Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will miss the team’s first game back after the All-Star break against the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday due to an issue with his shin, reports ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. 

The Iowa athletic department apologized Wednesday for a security breach that allowed an individual to interfere in the coaches' and players' handshake line and approach Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg after the Hawkeyes' win over the ninth-ranked Cornhuskers.

Videos posted online show the individual coming out of the stands as fans rush the court. The person appears to heckle and point his camera phone at Hoiberg, who made a swiping motion at the phone with his right hand. Hoiberg's hand appeared to inadvertently strike an Iowa staff member who was going through the line. Hoiberg reached back to grab the staff member's arm and pointed to the individual who had come toward him with the camera.

“The University of Iowa Athletics Department implemented its court‑intrusion guidelines following last evening’s Iowa vs. Nebraska men’s basketball game,” the athletic department said in a statement. "Unfortunately, an individual gained access to the court through a restricted area, directly confronting Coach Hoiberg and putting Nebraska players, coaches, and staff in a reactive situation.

“We apologize for this incident and will conduct a review of our procedures and security measures to determine what adjustments may be needed to further strengthen our protocols and help prevent similar incidents in the future.”

The Big Ten said it discussed the situation with both schools and would take no disciplinary action against Hoiberg. The conference said it appreciates Iowa's efforts to address postgame security protocols.

Nebraska athletics and Hoiberg declined to comment.

Iowa won the game 57-52. Nebraska has lost four of its past six after a 20-0 start.

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SURPRISE, Ariz. — In the first public comments from the MLB Players Association since the shocking and sudden resignation of executive director Tony Clark, deputy executive director Bruce Meyer affirmed Wednesday the union’s intention to find an interim leader quickly and emphasized that the unforeseen change in leadership will not impact the upcoming collective bargaining agreement negotiations.

“The Executive Board has been in discussions … to determine the future leadership of the union,” Meyer said. “But regardless, we have people on staff, including myself and others — former players, lawyers — who have been here for a long time. We don't expect anything to change in terms of bargaining. We've been preparing for bargaining for years. Players have been preparing. Players know what's coming.

“At the end of the day, leadership is important, and leadership comes and goes, but what remains is the players,” he continued. “At the end of the day, it's the players who determine the direction of the union.”

Clark, the former All-Star first baseman who had been in the executive director role since taking over for Michael Weiner in 2013, resigned Tuesday as a result of revelations that he had an inappropriate relationship with his sister-in-law, who also worked for the union. Clark was already the subject of a federal investigation involving potential financial misconduct related to business dealings tied to the union, and the relationship was uncovered as part of an internal inquiry into those matters. 

Speaking to reporters Wednesday at the Kansas City Royals’ spring training complex after the MLBPA met with Royals players as part of their annual tour of Cactus and Grapefruit League camps, Meyer emphasized how quickly the situation has developed and how the player leadership responded. 

“The information that really led to this came out within the last 72 hours or so. So this is not something that has been sat on,” he said. “When the information came out, the players on the subcommittee made their feelings known. And Tony, to his credit, he's always been about players first. And Tony decided to take the action he did in the interest of the players.”

This chaotic sequence just days before spring training games begin has left the MLBPA in a perceived state of disarray, but Meyer insisted that these recent events do not meaningfully alter the union’s focus or mission entering the season.

“Anybody who is gonna assume that and act on that is really making a mistake,” he said. “I'm not going to say this is, you know, a great thing. This is unforeseen. … I'm not going to say this is like a nothing and that there's not going to be some disruptions. But again, at the end of the day, bargaining is the most important thing. It's always been the most important thing. Our team that's been preparing for that for years remains in place. Players have been getting educated on the issues that are going to come up for years. And so it's not going to affect it in any respect.”

The member of the MLBPA’s executive subcommittee — Marcus Semien, Chris Bassitt, Jake Cronenworth, Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal, Brent Suter, Pete Fairbanks and Cedric Mullins — are now the leading figures in the players’ pivotal task of identifying an interim executive director entering the final year of the current CBA. 

“We're all fairly devastated by things that happened in the last 48-72 hours,” Meyer said of Clark’s sudden departure. “... But I think that this was something that the players determined had to happen at this particular point in time. We'll move forward and be strong as we always are.” 

While Meyer — who is considered a candidate to succeed Clark — repeatedly said that choosing the next executive director will be entirely up to the players, it’ll take more than just the eight subcommittee members to determine a successor. 

“Major league bargaining agreement, that's just the major leaguers. Minor league bargaining agreement, that's just the minor leaguers,” Meyer said. “Something like this, which affects the leadership of the union — our executive committee consists of 72 members, 38 of whom are major leaguers, 34 of whom are minor leaguers — the entire executive board will be voting.”

A vote could be held as early as Wednesday, and Royals player representative John Schreiber expressed optimism that Clark’s replacement could be determined with the next vote. It remains to be seen whether the voting bloc will prefer an internal candidate with more of a legal background, such as Meyer, Ian Penny (senior advisor to the executive director) or Matt Nussbaum (general counsel), or a former player who has been involved in MLBPA leadership in recent years, such as Kevin Slowey or Andrew Miller. 

Whoever takes the reins will be tasked with navigating what is expected to be a highly contentious round of CBA negotiations. While Meyer said he expects to maintain his role as lead negotiator, regardless of who succeeds Clark, the interim executive director will become a central figure in the upcoming labor battle, a surprising main character at a crucial crossroads in baseball history. 

Meyer made clear his confidence that no matter who emerges as the new leader, the union remains in a strong position to take on the fight ahead.

“At the end of the day, our union is strong and always has been strong because of the solidarity of our members, of our players. That is going to continue. As I've said in the past: Anybody who underestimates the strength and solidarity of the MLB Players Association does so at their peril.”

WOLVERHAMPTON, England (AP) — Arsenal blew a two-goal lead at last-place Wolves on Wednesday to give a huge boost to Manchester City in the race for the Premier League title.

The league leader was held to a surprise 2-2 draw at Molineux, having led 2-0 in the second half.

Tom Edozie's goal in the fourth minute of added time completed Wolves' comeback.

The draw means Arsenal has dropped points in back-to-back games and leaves it just five points ahead of second-place City, having played a game more.

With the top two still to play each other before the end of the season, the title race is too close to call.

The result was a latest sign that Arsenal is feeling the pressure, having finished runner up in each of the last three seasons.

Bukayo Saka gave Mikel Arteta's team the lead with a header in the fifth minute and Piero Hincapie ran through to blast in the second in the 56th.

But Wolves' fightback began with Hugo Bueno's curling shot into the top corner in the 61st. Edozie's effort earned the home team its 10th point of a campaign that looks certain to end in relegation. But it had much more impact at the top of the standings.

___

James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

The Nick Zakelj project will continue for at least another year for the San Francisco 49ers.

The 49ers on Wednesday announced Zakelj, a sixth-round pick in the 2022 draft, signed a one-year extension to remain in San Francisco through the 2026 season. This contract goes down as an extension instead of a new one-year deal because of the timing of the deal. Zakelj was due to hit free agency in March when his rookie contract expired at the start of the new league year. Since his rookie contract didn't expire, the additional season is technically an extension.

Zakelj played left tackle in college at Fordham and made a transition to the interior as a pro. He played in five games as a rookie, four games in Year 2, and then saw action in all 17 games with two starters in the 2024 campaign. Last season he spent the entire season on the practice squad, but he was elevated to the active roster for three games. He played 23 offensive snaps last year after playing 162 of his 197-career snaps in 2024.

The project to make him a productive player on the interior of the offensive line will continue for at least one more year. San Francisco will get a chance to see him in another training camp. If he doesn't make the 53-man roster he'd be a practice squad candidate the team could comfortably lean on if their depth is tested.

More 49ers: 49ers report card: Grading San Francisco's specialists from 2025

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers free agents: OL Nick Zakelj signs one-year contract extension

UEFA Champions League

Olympiakos 0 - 2 Bayer Leverkusen FT

Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick scored a second-half double to help his side secure a first-leg victory over Olympiacos in the Champions League knockout phase play-off.

The Czech international struck twice in space of three minutes midway through the second half to earn the Bundesliga side their first away win in the knockout stages of the competition at the 10th attempt.

Schick opened the scoring with a composed finish on the hour mark, before doubling his tally moments later, heading Alex Grimaldo's corner past Konstantinos Tzolakis at the near post.

Leverkusen's wait for a victory on the road at this stage of the competition had earlier looked set to continue as Schick, Ernest Poku and Ibrahim Maza spurned a string of golden opportunities in the first half at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Greece.

That was before Olympiacos thought they had taken the lead in first half stoppage time when Ayoub El Kaabi headed Rodinei's free-kick into the back of the net.

But the goal was ruled out following a review by the video assistant referee (VAR) as replays showed the ball brushed off team-mate Mehdi Taremi - who was standing in an offside position - on its way past Leverkusen goalkeeper Janis Blaswich.

Both sides threatened after the break, with Giulian Biancone heading over for the hosts and Grimaldo aiming a tame effort Tzolakis, before Leverkusen finally made their dominance count.

Schick's second goal, which came 144 seconds after breaking the deadlock, was a thumping header to become the highest scoring Czech player in the Champions League since the 2004/05 season.

The second leg will take place in Leverkusen on 24 February (20:00 GMT).

Jocelyn Murray, a skier who represented Great Britain at the 1956 Winter Olympics, died Feb. 11. The death of Murray, who competed under the name Jocelyn Wardrop-Moore, was not reported in the British media until Wednesday.

MORE:Ilia Malinin reveals ambitious Winter Olympics goals beyond gold medal

Born in Sevenoaks, England, Murray took up skiing in 1954 at age 22. She finished second to Switzerland’s Frieda Dänzer in an alpine combination event at St. Moritz.

In the 1956 Citizens Derby in Sestriere, Italy, Murray finished 18th, helping the five-woman British contingent win the team event.

That event was the precursor to the 1956 Olympics, which was held in Cortina d’Ampezzo. (Scheduled to host the Games in 1944, the small Italian city had to wait 12 years because of World War II; it would not host a Winter Olympics again until this year.)

In the women’s slalom, Murray finished 35th in 3:20; Renée Colliard of Switzerland won the event in 1:52. In the women’s giant slalom, Murray finished 42nd.

An accomplished clarinet player, Murray won a prize at the 1954 Munich Festival, when she was the only female clarinet player among entrants from all over the world. 

According to her obituary in The Times of London, Murray is survived by her children, Cicely and Sam, and grandchildren Roan, Lula and Eamon. The obituary also described her as a teacher and gardener.

— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —

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The post British Olympic skier who competed in slalom at Cortina dies appeared first on The Big Lead.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Champions League knockout play-off round this season produced a tricky tie with Greek champions Olympiacos, thanks to finishing 16th in the league phase, Die Werkself would travel to Piraeus for the first leg, before returning to the BayArena for the return leg next week.

Curiously, this exact fixture took place less than a month ago, with the 2024 Conference League winners coming out 2-0 victors. However, Kasper Hjulmand’s men have been in excellent form since that defeat, however, unbeaten in their last six games, notably recording wins over Villarreal and Eintracht Frankfurt in the process.

Amid a crucial stage of the season, with 11 games in just five weeks, Hjulmand stuck with the same starting 11 that dispatched St Pauli 4-0 at the weekend.

The hosts began the game on top without truly threatening Janis Blaswich’s goal, and it wasn’t long before Leverkusen began to grow into the contest, with Patrick Schick and Ernest Poku each squandering half-chances shortly after a quarter of an hour.

After a long-range effort from Gelson Martins was well saved by Blaswich, the visitors continued to push and were denied the opening goal by Olympiacos stopper Konstantinos Tzolakis, brilliantly tipping over the crossbar from Ibrahim Maza’s close-range volley.

They really should have taken the lead moments later when Poku was set through on goal by Maza, but one-on-one with Tzolakis, the Dutchman fired wide.

After a couple of lengthy stoppages before half-time due to a nasty collision between Lorenzo Pirola and Panagiotis Retsos, Olympiacos forward Ayoub El Kaabi appeared to have headed home from Rodinei’s free kick. However, with the ball taking the slightest of touches off Mehdi Taremi, the goal was adjudged offside. A huge let-off for Leverkusen as they went into the break goalless.

After passing up a few chances in the first half, Leverkusen would break the deadlock on the hour mark when Poku sent Schick bearing down on goal, with the Czech making no mistake in firing past Tzolakis.

Almost immediately, Schick bagged his second, leaping high to head home from an Alejandro Grimaldo corner.

The rest of the game petered out, with little to write home about. Bar a speculative effort from wing-back Rodinei, Janis Blaswich was rarely troubled by the Olympiacos attack.

After a first half in which it looked as though the game could go either way, Leverkusen flexed their muscles in the second period, securing the club’s first knockout stage away win in the Champions League. A two-goal lead to take back to Germany was no more than they deserved, as the hosts could not lay a glove on them after Schick’s opener.

Olympiacos 0–2 Bayer Leverkusen | Player Ratings

Bayer Leverkusen:

Janis Blaswich (6), Jarell Quansah (6), Robert Andrich (6), Edmond Tapsoba (7), Lucas Vázquez (6), Exequiel Palacios (7), Aleix García (6), Alejandro Grimaldo (6), Ibrahim Maza (6), Ernest Poku (5), Patrick Schick (8)

Others: Malick Tillman (6), Martin Terrier (6), Arthur (6), Ezequiel Fernández (-), Christian Kofane (-)

GGFN Man of the Match: Patrick Schick (8)

With Die Werkself struggling in attack throughout the opening 45 minutes, the Czech forward stepped up and bagged himself a brace to win the game (and probably the tie) for his team. Leverkusen’s talisman probably should have completed his hat-trick, having missed a chance in the first half and another in the second.

GGFN | Harry Good

This is part of Slate’s 2026 Olympics coverage. Read more here. 

After Mikaela Shiffrin crossed the finish line in the 2026 Olympic slalom, she appeared lost in a trance. No fist pump. No falling to the snow in relief. No tears of joy. Not even a smile. Just a blank stare. Then she crouched down, head between her knees and arms wrapped around her legs.

Did she know what she had just done? Could she not see the scoreboard?

Over the past 15 years, ski-racing fans have become accustomed to Shiffrin’s finish-line stares. An introvert who skis fast and thinks deeply, she needs a little time to herself after high-pressure races—a second to absorb the run she has just completed. For Shiffrin, who skis slalom with an engineer’s precision, it’s all about the turns. And on Wednesday in Cortina, the greatest skier of all time had just made 63 perfect, carved turns on her second run—plus another 63 damn fine ones in her first run.

“That’s what I came here to do, to show up with that skiing,” she said after gathering herself. “I can’t even explain what it feels like to cross the finish line and know before I saw the time that I did that skiing, and then to see the time and think, ‘Holy shit.’ ”

Before she arrived at that holy shit moment, Shiffrin had more than a few demons to quiet. She was a face of these Games, but four days into them, her Olympics curse had only deepened. Shiffrin had not won a medal at the Winter Games in eight years, despite trying six times in Beijing in 2022. Then there was all the other baggage: the bad crash in giant slalom 14 months ago that left her with PTSD, plus years of other battle scars. How could anyone win a medal with all this weighing them down?

It fell to Team Shiffrin to lift the load, listen to her concerns, and quiet the noise. And while records, medals, and trophies typically don’t matter to Shiffrin, this time, she confessed, they did.

Shiffrin’s Olympics mission began 10 days ago when she arrived in Cortina. At the time, Lindsey Vonn’s quest to win a fourth Olympic medal without an ACL in her left knee was consuming all the bandwidth. Then came Vonn’s horrible, leg-shattering crash in the downhill, which fed another news cycle with concerns for her health and debates over whether she should’ve been competing in the first place. Meanwhile, Shiffrin was quietly training for the team combined slalom, held last Tuesday. Breezy Johnson had just won the Olympic downhill title. Team Johnson/Shiffrin was as sure a bet as bets get to win the team combined. It was like betting that the sun will come up tomorrow.

But then Shiffrin started skiing, and she didn’t look like herself. She looked—gasp!—human, as hard on her edges as everyone else who competes in the slalom. Typically, her delicate touch around the gates makes it appear as if she has a different relationship with gravity. In the team combined, she looked as if she had fallen to earth. Johnson/Shiffrin finished just off the podium in fourth, while another U.S. team, Jackie Wiles and Paula Moltzan, claimed bronze.

“I didn’t quite find a comfort level that allows me to produce full speed,” Shiffrin told reporters after the race. “I’m going to have to learn what to do, what to adjust in the short time we have before the other tech races.”

Commentators said the course was too flat for Shiffrin, the snow too soft. And Shiffrin agreed. World Cup courses are usually Zamboni-firm. In Cortina, the conditions were softer, and Shiffrin confessed, “I didn’t adjust to it.” But the Olympics weren’t over. “We always do better with more information,” Shiffrin said, ever the scientist gathering data, “and I got a lot of information today.”

For all Shiffrin learned in the team combined, her fourth-place finish also added more weight to her shoulders. Then the giant slalom didn’t go her way either, though in truth she was always an outside shot to medal in that race. Since her GS crash, Shiffrin has worked with her team on communication, being clearer about what she wants and needs. At this Olympics, she told them that she wanted to win the slalom gold. She had last won it a dozen years ago.

As Shiffrin worked to master the Olympia delle Tofane slalom course, her closest confidants—her mom, her coach, her physiotherapist and sports psychologist, her friends and family—reminded her to keep it simple. She’d come to the Olympics to focus on all the turns between the start and the finish. Everything else was just noise.

On Wednesday, Shiffrin did exactly that. For 63 turns in her first run and another 63 in her second, she re-found her mojo, and the moment almost overwhelmed her.

She explained later that as she stared at the scoreboard, she first wanted to make sure she saw the green light of a winning run—she did not want to embarrass herself by celebrating too early. Gratitude then came over her like a wave, and she thought of her father Jeff Shiffrin, who died in a tragic accident six years ago this month. He had been with her for all of her previous Olympic medal wins—for her first gold in Sochi in 2014, and her gold and silver medals four years later in Pyeongchang. She did not know what it would be like to win an Olympic medal without him, if she even wanted to win one without him there.

In the finish corral, before acknowledging the crowd, Shiffrin took a silent moment to communicate in her “heart and mind” with her dad and thank everyone on her team who had helped her get there.

“I’m just so grateful that we got to show what we are working on in this great big moment,” she said, “and we got to show that together.”

Shiffrin now has more Olympic gold medals than any other U.S. Alpine skier in history—plus all of her other accolades. So where does America’s most decorated Alpine skier go now?

“We’re going to go back and watch my turns and probably analyze them and wonder what could have been better,” she said, “like we do after every single day.”

Former Duke teammates Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel have headlined the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year race for much of the season. In recent weeks, however, the perceived gap between the two has appeared to widen, with Flagg averaging 27.3 points per game to open February and strengthening his case as the class’s best player. Yet, scoring averages alone rarely capture a player’s true impact. Using FTN’s new NBA StatsHub, let’s take a closer look at how this year’s rookie class is actually impacting games – separating shot volume and counting stats from measurable value added.

The Top Rookies of 2025-2026

Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks

Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets

VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers

The Takeaway

PACIFIC PALISADES, Ca. — J.J. Spaun's L.A.B. DF3 putter, which he used to hole a 64-foot birdie putt to win the U.S. Open at Oakmont last June, belongs in a museum.

Just not yet.

Spaun, speaking at Riviera in his hometown of Los Angeles on Wednesday, says he still has much more work to do with the zero-torque wand, one he tossed in the air in celebration on the 72nd green. Thankfully, his caddie, Mark Carens, retrieved it, and could be seen holding it in the same hand he pointed toward the sky with while embracing his boss. Carens later explained he was pointing toward the heavens in remberance of his deceased father, Ed, who "gave us a good read." It made for an indelible image. Speaking of things that belong in a museum.  

RELATED: Genesis Invitational picks 2026: The sleeper our experts love at Riviera

While that photo might already be in the USGA's museum, Spaun's putter is not. Though not for lack of effort on the USGA's part. The U.S. Open champ revealed on Wednesday that he was asked to donate the custom flat-stick. Understandably, he had to turn the USGA down. 

"I said unfortunately I can't," Spaun said. "That thing is not ready to be retired, especially after that putt."

Fair enough. The USGA then asked for the next-best club, Spaun's Titleist GT3 driver, which he used to drive the 17th green in the final round, setting up a two-putt birdie that gave him a one-shot lead with a hole remaining. That was an easier get. 

"The second probably most valuable club, I think, was my driver," he said. "And I actually had switched to a more new head, meaning, like, it was probably getting close to its limit. It ended up being kind of unusable anyway, so I donated that, and I think they were pretty happy." 

Not a bad consolation prize at all. And perhaps some day Spaun's L.A.B. will be right alongside it. That day is not today. 

RELATED: Former ESPN anchor reveals comment that got him banned from Augusta

The Philadelphia 76ers will begin the final 28-game sprint of the regular season on Thursday when they take on the Atlanta Hawks. They will have to do short-handed as they will be missing two-thirds of the Big 3.

While Paul George continues to serve his suspension, the Sixers will also be without Joel Embiid. The big fella did practice on Wednesday, and coach Nick Nurse gave an update on his participation status, the Sixers did provide an update on the 2023 MVP winner on Wednesday evening.

While participating in a right knee injury management program during the All-Star break, Embiid reported soreness in his right shin. After meeting with the doctors, the big fella has received daily treatment while progressing through on-court work, and strength and conditioning.

He will be out for the matchup against the Hawks and be re-evaluated before the team's road trip on Friday.

He will be OUT of tomorrow night’s game vs. Atlanta and reevaluated ahead of the team's back-to-back this weekend.

Further updates will be provided later this week. #Sixers

— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) February 18, 2026

The Sixers have lost six of their last seven games in which Embiid hasn't played in. They will have to dig deep in order to pick up a win without him on Thursday against the Hawks.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers provide important medical update on star big man Joel Embiid

The Premier League is building towards another thrilling run-in, as Arsenal and Manchester City face off in the title race.

After three second-place finishes in a row, Arsenal are bidding to finally end their 22-year wait for a league title under Mikel Arteta.

But they are once again facing competition from Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who denied them in both 2023 and 2024.

Aston Villa, in third place under Unai Emery, are the closest challengers outside of the top two as the campaign heads towards the final straight.

Here’s how the crucial run-in is shaping up.

Arsenal

Played: 27

Points: 58

GD: +32

Toughest game? It’sobviously the trip to Manchester City in mid-April, with just five more league games to follow after that. Arsenal have not won at the Etihad since January 2015 and their title challenge went up in smoke there in a 4-1 thrashing in April 2023, before arguably playing too safe in a 0-0 draw in March 2024. Arsenal are in a good position to take a lead to the Etihad, though, and have shown they are made of stronger stuff under Mikel Arteta over the last couple of years: so a draw could be vital this time around.

A potential banana skin? What about Everton? The Toffees admittedly have a woeful record at the Emirates, but they have the fifth-best away record in the Premier League this season under David Moyes. Plus, it will fall in between the two legs of their Champions League last-16 tie, and a week before the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City. This is precisely the type of game where Arsenal can’t afford to take their eye off the ball.

Final straight? On paper, it’s looking good for Arsenal. In May, they will play Fulham and Burnley at home. Mid-table Fulham will likely be in ‘nothing to play for’ territory while 19th-placed Burnley could well be down by the penultimate weekend. West Ham, though, could be fighting for their lives, and Crystal Palace, too, could be dragged into danger by the final game of the season. Still, the Gunners might not have to play a top-half team in May.

Man City

Played: 26

Points: 53

GD: +30

Toughest game? Pep Guardiola’s side have to be close to perfect before hosting Arsenal, so the two games that stand out are the away trips to Leeds and Chelsea. Leeds are unbeaten at home this season when playing ‘under the lights’ at Elland Road, so a 5:30pm kick-off looks a real test. Chelsea are unpredictable but have risen to the occasion at home this season and Cole Palmer is starting to come into form after an injury-hit campaign.

A potential banana skin? With Nottingham Forest looking for their third ‘new manager bounce’ of the season - after Ange Postecoglou and Sean Dyche fell flat - could Vitor Pereira repeat last season’s wonders at Wolves by turning their form around and going on a winning run?

Final straight? On paper, much tougher than Arsenal’s. Brentford and Bournemouth could be in the mix for European qualification over the final weeks of the season and City have to play them both in their final three games. Then, they host Aston Villa on the final weekend of the season. Will Unai Emery’s side have Champions League qualification wrapped up by then, or could they even be in the title race? City could do with hoping Villa get to the Europa League final that midweek.

Verdict?

This will be a run-in of two halves, with everything building up to the meeting between Manchester City and Arsenal in mid-April, and then everything that follows. But Arsenal’s fixtures before and then after going to the Etihad look more favourable than City’s, particularly their final stretch . A crucial factor for both sides will be the other cup competitions and how their squad depth holds up: they will also meet in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday 22 March, and are both also through to the Champions League last-16 and FA Cup fifth round.

The NFL scouting combine takes place in Indianapolis between Feb. 23 and March 2. There will be more than 300 prospects on display for NFL scouts and all 32 organizations to check out. As important as it is for the hopefuls to impress with their physicality and skills, they also will face challenges when it comes to being evaltuated for health, intelligence, and how they do during interviews with team personnel. A look at the overall events that take place annually at the NFL scouting combine.

40-yard dash

Bench press

Vertical jump

Broad jump

3-cone drill

20-yard shuttle runs

60-yard shuttle

Position-specific drills

That takes care of the physical aspect of the NFL scouting combine. There are other ways players can make or break their futures when it comes to hoping to play on Sundays. What are some of these?

Medical examinations

Interviews

Psychological/Wonderlic tests

Cybex tests

On-field workouts

Feb. 26: Defensive linemen, linebackers, kickers

Feb. 27: Defensive backs, tight ends

Feb. 28: Quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs

March 1: Offensive linemen

This article originally appeared on The List Wire: NFL scouting combine events and schedule

The Duke Basketball Roundup has hit another milestone! On Episode 800, we welcome back The Dawg himself, Kenny Dennard, to the show!

Having Kenny on the show is always a fantastic time. We take a walk down memory lane, we get his thoughts on this year’s team, and what he makes of the coaching job Jon Scheyer has done with this team. We go through it all and get some sage thoughts from the legend. You won’t want to miss it! And thank you all for being on this journey with us. 800 episodes down, several hundred more to come!!

Make sure you’re following us! Head to our Linktree to get all our available social media and links to follow and subscribe to the show. That includes our affiliate partnerships, from SLAM (use the code DBR15 to save 15%), Homefield Apparel (use the code DBRPODCAST to save 15% off your first order) and Fanatics to the NBA Store, NFL Shop, and even Fubo TV. And…we have some more coming! Save some cash on the latest gear or follow the Blue Devils on the go by hitting those affiliate links and it helps support the show as well. We are now on YouTube and Instagram! Subscribe there, rate, and review our episodes on there and everywhere you get your podcasts. Also, follow us on Bluesky ⁠@DukeRoundup⁠!

In all likelihood, the Minnesota Vikings won’t be able to embark on a massive spending spree — like last year — because they’re currently over the cap by about $40 million, give or take, depending on the day. But when interim general manager Rob Brzezinski gets down to brass tacks and clears some cap space, the club will be able to add a few reputable names. These are our formal recommendations, emphasizing realism rather than signing the most expensive player available at each position.

A center, safety, and cornerback fit Minnesota’s free-agent hunt: starter traits, upside, and sensible pricing for 2026.

Free agency is less than three weeks away, so to get you thinking about the options, here are our main endorsements. Note: this analysis emphasizes youth and affordability. The Vikings need youth in the pipeline because Brzezinski’s predecessor drafted so poorly from 2022 to 2025. Players like Tyler Linderbaum and George Pickens, who will break the bank but would also play fabulously for the Vikings, are not included.

Three Value Free Agents for Minnesota

Ranked in ascending order, here’s who we’d target if we ran the Vikings (No. 1 = best free-agent option).

3. Luke Fortner
Center | New Orleans Saints

Minnesota’s draft flexibility is key at center. Projected to have at least nine selections in April, trades notwithstanding, the team could readily select a center in the early rounds, securing a long-term option on a rookie contract.

If not the draft, Fortner is a strong fit if Ryan Kelly retires or is cut.

His age aligns with the team’s timeline, his PFF profile is promising, and his potential cost is approximately 60% less than Tyler Linderbaum’s — a crucial factor for a team managing salary cap constraints. Linderbaum is the almighty free-agent prize at center, although he may earn $20 million per season in free agency. That’s $20 million per season that the Vikings don’t have.

Drafted in the 3rd Round in 2022, Fortner became a full-time starter in Jacksonville and demonstrated significant improvement by 2025. The lower cost reflects a resume highlighted by only one standout season; Minnesota would be wagering that his upward trajectory continues.

His PFF resume:

Fortner fits a skinny budget. Plain and simple.

2. Nick Cross
Safety | Indianapolis Colts.

Cross is a familiar name in IDP fantasy football, as his ability to quickly accumulate stats makes him a valuable asset. While his production dipped in 2025 under a new defensive coordinator and alongside ex-Vikings safety Camryn Bynum, Cross was highly active and productive in 2024.

His PFF work:

Brian Flores has a history of success with players like Cross. He favors aggressive play, simplifies decision-making, and empowers athletic safeties to attack downhill. The PFF grades in 2023 and 2024 would seem achievable again within the right scheme.

Flores also has a track record of revitalizing similar player arcs, with Eric Wilson in 2025 being a recent and decent example.

The Ringer‘sAustin Gayle on Cross: “Cross is essentially a safety-linebacker hybrid who isn’t a liability in pass coverage like a traditional linebacker would be. Though this type of player has become increasingly important as opposing offenses run more multiple tight end sets, free safeties still tend to command more money on the free agent market, in large part because of their on-ball production compared to box safeties or hybrid players.”

“The top of the free safety market is over $20 million per year, and the best slot cornerbacks make $12-13 million per year. Cross will likely wind up with a deal that’s closer to $8 million per year, and that would be a steal.”

1. Cor’Dale Flott
Cornerback | New York Giants

Flott totally checks all the boxes for the Vikings in a free agent: he’s young, affordable, and trending up.

Drafted in the 3rd Round in 2022, Flott has been getting better each season with the Giants. At 6’2″ and 175 pounds, his long, lean build is exactly what Flores looks for in a cornerback. He’s not a household name, which fits with Minnesota’s recent strategy of snagging players like Isaiah Rodgers, who joined the Vikings in 2025 free agency and immediately transferred into a hit.

The Athletic‘s Daniel Popper on Flott’s free agency: “Flott is at his best in off-coverage zone looks when he can read, react and play from depth. He is a wiry corner who is not a factor in run support.”

“When Flott is asked to play press coverage and from tighter alignments, including man coverage, his reactions, mirroring skills and route recognition are more delayed. He is a good fit in a zone-heavy defense that leans into his strengths.”

Turning 25 in August, Flott’s prime is just starting.

Seven-Time AMA Grand National Champion to oversee competition

Racing legend Chris Carr has been appointed the new Series Director of the Progressive American Flat Track championship. The 2004 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee and seven-time AMA Grand National Champion will oversee all competition-related aspects of Flat Track racing.

Carr is one of the most accomplished flat track racers of all time, making him a logical fit for the role. Carr will manage the season calendar and event planning, safety protocols, racing regulations, and will be the primary point of contact for competition issues with riders, teams, and manufacturers.

Begin Press Release:

Seven-Time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr Returns to AMA Pro Racing as Series Director of Progressive American Flat Track

AMA Pro Racing is pleased to announce the appointment of seven-time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr as the Series Director of Progressive American Flat Track. Effective immediately, Carr will oversee all competition-related aspects of the series as it enters an exciting new chapter of growth and evolution.

"We're proud to welcome Chris Carr back to AMA Pro Racing," said Gene Crouch, CEO of AMA Pro Racing. "Chris understands this sport at the highest levels: as a champion, a leader, and a steward of its incredible history. He brings unmatched credibility, integrity, and competitive insight that will strengthen our riders, teams and manufacturer ecosystem while elevating the fan experience nationwide."

One of the most accomplished riders in the history of American motorcycle racing, Carr's career spans decades at the top of the sport. His championship success, institutional knowledge, and deep relationships across the industry uniquely position him to guide Progressive American Flat Track's competition strategy.

Become a Motorcycle.com insider. Get the latest motorcycle news first by subscribing to our newsletter here.

Club Brugge held Atletico Madrid to a 3-3 draw in the UEFA Champions League knockout play-off first leg at Jan Breydel Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Julian Alvarez put Atleti ahead in the seventh minute through a penalty, leaving Simon Mignolet rooted to the spot.

Raphael Onyedika should have restored parity for Club Brugge after getting teed up on the edge of the box, but hit his effort straight at Jan Oblak.

Oblak had to be alert to preserve Atleti’s lead in the 19th minute, diving to his right to parry away Nicolo Tresoldi’s strike from close range.

Mamadou Diakhon squandered a golden chance to make it 1-1, drilling the ball wide from a promising position.

Atleti doubled their lead just before the break as Ademola Lookman guided Antoine Grizmann’s flicked header into an empty net.

Lookman is now the first Atleti player to score on his Champions League debut since Hector Herrera versus Juventus in September 2019.

The Nigerian is also the first to achieve that feat as a starter since Angel Correa versus Benfica in September 2015.

Onyedika halved Club Brugge’s deficit in the 52nd minute, reacting quickly to put the ball into the net from close range.

Tresoldi made it 2-2 on the hour mark, guiding Diakhon’s low cross into the net.

The visitors went back ahead in the 78th minute when Joel Ordonez turned Marcus Llorente’s cross into his own net.

However, Christos Tzolis made it 3-3 late on, setting up an exciting second leg next Tuesday at the Metropolitano Stadium.

The Dallas Cowboys explained several times in the search that ultimately yielded Christian Parker as their new defensive coordinator that they were looking for a teacher. Christian Parker was introduced to the world on Wednesday and was specifically asked about his teaching style. His answer was pretty incredible.

Parker noted that there are different points of time relative to teaching players. He said that you have to understand when is best to correct and not correct. He notably said that sometimes players have to “touch the stove” as in they have to learn mistakes. Mistakes are obviously not ideal, but they offer teaching opportunities. A proper teacher knows when students need to experience that so that they can grow and learn from it.

It is very clear that Parker is a teacher of sorts and that he has a lot of knowledge to share with his new defense. The next few months are going to be very exciting.

Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball was in a wreck Wednesday afternoon in the heart of Uptown Charlotte.

ALSO READ: Hornets want out of lawsuit claiming star player drove over child’s foot

Chopper 9 SkyZoom flew over the scene of Trade and Tryon streets where a sedan was damaged and in the middle of the intersection. Ball’s custom 2022 GMC Hummer EV Edition 1 was on the side of the street missing a front wheel.

Witnesses told Channel 9 a gray Kia sedan was going east on Trade Street. Ball was going west on Trade when he tried to take left onto the one-way Tryon Street, which was when the collision happened.

Witnesses said they saw Ball get out of the Hummer and get in a Lamborghini.

When Ball got out of the Hummer and into the Lambo, he appeared OK.

The Kia and Hummer were towed away.

One person had non-life-threatening injuries, MEDIC said.

Expect delays along the Gold Line due to the crash that’s blocking the eastbound and westbound tracks at Trade and Tryon. Streetcars will operate between CTC and Sunnyside stations.

BREAKING: LaMelo Ball involved in crash in Uptown Charlotte.

Photos provided to me show LaMelo getting out of the driver's seat. But CMPD hasn't said who was driving and how this crash happened. Another car was involved. Medic says one person has minor injuries. We don't know… pic.twitter.com/oTLSqTwE9B

— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) February 18, 2026

No additional details have been made available.

This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com and watch Eyewitness News for updates.

Tuesday brought some massive changes behind the scenes to Michigan football. The headline news was that general manager Sean Magee is out after spending the past two years in Ann Arbor, following his earlier stint working under Jim Harbaugh. But that wasn't the only change.

While the Magee news appeared to be either a mutual or one-sided parting of ways, there was another move made behind the curtain that wasn't on the person departing.

As first reported by CBS Sports' Chris Hummer, Michigan director of recruiting Sam Popper has departed the program to become San Diego State's associate general manager.

San Diego State is hiring Michigan Director of Recruiting Sam Popper as its Associate General Manager, a source tells @mzenitz and I for @CBSSports.

He was a @247Sports 30Under30 selection in 2025. pic.twitter.com/1SQC5KLBxV

— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) February 17, 2026

Per reports, Popper was extended the offer to remain in Ann Arbor in his role with the maize and blue, but opted for the positional promotion with the Aztecs.

Along with Magee (and Champions Circle), Popper was instrumental in Kyle Whittingham and his new staff being able to retain much of the existing roster, as well as the impending 2026 class. Likely unconnected, but not entirely certain, in the wake of the departures on Tuesday morning, the Wolverines lost one 2027 recruit, quarterback Peter Bourque, considered to be the linchpin of the class at this point.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football director of recruiting Sam Popper leaves for SDSU

Inter suffer defeat in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League playoff. In Norway, the Nerazzurri were beaten 3-1 by Bodo/Glimt at the Aspmyra Stadion. Battling the freezing conditions, Inter came up short, and now on Tuesday at San Siro, they’ll need to overturn the deficit to reach the round of 16.

The hosts opened the scoring in the 20th minute through Fet after a slick move. Inter responded, hitting the post with Darmian and then drawing level in the 30th minute through Esposito. The second half started with another near-miss from Lautaro, hitting the post again. But the home side’s physicality shone through, scoring twice in three minutes: Hauge in the 61st and Høgh in the 64th. Inter failed to respond and it was the hosts who dominated.

BODØ/GLIMT 3-1 INTER | REPORT

Goals: 20' Brunstad Fet (B), 30' Esposito (I), 61' Hauge (B), 64' Høgh (B)

BODØ/GLIMT (4-3-3): 12 Haikin; 20 Sjøvold, 4 Bjørtuft, 6 Gundersen (5 Aleesami 90'), 15 Bjørkan; 26 Evjen, 7 Berg, 19 Brunstad Fet (25 Määttä 90'); 11 Blomberg (8 Auklend 78'), 9 Høgh (21 Helmersen 78'), 10 Hauge. Substitutes: 1 Faye Lund, 45 Sjong, 2 Nielsen, 14 Saltnes, 22 Klynge, 23 Riisnæs, 24 Bassi, 94 Mikkelsen. Head Coach: Kjetil Knutsen.

INTER (3-5-2): 1 Sommer; 25 Akanji, 15 Acerbi, 95 Bastoni; 36 Darmian (11 Luis Henrique 76'), 8 Sucic, 23 Barella (17 Diouf 90'), 22 Mkhitaryan (7 Zielinski 76'), 30 Carlos Augusto; 10 Lautaro (9 Thuram 61'), 94 Esposito (14 Bonny 76'). Substitutes: 12 Di Gennaro, 13 J. Martinez, 6 De Vrij, 31 Bisseck, 32 Dimarco, 45 Bovo. Head Coach: Cristian Chivu.

Yellow cards: Esposito (I), Blomberg (B)

Added time: 2', 3'

Referee: Siebert (GER). Assistants: Seidel, Foltyn (GER). Fourth Official: Schlager (GER). VAR: Dingert (GER). Assistant VAR: Brisard (FRA).

The San Diego Padres know a little something about controlled chaos. Over the holiday weekend, general manager A.J. Preller made a flurry of moves (and he’s likely not done yet), signing Griffin Canning, Germán Márquez and Walker Buehler in order to address the depth question in the starting pitching group.

These players might seem like random selections by Preller — like the Friars are blindfolded, throwing darts at the board until they happen to hit a bullseye — and maybe there’s a part of that that’s true. But the prevailing belief at play is that these pitchers can return to form this season. 

In that sense, each of them is somewhat of a reclamation project for pitching coach Ruben Niebla. The Padres are hoping that if just one of them can have a Nick Pivetta-esque surge then they’ll have the problem of another ace in the rotation.

Here’s a look at what’s holding these three pitchers back, and how they could return to their former glory.

Griffin Canning

Canning is an interesting case because (of the three) he is the closest removed from being a reliable starter. After spending his first five seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, Canning had a renaissance year in 2025 pitching for the New York Mets. In his first seven starts for the club, he turned in a 2.47 ERA before a couple rocky starts bumped it up to 3.77. Across 16 starts he averaged close to five innings with a 1.38 WHIP.

Prior to ‘25, Canning had never turned in an ERA below 4.00 outside of the shortened 2020 season. His resurgence ended when he ruptured his Achilles tendon in late June, putting a stop to the comeback year for the right-hander.

If Canning can build on the positive trend forward he had with the Mets, the Padres will be able to slot him into the fifth spot of the rotation with ease.

Germán Márquez

The longtime Colorado Rockies ace found a new place to call home this offseason for the first time in the last decade. Over the better part of that time in Colorado, Márquez was one of the most reliable starters in the game. Prior to 2022, he posted a 4.25 ERA across 795.2 innings (135 starts). During that he also held a 6.9% walk rate and a 24.0% strikeout rate.

However, in ‘22 his performance took a nosedive, and eventually Márquez underwent Tommy John surgery in May of 2023. Since coming back he has not been the same, posting an ERA over 6.00 in both 2024 and ‘25. If Márquez can return to the durable strikeout artist he once was, San Diego will have a de facto replacement for free agent departure Dylan Cease.

Walker Buehler

It’s easy to forget that Buehler is only five years removed from finishing fourth in NL Cy Young voting. In 2021, he finished with a 2.47 ERA across 33 starts for the rival Los Angeles Dodgers. However, the following year he had Tommy John surgery and didn’t pitch for the entire 2023 season. When he finally did return, he struggled to find his footing, posting an ERA above 4.00 every year since. 

Buehler was a borderline ace for the Dodgers prior to his injuries. He spent the 2025 season splitting time between the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies. His time in Boston was rough, to say the least, with a 5.45 ERA in 23 starts before eventually being released in August. He then made three appearances for Philly and turned in a 0.66 ERA across 13.2 innings. 

The bet for San Diego is that Buehler can return to a fragment of the ‘21 version of himself that took the league by storm. After spending the first seven years of his career in the NL West (and with the Padres’ rivals no less), the hope is that Buehler can use that elite knowledge of the division to his, and the Friars’, advantage.

Whatever comes of these three pitchers in the 2026 season, the long and short of it is that the worries about rotation depth are now gone. At bare minimum, the Padres now have competent pitchers to fill out the back end of their rotation and eat innings, giving their bullpen time to rest. But the hope is (as always) that these three can become more than that and be contributors to San Diego’s bid for its first World Series championship. 

Norway's Bodø/Glimt wrote another chapter in their Champions League fairytale on Wednesday while Bayer Leverkusen and Newcastle United also had memorable victories in their Champions League play-off first legs.

The team from the Arctic Circle with a plastic pitch won 3-1 at home against three-times European Cup winners Inter Milan and will fancy their chances of reaching the last 16 after Tuesday's second leg at the San Siro.

Bodø, in their first Champions League campaign, had already beaten Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in the league phase to make the play-offs. Now clear Serie A leaders Inter have succumbed - for the time being.

A flowing Bodø move was finished off by Sondre Brunstad Fet on 20 minutes, but Pio Esposito equalized before the interval after surviving a video check for handball.

Bodø, who also beat Italians Lazio en route to the Europa League semi-finals last term, then powered ahead in the second period through Jens Petter Hauge and Kasper Høgh.

Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick produced a cool finish and a header to seal a 2-0 win in the fervent atmosphere of Olympiacos Piraeus, where the Germans had suffered a 2-0 reverse in the league phase last month.

The Werkself were also lucky that a video review picked up a slight touch from the offside Mehdi Taremi when Ayoub El Kaabi headed in a free kick.

Leverkusen could draw Bayern Munich like last season if they get through.

Atletico drew 3-3 in a wild game at Club Brugge, who fought back twice for a late draw.

An early penalty from Julian Alvarez and Ademola Lookman kneeing in the Argentina man's corner had the Spaniards 2-0 up at half-time.

Raphael Onyedika pulled one back early in the second half and Germany under-21 forward Nicolo Tresoldi completed the comeback, only for an own goal by Joel Ordoñez on 79 minutes to boost the visitors.

A late offside call was overturned though on video review and a fine Christos Tzolis strike snatched an 89th minute draw for the Belgians.

Newcastle have one foot in the last 16 after thrashing Qarabag 6-1 in Azerbaijan, with Anthony Gordon scoring four goals in the first half.

Atletico Madrid twice let the lead slip in a 3-3 Champions League play-off first leg draw at Club Brugge on Wednesday.

Diego Simeone's side went 2-0 up in the first half but Brugge fought back to 2-2, and after an own goal allowed the Spanish side to move back in front, Greek winger Christos Tzolis grabbed a 90th minute equaliser for the hosts.

Atletico, who have never won the Champions League, are a long way off the pace in La Liga and consider their best chances of silverware this season to be via a cup route.

However, their poor defending left everything to play for next Tuesday in the second leg, with a last 16 berth at stake.

"We were two up and didn't know how to hold on to the lead," Atletico captain Koke told Movistar.

"It was a rollercoaster, like it's been all season. We have to concentrate more."

Atletico took an early lead through a Julian Alvarez penalty after a careless handball by Joaquin Seys.

The striker, whose spot-kick against rivals Real Madrid in last year's competition was controversially disallowed for a double touch, leading to Atletico's elimination, dispatched it emphatically.

Brugge otherwise had the better of the first half, with Mamadou Diakhon whipping an effort narrowly wide, and Jan Oblak saving from Raphael Onyedika.

But the Belgians found themselves two down at the break.

Ademola Lookman, who has impressed since arriving in January, finished from close range after Antoine Griezmann flicked on Alvarez's corner.

Brugge halved Atletico's lead in the 52nd minute when Onyedika tapped home after a superb Oblak save to keep out Nicolo Tresoldi's header.

Brugge striker Tresoldi was soon on the scoresheet himself to pull the Belgian side level on the hour mark, to the delight of the Jan Breydel stadium, finishing clinically from Diakhon's cross.

Atletico striker Alexander Sorloth nodded narrowly wide before Joel Ordonez put through his own net to put the visitors back in front.

However, in the 90th minute, Brugge struck again, with Tzolis played in down the left and finishing well. The goal was initially ruled out for offside but the decision was corrected after a VAR review.

rbs/bc

Arsenal had a night to forget this Wednesday (18).

The current Premier League leaders drew with Wolverhampton, the bottom team in the league.

The Gunners managed to go 2-0 up, but conceded the equalizer, including an own goal in stoppage time of the second half.

The result leaves the team five points ahead of Manchester City, who are in second place, but with one more game played.

The two teams have a head-to-head clash scheduled for April 18th, at the Etihad Stadium.

The unexpected slip-up has already made social media "bring back the ghosts" of recent seasons, when Arsenal also led the Premier League but were overtaken by Manchester City in the second half of the campaign.

Check out some reactions to the draw against the bottom team below:

This one already called it

Does it deserve an Oscar?

This is the word: unbelievable

The shark is coming

Football can be bad for you

It's starting to smell bad...

If they lose this time...

Henry, you have a mission

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

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Darius Acuff is one of the best guards in the country, and he hopes to guide Arkansas to a win tonight in Tuscaloosa.  

My Arkansas vs. Alabama predictions and college basketball picks expect him to find plenty of success in an open-floor matchup on Wednesday, February 18.

Arkansas vs Alabama prediction

Arkansas vs Alabama best bet: Darius Acuff Over 5.5 assists (-155)

I’m rolling with one of the best guards in the country to play like it tonight. The Arkansas Razorbacks transition offense ranks in the 98th percentile in both frequency and efficiency, while the Alabama Crimson Tide gives up transition looks at one of the highest clips in the sport.

Darius Acuff is the primary transition pusher for the Hogs and a facilitator of pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop actions.

He's hit 5+ assists in four of his last five, including 7 and 9 dimes in his last two. In a game that should be insanely free-flowing, I expect Acuff to shine.

Arkansas vs Alabama same-game parlay

Alabama runs the fastest tempo in the country, and Arkansas isn't far behind. This Over is high, in fact, it’s very high, but even so, it seems like there’s still a little value in this number.

It’s the first leg of my parlay simply because neither team will have interest in slowing things down.

I paired it with Latrell Wrightsell to go Over 2.5 threes. The senior has 20 combined attempts from deep (!!!) over the last two games and should benefit from a game played so freely on the open floor. 

Arkansas vs Alabama SGP

• Darius Acuff Over 5.5 assists
• Latrell Wrightsell Over 2.5 threes 
• Over 184.5

Our beyond the arc SGP: Pay attention to the pace

Quietly, Alabama has struggled defensively against pick-and-pops, allowing over one point per possession on such sets.

Trevon Brazile is almost exclusively the only option for these actions, which makes a +150 price point on Over 1.5 threes very enticing. It leads the way on my long-shot parlay.

I paired it with Aden Holloway to go Over a low-assist number. It’s a play simply on a game that will be played at such a frantic pace, with the ball in his hands so often.

Arkansas vs Alabama SGP

• Darius Acuff Over 5.5 assists
• Latrell Wrightsell Over 2.5 threes
• Over 184.5
• Trevon Brazile Over 1.5 threes
• Aden Holloway Over 3.5 assists

Arkansas vs Alabama odds

• Spread: Arkansas +5 (-115) | Alabama -5 (-105)
• Moneyline: Arkansas +180 | Alabama -220
• Over/Under: Over 184.5 (-110) | Under 184.5 (-110)

Arkansas vs Alabama betting trend to know

Arkansas has hit the Moneyline in 19 of their last 25 games (+11.55 Units / 1% ROI). Find more college basketball betting trends for Arkansas vs. Alabama.

How to watch Arkansas vs Alabama

Arkansas vs Alabama key injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Michigan State football will reportedly host a highly-coveted in-state athlete for a spring visit.

Darryl Flemister of Detroit will reportedly visit Michigan State during the spring, according to 247Sports recruiting insider Allen Trieu. He is also expected to take visits to Illinois, Purdue and Pitt during the spring.

Flemister is listed at 6-foot-0 and 160 pounds, and plays for Michigan high school powerhouse program Martin Luther King High in Detroit. He is currently unranked and unrated in 247Sports' composite recruiting system.

Michigan State recently re-offered Flemister, and is one of more than 20 schools to extend an offer to him, according to 247Sports. He also holds notable offers from Auburn, Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ole Miss, Oregon, Pitt, Purdue, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Vanderbilt.

Illinois, Michigan State, Purdue and Pitt the four spring visits right now for Detroit King ATH Darryl Flemister, who is coveted as a DB prospect by those schools.https://t.co/vOn2x2HHZapic.twitter.com/GJQB6KoPoP

— Allen Trieu (@AllenTrieu) February 18, 2026

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.

This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: MSU football to reportedly host highly-coveted Detroit ATH Darryl Flemister

Eddie Hearn held back no punches in his response to Dana White's latest slight.

Hearn, chairman of Matchroom Sport, has been going back and forth publicly with the UFC CEO, who recently entered the world of boxing promotion with Zuffa Boxing. In his latest comments, Hearn took quite the shot at White. This past Sunday, following the completion of Zuffa Boxing 3, White responded to Hearn's criticism of Zuffa Boxing's matchmaking, taking a personal shot at the Englishman by saying he 'works for his dad.'

Hearn heard those comments and matched White's energy in his response.

"It normally takes someone a while to get personal enough to say I work for my dad," Hearn told Talk Sport Boxing. "I mean, you could say, the Ferttita Brothers are also his father because he works for them. But let's be honest, right now, Dana White has a new father. He has a new papi, and papi is Turki Alalshikh. Dana White works for Turki Alalshikh. So good luck, get on with your job, and be a good boy."

On top of matching White in taking a personal shot, Hearn doubled down on his criticism of Zuffa Boxing. Unlike other promoters, Zuffa Boxing will have its own titles, and they don't work with sanctioning organizations like the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO.

Hearn sees those belts as illegitimate and thinks Zuffa Boxing's product is overall low-level.

"I know they're only like four or five shows in, their vision is Callum Walsh fighting main event with Max Kellerman telling you that he's the next Roy Jones (Jr.), and Charles Martin headlining on a Sunday night in front of 150 people in a garage, in a ring that looks like it was pulled out of a club show," Hearn said. "So what vision is that? What they're trying to do actually is, I feel like, manipulate fight fans and tell you that this is the best, the Zuffa belt is what matters. But fight fans are much smarter than that; they're not idiots. Trust me, I know them inside out. You might get the casuals, 'Oh yeah, wow. Zuffa belt. Yeah, that's amazing.' But the reality is that fighters know that's not a real belt. That's not the best.

"What you're watching in the Apex is not the best vs. the best. Are there some good matchups? Yeah, mainly between guys I've actually never really heard of before – and that doesn't matter, but don't tell us it's the best vs. the best. Because if I put Charles Martin on a headline fight, I would get f*cking ripped to shreds, so let's see the same energy for Mr. White. I wish him all the best."

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Eddie Hearn blasts Dana White: His 'new papi' is Turki Alalshikh

Arsenal threw away a two-goal lead and seven-point gap to Manchester City deep into added time as the Premier League’s bottom club Wolves fought back to a 2-2 draw at Molineaux.

Bukayo Saka opened the scoring with a header from point blank range to end his 15-game wait to get back on the scoresheet, his longest goalless run in a Gunners’ shirt, before Piero Hincapié doubled the advantage after half time.

Yet Hugo Bueno provided a lifeline with a brilliant curling effort before David Raya dropped the ball in the box and substitute Tom Edozie’s shot struck the post and rolled in off of Ricardo Calafiori.

As it happened

Arsenal hadn’t scored in the opening five minutes of a top flight game for two years, but took immediate control of proceedings when Declan Rice was given far too much time to bend an accurate cross into Saka.

The England international weaved his way into the six yard box undetected and headed under the body of home goalkeeper José Sá and into the net in for his eighth goal in all competitions this season.

Rice then went close to a second just three minutes later after Wolves conceded possession too easily inside their own half and the midfielder was fed the ball by Viktor Gyökeres, but curled his low effort wide.

Rob Edwards suffered a blow as new signing Angel Gomes hobbled off injured part-way through the first half, to compound the fact his side had mustered next to nothing in the final third.

It took the hosts 46 minutes to register a shot on target as Andre shot wide from the edge of the box, moments before penalty appeals were waived away for his challenge on Hincapié after a swift counter-attack.

Wolves made a much brighter start to the second half, and new signing Adam Armstrong wasn’t far from a spectacular equalizer when he fired a powerful strike from range just over the bar with his left foot.

But their spell was seemingly short lifted as left-back Hincapié delayed his run in behind the home side’s defense onto Gabriel’s through ball and blasted a shot past Sá and into the roof of the net, yet the flag raised for offside.

The video assistant referee took its time to review the footage, and eventually ruled that the assistant referee’s call was in error before reinstating the Ecuadorian’s goal.

But two of Wolves’ Buenos combined on the hour mark to haul them back into the game, as centre-back Santiago found left wing-back Hugo and the Spaniard curled home brilliantly with his left foot.

The visitors had their tails up at times with the end of the game approaching and did their best to run the clock down, but it would be made irrelevant as Gabriel competed for the same cross with his goalkeeper Raya.

Arsenal’s number one dropped the ball, allowing substitute Edozie the chance to lash a shot towards goal, which struck the post and rebounded off of Calafiori and into the net to stun the Gunners.

It meant Arteta’s side missed the opportunity to go seven points clear at the top of the league, and that Manchester City could go within just two with a victory away to Leeds at the weekend.

Wolves remained rooted to the foot of the table, 17 points behind Nottingham Forest, but certainly took some enjoyment from causing the latest dramatic twist in the title race.

Arsenal analysis: is Saka’s new position a permanent one?

Remember that time Wales legend Gareth Bale was playing as a wing back for Southampton? Neither. It’s likely that Bukayo Saka’s exploits out wide won’t be lost to the mists of time anywhere near as easily, the real question is whether his move into the number 10 position will be a permanent one.

Players in this area are expected to prioritize scoring goals above most, if not all attacking returns depending on the tactical system. Saka’s scoring ability and exemplary off-the-ball movement were already common knowledge, and he put it to good use in timing his run in behind the Wolves defense to perfection before heading in the opener.

And as BBC Sport picked up on in their analysis of Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Wigan in the FA Cup, Saka’s position often seemed interchangeable with Noni Madueke, also a dangerous winger in front of goal, who found space in the channel after his teammate drifted out wide and dragged an opposition player with him.

Wolves had good reason to do this, with Saka’s speed and ball carrying ability in tight spaces able to threaten the world’s very best defenses, let alone the weakest team in the Premier League by some distance.

Saka operating principally from the middle, yet having a license to move wherever he seems fit to open up space for his teammates, could prove highly beneficial given Mikel Arteta’s means-tested system in which any of his front three or midfield personnel are able to find the net.

This might also come to Arteta’s relief if it works against higher quality opposition, with the only tangible criticism of his otherwise impeccable Gunners this season being their over-reliance on set-pieces and preference to control matches before they are actually won.

In plain terms, not only does it give Saka the chance to add to, by his past standards, a slightly underwhelming goal tally in 2025/26, it also opens up space in the starting lineup for Madueke. With two goals and one assist in 772 Premier League minutes, the World Cup hopeful has shown much promise with his limited time on the pitch and is well worth a test as a core member of the team.

But with natural attacking midfielder Ebere Eze and Brazilian talisman Gabriel Jesus making cameos off the bench, who can and have made useful contributions in their respective positions this season, there are many external factors that could determine where Saka finds himself on the pitch just as much as his future performances.

Wolves analysis: a good show of character, but character won’t be enough

It was the same old story for Wolves for much of the game: muddled in their shape off the ball, seemingly eager to press yet unable to make the ground when undone at one moment, then sit compact behind the ball only to lose their men time and time again, and passive up top.

Their first shot of the game arrived after 46 minutes, and Hugo Bueno had to take matters into his own hands with a brilliant effort from distance to beat David Raya – but they simply won’t be allowed these kinds of chance on a regular basis, and must carve opportunities out for themselves.

At half time, former Gunner Paul Merson suggested on Sky Sports that Wolves could be happy going into half time just the goal down and that Arsenal didn’t capitalize on their poor display and kill the game off early.

If it’s any consolation for their supporters, Wolves improved in the second half and gave Arsenal some defending to do – but it was scrappy, speculative, and largely incohesive going forward.

It took a moment of miscommunication from David Raya for the home side to have a shot at drawing, and while credit is due for keeping themselves in the fight against the top flight’s top team it won’t suffice if they are to complete the greatest escape the league has ever seen.

Liverpool and Nico Williams

Teamtalk reports that Liverpool have been contacted about a move for Nico Williams. The Spain star only signed a new contract with Athletic Bilbao last summer but it appears he could be on the move again in 2026.

That deal came with a release clause, the report states, costing around €100m. Williams may be willing to finally move in the summer, should a team pay it.

And Liverpool have been alerted. The suggestion there is that the winger would be open to a move to Anfield if they're also open to it.

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has revealed that he has held talks with Reo Hatate as he looks to get the Japanese midfielder back to his best. The creative midfielder has come under criticism for lacklustre and careless displays in the middle of the park, struggling to find the form that made him a favourite at the club.

As reported by Sun Sport, O’Neill was quizzed as to whether he thought there may be an attitude issue present with Hatate or his compatriot Maeda.

“I don’t think, that’s the case. It might have existed in the last couple of months or something, you think going back to Reo and Maeda.

“But since the window he just has to try to regain form.

“He has said to me he wants to really knuckle down.

“Some of these lads are maybe concerned about not getting into World Cup squads in the summertime.

“That eventually will be a byproduct of what you do here. He’s got to really knuckle down and be the player he was.

“I think you’d tell me he was a proper player about two years ago.

“I just think he’s searching for form, I think that’s what it is.

“And in fairness to the lad, he stays behind to do extra and wants to do things.

“He’s not the first one to leave the pitch at the end of training.

“I just think he’s frustrated with it because of the player he was. And then he has to find the reasons for it.

“And I must admit, I haven’t had enough time to look back at his glory moments and see what he was doing then, doing differently now, or not doing now that he did then.

“So I haven’t had a chance to see it. Obviously, the people around the football club tell me.

“It would be better if I checked it out myself or got a better understanding of it.

“But he wants the full commitment now, between now and the end of the season. And that’s what he wants to do.”

In O’Neill’s first spell this season, Hatate was a strong performer but since the Irishman returned, Hatate has struggled. The red card against Bologna didn’t impress many as Celtic were in the ascendancy at that point. Hopefully, we can get the positive Hatate in the midfield that can help unlock midfields and not the clumsy midfielder that we’ve seen in recent weeks.

Hatate could be a pivotal figure against Stuttgart as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain isn’t registered and Arne Engels is sidelined. The manager is surely teeing up the Japanese star to start.

Leeds United are back in the ePremier League - and this year it’s a big one.

The Whites will be represented by Donovan 'Tekkz' Hunt and Jacob 'NiKSNEB' Benskin, two of the very best EA SPORTS FC players on the planet. With £100,000 prize money and FC Pro World Championship qualification on the line, the stakes are higher than ever.

Here’s everything you need to know to follow the tournament from the first kickoff to the final whistle.

THE FORMAT

The 2025/26 ePremier League season ends with two weekends of live, in-person competition on PlayStation 5, featuring 40 players representing all 20 Premier League clubs.

Week 1 - Group Stage (21-22 February)

• Clubs are seeded using the FC Pro Global Rankings
• Each club competes inside its group
• Every result matters - group performance directly determines knockout seeding
• A hot start gives a major advantage later on

This is the stage where Leeds fans should pay closest attention. Early momentum can decide whether the Whites get a favourable route to the trophy.

Final Weekend - Knockouts (28–29 March)

The second weekend switches to a full elimination bracket.

• Clubs face each other head-to-head
• Lose and you’re out
• Win and you move closer to becoming ePremier League Champions
• One team survives. That’s it.

HOW TO WATCH

Leeds United fans will be able to follow Tekkz and NiKSNEB's ePremier League journey, every step of the way, from the Group Stage and Finals, via:

• Sky Sports
• Premier League YouTube channel
• EA SPORTS FC Twitch channel

THE COMPETITION

The ePremier League isn’t a small invitational - it’s effectively the Premier League season in esports form. All 20 clubs are represented, meaning Leeds must outplay 19 other teams across group and knockout stages.

The finalists are:

PREVIOUS WINNERS

Leeds already have history in this competition, having won the competition in 2022/23 with Stokes and Ollelito, the last time a pairing that didn't include Tekkz won.

• 2018/19: Tekkz (Liverpool)
• 2019/20: Tom Leese (Watford)
• 2020/21: Shellzz (Man City)
• 2021/22: Damie & Goal Poacher (Norwich)
• 2022/23: Stokes & Ollelito (Leeds United)
• 2023/24: Tekkz & Bonanno (Man City)
• 2024/25: Tekkz & Bonanno (Man City)

So yes - the Whites have lifted it before, and now Tekkz arrives at Elland Road colours with serious pedigree. Pairing him with NiKSNEB gives us arguably one of the strongest duos in the tournament.

Manchester United’s midfield problems are well known, and INEOS are likely to address this once the transfer window opens in the summer.

The Red Devils have prepared a three-man shortlist, with all of them from within the Premier League. Brighton and Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba, Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest, and Crystal Palace ace Adam Wharton.

The Seagulls star was close to arriving in the summer, only for Brighton’s valuation to prove beyond United’s reach.

His current form and asking price do not go hand in hand, which is why the Forest star has overtaken him in the pecking order.

Acquiring Premier League targets will be complicated

However, Manchester City are leading the race for him, which leaves only Wharton. And the Palace midfielder’s cost and desire to only play for a Champions League club are prohibitive factors.

Which is why INEOS are trying to cast a wider net, and one of their targets from Serie A is a player they know well.

Khephren Thuram, formerly of INEOS-owned OGC Nice, has taken his game to the next level since he joined Juventus.

Last season, the French maestro scored five goals and registered eight assists, and he has carried on in the same vein in the current campaign.

Khephren Thuram is a long-term target for United

He has two goals and three assists to his name while dictating play from deep, a profile United are looking for.

According to Teamtalk, the Bianconeri are desperate to keep a hold of the 24-year-old and are advancing in talks over a contract extension.

“Manchester United and Liverpool are bracing for disappointment over Khephren Thuram, TEAMtalk understands, as he looks set to follow Kenan Yildiz in committing his long‑term future to Juventus despite strong and persistent interest from England.

“The two Premier League giants are actively in the market for new midfielders this summer, and Thuram had been high on their radars, but the 24‑year‑old now looks set to remain in Serie A.

Juventus desperate to keep hold of him

“Both clubs have been keeping close tabs on Thuram, with United’s admiration stretching back to his emergence at INEOS‑owned Nice, and Liverpool long convinced he could elevate their midfield.

“But those hopes are fading fast as Juventus accelerate negotiations and close in on an agreement they believe will keep the midfielder in black and white for years to come. If a deal is not completed, then Liverpool and United will be attentive to the situation.”

His current deal is valid until 2029, and he is valued at €40 million as per Transfermarkt. United are crying out for a midfielder with his athleticism and ball-carrying ability.

Whether there is a late twist in the tale remains to be seen.

Feature image Alessandro Sabattini via Getty Images

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The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

An Iowa fan and his phone got up close and personal with Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg Tuesday night. 

Hoiberg was not having it. He smacked the phone out of the fan's hand as Iowa fans rushed the court during the postgame handshake line. He also inadvertently smacked an Iowa staffer in the back of his head on his follow through. Hoiberg and the Iowa staffer quickly made nice.

Video from the stands captured the incident.

The fan whose phone got smacked captured first-person footage.

The unidentified fan — or someone nearby — screamed "nice game, buddy" in Hoiberg's face just prior to the smack.

Hoiberg's Cornhuskers were fresh off a 57-52 loss to the Hawkeyes. It was their fourth loss in six games following a 20-0 start. He was in no mood to be taunted.

As of Wednesday afternoon, there was no announced discipline for Hoiberg. Per the Lincoln Journal Star, Nebraska athletics declined a request for comment on the incident and referred questions to the Big Ten office. The Big Ten has yet to address the incident publicly. 

Iowa responds

Iowa released a statement Wednesday afternoon addressing the court storm and the fan. 

"Unfortunately, an individual gained access to the court through a restricted area, directly confronting coach Hoiberg and putting Nebraska players, coaches and staff in a reactive situation," the statement reads.

"We apologize for this incident and will conduct a review of our procedures and security measures to determine what adjustments may be needed to further strengthen our protocols and help prevent similar incidents in the future."

More court storming drama

Tuesday's court storm was the latest to raise the ire of a prominent head coach. 

Duke head coach Jon Scheyer claimed after a last-second road loss to rival North Carolina on Feb. 7 that a member of his coaching staff "got punched in the face" in the ensuing court storm, leaving him with a bloody lip. 

There's so far been no footage or evidence to confirm Scheyer's account, prompting Orange County District Attorney, Jeff Nieman — a UNC graduate — to dispute Scheyer's claim. 

Tempers are flaring across college basketball, and it's not even March yet. 

Leading women-led gender-justice organization UltraViolet demanded that Casey Wasserman be removed as chairman of LA28.

Thousands of activists have signed the petition, according to the organization, calling for the founder of his eponymous agency to step down from his post ahead of the 2028 Olympics.

“We urge you to remove Casey Wasserman as Chair immediately,” the petition reads. “A person who enabled Jeffrey Epstein’s child abuse network shouldn’t lead the 2028 Olympics Committee. We don’t want someone who enabled one of the most notorious pedophiles of our time representing the U.S. on a world stage.”

This statement echoed sentiments shared by L.A. Mayor Karen Bass calling for the entertainment mogul’s removal after suggestive emails were leaked between him and convicted child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.

“No one who cavorted with Epstein and Maxwell should be allowed to represent us on a world stage like the 2028 Olympics,” said Elisa Batista, campaign director at UltraViolet. “This event is meant to showcase the best our country has to offer, not rehabilitate the reputation of a pedophile-enabler like Wasserman.”

The petition comes after several prominent names left Wasserman’s agency over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein’s confidante, Maxwell. Chappell Roan, Abby Wambach, Orville Peck and Laufey, among others, left the agency completely.

Wasserman has announced he will sell his nearly 40% stake in the company. The agency will also be renamed. Providence Equity Partners, which currently holds more than 60% of the sports and talent agency, said it supports the sports and talent rep’s leadership transition. People close to the situation told TheWrap that Wasserman has handed over the reins to Mike Watts and left the agency’s day-to-day operations.

More to come…

The post Thousands of Activists Sign Petition to Remove Casey Wasserman as Chairman of LA28 appeared first on TheWrap.

The elite statistical company that makes the Diamondbacks a 2026 threat originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It was a rollercoaster of an offseason for the Arizona Diamondbacks and their fanbase. For much of the winter, fans were starting to accept that Ketel Marte would be gone. 

However, instead of shipping him elsewhere, Arizona doubled down and acquired Nolan Arenado in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals. 

You also cannot overlook the team re-signing Zac Gallen. The two sides agreed on a one-year deal, as his offseason did not go as planned.

MORE: Diamondbacks' Tyler Locklear could be in store for a monster season at the plate

The elite statistical company that makes the Diamondbacks a 2026 threat

Now that the starting rotation and lineup are shored up, fans are starting to get excited for the new season. On paper, they should be a better team than they were last year, but that is not a guarantee. 

According to MLB.com's Jared Greenspan, the success will come down to the trio of Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte, and Geraldo Perdomo, who are projected to be one of the most elite trios in 2026. 

"Ketel Marte will begin the 2026 season in Arizona. That keeps one of the league's top-of-the-order trios intact in Marte, Corbin Carroll, and Geraldo Perdomo. FanGraphs projects each player to clear the 4-WAR threshold in 2026; the D-backs are one of just three teams (along with the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets) with three position players projected to accumulate at least 4.0 WAR."

The D-backs are just one of three teams, including the Dodgers and Mets, to have three position players projected to accumulate a 4.0 WAR. That is pretty good company to be in. 

If everyone can stay healthy, this could be a team that will be players at the deadline. And adding another big-time name could put this team in a contending status. 

Don't sleep on the D-backs as they enter the 2026 season with some newfound hope.

More MLB news:

• MLB analyst pinpoints three veterans key to the Astros returning to form
• MLB analyst pinpoints the three hitters key to a Rangers' postseason return
• The Giants' success hinges on an offense finally outperforming its projections
• Everything points toward a massive offensive breakout for Bryce Eldridge this year
• Pirates' Jared Triolo looks to carry his strong second half into a massive 2026 season

Patrik Schick scored twice in a four-minute spell to steer Bayer Leverkusen to a 2-0 win at Olympiacos in the first leg of their Champions League knockout tie on Wednesday.

Having beaten Leverkusen at the same venue in January in the group stage, Olympiacos were again impressive but were undone by Schick's quick-fire brace midway through the second-half. 

Leverkusen's win puts them in the driver's seat ahead of next week's return leg in Germany, with the winners of this tie set to face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the last 16. 

Despite making it to the 2002 Champions League final, Wednesday's victory was remarkably Leverkusen's first away win in the knockout stages of the competition in their history. 

It was also just their second victory in the knockout stages in 13 games dating back to that 2002 final, lost 2-1 to Real Madrid at Hampden Park. 

In the lead-up to the match, Greek media reported Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis, the billionaire shipping magnate who also owns Premier League side Nottingham Forest, promised players a "record" bonus should they make it past Leverkusen.

As if spurred on, the hosts were brilliant early, pinning Leverkusen back in their own half in a breathless opening 25 minutes, forcing the visitors to attack on the counter.

Leverkusen absorbed the pressure and before going close after 28 minutes when home Ibrahim Maza forced home goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis into an acrobatic save. 

Olympiacos forward Ayoub El Kaabi turned the ball in from a free-kick just before half-time but VAR found teammate Mehdi Taremi, who was offside, had lightly touched the ball, cancelling out the goal. 

The hosts once again pinned Leverkusen back after the break but Leverkusen took their chance to hit on the break on the hour mark.

Poku won the ball in his own half and advanced goalwards before threading a superb pass to Schick, who guided his strike into the bottom corner.

The stunned hosts were unpicked again just three minutes later when Grimaldo swung in a pinpoint corner which Schick headed home to put the visitors in a commanding position. 

dwi/dmc

The Detroit Lions officially absorbed another chunk of future salary-cap weight this week.

As of February 14, the contracts of linebacker Alex Anzalone and defensive tackle D.J. Reader were formally voided, locking in additional dead money on Detroit’s 2026 salary cap.

How Much Dead Cap Are the Lions Carrying?

With both contracts now voided, the Lions are currently carrying $9,287,290 in total dead cap for 2026, ranking 17th in the NFL, according to Spotrac.

Anzalone and Reader alone account for $4,929,000 of that figure.

Spotrac summarized the situation clearly:

“The contracts of DL D.J. Reader & LB Alex Anzalone are set to void today, leaving behind $4,929,000 of dead cap in 2026. The 31-year-olds should each draw solid interest on the open market next month.”

What a Voided Contract Actually Means

While the term “voided” can sound alarming, it does not mean either player is immediately free to sign elsewhere.

• Both players will officially become unrestricted free agents on March 11, when the new league year begins
• Detroit can begin negotiating with them on March 9, during the NFL’s legal tampering window
• The dead cap charges are locked in, regardless of whether either player returns

In other words, even if the Lions re-sign Anzalone, Reader, or both, the dead money cannot be removed or adjusted.

Detroit Still Has Options

Despite the cap hit, Detroit isn’t boxed into losing either player.

• Alex Anzalone remains a core leader on defense and a trusted voice in the locker room
• D.J. Reader brought interior toughness and experience to the defensive line

General manager Brad Holmes can still work out new deals if both sides see mutual value—just with the understanding that the cap consequences are already baked into the 2026 books.

Bigger Picture: Cap Management, Not Panic

This type of cap maneuvering is common for competitive teams pushing windows forward. The Lions knew these charges were coming, and they were planned accordingly.

While the numbers sting on paper, they don’t signal trouble—just the cost of doing business as Detroit balances roster continuity with long-term flexibility.

The post Contracts of Two Detroit Lions Void, Adding to 2026 Dead Cap Total appeared first on Detroit Sports Nation.

Clarinha's reunion with the Brazilian National Team holds special significance. First called up in 2022, the midfielder saw her dream of competing in the South American U-17 Championship interrupted by an injury during the preparation for the competition. Four years later, she returns to the group more mature for the U-20 category and ready to seize the opportunity she had to postpone. Her journey back began with friendly matches against Mexico in Goiânia, when Clarinha donned the National Team jersey once again. Subsequently, she joined the preparation period at Granja Comary and secured her spot on coach Camilla Orlando's final list for the continental competition, solidifying her return to the Brazilian team.

With dual Brazilian and Portuguese nationality, Clarinha built her football career in Europe. Since 2020 at Benfica, she has progressed through all stages to reach the main team in the 2025/2026 season. Her recent growth is also reflected in numbers: she has already played six official matches across the Women’s Champions League, Portuguese League, and Taça de Portugal. Accustomed to the pace and demands of European football, the midfielder highlighted one of the main differences compared to the South American style.

Clarinha during warm-up with the Brazilian National Team in the South American Championship in Paraguay Credits: Staff Images / CBF

"I think one of the main differences is the intensity. The girls are much faster from Brazil or any South American country compared to Portugal, that's a difference I feel a lot," she stated.

At the same time, she emphasizes that her experience abroad has helped develop a more strategic view of the game, something she aims to bring to the Brazilian National Team. "We work a lot on game reading in Portugal, in my team. Since my first year in the youth team, we are always working on what the teams will do, what is best for us to do, always thinking a lot about the game. I also tried to bring a bit of that from my experience here to the National Team, to help the girls in the best way possible," she explained.

Clarinha during the match against Argentina in the first phase of the South American Championship in Paraguay Credits: Staff Images / CBF

Clarinha has already been on the field against Ecuador and Argentina. This Thursday (19), the player will be available for the match against Colombia at 8 PM (Brasília time), at the Luis Alfonso Giagni Stadium, in the Paraguayan city of Villa Elisa, for the second round of the final phase of the South American Championship. Back in the National Team environment, Clarinha also highlighted how the group prepares to face the challenges of the decisive phase and reinforced the importance of collective work in the face of different opponents' strategies. While Europe brought tactical evolution, it is in the National Team that Clarinha finds something she considers essential: the essence of Brazilian football.

"I think each game is a game, I think all the difficulties will appear and we will work on them in training. Every training session has something different that we will address. Each team has a different strategy. I think we will overcome the difficulties together. I think, of course, there will be moments in the game when we might be on top, there will be moments when we might be down, but we will always try to come out on top. One of the things I like most when I come here to the national team is the joy of playing football, of being free," she says.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

Head Coach Cael Sanderson and 184 lb starter Rocco Welsh met with the media ahead of #1 Penn State’s dual vs Princeton on Senior Night at 7pm at Rec Hall on Friday, February 20.

Cael Sanderson – Head Coach

Consistency of challenge rules and review calls

I don’t know. I think it’s a little tricky because it just went from one extreme to the other, so I don’t really have any answers for that off the top of my head. I think it is a little different based on each individual ref. Some refs are going to call it a little slower than others, but you just have to secure the takedown obviously and hold them. (00:12 – 00:37)

Limited number of wrestlers participating in Senior Day

You’re right, we don’t have a lot of guys walking, which is good for the program. It’s not as good if you’re trying to bring new guys in and you have a roster cap, but obviously you’re planning and you see what’s going to happen in the future. We have a special group of guys that will be walking, and they’ve obviously meant a lot to the program. The last four or five years they’ve been here have been remarkable. (00:54 – 01:21)

Early impressions of Levi Haines and his recruitment

He is just a kid who continued to get better when you’re watching him in high school. Everything we heard about him was just all the things you look for in a student-athlete. He was just getting better every year, and he was also a kid who just wanted to come here. I remember the conversation I had with him when we could recruit him—it was early, like July or something—and he wasn’t worried about scholarship. We agreed on maybe half a scholarship at the time and just promised him we’d do the best we could for him, and he wasn’t worried about that. He just wanted to come here. We did our best to take good care of him, and obviously he’s taken very good care of us. He just keeps getting better. He’s a great leader. He is not a guy you’re excited to see graduate from a leadership standpoint, but you’re excited for him. Every stage in life is designed to be more exciting, I think. He has given a great effort every day in here and every time he steps on the mat. We love that. (01:38 – 02:43)

Impact of M2 Training Center and family on Levi Haines

I think M2 was huge for him. Obviously, there are great training partners and coaching there. His dad is a tremendous resource for him. Just his approach helped Levi [Haines] to love to compete and was really positive with him. That made a big difference because parents set the foundation for kids and the way they approach competition, whether good or bad. I think his parenting couldn’t be better. Obviously M2 and his high school program were great, but he was a kid wrestling—his dad wrestled at Lock Haven and did a nice job there—but he was just a great leader for him. His mom as well. It’s a whole group of people who do a great job, but seeing him come up through the system and then come here and kick butt has been a lot of fun. (02:48 – 03:43)

Future training at the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club for Levi Haines

We haven’t had that conversation with him, but we kind of have, actually. He’s a guy that you don’t let leave. We’ll do everything we can to keep him here, keep him a part of the program, and training here. (03:46 – 04:00)

Qualities of Levi Haines as a leader and teammate

He’s everybody’s friend. He’s kind and has a big heart, which is really cool. He is a tremendous competitor and very consistent every day. He’s very genuine, a caring person, and a fierce competitor. What you see with him is what you get. When you get him in these interviews, you know he’s just a good dude. (04:06 – 04:31)

Assessing the team’s readiness for the postseason

We are just sharpening our spears right now. Obviously, we have a big match on Friday, and then one more match before we start focusing on the postseason. (04:41 – 04:50)

Status of Braeden Davis and his path to peaking in March

I think he was a little behind starting late, and so training has been a little different for him. He’ll be at his best in March, and that’s something we’re excited to see. (05:04 – 05:18)

Lessons learned for Braeden Davis from the Jesse Mendez match

He learns what not to do in some cases and just makes sure he has a better game plan. The big thing is just don’t get discouraged and don’t die of shame. It’s just one match, it’s history, and we’re on to the next. (05:22 – 05:44)

The role of outside passions like hunting for Levi Haines

I would rather him be out in the tree stand hunting and checking his cameras than downtown at the bar. That goes without saying. It takes a lot of patience. You have to have other passions and other things that give you life and joy, and that’s something he really loves. Obviously he loves wrestling, but being well-rounded and having something else to look forward to is important. He is a great guy that you would have host recruits, but you have to plan it out in advance because you want him to do what he loves doing. He loves hunting, so you want him to be out in the tree stand on those recruiting weekends. It’s all good. He loves it, he’s a good dude, and obviously in central Pennsylvania, a lot of kids love to hunt and fish here. (06:01 – 07:08)

Takeaways from Marcus Blaze’s win over Ben Davino

You have two of the best guys in the country. It was a tough match that showed Marcus [Blaze]‘s competitive nature. It was probably not the way we want to get it done, and we’re going to probably see that guy a couple more times. Ben [Davino] is a great competitor, but we can go get a takedown or score in regulation. It was a great match and showed his poise and ability to land on his feet in a tough spot and figure it out. (07:25 – 07:59)

Marcus Blaze’s patience and scoring approach against Ben Davino

You can watch the film and see he’s moving forward and being aggressive. We just have to figure out how to go get a takedown. (08:11 – 08:18)

Confidence and consistency of Cole Mirasola

I think he’s consistent. He was pumped and obviously excited to win against a national title contender in front of a record-breaking crowd. But he’s the same guy. He is very consistent win or lose, and he’ll just keep improving as he moves on. We’re happy for him. (08:32 – 08:58)

Development of Cole Mirasola’s mindset for big matches

He’s a sincere, honest guy and he loves competing. He loves those big matches—that’s why he and his brother came here. If you love that atmosphere and you can be yourself, then everything’s going to work out. He’ll always be great in those big moments. As we get into the postseason, he’ll be at his best. (09:15 – 09:44)

Relationship between Nate Desmond and Braeden Davis at 141 lbs

They’re fine. They are not looking at it like they’re trading spots. Nate [Desmond] was ready and filled in when we needed him and did an awesome job for us. (09:52 – 09:59)

Encouraging outside interests and Cael’s background in art

It’s good to find something where you can find relief mentally and just enjoy it. We don’t really encourage anything; just do what you enjoy doing. I studied art in school, so I spent hours painting and drawing. Looking back, it was probably a great opportunity to relax and go to a completely different world for a while. That’s good because wrestling comes to an end soon, even if you go into coaching or freestyle. You have to figure out other passions so you don’t have all your eggs in one basket. If somebody’s passionate about something, don’t wait until you’re done wrestling before you get out there. It’s just discipline with time. Part of a proper high-level training plan is spending time doing what you enjoy doing so when you do compete, you’re fresh and ready to go. (10:16 – 11:25)

Rocco Welsh – Sophomore, 184 lbs

Experience fitting into the Penn State program after transferring

It was pretty easy to fit in. From day one they accepted me, and I felt like a family since the beginning. It was never a challenge to fit in, but over time I am starting to really feel more comfortable. Being here for a while, I am starting to feel way more comfortable and feel like I can fit in better now, but it was never a challenge; it’s just getting more comfortable pretty much. (00:12 – 00:42)

Keys to the late-match resurgence and securing two takedowns

I think just never really getting down on yourself, no matter what happens in the match. Obviously, it was kind of worst-case scenario: he got riding time and a takedown and then an escape too. I didn’t really have any negative thoughts; I just stayed positive. I felt like I could still win no matter what. I feel like I always have more to give, especially at the end of matches. I knew if I sprinted I could get one. I got him quick, so I was like, “Let’s go get another one.” He looked pretty tired and I could feel him tire out, so it got pretty easy once he got tired. (00:54 – 01:33)

Handling the match against his former team

I had some thoughts about it, going up against my former team, but I just tried to act like it was any other match. I treated it the same because at the end of the day, it’s not that big of a deal. They’re just another team. I’m a Penn State wrestler and I wrestle on a different team, so I tried not to think about it too much and just acted like it was any other team. (01:44 – 02:07)

Takeaways from overcoming adversity against a high-caliber opponent

I think it was a positive. The first period wasn’t a positive, but the match as a whole was positive because I overcame adversity and got a victory in a pretty crazy environment against a tough opponent. He’s pretty hard to score on—watching him against other guys, it’s always overtime and close matches—but I was able to score twice in under two minutes when I needed it. I’m thinking pretty positive coming out of that match. I just need to fix a couple small things in the first period and then I can really dominate that match. (02:27 – 03:03)

Impressions of the environment during the match

That was crazy. That was definitely awesome. It was like a dream come true to be in an environment like that. That was cool. (03:05 – 03:13)

Reflection on the original recruitment process and committing elsewhere first

Cael [Sanderson] did recruit me. I was just young and didn’t really know what I was doing. I committed too soon. I don’t regret it, but if I could go back, I would definitely come here from the beginning. I think God took me that direction and brought me here; it’s all part of His plan. I was just quick to make a decision and I was thinking about who was here and if I would have to fight to make a spot. It all worked out perfectly and I’m glad I’m here now. (03:22 – 03:59)

How growing up in Waynesburg and the coal mining culture shaped his work ethic

It’s funny you say coal mines because my grandpa, my dad, and my uncle were all coal miners. It’s just a tough area where everyone is a hard worker. Waynesburg just breeds good wrestlers and tough kids. Even the kids that aren’t wrestlers are pretty tough. It makes it easy for a sport like wrestling where you have to be tough. There isn’t a whole lot to do there either, so you kind of just have to train or you can go down the wrong path. You just stay focused, train, and get better at your stuff. (04:13 – 04:51)

Lessons learned from working with Associate Head Coach Casey Cunningham

I love working with Coach Casey [Cunningham]. It’s been awesome since the beginning. He never really tries to change too much; some coaches will try to change you, but he doesn’t do that. He sees what I do good and then he just adds in the stuff that I need. He’s been so helpful in helping me progress and get to the next level. (05:06 – 05:25)

Confidence gained from reaching the NCAA finals as a freshman

Being in that situation already really helps because not a lot of guys have been there before, competing in the national finals. It definitely helps with confidence because I’ve already done it before. Hopefully, I can change the result in the finals, but just being in that situation helps. (05:32 – 06:02)

Current training partners in the Penn State room

I go with Josh [Barr] before every match to warm up. He wrestles at a super high pace; you have to lock in because he’s going to bring the pace. I went with Levi [Haines] yesterday; we went top-bottom and he is super hard to get out on. Everybody is good somewhere in this room. You have Mitchell [Mesenbrink] and he’s always shooting, so you have to be ready to sprawl. (06:15 – 06:46)

Michigan football doesn't exactly have an expansive class in 2027 quite yet, especially considering the old staff tended to prioritize the summer visit cycle as the time when it would build the class out. But on Tuesday, the recruiting department didn't just take a hit with general manager Sean Magee and director of recruiting Sam Popper moving on, but also in the class itself.

First reported by ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel, longtime Michigan commit Peter Bourque, thought to be the quarterback of the 2027 class, decommitted from his pledge to the Wolverines.

NEWS: Class of 2027 quarterback recruit Peter Bourque has de-committed from Michigan, he told ESPN. Bourque is ESPN’s No. 130 overall recruit in the Class of 2027 and is a Top 10 quarterback recruit. He plans to re-open his recruitment. pic.twitter.com/Pmy7gchfJI

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) February 18, 2026

With Bourque no longer in the fold, Kyle Whittingham's inherited class features just three commitments -- four-star edge rusher Recarder Kitchen, and three-star interior offensive linemen Tristan Dare and Louis Esposito, the latter of whom reaffirmed his pledge after Whittingham's hire.

“Just uncertainty, I’d say,” Bourque told Rivals' Steve Wiltfong. (subscription required) “I want to make sure I’m making the best decision. I’m going to take some visits this spring. I’m not sure where. I think it’s the right thing to do to be decommitted for that.”

There is some speculation that there is mutual interest between Michigan and Illinois four-star QB commit Kamden Lopati. Lopati hails from Salt Lake City (Utah) West -- Whittingham and staff's old stomping grounds. He is rated the No. 149 player in the country by the 247Sports Composite, regardless of position.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football: Peter Bourque decommits from 2027 class

The 2026 NBA All-Star break continues. We're in the final stages of it as teams across the league get ready to play the final one-third of the 2025-26 regular season and beyond.

The Oklahoma City Thunder badly needed the week-long vacation. They've juggled injuries all season, but have reached a point where they're starting to affect their win-loss record.

The reigning NBA champions have been atop the NBA standings all season. But a mediocre two-month stretch has slowly erased their margin for error. We're at the point now where a couple of other teams are right there with them for the first seed.

Here's a look at the Western Conference standings at the 2026 NBA All-Star break:

Feb. 18 East standings:

• 1. Oklahoma City Thunder 42-14 — GB
• 2. San Antonio Spurs 38-16 — 3 GB
• 3. Denver Nuggets 35-20 — 6.5 GB
• 4. Houston Rockets 33-20 — 7.5 GB
• 5. Los Angeles Lakers 33-21 — 8 GB
• 6. Minnesota Timberwolves 34-22 — 8 GB
• 7. Phoenix Suns 32-23 — 9.5 GB
• 8. Golden State Warriors 29-26 — 12.5 GB
• 9. Portland Trail Blazers 27-29 — 15 GB
• 10. LA Clippers 26-28 — 15 GB
• 11. Memphis Grizzlies 20-33 — 20.5 GB
• 12. Dallas Mavericks 19-35 — 22 GB
• 13. Utah Jazz 18-38 — 24 GB
• 14. New Orleans Pelicans 15-41 — 27 GB
• 15. Sacramento Kings 12-44 — 30 GB

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: NBA West standings update: Where do OKC Thunder sit at All-Star break?

Bodo/Glimt continued their remarkable debut Champions League campaign with a 3-1 victory over Inter Milan in the knockout play-off round first leg on Wednesday, as Kasper Hogh scored once and created two other goals.

The Norwegians only snuck into the knock-out stage with shock victories over Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in their final two league-phase matches.

Kjetil Knutsen's men backed up those performances by adding last season's runners-up Inter to their list of scalps.

Cristian Chivu's Serie A leaders will still be confident of turning the tie around in the second leg at the San Siro next Tuesday, despite struggling on the artificial pitch of the Aspmyra Stadion in northern Norway.

But Bodo/Glimt, Europa League semi-finalists last term, have given themselves a chance of securing a major surprise, and a last-16 meeting with either Man City or Sporting Lisbon.

The hosts took a 20th-minute lead with a fine team goal, finished off with aplomb by Sondre Brunstad Fet after he latched onto Hogh's clever flick inside the area.

But Bodo could not keep their advantage for long as Inter youngster Pio Esposito swivelled inside the box and fired home on the half-hour mark, with the goal surviving a lengthy VAR review for handball.

Inter almost scored in the first minute after the restart when Lautaro Martinez's instinctive close-range shot bobbled off the post.

The Norwegians moved back in front in the 61st minute as they caught Inter short at the back and Jens Petter Hauge rifled the ball into the roof of the net after being teed up by Hogh.

Bodo's third goal arrived just three minutes later, as Patrick Berg put Ole Didrik Blomberg through on goal with a cute dinked pass and he squared it for Hogh to tap into an empty net.

Danish striker Hogh has now scored four goals in his last three Champions League appearances following a double against Man City and the winner to defeat Atletico.

Inter pushed to cut the deficit, but Carlos Augusto's blocked shot from eight yards out was the closest they came despite some late pressure.

jc/bc

Juventus have suffered their second dramatic defeat in the space of a few days after Galatasaray secured a 5-2 victory over them in the Champions League last night. The result followed a 3-2 loss to Inter Milan in their previous outing, leaving the Bianconeri reeling from consecutive setbacks at a crucial stage of the season.

Having been beaten by Inter, Juventus travelled to Turkiye seeking a positive response. Instead, they endured another punishing evening and now face a considerable challenge in the second leg of the playoff tie. While comebacks are not uncommon in European competition and Juve will believe that scoring three goals in Turin is achievable if Galatasaray managed the same at home, significant concerns remain, particularly in defence.

Defensive Concerns Mount

A key moment in the match came when Gleison Bremer pulled up injured in Turkiye. His absence has frequently coincided with defensive vulnerability, and when he does not feature, Juventus have often struggled to maintain solidity at the back. The Old Lady will hope that his replacement can rise to the occasion in the return fixture, yet questions linger over the team’s resilience.

There is also speculation over whether the emotional toll of the defeat to Inter Milan had a lingering impact. Consecutive high-intensity fixtures can drain both physical and mental energy, and the timing of these losses has intensified scrutiny.

Piotr Zielinski (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Costacurta Questions Mental Energy

As reported by Calciomercato, Alessandro Costacurta shared his assessment of the situation after observing the recent performances. He said, “What do I think after this defeat? I think the team is improving, that Locatelli from the last two months is a player we can count on, but I’m afraid that Inter Juve, in terms of mental energy, took a lot out of three or four players against Galatasaray.”

His remarks suggest that while there are signs of progress within the squad, the psychological impact of recent defeats may have played a decisive role in their latest disappointment.

Inter capitulated in the second-half on a freezing night in Norway, losing 3-1 to Bodo/Glimt after conceding two goals in the space of three minutes in the second half.

The Nerazzurri came into the game with a lot of debate around their hosts’ artificial turf and the freezing temperatures of the Norwegian city ahead of the Champions League play-off first leg.

However, the occasion got the better of Cristian Chivu’s side and has left them with it all to do in the second leg at San Siro next week.

You can relive all the action, as it happened, on our Live Blog.

BODO, NORWAY – FEBRUARY 18: Nikita Khaikin of Bodo/Glimt catches the ball whilst under pressure from Manuel Akanji of FC Internazionale Milano during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between FK Bodo/Glimt and FC Internazionale Milano at Aspmyra Stadion on February 18, 2026 in Bodo, Norway. (Photo by Martin Ole Wold/Getty Images)

Bodo/Glimt took the lead after a nervy first twenty minutes, with midfielder Sondre Fet scoring a lovely goal, beating Yann Sommer in the Inter net.

Their lead, however, did not last long. Ten minutes later, Italian youngster Francesco Pio Esposito equalised – after a Nicolo Barella cross was nodded down by Carlos Augusto and turned in by the Italy international.

Inter had a couple of late chances in the first half but neither amounted to a serious attempt on goal.

Bodo/Glimt 3-1 Inter – Second-half double sinks Nerazzurri

The second half started brightly for the Nerazzurri, with Lautaro Martinez hitting the woodwork before Bodo goalkeeper Haikin saved a Carlos Augusto free-kick.

However, after a more tame ten minutes, it was the hosts who would score the next goal, with former Milan forward Jens Petter Hauge converting after an error from Carlos Augusto gifted Bodo/Glimt the ball in a dangerous position.

BODO, NORWAY – FEBRUARY 18: Kasper Hogh of Bodo/Glimt celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between FK Bodo/Glimt and FC Internazionale Milano at Aspmyra Stadion on February 18, 2026 in Bodo, Norway. (Photo by Martin Ole Wold/Getty Images)

Things quickly went from bad to worse for Inter, who found themselves 3-1 down just three minutes later, with Kasper Høgh tapping the ball in from close range after good work from Ole Blomberg.

Inter were also forced into a change after Lautaro Martinez felt an issue in his calf, with Marcus Thuram coming on in his place.

However, Thuram and the rest of Chivu’s substitutes offered too little, too late, as Bodo confirmed their victory, with a two-goal advantage heading into next week’s pivotal tie at San Siro.

Bodo/Glimt and Inter played out an exciting match in their Champions League play-off first leg, with Inter collapsing in the second half to slump to a 3-1 defeat.

Football Italia’s Man of the Match was Bodo forward Kasper Høgh.

Bodo/Glimt 3-1 Inter – Player Ratings

Bodo/Glimt: Haikin 6; Sjøvold 6.5, Bjørtuft 6, Gundersen 7, Bjørkan 7; Evjen 6.5, Berg 7, Fet 7.5; Blomberg 7, Høgh 9, Hauge 7.5

Best Bodo/Glimt player: Kasper Høgh – The Danish forward keeps up his impressive form in the Champions League with a goal and two assists this evening, spearheading his side to a massive victory over a strong Inter team. Was a menace for the Inter backline and deserves his plaudits.

Lowest Bodo/Glimt rating: Nikita Haikin – Bit harsh to have to pick a lowest rating but goalkeeper Nikita Haikin did nothing to shout about. He made a few easy saves and potentially could have done more to prevent Inter’s goal but he had a decent game overall.

BODO, NORWAY – FEBRUARY 18: Cristian Chivu interacts with Kjetil Knutsen, Head Coach of Bodo/Glimt, prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between at Aspmyra Stadion on February 18, 2026 in Bodo, Norway. (Photo by Martin Ole Wold/Getty Images)

Coach: Kjetil Knutsen 8 – Continues his giant-killing displays in Europe with tonight’s opponents added to the scalps of Manchester City and Atletico Madrid this season. Put out his strongest team, allowed them to soak up and neutralise Inter’s pressure – and then coached his side to an impressive second half display to pick up an important win.

Inter: Sommer 5.5; Akanji 5.5, Acerbi 5.5, Bastoni 6; Darmian 7 (Luis Henrique), Sucic 6.5, Barella 7, Mkhitaryan 6 (Zielinski), Augusto 6; Lautaro 6.5 (Thuram 6), Esposito 7 (Bonny)

Best Inter player: Nicolo Barella – Not much more the midfielder could have done, playing the regista role in place of the still-absent Hakan Calhanoglu. He created a number of chances for his attackers and was strong in his midfield battles.

BODO, NORWAY – FEBRUARY 18: Francesco Pio Esposito celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match at Aspmyra Stadion on February 18, 2026 in Bodo, Norway. (Photo by Martin Ole Wold/Getty Images)

Lowest Inter rating: Manuel Akanji – Arguably could have been any of Inter’s back line and goalkeeper but Akanji was especially weak on all fronts. Bastoni was beaten far more often by his man but was more instrumental in Inter’s other phases of play. Acerbi looked weak but less exposed than Akanji, sitting on the right-hand side of the back three.

Coach: Cristian Chivu 5 – Made some questionable adjustments to his side that make you wonder if the Champions League is being seen as second priority to the Scudetto. The Nerazzurri look placid without Federico Dimarco and whilst Darmian and Carlos Augusto were not horrific on the wings, they did not offer the sort of killer final ball that Dimarco can deliver. His substitutions failed to inspire either and matters were made worse when Lautaro Martinez was forced off with an injury.

Xavier Laine via Getty Images

Figure skating at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics wraps up this week with the women's singles free skate competition. A winner among the best women's skaters will be crowned on Thursday after the free skate, or long program. At the conclusion of the women's short program, Japan's Ami Nakai was in first place in the women's singles competition, followed by her Japanese teammate Kaori Sakamoto, and Team USA's Alysiu Liu was in third. Also representing Team USA are Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito; the three women are known collectively as the "Blade Angels," and they'll all be competing in the free skate.

You can tune in to the women's free skate on Peacock and NBC starting at 1 p.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 19, and it will also re-air on USA at 1:30 a.m. ET. 

For a complete schedule of every figure skating event at this year's games, a rundown of who is on Team USA, and how to watch, keep scrolling. And if you want to learn even more about every event at this year's Winter Games, here's a guide to everything you need to know about the Milan Cortina Games. 

How to watch the women's figure skating free skate at the 2026 Winter Olympics

Date: Thursday, Feb. 19

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Location: Milano Ice Skating Arena

TV channels: NBC

Streaming: Peacock, DirecTV and more

Where to stream the women's figure skating free skate at the 2026 Winter Olympics

The entire women's free skate will be available to stream on Peacock. You can also tune in at 10:30 a.m. to watch the women's free skate warm-ups. 

Where to watch the women's figure skating free skate on TV

The women's free skate figure skating competition will be broadcast on NBC at 1 p.m. ET. The free skate will re-air on USA at 1:30 a.m. ET. You can stream both on DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV and more.

How to watch Olympic Figure Skating without cable: 

Who is on the Team USA Figure Skating team?

These are the sixteen skaters on Team USA's figure skating team:

• Amber Glenn (Women's Singles)

• Isabeau Levito (Women's Singles)

• Alysa Liu (Women's Singles)

• Ilia Malinin (Men's Singles)

• Maxim Naumov (Men's Singles)

• Andrew Torgashev (Men's Singles)

• Madison Chock and Evan Bates (Ice Dance)

• Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko (Ice Dance)

• Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik (Ice Dance)

• Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea (Pairs)

• Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe (Pairs)

2026 Olympic Figure Skating Schedule:

Thursday, February 19

• Women's Free Skate: 1 p.m. (NBC, Peacock, re-air at 1:30 a.m. on USA)

Saturday, February 21

• Exhibition Gala: 2 p.m. (Peacock only)

• Exhibition Gala: 2:55 p.m. (NBC, Peacock)

• Exhibition Gala: 3:50 p.m. (NBC, Peacock)

More ways to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics

Kevin Durant has found himself at the center of more "burner" account accusations, the latest that swirled on social media while the Houston Rockets standout played in his 16th NBA All-Star Game on Sunday.

The 37-year-old's alleged to be behind direct messages from an anonymous account that criticized players and coaches he's accompanied during a career that's seen him win two titles and one league MVP award.

"I know you gotta ask these questions, but I’m not here to get into Twitter nonsense,” Durant told reporters after Houston’s practice on Wednesday. "I'm just here to focus on the season, keep it pushing. But I get you have to ask those questions.

Durant added: "My teammates know what it is. We’ve been locked in the whole season. ... We had a great practice today, looking forward to this road trip."

At the moment, there's no evidence that actually links these critical comments to Durant. Still, social media ran rampant with the theory, circulating screenshots of an anonymous user who, among other things, blamed Rockets All-Star center Alperen Şengün for his defense, said that they couldn't trust forward Jabari Smith Jr. to make a shot or get a stop and took a dig at former Phoenix Suns star teammate Devin Booker.

Durant is quick to quip, confront and discuss with everyday social media users from his own verified account, which currently has 19.3 million followers. He isn't afraid to stir the pot online or engage with casual fans. Many love him for that kind of engagement, which he willingly offers and most NBA stars don't.

Durant was asked at this year's All-Star Weekend media availability on Saturday if he'd rather give up video games or Twitter, now known as X, for the rest of his life.

"I'm gonna go Twitter," Durant said before continuing jokingly, "because they don't deserve to hear this God-level-like talk I'm giving to them. They take it for granted."

But Durant has used burner accounts before.

In 2017, Durant posted in the third-person from his personal account, throwing shade on the Oklahoma City Thunder and then-head coach Billy Donovan while explaining his decision from the previous year to leave the team that drafted him for the Golden State Warriors, a Western Conference foe and the league's crown jewel at the time.

Durant owned his mistake and apologized for it in the aftermath of the social media storm he caused.

In 2019, according to The Athletic, Durant said in an interview on ESPN's "The Boardroom" that he used anonymous accounts as a way to speak out and dodge the notoriety that's often impossible to hide from as an NBA player.

Durant is playing in his 18th NBA season. He's played for five franchises.

Now with the Rockets, he's still among the best in the league. He's shooting above 50% from the field and north of 40% from 3. His 25.8 points per game are tops on the team.

While fourth in the West, the 33-20 Rockets will need a strong push to grab the No. 2 seed like they did ahead of last year's playoffs.

Durant's trying to tune out the noise, even if it's once again loud and scrutinizing his social-media presence.

Vikings rumor pinpoints former $84 million Pro Bowl quarterback as Minnesota's top target originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Minnesota Vikings will be in the market for a veteran quarterback this offseason to compete with J.J. McCarthy, and it looks like the franchise could be reuniting with an old friend to fill the need.

According to SportsBoom's Jason La Canfora, executives around the league believe Kirk Cousins returning to Minnesota once he is cut by the Atlanta Falcons is a realistic possibility.

La Canfora also added a nugget about McCarthy, stating that league sources have told him that the Michigan product is tricky to develop.

"There is now a growing sentiment among NFL executives in the market for quarterbacks that Cousins could very well end up back with the Vikings," La Canfora said. "McCarthy has proven to be difficult to be develop, according to multiple league sources, with his erratic play playing no small role in the franchise recently moving on from its general manager."

McCarthy had a rough 2025 season filled with injuries and erratic play. His abysmal showing in his technical rookie year played a part in the firing of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mendasa, who used the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on the young signal-caller.

It's clear Minnesota needs to bring in another quarterback to compete with McCarthy, and Cousins would be the perfect signing.

The 37-year-old already has experience in Kevin O'Connell's offense, and played well in eight starts for the Falcons in 2025, tossing 10 touchdowns and six interceptions with a 5-3 record.

Due to his age, Cousins will be cheap to sign, but he can still be a viable starter. Adding the four-time Pro Bowler to push McCarthy would be a logical move by Rob Brzezinski, the Vikings' de facto general manager.

On Wednesday, TMZreleased an exclusive report revealing a civil lawsuit has been filed against Kansas City Chiefs’ wide receiver Rashee Rice by Dacoda Jones — Rice’s “longtime partner and mother of his children” — alleging abuse, specifically from December 2023 to July 2025.

Jones — who has two children with Rice — says she was also subject to “other violent and abusive behaviors,” which included the Chiefs’ wideout throwing things at her, “punching walls, and breaking furniture.”

Jones claims the abuse caused “bleeding, swelling, bruising, and other pain and physical injury to her neck, face, mouth, arms, legs, chest, and shoulder.”

To make matters worse, Dacoda says most of the abuse occurred while she was pregnant.

Just under two hours after that news broke, Jesse Newell of The Athleticshared the expressed allegations submitted by Jones and her representatives directly from the lawsuit, corroborating the disturbing details referenced through the initial report.

Roughly three hours after TMZ’s report, the Chiefs released the following statement regarding Rice, per Nate Taylor of ESPN.

“The club is aware & remains in communication with the National Football League.”

The filing comes just over a month after the Plaintiff Jones used Instagram to publicly allege the claims from this lawsuit, including graphic photos as evidence. It prompted the NFL to launch an investigation, reported by USA Today at the time.

It is unclear whether Rice’s ex-girlfriend has filed a police report associated with the allegations. Police in Overland Park, Kansas told USA TODAY that they responded to a call at Rice’s home in 2024 but that no abuse report was filed. The Dallas Police Department, where Rice previously lived, told USA TODAY, “It is not our practice to look up individuals by name.”

That won’t stop the NFL from investigating.

In a statement provided to USA TODAY on Jan. 8, an NFL spokesman said, “We have been in contact with the club about the matter which will be reviewed under the league’s personal conduct policy.”

At the time, the organization put out the following statement through Taylor after the accusations were made publicly on social media.

“The club is aware of the allegations on social media and is in communication with the National Football League,” the Chiefs said in a statement. “We have no further comment at this time.”

That NFL investigation is still active and will likely stay open while this filing goes through the court process. We will keep you updated with the latest information as it is reported.

A trio of Utah residents took silver in the men’s speedskating team pursuit at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics Tuesday.

Ethan Cepuran, Casey Dawson and Emery Lehman completed the course in 3:43.71 — 4.51 seconds behind gold medalists Italy.

A PODIUM FINISH 🥈

Congratulations to the reigning world record holders Utah’s Casey Dawson, Ethan Cepuran & Emery Lehman! pic.twitter.com/CX2LJitcRR

— Utah 2034 (@utah2034) February 17, 2026

“There’s always going to be bitterness. We came out here to win. The last four years was the dream to get gold at these Games. Today, we put in the effort we could and we tried our best. We put it all out there on the ice,” Lehman told the media afterward. “I’m just proud of these boys. We skated the hardest we could, and ultimately it didn’t work out in our favor. A medal is a medal; we’re always going to be proud about that.”

‘We earned our silver medal’

The three Americans had beaten China by 7.93 seconds in the semifinals held earlier Tuesday, with a time of 3:44.29, to advance to the finals. China then beat the Netherlands to win bronze.

Team USA has a strong win in semifinals and is headed to the Gold Medal race vs. Italy! pic.twitter.com/CQodBV63k3

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 17, 2026

“You can’t just be the best going in, you have to be the best on the day you compete,” Lehman said. “Italy was the best today and in every round. They’re the fastest time, they’re the best team. You could say we lost gold, but I think they’re just more prepared for the Olympics. They won that gold medal, and I think we earned our silver medal.”

Cepuran credited the home crowd of Italian fans as well as the “awesome” American fans.

“We knew it was going to be a battle through and through and that none of this was a given, none of this is guaranteed from the quarterfinal to the semi to the final. We had to be showing up each and every time on that line to make this happen. At the end of the day, we’re walking away with hardware, which is awesome,” he said.

Cepuran, Dawson and Lehman earned praise from gold medalistAndrea Giovannini, who told the media that the Americans inspired the Italian team.

“The Americans have really been an inspiration for us because in this four-year period, in these last two years, they have almost always won. They forced us to do everything in training, even (coach) Maurizio (Marchetto) kept inventing different trainings to try to raise the level,” Giovannini said in his Olympics press conference.

He added that he knew the gold was Italy’s halfway through the final, “but I want to make a mention precisely for the American team because it forced us, inspired us to raise our level.”

The end of an era

After seven years together, this was the trio’s final Olympics as a team.

“It’s a little bittersweet because you want to go out on top and send Emery off with a bang. There’s nothing like being able to celebrate across the line. That’s the thing that I miss most already, just being able to celly (celebrate) a little bit. Those are the moments that will stick with me forever,” Cepuran said. “Just being able to go across the line, put your hands up and just be like, ‘heck, yeah, we did it.’”

Cepuran, Dawson and Lehman won bronze together at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, which Dawson spoke about on Tuesday.

“In Beijing, that bronze-medal match made us bitter. We wanted to be in the gold-silver (final). So making that gold-silver match, being against Italy, (is) something that we’ll always look back on and be like, ‘We did that’. So it’s super cool,” he said.

Dawson hopes to “keep the legacy going.”

“We have a new generation of skaters coming up. For me personally, I’ll probably be focusing more on individual events over the next four years,” he said. “We have a couple of younger skaters that we need to develop. No one nearly strong enough yet, but we’re trying to get them there.”

Klint Kubiak continues hiring former Denver Broncos assistant coaches.

Kubiak, the new head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, has hired Zach Azzanni as the team's new wide receivers coach. Kubiak had two stints in Denver, overlapping with Azzanni in 2018 and again in 2022. They will now reunite in Las Vegas as Azzanni is following Kubiak to the Raiders.

Azzanni, 49, coached Broncos receivers from 2018-2022. Since leaving the club in 2023, Azzanni has spent time with the New York Jets (2023) and Pittsburgh Steelers (2024-2025) before returning to the AFC West. Las Vegas will mark his fifth team in the NFL, and his fourth team in a five-year span.

Azzanni is the fourth ex-Broncos coach Kubiak has hired, joining assistant head coach Mike McCoy, special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis and senior offensive advisor Rick Dennison. Kubiak also retained ex-Denver defensive coordinator Joe Woods as his pass game coordinator.

Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.

This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL news: Raiders hire a 4th ex-Broncos assistant coach

Rockets' Kevin Durant responds to burner account allegations originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Houston Rockets star forward Kevin Durant made some headlines over All-Star weekend, but not necessarily for a good reason.

Durant was accused of using a burner account on Twitter (I still refuse to call it X) to bash some of his current teammates in Houston, including Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr.

The Rockets returned to practice on Wednesday, and unsurprisingly, Durant was asked about the accusations, but he opted not to touch the topic.

“I know you got to ask these questions, but I’m not here to get into Twitter nonsense. … My teammates know what it is, we’ve been locked in the whole season,” Durant said.

You can’t blame Durant for sidestepping the question, as it’s not something that he really needs to address publicly. If there is any friction in the locker room as a result of the, let’s call it a scandal for the lack of a better word, then Durant can address that internally with his teammates.

This story will be updated. 

More NBA news: 

• Jalen Brunson sends clear message regarding his next contract with Knicks
• Jeanie Buss makes it clear that the Lakers are now Luka Doncic's team
• New Orleans Pelicans star forward named one of NBA's most overrated players

USA-Canada women's hockey gold medal game deemed not 'high demand' by Olympics originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Is it a surprise? Not at all.

But when Team USA and Canada meet in the women's hockey gold medal game on Thursday, it'll be one of the most-anticipated clashes of these entire 2026 Winter Olympics.

Tell that to the organizers.

For media members looking to cover the championship showdown, the game has been deemed not to be a "high demand" event.

MORE: Jake Canter had a 20% chance to live, but he just won an Olympic medal

As far as logistics, that just means media seating is first come, first serve.

The only "high demand" event on the Olympic hockey slate is the men's gold medal game. At an event like that, the press coordinator will organize where media members can sit so as to ensure the highest-priority outlets get appropriate seating.

The women’s hockey Olympic Gold Medal final between Canada and USA is not considered a “high demand” event, meaning media attending will get spots in the press box on a first come first serve basis.

The only hockey game considered “high demand” is the Men’s hockey final.…

— Claire Hanna (@clahanna) February 18, 2026

MORE: A dog stole the show at the finish line of cross country skiing

It doesn't mean anything in particular about how the game will actually be covered.

The domestic broadcasts will throw their full resources at this huge game, which begins at 1:10 p.m. ET on Thursday (7:10 p.m. local time in Milan).

At minimum, though, it's an odd language choice that isn't a great look.

They must feel, essentially, that seating for media members won't be oversaturated. Still, though, it's a huge gold medal game. Seems like the Olympics could've been safe on this one and deemed it "high demand," because for most sports fans, that's exactly what it is.

More Olympics news:

• This U.S. luge star was parodied on SNL
• Mikaela Shiffrin just broke the Olympics
• Czechia's go-ahead goal against Canada had 6 skaters on the ice
• U.S. women's hockey star's brothers go viral at Olympics
• Controversy and cursing with Canada curling
• Chloe Kim's silver medal has some controversy

Mets' offseason was MLB's most confusing for nine reasons originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Mets did some major renovations with the roster this offseason. They let a lot of players leave, traded others, and added a ton of talent both to the pitching staff and the lineup.

There are plenty of moves the Mets made, and didn't make (Kyle Tucker), that shaped this offseason. But while the roster looks a lot different, the offseason was a very confusing one for the Mets.

Jayson Stark of The Athletic shared the opinion of 36 MLB insiders - ranging from scouts, managers, coaches, and executives - on the best and worst subtractions this offseason. The Mets dominated the lists, both positively and negatively, for a very confusing offseason.

Mets had very confusing offseason amid MLB insider polling

When asking about the "most irreplaceable subtractions of the winter," the Mets had three players make the list. Pete Alonso was second with 10 votes, while Edwin Diaz finished seventh with three votes.

Both losses were tough for the Mets and will be difficult to replace. But the Mets traded for Freddy Peralta, who received four votes and was tied for fifth.

On one hand, the Mets had two of the worst losses this offseason, while they were able to bring in one of the other top irreplaceable players this offseason.

Things only get even stranger. Stark also asked these 36 MLB insiders what the best subtractions of the offseason were. Another angle here is that these players were good players to trade away or cut ties with this offseason.

Stark's poll found nine votes cast for players leaving the Mets this offseason, specifically veterans such as Jeff McNeil, Brandon Nimmo, Ryan Helsley, and even one vote for Alonso.

More: Mets trade rumor on Brett Baty, Mark Vientos is unexpected update from Pirates

Letting those players walk, or in the case of McNeil and Nimmo, trading them away, were good moves in the eyes of MLB insiders around baseball.

However, while the Mets received praise for letting those players walk, they also found a way to add players who were positive subtractions around the league.

Marcus Semien was the second-ranked player in the offseason's best subtractions, as the Texas Rangers' moving on from Semien was praised by five MLB insiders.

That's not all, as Luis Robert Jr. (3 votes) and Devin Williams (2 votes) were also named as players who were good subtractions this offseason.

The Mets' offseason was incredibly confusing. They made a ton of roster moves, and made some great additions and additions by subtraction.

But, they also lost two key players in Alonso and Diaz, while adding a few questionable players like Semien, Williams, and Robert Jr.

More MLB news:

• Red Sox sign $6 million free agent formerly of Yankees, Blue Jays
• MLB Hot Stove tracker: Live updates on news, rumors, signings and trades for 2025 free agency
• Former Yankees, Reds, A's outfielder agrees to $4M deal with Padres
• Tigers' contract details for Framber Valdez make for absurd record-breaking deal
• MLB analyst makes the case for the Phillies to sign 2x All-Star arm
• Pirates to sign former Padres, White Sox 3.55 ERA veteran righty on one-year deal
• Yankees to claim 23-year-old power-hitter off waivers from Rockies

Mitch Marner scored in overtime as Canada saw off the Czech Republic 4-3 on Wednesday to advance to the Olympic men's ice hockey semi-finals.

The other favourites for the title, the United States, face Sweden in their quarter-final later on Wednesday.

Both Canada and the USA have rosters packed with players from the NHL, who are competing at an Olympics for the first time since 2014.

Canada had cruised through the preliminary round and handed the Czechs a 5–0 defeat just six days ago.

But the Czechs, the 2024 world champions, provided a very different kind of resistance this time, taking the lead twice until Marner netted the crucial goal.

"(It was) adrenaline: trust in your skill that you work on so hard," said Marner.

"You just trust yourself to make a play there, and I was lucky enough to score."

Macklin Celebrini put Canada ahead within four minutes, before Lukas Sedlak levelled four minutes later.

The Czech Republic pulled ahead thanks to David Pastrnak's first goal of the tournament after a quarter of an hour.

The Canadians raised their game in the second period, outshooting their opponents 17 to 5. But they lacked precision in the final touch and only a blatant foul by Michal Kempny opened up the space for Nathan MacKinnon to make it 2–2. 

- Crosby blow -

Canada lost captain Sidney Crosby, a two-time Olympic champion in 2010 and 2014, who hurt his leg and did not return to the game.

The Czechs gradually tilted the balance back in the final period and regained the lead 3-2, with a blistering counter finished off by Ondrej Palat. 

The Canadian reply came with a long-range shot from Nick Suzuki before Marner delivered the winner.

"Somebody told me once we're in the entertainment business. If you don't find that entertaining, I don't know what makes your heart go," said Cooper.

"Everybody had faith. It was quite calm out there, and it paid off."

Defending champions Finland also scraped through to the final four by beating Switzerland 3-2 in overtime, while Slovakia thrashed Germany 6-2.

Artturi Lehkonen was the hero for Finland who had trailed by two goals as he scored the overtime winner in the three-on-three extra period.

The Slovaks, bronze medallists four years ago, dominated at the end of the first period with Pavol Regenda scoring after 19 minutes.

The rest of the game was a Slovak demonstration of skill, with Milos Kelemen and Oliver Okuliar scoring two quick-fire goals before Dalibor Dvorsky grabbed a fourth just after half an hour.

Germany's 2020 National Hockey League (NHL) MVP Leon Draisaitl set up Lukas Reichel to keep their hopes alive after 35 minutes but that was quickly extinguished at the start of the final period by Regenda's second goal.

To round things off, Tomas Tatar responded to Frederik Tiffels's power-play score after 50 minutes with a goal of his own. 

cfe-ea/gj

In a recent report, journalist Pete O’Rourke claimed that Tottenham Hotspur are trailing Arsenal for on-loan Aston Villa winger Jadon Sancho. It has been stated that Spurs have fallen behind the Gunners in the race to land the Manchester United wide player next summer.

Sancho’s Loan Spell At Aston Villa So Far

The 25-year-old has caught the eye at times during his loan spell at the West Midlands club, but has struggled to be consistent for them in the Premier League. Sancho has found the back of the net once and secured one assist in 25 matches for Aston Villa this season across various competitions.

The English wide player has got a wealth of experience at the highest level and would be a real asset in Tottenham’s squad next season if they manage to get a deal done for him next summer.

His current contract at his parent club, Manchester United, will run out at the end of this campaign, which could open the door for Spurs to sign him on a free transfer at the end of this campaign.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – JANUARY 25: Jadon Sancho of Aston Villa looks on during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Aston Villa at St James’ Park on January 25, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

What Should Tottenham Hotspur Boss Igor Tudor Do With Regards To Sancho?

Sancho has got the pace to cause some headaches for his marker out in the wide areas. He has got the vision to create some inviting chances in and around the opponent’s penalty area and is a decent dribbler with the ball at his feet.

The English talent can even chip in by scoring and creating some important goals for his team in the final third. Sancho is primarily a left-winger but can also function as a right-sided wide player if needed. However, he has to find a way to be more consistent with his productivity up top.

We can expect Sancho to add more firepower to Tottenham boss Igor Tudor’s attack. He is good enough to serve a useful presence in the North London club’s match-day squad.

At 25, Sancho has his peak years ahead of him, which makes him a worthy target for Spurs to consider this summer. With all things considered, Tudor should focus on going all out to sign the English sensation on a free transfer later this year.

Barcelona are in desperate need of reasons for optimism after two dramatic defeats at the hands of Atletico Madrid and Girona. By the time March rolls around, they could well be nearing a fully fit squad with the exception of Andreas Christensen.

There was concern over defender Eric Garcia at Montilivi, after he was removed with 15 minutes to go. Garcia, Barcelona’s most used player this season, was taken off as an injury precaution, but it seems his muscles were fatigued more than anything, and MD say that an injury has been ruled out.

Pedri could get game time against Levante

Image via Eric Alonso/Getty Images

More promising still, Barcelona could have Pedri Gonzalez back against Levante this weekend. The Spain midfielder has missed their last seven games through a hamstring tear, and Barcelona had won all five of their games without him until last week, but his absence was glaring in both Madrid and Girona.

There is positive news say Diario AS though – Pedri could return to action against Levante on Sunday. The plan is that he will come off the bench to play 15 minutes if all goes well, and he could be back in the starting line-up against Villarreal the following week. He will have been out for a month on Sunday, after an initial diagnosis of four to six weeks out.

Gavi and Marcus Rashford injuries

Meanwhile the other two injured players are Gavi and Marcus Rashford. The England international has missed their last two games with knee pain, although it was an impact injury, and the expectation is that he will be able to play against Levante too. Gavi might be eased back in more slowly, after missing the past six months, but is now training with the ball again. He could also be back in action in March.

Losing a star player late in a promising season is a story Jimmer Fredette knows all too well. Fresh off BYU’s 80-67 victory at No. 6 San Diego State on Feb. 26, 2011, the Cougars (27-2) surged to No. 3 in the AP Top 25. Flying high as the nation’s leading scorer, the last thing Fredette expected was a plot twist that flipped the script.

When word came down that center Brandon Davies was suspended due to an honor code infraction, the Cougars were rerouted off the road to the Final Four and sent down a crooked path full of uncertainty.

“It wasn’t easy at first,” Fredette told the “Y’s Guys” livestream show this week. “That first week was definitely difficult. There is some shock value. That next game we played after Brandon, we got crushed.”

New Mexico rolled into the Marriott Center and stunned the Cougars 82-64.

“It was one of those things where we were trying to figure things out,” Fredette said. “We picked ourselves back up and said, ‘Hey listen, (Brandon) is out. We’ve got to figure this out. We still have goals and aspirations that we know we can reach with this team.”

The clarion call to everyone on the roster was for each player to do more.

Three days later, BYU responded by pounding Wyoming 102-78. As expected, Fredette scored 38 points, but Charles Abouo surprised the Cowboys by adding a career-high 25, including 21 in the second half.

The Cougars opened the Mountain West Conference Tournament in Las Vegas with a 64-58 victory against TCU. Fredette scored 24 points. Abouo added 14 and Noah Hartsock contributed 10.

BYU avenged its loss to New Mexico the following night with an 87-76 victory. Fredette scored a program-record 52 points, but the Cougars still needed Jackson Emery’s 14 and Kyle Collinsworth’s 11 and nine rebounds to advance past the Lobos.

Kawhi Leonard and No. 7 San Diego State caught BYU out of gas in the title game, but the Cougars rebounded in the NCAA Tournament. Fredette produced the bulk of the points and each night, a different supporting cast member elevated their performance to complement him.

Fredette scored 32 in BYU’s 74-66 first-round victory against Wofford, while Abouo, Hartsock and Logan Mangusson each added 10. During the Cougars’ 89-67 blowout of Gonzaga, Fredette delivered 34, Emery had 16 and Hartsock and Stephen Rogers both scored 10.

The season ended in the Sweet 16 with an 83-74 overtime loss to Florida. Fredette finished with 30 points and Collinsworth, a guard posing as Davies’ replacement, pulled down 15 rebounds.

BYU’s 34-5 record remains the best in program history. It is also remembered as the year that could have been so much more. They didn’t go as far as they hoped, but with Davies out, the Cougars stepped up their efforts and went as far as they could.

Losing Richie Saunders to a season-ending knee injury has the current No. 23 Cougars (19-6, 7-5) at a similar crossroads, but they are not without a blueprint to follow.

“I believe this team has the same capability to do that, but guys are going to have to step up,” Fredette said. “You are going to have to define specific roles for guys and say, ‘When you come in, this is what you do. We need you to shoot the basketball. When you are open, you are not passing up a shot, you are shooting it’ — because that is what Richie did. He gave us that shooting threat, that scoring threat.”

Scoring is only part of what made Saunders so valuable.

“We need someone hustling on that offensive glass, getting us extra possessions, tipped balls. Those are difficult to do but you can control them if you get guys out there that are willing to play hard and have that type of motor — those are things that Richie brought that are gonna be missed,” Fredette said. “AJ (Dybantsa) and Rob (Wright) are the guys who are going to have to lead this squad now. That two-headed monster is going to have to score a lot of points and make plays.”

The first post-Saunders test is Wednesday at No. 4 Arizona (7 p.m. MST, ESPN). The second is Saturday at the Marriott Center against No. 6 Iowa State (8:30 p.m. MST, ESPN). With the NCAA Tournament four weeks away, the Cougars have time to adapt to the new script and keep their story going.

Solace for Saunders

Watching Saunders’ season get cut short triggered memories of the freak leg injury that knocked Fredette out of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“My heart goes out to Richie. To see that happen and go down like that is heart-wrenching. For someone who has dealt with an injury during a really prominent time, it’s not easy,” Fredette said. “I hope that he knows we are thinking of him. We love him and if anybody is going to get back and be a great basketball player again and still reach all the goals he wants to reach, it’s going to be Richie because of his work ethic and determination. I hope he understands that. It’s far from over for him, but it’s a very tough thing to see.”

Banner moment

Back home in Colorado after a whirlwind weekend in Provo where BYU retired Fredette’s No. 32 jersey on Saturday, the 2011 National Player of the Year reflected on the scene that topped them all.

“The best moment was when the jersey was unveiled. That makes it so real, and it was just hanging up there and that thing is never coming down,” Fredette said. “You can picture it. You can envision it, but when it really happens, all of a sudden — it’s just up there and it’s gonna be up there forever. That moment was great when I was just sitting there hugging my kids, watching them, and counting it down. That is something that is going to be engrained into my mind and heart forever. BYU truly went all-out and I absolutely appreciate it.”

Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret News and is a play-by-play announcer and show host for BYUtv/ESPN+. He co-hosts “Y’s Guys” at ysguys.com and is the author of the children’s book “C is for Cougar,” available at deseretbook.com.

Real Madrid win overshadowed by new racism controversy

Vinicius reports racist insult during Benfica match

Vinicius Junior reported alleged racist insult during Real Madrid’s Champions League win over Benfica in Lisbon.

Match stopped after Vinicius complaint

Real Madrid took important step toward Champions League last 16 after beating Benfica away on Tuesday but the focus quickly shifted to a new racism controversy involving Vinicius Junior.

The match was stopped for around 10 minute after Vinicius informed referee Francois Letexier that Benfica forward Gianluca Prestianni had directed racist insult at him. Vinicius claimed he was called “monkey”

Prestianni who appeared to cover his mouth while speaking, has denied making any racist comment.

First time a player is accused

This incident marked first time Vinicius has accused opposing player of racism. Until now most previous cases involved fans, mainly in Spain.

Despite scoring fine goal in Lisbon, the Brazilian winger once again found himself at the center of attention for reasons unrelated to football.

His complaint triggered the standard UEFA anti-racism protocol leading to temporary halt in play.

A Long history of abuse

Since joining Real Madrid from Flamengo in 2018, Vinicius has faced repeated racist abuse.

Some of the most serious cases include:

January 2023: A doll resembling Vinicius was hung from bridge near Real Madrid’s training ground by Atletico Madrid supporters.May 2023: Racist chants at Mestalla Stadium during match against Valencia which sparked global outrage.2025: Five Valladolid fans were convicted of hate crime for racist abuse during 2022 match, a first of its kind in Spain related to football stadium insults.

More recently, racist chants were also reported outside the stadium of Albacete during Copa del Rey tie.

Strong reactions from teammates

Vinicius later wrote on X that racists are “cowards” who hide their words. He repeated his stance that he is fighting racism, not suffering from it.

Teammate Kylian Mbappe publicly backed him and called for Prestianni to be banned from the competition saying such behavior should not be tolerated in the Champions League.

Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United recently.

The Englishman came through Manchester City’s academy, but he is actually a Man Utd supporter.

And with Bruno Fernandes coming towards the end of his prime, Palmer would be an ideal replacement.

One of Palmer’s friends has now added to the speculation with a bold claim about the Chelsea star.

Cole Palmer’s friend wants him to join Manchester United

Cole Palmer has spent the last few days on holiday in Dubai, resting ahead of a busy end to the season.

As well as seeing his girlfriend and Chelsea teammates Joao Pedro and Marc Cucurella, he also spent time with his friend, Tunde.

Tunde has since posted a picture of them on his Instagram story with a controversial caption.

“One day, I will get CP back to United, back home where he belongs,” Tunde wrote. “Go ask him who his favourite team is.”

One can only assume that Tunde has spoken to Palmer about joining United one day, which will greatly concern Chelsea fans.

How much would Cole Palmer cost Man Utd?

A potential move for Cole Palmer would be almost impossible for Manchester United to complete, even if he wants to go.

The 23-year-old signed a two-year contract extension with improved terms in June 2024, keeping him at Stamford Bridge until 2033.

With seven years remaining on his deal after this season, Chelsea would not be under any obligation to facilitate a move.

Therefore, United would probably have to pay even more than Liverpool’s British record transfer fee of £125 million for Alexander Isak.

Read more:

If Notre Dame is to have the season that many pundits are projecting them to have, they could see an old familiar face on the opposite sideline in a College Football Playoff bracket.

The Oklahoma Sooners are expected to hire former Notre Dame assistant Deland McCullough as its new running backs coach, according to multiple reports, after he spent last season in the same role with the Las Vegas Raiders. CBS Sports first reported the expected hire.

McCullough helped shape one of the country's most productive backfields from 2022-2024 at Notre Dame. Under his watch, Audric Estimé delivered a 1,341-yard, 18-touchdown season in 2023. Also, Jeremiyah Love has emerged as a dynamic threat in the Irish offense and later finished near the top of Heisman Trophy voting. Love is now projected to be a first round pick in the upcoming NFL draft.

SOURCE: Oklahoma is expected to hire Deland McCullough as its new running backs coach. He spent last season as the Raiders RB coach and previously coached at USC, Notre Dame, Indiana and with the Chiefs. Would be a good get for OU if the deal gets finalized. CBS first reported…

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) February 18, 2026

At Oklahoma, McCullough will replace former Sooners star DeMarco Murray, who left earlier this month to become running backs coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. The highly respected McCullough returns to the college game after one season in Las Vegas and places a coach with strong Notre Dame ties on the staff of a perennial playoff contender. In 2025, the Sooners had a record of 10-3 campaign and made a CFP appearance.

For Irish fans, McCullough’s latest stop underscores the continued demand for Notre Dame’s coaching talent and ensures another high-profile program is being shaped, in part, by a recent South Bend architect.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Sunny on X:@thesunnyv

This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Former Notre Dame position coach returns to college with CFP contender

Steve Lavin is out as the University of San Diego men's basketball coach following an 11-17 start to the season, On3's Pete Nakos reports.

The former UCLA and St. John's head coach joined the Toreros for the 2022-23 season. Under his watch, USD produced one winning season in four, an 18-15 campaign in 2023-24. USD fell to 6-27 last season and was off to a 5-10 start in WCC play prior to Wednesday's news of his dismissal.

Lavin's dismissal concludes far the worst coaching stint of his career after he previously found relative success with two traditional basketball powers. 

The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images

Lavin, 61, coached UCLA for seven seasons from 1996-2003. The Bruins made the NCAA tournament in each of his first six seasons. UCLA fired him after a 10-19 campaign in 2002-03, his first and only with a losing record with the Bruins. UCLA went 145-78 under Lavin, but never advanced beyond the Elite Eight.

Lavin returned to head coaching with St. John's in 2010. St. John's went 92-72 with Lavin as head coach and made the NCAA tournament twice in five seasons — his first and his last. St. John's tournament appearance in 2011 under Lavin was its first in nine seasons as Lavin helped return the previously proud program to relevance.

Per the school, Lavin and St. John's mutually agreed to part ways following a first-round NCAA tournament exit in 2015. Program icon Chris Mullin took his place. 

In between his coaching stints, Lavin has worked as a college basketball broadcast analyst. 

Tyreek Hill teases possible reunion with Chiefs after Dolphins releease originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Could a reunion between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tyreek Hill be in the cards this offseason?

We can't say for sure, but Hill, who was cut loose by the Miami Dolphins earlier this week, is at least teasing the possibility of that happening.

In a recent post to his Snapchat, Hill posted a photo of himself with a Kansas City geotag, which means he was in town. A profile photo in the top left of the post featured Hill in his Chiefs uniform, also.

Hill has made it no secret that he would like to return to Kansas City.

In a cryptic post on social media in January, Hill said he would like "to go home," which many took as a clear message he wants a reunion with the Chiefs.

"Since we putting in request I want to go home," Hill said on X.

Tyreek Hill geotags that he is in Kansas City.

He also has a Snapchat profile picture of himself in a Chiefs uniform, as seen in top-left corner of the below post. pic.twitter.com/ueyA1PeC2S

— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) February 18, 2026

On paper, a reunion between the Chiefs and Hill makes sense, as Kansas City needs more firepower at wide receiver.

However, there could be multiple roadblocks that present that from happening.

Hill is coming off a season in which he suffered a dislocated knee and multiple torn ligaments, including his ACL. As a result, there are doubts about Hill being able to play at all in 2026.

He's also going to be 32 years old on March 1, so there's no telling what Hill will have left in the tank when he does get healthy.

Then there's the off-the-field stuff.

Hill is being investigated by the NFL over domestic violence allegations from his estranged wife and if the league finds wrongdoing, Hill will face a suspension.

While it's fun to think about a Hill-Chiefs reunion, Kansas City should avoid it.

The Chiefs don't have a win-now roster and need to go through a transition year or two in order to get their financial house in order and get younger. Bringing in a 32-year-old wide receiver doesn't exactly fit what the Chiefs need right now.

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ESPN analyst makes stunning call on future of Chiefs' Travis Kelce originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The future of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is one that many are eagerly awaiting to see a resolution.

Will he play on in 2026? Or will the future Hall of Famer ride off into the sunset with Taylor Swift?

Those are the two options, and for most of Chiefs Kingdom, seeing No. 87 run around again is something they want to see.

But not everyone does.

ESPN's Mike Tannenbaum offered his thoughts on what he would do with Kelce on SportsCenter.

"I would move on from Travis Kelce," Tannenbaum said. "When you're in the front office, you have to project what a player is going to do, not what they've done. Travis Kelce is a first ballot Hall of Famer, but when you watch him and make an honest and sober evaluation of his 2025 performance, clearly his best days are behind him.

"If I was Kansas City, I would make the right, albeit difficult, decision, move on from Travis Kelce."

MORE:Super Bowl champion makes incredible Chiefs free agency plea

Chiefs won't "push" Kelce out

Head coach Andy Reid has stated that the Chiefs will wait and see what Kelce decides, not the other way around.

And Tannenbaum, a former general manager in the NFL, has made it clear he thinks Kelce's best is behind him, and at 36 years old, that is low-hanging fruit.

No, Kelce isn't the player he once was, but he had a better season in 2025 than he did in 2024, and he led the Chiefs in yards, targets, receptions and was joint-first in TDs. So, the production is still there.

Should the Chiefs force Kelce's decision and move on? That is quite the conversation starter.

More NFL news:

• Analyst reveals brutal way Bills get Josh Allen No. 1 WR
• Steelers biggest loser of Aaron Rodgers waiting game
• Analyst drops worrying future update on Ravens' Isaiah Likely
• ESPN analyst offers nightmare Lamar Jackson contract scenario for Ravens
• Chiefs tipped to make $20 million decision on Super Bowl champion
• ESPN drops monster update on Buccaneers WR Mike Evans
• Chiefs' selection in mock draft nightmare fuel for NFL

Forward Jordan Burks took charge, matching his career high with 23 points to go along with seven rebounds in the Knights’ 82-71 victory over the TCU Horned Frogs on Tuesday night.

Burks got off to a hot start, nailing four threes in the first half and had 16 points heading into the break. Senior Guard Themus Fulks said Burks is essential to the Knights’ success every game, even beyond his scoring ability.

“He’s important every night,” Fulks said. “I hate that it doesn’t show up all the time on the stat sheet because people don’t give him his flowers unless he has a lot of points or hits a lot of threes. He’s a focal point for our team, and without him we probably wouldn’t be in this position.”

UCF got off to an early lead and did not let up the entire game. Besides the first 14 seconds tied at zero, the Knights held the lead for the entire game.

UCF controlled a 42-28 lead at halftime in large part thanks to its defense. The Horned Frogs shot just 34% from the field in the first half and were 2-11 from beyond the arc.

UCF Head Coach Johnny Dawkins said the Knights did a good job of executing defensively in the first half.

“We just really concentrate on how we need to defend,” Dawkins said. “Every team comes out with a game plan, and our game plan was to understand who their personnel was and try to defend them accordingly, and I thought we did a good job of that in the first half.”

Forward Jamichael Stillwell returned for the Knights after missing the last game due to injury. Last game, Stillwell watched from the bench as his team surrendered a 14-point lead to West Virginia.

As TCU went on a 9-0 run in the second half to cut the Knights’ lead to 10 points, Stillwell was available this time around to staunch the Horned Frogs’ momentum with an opportunity to right the mistakes from last game.

“I think Coach called a timeout, and he said in the timeout, ‘The basketball gods put us in this situation again,’ so you really don’t get time to redo things,” Stillwell said. “That was a time to redo it, and we pulled it out this time.”

TCU head coach Jamie Dixon said he had a feeling Stillwell was ready to go for this matchup, despite being listed as a game-time decision entering the game.

“I’m not very bright,” Dixon joked. “But I knew that one was coming. We did everything anticipating he was going to play.”

The Knights now turn their attention to their upcoming road trip to Utah. UCF will play Utah on Saturday night at 9 p.m. and then BYU on Tuesday at 11 p.m.

For the first time since 2023, the New England Patriots are entering an offseason with stability at the head coaching position. Mike Vrabel, arrived in Foxborough last offseason, will be back with the organization after leading it to a 14-3 record and Super Bowl berth.

But while Vrabel will not be going anywhere anytime soon, his staff is set to experience some turnover. Not every assistant will be back for the 2026 season, while some internal reshuffling is in the cards as well.

In order to not get lost amid the news and rumors, we set up this up-to-date Patriots Coaching Staff tracker.

Patriots coaching hires

B.J. Edmonds (TBD): A former cornerback at Arkansas State, Edmonds served as a defensive graduate assistant at Kansas Wesleyan and Utah State before a two-year stint as a defensive assistant at Duke. In January, he was hired to coach running backs at Southern Miss but just a month later is headed to the NFL and the Patriots’ staff in an as-of-yet undisclosed role. | News

Patriots coaching departures

Robert Kugler (assistant offensive line coach): One of the few holdovers from the 2024 to the 2025 coaching staffs, Kugler served as assistant O-line coach under both Jerod Mayo and Mike Vrabel. His work caught the eye of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who hired him as tight ends coach under their new regime. | News

Milton Patterson (defensive assistant): An experienced college coach who spent several seasons in various roles at Florida A&M, Patterson arrived in New England last offseason to work as a defensive assistant. His stint on the Patriots’ staff lasted only one season, though. | News

Patriots internal changes

Terrell Williams (TBD): Williams was hired as Patriots defensive coordinator last year, but he struggled with medical issues for much of 2025. After having to work remotely for much of the offseason following an undisclosed “health scare” he was able to serve in his role for only one game: Williams was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September and subsequently left the team. He has since been declared cancer free but will not resume his role as DC. Instead, he has been moved to a “high-ranking role” on Mike Vrabel’s staff. | News | Analysis

Zak Kuhr (promoted to defensive coordinator): Another offseason addition under Mike Vrabel in 2025, Kuhr stepped up in light of Terrell Williams’ medical episodes. He served as his on-the-ground replacement in the offseason and later was chosen as defensive play caller during the season. Kuhr did an admirable job and as a consequence was promoted from his inside linebackers coaching job to full-time DC. | News | Analysis

Vinny DePalma (promoted to inside linebackers coach): Formerly a linebacker at Boston College, DePalma came to the Patriots during the 2024 offseason. He spent the next two seasons as a defensive assistant working primarily with the linebacker position, and his promotion to inside linebackers coach was therefore only natural. | News | Analysis

Patriots interview tracker

Ephraim Banda (for defensive coordinator): Banda started his coaching career at the college level before making the move to the NFL as the Browns’ safety coach in 2023. Despite Cleveland struggling to play winning football particularly the last two years, the team’s defense — including his position group — kept playing at a fairly high level. As a consequence of this and the organization making a change at head coach and defensive coordinator this offseason, Banda has started receiving some interest from other clubs.

Patriots coaching staff tracker

Browns safeties coach Ephraim Banda was among the coaches interviewed for New England’s defensive coordinator role. | Source

Southern Miss running backs coach B.J. Edmonds has been hired by the Patriots in an undisclosed role. | Source

Defensive assistant Milton Patterson will not be back with the Patriots in 2026. | Source

With Zak Kuhr moving up the ranks, so does Vinny DePalma: New England’s defensive assistant is expected to take over as the Patriots’ new inside linebackers coach. | Source

Zak Kuhr, who called defensive plays for a majority of the 2025 season, has been promoted to the Patriots’ defensive coordinator role. | Source

A young up-and-comer in NFL coaching ranks, quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant will not be going anywhere this offseason. | Source

The Patriots have decided to promote defensive coordinator Terrell Williams to a “high-ranking” role on their coaching staff. | Source

Robert Kugler, who served as an offensive line assistant for the Patriots in 2024 and 2025, is headed to the Steelers. He will serve as Pittsburgh’s tight ends coach. | Source

Patriots assistant Thomas Brown will not be hired as Cardinals head coach; Arizona has brought in Mike LeFleur to serve in that role. | Source

Mike McDaniel is set to become Chargers offensive coordinator, meaning that Patriots assistant Thomas Brown will not get the job he previously interviewed for. | Source

The Cardinals requested to interview Patriots tight ends coach and passing game coordinator Thomas Brown for their vacant offensive coordinator position. | Source

The Cardinals requested to interview Patriots tight ends coach and passing game coordinator Thomas Brown for their vacant head coaching position. | Source

Inter CEO Beppe Marotta has offered a candid assessment of the state of Italian football on the European stage following a disastrous set of results for Serie A clubs.

The comments come in the wake of a bruising week for Italian sides in the Champions League play-offs, where Juventus suffered a heavy 5-2 defeat at the hands of Galatasaray and Atalanta fell to Borussia Dortmund. These losses have intensified the debate surrounding the competitiveness of Italian teams against their continental peers.

Speaking to Sky Sport, as relayed by TMW, Marotta addressed the recent struggles and the changing landscape of the league’s financial structure. When asked if there is too much focus on balance sheets rather than results, Marotta stated: “I don’t entirely agree. Our football has been in decline for a decade, the presence of funds arrived in a difficult historical moment. If we imagine that the two Milanese clubs are foreign-owned, it means that without that the situation would have been even worse. Since Oaktree arrived we have made greater investments compared to recent years. The model has changed, but I am not skeptical about the arrival of funds. There is fund and fund, it must be evaluated who wants to create a virtuous path and not just a speculative one. We are lucky.”

Marotta also looked to move past the recent controversy surrounding the Derby d’Italia against Juventus, choosing to focus on Inter’s own European task: “Let’s not get into the controversy or we won’t come out of it. Certainly this is a pitch that has problems, it is an old-generation synthetic and there are difficulties in adhering with the shoe when you run. But we must adapt to this situation as well.”

He concluded by expressing his hope for a turnaround in fortunes for the remaining Italian representatives: “I don’t want to add anything more, it’s a page that left bitterness in general. Let’s close it and think about this beautiful Champions League match, very difficult, hoping that the Italian teams manage to pass the round.”

Liverpool are in the market for a new midfielder in the coming transfer windows.

With the futures of almost all of the Reds’ currently midfielders questionable, the club may end up investing in multiple options in one window, much like they did in the 2023-24 season.

Several players are on Liverpool’s shortlist, with the club looking to build on the progress they made last summer.

A lot can change between now and the summer however, and it looks like Arne Slot’s side might not even get the opportunity to move for one of their targets, with the player set to sign a new deal and end any transfer speculation.

Liverpool target set to sign new contract

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Juventus midfielder Khephren Thuram is set to sign a new deal in Turin, ending Liverpool’s pursuit before it had even really taken off.

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Thuram has been on the Reds’ radar for a long time, and was a target before he made the move to Italy.

The report states that Thuram was once again a target for Slot’s side ahead of the summer window, but that the Frenchman has chosen to reaffirm his commitment to Juve and will sign a new contract before the season is over.

The 24-year-old has become a mainstay in Turin since his arrival, and is widely regarded as one of the top midfielders in Serie A.

Thuram signing a new deal is no doubt a blow to Liverpool, and it will narrow their options for the summer, but the Frenchman wasn’t believed to be top of the Reds' list and the club’s rebuild looks set to continue as planned.

Kees Smit, Adam Wharton, Elliott Anderson and Warren Zaire-Emery are just some of the names that make up Liverpool’s midfield shortlist, and sales will likely dictate how many bodies the club add to the midfield.

American billionaire Leon Cooperman has deepened his investment in Manchester United, a new report has revealed.

United on the rise

After a turbulent 14 months under Ruben Amorim, United now appear to finally be getting back on track, with interim head coach Michael Carrick leading the charge.

United sacked Amorim in December last year, bringing an end to a turbulent spell marked by his rigid adherence to a tactical formation, fallings out with players, and a string of inconsistent performances and results. The final straw was his public outbursts, in which he appeared to be challenging the United hierarchy.

In his final press conference, after the 1-1 draw with Leeds at Elland Road, Amorim insisted that he joined United to be the manager, rather than the head coach. He also strongly hinted at cracks in his relationship with director of football Jason Wilcox.

Carrick has hit the ground running at Old Trafford, winning four and drawing one of the five games he has taken charge of.

In an extremely short time, he has implemented a front-footed and aggressive style of play that has galvanised supporters.

At present, the Red Devils sit in fourth place in the Premier League table and firmly within the frame to finish in the guaranteed Champions League spots.

All eyes have been on what is happening on the pitch and now, there is some news off it.

A bigger slice

According to the Independent, American billionaire Leon Cooperman has upped his stake in United.

It’s understood that Cooperman now owns 5.2 percent of the club’s Class A shares, which are valued in excess of $50m.

The newspaper adds, “Cooperman is the founder of Omega Advisors, a New York-based investment firm. There is no sense he is planning a takeover of United.”

“Cooperman’s recently acquired shares were not bought from Ratcliffe or the Glazer family but a British investment firm, Lindsell Train, has cut its stake in United.”

Ratcliffe and the Glazer family hold most of the Class B shares, which carry weighted voting rights of 10 votes per share, compared to just one vote for standard Class A shares.

Featured image Christopher Furlong via Getty Images

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The frustration was obvious for Vic Schaefer after the No. 4 Texas women lost by double figures at No. 5 Vanderbilt.

“We've got no heart,” the Longhorns coach said in a blunt analysis.

He hasn't been alone, on the men's or women's side, when it comes to coaches angrily calling out their teams in the pressure-packed final month of the regular season.

The list has included No. 21 Tennessee's Kim Caldwell on the women's side and Colorado men's coach Tad Boyle. Then there was Kansas State's Jerome Tang, whose postgame comments after a lopsided loss at Cincinnati stood out in their intensity — and were ultimately cited by the school's athletic director when Tang was fired Sunday night.

It's a delicate dance for coaches, finding the balance between tough-love motivation and a softer-touch inspiration. Look no further than Schaefer, who went from letting his players have it after the loss to Vanderbilt to praising their response when they beat Tennessee three days later.

“I do think there's some motivating factors when you get in front of a microphone and talk about ... individual standards and program standards,” first-year Florida State men's coach Luke Loucks said this week. "But I also think it’s our responsibility as coaches to get the most out of our group. That's why we get paid a lot of money to do this.

"If it were easy to do, we wouldn’t get paid as much as we get paid. So we have to find ways to squeeze the orange, so to speak.”

Vocal criticisms

Indeed, it’s a long-running test for coaches in finding the right message to reach their players. Their team might need the firmer assessment that challenges pride and even embarrasses, then the next year's group might need a lighter touch.

That was true even before today’s transfer-portal era creating more yearly roster churn with fewer holdovers. But in any era, saying it publicly rather than in a team meeting or a closed-door practice magnifies the spotlight and potential blowback.

This month has offered plenty of examples:

—Caldwell after a 93-50 road loss to No. 3 South Carolina for the worst loss in program history on Feb. 8: “We just had a lot of quit in us tonight, and that's been something that's been consistent with our team. ... I have a team that will just quit on you.”

—Boyle after a 78-44 loss at No. 13 Texas Tech on Feb. 11: “I'm embarrassed by our performance. ... We deserve to be on a 6 a.m. flight out of Lubbock, commercial, Southwest — whatever airline you choose. We don't deserve a charter plane back to Boulder tonight.”

—Tang after a 91-62 home loss to Cincinnati on Feb. 11: “These dudes do not deserve to wear this uniform. There will be very few of them in it next year.”

—Schaefer after the 86-70 loss at Vanderbilt last Thursday: “I just thought they were tougher, they were more physical, more aggressive, we whined, we complained. We just have no heart. ... It’s probably the softest team I’ve had in years.”

Lasting messages

Some call-’em-out deliveries live on for years.

Notably, Pat Knight held nothing back in February 2012 after his Lamar men’s team lost at Stephen F. Austin, starting when he walked in and dismissed player Mike James from the news conference, saying: “You don’t have a clue what it takes to win.”

“We’ve got the worst group of seniors right now that I’ve ever been associated with. Their mentality’s awful, their attitude’s awful,” Knight said, even referencing off-court problems of “classroom, drugs, being late for stuff.”

Clemson men’s coach Brad Brownell understands the challenge of finding the right message amid rising frustration. Now in his 16th year, he’s the longest-tenured Atlantic Coast Conference coach after a multiyear sideline overhaul that includes retiring Hall of Fame titans such as Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, North Carolina’s Roy Williams and Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim.

“I think every so often, it’s OK to talk about your guys in a way that, hey, you expect more out of them, we’ve got to do a little better,” Brownell said. “But at the same time, obviously, our jobs are trying to inspire our players. We’re trying to bring out the best in them.

“So there’s a fine line with all of it. Obviously when coaches are winning, hey man, it’s tough love and we enjoy all the banter. But when coaches are losing, everything they say is looked at much more critically. And so I do think as a coach, you better keep that in mind.”

Tang's firing

Tang's comments, in particular, stood out as a viral moment even before the firing days later.

The Wildcats followed the loss to Cincinnati by playing with no names on the backs of their jerseys in Saturday's loss at No. 2 Houston. Tang said he was pleased with the team's preparation after the loss to the Bearcats, and said he even had players Abdi Bashir Jr. and Nate Johnson take the lead on scouting work for the Cougars.

“I thought it was the right message,” Bashir said. “I don't think Coach Tang said anything wrong. I think that people forgot why we're here. I think we needed to be reminded of that, like we're here to play for K-State. I think they responded the right way. Nobody took no hard feelings toward it.”

A day later, Tang was out of a job, coming with the Wildcats (11-15) near the bottom of the Big 12 three years after Tang’s first team made the NCAA Elite Eight. Athletic director Gene Taylor said the school was firing Tang for cause — a designation that could reduce or eliminate Tang's buyout — while pointing to contract terms about conduct that “could potentially bring embarrassment."

Taylor later said Tang's comments about the players “really concerned me.”

“Basically his comments about the student-athletes and the negative reaction to those comments from a lot of sources, both nationally and locally, is where I thought we needed to make the decision,” Taylor said.

Positive responses

Both Caldwell and Schaefer saw some positive response to their tough assessments.

Caldwell's Lady Vols beat Missouri by 45 points four days after the South Carolina debacle. As for Schaefer, his Longhorns regrouped after the Vanderbilt loss to beat Tennessee 65-63. And the coach had gone from saying he would call AD Chris Del Conte to apologize for his players' performance to praising their response.

“This team has a ton of heart,” Schaefer said. “I want to make sure y'all know that, we just didn't play with any on Thursday, in my opinion.”

Schaefer, who turns 65 next month, said he was “too far down the road to change” his belief that he must teach accountability.

“When they leave me, they go out in the real world, they understand: 'Hey, you can't show up for work and give that effort at my job because I might get fired,'” he said. "I think my kids understand that.

“I hope they do. I hope they know how much I love them and I care about them. ... Sometimes you just have to have those real conversations.”

___

AP freelancers Al Lesar in Tennessee and Jeremy Rakes in Texas contributed to this report.

___

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Yankees want Ryan McMahon to learn a new position originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Yankees traded for Ryan McMahon last July because he's an impressive third baseman.

They're now wondering whether he can add a new position to his talents.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters Wednesday that they'd like McMahon to get some reps at shortstop this spring. The idea would be that he could be a backup option there if needed.

McMahon has played three innings at shortstop in his MLB career, all in 2020.

He has also played 750 games at third base, 244 gams at second base and 70 games at first base.

MORE: There's one question Pirates phenom Konnor Griffin needs to answer

McMahon was a 2024 All Star for the Rockies when he had a strong first half en route to a .722 OPS for the season.

In 2025, his combined OPS was .693. He mostly struggled once joining the Yanks.

New York had an even worse situation at third base before acquiring McMahon, though, so he'll likely have a long leash over there before the Yanks would even consider something different.

The Yankees will be without starting shortstop Anthony Volpe to begin the season due to injury. Jose Caballero will likely be the Opening Day starter.

It's not clear who would potentially play third base if McMahon played short -- maybe Amed Rosario? Regardless, Boone wants another option in his back pocket.

More MLB news:

• Team USA has a finalized WBC roster and an awesome lineup
• Dominican Republic WBC roster is loaded with stars
• An Edwin Diaz nightmare looms for the Mets
• Buster Posey will change Hall of Fame voting forever
• How Jose Ramirez is on pace to become Cleveland's Derek Jeter
• Yankees have signed a catcher from the country of Hungary

Northern Illinois coach Thomas Hammock is leaving his alma mater to join the Seattle Seahawks as running backs coach and senior offensive assistant, ending a seven-year run with the Huskies, according to multiple reports Wednesday.

For Notre Dame fans, Hammock is best known for engineering Northern Illinois’ stunning 16-14 upset of No. 5 Notre Dame in South Bend in 2024, a result widely regarded as one of the biggest shocks of that college football season and NIU’s first win over a top-10 opponent.

In the aftermath of that game, Hammock and Irish coach Marcus Freeman formed a bond, with Hammock offering feedback and support that Freeman later accepted. “We’ve talked on the phone multiple times, exchanged text messages,” Hammock said last fall, adding that he wants to see Freeman win a national championship.​

BREAKING: NIU head coach Thomas Hammock is leaving for an administrative offensive assistant role with the Seattle Seahawks, @Brett_McMurphy reports.https://t.co/DJTbktl4wJpic.twitter.com/Bp0c6zmIhm

— On3 (@On3) February 18, 2026

Hammock previously served as running backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens from 2014–18, where he worked alongside current Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald, a relationship that helped pave his return to the NFL. NIU defensive coordinator Rob Harley is expected to serve as interim head coach.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Sunny on X:@thesunnyv

This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: MAC head coach with a Notre Dame upset is leaving college for the NFL

Less than a month after hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks are for sale. The team confirmed as much in an announcement today.

"The Estate of Paul G. Allen today announced it has commenced a formal sale process for the Seattle Seahawks NFL franchise, consistent with Allen's directive to eventually sell his sports holdings and direct all Estate proceeds to philanthropy," the statement read.

"The Estate has selected investment bank Allen & Company and law firm Latham & Watkins to lead the sale process, which is estimated to continue through the 2026 off-season. NFL owners must then ratify a purchase agreement," it continued.

Allen, co-founder of the Microsoft Corporation, purchased the Seahawks in 1997 for $194 million. Allen died in 2018 at age 65 and team ownership was transferred to the Allen estate, managed by his sister Jody.

Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald was asked about a potential sale of the franchise leading up to Super Bowl 60.

"To go with the sale and the ownership... nothing's changed from two weeks ago or nothing's changed since I interviewed for the job with Jody two years ago," Macdonald said.

It obviously wasn't a distraction as the Seahawks earned a dominant 29-13 win.

2026 Super Bowl winners, losers: Drake Maye didn't give Patriots a chance

OPINION: Seahawks defense among best ever after Super Bowl destruction of Patriots

Macdonald went on to praise Jody's presence in the franchise.

"Jody is a fantastic owner," he said. "Supportive, steadfast in what she believes and what she wants the Seahawks team to be and what it should mean to our community.

And she can kind of see through the fog that sometimes maybe in the first year I had a hard time doing. So to have that type of guidance and that type of support has meant a lot. So I can say this: I love having Jody as our owner."

The Allen Estate also owns the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers and is a minority owner of MLS's Seattle Sounders FC.

This could be the third NFL team sale in the last five years. In 2024, the Washington Commanders were sold for $6.05 billion, the richest sale in NFL history. In 2022, the Denver Broncos were sold for $4.65 billion.

As of August 2025, Forbes valued the Seahawks franchise at $6.7 billion. That valuation put them at 14th league-wide. That would reset the record for the richest sale in NFL history if it holds.

NFL team valuations

Valuations from Forbes as of August 2025.

1. Dallas Cowboys: $13 billion
2. Los Angeles Rams: $10.5 billion
3. New York Giants: $10.1 billion
4. New England Patriots: $9 billion
5. San Francisco 49ers: $8.6 billion
6. Philadelphia Eagles: $8.3 billion
7. Chicago Bears: $8.2 billion
8. New York Jets: $8.1 billion
9. Las Vegas Raiders: $7.7 billion
10. Washington Commanders: $7.6 billion
11. Miami Dolphins: $7.5 billion
12. Houston Texans: $7.4 billion
13. Denver Broncos: $6.8 billion
14. Seattle Seahawks: $6.7 billion
15. Green Bay Packers: $6.65 billion
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $6.6 billion
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: $6.5 billion
18. Cleveland Browns: $6.4 billion
19. Atlanta Falcons: $6.35 billion
20. Tennessee Titans: $6.3 billion
21. Minnesota Vikings: $6.25 billion
22. Kansas City Chiefs: $6.2 billion
23. Baltimore Ravens: $6.1 billion
24. Los Angeles Chargers: $6 billion
25. Buffalo Bills: $5.95 billion
26. Indianapolis Colts: $5.9 billion
27. Carolina Panthers: $5.7 billion
28. Jacksonville Jaguars: $5.6 billion
29. Arizona Cardinals: $5.5 billion
30. Detroit Lions: $5.4 billion
31. New Orleans Saints: $5.3 billion
32. Cincinnati Bengals: $5.25 billion

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Seahawks for sale: Here's how much Super Bowl champions are valued at

Headed into the 2024-25 season, Isi Ozzy-Momodu was an incoming Maryland women’s basketball transfer alongside Christina Dalce. Head coach Brenda Frese and the coaching staff made a conscious decision to mesh their strong personalities. 

“They made us roommates last year,” Ozzy-Momodu said. “That fueled the craziness between us.” 

While recovering from a torn ACL that season, Ozzy-Momodu’s job was to extend her personality to the rest of the team. 

A main target was Sarah Te-Biasu, the breakout star of last year’s team. 

“Sarah was very quiet. I would [see] that she would laugh in private,” Ozzy-Momodu said. “I’m like, she can’t be quiet and sitting up next to me because she was my locker buddy. I brought out her crazy side, too.” 

Ozzy-Momodu’s ability to light up the room has helped her become a leader and change the team’s dynamic. Despite this being her first season on the court, her two years in College Park have helped mold the locker room.

Dalce graduated after the 2024-25 campaign. With Ozzy-Momodu stepping into an increased on-court role — a similar one to Dalce’s — it’s her goal to make her attitude rub off on her teammates. 

“[Isi is] a naturally loud person, which is a good thing in our case,” Kyndal Walker said. “She’s energy all the time … She’s a good leader for our team.”

Frese described her as “more excited about her teammates’ success than her own.” That mentality translates on and off the court. 

Off the court, she likes to take her teammates on adventures, finding her ideas on TikTok. One example was bringing Te-Biasu, Walker and Ava McKennie on a roller-skating trip — where she admittedly fell over.

Ozzy-Momodu’s adventurous approach connects to her basketball journey.

Ozzy-Momodu’s life in basketball was not in the cards at first. It took until her final year at the City of London Basketball Academy to decide that she wanted to play at the next level. 

When Ozzy-Momodu originally took up basketball, it was an escape from her surroundings. 

“I grew up in southeast London, one of the craziest parts of London,” Ozzy-Momodu said. “Around the time when I started basketball, it was really good because that was when gang wars were happening. I had basketball to keep me away from that.”

Ozzy-Momodu had two main basketball influences: her childhood coach, Jackson Gibbons, and her sister, Ire. The older Ozzy-Momodu also played college basketball, both with Robert Morris and Eastern Michigan. Ire’s basketball career was what Isi said “really influenced my basketball career.”

Gibbons helped Ozzy-Momodu find a role in American junior college. She played at two of them before joining the Terps. 

Ozzy-Momodu first went to Eastern Florida in 2022-23, where she won the conference title before falling in the NJCAA tournament. 

But after a successful season, Ozzy-Momodu needed more competition. She discovered Gulf Coast State. With the Commodores, she experienced a breakout season, averaging 16.7 points and 11.6 rebounds. But her season ended abruptly with an ACL injury.

It was still time to make the jump to Division I regardless. And Brenda Frese made the call.

Missing all of last season added to Ozzy-Momodu’s journey and allowed her to completely assume her off-the-court leadership role. She’s been unafraid to reveal her personality to the world, doing postgame cartwheels, crazy dances and sometimes being introduced as the “Queen of London.” 

“I’m just very impulsive, I just do things,” Ozzy-Momodu said. 

On the court, Ozzy-Momodu has also been impactful — she’s averaging 8.1 points and 6.7 rebounds as a full-time starter. Her energy has been a major asset in helping Maryland pick up its key wins this season. 

But she’s also aided others in overcoming difficult times, and has preached taking a step back. 

“When it gets too serious, that’s when I start to try to lighten the mood,” Ozzy-Momodu said. “Most of the time we’re too focused, that’s when we get into our heads… we just need to be ourselves at that point, which is calm and collected.” 

She knows when to turn it on and off, but her mentality is clear. Her success this season has been predicated on “laughs, positivity … just being funny.” 

Maryland has had high highs and low lows this season, but one thing is clear — the vibe starts and ends with Ozzy-Momodu. 

“If I’m in a bad mood, it’s going to be a bad practice, because my mood is very contagious,” Ozzy-Momodu said. “I just always try to make sure I cover with a positive attitude.”

Houston Rockets All-Star forward Kevin Durant deflected questions about a possible social media burner account, though he did not deny the legitimacy of any claims.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Feb. 18 following a practice, Durant was asked about speculation that an account on X, formerly known as Twitter, might belong to Durant. The account handle, @gethigher77, was created in August 2021 and has just 75 followers and is following 75 other users. The account recently went private.

Over the All-Star break, screenshots emerged that showed the account openly criticizing current and former teammates of Durant.

“I know you’ve got to ask these questions, but I’m not here to get into Twitter nonsense,” Durant said. “I’m just here to focus on the season, keep it pushing, but I get why you have to ask those questions.”

More: NBA All-Star Game winners and losers: US vs World format is an upgrade

When pressed further and asked whether he had addressed the matter with his Rockets teammates, Durant once again deflected.

“My teammates know what it is,” he said. “We’ve been locked in the whole season. We enjoyed our break. We had a great practice today, and we look forward to the road trip.”

The Rockets, who are 33-20 and in a tight race near the top of the Western Conference, are set to go on a two-game trip to Charlotte and New York.

The screenshots from the @gethigher77 account led to speculation over the weekend that the tone and speech patterns were similar to messages Durant has used in the past from his verified accounts.

The images show direct messages sent from the account that seemingly disparage Rockets All-Star center Alperen Şengün and forward Jabari Smith Jr. Those direct messages are in the first person and imply that the Rockets are “this (expletive) ass team.” The messages also use offensive epithets.

“Your franchise player can’t shoot or defend,” one message reads, seemingly alluding to Şengün. “That's a wayyyyyyy bigger issue than my turnovers. Remember, these guys are your future.”

“I can’t trust Jabari to make a (expletive) shot or get a stop,” another message reads, before calling Smith a common epithet against people with a learning disability.

It’s important to stress that there has been no direct evidence tying Durant to the account and that the supposed link is, at this point, merely internet speculation.

Known to be active on his social media channels, particularly when responding to other users or trolls, Durant even said during a 2019 interview with ESPN that he used burner accounts.

“I wasn’t used to that amount of attention from playing basketball,” Durant said then. “I wanted a place where I could talk to my friends without anybody butting in on my conversations or mixing my words or taking everything out of context because I enjoyed that place.”

Previously, in 2017, Durant was seemingly caught using a burner account when a fan addressed his official account and Durant responded by speaking in the third person.

Then, in July 2023, after the launch of Threads, Durant posted a message to Twitter, saying: “On threads with the burner. Come find me.”

During a press conference Saturday, Feb. 14 at All-Star media day, Durant was asked if he was forced to give up X or video games for the rest of his life, which one he would choose.

“Damn,” Durant said then. “I’m going to go Twitter. I’m going to go Twitter, because they don’t deserve to hear this God-level talk I’m giving to them. They take it for granted, cuz.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kevin Durant burner account: Rockets star addresses speculation

AUDIO:

VIDEO:

On this episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast, Kiyan Sobhani and Don Amancio discuss:

• Benfica’s stance on what happened last night
• Kylian Mbappe’s leadership
• Great to see a lot of ex-players standing up for Vinicius 
• Jose Mourinho’s post-game comments
• Revisiting the ridiculous yellow card Vinicius received
• Deceiving stats from the Benfica game
• Video evidence UEFA can’t deny
• Vinicius’s insane UCL KO stats
• His partnership with Mbappe
• Mbappe’s staggering key passes stat
• Jarring stats from Real Madrid’s big games in the past two seasons
• Real Madrid’s goal conversion struggles
• Reasons for optimism
• And more.

Did you enjoy this podcast? Get a ton of bonus content exclusively over on Patreon.com/ManagingMadrid.

Managing Madrid is a hub for all Madridistas with updated news, op-eds, tactical analyses, artwork, and of course, podcasts. It also serves as a means for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Real Madrid⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ fans to connect and discuss the team. We would like your support so that we can continue to produce podcasts for you.

The site is run by a small team that works tirelessly around the clock to make it into what it is today. Your contributions will allow us to continue to have a real and full-time presence in keeping this website, and it’s podcasts, going.

Hosts this week:

Kiyan Sobhani (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@KiyanSo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Don Amancio (⁠⁠@DonShelby__⁠⁠)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden made headlines after his home debut by saying loyalty is overrated after joining his fourth different franchise since 2022.

“It’s basketball, the whole quote on quote loyalty thing is, I think it’s overrated,” Harden said last week.

“I think this is a business at the end of the day, and it’s a lot of money involved and a lot of decisions that have to be made. If a player isn’t producing, or if you don’t see him in your future, you know, if the front office, some of them have to do a job and want to keep their job. So they feel like they got to do what’s best keep their job, and they trade players.”

Donovan Mitchell was asked about those comments after practice on Wednesday and agreed with Harden. Loyalty in sports isn’t what it ideally should be, but many factors go into why it isn’t.

“I think as a sports fan, and as a diehard Mets fan, would I love for Jacob deGrom to still be here? Yeah,” Mitchell said. “You know, certain situations, it’s not always going [to work out]. It’s not always like that. For him to be honest with you guys and give that answer, I respect that. This is a business.”

And there are competiting interest at play, even internally.

“You can’t blame a guy for wanting to maximize his opportunity, maximize his life-changing money for his family,” Mitchell said. “On the flip side, it’s that weird side in sports where it’s like, this is a business, but there’s also the concept of, ‘Hey, I want to be here forever.’ There’s always that with every athlete.”

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Mitchell has seen how this dynamic works, even if he personally hasn’t changed teams as much as Harden has.

There were reports that Mitchell was open to being traded from the Utah Jazz back in 2022. It was also clear that this was something that the Jazz felt was in their best interest after they weren’t able to advance out of the second round with their team built around Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.

“This season wasn’t very much fun this year,” Jazz CEO Danny Ainge said a few months before the team traded Mitchell. “This draft wasn’t fun. Free agency wasn’t very much fun. You’re over the tax, no draft picks, and our team loses in the first round. It wasn’t fun for us. We want it to be fun for our fans and our players, but we just haven’t had much flexibility to do anything over the last little while.”

Whether or not this was ultimately the right move for Utah is up for debate. What isn’t, is the fact that they felt that their core wasn’t good enough to win, and it was time to move on.

In many instances, it’s in the team’s and the player’s best interest to open up a new chapter. And in the NBA, things can change quickly, as Darius Garland found out.

“You look at my situation in Utah,” Mitchell said, “you go from being the one seed and the next thing you know (he snaps), it’s like that. It just happens. With DG, it was the same thing. The Jimmy Butler situation, the Dame [Lillard] situation, there’s other situations. It’s so fragile. Everything is so fragile. One day could be great, the next day (snaps again) can be like that.”

Some of Harden’s exits have been messy and seemingly not as mutually beneficial as you’d ideally like. That’s part of Harden’s complicated legacy and the business of sports.

“I don’t know his exact experience,” Mitchell said. “All I know, is pretty much what you guys know. But I do know there’s certain things that can kind of skew that. … Not just speaking of him, but as a whole in sports.

“So I really respect the fact that he was honest. I think a lot of guys relate to that. I think it also gives fans a unique insight on like, hey, there’s so much love here for sure, but there’s also things that can get in the way.”

Michail Antonio is in talks with Qatari club Al‑Sailiya as well as Championship side Charlton Athletic as he looks to return to regular football following his near-fatal car crash.

The former West Ham striker is keen to return to regular football and is currently training at Charlton's base in south‑east London.

Negotiations with both clubs are ongoing.

The 35-year-old featured for Jamaica at June's Concacaf Gold Cup after recovering from the accident, which happened in December 2024.

West Ham released Antonio in August and he later had a short spell training with Leicester City before suffering a minor setback.

After Charlton's defeat by Portsmouth on Saturday, manager Nathan Jones said there was "nothing yet" to announce, but added that "the wheels are still in motion".

In an exclusive interview with the BBC in March 2025, the forward said he felt like he was "close to dying" after the crash in Essex and that he believes he has been given "another chance at life".

"I shattered my femur bone in four different places," he said.

"I had one single keyhole surgery. They put a pole in my thigh with four bolts, so screws and bolts to knit it back together.

"My first surgeon said he didn't want me to put any weight on my leg for three months, which is around about now, and you can see that I am walking.

"We got a second specialist who said I needed to start putting weight on it, increasing from 10% up to 100% within three weeks.

"But I kept my crutches for a further two weeks. Overall, they say it will be between six to 12 months before my leg starts healing properly."

• Latest Charlton Athletic news, analysis and fan views
• Listen to Charlton Athletic content on BBC Sounds

Anthony Gordon's words proved rather prescient.

"In the Champions League, teams are much more open," he said just a few weeks ago. "They all try to play."

Never was that more apparent than on Wednesday night.

This was a new stage for both sides, neither of whom had reached the knockout stages of the Champions League before.

But the gulf in class was staggering.

Eddie Howe showed Qarabag huge respect by naming a strong side, but the Newcastle head coach also knew the hosts would leave gaps.

Gordon, in particular, exploited them as he led the line.

The forward was so hungry that, even after scoring his hat-trick, he grabbed the ball as designated penalty-taker to take the spot-kick for his fourth rather than giving it to Nick Woltemade.

Kieran Trippier, the stand-in captain, still appeared to be a little annoyed about that as the pair exchanged words after trudging off the field at half-time.

But it summed up Gordon's ruthless streak.

In truth, Gordon and his team-mates could have scored even more on a night Qarabag goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski still, somehow, emerged with credit after making some fine saves.

Newcastle had 22 shots, 14 efforts on target and 39 touches inside the opposition box, but the visitors ultimately had to settle for just the six goals.

With the tie as good as over, Howe will now have the luxury of being able to rotate for the second leg at St James' Park next week - though you suspect Gordon will still be desperate to add to the 10 goals he has scored in the competition this season.

Listen to Gordon's reaction below or here on BBC Sounds

FORT MYERS, Fla. — In the wake of devastating injury news for starter Pablo López, who has an elbow injury that seems likely to require season-ending Tommy John surgery, the phrase “next man up,” has been continuously thrown around in the Twins’ clubhouse.

The Twins believed that their rotation depth was a strength this seaosn and now they’ll have to tap into it earlier than expected. As it sits now, with López out of the picture, the Twins have seven starting pitchers in the mix for five rotation spots, with some spots solidified and some up for grabs.

With Joe Ryan and Taj Bradley headed off to compete in the World Baseball Classic next month, the Twins should get an extended look at some of their rotation options. Here’s a look at that group.

Joe Ryan

Ryan established himself as an all-star starter last season, and with López out, he is at the top of the Twins’ rotation. The 29-year-old made 30 starts last year for the first time in his career, threw a career-high 171 innings and finished with a 3.42 earned-run average.

“If I can provide some guidance and some help for guys that need it, absolutely, I’m always going to be there,” Ryan said.

Bailey Ober

Ober is looking forward to this season after a difficult 2025 campaign marred by a hip issue that eventually forced a monthlong stint on the injured list.

He finished the season with a 5.10 earned-run average. He allowed 30 home runs, 14 in June alone. It was a far cry from the results the Twins have come to expect out of the right-hander, who has been among their most consistent in the previous few years.

Taj Bradley

The Twins acquired Bradley from the Rays in the trade deadline deal that sent Griffin Jax to Tampa Bay, and let him briefly acclimate to the organization at Triple-A before calling him up.

Aside from Ryan and Ober, Bradley has the most big league experience of the younger group, spending much of the past three seasons pitching at the major league level. He made six starts with the Twins in August and September to mixed results, but the early returns in camp have been promising.

“(There) were so many things Taj did well (Monday),” manager Derek Shelton said earlier this week. “His stuff looked really good, first and foremost. Hitters did not get great swings on him.”

Simeon Woods Richardson

Woods Richardson made one major league appearance in each 2022 and 2023 before staking out claim to a rotation spot in 2024. The starter made 28 starts for the Twins that year and 22 (23 games) for the Twins last year.

Many of his starts were limited to five innings or fewer last year, but he had a particularly strong finish, posting a 2.33 ERA across 27 innings pitched while turning in a couple of his longest outings of the year. The 25-year-old enters this year out of minor league options.

Zebby Matthews

Matthews, who is slated to start the Twins’ spring training opener on Friday against the Gophers, made 16 starts last season for the Twins, missing a period of time with a shoulder strain. Though he started the season in Triple-A, Matthews spent much of the summer pitching for the Twins.

David Festa

Festa was hampered by shoulder issues throughout 2025, eventually receiving Botox injections late last season to treat a case of thoracic outlet syndrome. Festa has been throwing bullpen sessions, but his health is still a question mark early on. Between injuries and stints at Triple-A, Festa made 11 appearances in the majors, 10 starts, last year and posted a 5.40 ERA.

Mick Abel

Abel, 24, was acquired as part of the return for Jhoan Duran at the last trade deadline. He made 10 major league appearances last year, eight starts, and could be the most likely candidate to begin the season back in Triple-A.

Shelton was raving about what he saw from Abel on Tuesday, citing his “electric stuff,” and the fact that the first pitch out of his hand was a 98 mph sinker to Byron Buxton.

“I’m coming in here and competing for a spot,” Abel said. “Whether I make it or not, I’m just here every day to get better and compete.”

Related Articles

• Twins look for “next man up,” in wake of Pablo López injury news
• Twins’ Pablo López likely to miss entire season
• Twins owner Tom Pohlad arrives at spring training, aims to ‘set a new culture’
• Pablo López experiences elbow soreness as Twins kick off full-team workouts
• After “different” offseason, Buxton preps for WBC, season

The Dallas Mavericks said star Kyrie Irving will miss the rest of the NBA season as he continues to recover from knee surgery in March.

Nine-time All-Star Irving hasn't played this season as he recovers from surgery to repair a torn left anterior cruciate ligament.

"This decision wasn't easy, but it's the right one," Irving said in a statement. "I am grateful for the Mavericks organization, my teammates and our fans for their continued support throughout the process.

"I am looking forward to coming back stronger next season. The belief and drive I have inside only grows."

The Mavericks said that Irving is making "steady progress in rehabilitation and will remain actively engaged with the team through the remainder of the season".

ESPN reported that the Mavericks hope that Irving will be able to return to practice before the end of the season so that he can begin building on-court chemistry with sensational rookie Cooper Flagg.

The Mavs began preparations to rebuild around Flagg when they traded 10-time NBA All-Star Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards in a multi-player deal at the trade deadline this month.

The deal also involved multiple future draft picks, including a first-round pick from Oklahoma City in this year's draft.

The Mavs are currently 12th in the Western Conference and at 19-35 are seven games outside of the play-in.

bb/jc

The New York Rangers are currently positioned to make two first‑round selections in the 2026 NHL Draft. Getting these picks right is a hugely important part of their current retool, since the Rangers prospects pipeline is not exactly overflowing with talent.

The Rangers have their own first-round pick, which likely is a lottery pick considering that they are 30th out of 32 teams in the NHL standings with 25 games remaining this season. They acquired the other selection from the Carolina Hurricanes as part of the K’Andre Miller trade last summer.

That pick comes with a condition. It must be the better of either Carolina’s pick or one from the Dallas Stars, since the Hurricanes own each pick in 2026. Carolina and Dallas are two of the top five teams in the NHL at the Olympic break, so either way, this pick will be near the end of the first round when it transfers to the Rangers.

Previously, we analyzed why the Rangers should consider selecting a high-end defensemen, like Chase Reid from the Soo Greyhounds, with their own first-rounder. Now, we’ll take a look at this second first-round selection.

Depending on whom you ask, this draft class ranges from average to very good. We’re leaning toward the latter, which should allow the Rangers to draft for need rather than simply taking the best player available late in the first round.

To that end, one of their biggest needs is a scoring center, and there are several strong options in that range.

Ryan Roobroeck, C/RW, Niagara (OHL) 

The best option here is Niagara’s Ryan Roobroeck, the younger brother of towering center Dylan Roobroeck, whom the Rangers selected in the sixth round (No. 178 overall) of the 2023 draft. Listed at 6‑foot‑4, Ryan is big, though certainly not as tall as his 6-foot-7 brother, who scored 20 goals as a rookie pro with Hartford of the American Hockey League last season.

Younger brother Ryan is a natural goal scorer, one who’s second on Niagara with 30 goals in 49 games, including 10 on the power play and six game‑winners, though he’s currently sidelined with an undisclosed injury. Last season, Roobroeck led Niagara with 41 goals and 87 points, and he’s one shy of 100 goals over three seasons in the OHL.

ROOBS ON THE REBOUND 💥

Hometown boy, Ryan Roobroeck, opens the scoring in London.

📺: @FloHockey + @yourtvniagara#DogCountry | #NHLDraftpic.twitter.com/4PZNMyFbFR

— Niagara IceDogs (@OHLIceDogs) February 7, 2026

His wrist shot is one of the best in the draft class, and he’s made noticeable strides in his foot speed and defensive reads, turning himself into a reliable two‑way forward. With his scoring touch, he may beat his brother to the NHL.

But there are some concerns here. NHL Central Scouting has him ranked No. 27 among North American skaters, a drop from earlier projections which listed him to go in the middel of the first round.

Yegor Shilov, C, Victoriaville (QMJHL) 

Our second option is Egor Shilov of the Victoriaville Tigres, who’s ranked No. 17 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. The 17‑year‑old center (6‑foot‑1, 185 pounds) posted a 23‑39‑62 line so far in 47 games and brings a creative, play‑driving presence down the middle.

Who else than Egor Shilov? 🐯

The prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft notches his 24th of the campaign! @TigresVicto#NHLProspectspic.twitter.com/gyb31d4Dlk

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) February 15, 2026

Shilov can run a power play, skates with speed and skill, and shows poise with the puck. His passing touch stands out, though he’s not shy about shooting when the lane is there. He thrives under pressure, but he’ll need to tighten his defensive game and improve on face-offs. Even so, he projects as a future top‑six center.

Ilia Morozov, C, Miami (Ohio) 

It’s unlikely he falls to the bottom of the first round, but if he does, Ilia Morozov is a home‑run pick for the Rangers. The 17‑year‑old Miami (Ohio) center is already 6‑foot‑3 and 205 pounds and plays with the maturity of a veteran. He’s No. 8 on Central Scouting’s list of top NA skaters.

At just 17 years old, freshman Ilia Morozov is helping build a new chapter at @MiamiOH_Hockey!

We go #InsideTheNCHC to learn about his path from Russia to Oxford, his early jump to college hockey, and his immediate impact with the RedHawks 🔴⚪#theNational // #RiseUpRedHawkspic.twitter.com/GKeRg6thcu

— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) January 22, 2026

Morozov is a true 200‑foot player who fits seamlessly into a three‑zone system. He may not have Shilov’s pure playmaking ability, but he’s an offensive threat who has steadily improved while facing top competition in the NCHC. He’s strong on the forecheck, uses his size effectively, and looks like a player who will reach the NHL before age 20.

The freshman has 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in 30 games, and blocked 21 shots at the other end of the rink.

Related Headlines

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The last week of NCAA D1 wrestling duals is upon us, which means there are precious few collegiate contests for us wise and learned wrestling fans to enjoy. Thankfully, there are some excellent dual meets still on the docket, one of the most prominent of which is Cornell vs NC State, which is going down this Friday, February 20 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern time in Raleigh, North Carolina. 

The Big Red will travel south from Ithaca, New York to the Reynolds Coliseum sporting an 8-6 dual meet record and riding a three dual winning streak. The Wolfpack are 14-4 on the season and will be honoring their seniors at home during their last competition of the regular season. Cornell is sticking around Tobacco Road for a dual at Duke University on Sunday, which will close out the regular season for both squads. 

Projected Lineups

125: #5 Vincent Robinson, NC State vs Greg Diakomihalis, Cornell

133: #18 Zach Redding, NC State vs #17 Tyler Ferrara, Cornell

141: #10 Ryan Jack, NC State vs #6 Vince Cornella, Cornell

149: #4 Koy Buesgens, NC State vs #2 Jaxon Joy, Cornell

157: Luca Felix, NC State vs #2 Meyer Shapiro, Cornell

165: #10 Will Denny, NC State vs Benny Rogers, Cornell

174: #7 Matthew Singleton, NC State vs #2 Simon Ruiz, Cornell

184: Donald Cates, NC State vs Louis Cerchio, Cornell

197: Patrick Brophy, NC State vs Aiden Hanning, Cornell

285: #2 Isaac Trumble, NC State vs #30 Ashton Davis, Cornell

Neither program has put out an official preview or set of probables at the time of publication, so some questions marks remain. Felix Luca has been getting most of the starts for NC State at 157 since the team lost Jackson Arrington to injuries in December, though coach Pat Popilizio has other options.

Cornell head coach Mike Grey has been using both freshman Cy Kruse and junior Ashton Davis at heavyweight. Who will ulimatley get that nod is TBD. Grey also had to bump Louis Cerchio up from 165 to 184 to take over for Christian Hansen, who suffered a season ending injury in December. You can read more about Cerchio's move in the latest edition of the Big Red Insider. 

And if you want to learn more about NC State's seniors who are being honored Friday night, the Wolfpack Insider has more details. Both insiders were composed by the prolific Brian Reinhardt.

Key Matchups

149: Buesgens vs Joy

The marquee bout of the evening is at 149, where two underclassmen are set to collide in a top five matchup. 

Joy is a grey shirt freshman who spent a gap year after high school at the Spartan Combat RTC. He's 21-0 on the season against D1 opponents, with his only loss this season coming at the Clarion Open to high school phenom, Bo Bassett, though Joy balanced out that loss with a pin over #9 Ethan Stiles at the same event.

The Ohio native then went on a tear at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, notching four ranked wins over #17 David Evans, #16 Eligh Rivera, #6 Collin Gaj, and #5 Kaleb Larkin (at 157) on his way to a title. Joy is a terror in the top position, with an inventive cradle series that has been the bane of many opponents this season, as evidenced by Joy's ten falls of either the pin or technical variety. 

Watch Joy's win over Larkin:

Buesgens, meanwhile, has been a revelation for the Wolfpack this season. The redshirt sophomore from Minnesota followed up on his solid but unspectacular redshirt freshman campaign, that saw him go 16-13 on the season and 0-2 at NCAAs, with an 18-2 record agains D1 opponents that includeds wins over #6 Gaj, #7 Casey Swiderski and #5 Aden Valencia, with his only losses coming at the hands of Gaj (revenge from the National Duals Invitational at a late January dual meet) and Stiles. 

This Koy-Joy matchup will be one of the most consequential bouts of the weekend, and could also decide the outcome of the dual meet. 

174: Singleton vs Ruiz

There's not much of a drop off from the 149 bout to what we could see at 174 in this dual. 

Singleton had his breakout season last year when he placed seventh at NCAAs. Before that, Singleton was redshirting after being thrust into the starting lineup as a true freshman at 165lbs in 2023. Singleton has been consistent this season, going undefeated at the National Duals Invitational, which included a pin over #6 Alex Facundo.

Watch Singleton defeat Facundo in Tulsa:

The Georgia native did get tripped up in his last dual and fell to Pitt's Luca Augustine in sudden victory, though he could still boast of a 13-2 record afterwards. 

For as good as Singleton has been lately, grey shirt sophomore Simon Ruiz has been slightly better. He placed fifth at NCAAs, which included a 10-0 major of Singleton in the consolation quarterfinals. Ruiz and Singleton split their two previous meetings during the 2024-25 season. The Wolfpacker prevailed 6-1 at the CKLV in early December 2024, but it was the Big Redder who emerged victorious just a few weeks later, 6-5 in a dual meet. 

This season, Ruiz, a graduate of New Jersey parochial powerhouse Delbarton, has an unblemished record, defeating all opponents, including Facundo, #14 Jared Simma, and #15 Myles Takats, and running his season record up to 12-0. 

Singleton will have an opportunity to even their collegiate series to 2-2, while Ruiz will be able to tilt the record even further in his favor. 

141: Jack vs Cornella

Our third and final projected top ten matchup of the evening. Both wrestlers are in their final year of eligibility and will be looking to leave it all on the mat (though it should be noted that Cornella may have another year of eligibility if he transfers to a non-Ivy school as a grad student). 

Injuries have derailed Cornella's sophomore and junior seasons. The Cornell captain from Colorado was unable to continue his postseason after getting injured at the 2024 EIWAs. That was after a solid grey shirt and freshman campaign that saw him go 1-2 at the 2023 NCAAs. 

Cornella spent the entire 2024-25 season off the mat and then only came back to action in the second semester of the current 2025-26 season. It didn't take long for Vince to shake off the mat rust as he hit the ground running, piling up a 15-1 record with the sole loss coming narrowly to Lehigh's Luke Stanich, 5-4. 

Watch Cornella defeat Ivy rival CJ Compostoo in the Southern Scuffle finals:

Ryan Jack didn't do much wrestling last season either, as the redshirt senior from Danbury, Connecticut, took a redshirt and only competed unattached in two Opens. This season, he's 12-5 and on a mission to replicate his breakout 2024 season that saw him climb to the 7th place step on the NCAA podium. 

Though his record is not as impressive as Cornella's, four of Jack's five losses were by one or two points, with only a tech-fall loss to #1 Jesse Mendez breaking that trend. This should be a close bout between two savvy veterans who still have something to prove. 

Predictions

125: Robinson, NC State over Diakomihalis, Cornell by major - NCSU 4, CU 0

133: Ferrara, Cornell over Redding, NC State by decision - NCSU 4, CU 3

141: Cornella, Cornell over Jack, NC State by decision - CU 6, NCSU 4

149: Joy, Cornell over Buesgens, NC State by decision - CU 9, NCSU 4

157: Shapiro, Cornell over Felix, NC State by major - CU 13, NCSU 4

165: Denny, NC State over Rogers, Cornell by major - CU 13, NCSU 8

174: Singleton, NC State over Ruiz, Cornell by decision - CU 13, NCSU 11

184: Cerchio, Cornell over Cates, NC State by decision - CU 16, NCSU 11

197: Hanning, Cornell over Brophy, NC State by decision - CU 19, NCSU 11

285: Trumble, NC State over Davis, Cornell by major - CU 19, NCSU 15

Bonus points will be crucial, and pins and techs will come at a premium. If Cornell wins the close lighter weight bouts, Shapiro could make things very tough for a Wolfpack come back with a tech or pin at 157, which he is very capable of. 

If it comes to that, it will be up to Denny and Singleton to get things back on course for NC State. Singleton is the only 'upset' I'm predicting but I see that more of a toss up. Similarly, the Wolfpack should be in competitive bouts at 184 and 197, although I am leaning toward Cornell in those bouts like I am in the lighterweights. 

The goal for NC State is to keep things within striking distance for Isaac Trumble, as the Wolfpack anchor is absolutely capable of getting six team points if that's what was needed. 

Now let's see what A.I. thinks is going to happen. 

Predicted Match Outcomes & Team Points

Match    Winner    Points

125    NC State (Dec)    3

133    Cornell (Dec)    3

141    Cornell (Dec)    3

149    Cornell (Bonus)    4

157    Cornell (Tech/Major)    5

165    NC State (Dec)    3

174    Cornell (Dec)    3

184    Cornell (Dec)    3

197    NC State (Dec)    3

285    NC State (Tech)    4

Team Score Projection:

NC State: ~19

Cornell: ~27

Pretty similar, though the robot did not want to pick an upset at 174. It also can't add very well, but I'm going to leave in what ChatGPT said just as a warning not to take these robo-predictions to seriously!

And we all get to find out what actually happens this Friday. See you then!

The Los Angeles Dodgers have an embarrassment of riches at the plate, leaving manager Dave Roberts with a tough choice ahead of the 2026 season: Who bats where in the order?

On Wednesday, Roberts made clear where his head is at regarding Mookie Betts, saying he expects Betts to bat third, as reported by Katie Woo of The Athletic.

Betts has previously batted in the No. 2 spot, but with the addition of star outfielder Kyle Tucker and a dip in offensive production in 2025, he’s being moved back a spot.

Shohei Ohtani is expected to keep his leadoff spot, Roberts added.

Expectations for Mookie Betts in 2026

Betts had a down year at the plate in 2025, but he spent this past offseason retooling his swing.

“More just rewiring my mechanics, my brain, the motor patterns,” Betts explained, as reported by Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. “I think it kind of got out of whack early on, and once I got out of whack early, it was just like a snowball effect.”

With a bounce-back year at the plate and continued strong performance at shortstop, Betts could be a contender for the top player in the National League, an expectation Roberts has embraced.

“Mookie [Betts] will be in the MVP conversation this year,” Roberts predicted, as reported by Jack Vita of the Los Angeles Times.

A Return to Form for Betts?

Betts struggled in 2025, but that’s largely in relation to his own success.

He slashed .258/.326/.406. Compare that to 2024, when he slashed .289/.372/.491.

Before his time with the Dodgers, though, he led Major League Baseball in batting average and slugging.

In 2018, he slashed .346/.438/.640 en route to an American League MVP award.

Will history repeat itself in 2026? Only time will tell, but all indications thus far are positive for the Boys in Blue.

Do you think Mookie Betts will be MVP caliber again in 2026?

The Minnesota Golden Gophers finally saw themselves rewarded for their 8-game winning streak when they came in at #23 in both the AP and Coaches polls this week. The last time the Gophers were ranked 13 months ago it was just one week and out for Minnesota. For the Gophers to avoid that fate this time it will take at least one ranked win at home as Minnesota ends their regular season home schedule with a pair of ranked opponents beginning Wednesday night with a visit from the #10 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. It’s the Gophers annual breast cancer awareness game as well and they will be wearing their pink uniforms that are available to be bid on in an auction with all proceeds going to breast cancer research. Bids can be placed HERE. Wednesday night’s game will tip off at 7 PM and will stream on B1G+.

#10 Ohio State Buckeyes
Record: 22-4 (11-3)
NET Rank: 17

#23 Minnesota Golden Gophers
Record: 20-6 (11-4)
NET Rank: 9

KEYS TO A GOPHER WIN:

Keep Jaloni Cambridge in Check:

Minnesota has done a fairly good job of keeping their opponent’s star players in check during their 8-game winning streak—but that job will be significantly tougher Wednesday night against Ohio State’s Jaloni Cambridge. One of if not the favorite to win Big Ten Player of the Year, Cambridge was named to the Naismith Trophy’s late season watch list for National Player of the Year. Cambridge is second in the conference in scoring (22.8 ppg) and is also top 10 in steals (2.0 spg) and assists (4.5 apg). In conference play, Cambridge leads the Big Ten with 26.1 points per game. She is shooting 53% from the field and 43% from beyond the arc in Big Ten play this season. She has eleven games this season with 25 or more points including 29 in a one point loss to Maryland last Saturday. She averages nearly nine more point per game than any other Buckeye. If the Gophers can’t keep her in check, it could get ugly fast. But if they can, and force other players to need to account for her scoring, then Minnesota could pick up another huge home ranked win.

Break The Press:

Ohio State does one of the things that the Gophers have struggled all season with and that’s apply strong full court pressure. The Buckeyes are second in the Big Ten in steals and have forced their opponents to over 22 turnovers per game this season. Minnesota generally is very safe with the ball—they turn the ball over just 11 times per game, the best in Big Ten play. But they have struggled against a stiff full court press. It cost them a win over Maryland, it nearly cost them a win over USC, and Iowa made significant strides in coming back against the Gophers before they finally put them away. This is a massive opportunity for the Gophers, and if they blow it because they can’t handle the full court pressure yet again it will be very disappointing.

Rule The Boards—Get Second Chance Opportunities:

This is a game where the Buckeyes will match up will with the Gophers guards in speed and skill. They also have some size, so there will not be any distinct advantage for Sophie Hart and Finau Tonga in the paint. Where the Gophers will need to make up ground will be to dominate the rebounding totals. Minnesota averages three more rebounds per game that the Buckeyes, and Ohio State will give up plenty of rebounds. The Gophers also average nearly 3.5 more offensive rebounds that Ohio State per game. The Gophers need to get those boards and win the second chance points. Minnesota’s best looks from beyond the arc all night will likely come from offensive rebounds and kickouts to open shooters. Minnesota needs to knock those shots down and use that to their advantage.

Prediction:

Minnesota is on a roll and is extremely tough at home, but this is a very tough matchup for the Gophers. If Minnesota can do all the little things right a win is definitely possible, but the Buckeyes have only lost four games all season, all to ranked teams in UCONN, UCLA, Iowa and Maryland. Ohio State has dominated the Gophers in the recent past, but cracks are showing. Ohio State currently holds a 14-game win streak over the Gophers. Minnesota last beat the Buckeyes at home in 2016. It took then-ranked No. 5 Ohio State to overtime and won 90-88. But last season the Gophers took the Buckeyes to overtime in Columbus before falling 87-84. The potential is there—the Gophers just need to close. But I think they come up just a bit short yet again. Ohio State wins 84-79.

Next Up:

Minnesota celebrates Senior Night in their home regular season finale when they take on #18 Michigan State at 5 PM Sunday.

A little over a month ago, 2027 four-star defensive lineman Zane Rowe placed the Oregon Ducks within his top three schools alongside the Oklahoma Sooners and TCU Horned Frogs, the closer options for the Denton, TX, native.

On Wednesday, Rivals reported that Rowe has released a commitment date of March 13, with a different set of finalists than previously believed. Oregon and Oklahoma are still among the final four, but TCU has been bumped out for North Carolina and Washington.

Rowe is worth the push for all four programs, as he's the No. 12 edge and No. 90 player overall in the 2027 class per 247 Sports Composite. He competes for Denton Guyer High School and is the No. 11 player in the state of Texas.

The 6-foot-4, 255-pounder visited Eugene on Jan. 24 and apparently liked what he saw, as Oregon is considered among the favorites to land his commitment on March 13.

🚨NEWS🚨 4-star DL Zane Rowe will announce his commitment on March 13, @samspiegs and @Hayesfawcett3 report⌛️

His finalists are North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon and Washington.

Read: https://t.co/lNmGZGj2aEpic.twitter.com/gIObhyxoKD

— Rivals (@Rivals) February 18, 2026

Rowe spoke with Rivals on what he enjoyed about the program, first lauding their business connections on the West Coast before diving into their development on the field.

"They also have great development," Rowe said. "They have two DE going in the first round and another coming back for his senior year, so the depth chart is playing a big role. They’re recruiting my family and me, and came to visit me at school and showed my parents and me the plan. They showed their track record with Texas guys like Dakorien Moore. For them to come to DFW and then go play in Eugene, that’s the furthest you can go from Texas, so if you have success and thrive there, it’s a big deal to me."

It would be a big deal if head coach Dan Lanning could land a commitment from Rowe, who would immediately be the top-ranked player in the Ducks' 2027 class that features just one other four-star, though Cameron Pritchett is the No. 21 edge as opposed to Rowe's No. 11 ranking.

Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: 2027 4-star DL Zane Rowe announces commitment date, Ducks in the mix

In a stunning move on Wednesday, the Seattle Seahawks hired a sitting head coach from a current FBS program to join their offensive staff.

The Northern Illinois Huskies will embark on their first season in the Mountain West Conference without a familiar face as their head coach, Thomas Hammock, will join the Seahawks as their running backs coach and a senior offensive assistant. The move comes after the franchise parted ways with former running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu in January following a leave of absence.

BREAKING: NIU head coach Thomas Hammock is leaving for an administrative offensive assistant role with the Seattle Seahawks, @Brett_McMurphy reports.https://t.co/DJTbktl4wJpic.twitter.com/Bp0c6zmIhm

— On3 (@On3) February 18, 2026

Hammock and the Huskies are coming off a 3-9 season, but the veteran coach has led the program to three winning seasons in the past five, with the Huskies making bowl appearances in 2021, 2023, and 2024. He has been at the helm of the program since 2019 and will finish his tenure at the school with a 35-47 record.

The Huskies also became the first-ever MAC team to beat a Top 5 opponent under his leadership with a win over No. 5 Notre Dame in 2024 – that Fighting Irish squad would finish the year as the College Football Playoff runners-up after losing to Ohio State in the National Championship, earning a record of 14-2 on the year.

It will be Hammock's second stint in the NFL. Before coaching with the Huskies, he served as the running backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens from 2014-2018, working under John Harbaugh. Between the college and NFL ranks, Hammock has spent 23 years in coaching, including 14 years as a running backs coach and seven years as a head coach.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Seahawks poach successful Division One head coach in surprise hire

NEED TO KNOW

• Caitlin Clark admitted that she'd "rather retire" than give up the one dessert LeBron James avoided while preparing for the start of the 2025-2026 NBA season
• The Indiana Fever star commented on ESPN's Instagram post alongside the Los Angeles Lakers star's headline and video where he shared which dessert he abstained from
• James admitted that giving up the sweet treat was hard, but skipping wine wasn't easy either

Caitlin Clark isn't playing games when it comes to her sweet tooth.

Lebron James recently made headlines for admitting that he gave up a particular dessert while preparing for the NBA season, and the WNBA star, 24, hilariously commented on ESPN's Instagram post about it on Tuesday, Feb. 17.

The NBA legend, 41, revealed during this week's episode of “Mind the Game” that while he was out for the team's first 14 games of 2025 while coping with sciatica, he abstained from eating his beloved chocolate chip cookies and stopped drinking wine.

"I wasn’t playing obviously as the season started," James told Steve Nash on the show. "So I needed to give up something. I gotta sacrifice something — and I actually did two things that I love, that is drinking wine and my chocolate chip cookies for dessert."

The The Los Angeles Lakers superstar made clear: "I completely took it out."

ESPN posted the clip of James in conversation with Nash when he made his cookie confession, along with the headline that announced his ban on the dessert and alcoholic beverage, prompting a flurry of comments — including one from the Indiana Fever star.

"I’d rather retire than do this. This is why he’s him," Clark wrote on the Instagram post.

James missed 14 games at the start of the 2025-26 NBA season, including opening night of his record 23rd NBA season, due to a right-side sciatic nerve injury sustained around early August. He returned to the court on Nov. 18.

While the cookie and wine ban was initially implemented for the month of November to better his back from injury, James revealed that he opted to keep up the healthy habit through December.

"I kept going," he said on the show. "I didn’t have my first drink and my first piece of dessert until New Year’s. New Year’s Day. So I ended up going basically two months."

While cutting cookies from his diet was a challenge, the basketball icon said giving up wine was no cake walk either.

"Not playing, being a little stressed, I maybe wanted a glass here. A glass there,” he shared, adding, "But it was good to give my body a break."

Clark, meanwhile, is a huge cookie fan. She even went viral for naming the sweet treat when a reporter asked her to share something she likes to do that comes close to her love for basketball during a press conference in May 2024.

"I like warm chocolate chip cookies, so I guess that... making those," she said with a laugh in response.

Read the original article on People

LOS ANGELES — It's time for the final event of the PGA Tour's west coast swing. 

The Genesis Invitational kicks off on Thursday from Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, marking the second straight signature event on Tour. The Tiger Woods-hosted tournament marks the final one before the Tour heads to Florida for a month and gears up for The Players Championship. 

Like it is every time he's in the field, Scottie Scheffler will be the man to beat. The top-ranked golfer in the world has racked up three straight top-four finishes on Tour this season, starting with his blowout win at The American Express last month. He was briefly tied for the lead last last week at Pebble Beach, too, but couldn't quite overcome a rough opening round. Scheffler is, naturally, a +300 favorite to win at BetMGM.

Rory McIlroy is back for a second straight start on Tour. He finished T14 last week, though was five shots back of winner Collin Morikawa. Tommy Fleetwood, Hideki Matsuyama and Xander Schauffele are among the other big names in the field this week.

If Scheffler can put together a full week, he's already proven that he's nearly impossible to beat. Even if he slips up early, recent history shows he'll likely find a way to be in contention come Sunday. 

Here's everything you need to know to keep up with the Genesis Invitational, and how much money is up for grabs this week.

The 2026 Genesis Invitational Basics

Dates: Feb. 19 - 22
Course: Riviera Country Club | Los Angeles, California
2025 Winner: Ludvig Åberg
FedExCup Points: 700
Purse: $20 million

How To Watch the 2026 Genesis Invitational

All times ET

Thursday & Friday
4 p.m. — 8 p.m. | Golf Channel

Saturday
1 p.m. — 3 p.m. | Golf Channel
3 p.m. — 7 p.m. | CBS

Sunday
1 p.m. — 3 p.m. | Golf Channel
3 p.m. — 6:30 p.m. | CBS

2026 Genesis Invitational Payouts

1. $4 million
2. $2.4 million
3. $1.4 million
4. $1 million
5. $840,000
6. $760,000
7. $700,000
8. $646,000
9. $600,000
10. $556,000
11. $514,000
12. $472,000
13. $430,000
14. $389,000
15. $369,000
16. $349,000
17. $329,000
18. $309,000
19. $289,000
20. $269,000
21. $250,000
22. $233,000
23. $216,000
24. $200,000
25. $184,000
26. $168,000
27. $161,000
28. $154,000
29. $147,000
30. $140,000
31. $133,000
32. $126,000
33. $119,000
34. $114,000
35. $109,000
36. $104,000
37. $99,000
38. $94,000
39. $90,000
40. $86,000
41. $82,000
42. $78,000
43. $74,000
44. $70,000
45. $66,000
46. $62,000
47. $58,000
48. $56,000
49. $54,000
50. $52,000
51. $51,000
52. $50,000
53. $49,000
54. $48,000
55. $47,000
56. $46,000
57. $45,000
58. $44,000
59. $43,000
60. $42,000
61. $41,000
62. $40,000
63. $39,000
64. $38,000
65. $37,000
66. $36,000
67. $35,000
68. $34,000
69. $33,000
70. $32,000
71. $31,000
72. $30,000

Eddie Howe, Newcastle United manager, told TNT Sports:

On four-goal hero Anthony Gordon, who now holds the record for most goals scored by a Newcastle player in a single Champions League campaign: "He was really good in that first half. He started the press, a number of his goals came from his attitude off the ball.

"He could have had more, but a very good display."

On not getting complacent at 4-0 up: "We wanted to keep the momentum in the second half. The game changed and they played lower on the pitch which made it more difficult for us.

"Overall it's a great day for us. We know the tie isn't dead or over but we are in a great position."

Records smashed as Newcastle United run riot

• Anthony Gordon has broken a Newcastle record for goals scored (10) in a single Champions League campaign. The previous record was held by Alan Shearer with six.
• Gordon is the third player to score a hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League for Newcastle United, along with Shearer and Tino Asprilla.
• Gordon becomes the second player to score four goals in the first half of a UEFA Champions League game - and he is the first to do so in the knockout stage.
• Newcastle United had seven English players in their starting lineup - Gordon, Barnes, Pope, Trippier, Burn, Hall and Willock - which is the most from a Premier League side since Manchester United against Monaco in 1998.
• Newcastle become only the second side ever to lead a UEFA Champions League knockout stage game by 5+ goals at half-time. The other was Bayern Munich vs FC Porto in the quarter-finals back in 2015.

Championship strugglers Leicester City have confirmed former player Gary Rowett as their new manager until the end of the season.

BBC Radio Leicester reported earlier that the 51-year-old, who was sacked as Oxford boss two months ago, took training at the Foxes on Wednesday.

Rowett replaces Marti Cifuentes, who was sacked three weeks ago and his first game in charge will be at Stoke City on Saturday.

Leicester are third from bottom in the Championship, two points adrift of the safety line with 14 games left.

"I'm really proud to be the new Leicester City manager and to have the opportunity to work with and lead a really talented group over the coming months," Rowett told the club website.

"It's very clear to us all what needs to be achieved between now and the end of the season and the work begins immediately.

"I'm looking forward to building connections with the players, with the staff at the club and with the fans – all of which will be vital to helping us secure the results we need."

Rowett, who spent two years as a player in the East Midlands after joining from Birmingham City in 2000, has previously managed five clubs in the Championship.

He took charge of Birmingham, Derby County, Stoke City, Millwall and most recently Oxford, where he had almost a year in charge before his dismissal in December 2025.

Former Foxes team-mate Callum Davidson will be Rowett's assistant.

• Oxford sack Rowett after one win in 10 games
• How Cifuentes' time ran out at languishing Leicester

Leicester lost all four games under interim boss Andy King, and have also been docked six points in that time, having been found guilty of breaching spending rules after a protracted legal battle.

The points penalty, combined with a seven-game winless run that has included six defeats, has plunged Leicester into the drop zone.

They dropped into the bottom three on Saturday, with Blackburn Rovers leapfrogging them by beating Queens Park Rangers while the Foxes were knocked out of the FA Cup by Southampton.

"Gary is a manager with deep knowledge of the Championship and experience of the situation we now face in these final 14 games of the season – a fight for survival in the division," Foxes chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said.

"It is a task on which the entire club is focused, and we will provide Gary with every support to help us find the solutions we need.

"I'm grateful to Andy King for the professionalism and dedication with which he has prepared the team for recent matches in challenging circumstances.

"Together with the current group of first-team staff, he will remain a valued part of our coaching team, providing important continuity from which Gary and Callum can help to build."

• Latest Leicester news, analysis and fan views
• Listen to Leicester City content on BBC Sounds

Bodo Glimt and Inter meet in a Champions League play-off duel in the first leg.

This is how both teams line up...

BODO GLIMT XI

Haikin - Sjovold, Bjortuft, Gundersen, Bjorkan - Evjen, Berg, Fet - Blomberg, Hogh, Hauge

INTER XI

Sommer - Akanji, Acerbi, Bastoni - Darmian, Sucic, Barella, Mkhitaryan, Carlos Augusto - Pio Esposito, Lautaro Martínez

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

How LeBron James could still be NBA's highest paid player on minimum salary originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

LeBron James will be a free agent this summer, and his future with the Los Angeles Lakers is unclear.

James may well end his legendary career where it began by signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the offseason. However, the Cavaliers have very little cap space -- so as presently constructed, Cleveland cannot come close to matching James' $52.6 million salary, one of the highest in the NBA.

MORE: Lakers predicted to tip off post-LeBron James era by drafting former All-Star's son

In order to return triumphantly to Cleveland and set the stage for one of the grandest retirement tours in NBA history, James will have to make some sacrifices. He will perhaps have to sign a contract for the veteran's minimum.

But by auctioning off the streaming rights to his "farewell tour," James could end up surpassing Stephen Curry in earnings next season, just as Curry is set to become the NBA's first $60 million per year player.

Anthony Lima, a host on 92.3 "The Fan" sports radio in Cleveland, wrote Wednesday on X that media executives think James can net between $40 million and $75 million by getting streaming platforms to bid for the rights to televise his final NBA season (if 2026-27 indeed is his swan song).

I talked to a few execs in media world about how much LeBron could get for the rights to his farewell tour in a streaming bidding war.

Was told $40-75 million.

So yes, he could play for vet minimum next year on a title contender and still get compensation for his value.

Add…

— Anthony Lima (@SportsBoyTony) February 18, 2026

"Add in final year of one-off marketing deals and it’s a no-brainer," Lima said. "Basically entire season would be brought to you by 'LeBron James and Friends.'”

If nothing else, it is food for thought -- and don't think that James hasn't considered a possibility like this one already.

More NBA news:

• NBA insider gives LeBron James 99% chance of leaving Lakers for Cavaliers with one catch

• Lonzo Ball calls himself the 'scapegoat' following trade from Cavaliers

• Lakers predicted to make questionable move with draft pick despite LeBron James inching closer to retirement

• ESPN's Brian Windhorst hints at Lakers extending $3M former first-rounder, Luka Doncic's lob partner

Jets expected to move on from brother of Quinnen Williams in free agency originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Jets have a few key free agents that they need to make decisions on. Alijah Vera-Tucker is one of the trickiest ones to figure out, as his injury struggles recently make him a big question mark.

Breece Hall, on the other hand, is sure to draw plenty of attention on the open market. With such a future in store for Hall, the Jets might just franchise tag him to ensure he doesn't leave.

But when it comes to the brother of Quinnen Williams, linebacker Quincy Williams, his future with the Jets looks to be decided. As ESPN's Rich Cimini notes, the Jets and Williams are expected to go their separate ways this offseason.

Jets expected to let Quincy Williams walk in free agency

"Williams, a five-year starter for the Jets who was first-team All-Pro in 2023, is likely to move on," Cimini writes.

The veteran linebacker has been with the Jets since the 2021 season, and got to play alongside his brother before Quinnen was shipped off to the Dallas Cowboys at the 2025 NFL trade deadline for a package the Jets couldn't refuse.

Now, the Jets are looking to move on from Quincy, though the circumstances of their split are a bit different from what they were with the superstar DT.

More: Jets rumor links New York to $12 million Super Bowl-winning QB after Frank Reich hire

The older Williams' brother is set to hit free agency and depart after a shaky 2025 season, where he wasn't a fan of the scheme and made just 12 starts.

While the 30-year-old linebacker won't receive a lot of interest in free agency, especially following his rough season, a reunion with Robert Saleh in Tennessee or a trip to Dallas to reunite with his brother could be in store for Williams this offseason.

But, based on Cimini's report, it doesn't look like Williams will be returning to the Jets this offseason after his contract was voided after the 2025 NFL season.

More Jets news:

• Jets get $41 million free agent contract projection on Breece Hall
• Jets announce new OC for Aaron Glenn in former Eagles Super Bowl champion
• Jets urged to fix 'mess' on defense after Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams trades
• Jets' rounds 1-2 prediction from ESPN would be near-perfect draft class
• Why Jets won't let Breece Hall hit free agency even if there's no extension
• Jets projected to sign two-time Chiefs Super Bowl champion in free agency

Linebacker Quay Walker has been a controversial figure among Green Bay Packers fans from the day he was drafted in the first round back in 2022. And now the 57-game starter and 2025 team captain is about to become an unrestricted free agent when his rookie deal expires in March.

There have been highs and lows, some promising streaks and some maddening inconsistencies, but what do the stats say about the body of work he has put together in Green Bay, and has he improved over his four pro seasons?

Strengths

The biggest consistent strength of Walker’s game has been his ability to get ball carriers on the ground.

Tackling is still the most fundamental part of playing linebacker, and Walker rarely misses tackles, ranking in the 72nd percentile among NFL linebackers since 2022 in missed tackle rate, and the 88th percentile since 2023.

He also has a knack for forcing incompletions in coverage, ranking in the 71st percentile since entering the league. There are issues with Walker’s playmaking, as we will come to, but he has been able to break up passes fairly regularly, including six this past season.

Weaknesses

It may come as a surprise to Packers fans that there is nothing in Walker’s overall profile that rises to the level of a crippling weakness, or something that he does worse than the vast majority of linebackers.

Penalties are his worst statistical category, with Walker ranking in the 33rd percentile since 2022. He had discipline issues especially early in his career, although the linebacker has been able to clean these up over time, which we will get to.

The only other areas Walker has been consistently below average are interceptions/forced fumbles, and average depth of tackle, ranking in the 39th percentile for both. This probably speaks to the issue with Walker. He is not a bad player, but he is not a playmaker who is lighting up the box score with turnovers or tackles for loss. He only has one career interception and three forced fumbles. All of the forced fumbles came as a rookie.

Areas of growth

As mentioned, Walker has shown better focus and discipline recently, and his penalties per defensive snap played has improved every year.

Walker ranked in the 10th percentile as a rookie, improving to the 42nd, 48th and then a career best 65th percentile in 2025. The linebacker has only been flagged twice since 2024. 

His run defense has improved over time as well, and he had a career high ranking in tackles per snap, missed tackle rate and stop rate (tackles resulting in a failure for the offense).

Areas of regression

With no interceptions or forced fumbles in the last two years, Walker’s impact in the takeaway department has gone from unremarkable to nonexistent in the last couple of years.

Walker does have 11 career sacks on his resume based on PFF's numbers, but he was also less impactful as a pass rusher snap to snap in 2025, ranking in the 33rd percentile or lower in QB hurries/hits, pass rush win rate and PFF's pass rush productivity metric.

He also arguably had his worst year in coverage. Despite the high number of PBUs, Walker allowed a passer rating of 122.9 in coverage and ranked 79th out of 87 linebackers in yards allowed per snap.

Overall

On balance, Walker has been a just above average linebacker in his Packers career, but he has not lived up to his draft pedigree and the 2025 season was possibly his least effective.

He is a good run defender and is not a liability in coverage, but he is not the playmaker Green Bay thought they were getting. Walker is more like a No. 2 linebacker than someone you want as the leader and tone-setter.

Based on what he has put together over four years, Walker is not the type of player the Packers should be looking to pay a significant contract to and letting him move on in free agency next month seems like the right move.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Quay Walker statistical analysis: It's time for Packers to move on

March is fast approaching, conference tournaments are on the horizon, and we need your help to decide our men’s player of week for Feb. 9-15 by voting in the poll below.

Here are our top five men’s candidates and a recap of their outstanding performances from across week 14 of the college basketball season.

Luke Hunger – George Washington

George Washington has been up-and-down all year long and is currently sitting on 15-12 record overall and 6-8 in Atlantic 10 play at ninth-place. It is now battling injuries late in the season. With the Revolutionaries battling a four-game losing streak at the start of last week, Hunger stepped up in a dramatic way to lead a pair of wins over Rhode Island and George Mason.

Despite averaging just 8.5 PPG, Hunger opened last Tuesday with 21 points on 7-for-11 shooting, grabbed six rebounds and dished two assists to knock off the Rams 75-70. Three days later, he notched a career-high 31 points and shot 10-for-14 and a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc. He also grabbed 10 rebounds to complete a double-double to help defeat the Patriots 72-53.

Collin Parker – Austin Peay

Just a season ago, Parker was an unknown forward out of Columbia College, an NAIA program based in Columbia, Mo. Parker averaged a double-double as a senior there and receive a plethora of Division-I interest before committing to Austin Peay and helping the Governors to a 19-6 record, 13-1 in the ASUN.

This past week, he dropped a career-high 39 points, went 11-for-23 from the floor, 14-for-17 at the free throw line and grabbed nine rebounds to beat ASUN preseason favorite Queens. Parker followed that up with an additional 22 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two blocked shots and a steal as the Governors ousted Bellarmine, 90-70.

Quinn Denker – Northern Colorado

After looking like one of the nation’s top mid-majors early into the 2025-26 campaign, Northern Colorado has had its struggles in the Big Sky and lost seven of its first eight games in league. However, it seems the Bears are now back on track, sparked by six straight wins from Denker and Co., including two significant victories at home last week.

Against Sacramento State and the eccentric scoring of Prophet Johnson, Denker’s ball handling was elite, finishing with a double-double of 22 points, 16 assists and seven rebounds. The 16 dishes from Denker is now a program record for Northern Colorado and a personal career-high.

With first-place Portland State visiting on Saturday, Denker once again came through on the biggest stage with 23 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to defeat the Vikings 77-65.

Jaquan Johnson – Bradley

Head coach Brian Wardle is well on his way to a fourth straight season with 20+ wins as Bradley currently sits 18-9 overall and 11-5 in the Missouri Valley at second-place in the standings. The sophomore emergence of Jaquan Johnson has been a major reason why: standing just 5-foot-11, he’s become one of the nation’s most dynamic mid-major guards.

This past week, he led an upset of the conference’s first-place team in Belmont, beating out the Bruins 95-84 in overtime with 31 points, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals. On the road at Southern Illinois just days later, Johnson managed 24 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals in a double-digit win over the Salukis.

Darin Smith Jr. – Central Connecticut State

Under head coach Patrick Sellers, Central Connecticut State has become the picture of consistency in the NEC and is right back in the mix once this season. The Blue Devils are now second place in league and will likely host a game in the NEC Championship thanks to the sophomore leap the Smith has taken.

This past week, Smith dropped a career-high 40 points on 13-of-20 shooting and a perfect 11-for-11 at the free throw line as Central Connecticut State downed New Haven on the road, 81-76. On a trip to FDU two days later, he managed 17 points and a pair of rebounds to skate past the Knights, 63-57, for the Blue Devils’ fourth straight win.

Vote Below

Vinicius Jr. racism incident in Benfica vs. Real Madrid: Explaining Champions League incident, Mourinho reaction originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

JUMP TO:

• What happened to Vinicius against Benfica?
• What did Jose Mourinho say?
• What did Vinicius and Gianluca Prestianni say?
• Further player, pundit reaction to Vinicius racism incident
• Benfica double down on defence of Prestianni

The much-anticipated Champions League playoff clash between Benfica and Real Madrid was plunged into controversy amid ugly scenes after halftime of the first leg at Estadio da Luz.

Vinicius Jr. gave Madrid the lead in spectacular fashion in Lisbon. During his goal celebration, objects were thrown at the Brazil international, and Vinicius was booked by the referee for his actions as he danced provocatively up against the corner flag.

This angered the Benfica players, who were unhappy with the celebration, which occurred right in front of the home supporters. In the ensuing melee involving players from both sides, an incident of alleged racist abuse was then reported by the match referee.

Here's everything we know about the incident and the ongoing fallout.

MORE: 'No racism' gesture in soccer: Explaining FIFA's cross-arm 'X' signal used in La Liga and Champions League

What happened with Vinicius in Benfica vs. Real Madrid?

In the 50th minute, Vinicius cut inside Amar Dedic and fired a sensational shot beyond Anatoliy Trubin and into the far corner.

He ran away in celebration, cupping his ear to the Benfica crowd before dancing at the corner flag in front of a booing and jeering section of the home support. Some objects were thrown towards Vinicius and the celebrating group of Madrid players.

The Brazil forward then broke from the huddle and pumped his fist in the direction of the home supporters again. At that point, referee Francois Letexier beckoned Vinicius away from the stands and veteran Benfica defender Nicolas Otamendi confronted the goalscorer.

Vinicius continued to revel in the moment. Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni approached him at which point Vinicius was booked. Gianluca Prestianni then said something to Vinicius with his shirt covering his mouth. After this, tempers clearly flared on the Madrid side. Kylian Mbappe was among those angered, and team-mate Antonio Rudiger sought to calm the France forward.

Next, Vinicius ran towards Letexier and seemingly gestured in Prestianni's direction. At that point, the referee made the crossed arms signal above his head to indicate an incident of racist abuse had been reported. At that stage, arguments between the players continued and members of the coaching staff entered the field.

One of the Real Madrid backroom team was sent off in the immediate aftermath. Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho talked to Vinicius, their arms around one another's backs. Vinicius spoke into the Benfica coach's ear before Mbappe came to join the conversation.

🚨🛑 Vinicius Jr tells the referee and then José Mourinho that Gianluca Prestianni has racially abused him.

Vini said Prestianni racially insulted while covering his mouth with the shirt.@JosePadi_ 🎥 pic.twitter.com/ffhgLgWB1P

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 17, 2026

Vincius took some time sitting away from the fracas on the Madrid bench but rejoined his team-mates when the match resumed after a 10-minute delay.

Before fulltime, Mourinho was sent off for berating Letexier over an unrelated matter, shown a second yellow card which likely sees him suspended for the return leg at the Bernabeu.

What did Jose Mourinho say about Vinicius Jr. racism incident?

Speaking after the match, Benfica head coach Jose Mourinho insisted he would not take sides, having heard two different versions of events from Vinicius Jr. and Gianluca Prestianni.

However, the former Madrid, Inter Milan and Chelsea boss also criticised Vinicius for inciting an angry reaction with his goal celebration.

"These talents are able to do these beautiful things, but unfortunately, he was not just happy to score that astonishing goal, and then the game was over," he told Amazon Prime.

"When you score a goal like that, you celebrate in a respectful way. Yes [he incited the crowd and my players], I believe so. Then the words that they exchanged, Prestianni with Vinicius, I want to be independent. I don't want to say, 'I believe in Prestianni, I don't believe in Vinicius' because they both told me two completely different things. I want to be independent, and I don't comment about it."

But Mourinho had more comments which, instantly, felt unhelpful. First, he relayed how he told Vinicius that the most famous person in Benfica's history was the great Eusebio, as if a person alleging racist abuse at the Lisbon club in 2026 should give pause to the fact that their best-ever player was the standout performer at the 1966 World Cup. More troublingly, Mourinho inferred Vinicius was in some way responsible for the previous instances of racism he has endured in Spain. 

"I told Vinicius that when you score a goal like that, you just celebrate," he continued. "And then, when he was arguing about racism, I told him that the biggest person in the history of this club was Black [Eusebio] and this club, the last thing that it is, is racist. If, in his mind, there was something in relation to that…this is Benfica.

"There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium. In every stadium where Vinicius plays, something happens, always."

Speaking as a pundit on Amazon Prime's coverage, former Real Madrid midfielder Clarence Seedorf expressed disappointment at Mourinho's remarks.

"I have huge respect for Jose as a coach and as a person. I think he's still emotional, but I think he made a big mistake today by justifying racist abuse," Seedorf said. "I'm not saying that was the case today but he mentioned something much more than only today. He mentioned that Vinicius, wherever he goes, these things happen. So he's actually saying that it's okay when Vinicus provokes you, that it's okay to be abusive and racist. And I think that's very wrong.

"We should never, ever in any circumstances justify racist abuse. Vincius has had enough of that unjustifiable behaviour from many people. I know Mourinho, by heart, he would agree with me. But I think he expressed himself a bit unfortunately because we should not tell the people at home or who come to the stadium that if someone makes a dance or whatever, then it's okay to be abusing the person with racism.

"It would have helped if Mourinho had simply said that any racist abuse is wrong. He's not a racist, for sure. He doesn't have to defend this beautiful club. We need to see the bigger picture. People are looking and watching, and he's a huge personality in the world of sports. I hope he will reflect on this and maybe correct it a little bit."

What did Vinicius and Prestianni say after racist abuse incident?

Vinicius did not speak to reporters after the match but posted a reaction on his Instagram account.

"Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts over their mouths to demonstrate how weak they are," he wrote. "But they have, on their side, the protection of others who, theoretically, have the obligation to punish."

Vinicius Junior says on his Instagram stories

"Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts over their mouths to demonstrate how weak they are. But they have, on their side, the protection of others who, theoretically, have the obligation to punish." pic.twitter.com/UmL96QjmYO

— James Benge (@jamesbenge) February 17, 2026

Similarly, Prestianni did not speak publicly but Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni reported a troubling claim allegedly made by the Benfica player in the aftermath.

”The truth is that it cannot happen," Tchouameni said. "We’ve been told that the boy called him ‘monkey’ with the shirt covering his mouth. Then he says he didn’t say anything, that he said ‘f****ts’, but it doesn’t matter."

As is so often, wearyingly the case in these instances, we maybe never get to the bottom of who said what to whom. But the claim that Prestianni denied racist abuse by claiming he instead made homophobic abuse adds another bleak layer to the whole episode.

Kylian Mbappe, who was so visibly angered by the incident, said that Prestianni repeatedly racially abused Vinicius.

"He said ‘Vinícius is a monkey’ five times... I heard it, there are players from Benfica that heard it too," said the France forward.

'A disgrace to football': Reaction to Vinicius Jr. racist abuse incident in Benfica vs. Real Madrid

Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold (Amazon Prime)

"I can't comment on it too much because it's probably an ongoing investigation at this point. But what's happened tonight is a disgrace to football. It's over shadowned the performance, especially after such an amazing goal.

"Vini has been subjected to this a few times throughout his career and for it to happen tonight and ruin the night for us as a team is a disgrace. It's a disgrace to football. There's no place for it in football or society. It's disgusting.

"Obviously, it's upset him. As people, we come here to do a job, we enjoy what we do. And when something like that happens, it ruins the night for all of us. We stuck together as a team, we dug deep and got the win. Most of all, I think we're all proud of the way we handled it in a hostile environment."

Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa (Amazon Prime)

"You have to ask Vini and Benfica's players. It's not a question for me.

"Everyone can see what happened with Prestianni. He put his shirt in his mouth and now you have to ask him. 

"We need to fight against racism; it's the most important thing in football. We support Vini, of course. We have to fight against this type of attitude. If we don't respect each other, it's very difficult.

"Vinicius wanted to play, to help the team to fight until the end."

Real Madrid captain Federico Valverde (Movistar)

"Well, we can’t be sure, but all the teammates who were close say that something ugly was said, something you cannot say. Lots of people have been fighting a long time about these things. Vini is one of those who have fought that battle.

"If it keeps happening, I, personally, think it is lamentable. With all the cameras in football TV, if it was not captured… if you cover your mouth to say something, it is because you are saying something which is not right.

"It’s lamentable. In the end, I’m proud of my teammates today, and proud of Vini, who kept going and played a spectacular game."

Mark Clattenburg apologises for analysis of incident

Immediately after the match, former match referee and current Sky Sports analyst Mark Clattenburg had some odd comments about the incident. Most notably, Clattenburg criticised Vinicius Jr. for his celebration and claimed that the Brazilian "has made this situation very, very difficult" for the referee.

Those comments were not received well, as many believed Clattenburg was placing blame on Vinicius for the racial abuse he received instead of directing his critiques towards the source of the abuse.

Clattenburg received enough backlash that he decided to release an apology the following day.

"Nothing justifies racism in sport or in life," Clattenburg wrote on social media. "I'm grateful to have a chance to follow up on last night. I got it wrong, I'm sorry.

"It was live TV, my job is to respond in the moment and the words I used were clumsy and not right. I'm already learning from this and appreciate my colleagues who covered the situation with class throughout."

Benfica release statement doubling down on defence of Prestianni

After the match concluded and the managers and players had their say, Benfica doubled down on defending their player Gianluca Prestianni.

First, the club released a statement by Prestianni who said that he was "misunderstood" in the incident and claiming that Real Madrid players directed "threats" in his direction.

"I want to clarify that at no time did I address racist insults to the player Vinicius Jr, who unfortunately misunderstood what he thinks he has heard. I was never racist and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players."

Following that, Benfica then posted a video to the club's social media, attempting to show that the Real Madrid players could not have heard the alleged racist comments properly.

Como demonstram as imagens, dada a distância, os jogadores do Real Madrid não podem ter ouvido o que andam a dizer que ouviram. pic.twitter.com/7JF9AVuhEM

— SL Benfica (@SLBenfica) February 18, 2026

NEW YORK (AP) — The opening of New York City FC's Etihad Park has been pushed back a half-season to the start of Major League Soccer's 2027-28 schedule.

When the team broke ground in December 2024 for the 25,000-seat venue adjacent to the New York Mets' Citi Field, NYCFC said the stadium would open for the 2027 season. The projected opening will now be in the summer of 2027, when the MLS switches its schedule to a summer-to-spring calendar to match most European leagues.

In the league's truncated transition season of 2027, each MLS team will play a 14-game regular-season schedule followed by playoffs. NYCFC will continue to play most home games that season at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field.

Since taking the field in 2015, NYCFC has played home games mostly at those venues along with some at the home of the rival New York Red Bulls in Harrison, New Jersey, and Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut.

The new stadium will be a site of soccer matches during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The Major League Soccer team’s controlling owner is City Football Group, the parent company of England’s Manchester City. The Premier League team’s venue was renamed Etihad Stadium in July 2011.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

• Anthony Gordon scores four in first half as Newcastle lead Qarabag 5-0
• Malick Thiaw also on target for Magpies
• Gordon overtakes Alan Shearer as Magpies' outright leading Champions League scorer
• Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live
• Second leg on 24 February

Champions League: Gordon scores his fourth and Newcastle's fifth in first half at Qarabag

New Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak has added someone to his coaching staff to work with 2025 first-round pick Ashton Jeanty, reportedly hiring Iowa running backs coach Omar Young to the same position in Las Vegas, per CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz and David Eickholt.

Let’s get to know Young better.

Previous job:

He was the Hawkeyes’ running backs coach for one season (2025).

Age:

Young is 42 years old and turns 43 in September. Also, he was born in Oakland and went to high school in Berkeley.

Coaching experience:

Young’s experience has primarily been in the college ranks, including last year, but he has been an NFL coach for six seasons. His first NFL job was with the Cleveland Browns as an offensive assistant coach in 2015, then he spent two years (2017-2018) with the Green Bay Packers as an offensive quality control coach before taking the same position with the Chicago Bears in 2022. Young became the Bears’ wide receivers coach and assistant quarterbacks coach in 2023, and was an offensive assistant coach for the New England Patriots in 2024.

Kubiak ties:

Kubiak and Young have never worked together, but the latter did work with the Raiders’ new offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko in Chicago, when Janocko was the quarterbacks coach.

Why the Raiders are interested:

Young has a lot of coaching experience at several levels, ranging from the junior college ranks to the NFL. Iowa ran a lot of wide zone this past season, so he has some familiarity coaching running backs in Kubiak’s rushing scheme. The Hawkeyes rushed for 2,300 yards and 4.8 yards per carry as a team in 2025, with running back Kamari Moutlon leading the way by racking up 878 yards (5.2 ypc) and five touchdowns. It also helps that Young spent two seasons with Janocko. Clearly, Kubiak and Janocko are comfortable with the Oakland native’s ability to develop Jeanty in their offense.

Jake Paul has long admired Ronda Rousey, to the point where he once expressed a desire to step into the cage with her just to see what it would be like.

Now, in a new video featuring their first conversation, an old clip from 2016 has resurfaced where Paul can be heard jokingly calling for a fight against her. “I’m here in my YouTube studio,” he said at the time. “And I’m calling you out right now! Okay? Me and you Ronda. Get back into the ring, get back into MMA.”

While recovering from a broken jaw sustained against Anthony Joshua in their December Netflix bout, Paul is teaming up with former UFC CFO Nakisa Bidarian and the streaming platform to organise what’s shaping up to be a major event for MMA fans.

Jake and Logan Paul tried judo because of Ronda Rousey’s influence

The hype surrounding Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano is already ramping up fast. Their first announcement video has pulled in more than 7 million views on Instagram within just a few hours.

A clip posted on the Most Valuable Promotions Instagram page shows Jake Paul taking a video call with Rousey, marking their first meeting, even if it was only virtual. The boxer is currently in Italy for the Winter Olympics, where his girlfriend Jutta Leerdam has already picked up two medals.

During the chat, Paul mentioned how much of a fan he’d been over the years and Rousey responded by saying she was looking forward to meeting him as well. MVP’s social team then found an old clip from years ago to highlight that connection, cutting it together with their call.

Paul told her: “Me, Logan [Paul] and our dad were like your biggest fans. We actually started doing some judo because you inspired us.” She smiled at that and said she could help him out if he ever wanted to get back into training.

Jake Paul once called out Ronda Rousey in an old video from his YouTube days

A video resurfaced from Jake Paul’s early YouTube days shows him calling out Ronda Rousey. He was still a Disney actor at the time, and both he and his brother Logan were just starting to blow up online by posting daily vlogs.

“Ronda, if you ever watch my videos I will fight you and put it on video,” a young Paul joked. “I actually used to do MMA and I know you’d probably whoop me, but it would still be a good video so Ronda if you’re out there, let’s fight.”

Paul didn’t get into boxing until 2018 but has since fought several big names from the MMA world. He stopped Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley early in his career before wins over Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz, and most recently Mike Perry.

Read more:

UEFA announced it has opened an investigation into allegations from Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior that a racist slur was directed his way by Gianluca Prestianni of Benfica during Tuesday's Champions League match.

The match was delayed for 10 minutes in the second half following Vinícius Júnior's goal after referee François Letexier initiated UEFA's anti-racism protocol. After the Real Madrid star celebrated taking the lead, Benfica players were seen getting upset with him. 

During the skirmish, Vinícius Júnior was seen walking past Prestianni before immediately approaching Letexier with the allegation. 

"Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to cover their mouths with a shirt to show how weak they are," Vinícius Júnior said in a statement on social media. "But they have, on their side, the protection of others who, theoretically, have the obligation to punish. Nothing that happened today is new in my life or in my family's life. I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don't understand why.

"On the other side, there was only a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose. I don't like to appear in situations like this, especially after a great victory when the headlines should be about Real Madrid, but it is necessary."

Kylian Mbappé said he heard Prestianni call Vinícius Júnior a "monkey" five times.

The 20-year-old Prestianni has denied the allegations.

Angel Martinez via Getty Images

“I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults to Vini Jr, who regrettably misunderstood what he thought he heard," Prestianni said in a statement. "I was never racist with anyone and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players."

FIFA president Gianni Infantino released a statement saying that he was "shocked and saddened to see the incident of alleged racism" and praised the referee for activating the anti-racism protocol. There is absolutely no room for racism in our sport and in society," Infantino said on social media. "We need all the relevant stakeholders to take action and hold those responsible to account."

If Prestianni is found guilty of racial abuse, he faces a potential 10-match ban per UEFA's guidelines.

Benfica and Real Madrid will meet again next Wednesday in the second leg of their Champions League knockout phase playoff at Estadio Bernabéu in Madrid.

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — The No. 2 official of the baseball players' association was shaken by the events culminating in the resignation of union head Tony Clark and said the change in leadership will not alter bargaining preparations ahead of talks in which Major League Baseball is expected to push for a salary cap.

“Just on a personal level I think we’re all fairly devasted by things that have happened in the last 48, 72 hours,” deputy executive director Bruce Meyer said Wednesday. “I’m not going to go beyond that in terms of personal feelings, but it’s fair to say that we were all personally upset, concerned about Tony. But I think this was something that the players determined had to happen at this particular point in time."

A former All-Star first baseman who headed the union since 2013, Clark resigned Tuesday just months ahead of the expected start of bargaining for a labor contract to replace the deal that expires Dec. 1.

He was asked to resign by the union's eight-man executive subcommittee after an investigation by the union’s outside counsel discovered evidence Clark had an inappropriate relationship with his sister-in-law, a union employee since 2023, a person familiar with the union’s deliberations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because that was not announced.

“The information that really led to this came out within the last ... 72 hours or so,” Meyer said. “So this is not something that has been kind of sat on. When the information came out the players on the subcommittee made their feelings known. And Tony, to his credit, he’s always been about the players first and Tony decided to take the action he did in the interest of the players.”

Clark did not respond to a text seeking comment.

The start of annual tour of spring training camps by union officials was pushed back a day and began Wednesday with the Kansas City Royals.

The union's executive board was to meet online for the second straight day and Royals player representative John Schreiber said he expects a decision late Wednesday on a successor to lead the union through collective bargaining.

“We’ll see how the meeting goes today,” Schreiber said. "We’re going on the right path and we’ll have a decision shortly.”

Meyer, hired by Clark in 2018, headed the 2021-22 negotiations that led to an agreement on March 10 that ended a 99-day lockout. Meyer was promoted to deputy executive director in July 2022.

“I don’t anticipate that anybody’s going to be leading negotiations other than me,” Meyer said.

Clark's departure took place during a probe by the U.S. Attorney in Brooklyn, New York, into OneTeam Partners, a licensing company founded by the union, the NFL Players Association and RedBird Capital Partners in 2019.

“There have been some issues hanging over, as you know, and in some respects it’s good to get them out of the way sooner rather than later,” Meyer said.

Meyer said the union's entire executive board of 72 players is eligible to vote for executive director: the executive subcommittee, 30 major league team player representatives and 34 minor leaguers, who have been represented by the union since 2022.

MLB appears on track to propose a salary cap, which possibly could lead to a work stoppage that causes regular-season games to be canceled for the first time since 1995.

“We don’t expect anything to change in terms of bargaining,” Meyer said. “We’ve been preparing for bargaining for years. Players have been preparing. Players know what’s coming. At the end of the day leadership is important and leadership comes and goes, but what remains is the players. At the end of the day, it’s the players who determine the direction of the union. At the end of the day, it’s the players who determine our priorities and bargaining. Those priorities obviously have not changed and will not change."

The union said it will resist a salary cap.

“Our position and the historic position of this union for decades on a salary cap is well known,” Meyer said. “It’s the ultimate restriction. It’s something that owners in all the sports have wanted more than anything and in baseball in particular there’s a reason for that, because it’s good for them and not good for players.”

The 64-year-old Meyer spent 30 years at Weil, Gotshal & Manges before joining the NHL Players Association in 2016 as senior director of collective bargaining, policy and legal. He wouldn't say whether he wants to succeed Clark as union head.

Meyer wouldn't directly address whether the union intends to restrict the hiring of family members.

“I think it’s fair to say there are issues that will be addressed,” he said. “There are various issues that will be evaluated, re-evaluated with the advice of counsel and, as always, at the direction of players.”

___

AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

The online application process for the 2026 U.S. Open has started, and if you think you've got enough game to compete at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, here's your chance.

The U.S. Golf Association made the announcement on Wednesday. The 126th U.S. Open will be June 18-21 in Southampton, New York, and except for the 49 golfers who are qualified (as of Feb. 18), getting to Shinnecock is likely to be an arduous task.

More: Every men's golf major venue in 2026: Royal Birkdale back on the big stage

Making it to the 156-man field is a two-stage process: non-exempt players will first head to one of the 110 local qualifiers (18 holes). Then it's on to final qualifying at one of 13 sites, with 10 in the U.S. and one each in Canada, Japan and England. Many golfers will be exempt into final qualifying.

The 10 U.S. final qualifying stages (36 holes) will be split up, with one in Dallas on May 18 and the other nine on June 8, a day known as Golf's Longest Day.

Go to champs.usga.org for entry applications and the full list of qualifying sites. The deadline to enter is 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 8. The catch: golfers must have a handicap of 0.4 or less, or be a professional, to enter qualifying.

The USGA reports that over the last 22 years, on average, about half the golfers in the U.S. Open made it there after advancing through one or both qualifying stages.

There are 25 categories for full exemptions into the U.S. Open.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: USGA opens application process for 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock

Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 NBA season to recover from ACL surgery, the team announced Wednesday.

Irving, who has not played this season, sustained a torn ACL in his left knee March 3. He had ACL reconstruction surgery March 26.

"This decision wasn't easy, but it's the right one," Irving said in a news release. "I am grateful for the Mavericks organization, my teammates and our fans for their continued support throughout the process. I am looking forward to coming back stronger next season. The belief and drive I have inside only grows.

"And I wanted to send a huge shoutout to all of my brothers and sisters out there who've torn their ACL or gotten injured doing what they love to do every day. Thank you for the inspiration. No fear!"

The nine-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game over 50 appearances in 2024-25.

The Mavericks (19-35), who said Irving will remain "actively engaged with the team," sit in 12th place in the Western Conference. They will look to snap a nine-game losing streak when they take on the sixth-place Minnesota Timberwolves (34-22) at 7:30 p.m. EST Friday in Minneapolis.

Seattle Seahawks safety Coby Bryant is going underrated as a free agent in offseason projections due to broadcast angles and the generationally loaded defensive back room he just played in.

PFF posted an article labeling an underrated free agent at each defensive position group, and picked Coby Bryant for safety. Their grading system has been high on his contributions the last two seasons, giving him a 72.7 grade in 1,163 snaps since the start of 2024- good enough to rank 15th/66 and 22nd/65 safeties who’ve played at least 50% of an average team’s snaps. Playing a ton on his rookie contract already makes him valuable, and being above-average while doing so has gone relatively uncelebrated within the Seahawks community- but the fact that he did it immediately after switching to the position from cornerback? That’s what makes it so underrated.

The most interesting part of the PFF article, though, is that they “it’s likely he has not quite reached his full potential as a defensive back.” They mention that he’s only turning 27 in March and think he has a bright career as an above-average safety for years to come. This reminds me of something Mike Macdonald said about his defensive structure during the playoffs-

“If you can defend the run in split-safety, that’s some high-powered stuff.”

Bryant was essential to this exact high-powered stuff the Seahawks’ head coach is talking about, but it’s easy to see why fans might not know so, and PFF does. The broadcast cameras don’t always show the two high safeties in their frame of view, so it looks like Bryant is just getting to the run plays late. In reality, he’s coming downhill at an elite level and enabling the players who show up on the screen to make the flashier plays.

Bryant isn’t even a top 4 defensive back by name-brand recognition on the roster- he’d be behind Devon Witherspoon, Nick Emmanwori, Tariq Woolen, and Julian Love- but he’s been awesome in the roles he’s given. The common argument you’ll hear ahead of free agency is that the Seahawks “seemed fine” when Ty Okada stepped in, which looked the case to the untrained eye- but losing a player like Bryant could prove his impact to be bigger than is now realized.

This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seahawks safety Coby Bryant is an underrated NFL free agent

Cincinnati Bengals legend and team ambassador Chad Johnson is, in many ways, just like fans of the team. 

And right now, being a fan of the Bengals means thinking about blockbuster offseason scenarios. 

Think, the what if? around the Bengals trading for Maxx Crosby. 

Johnson cut right to the chase recently on social media, directly throwing out a fun little question at the Las Vegas Raiders superstar: 

Maxx do you like Skyline Chilli❔ https://t.co/aeCRuhmiRr

— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) February 17, 2026

RELATED: 6 Bengals veterans who won’t be on Zac Taylor’s roster next year

It’s all in good fun and nothing more, of course. Crosby is 28 years old and obviously still elite. But he’s also on a three-year, $106.5 million contract extension with the Raiders. Las Vegas would want a godfather offer, including at least one first-round pick, to pry him away.  

The Bengals are front and center in these ideas at all because of the sense of urgency around the franchise right now and the possible franchise tag standoff with Trey Hendrickson. 

In theory, the Bengals could end up doing a tag-and-trade thing with Hendrickson. But it would be extremely out of character for the franchise. And if it were to happen, it wouldn’t be such a blockbuster move. 

Alas, Johnson doing this is a fun little offseason thing during a quiet period. Why not?

RELATED: Bengals' key offseason dates for NFL free agency, draft and more

This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals legend gets to work recruiting Maxx Crosby

Despite four consecutive losses and a losing record in conference play, the Auburn Tigers are still in position to make the NCAA Tournament.

According to ESPN's Bracketology by Joe Lunardi, the Tigers are projected to be a No. 8 seed in the South Regional. The projection is a positive outlook for Auburn compared to USA TODAY's projections, which slates Auburn as a No 10 seed.

Lunardi has Auburn matching up against No. 9 Indiana. The No. 1 seed projected in that bracket is the UConn Huskies, and they would play the winner of Appalachian State and Bethune-Cookman in a First Four matchup. Auburn defeated Bethune-Cookman in the season opener, 95-90 in overtime. Keyshawn Hall scored 28 points in his Auburn debut and attempted 18 shots from the free-throw line.

For Auburn to remain in the field of 68, it will need to snap its four-game losing streak on Wednesday at Mississippi State. Auburn currently sits at 14-11, and is 5-7 in the SEC. The current slide featured losses to Tennessee, Alabama, Vanderbilt, and Arkansas. Before this current losing streak, Auburn had won four games in a row, with victories over South Carolina, Ole Miss, Florida, and Texas. Auburn has six games remaining on the schedule with matchups at Mississippi State, versus Kentucky, at Oklahoma, Ole Miss, LSU, and at Alabama. They will need to start a new winning streak to go dancing.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow Phillip on Twitter@PJordanSports

This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn basketball's place in latest ESPN Bracketology

Newcastle United are preparing plans to reshape their attacking options this summer and are monitoring Nottingham Forest winger Omari Hutchinson, according to a report by Sports Boom’s Ekrem Konur.

The report said Eddie Howe’s scouting team is tracking the 22-year-old as they look to address the issues and depth on the right wing ahead of next season.

Newcastle underwent significant change last summer, with several departures and additions reshaping the squad, but it hasn’t quite worked as most expected.

Anthony Elanga, also coming from Nott Forest, has struggled with consistency since his arriva and he has no goals and just one assist in 22 Premier League appearances this season.

Those numbers contrast with his previous campaign, when he registered six goals and 12 assists and did more than enough to merit its acquisition—to no avail.

Sports Boom reported that Hutchinson fits the profile Newcastle are seeking to fill the winger vacancy with a talented player that can actually produce on the pitch.

Hutchinson is technically strong, capable of working his magic in tight spaces, and able to operate across the front line in a multi-position profile that fits Howe’s preferences.

Nottingham Forest, however, signed Hutchinson for a club-record £37.5 million from Ipswich Town last summer and that might signal a long-term belief in his development and a massive price tag in case someone like NUFC comes calling about the player’s availability next summer.

Newcastle would be required to present what Sports Boom described as a compelling package if they choose to pursue a deal, although, on a more positive note, the report also noted that Hutchinson shares representation with Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, which could offer a potential link in negotiations.

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The Dallas Cowboys’ defense has undergone a staggering transformation in just a few short years. It wasn’t that long ago when the Cowboys boasted a top-five unit that specialized in takeaways and suffocating pressure, allowing only 18.5 points per game in 2023. Fast forward to now, and the unit has plummeted to the bottom of the league. Last year, they gave up a league-worst 511 points and third-worst 6,409 yards. The fall from a perennial top ten DVOA powerhouse to a group that looks like they are playing in slow motion is absolutely jarring.

The departure of Dan Quinn to Washington has been the greatest smoking gun as to why things have abruptly changed, but coaching only tells half the story. While Quinn’s aggressive nature and infectious energy turned around a broken unit, the sheer drain of talent has left the roster looking like a K-Mart department store. Some teams occasionally lose a superstar player, some suffer bad luck with a career-changing injury, or others just lose a few key contributors that turned out to be more costly than expected. In the case of the Cowboys defense, they’ve endured all of that, and to a great extent. And to make matters worse, the team’s response in filling those voids has consisted of underperforming draft picks, disappointing trades, and their go-to low-cost free agent signings.

To really wrap your mind around just how significant these changes have been, let’s run through what’s happened over the last few years. We’ll start slow, but brace yourself. By the time we’re done, almost an entire defensive unit of quality starters will vanish before your eyes.

Kicking things off was a departure that was out of the Cowboys’ control. Leighton Vander Esch was the disciplined heart of the linebacker corps, serving as a reliable tackler who could navigate through traffic. When healthy, his range and football IQ allowed him to diagnose plays quickly, making him a crucial part of the run defense. His career was unfortunately hampered by recurring neck issues, but his presence provided a level of stability that the current group lacks. Trying to find a linebacker with his combination of size and awareness has proven to be a difficult task. Failed replacements like Damone Clark, Markquese Bell, and Kenneth Murray have been costly, while the one-year rental of Eric Kendricks turned out okay. It also didn’t help that draft pick hit DeMarvion Overshown has sparingly seen the field over his first three seasons due to his own health issues.

Another subtle departure is Jayron Kearse, who surprisingly became the Swiss Army knife of the secondary, utilizing his massive frame to cover tight ends and stuff the run. His hybrid ability allowed the Cowboys to stay in sub-packages without sacrificing physicality at the line of scrimmage. He had a knack for making splash plays in crucial moments. Some might not think much of Kearse, but his presence was felt. In 2022, he had a fringe Pro Bowl season where he had two picks, a fumble recovery, 10 pass breakups, and over 100 tackles, including nine for a loss.

It’s strange to think about now, but there once was a time when the defensive end depth was so good that it was hard to get Dorance Armstrong on the field. His departure didn’t seem like much at the time, but he was a good player. His ability to provide consistent pressure as a rotational player made the pass rush relentless for four quarters, as well as being a highlight reel on special teams. After moving on to Washington, he proved that his success was no fluke by continuing to produce high sack totals and splash plays. Watching him thrive elsewhere is a bitter pill for Dallas, especially considering how they have fallen on hard times along the edge.

The final unsung departure is that slow, undersized corner that never seemed to impress any of the many coaches. For years, Jourdan Lewis was the grit of the Cowboys’ defense, known for his physicality and relentless effort in the slot. Despite his smaller stature, he never shied away from sticking his nose into the run game or battling the league’s slickest playmakers. His toughness provided a necessary edge to the defensive backfield as he was the type of player who would try to tackle a freight train if it meant getting off the field on third down.

Moving on to the All-Pro portion of this list of departures, we start with a player who isn’t actually gone. DaRon Bland burst onto the scene with incredible closing ability and instincts that led to a record-breaking number of pick-sixes. He showed great poise for a young player, proving he could lock down receivers both in the slot and be surprisingly respectable on the perimeter. Unfortunately, a lingering foot injury has been his kryptonite and detoured his upward rise, turning him into the Clark Kent version of cornerbacks. Bland is still here, but he just hasn’t been that same player as of late.

From one All-Pro pre-injury corner to another, there might not be a sadder fall than what we witnessed with Trevon Diggs. His sophomore season in the league was nothing short of sensational as he hauled in an impressive 11 interceptions. His instincts and ball-hawking skills made him the ultimate risk/reward player, as he consistently baited quarterbacks into mistakes that turned into big moments for the Cowboys. Before his devastating knee injury, he was one of the most exciting corners to watch, but all that came to a crashing halt. Diggs rapid decline caused the Cowboys to cut him loose before the season ended last year, which was rather damning considering the poor state of the team’s cornerback group.

DeMarcus Lawrence has long been the unsung hero of the Dallas front, providing a rare balance of elite edge setting and pass rush production. As the team’s Tank in the trenches, he consistently graded out as one of the best run-defending ends in the league while still generating high-pressure numbers. He was a strip-sack specialist who lived to take the soul away from opposing quarterbacks. For years, Lawrence was the steady hand that kept the defense honest and proved he could be a key piece to a Super Bowl-winning team, even though that ended up being with Seattle.

And finally, we’ve reached the gut punch portion of this article. What more needs to be said about the loss of Micah Parsons? The Cowboys traded away the league’s most explosive pass rusher. Since entering the league, he has consistently ranked at the top of the charts in pressure rate and pass rush win rate, and has never had a year when he’s had less than a dozen sacks. His ability to line up anywhere on the line of scrimmage forces coordinators to lose sleep, yet the Cowboys’ front office felt they could rest easier by turning their most dynamic playmaker into multiple players who can help this football team. While the final verdict has yet to be handed down, there’s no doubt that the defense is suffering without him.

The Cowboys’ defense has endured a massive talent drain over the last few years. While the front office tried to fill the gaps with low-cost signings, trades, and draft picks, those efforts so far have fallen way short of the standards set during the Quinn era. The result is a unit that lacks the cohesion, speed, and turnover production that once made them feared. In just a few short years, the defense has gone from being a brick wall to a bead curtain, and everyone in the league is just meandering right through it. An improved coaching staff should help, but they’ll need to bring in some reinforcements if this unit is to have a fighting chance.

Tuesday’s Champions League clash between Real Madrid and Benfica at Estadio da Luz has been marred by a shameful display of racism.

After Vinicius Junior scored a sensational goal in the 50th minute, he was allegedly targeted by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni with racist slurs.

The incident was severe enough that referee Francois Letexier triggered the official anti-racism protocol, suspending play for 10 minutes as tensions boiled over between both sets of players and coaching staffs.

Real Madrid take a proactive stance

According to MARCA, Real Madrid are not standing idly by. The club have officially begun a process of gathering both visual and audio information regarding the events.

While the investigation includes the interaction between Prestianni and Vinicius, the club are also scrutinising the stands, where racist gestures were observed from specific sections of the home support following the goal celebration.

Real Madrid won’t be holding any prisoners as club look to investigate the Vinicius racism incident. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

The club’s hierarchy is taking a nuanced approach, however. Madrid do not intend to generalise these isolated incidents of behaviour to the entire Benfica fanbase or the Portuguese institution itself.

In fact, the club acknowledged that the general atmosphere was appropriate for a historic European rivalry, admitting that such behaviour can unfortunately occur in any stadium, including the Bernabeu.

Despite the measured tone toward Benfica as a club, Real Madrid’s support for its players is absolute.

Both Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe have received the full backing of the club for their actions on the pitch and their subsequent statements in the mixed zone.

The two players themselves have shown great bonhomie, with Vinicius being moved by Mbappe’s decision to defend him publicly and call out Prestianni during the post-match press interaction.

Although it may be hard to tell with the unseasonably warm weather this winter in the Mile High City, spring is in the air and on the horizon. Pitchers and catchers reported to the Rockies’ complex in Scottsdale, Arizona last week, with position players reporting yesterday. The first game of spring training is this coming Friday, and the 2026 season of Major League Baseball will be here before we know it.

The new-look Colorado Rockies front office and coaching staff have emphasized competition and the earning of positions over the off-season. They’ve brought in plenty of players who could complete for virtually every position—save for center field, catcher, and shortstop—and the prospects and youngest Rockies will have to earn their way into starting roles.

However, that doesn’t mean prospects won’t be given a chance to show their stuff.

A sizeable handful of prospects—many of them listed in our PuRPs rankings—received non-roster invites to camp this year to showcase how they might be part of this organization’s future. We’ll start by looking at the young pitchers.

Left-Handed Pitchers

Konnor Eaton (No. 28 PuRP, Pre-Season 2026) and Sean SullivanNo. 8 PuRP, Pre-Season 2026) are the two southpaw prospects with non-roster invites this spring.

Eaton, 23, was the Rockies’ sixth round pick out of George Mason University in the 2024 draft. In his professional debut season, he pitched just 11 innings, all of which were out of the bullpen. However, his workload both in college and in 2025 are that of a starter.

Eaton made 23 starts with the High-A Spokane Indians last season with a solid 3.56 ERA over 121 1/3 innings and struck out 125 batters before a late season promotion to Double-A Hartford. With the Yard Goats he made another four starts over 18 2/3 innings and posted a 5.30 ERA with 24 strikeouts. While with Spokane, he earned Northwest League Pitcher of the Week in late June after pitching back-to-back Quality Starts with 11 strikeouts in each game.

The 6’3” lefty is most likely to return to Hartford to start the 2026 season, but his ability to strike out batters and limit walks throughout his minor league career so far show promise. He misses bats with a low-to-mid 90s fastball and a high-spin sweeping slider with late horizontal break. He also has a changeup in development.

Sullivan, 23, had his 2025 season delayed after having off-season hip surgery. When he made it to Double-A Hartford in mid-May, he hit the ground running with a stupendous season.

The 2023 second round pick out of Wake Forest made 18 starts for the Yard Goats, posting a 3.14 ERA over 97 1/3 innings of work and 95 strikeouts to 24 walks. Sullivan did seem to run out of gas at the end of the season. In his final four starts, he pitched more than four innings just once and had a combined ten strikeouts over 16 2/3 innings. He had previously been on a streak of tallying five or more strikeouts in 11 of his last 12 starts.

With no experience over Double-A, Sullivan will likely start his 2026 campaign with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes. However, he is virtually a lock to make his Major League debut at some point this year.

Right-Handed Pitchers

With Gabriel Hughes (No. 12 PuRP, Pre-Season 2026) now on the 40-man roster to protect him from this off-season’s Rule 5 draft, the right-handed pitching prospects left with non-roster invites fly a bit under the radar.

25-year-old reliever Brayan Castillo started his 2025 season with Double-A Hartford and was a reliable strikeout machine out of the Yard Goats’ bullpen. In 26 appearances, he struck out 40 batters, walked 17, and gave up only one home run on his way to a 2.12 ERA over 34 innings.

Castillo was promoted to Triple-A Albuquerque, where his debut was less than stellar. In his first Pacific Coast League game against the Reno Aces, he yielded five earned runs on four hits—including a home run—with a walk and a strikeout over 2/3 of an inning. However, he was lights out for the rest of the season. Castillo gave up earned runs in just two of his final 14 appearances and struck out 23 batters over 17 1/3 innings.

Also headed to Rockies camp is Eiberson Castellano, a 24-year-old from Venezuela who originally hails from the Philadelphia Phillies system. Castellano was selected by the Minnesota Twins in last year’s Rule 5 draft, but was returned to the Phillies after failing to make the Opening Day roster in spring training. He was allowed to become a minor league free agent at the end of the season.

What makes Castellano intriguing is his young age and the fact that he’s not far removed from a strong 2024 campaign. In 22 appearances—including 20 starts—across the High-A Jersey Shore BlueClaws and Double-A Reading Fightin’ Phils, Castellano posted a 3.99 ERA with 136 strikeouts and 29 walks over 103 2/3 innings. He was named the Phillies organization’s best minor league pitcher for his efforts.

Castellano struggled in 2025 pitching mostly for Double-A Reading. Battling both injuries and his own command, he carried a 5.14 ERA in 20 appearances and only made one start. While he did strike out 39 batters in 36 1/3 innings, he also walked 17 and carried a bloated 9.5 hits per nine innings.

A healthy Castellano then attended the Arizona Fall League with the Surprise Saguaros and made a solid four starts, striking out 18 batters with a 3.86 ERA over 14 innings.

Castellano can work both as a starter or from the bullpen and has done both extensively in his young professional career. His lively four-seam fastball rises late and can hit up to 98 MPH, and his excellent low-80s curveball featured a whopping 49% whiff rate in 2024. He also has a promising changeup.

With a full 40-man roster, multiple veteran signings in Jose Quintana, Tomoyuki Sugano, and Michael Lorenzen brought in over the off-season, and Rule 5 protections like Gabriel Hughes and Welinton Herrera on the inside track, it’s difficult to see a path where any of the non-roster invite pitchers make the Opening Day roster.

However, with a long season ahead and the Rockies looking to evaluate talent and establish a new floor, strong performances this spring could indicate who goes where for minor league assignments and who might be on the short list for an eventual call-up.

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Arsenal play Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League tonight and Gunners manager Mikel Arteta has decided to deploy Bukayo Saka as a number 10, according to Team News and Ticks. The Gunners account, famous for leaking team news about the Emirates Stadium club on the internet and followed by the likes of Dharmesh Sheth, David Ornstein, Fabrizio Romano and Gary Jacobs on X (formerly known as Twitter), has been a trusted source concerning all things Arsenal for months.

They claimed this evening shortly before the official line-up for the Wolves game that the forward will be playing centrally in midfield. Noni Madueke will be playing in attack alongside Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli. Arteta played Saka as a number 10 against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup on Sunday, with an injury to Riccardo Calafiori during the warm-up changing his plans.

Myles Lewis-Skelly was due to play in midfield in the game but dropped back to left-back after the Italian defender got injured. Arteta brought Saka, who had been initially named on the bench, in to play in midfield as a number 10, claiming after the match he could play there more regularly going forward.

The Chicago Bears have been searching for a franchise quarterback for a long, long time. No one is disputing that.

But when do fans know when the team actually has one?

It’s sort of one of those “you know it when you see it” deals. But what are the measures of a franchise quarterback?

Is it stats? Passing yards? Touchdowns? Lack of interceptions?

Simply wins?

Is it the given collective thought at the beginning of each season that “that guy, that guy is the starting QB, no matter what?“

Or is it games started?

There is no right or wrong answer here. In fact, I think it’s a combination of some of these different ideas.

I also think the Bears have their franchise quarterback for the first time in…well…

The best ability

Health is never a given in football. It’s a brutally violent sport, and any play can change the trajectory of a career.

Availability is one measure of a franchise quarterback. It has to be.

Some players can earn that designation without having the best availability. Look at Joe Borrow, for example. He’s been in the league for six seasons and has played every game in only half of them.

There are plenty of reasons for that. And a player only has so much control over their body’s ability to absorb hit after hit and/or heal.

Bringing it back to Chicago, one of their past franchise quarterbacks had this issue. Jim McMahon was a great quarterback. He won a lot of games. But he could never stay healthy.

In seven seasons with the Bears, he never played 16 games in one season and only twice started 11 or more games.

He made 16 consecutive starts from week 10 of the 1983 season to week 10 of 1984.

But for other players, their availability is a defining trait. Brett Favre, for example. Peyton Manning, too.

Manning started every game from 1998 through 2010. After missing the 2011 season, he started every game from 2012 through the first nine games of the 2015 season.

And availability can raise the overall resumé of an otherwise above-average QB.

Peyton’s two-time Super Bowl champion brother, Eli, whose legacy is often debated, started every game from week 11 of his rookie year in 2004 until week three of his final season in 2019.

Joe Flacco, the meme of “is he elite,” started every game during his first seven years in Baltimore and only missed 14 games total in his 11-year run with the Ravens.

The other stuff

But for Chicago, the lack of quarterback talent has hit as much as a lack of health.

Quarterbacks came and went, often through benchings due to poor play, but injuries, too.

Rex Grossman never developed, but he also didn’t get much of a chance. After sitting for the first 13 games of his career, he started just five games before a knee injury knocked him out. The next season he broke his ankle, limiting him to just two games and one start.

He came into the Super Bowl season with only seven career starts. That year he started every game, but his knack for turnovers never went away and after just 19 consecutive starts, he was benched.

And I don’t need to go on. Mitch Trubisky, Justin Fields, Kyle Orton and Eric Kramer.

Each of them had flashes, but also obvious shortcomings that said “he’s not the guy.”

Then there was Jay. Polarizing as ever. He had talent, but also trusted his arm too much at times.

After starting his first 20 games with the Bears, he seemed to always get dinged up. He started 21 straight games until his broken thumb at the end of 2011.

And then there was his unceremonious benching at the end of 2014, which ended any shot at breaking the Bears’ single-season passing record and ended a 17-straight start streak.

Going streaking

It’s a pretty short list of Bears QBs with a starting streak of any length.

According to a FOX graphic put up during the Dec. 14 game against the Cleveland Browns, the longest starting streaks in franchise history are Bob Avellini (42) and Bill Wade (37).

Starts are a bit of a weird thing to track. Up until the 1950s, it wasn’t really thought of as a stat, so to speak. Or at least one that mattered. Looking back at Bears teams from the 1940s, Hall of Fame QB Sid Luckman wasn’t credited with starting every game of any of those seasons, even when he appeared in all 12 games.

But QBs weren’t really playing the position in a modern way either, with the T-formation. The Bears had multiple players attempting passes. Luckman was just doing it the most.

As the game evolved and the sport became more mainstream, things like starts did start to get tracked more.

Expanding beyond just Avellini and Wade, here are the other Bears QBs to start at least 20 games, without putting Caleb in (yet). With an assist from Jack Silverstein for helping me track these down.

27 – Jim Harbaugh ’91-’92
26 – Vince Evans ’80-’81
26 – Ed Brown ’55-’57
25 – Bobby Douglass ’72-’73
22 – Mitch Trubisky ’17-’18
21 – Jay Cutler ’10-’11
20 – Cutler ’09-’10
20 – Erik Kramer – ’95-’96

Avellini and Wade played in the 14-game season era. Ed Brown during the 12-game season.

The (Iron) Ice Man?

Caleb arrived in 2024 and was the first rookie quarterback in modern franchise history to be the no-doubt week one starter. No veteran to sit behind, no one else to push him in a competition.

While that season didn’t go well, Caleb did start every game. And in his historic sophomore season, he did it again.

After just two seasons in Chicago, and thanks to the extended NFL regular season, Williams has now started 34 straight regular-season games and 36 straight, including postseason.

The above lists do not include postseason starts, but even that would add only one for each of Harbaugh, Wade and Avellini. Cutler and Trubisky missed games in the season that Chicago made the playoffs.

Caleb is already solidly in third place, and as long as he stays healthy, by the middle of October, he could be setting a new record.

In addition to setting a single-season passing yards record for the franchise, Williams is also the first QB to have consecutive seasons with at least 20 touchdown passes and fewer than 10 interceptions. His two seasons with 20 or more TD passes is tied with Luckman for the second-most in franchise history behind Cutler’s four.

Following 2025, I think it would be hard to find a fan who doesn’t think the Bears have found their quarterback. Caleb is already rewriting Chicago’s record books in multiple areas.

Availability is just one.

Chase Field is now the fourth-oldest ballpark in the National League, younger only than Wrigley, Dodger Stadium and Coors. As is well-recorded, the park is suffering from a range of different ailments, not least the struggles of the air-conditioning to keep up with the ever-increasing heat of Phoenix summers. This is something which could take multiple off-seasons to address, but is just one of a number of upgrades, fixes and general changes that the team is looking to carry out. There’s a new scoreboard for 2026, but what other updates or modifications would you like to see to our home field?

How would you change Chase Field?

Let’s go wild, and presume money is no object. Though “relocating it to Tucson” is probably slightly outside the realm of possibility, much though our southern members might want that! But otherwise? Have at it. Should the capacity be reduced? For Chase is now the second-largest capacity in the majors, behind just the Death Star. How should that be done? What facilities and features would you like to add to the park? This can be large scale – nacho slides? – or go down to finer elements, for example any specific food and beverages which you want to add to the offerings at Chase.

Morez Johnson Jr. isn’t the flashiest of all players. He doesn’t lead this Michigan basketball team in any statistical category. He isn’t a 7-foot giant and doesn’t shoot many threes. He is also usually not the one to be involved in postgame interviews. Yet, he might be the most pivotal player on this squad.

When Johnson decided to transfer from Illinois to Michigan last summer, most Michigan fans assumed they were getting a rim-running, put-back only type of scorer. How wrong they were. Johnson’s offensive game is that of a distributor, and a back-to-the-basket scorer, and a lob threat at any and all times.

Johnson is the second-leading scorer on this team with 13.5 points per game. On top of that, he is hyper-efficient as he shoots 67 percent from two and has even made five three-pointers this season. He’s also playable in late-game situations because he’s an excellent 79 percent from the free throw line.

With all that being said, defense is where Johnson really shines. A key component of Dusty May’s preferred defensive strategy is the ability to switch 1-4 while keeping Aday Mara on the opposing center. This strategy taxes Michigan’s power forwards more than anyone else. While much improved defensively, Will Tschetter still struggles to switch onto guards as a backup 4. However, it’s seamless for Johnson.

During the Purdue game on Tuesday night, it was impossible not to notice that in the final few minutes, it was Yaxel Lendeborg and Johnson guarding Purdue’s ball-handlers. While you certainly wouldn’t hope for that to be the case the entire game, it’s an ultimate luxury May has. Johnson’s lateral quickness and recovery speed allows for him to guard just about anyone on the court.

On the season, Johnson is averaging 7.5 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, and 0.8 steals per game. However, the box score isn’t where his impact is primarily felt — it’s Johnson’s agility that allows Mara to remain paint-bound for most of the game. It’s Johnson’s rebounding ability that allows Lendeborg to get out on the break and not bang around down low so much. Most importantly, Johnson’s post presence means Michigan can put Mara on the bench late in games to avoid other teams playing the hack-a-Mara game.

Am I saying Johnson is the best player on this Michigan team? No, that honor goes to Lendeborg. What I am saying is Johnson is the most irreplaceable because of what his skills allow his teammates to produce. Without Johnson’s presence, several other Wolverines become one-dimensional and this is an entirely different team that we’re talking about.

Johnson is exactly the type of player that a team needs to be a national title contender.

The Kansas City Royals were on the brink of making the playoffs last season, they were in it until the final week of the season, despite the myriad of starting pitching injuries and hitters underperforming.

Things like that happen in baseball, everything doesn’t work out the way you want or plan for them to go. Last season, the usual suspects, Bobby Witt Jr., Salvy, Vinnie were all great. The bullpen for the most part was exceptional.

It was leaps by players like Maikel Garcia and Kyle Isbel. Taylor Clarke had a surprisingly good year, considering his expectations at the beginning of the season. Steven Cruz was a revelation out of the bullpen before suffering an injury. It was “role” players or “secondary” guys like this that helped the Royals get to another winning season of baseball.

There are plenty of candidates for the 2026 squad that could fill this role of surprise hero or big part of the team. Names like Jac Caglianone, Carter Jensen, Jonathan India come to mind immediately for me. Jac and Jensen are obviously still really young, so I don’t like calling them “role” players or “secondary” players, but the Royals are relying on those two to be huge parts of the team this season, so I feel like they fit into the category still.

The point being, outside the main cast of superstars that the Royals have, who would you pick to have a big 2026 season?

Is what Gunner Olszewski brings to the table enough for him to earn a chance to make the New York Giants roter in 2026?

That is up to head coach John Harbaugh, maybe with an assist from general manager Joe Schoen.

Reasons to keep Olszewski

Players who have the ability to be plus returners on both kickoffs and punts have value. Olszewski, a 29-year-old six-year veteran has shown that ability. He isn’t dynamic, but he can handle both jobs and occasionally fill in at wide receiver.

Among 59 players who handled at least 15 kickoff returns in 2025, Olszewski’s 26.2 yards per return average was 25th, just above league average. His punt return average of 9.2 yards placed him 18th among 28 qualifiers with at least 15 returns. All in all, he was roughly league average combining both skills.

Olszewski cost just $1.17 million in 2025 with no money guaranteed at signing, so he certainly isn’t expensive.

Reasons to let Olszewski go

Harbaugh’s special teams with the Baltimore Ravens were not average. Under the direction of Chris Horton, now the Giants’ special teams coordinator, Baltimore’s special teams were usually among the league’s best. A ceiling as an average returner might not be good enough for the Giants’ new regime.

Verdict

I have no issue with giving Olszewski a similar minimum contract with no guaranteed money and letting him compete for a job.

At PSG, more is now known about Ousmane Dembélé's health status

PSG: News on Ousmane Dembélé

On Tuesday evening, Ousmane Dembélé was substituted for Désiré Doué during the AS Monaco vs PSG clash in the first leg of the Champions League play-off. This Wednesday, the French press provided an update on the 2025 Ballon d'Or contender.

After just 27 minutes of play against AS Monaco (2-3) on Tuesday evening in the first leg of the Champions League play-off, Ousmane Dembélé was forced off due to injury. The Frenchman is not expected to be sidelined for long.

Indeed, according to information from L’Équipe, Ousmane Dembélé was reassuring about the condition of his left calf on Wednesday, although further tests are still needed to confirm the exact nature of the injury. Both Dembélé and PSG are hoping for a return to action in about ten days' time.

Pittsburgh Pirates top prospect Konnor Griffin is the talk of spring training, and it’s easy to see why.

MLB’s No. 1 prospect has been blasting baseballs into oblivion on the field and impressing everybody off of it. Everyone who comes in contact with him has something great to say about him, from teammates and coaches to reporters and talking heads.

That includes former star pitcher Trevor May, who recently explained why he’s keeping an eye on Griffin this spring.

“He’s a stud. This guy is ridiculous, and I want to see what he looks like in a big league spring training against big league pitching,” May said on “Foul Territory.” “Everyone’s so high on him already…He is a five-tool player across the board. Shortstop, six-foot-five…The guy rakes, and he’s a freak athlete. I want to see how quickly he hits the Major Leagues.”

Many people are wondering that, too, as Griffin fights to make the Opening Day roster. If he does, he could make his MLB debut as soon as next month.

If not, his debut will still likely come at some point this season. He may just need a bit more seasoning in the Minor Leagues after playing only 21 games at Double-A last year.

While May is excited to watch Griffin play, he’s also heard great things about the 19-year-old phenom off the field.

“There have been people talking very highly about his training and how hard he works,” May added. “I want to see it. These types of guys don’t come along that often, to be that young and be that polished, especially for a team that desperately needs it.”

He’ll get to see Griffin play soon enough. It’s only a matter of time.

More Pirates: Paul Skenes Showers Pirates Top Prospect With Lofty Praise

The post Former Star Pitcher Can’t Wait For Konnor Griffin’s Pirates Debut appeared first on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Time and time again I have criticized Chris Ballard, so this time I will leave in writing what I would (or at least try to) do if I were in his shoes. A lot more than we know happens behind the scenes, so take this with a grain of salt.

Its February 18th, Wednesday. Suddenly the earth starts shaking beneath your feet and after a weird dizziness you realize you are now Colts’ general manager Chris Ballard! Lucky you! You are a millionaire with perhaps one of the best jobs in the world, but your seat is as hot as it gets. You need to deliver, and you have just one more season, or at least that’s what the owner says, to get your NFL franchise to the playoffs. This is what I would do, of course you might disagree with some decisions, and you might agree with some. In the end, only time will truly tell.

Cuts / Restructures

Cut: Michael Pittman Jr. (24M cap savings), Kenny Moore (7M cap savings), Zaire Franklin (5.7M cap savings).

Tough decisions, but they need to be made, not only because of the cap savings they would imply, but also because it would actually send a message to the rest of the team. Michael Pittman Jr. is a tough guy to judge, even himself saying that he has not played up to the massive extension he got a couple of seasons ago. For being paid like a top 20 wide receiver, MPJ has come nowhere close to that level of production, and despite the argument that he has never had quarterback consistency in his career, neither did Alec Pierce. If he is open to a potential restructure then perhaps he can remain with the team, but it is going to be difficult. He could also be traded to a wide receiver needy team, like the Las Vegas Raiders for example.

Kenny is also a really tough decision, because the fanbase loves him, and he is one of the longest tenured Colt on the team, but the production is just not there any more. Not only that, but the Colts have Justin Walley back from injury, who could demand snaps in the slot, and veteran Mike Hilton came in on a vet minimum deal and played well. With just way too many holes on the roster, the Colts just cannot afford to pay an underperforming slot cornerback that much money.

Zaire should not be such a tough decision to make, production is definitely not up to par, and getting rid of him will also send a message to the rest of the team. Slow linebackers that cannot cover a tight end or running back to save their lives are not worth that amount of money, even less a captain badge on their jerseys.

Restructure: DeForest Buckner (potential 14.5M in cap savings

Age is catching up to Buckner, and injuries too. Neck injuries are no joke, and Buckner had a really tough one that required surgery. Restructuring a contract is never an easy task, but it could work best for both parties as Buckner gets to play his final years on a more competitive team and the Colts can use the money saved up to re-sign some impending free-agents.

Re-signings

Daniel Jones

There is little telling what Daniel Jones’ contract with be. On one hand, he was the starting quarterback for one of the best offensives in the NFL before his injury, and looked the best he ever looked in his career, while also still being young for a quarterback. On the other hand, he is coming off a torn Achilles, struggled with injuries throughout his career, and even more concerning, it seemed like opposing defenses were already figuring him out before the injury happened. Jones has gone on record saying he wants to stay in Indy, and if I were Ballard I would like to keep him around because no other reasonable quarterback gives you a better chance to win games next year than DJ. My prediction is something along the lines of 3-year, 30M a year deal. Anything below that would be a win in my books.

Alec Pierce (4 years, 20-25M per year), Nick Cross (4 years, 20-25M per year)

Alec Pierce and Nick Cross are the two players that the Colts cannot afford to let walk. Pierce has improved every single year as a wide receiver, and has shown the tools necessary to take over games as the true #1 receiver. The risk here is that the argument can be made that the opposing team’s #1 cornerback was mostly shadowing MPJ (think Derek Stingley Jr. for example), but it is as simple as if I had to choose just one for the next four seasons I would take Pierce and not look back. Pierce has already shown his willingness to stay here, and talked about his relationship with Daniel Jones, so that is already a big plus.

Nick Cross was the Colts’ breakout player in the 2024-25 season, and had yet another good year. He is a versatile box-safety that is great against the run, and can actually cover tight ends. The Colts do not have a single player like him on the roster, and they are not easy to find, so keeping him in a Colts’ uniform is imperative.

Sign Trey Hendrickson in free-agency, add a veteran running-back

Even though Laiatu Latu has shown improvements, the Colts still need a proper pass-rusher alongside him. Kwity Paye was not a factor at all against the pass, and veteran standout Trey Hendrickson, who already has a past with both Anarumo and new Colts’ defensive line coach, is set to be a free-agent. The cap space could be complicated here, especially after re-signing Jones, Pierce, and Cross, but as we all know cap space is a mere illusion, and when your job is as on the line as Ballard’s is right now, he needs to get it done, no matter the cost.

Draft’s first 4 rounds

The Colts do not have their first round pick because of the Sauce Gardner trade that happened mid-season, but this seems like a deep defensive draft, and the Colts need a ton of help on defense. First of all they need to find their linebacker of the future, and no-one fits better than Missouri’s Josiah Trotter here. While not the best coverage linebacker here (still much, much better than Zaire Franklin), Trotter is much more explosive and actually shows the ability to get off blocks in the run game. Having all cornerbacks healthy would allow Anarumo to deploy a hypothetically re-signed Nick Cross much more in the box, with Bynum as the single high safety, that would allow Trotter not to be forced to handle the other team’s most dangerous receiving threat.

The case for Darrell Jackson Jr. and Tim Keenan III is rather similar: Buckner and Stewart are not getting any younger, and the Colts need to start thinking about life without them. Getting those two guys would also help alleviate some of the load off the veteran duo’s shoulders, while also getting them ready for the starting job in a couple years.

The United States and Canada are going head-to-head tomorrow for the Olympic women’s hockey gold medal game, but that intense rivalry just got more heated with rumors spreading that two star players on the opposing teams just broke up.

Neither Team Canada’s Daryl Watts nor Team USA’s Caroline Harvey has come out as queer or publicly admitted they are dating, but that hasn’t stopped rumors from swirling that the rivals broke up.

Fans have speculated for a while that the pair have been secretly dating — though there is no evidence to back up this assertion — but after a TikTok Live, social media has become convinced the two ended their relationship while at the Milano Cortina Winter Games.

This article originally appeared on Pride: USA-Canada Olympic women's hockey rivalry gets spicy with a rumored lesbian breakup

Milan and Como meet in the matchday they have pending due to the celebration of the Milano-Cortina Olympic Games, each in search of different objectives.

This is how both teams line up...

MILAN XI

COMO XI

Butez - Kempf, Jacobo Ramón, Diego Carlos - Van Der Brempt, Perrone, Sergi Roberto, Vojvoda - Caqueret, Baturina - Nico Paz

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

Mitch Marner goal video: Canada star's dazzling overtime winner helps Canada avoid Czechia upset scare originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Team Canada is heading to the men's Olympic ice hockey semifinals. 

Canada matched up with Czechia in the quarterfinals, and it was a tighter game than many anticipated. Czechia actually had a lead well into the third until Nick Suzuki scored with less than five minutes left in the game to tie it up at three.

Olympic men's ice hockey in the quarterfinals utilizes a different overtime system. After a commercial break, the third period ends, and it goes to a 10-minute 3-on-3 sudden death format. One minute and 22 seconds into overtime, Canada's Mitch Marner found the back of the net for the win. 

Here is more on Marner's game-winning goal. 

MORE 2026 OLYMPICS: Live medal tracker | Viewer's guide | Day-by-day schedule

Mitch Marner goal video vs. Czechia

Marner is normally someone you would expect to assist a goal, rather than score it, but he decided to take matters into his own hands. The Vegas Golden Knights winger took the puck straight down the middle of the ice, weaving through defenders. He went toward the left post and had the goalie locked in on him. He went with a backhand and somehow had the perfect angle to sneak it inside the far post past Czechia goalie Lukas Dostal, who had the near post covered. 

MITCH MARNER CALLS GAME IN OT. 🇨🇦💥#WinterOlympicspic.twitter.com/8nCO7eg2fa

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 18, 2026

To add to the highlight-reel goal, Marner had fallen to the ice while shooting, but got up elated before going to celebrate with his team.

Marner was asked if it was the biggest hockey goal he has ever scored. He said, "Yeah, probably, it's hard not to say it isn't. Obviously, it's a do-or-die game and one of the biggest tournaments of your life. So, yeah, it'd be cool to, you know, after this tournament, look back on something like that, but we got some work still to do.”

MORE: How did Canada beat Czechia?

Canada vs. Czechia score

Canada beat Czechia 4-3 in overtime. 

Team Canada took the early lead as Macklin Celebrini scored just 3:05 into the first period. Czechia responded with a goal by Lukas Sedlak and David Pastrnak to end the first period up 2-1. Nathan Mackinnon scored halfway through the second to tie it up. Ondrej Palat put Czechia up with about eight minutes to go in the game, and Suzuki scored with less than four minutes left to keep Canada in the game. 

Marner scored the game-winner early in overtime to send Canada to the semifinals. 

MORE: How does overtime work in Olympic hockey?