 days in advance? That’s borderline lunacy. But there’s more than three months before the NFL preseason even starts up. We’ve got time, and it’s never a bad idea to acquaint yourself with the college prospects who could fill out future All-Pro rosters. Thus, let's take a quick dive into the 50 most intriguing draft-eligible players of the 2025 college football season.

6 days ago | ftw.usatoday.com | Christian D'Andrea

2025 has been a cleansing period for the New England Patriots. Head coach Jerod Mayo was fired after a 4-13 campaign. Mike Vrabel was hired to replace him, leading to a deep sweep of veteran talent in advance of dense hauls of veteran free agents and rookie draft picks. Long time starters like David Andrews and Ja'Whaun Bentley were released. Jacoby Brissett was allowed to sign elsewhere after spending one year as franchise quarterback Drake Maye's mentor.

1 week ago | ftw.usatoday.com | Christian D'Andrea

Welcome back to FTW’s Beverage of the Week series. Here, we mostly chronicle and review beers, but happily expand that scope to any beverage that pairs well with sports. Yes, even cookie dough whiskey. Protein powder has become a regular part of my diet. In part because it compels me, at least slightly, to work out.

1 week ago | ftw.usatoday.com | Robert Zeglinski |Cory Woodroof |Christian D'Andrea

The 2025 NFL Draft has come and gone, which means it's time to take stock of the entire league before we enter a (much-needed) summer away from football. Oh, c'mon. You know we need it. Let the NFL miss you, dearest readers!For one, after yet another strong draft for general manager Howie Roseman, are there any reasonable challengers to the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and their throne?