Las Vegas Raiders Legend Howie Long Wins Fraud Lawsuit After Charity Exploited Sick Kids — Las Vegas Protects Its True Champion
Las Vegas, NV — Howie Long has always been defined by compassion and perseverance. From Pro Bowl defensive lineman to community icon, Long became the heartbeat of the Las Vegas Raiders during his iconic career. Yet even with his NFL accolades and Hall of Fame–worthy statistics, Long insists his greatest victories have been off the field.
As founder of "The HEARTest Yard Foundation," Long has spent years raising millions to support children and families battling congenital heart disease — inspired by his son, T.J. His foundation has funded hospital wings, family assistance programs, and pediatric research across Nevada, earning him the reputation of one of the NFL’s most charitable figures.
That mission came under threat when a partnering charity, supposedly dedicated to children’s cardiac care, was exposed for misusing donations collected in Long’s name. Funds meant to pay for hospital equipment and family support services were redirected toward personal luxuries and inflated salaries. Long refused to stay silent.
Auditors revealed that less than half of the donations ever reached the intended hospitals — a devastating betrayal of trust. Determined to protect the children and families he advocates for, Long filed a lawsuit for misappropriation of charitable funds, demanding that every stolen dollar be restored to its rightful purpose.
The Las Vegas Raiders organization stood by him from day one — assisting with legal teams, financial records, and public transparency. Their stance was clear: the Raiders protect their legends, especially when they fight for others.
The court’s ruling overwhelmingly favored Long. The fraudulent executives were ordered to pay over $2 million in restitution, banned from nonprofit management for at least a decade, and all recovered funds were redirected to pediatric care programs supported by The HEARTest Yard.
Long refused any personal compensation, ensuring that every cent returned would directly benefit children and families in need — the same people who shaped his mission and inspired his purpose.
With years of leadership both on the field and in the community, Howie Long has proven that his legacy isn’t measured in sacks — but in the lives he’s changed.
Tonight, Raiders fans celebrate more than a courtroom victory. They celebrate a protector — one who never stopped fighting for others, whether against blockers on the field or those who prey on the vulnerable.
Howie Long remains the heart of the Las Vegas Raiders — forever rooted in service, forever a champion.
Giants rumors: Kayvon Thibodeaux gets additional trade deadline confirmation from insider
The 2025 New York Giants season seems to have taken a massive turn after they switched quarterbacks from Russell Wilson to Jaxson Dart. They are buyers at the NFL trade deadline and do not intend to gut some of their roster in exchange for that. Kayvon Thibodeaux was one of the players expected to be on the chopping block, but now he will likely stay in New York.
Bleacher Report NFL Insider James Palmer reported on the “NFL Insider Notebook” that the Giants are not looking to move Kayvon Thibodeaux by the trade deadline and that he is also happy in New York. Instead, the Giants are hunting for receivers to help Jaxson Dart and someone to bring in next to Malik Nabers.
Palmer said, “Kayvon Thibodeaux updates. He’s not going anywhere. He certainly is. That was confirmed to me again this past evening.”
The bad news for the Giants is that injuries have started piling up on the offensive side of the ball. It began with Malik Nabers tearing his ACL, but it has now gone to Cam Skattebo, who dislocated his ankle after a great start to his NFL career.
One option that could be on the table for the Giants is Jaylen Waddle. The Miami Dolphins have taken a nosedive this season and have continued to struggle. With the trade deadline coming up, all eyes are on Miami and whether they will look to start unloading their talent and start over.
As for Thibodeaux, it makes no sense for the Giants to try to trade him. The trio of Brian Burns, Thibodeaux, and Abdul Carter is the nucleus of a pass rush for which every team in the NFL has to plan extensively. The fact that the Burns and Thibodeaux have become as well-rounded as they have allows the team to use Abdul Carter in various ways.
We also wrote a piece about the update, in which NFL Network Insider clarified that the Giants were not looking to move Thibodeaux.
Having talented depth at a premium position suits a team trying to become a contender. The Giants’ nucleus up front gives offenses nightmares to plan for because any of those three players would be great on their own, but with all three together, it allows them to pin their ears back and dominate more.
Dan Campbell’s brutally honest assessment of Lions should scare rest of NFL
The Detroit Lions have been one of the best teams in the NFL this season. Even after losing both of their coordinators this offseason, Detroit seemingly hasn't lost a step. They come out of their bye week with a 5-2 record, scoring key wins against some of the top contenders in the process.
If the Lions are to be believed, they still aren't playing to their full potential. Head coach Dan Campbell believes that Detroit still has another gear this season. The Lions HC said that they could stand to be better at playing complementary football over the course of the season.
“I really believe we haven't played our best ball yet collectively in all three phases,” Campbell said, per Eric Woodyard of ESPN. “And that's really what we're trying to get to here is how can we sharpen ourselves. We know it's going to take every phase. Every game's different, and one unit may have to pick up the slack, but we need to start playing complete ball across the board. And just keep improving — like with all these teams that we're in the race with right now. So, that's where we're at.”
The Lions have highlighted four key areas for improvement during their bye week. That includes their third-down efficiency on both sides of the ball. Detroit is ranked 22nd in third-down conversion rate this season with just 37.7%, far below their 47% rate last season. On the other side, they're allowing a similar third-down conversion rate on defense, which is higher than their 32.5% rate last year.
The two other areas that the Lions focused on during the bye week are their red zone defense and Jameson Williams' involvement on offense. While Detroit's defense has been generally solid this season, it's allowing a whopping 63.6% of its opponents' red zone trips to end in a touchdown. On the other hand, Williams has had an up-and-down season thanks in large part to his fluctuating target rate. Detroit's offense is at its best when the threat of Jamo downfield opens up the rest of the offense. Finding ways to get him in space is going to be crucial for this team moving forward.
The Lions open the second half of their season with a matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at home. Will Detroit apply what they've installed during the bye week in their next games?
