The Denver Broncos were possibly one non-Bo Nix injury away from making it to the Super Bowl.

Sean Payton's team had a remarkable season, with a young team growing up throughout the season, and Denver defeated Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills at home in an epic postseason contest.

Nix's broken ankle, however, derailed what could have been a date with destiny against the Seattle Seahawks.

The Broncos know they will enter 2026 with one of the best defenses in the NFL.

They have a Super Bowl-winning defense, and if they can improve an already solid offense with a maturing young quarterback in Nix, the Broncos could be favorites to win it all next season.

In a recent ESPN insider article, senior writer Bill Barnwell has the Broncos making a major move this offseason to bolster their offense and give Nix another legitimate receiving weapon alongside Courtland Sutton.

Barnwell has the Broncos giving up cornerback Riley Moss, a 2026 second-round pick, and a 2027 fifth-round pick for Philadelphia Eagles superstar wideout A.J. Brown and a 2026 fifth-round pick.

"Brown's situation with the Eagles is tenuous," wrote Barnwell. "… [He] would be the wideout of Bo Nix's and Sean Payton's dreams. Nix's accuracy issues downfield would be mitigated by Brown's size, catch radius and ability to win on contested-catch opportunities."

If the Broncos could swing the deal for Brown, their offense, which was overlooked for most of the 2025 season, would begin to scare many of the teams on their schedule in the upcoming campaign.

Even in what was considered a "down year," Brown was still strong, finishing with 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games played.

In an environment where the starting QB enjoys slinging the ball, it could be what Brown needs to rediscover his love for the game following a tumultuous year in Philly.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Broncos linked to blockbuster trade for Eagles WR A.J. Brown

A high-end defensive lineman from the Motor City will reportedly visit Michigan State during the spring.

Jameer Henry of Detroit will reportedly visit Michigan State during the spring, according to Allen Trieu of 247Sports. He is also set to visit Illinois and Missouri, per Trieu.

Henry, who plays for historic Martin Luther King High, is a high-end three-star prospect, with a recruiting rating of 88 in 247Sports' recruiting system. He ranks as the No. 8 player from Michigan and No. 48 defensive lineman in the 2027 class, according to 247Sports. He is also listed as the No. 444 overall prospect in the class.

Michigan State extended Henry an offer nearly two years ago in October of 2023, and is one of nearly 25 schools to offer him, according to 247Sports. He also holds notable offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss, Pitt, Purdue, Tennessee, USC and Vanderbilt.

Detroit King OL Jameer Henry has spring visits set with Illinois, Missouri and Michigan State.

He talks about why each school is in the race for him including a meaningful gesture from the Spartan staff on his last visit.

(VIP) https://t.co/CJs9W6oB8gpic.twitter.com/bP2Vvnh7Q1

— Allen Trieu (@AllenTrieu) February 17, 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 local 3-star DL Jameer Henry for spring visit

Wolfsburg women's team will face Juventus away from home on Thursday night in the second-leg of the Champions League playoff tie. The two teams drew 2-2 in Wolfsburg last week as the hosts scored two late goals after a poor start to the game.

Both teams failed to finish inside the top eight in the league phase, which meant they had to enter the knockout stages early instead of an automatic qualification to the quarter-finals.

Stephan Lerch’s were two goals behind with only ten minutes left in the first-leg, but they managed to revive their chance with a spectacular comeback draw. In particular, Sarai Linder’s 95th-minute equalizer was one of the best goals of this season’s competition.

Wolfsburg were held to another disappointing draw on the weekend when they dropped precious points in the Frauen-Bundesliga title race at home to SGS Essen. As a result, Bayern Munich managed to extend their lead at the top to 11 points.

Similarly, Juventus could only secure a goalless draw at home to Lazio as they remained in third in the Serie A Femminile. The two teams will hope to join the likes of Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals when they meet again at Juventus Stadium.

The winner of the tie will face OL Lyonnes in the last eight, with the French giants having the home advantage for the second-leg. Wolfsburg are two-time UEFA Women’s Champions League winners, but their last triumph came in 2014.

The celebration by Vini Jr. after scoring the goal that secured Real Madrid's victory over Benfica was one of the focuses of the Portuguese coach after the game at Estádio da Luz.

Mourinho avoided talking about the possible racist act committed by Prestianni against the Brazilian.

"One thing is what Vinícius says, another is what Prestianni says, completely different things. I try to be balanced and I don't want to say that Vinícius is a liar and Prestianni is an incredible guy."

In his view, the Real's number 7 "ended the game" due to the celebration next to one of the corner flags and in front of the Benfica fans.

"I told Vinícius, independently, that when a player scores a goal like that, he should be carried on shoulders (on the shoulders of teammates). You don't mess with a stadium or the heart of the opponent's stadium. As they say in Spain, those who score such goals cut tails and ears and don't end the game, and he ended the game".

"I told Vinícius that he scores a goal out of this world, why do you celebrate like that and not like one of the best in the world, like Di Stéfano, Pelé, Eusébio... why don't you celebrate with the joy of scoring. It always happens with the same one (Vini Jr.). It's what doesn't get into my head."

Vini vents after reporting another case of racism: 'Still not understanding'

Mbappé defends Vini and details racism complaint

Mourinho ended up being sent off after complaining about the non-application of a second yellow card to Vini for a foul on Richard Ríos.

📸 PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA - AFP or licensors

Without the suspended Mourinho, Benfica will go to the Bernabéu next Wednesday (25) with the mission of winning by two goals to advance in regular time.

Whoever wins this duel will face Sporting or Manchester City in the round of 16. 

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

Feb. 17—VERMILLION, S.D. — In the constant turnover that is college football these days, stability is often preached but rarely practiced.

For the University of South Dakota, however, stability hasn't just been a talking point — it's been a strategy.

For the second straight season, USD Athletic Director Jon Schemmel has opted to stay in-house when faced with a head coaching vacancy. And for the second-straight time, the timing of that vacancy all but forced his hand.

"If there's an answer within your staff, you always want to go that route," Schemmel said following the introductory press conference of USD's new head coach Matt Vitzthum. "In today's day and age, the continuity within your roster, continuity of a championship culture, that's where you want to go to keep sustaining the success that we have had here. If we went 4-8 last year, you know, who knows what would happen. But we have established a winning culture, and that continuity is something we want to continue."

When longtime Coyote head coach Bob Nielson stepped down after nine seasons, Schemmel didn't conduct a national search. He didn't test the waters or reach out to possible candidates. On Jan. 16, 2025 — the very day the news broke — defensive coordinator Travis Johansen was promoted to head coach.

Johansen had spent six seasons running USD's defense. He was respected in the program, familiar with the roster and aligned with the culture Nielson built. He wasn't was a former head coach at any collegiate level. Still, the move made sense.

It was mid-January. The transfer portal was active. Recruiting cycles were in full swing. Spring football was looming. Any prolonged head coaching search risked roster instability and missing out on potential recruits. Promoting Johansen provided immediate clarity for the South Dakota football program. And in Year 1, the results validated the decision.

Johansen and USD stayed among the FCS' top programs. Continuity mattered. Relationships, which are very critical in today's transfer-heavy era, were preserved. But just as quickly as stability settled in, change returned.

After one season at the helm, Johansen departed to become defensive coordinator at Rutgers, jumping to the Big Ten and returning to the role he knows best. Once again, the calendar left little room for maneuvering. It was Feb. 6, 2026, when the news broke. And once again, Schemmel stayed in-house. Vitzthum got the call this time after two years in Vermillion.

"I think it shows what we have here. They've built, and we've built something bigger than one or two people, or a head coach, or a strength coach or a quarterback, whatever the case may be," Vitzthum said. "It's about a group and a collection of people on the same page to try to achieve the same thing. And when you stay in-house, you're also saying that we have the belief that we know where things are going and we want to continue to go that way."

Like Johansen before him, Vitzthum had never been a head coach. And like before, the timing missed the mark for Schemmel to try for a larger search.

February is even later in the hiring cycle. Most established head coaching candidates are already settled. This time, the transfer portal was already closed. Recruiting classes are largely signed. Staffs across the country are typically finalized. Conducting an extensive national search at that stage risks not only missing out on top candidates that have already signed somewhere, but also creating uncertainty within your own locker room.

So, what did USD and Schemmel do? They doubled down on continuity.

And there are undeniable benefits to that approach. For players, especially veterans who've helped build this program into a national contender, familiarity matters. They know Vitzthum and trust already exists.

It's a credit to Schemmel, as well. He was prepared, which is what a fan of every mid-major college program wants from their AD.

"While it seems quick and it is quick when it does happen the way it did. For me, it has been an ongoing process for 12 months," Schemmel said. "But with Matt, it's an opportunity he has earned and one I am more than comfortable with. By the time we got to the decision to hire Matt, we were very confident in what we were doing. If I wasn't 100% confident in him, I wouldn't have done it because I'm never going to race against the clock. I need to be convinced, and he hammered it shut for me over the body of work he has put in these last couple of years."

Let's point out that USD is hardly alone in college football in needing to make this choice quickly. In the FCS, South Dakota State has done it with its last two coaching hires, promoting Jimmy Rogers and bringing back former coach Dan Jackson when they had openings. North Dakota State promoted Chris Klieman and Matt Entz from within their coaching tree and then brought back longtime Craig Bohl assistant Tim Polasek to run the show last time. Some of those had full searches, some of them did not.

Even in the FBS, when Lane Kiffin was making the coaching situation messy in November at Ole Miss, the Rebels promoted Pete Golding simultaneously to full-time head coach while telling Kiffin to move to LSU.

"When you look at the programs that have done this like North Dakota State and South Dakota State, they have gone internal every time that they can," Schemmel said. "At our level, you look at the ones that have not only done it but done it over a long period of time, they have kept it in the family one way or another. It's not that you wouldn't go out if you had to, but ultimately, if you have the right person in your building that understands your culture that's always going to be a winning recipe, not only for the success in the short term but the sustainability of it long term."

USD's rise into a perennial FCS program didn't happen overnight. It was built on consistency, scheme, and lately, expectations. By promoting from within twice, Schemmel has signaled that the blueprint remains intact.

To be fair, there are risks, and they shouldn't be ignored. First, limited time restricts true evaluation. When coaching changes occur in mid-January and early February, the opportunity to thoroughly find other candidates shrinks. You may miss innovative minds outside your program. You may overlook experienced head coaches looking for the right fit. A broader search can spark new ideas and energy — something an internal hire, by definition, is less likely to provide.

Second, promoting first-time head coaches carries uncertainty. Johansen proved capable in his lone season, but Vitzthum now faces the same trial. Helping coordinate an offense or managing a position group is vastly different from overseeing an entire program — game management, staff leadership, team development, and the thousand small decisions that define a head coach's day-to-day operations is a heck of a challenge for a first-year head coach.

These weren't December departures with months to plan. They were reactive moments in the heart of the offseason. In both cases, Schemmel opted to prioritize stability over any sort of new spark. And so far, so good for South Dakota.

"While it's going to change and be different, this isn't an overhaul," Schemmel said. "As I had people kind of asking around about him on my behalf quietly over the last several months, the football acumen and everything people kept saying about him is that he is an elite football mind. While we always talk about winning and that's critical to what we do, our ultimate responsibility is to graduate great young men and women, and Matt is going to do that."

With March Madness inching closer, Jay Bilas is ready to give his take on how the college basketball landscape looks with just three weeks of regular-season play left.

Bilas just released his ranking of the top 68 college basketball teams at ESPN, and the Kentucky Wildcats came in at No. 28. Just like the latest top-25 polls, Bilas isn’t ready to call these Wildcats a top-25 team just yet.

Here’s what he had to say about Kentucky.

“The early returns on this Kentucky team were not promising,” Bilas wrote. “The Wildcats opened the season 5-4 with lopsided losses to Michigan State and Gonzaga. And it hasn’t been all clear skies since — they scored only 55 points in a 25-point road loss at Vanderbilt on Jan. 27 — but they have righted the ship with a 12-4 response to their sputtering start. One clear difference has been the play of Otega Oweh. He averaged 13.7 points through those first nine games, but 18.8 in the 16 since. They’ll need him to maintain that with Kam Williams and Jayden Quaintance still out.”

The Wildcats actually have four wins over teams ranked ahead of them: No. 20 Arkansas, No. 19 St. John’s, and No. 16 Tennessee (twice). Kentucky also has wins over No. 31 Texas, No. 34 Indiana, and No. 61 LSU.

All eight of Kentucky’s losses are to teams in this ranking, the lowest being Missouri at No. 49. The other seven losses are against teams in the top 23 of this ranking.

Florida, who Kentucky just lost on the road to and hosts in the regular-season finale, checks in at No. 7.

So, do you like this spot for the Cats? Sound off in the comments!

Feb. 17—BROOKINGS — After winning 67 straight Summit League regular season games, the South Dakota State women lost twice in a two-week span, at home to North Dakota State and on the road against South Dakota.

It was certainly no reason to panic, but it was uncharted territory for the players, as literally nobody on the roster had ever lost a conference game before.

Additionally, both losses had been fairly convincing. The Bison and Coyotes had made the Jackrabbits look pretty mortal, and perhaps exposed ways to beat them. As of today, SDSU is not the favorite to get to the NCAA tournament out of the Summit League.

That said, the Jackrabbits have responded in a big way.

They've won three in a row, and these were the scores of the three:

84-51

94-48

93-40

Granted, all three games were against teams in the bottom half of the Summit League standings, but the Jacks sure seem to be on a mission to reestablish their dominance and get back their swagger.

Coach Aaron Johnston credits that to his players properly responding to their first taste of Summit League adversity, taking ownership of their mistakes and taking steps to improve their execution and effort on the floor, hinting that they had perhaps let their dominance give them an inflated sense of confidence.

"Being a winner at a really high level is a learned habit," Johnston said. "Putting on a uniform isn't like a cape. It isn't like a Marvel costume. You don't turn into a different person when you put on a uniform. You're still the same. It's the habits that make a difference. It's those other intangibles, and that's what we've been working on."

A major factor in the Jacks' loss to USD was their inability to give offensive support to star center Brooklyn Meyer, with Coyote coach Carrie Eighmey acknowledging that was a centerpiece of their gameplan.

In the three games since SDSU has certainly addressed that issue.

In their win over St. Thomas they got 21 points from Madison Mathiowetz, and Meyer attempted only nine field goals (still netting 19 points).

Against North Dakota Meyer had 21 and nobody else had more than 11, but eight players scored at least seven points.

And in their most recent win over UMKC, the Jacks needed just 11 points from Meyer while getting a career-high 26 from Emilee Fox, 18 from Madison Mathiowetz and 13 from Hadley Thul.

"We need to continue to be dynamic, not be one dimensional through Brooklyn, not be one dimensional through Maddie," Johnston said. "We need other players that continue to step up and play well. We've got to find ways to put them in a position where they know they can do that and a plan that helps them feel confident to do that. We got to defend really well.

"We've rebounded really well," the coach added. "When we get into trouble in games we just get stretches of time where our offense is just not really intentional. We just get a little loose, a little random. It can't feel like a pickup game where you're just kind of out there hooping. You've got to have — you're trying to accomplish something with every possession. Sometimes in games we've had troubles with that where we just get a little sped up or out of sync. So we're working on trying to stay a little more determined with that in practice."

The Jacks are without sophomore guard Katie Vasecka again, as she missed Saturday's win over UMKC and is not expected to play in either of the Jacks two road games this week at Oral Roberts and Denver.

That has opened the door for forward Maggie Hartwig to reclaim a prominent role after a recent demotion.

Hartwig was supposed to be a major piece this year after transferring from Evansville, where she'd been a star in the Missouri Valley Conference, averaging 16.5 points and 9.2 rebounds last year. But she's had trouble finding her niche with the Jacks.

Hartwig appeared to hit her stride when scoring in double figures in seven out of 10 games in December and January, but after scoring just eight points in a five-game stretch that ended with the loss to USD she was removed from the starting lineup.

Hartwig seemed to respond well to the demotion, scoring 11 points with five rebounds in just nine minutes against UND and six points in 12 minutes against UMKC.

Johnston likes what Hadley Thul has given the Jacks since moving into the starting lineup, but it's clear they haven't given up on Hartwig.

"Any chance she gets to build confidence and get moving is good for her," Johnston said after her 11-point effort against the Hawks. "On a human level it's hard to go from starting to maybe not in a normal rotation. We're playing four guards now so it's just different. It changes a lot of things. I give Maggie a lot of credit. She's practiced really well. She's gonna have to play some big minutes for us and she'll keep working to be ready."

The Jacks are tied for second in the Summit with USD at 10-2 (they're 20-6 overall). They'll visit Oral Roberts (13-12, 6-6) Thursday and Denver (9-17, 3-10) on Saturday.

The Jackrabbit men snapped a three-game losing streak with a win at last-place Oral Roberts over the weekend, just in time to welcome in first place North Dakota State.

The Jacks and Bison have enjoyed a spirited rivalry on the hardwood over the years, and while NDSU (21-6, 11-1) would appear to be heavy favorites, SDSU (12-15, 5-7) hopes snapping their losing streak gives them the kind of confidence and momentum boost that can help them spring the upset.

"They're playing good basketball," Jacks coach Bryan Petersen said of the Bison. "They played really well all year and now they're coming into our place. We battled them up there pretty good in Fargo. Never quite got over the hump but this game's always fun to play in. Whether it's up in Fargo or here in Brookings and so we're just really looking forward to that opportunity."

The Bison and Jacks are the top two teams in the Summit League defensively, but while SDSU averages just 76 points per game (seventh out of nine teams), the Bison are third at 81.4.

SDSU's offensive consistency has been their biggest issue, while NDSU has made consistency on both ends of the floor their calling card.

"They just play really well together," said Petersen, whose team will host third-place North Dakota on Saturday. "They got a lot of pieces that fit. They can shoot the ball. They can score on the inside defensively. They're athletic. They just been very, very consistent and it seems like they've won a lot of close games."

Jackrabbits this week

Women: at ORU, Thursday, 7 p.m.; at Denver, Saturday, 2 p.m.

Men: vs NDSU, Wednesday, 7 p.m.; vs UND, Saturday, 2 p.m.

Green Bay Packers fans who have been clamoring for a change in leadership on special teams: you’re getting your wish. First reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network and shortly thereafter confirmed by the Packers’ official social media account, Rich Bisaccia is stepping down from his post as the Packers’ special teams coordinator.

Bisaccia has spent the last four years in that role following a stint as the interim head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021. The last three years also saw Bisaccia hold the title of Assistant Head Coach. In a statement through the team’s website, Bisaccia issued a statement thanking the organization and its leadership, noting “I look forward to whatever is next for me and my family, and I wish nothing but the best for everyone in the organization.”

Notably missing from Bisaccia’s statements is anything related to retirement, however, which suggests that he will look to continue coaching in 2026. However, his voluntarily resigning means that the Packers will not have to buy out any remaining years on his existing contract.

Replacing Bisaccia will be just the latest coaching change on the Packers’ staff for 2026. The team already saw major changes on the defensive staff after former coordinator Jeff Hafley left to take the head coaching job with the Miami Dolphins and several of his assistants followed him out of town.

Under Bisaccia, the Packers’ special teams failed to improve significantly after failing the team repeatedly over the previous decade-plus. He was hired shortly after special teams cost the Packers a trip to an NFC Championship Game in 2021; that year’s Divisional Playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers featured a blocked field goal early and a blocked punt that was recovered for a game-tying 49ers touchdown late in the game.

Bill Huber of SI.com compiled a ranking of special teams units in 2025, which found the Packers finishing in 20th place out of the 32 NFL teams. Those same rankings put the Packers 22nd, 27th, and 17th in Bisaccia’s first three seasons, going in reverse chronological order.

In 2025, the return and place-kicking phases were the biggest issues. Brandon McManus connected on just 80 percent of his field goal attempts, going just 6-for-12 from beyond 40 yards. Punt returns in particular were abysmal, with the team averaging just 5.6 yards per return, while kickoff returns found the Packers finishing 22nd in yards per return at 25.2. The coverage teams were largely solid, however, and Daniel Whelan led the NFL in gross punting average and was one of the top punters in net average.

Unfortunately for the Packers, Bisaccia’s decision comes late in the hiring cycle. Most of the prominent special teams coaches on the market already have new jobs, so the team may be sorting through a second wave of potential coaches to try to find his successor.

Does Quinn Hughes see ghosts? Team USA hockey star explains the viral rumor at Olympics originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Quinn Hughes is quite focused during hockey games.

The Team USA defenseman from the Minnesota Wild is one of the best at his position in the world, and if the United States wants to win a gold medal, it'll be in large part because of Hughes.

But his focus also leads to a funny viral rumor. Fans think Hughes is seeing ghosts.

He often has a blank stare out there on the ice, as if he's not even there. 

Hughes finally got a chance to tell his side of the story.

MORE: U.S. women's hockey star's brothers go viral at Olympics

Does Quinn Hughes see ghosts?

This may not shock you, but Hughes doesn't actually see ghosts.

This is what he told The Boston Globe:

"Sometimes you hear some funny stuff out there. But yeah, as the people say, I'm usually seeing ghosts. I'm usually pretty zoned in on what's going on with myself and trying to get ready to do what I need to do."

This isn't the first time people have said this about Hughes. Even dating back to Hughes' time with the Vancouver Canucks, it was a suggestion by amused fans.

Hey, whatever Hughes is seeing out there on the ice works. He's tremendous at everything in the game of hockey, ghosts or no ghosts.

More Olympics news:

• This U.S. luge star was parodied on SNL
• Amber Glenn gets into music dispute during Olympic figure skating program
• Macklin Celebrini is chasing Hooley Smith's 1924 Olympics record
• U.S. Olympians get paid shockingly less than other countries for gold medals
• Controversy and cursing with Canada curling
• Chloe Kim's silver medal has some controversy

There have been a lot of trade rumors going around, and the latest might be the biggest shocker of them all. According to NFL draft expert Todd McShay, Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud may be on the trade block.

“Stroud hasn’t been the guy the last two years in Houston that he was in his rookie year,” McShay said via NFL reporter Arye Pulli. “Some [teams] are looking at that and saying, can we get that rookie year out of Stroud here?”

As a rookie, Stroud threw for 4,108 yards with 23 touchdowns, but since then, his numbers have fallen off, and it was glaring during the playoffs. 

While the Texans' defense carried this team the last few years, Stroud has struggled, and the fact that there are even talks of a possible trade is a shocker. While we’ve seen the development of his peers like Bryce Young, Stroud hasn't come on as quickly as the Texans would like.

This was Bryce Young’s first year in the playoffs, and although he had an up-and-down year, he shone in the playoffs, unlike Stroud. The Carolina Panthers extended his contract through 2026, as Stroud remains undecided.

Although Stroud may not be traded this year, next year may be his final year with the team if they don’t see some improvement. 

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: NFL Insider says Texans CJ Stroud might be on the trade block

Feb. 17—WESSINGTON SPRINGS, S.D. — On winter nights in Wessington Springs, the gym used to be quiet.

Nearly a decade ago, the bleachers weren't always full, and expectations were far different. Wins were hard to come by, and the boys basketball program searched for an identity. Today, the scene is entirely different. The stands are full, the energy is there, and a senior group that grew up together has transformed the Spartans into one of Class B's most consistent programs.

Now ranked No. 5 in Class B and sitting at 14-4 with a five-game winning streak, Wessington Springs is no longer chasing relevance — it's chasing something much bigger.

The Spartans have been ranked inside the top 10 all season, opening the preseason and Week 1 polls at No. 2, which is their highest mark this year. And while there have been bumps along the way, they are beginning to look every bit like the team many believed they could be. The timing couldn't be better for Spartans head coach Joey Mitchell.

"I tip these kids' hats because I have nine seniors and when I moved to Wessington Springs about 10 years ago, Wessington Springs basketball was pretty much non-existent," Mitchell said. "People really don't go to games when you're winning four games a season, so they have completely flipped this program around from when they were fifth and sixth-graders. They bought in and did all the work all the way up till now, and these people realized that and saw that and support them because of that."

Wessington Springs' senior group — Parker Graff, Colby Flowers, Grady Gran, Luke Larson, Ethan Amick, Tregen Jensen, Damien Knippling, Gavin Brandenburg and Logan Mebius — has been the driving force behind the turnaround.

According to MaxPreps, Wessington Springs posted a combined 40-112 record from 2012-19. Since the 2019-20 season, the Spartans have gone 118-41 as of Feb. 17, completing a dramatic turnaround that has shaped the program into a consistent force in Class B. But the success didn't happen overnight.

In 2022-23, when this year's senior group were freshmen, the Spartans went 16-7 and reached the SoDak 16. The following winter, they broke through with a 24-2 record and a fifth-place finish at the Class B state tournament in the 2023-24 season. And last season's 22-4 campaign ended with a fourth-place finish at state.

This year's team was expected to carry that momentum forward, but the journey has been anything but a straight arrow.

"We graduated some guys from last year's group, but we brought back a good core for this season," Mitchell said. "We have had a weird year because we've had some injuries. Parker Graff came off his ACL injury from last season late, so he's just getting back into playing basketball. He's been playing for about four to five weeks now, but he's going to find his groove here and get better each game. And we added Logan Mebius to our roster late, you know, so now we're finding that little gel here late and it's a good time to find that."

Mebius, a transfer from O'Gorman who became eligible after missing the first several games, has added depth and experience to an already veteran squad. And Graff's return has been particularly meaningful for a group that prides itself on chemistry.

"I have known these guys since my freshman year when I came in and we have just been super close as a senior group," Graff said. "They have known each other longer, obviously, but we have such a special bond and even after high school and college we're still going to stay close with one another."

That bond has been translated to the court. Wessington Springs is averaging 60.2 points per game while holding opponents to just 47.2, a defensive commitment that has anchored its recent surge. The Spartans have won five consecutive games, including their biggest victory of the season on Saturday in the DWU Classic at the Corn Palace, where they knocked off then-No. 2 Viborg-Hurley 55-47.

"It's done in practice and I told them before the game that success comes when preparation meets an opportunity," Mitchell said, following the victory against Viborg-Hurley on Saturday. "And this was an opportunity, and those kids, those other seniors off the reserves, a couple of sophomores, a couple of freshmen even, they're the ones that get us prepared for every game."

For Graff, the victory was as much about belief as it was about a potential shift in the Class B rankings.

"I mean, this is just such a great win for us and our overall confidence," Graff said. "We have had a couple of losses that we probably shouldn't have lost but that's a part of it. And this win helps us a lot going down the road, especially in the playoffs."

If the Spartans hope to make another deep postseason run, they'll have to navigate through one of the toughest regions in all of Class B.

Region 2B is loaded from top to bottom. Wessington Springs currently sits as the No. 3 seed with 43.4 seed points, trailing No. 1 De Smet (45.25) and No. 2 Castlewood (45). De Smet is ranked No. 2 in Class B at 12-4, while Castlewood holds the top spot at 16-2.

Behind the Spartans, Estelline-Hendricks sits at 15-3 and is fourth in the region standings, while Deubrook Area (13-5) is at the No. 5 slot in the 2B region, followed by Wolsey-Wessington (10-7), Iroquois-Lake Preston (7-10) and James Valley Christian (10-8), respectively. Seven of the region's 10 teams have double-digit wins.

"There's no nights off at all, honestly, in our region," Mitchell said. "I mean, you look at our sixth seed in Wolsey-Wessington and the eighth seed (James) Valley Christian and they have 10 wins. So, yeah, the region is a dog fight and this win is big for us in helping us prepare for the region and coming into postseason play here with being able to play with caliber teams like Viborg-(Hurley)."

Wessington Springs has two regular-season games remaining — Feb. 20 against James Valley Christian in Huron and a Feb. 27 home finale against Sanborn Central/Woonsocket — before turning its full attention to region play.

With postseason aspirations looming and momentum on their side, the Spartans believe their best basketball is still ahead.

"The chemistry that we have, and that we're all one now has been the biggest difference for us," Graff said. "We had a couple of young guys that were trying to get into the groove but we're all coming together now. We're going to be ready for the postseason."

Feb. 17—MITCHELL — The all-around podium Saturday night at the Class AA state gymnastics meet made for a meaningful picture.

It was Katelyn Maeschen, Kyanna Gropper and Olivia Prunty on the top three steps, in places 1-2-3.

That's how it looked in a number of the pictures Mitchell coach Audra Rew has of those three as young gymnasts in the youth-level MEGA Gymnastics program growing up, too.

"Katelyn grew up with Olivia and Kyanna. I've got pictures of them, probably more pictures of them together than I do apart," Rew said. "I remember all of the camps that we went to and Katelyn has always been that spark plug. The three of them really have totally different personalities that have been really great for gymnastics."

Time passed and Maeschen moved to Harrisburg before high school. So Maeschen was in Tiger maroon Saturday, while Gropper and Prunty competed in their final Kernel competition as seniors in the Class AA meet, finishing 1-2-3.

But that was a special moment for both gymnast and coach all of these years later, something not lost on Maeschen, the Class AA all-around champion who swept the event titles in the state competition.

"It's definitely a full circle moment for sure to know that where I started is where I ended," Maeschen said. "Gymnastics in Mitchell has been very good to me in my career. I think it's extra special doing it that way."

Rew remembers the first choreographed floor routine she did with Maeschen, which was when she was seven and it was to the tune of "Singin' in the Rain."

"I have her very first floor routine on video. ... Oh my gosh, it was the cutest routine," Rew said. "She just has that smile and turns on the charm and it's just amazing. That's how she always has been, and it's just fun to watch her grow up."

In the high school competition over two days, Maeschen was fierce as well. She led Harrisburg to a second consecutive title over the Kernels in the team competition and then won the all-around title with a score of 39.183 points. That included a vault score of 9.667, bars of 9.750, floor of 9.867 and a balance beam title of 9.900.

The last of those came in the final rotation and beat out Gropper's excellent routine moments before that scored 9.800 points, a career-best mark, denying her former youth teammate a state championship in the event. Maeschen was just that good.

Maeschen now has nine all-time individual titles, a feat only five Class AA gymnasts have done. She's the first to go five-for-five on Class AA individual titles in a state meet since current Mitchell assistant coach Amelia (Rew) Endres did it in 2009.

In that case, it would be easy to be bitter or jealous about a former teammate. That's not how Rew and the Kernels were. And that's not how the sport of gymnastics operates, either.

"I gave it my best and Katelyn did, too," Gropper said afterward. "That's all you can really ask for."

The sport is too hard and too demanding to carry that level of jealousy. There's shared appreciation from all of these years of competing alongside each other and against each other. And for so many of them, including nearly every senior on Saturday, high school gymnastics is the end of the line.

Even Maeschen, the best overall gymnast in the state, will give up gymnastics. She's attending Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, where she plans to jump for the Red Raiders' track and field team.

Her first event of the day Saturday was the floor routine, which is one of Maeschen's best events but not necessarily her favorite, she said. But because gymnasts get to style the music and moves, it's where personality is expressed the most in the sport. That frequently make it an emotional moment for all seniors at the state meet, performing those routines for the final time.

Even as an eventual state title routine, Maeschen had tears flowing before it was over.

"There was no next time," she said when she was done. "It was just about going out and putting it all out there and enjoying every last minute with my teammates. ... The tears definitely were coming out by the end."

After the meet, there were more snapshots taken with gymnasts for opposing teams and congratulations were shared between family members of rival gymnasts. The gymnastics community in South Dakota is small and there's plenty of room to root for others in addition to your own team.

For those looking for good sportsmanship among high school athletes, Mitchell and Harrisburg gymnasts with long-rooted connections were an example once again.

The proof is right there in the photos, both past and present.

CLEARWATER, Fla.- Both Montverde Academy (Fla.) and Clearwater Calvary Christian (Fla.) were both teams that last season competed for the FHSAA’s Class 2A state championship, with the latter coming away with the title in the end.

On Tuesday night, the No. 3 ranked Eagles showed why they’re one of the country’s top ranked teams, getting a superb pitching performance from senior ace pitcher Nevaeh Williams in a 4-0 victory over the No. 20 Warriors. For Montverde Academy, they improved to 2-0 on the season and have yet to give up a run through two games.

Williams was terrific throughout the evening for Montverde Academy as the right-handed pitcher struck out more than 10 batters and yielded just one hit. Though Calvary Christian (0-1) had their chances, they couldn’t capitalize against Montverde Academy.

The Eagles (2-0) got on the board in the top of the third inning when junior Audrey Vivino scored on a double by senior shortstop Colby Reish, to give Montverde Academy a 1-0 lead. That’s all Williams needed, but the senior would get some additional run support in the fourth inning on a Cali Flowers score and then senior outfielder Addison Poe would blast a solo homer in the top of the fifth inning.

Montverde Academy would tag on another run in the top of seventh for good measure as Williams finished a complete game in the bottom half of the frame.

More about Montverde Academy

Montverde Academy, located in Montverde, Florida, is a private, co-educational school renowned for its strong academics, competitive athletics, and diverse extracurricular programs. The academy offers a range of AP and honors courses, preparing students for higher education and future careers. Montverde’s athletic teams are highly competitive, often achieving regional and national recognition. Emphasizing leadership, personal development, and community service, the school ensures students are well-prepared for future success.

Javier Báez didn’t dodge responsibility. He didn’t deflect blame. And he didn’t sugarcoat how much it hurts.

Speaking Tuesday, Feb. 17, at spring training in Lakeland, the Detroit Tigers shortstop addressed his suspension from the 2026 World Baseball Classic, which will prevent him from representing Team Puerto Rico after testing positive for marijuana during the 2023 WBC.

“I don’t want to point fingers at anybody because this is all my fault,” Báez said via the Detroit Free Press. “I’m the one that failed the test. … It’s just really frustrating that I won’t be able to be there. … It really hurts my family, my reputation, but it’s part of it. Other than that, I got a long season to go, and I got to prepare for that.”

The 2026 World Baseball Classic is scheduled to run from March 5–17, but Báez’s suspension — handed down by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) — does not expire until April 26, making him ineligible for the tournament.

While Major League Baseball has permitted marijuana use since 2020 under its jointly negotiated drug policy with the MLB Players Association, the WBSC still prohibits the substance. MLB and the MLBPA explored whether Báez could be cleared for the tournament, but those efforts ultimately failed.

“I understand the rules,” Báez said. “It’s not like I was taking steroids or anything to last longer or whatever. They made that decision. I’m fine with it – I mean, I’m not fine with it. I just keep my mouth shut.”

The positive test dates back to March 12, 2023, during the previous WBC. As a result, Báez received a two-year period of ineligibility — from April 26, 2024, through April 26, 2026 — which bars him from WBSC-sanctioned events.

“There are a lot of people mad and frustrated,” Báez said, “but it doesn’t hurt more than it hurts me. It’s time to turn the page and get ready for the season – and try to stay healthy.”

The timing makes the situation even more painful. Team Puerto Rico will host WBC games in 2026, marking the first time the tournament returns to the island since 2013. For Báez, the opportunity carried deep personal meaning.

“One of my dreams is to play in Puerto Rico for Team Puerto Rico with our families, our fans, our island,” Báez said. “Nothing I can do. I’m just happy for all of my teammates that got the chance to represent. I wish them good luck.”

Báez, who lives in Puerto Rico during the offseason, vividly remembers watching the inaugural 2006 World Baseball Classic as a 13-year-old fan in the stands at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan.

“It’s been a long, long time since we played this tournament in Puerto Rico,” Báez said. “To have the chance to be a part of that, and now it’s away from me, it really hurts.”

The post Detroit Tigers’ Javier Báez Addresses Suspension, WBC Absence appeared first on Detroit Sports Nation.

Broncos have to be out on Breece Hall if Jets make predicted move originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Denver Broncos should make a concerted effort to upgrade the running back position this offseason. When they examine the free-agent market, the top name that should stand out is that of New York Jets running back Breece Hall. 

As I have stated previously, Hall is the running back the Broncos should go all out to get ahead of the 2026 NFL season. He is a true three-down back; he fits what Sean Payton likes to do to a tee and he is still only 24 years old. 

However, his current team, the New York Jets, could foil any plans the Broncos may have of obtaining him. 

Recently, Adam Schefter of ESPN put together a list of players who could get the franchise tag placed on them, and Hall is one of those guys. Though the franchise tag doesn't shut down talks of a player moving on from that team, it makes it much more difficult to get them away from that team, and that was the purpose of the franchise tag in the first place. 

Should the Jets apply the tag to Hall, it would likely mean he would play at least the 2026 season with the Jets and it would allow the team extra time to come up with a long-term deal to keep him there much longer. If a team like the Broncos wanted to acquire him at that point, it would require giving up multiple first-round picks. 

Broncos must look at other options if Breece Hall draws franchise tag

It would essentially end any thought the team may have of adding Hall to its offensive backfield. Instead, the Broncos would have to look at other options. Fortunately, there are plenty. 

Would Breece Hall be the missing piece on the Broncos offense to win a Super Bowl? | @TroyRenck@EricGoodman#BroncosCountry

Sponsored by https://t.co/ta6du3zyQx & https://t.co/7GdKA7T5Itpic.twitter.com/nWcwYPPDcz

— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) February 18, 2026

Kenneth Walker III was just named MVP of Super Bowl LX and Rico Dowdle is coming off a strong season with the Carolina Panthers. They are both scheduled to be unrestricted free agents. A more cost-friendly option, and one that would make plenty of sense, would be to grab Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier. 

Finally, the Broncos could look at re-signing J.K. Dobbins and putting a lot of faith in him staying healthy. That would be a bit of a gamble, but the team does have options. 

MORE:Broncos not named as potential landing spot for Tyreek Hill following Dolphins release

For Broncos fans who were hoping to land Hall, they will have to hope that the Jets choose not to tag him. However, it would make sense for a Jets team that is looking to turn its fortunes around to make sure it keeps its best offensive player in the fold. 

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Colorado football coach Deion Sanders has pushed the NCAA for permission to conduct a new style of spring football practice — by competing against another team, particularly against Syracuse under coach Fran Brown.

But the NCAA said no to that idea in 2025 and now has done so again for 2026.

Last year, the NCAA’s Division I FBS oversight committee noted the late timing of the request in March 2025, saying then it wouldn’t be fair to other schools who already started or completed spring practices and didn’t get the same opportunity.

This year, Colorado and Syracuse filed their request earlier to avoid a similar denial but were turned down for a different reason by the same committee. The decision came in a committee video conference on Jan. 22 but wasn’t announced or reported previously until USA TODAY Sports confirmed it this week.

"Circumstances do not warrant relief of the legislation," which currently prohibits joint spring practices, according to the written NCAA rationale for denying the request.

The committee denied it this time because a subcommittee is currently reviewing the whole football calendar for possible changes, including spring football practice, according to documents obtained by USA TODAY Sports. It just didn't want to make those changes now for two teams.

Colorado spokesperson Steve Hurlbert said the school would not appeal the decision.

Future changes to spring football still could happen

The NCAA left the door open on future changes to spring football practices.

"The subgroup may consider joint practice concepts during its review of the spring practice period and consult other governance committees that may be impacted by a concept," the NCAA's written rationale to Colorado said. "Based on feedback from the membership and other impacted governance committees, the subgroup may consider legislation that would permit any institution to engage in a joint practice."

The arguments made by Colorado and Syracuse could help lay that foundation even though they were denied for the second consecutive year.

What is the NCAA's reason for denying joint spring football?

Spring football games or practices between two schools are not permitted under NCAA rules. That’s why Colorado and Syracuse had to request a waiver from that rule in an attempt spice up the spring practice season and change it from its longtime format of intrasquad practices capped by an annual intrasquad game.

Asked to clarify the committee’s decision, an NCAA spokeswoman told USA TODAY Sports “the group didn't want to approve outside competition in the spring without a more complete review of the calendar.”

A “calendar subgroup” of this same NCAA committee has been tasked with reviewing the college football calendar for possible changes in light of new challenges associated with conference realignment, team travel and the fact teams will only get one bye weekend in 2026.

After being denied last year, Brown said on 'The Rich Eisen Show' last September, “I think it’s gonna go through next year possibly (in 2026).”

It didn’t. Syracuse announced Feb. 16 its spring intrasquad game would be held April 11. Colorado starts spring football March 2 and is expected to announce this week when its spring practice season ends.

Deion Sanders wanted ‘pilot program’ for spring football

Sanders has wanted to play and practice against another team in the spring to “style it like the pros” in the NFL.

Some schools such as Texas, Nebraska and Southern California previously canceled their annual spring intrasquad games for various reasons, including injury risks.

By contrast, Colorado had hoped a joint practice or scrimmage format against Syracuse would be a “pilot program” to go another direction with spring football. In its request for a waiver in 2025, Colorado noted spring scrimmages against other teams were allowed at the Division II level. The school also argued practicing against another team would reduce each team’s risk of injuries to players. Under this argument, only 11 players for one team would be on the field at once against another team instead of 22 for one team if it’s an intrasquad scrimmage.

Who is on this NCAA committee?

The committee is chaired by University at Buffalo athletic director Mark Alnutt. It has 19 members, including Illinois coach Bret Bielema, Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea, Miami (Fla.) athletic director Dan Radakovich, Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks and Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA denies Colorado football request for spring practices with Syracuse

Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is the world's largest collection of historic motorcycles

It is with sad hearts that we learn of the passing of George Barber, founder of the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer was 85.

Barber was a philanthropist, real estate developer and businessman, son of George Warren Barber Sr., who founded Barber Dairies in the 1930s. Barber Jr. began privately collecting motorcycles in the '70s, and in 1994, established a museum to display his collection to the public. In 2003, he opened Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, where he relocated his museum.

The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame inducted Barber in 2014, in recognition of his efforts in preserving motorcycle history.

Begin Press Release:

AMA Mourns Passing of AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer George Barber

Photo by Chris Stanford

The American Motorcyclist Association is saddened to learn of the passing of AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer George Barber, who passed away at 85 years old.

Founder of the prestigious Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Birmingham, Ala., home to the world's largest collection of historic motorcycles, Barber had a unique impact on the motorcycling community.

Son of George H. Barber, founder of Barber Dairy and pioneer for dairy pasteurization in the United States, the younger Barber's love for motor vehicles started early in his life. In the 1960s, Barber raced and wrenched on his own Porsche racers with great success, claiming a large collection of wins behind the wheel.

Barber's interest in motorcycles began soon after, leading him to open his own museum and hire skilled workers to restore vintage motorcycles to help build his collection. At the same time, Barber operated a vintage motorcycle racing team, which raced across the United States and Europe.

In 1994, Barber's museum gained 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and was officially named the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum.

In 2002, Barber opted to close the original location of the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, moving his collection to its current location in September 2003, an 830-acre complex that also includes a 2.38-mile road circuit.

For his longtime preservation of motorcycle history, Barber was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2014.

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Gordon Ryan is walking away from jiu-jitsu competition due to health issues.

The grappling legend announced he will no longer compete due to ongoing health issues that have compromised his ability to train. "The King" says recurring stomach issues and staph infections prompt dry heaving whenever he pushes himself in the gym.

Ryan, 30, is known for winning multiple grappling competitions, including IBJJF and ADDC, among others. He's also helped train some of the biggest stars in the UFC, like former two-division champion Jon Jones, in preparation for his heavyweight title bout against Stipe Miocic.

Ryan is widely considered to be an elite talent on the mats, but he will see his days in competition come to an end earlier than anticipated. While he is walking away from the sport as a competitor, Ryan intends to continue to help grow the sport by passing on his knowledge to the next generation of grapplers, namely at Kings Jiu-Jitsu in Austin, Texas.

Read Ryan's full statement posted to Instagram below:

"Today marks 10 years at black belt, 10 years on top of the sport, and the probable end to my competitve career. As many of you know, ive had this debilitating and seemingly unfixable stomach issue since recurring staph infections/antibiotics wiped out my good gut biome. Without going into too much boring detail, the problem has gone through phases of better and worse over the years, and has now morphed into a multitude of new problems, including me just getting sick or staph whenever I train hard and compromise my immune system in any way. Because of these issues, I have not been able to train or lift hard since January of 2024, as i just begin dry heaving immediately when i do. I competed in ADCC with no camp, at 10% of how I should have been operating, and i have seen no improvement in my condition since. This, of course, has been immensely frustrating, as my technical skills are far better than ever,my body is otherwise very healthy, and im only 30 (10 years from my prime).

"I have so much more left to give if i could just fix this one issue. Im still on the mats almost everyday, but not able to do what my mind tells my body. Because of this, I believe it is best I put my focuses elsewhere for now as I try to remedy my stomach, and possibly return one day, pending my health and assessment of relative physical skills at the time, as my knowledge is unmatched. For now, i can confidently say, i am done. I will spend the next few years building @kingsway_hq to its student capacity, opening a global affiliation program, helping the athletes achieve all of their goals and dreams, and sharing all of knowledge with the world. After that, who knows. There are far too many people involved to thank, but you know who you are. To the fans, thank you. The thought of selling out t mobile arena for a jiu jitsu event was unheard of when I started training. We truly made this sport something great, and you all have made me genuinely wealthy along the way. This wouldnt have been possible without you all and your constant support. Thank you to everyone involved, and I hope to be back… especially for 2 matches with Vinny and a last dance with felipe. Until the time comes 👑"

View this post on Instagram

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Jiu-jitsu legend retires due to ongoing health issues

The stadium at the Centro de Alto Rendimento de Futebol Feminino (CARFEM) in Ypané holds a special chapter in the career of defender Sofia. It was there, at the very same place where the Brazilian National Team is currently based, that the defender won her first South American title wearing the Amarelinha jersey. With the U-17 team, she not only lifted the trophy but also left her mark: she sealed the 5-1 rout against Paraguay that secured the continental trophy.

Now, competing in the South American Championship for the second time in her career, this time with the U-20 National Team, Sofia returns to the same environment that helped shape her identity in the National Team. More mature, she carries the memories of a campaign that marked a turning point in her career as an athlete. "The U-17 South American was my first important competition with the national team, and it was incredible. We won, there was a really good energy among the players too. I think I didn’t have as much experience as some of the others, but at the same time I grew along with them, because it was a new squad. It was amazing," she recalled in an interview with CBFTV.

Sofia during the match against Paraguay in the first game of the final stage of the U-20 South American ChampionshipCredits: Staff Images / CBF

The CARFEM Stadium was not just the setting for the title. It was also where Sofia scored her first goal for the National Team. Against Paraguay, in front of a loud opposing crowd, she netted the last goal of the championship campaign. "My first goal with the national team was here at CARFEM, against Paraguay. It was an incredible feeling. There were Paraguayan fans here, drums beating, I scored the last goal, the title-winning goal. I was very happy to have fulfilled that dream with the national team, especially in a tournament of that size," she said.

The victory was followed by the U-17 World Cup, an experience that brought new challenges and lessons. Eliminated in the early stage, Brazil did not achieve the expected goal, but it was essential for the athlete’s development. "It was very challenging. I think I grew even more there, you know? It was a turning point for me. I think we learn from defeat. We closed that cycle that way, with many lessons learned," she stated.

Sofia during the match against Peru in the U-20 South American Championship in ParaguayCredits: Staff Images / CBF

From Grajaú to Flamengo: the beginning alongside her brother

Born in the Grajaú neighborhood, in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro, Sofia started playing football as a child, directly influenced by her twin brother. The bond between the two was the starting point for a journey that would lead her to the Brazilian National Team. "I started when I was about six, following my brother. He went to play football and I went to ballet. Then I said: mom, I want to go too. That’s when I started with him," she recounted.

Sofia began at the Grajaú Tênis Clube soccer school, where she stayed until she was 11. She later stepped away due to a lack of opportunities for girls at the time. Even so, football never left her routine. "From 11 to about 13 or 14, I would go to the club every day with my brother to play ball. It was just me and him after school."

Sofia during a training session with the Brazil U-20 National Team in Ypané, ParaguayCredits: Staff Images / CBF

At 15, she decided to fully pursue her dream. Her mother found a tryout at Flamengo, and Sofia seized the opportunity. "I did the tryout, passed at Flamengo, and was first monitored from 2022 until the beginning of 2023. Then I moved up to the U-17 at 15. And I’m still at Flamengo today," she celebrated.

"Everyone says it was a very fast progression. When I played in 2023 at Flamengo, I didn’t even know how to control the ball properly on the field. I had a lot of futsal habits. Then I started to learn, I learned to play as a defender because I was tall and fast," she added.

Sofia’s first call-up was for the Algarve Tournament in Portugal. One of the most memorable moments in her journey. "The list came out, I was at home. When I saw it, I started crying. My mother cried, my brother cried, my cousin cried. It was unforgettable," she recalled.

Family as the foundation of her journey

Family support was decisive at every stage. Her father, a passionate Flamengo fan, was the one who introduced her to football by taking her to stadiums. Her mother and grandmother took on the role of logistical and emotional support, accompanying her to practices and trips. Her brother, a water polo athlete at Flamengo, remains one of her biggest supporters.

"I have a wonderful family core. For my mother, it’s very easy. For my grandmother, it’s harder to understand that I train every day, travel, but from the beginning she took me to practices. My father moved far away but keeps up and wants to know everything. And my brother is a ‘doting’ one. Whenever he can, he watches my games and I watch his," she said.

Nayara, Sofia, and Elu during the National Anthem before a match in the U-20 South American Championship in ParaguayCredits: Staff Images / CBF

U-20 South American Championship

Back at the South American Championship, Sofia is now experiencing a new moment. More experienced, she observes the team’s growth throughout the competition and faces the challenge with confidence. "We talk a lot as a group about being on an upward trajectory. I think we learned what we needed to in the first phase, and now every game is a final," she said.

The campaign so far has brought obstacles, from intense heat to traditional rivals like Argentina. All of it, according to her, served as a lesson. "It was a tough phase to understand the climate, the refereeing, the other teams. But I think now it’s about going all out with everything we have," she explained.

Brazil faces Colombia at 8 p.m. (Brasília time) next Thursday (19th), for the second round of the final stage of the U-20 Women’s South American Championship, at Estádio Luis Alfonso Giagni, in the Paraguayan city of Villa Elisa. Even with the pressure of the decisive stages, for Sofia, the prevailing feeling is the best possible. "There’s a bit more nervousness, but at the same time there’s a lot of motivation. We’ve already experienced what we needed to, we’ve already won, we’ve already lost. Now it’s more motivation than anything else," she concluded.

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

River Plate comes into this afternoon’s match against Club Ciudad de Bolívar with the urgent need to win and get back on the winning track.

The team has gone three consecutive matches without a win (two losses and a draw in the league).

This dip in performance has caused River to fall to eighth place in the table in zone B.

River’s Starting XI

Ciudad de Bolívar, meanwhile, will try to pull off a historic upset by taking advantage of the emotional instability currently affecting the Argentine giant. Will we see a surprise today in the Cup?

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

Midfield reinforcements remain Manchester United’s priority when the summer transfer window opens, but they are also likely to address the lack of quality out wide.

Amad has excelled on the right, but there is no standout candidate on the opposite flank. INEOS need to address that ahead of next season.

The co-owners, who value Premier League experience highly, were pushing the hardest for Iliman Ndiaye of Everton, but the Toffees do not want to sell at any cost.

AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic, a Champions League winner with Chelsea, is also on the list, but a move will only be possible if the Rossoneri miss out on Champions League qualification. That does not look likely at this stage.

Yan Diomande on fire

This is why the Red Devils have had to broaden their search, which has taken them to the Bundesliga, where Yan Diomande has been on fire in his debut campaign.

The Ivorian has scored nine goals and provided six assists already this season, with a goal involvement almost every 113 minutes—a remarkable record for a 19-year-old.

Naturally, this kind of form has attracted plenty of interest in his services with Liverpool leading the race and United close behind.

RB Leipzig do not want to lose the Ivory Coast international, who has a contract until 2030, on the cheap and have therefore slapped a €100 million (£87 million) price tag on the “outstanding” attacker’s head to ward off suitors.

Price reduction on the cards

United will have no problem in matching that valuation, but with multiple areas of the squad needing backup, they could do with a more cost-saving operation.

According to Talksport, that opportunity could present itself if Leipzig fail to qualify for the Champions League next season.

“Manchester United and Chelsea have both been keeping tabs on Yan Diomande and Liverpool scouts were present as he scored during last weekend’s 2-2 draw at home to Wolfsburg.

“The 19-year-old, a potential replacement for Saudi Arabia target Mo Salah, is also wanted by Bayern Munich and Leipzig have put a price tag of more than £80 million on his head.

Yan Diomande would transform United’s attack

“That valuation could come down if Leipzig, currently fifth in the table, miss out on Champions League football next season.”

They are currently fifth in the Bundesliga table, one place and two points behind VfB Stuttgart in fourth. Any misstep between now and the end of the season could result in Yan Diomande potentially leaving for a cut-price fee.

Feature image Boris Streubel via Getty Images

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Jose Mourinho’s cowardly response to Vinicius Jr racial abuse allegations a stain on legendary career originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

When Jose Mourinho speaks, football listens. After all he's won and all he's accomplished, the 63-year-old coach has earned as much respect.

Which is exactly why his embarrassing and timid response to the alleged racial abuse of Vinicius Jr. during Wednesday's Champions League match is such a disappointing conclusion to a sad day for the game at Estadio da Luz.

After scoring a brilliant goal, which proved to be the winner as Real Madrid triumphed 1-0 on the day, the Brazil forward was the target of apparently unsavoury language from Gianluca Prestianni, who was displeased with Vini's overt celebration in the face of the Benfica supporters.

No matter the trigger, there is no excuse for Prestianni's alleged behavior. Unfortunately, it seems that no amount of worldwide travel and football experience has taught Mourinho that truth.

Given the chance to face the tide as The Special One, Mourinho was painfully ordinary.

MORE:A full, detailed explanation of what happened with Vinicius Jr and the immediate response

Jose Mourinho response to Vinicius Jr alleged racial abuse

When asked about the actions of Prestianni towards Vinicius that led to a 10-minute stoppage of the match shortly after halftime, despite saying he did not wish to take sides between the players, Jose Mourinho provided every tired excuse in the playbook.

He began with the "he was asking for it" trope that women and minorities are all too familiar with.

"I told him [Vinicius] - when you score a goal like that, you just celebrate and walk back," Mourinho said, referring to the Brazilian's provocative celebration.

"His talents allow him to do these beautiful things, but unfortunately, he was not just happy to score that astonishing goal. When you score a goal like that, you celebrate in a respectful way."

Of course, as we all know, just because a player does a celebration you don't like doesn't mean you can unload such derogatory and inflammatory speech in their direction. The two are not remotely equivalent.

"I can relate to what Vinícius Jr. is going through.. At times you feel lonely because it's going to be your word against his word."

Thierry Henry reflects on the incident between Vinícius Jr. and Gianluca Prestianni 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/qa11TICJ9H

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 17, 2026

Next, Mourinho defended the club whose fans repeatedly pelted individuals — both Real Madrid players and match officials — with projectiles thrown from the stands. For this position, he chose to point out that, in essence, they can't be racist because they have previously cheered for Black players.

"When he was arguing about racism, I told him the biggest person [Eusebio] in the history of this club was Black," Mourinho said.

"This club, the last thing that it is, is racist. If in his mind there was something in relation to that – this in Benfica. They [Vinicius and Prestianni] told me different things. But I don't believe in one or another. I want to be an independent."

As Thierry Henry reminded us on CBS Sports after the match, and Mourinho would be wise to remember, it's much easier to root for those on one's own team than back those on the opposition. "I don't like Real Madrid, but I'm a Madridista tonight," the former Barcelona striker said.

Grimly, Mourinho then landed the trifecta, pulling out the "everyone does it" card while insinuating again that Vinicius somehow brings it on himself.

"There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium," Mourinho, speaking to Amazon Prime. "A stadium where Vinicius plays something happens, always. Look, I am saying it was a good 50 minutes of football. I believe millions of people are watching around the world – a crazy goal and then game over."

MORE:Explaining the "crossed-arms" protocol FIFA has instituted to combat racial abuse

Mourinho defense of Prestianni a missed opportunity for real impact

None of these attempted defenses of his player, squad, and club come remotely close to landing.

It's a leap to expect Jose Mourinho to come out publicly against his own player, especially so soon after the incident when few hard facts were known and the emotions still raw.

Yet that's exactly what makes this such a missed opportunity.

As a legend of the modern game, any kind of stance from Mourinho would have made an impact. Even without implicating Prestianni directly, the Benfica manager could have at the very least condemned any suggestion of racist remarks and indicated there was no place in football for such words, no matter the situation.

Such statements would have meant a great deal in the fight against racism in football, coming from such a titanic figure of the game. Yet in the end, Mourinho could only muster meek and timid excuses amid allegations of disgusting and unacceptable behavior.

These are the moments where the audience, and thus the impact, are the highest, and Mourinho has come up completely and utterly empty.

If anything, Mourinho gave the impression that such behavior is justifiable in certain situations.

As Clarence Seedorf so eloquently put it after the match on Amazon Prime, "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."

There is no question that, if such alleged events did indeed occur, nobody but Vinicius Jr. is the victim, and blaming his actions for an unequal and unacceptable reaction only shifts the focus away from the proper narrative.

If anyone should be praised for their actions on the Estadio da Luz pitch Tuesday evening, it’s Vinicius Jr. Instead of reacting angrily to such supposedly vile comments, the Brazilian kept his wits and ran not to the throat of Prestianni, but to the match official Francois Letexier, who immediately enacted the anti-abuse protocol.

Sure, Vini then needed 10 minutes to be convinced to re-take the pitch and continue playing, but who could blame him? A player known for his history of big emotions, this time he remained calm, spoke plainly and intently to the appropriate individuals, and eventually carried on amidst what could only be described as an awkward environment across the final 30 minutes of play.

Mourinho is right about one thing: this does happen to Vinicius Jr. repeatedly. Yet to him, Prestianni's alleged actions are somehow excusable given how Vinicius Jr. has brought this on himself.

"We should never, ever in any circumstances justify racist abuse," Seedorf said. "Vincius has had enough of that unjustifiable behaviour from many people.

"I think he [Mourinho] 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."

Until society breaks the connection between Vinicius Jr's actions and this level of response, there will always be individuals who feel empowered and supported in making such disgusting remarks. With the chance to further such a cause, Mourinho failed his sport.

Wild's Nico Sturm drops huge Leon Draisaitl, JJ Peterka Olympics praises originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Team Germany are now headed to the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics quarterfinal. They are set to face the Juraj Slafkovsky-led Slovakia and a huge factor that may determine their fate is team chemistry. Leon Draisaitl from the Edmonton Oilers serve as the running offensive engine while JJ Peterka of the Utah Mammoth clearly complements the veteran's play style. Nico Sturm has seen these two in action a lot and the Minnesota Wild forward is confident that they can get to the semifinal.

Germany oozes with confidence at Milano Cortina

There were clearly some difficulties in their road to the gold medal which led Draisaitl's squad to fall in the knockout rounds instead of immediately just advancing. However, their mindsets have shifted and this created a spark which may eventually get them to topple some Olympics frontrunners. Sturm noted how a lot of this was because of the Oilers and Mammoth stars, via Bill Price of NHL.com.

“I wouldn't want to be out there against them. Leon's puck-protection skills are probably the best in the League, and he has the ability to find players where there's no seams, really, and he makes like a cross-ice pass with his backhand. And obviously, then he has two guys that can finish, so it's about as lethal as it gets," the Wild forward said about Draisaitl.

Germany has a plethora of weapons they can unleash at the Olympics. After winning against France, Tim Stutzle and Draisaitl have notched six points while Peterka surprisingly ranked third among all German scorers with four points. Sturm also had nothing but great praises for the youngster from the Mammoth.

"He prides himself on scoring and being a difference-maker, and sometimes, you know, I've never been that guy in my career, so I can't really look inside his head. But I know that most guys that are like him, it wears on him a little bit when they don't get on the score sheet a lot, and we need him moving forward," the Wild veteran added.

These three will have razor thin margins for error in the next two games. With how much confidence they have on one another, it would not be a shock if Germany powers their way into an unlikely gold medal match against Canada at the Olympics.

More NHL and Olympics News:

• Oilers' Leon Draisaitl achieves historic Team Germany Olympics feat vs. France

• Victor Hedman names Sweden's top need for Olympics quarterfinal berth

• Jon Cooper unveils Canada's breakout Olympics star not named Connor McDavid

Donovan Mitchell is having the best season of his career. If the rest of the league hasn’t noticed yet, at least Mitchell himself and one of his teammates certainly have.

What am I talking about? Well, The Athletic released their latest player poll, conducted over All-Star weekend. In the survey, they asked, “Who is the best player in the NBA?” to which Mitchell received the third most votes, behind only Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and tied with Luka Doncic.

That would make Mitchell not only the best player in the Eastern Conference according to his peers, but also the best American player in the league.

But there’s one catch. And it’s a big one.

The Athletic only polled 18 players for this specific question. Jokic received six votes, SGA three, while Luka and Mitchell received two.

So who voted for Mitchell?

Well… Mitchell voted for himself. Telling The Athletic’s Joe Vardon, “Come on, Joe, I gotta say me, always.”

The other vote? Mitchell’s teammate Jaylon Tyson, who was also at All-Star weekend competing in the Rising Stars challenge. I have to respect a teammate who rides or dies for the other.

This means we can’t really take anything from this poll. Something tells me the voters were a little biased.

Either way, Mitchell deserves some recognition. He’s averaging 29 points and 5.9 assists per game while carrying the Cavaliers through a rough start to the season. Now he’s catapulting his team back into the mix as Eastern Conference contenders and is meshing nicely with his new backcourt partner, James Harden.

The Athletic polled more than 30 players who were in Los Angeles. The full anonymous results of that poll can be found here. Other questions from the survey include “Who has the best player podcast?” and “What’s the biggest problem facing the league today?”

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been linked to one of the NFL's best tackling safeties ahead of 2026 free agency who also happens to be a Steel City native.

According to ESPN's Matt Bowen, who recently compiled a list of the best team fits for the top 50 free agents in 2026, the Steelers would be an ideal landing spot for Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker.

"In Pittsburgh, Brisker would replace Kyle Dugger under new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. Brisker can play over the top in Cover 2, and he would be a disruptive box defender in Graham's single-high schemes," Bowen wrote. "In four seasons with the Bears, Brisker had four interceptions, seven sacks and 14 pass breakups. The Steelers could also target a cornerback in free agency as they try to clean up the secondary."

Selected by the Chicago Bears with the 48th overall pick in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Brisker has appeared in 52 games, all of which were starts. He recorded 342 combined tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits, seven sacks, four forced fumbles, and four interceptions from 2022-2025.

With Dugger and Chuck Clark set to become free agents in March, Brisker would be a welcome addition to the Pittsburgh secondary and could form one of the NFL's top safety tandems opposite Jalen Ramsey.

For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers tabbed as free agency landing spot for Bears' Jaquan Brisker

Harsh.

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) superstar Ronda Rousey is officially back in the fight game.

Rousey will collide with women’s MMA pioneerGina Carano on May 16 inside the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, with the bout streaming on Netflix. It’s being labeled a long-overdue “dream fight,” even if it’s arriving about 12 years past its expiration date.

The matchup has sparked everything from nostalgia-fueled excitement to eye-roll fatigue across the MMA landscape. Either way, people are talking — and that includes one of Rousey’s most infamous rivals (and hater).

Enter Cris Cyborg.

Cyborg, who famously retired Carano back in 2009 under the Strikeforce banner, didn’t waste time taking a shot at Rousey after the announcement.

“All those years of ducking me at 145 when we were both in our prime?!” Cyborg wrote on Twitter. “I thought you had CTE or something?”

Yikes.

The Brazilian former champion was referencing Rousey’s past interviews in which she revealed suffering multiple concussions during her career — issues she said ultimately contributed to her retirement following back-to-back knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes.

Of course, the Rousey-Cyborg rivalry defined an era of women’s MMA trash talk. For years, Cyborg campaigned for a 145-pound superfight while Rousey dominated at 135 pounds. Rousey frequently dismissed the idea, often pointing to Cyborg’s past PED suspension as a reason to avoid the bout — despite publicly claiming she wanted to “kill her with her bare hands.”

And this isn’t new territory. As recently as 2024, Cyborg fired off another jab suggesting Rousey might have CTE after Rousey declared herself the greatest fighter of all time.

Now that Rousey is competing outside the UFC umbrella, the door — theoretically — could finally open for the fight that never was.

It would just be about 10 years too late.

We are approaching the final days of the 2026 Winter Olympics, and we already know one of the biggest narratives of the 2030 Games: the redemption of Ilia Malinin.

Malinin's fall to eighth place in men's free skate last weekend has triggered both an outpouring of support from his peers and attempts at a postmortem to answer the question, "How does the best figure skater in the world fall off the Olympic podium?"

Malinin attempted to answer some of those questions on "Today" Tuesday morning, describing his mindset the day of as positive:

"Going into that day, I felt really confident, really good. Stepping on the ice, I definitely felt that amazing environment, from in that arena, so much support, so much energy. Going onto the ice, I really had a nice day, excited to get out there. 

"Of course, it didn't go the way I wanted it to, but we can't look at that now. All I have to do is just learn from my mistakes there and push to see how I can improve in the future.”

Malinin knew more than anyone what had just happened when his music cut out. As he entered the kiss-and-cry section while awaiting his score, NBC's mics caught him saying "Beijing, I would not have skated like that." 

As commentator Johnny Weir explained, that seemed to be Malinin saying he could have avoided disaster had he been part of the Olympic team in 2022, when he was 17 years old but still finished second in the U.S. championships. With more Olympic experience, maybe he could have avoided disaster in Italy.

Malinin reinforced that idea when asked about his emotions following his performance, essentially saying the pressure got to him, while also hinting he could take a different approach at the 2030 Olympics in the French Alps:

“Honestly, it’s not a pleasant feeling. The most honest way to say it is it’s just a lot on you, just so many eyes, so much attention. Not only from people, fans, media, it's just so much. It really can get to you if you’re not ready to fully embrace it. I think that might be one of the mistakes I made going into that free skate was I was not ready to handle that to a full extent.

 Looking back at that, I know now I'll be able to understand how that feels, so that way I can take a different approach leading up to the next Games, hopefully.””

Plenty of skating fans can't wait to see how he changes that approach. He'll get his first chance at a bounce back next month, when he goes for a three-peat at the world championships in Prague.

The Green Bay Packers will have a new special teams coordinator in 2026. On Tuesday night, the team announced that Rich Bisaccia is stepping down as the team's special teams coordinator and assistant head coach.

In a press release, Bisaccia said he took time to "reflect" following the end of the 2025 season and decided step down from his role with the Packers.

"After taking some time to reflect over the last few weeks, I have made the decision to step down as the assistant head coach and special teams coordinator of the Green Bay Packers," Bisaccia said. "I am incredibly grateful to Matt LaFleur, Brian Gutekunst, Ed Policy and Mark Murphy for their unwavering trust and support throughout my time in Green Bay. I am also thankful to the players for their consistent work and relentless effort to improve every single day. I would like to thank everyone in the organization for their dedication and commitment. The people in this building make it a special place to work."

With the coaching cycle mostly completed to start the 2026 offseason, the Packers will be in a tough position to fill the special teams coordinator role with a top candidate.

Bisaccia said coaching in Green Bay was an "honor." The release does not say that Bisaccia, who is now 65 years old, was fired or is retiring from football, and he said he will "look forward to whatever is next" for him.

The Packers improved on special teams in 2025 but still ranked in the bottom half of the NFL by most analytic standards, and key special teams blunders -- including a dropped onside kick recovery late in the season and multiple missed field goals in a playoff loss -- contributed to crushing losses.

It's clear the decision by Bisaccia was a bit of a shock to the Packers. Recently, general manager Brian Gutekunst complimented Bisaccia's coaching and leadership and expressed confidence in the special teams -- strongly suggesting the Packers would keep Bisaccia for at least 2026.

Matt LaFleur said he is "disappointed to lose a person and coach as valuable" as Bisaccia, who has been in Green Bay since 2022.

More from LaFleur: "Rich was a tremendous resource to me and our entire coaching staff who had a profound impact on our players and our culture throughout the building. We can't thank him enough for his contributions to our team over the last four years."

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Rich Bisaccia steps down as Packers special teams coordinator

With six games left on the schedule, Texas A&M isn’t in crisis mode, but the Aggies also can’t afford many more missteps. A 1–4 stretch has exposed the inconsistency that’s lingered beneath the surface, and several missed chances at Quad 1 wins have narrowed the road to an NCAA Tournament berth.

At this point, it’s about getting back to who they are. Too often during this skid, A&M has looked like a team trying to do too much offensively or losing its defensive identity, giving up far too many easy baskets. From here on out, every game carries a must‑win weight. Dropping more than two the rest of the way could push them out of NCAA Tournament contention—especially if a Quad 3 loss to Ole Miss enters the equation.

"Get back to the simple things. Understanding what we do best...I feel like every game is a must win at this point. No matter if you lose one game or two games, you know, right now we have four and every game is a must win. And right now our focus on is on this game." - Rashaun Agee

One bright spot during the recent stretch has been Marcus Hill, who has rediscovered his rhythm and become a reliable shot‑creator again. His ability to pressure defenses gives A&M a needed dimension, and his resurgence could be pivotal if the Aggies return to their foundational strengths.

"I feel like I'm playing better than I what I was at the start of SEC play because I was hurt trying to play through an injury, but I've been getting back healthy, so I feel like I'm more confident. My teammates have been cheering me on, so I'm just real confident right now." - Marcus Hill

The SEC regular‑season title is no longer the focus. The mission now is straightforward: steady the ship, stack wins down the stretch, and position themselves to grab one or two more in the SEC Tournament. Do that, and the NCAA Tournament remains firmly within reach.

Below is the full preview of the Ole Miss matchup from Rashaun Agee and Marcus Hill.

Texas A&M will host Ole Miss on Wednesday, February 18, at Reed Arena at 6 p.m.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M' Agee and Hill previews Wednesday's Ole Miss matchup

The Brazilian Football Confederation has come out in support of star man Vinícius Júnior after racial tension unfolded in Lisbon.

Vini Jr, who scored the only goal in Real Madrid's 1-0 first-leg win over Benfica, with the support of Kylian Mbappé, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and the rest of his Los Blancos teammates, alleged that he suffered racist abuse from Argentine forward Gianluca Prestianni.

In the aftermath of those events, the CBF wasted no time in standing in solidarity with one of their own with a public show of support.

"The CBF stands in solidarity with Vinícius Júnior, victim of yet another act of racism this Tuesday, after scoring for Real Madrid against Benfica in Lisbon," the statement read.

"Racism is a crime. It is unacceptable. It cannot exist in football or anywhere else."

"Vini, you are not alone."

"Your decision to activate the protocol is an example of courage and dignity. We are proud of you."

"We will remain steadfast in the fight against all forms of discrimination. We stand by your side. Always."

This is not the first time that Vini Jr has been at the heart of the troubling trend of racism in football, with the Brazilian also the subject of an effigy of him hanging from a bridge in Madrid back in 2023, in which four men were subsequently arrested by Spanish police.

Why there are little trees in the ski jump snow at Olympics originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The ski jump at the 2026 Winter Olympics has a feature that is fascinating to fans.

There are what look to be tiny trees down in the snow in the landing area.

In a world otherwise covered in snow, it's fascinating. Is someone just starting a tree farm?

Well, not exactly.

MORE: U.S. women's hockey star's brothers go viral at Olympics

Why are there trees in the ski jump?

Those little plants are all about depth perception.

There's also not actually trees. They're more like little branches or twigs stuck into the snow.

They're tiny and light enough that if a skiing competitor were to land on them, they'd just push away and not impact the landing at all.

But the depth perception can be key in a world covered in white. These jumpers in various competitions are quite high in the air. It can be hard to tell exactly when they're going to hit the ground.

If they aren't quite ready to land, it can create crashes and other issues.

The little trees are meant to help the landing be cleaner and smoother. It preserves health and quality performances.

It's been quite windy and snowy in the area the Olympics are being held lately, and so any little bit to help keep athletes healthy and comfortable is a good thing, even some little tiny tree-looking things.

More Olympics news:

• This U.S. luge star was parodied on SNL
• Amber Glenn gets into music dispute during Olympic figure skating program
• Macklin Celebrini is chasing Hooley Smith's 1924 Olympics record
• U.S. Olympians get paid shockingly less than other countries for gold medals
• Controversy and cursing with Canada curling
• Chloe Kim's silver medal has some controversy

Deportivo Táchira host Tolima this Friday at the Pueblo Nuevo de San Cristóbal of the Copa Libertadores. Deportivo Táchira mark their 28th participation in the competition, whilst Tolima go into their 11th.

In their last fixture, Deportivo Táchira shared the spoils 0-0 with Trujillanos FC (Liga Venezuela 2026). In their last game, Tolima won 2-1 against Once Caldas (Liga Colombiana Apertura 2026).

The last meeting between the two teams ended with Tolima winning 2-0.

Unavailable

Deportivo Táchira

Tolima

Last starting XIs

Deportivo Táchira ( vs Trujillanos FC 2026-02-14): Jesús Camargo, Franco Provenzano, Juan Sánchez, Guillermo Fratta, Lautaro Lusnig, Carlos Calzadilla, Agustín Pérez, Carlos Sosa, Luis González, Heiderber Ramírez, José Balza

Tolima ( vs Once Caldas 2026-02-15): Neto Volpi, Kelvin Flórez, Anderson Angulo, Juan Mera, Jan Angulo, Junior Hernandez, Sebastián Guzmán, Ever Valencia, Adrián Parra, Edwar López, Luis Sandoval

Former Detroit Lions linebacker and special teams ace Jalen Reeves-Maybin has seen leadership up close and from multiple angles. After spending seven of his first eight NFL seasons in Detroit, Reeves-Maybin now finds himself with the Chicago Bears, playing under first-year head coach Ben Johnson, the former Lions offensive coordinator.

And while the Bears’ recent success under Johnson has sparked inevitable comparisons to Dan Campbell, Reeves-Maybin made it clear the two coaches are far from carbon copies.

Reeves-Maybin’s Long Road Back to the NFC North

A fourth-round pick out of Tennessee in 2017, Reeves-Maybin carved out a strong reputation in Detroit as one of the NFL’s best special teams players at his peak. After a brief stint with the Houston Texans in 2022, he returned to the Lions for two more seasons before Detroit released him last March in a cost-cutting move.

Reeves-Maybin eventually landed on the Bears’ practice squad in November, appeared in three regular-season games, and was promoted to the active roster for the postseason, where he played a role in Chicago’s NFC wild-card playoff win.

That run came during a stunning first season for Johnson as a head coach. The Bears won the NFC North and immediately looked like a franchise transformed.

Dan Campbell’s Influence Still Resonates

Despite now wearing navy and orange, Reeves-Maybin didn’t hesitate to praise the coach who helped define Detroit’s resurgence.

“Obviously Dan is an incredible leader and if you’re around him he’s going to make an impact on you and you’re probably going to take things from him,” Reeves-Maybin said via the Detroit Free Press.

Campbell’s emotional, player-first leadership style became the foundation of the Lions’ culture — and left a lasting imprint on players who passed through Allen Park.

Ben Johnson Is Doing It His Own Way

Still, Reeves-Maybin emphasized that Johnson’s Bears program isn’t simply Detroit 2.0.

“But Ben is his own person and he’s extremely smart and he definitely has his own approach,” Reeves-Maybin said. “I do not go into the meetings thinking that, ‘Oh, this is just like Dan.’ That’s not what’s happening.”

That distinction matters. While Johnson worked alongside Campbell for years, joining Detroit’s staff in 2019 and serving as offensive coordinator from 2022–24, he has quickly established a different identity in Chicago.

“It’s fun to see him create his own culture,” Reeves-Maybin added.

A Relationship Years in the Making

One of the most unique elements of Reeves-Maybin’s perspective is how long he’s known Johnson — even while playing defense.

“I’ve been with Ben since 2019 when he came to Detroit, and I was fortunate to grow a relationship with him even being on the other side of the ball,” Reeves-Maybin said. “So it’s been amazing to see him.”

That familiarity has allowed Reeves-Maybin to appreciate Johnson’s evolution from behind-the-scenes assistant to division-winning head coach.

What It Says About the Lions’ Coaching Tree

For Detroit fans, Reeves-Maybin’s comments are a reminder of just how influential the Lions’ coaching staff has become across the league. Campbell’s leadership continues to ripple outward, but Johnson’s early success shows that Detroit didn’t just build a culture, it helped develop future head coaches capable of forging their own paths.

And for Reeves-Maybin, who’s lived both worlds, the differences are clear and exciting.

The post Jalen Reeves-Maybin Explains How Ben Johnson Is Different From Dan Campbell appeared first on Detroit Sports Nation.

“If I’m thinking about playing well to make sure I get paid, that could mess with me,” he says. “I play best when I have a free mind, and that did that for me. A lot of people say I sacrificed for the team. One hundred percent I sacrificed for the team. But most importantly, I made sure my family and I are taken care of.” Brunson’s $113 million discount provided the Knicks with precious cap flexibility, but come 2028, he will be eligible for a five-year, $417.8 million deal. He will be 32 entering that season, an age when smaller guards often show signs of decline, but Brunson is hopeful the Knicks will reward his team-friendly extension. “Obviously we’d love for them to do right by me,” Brunson says. “I think anyone would. I feel like I sacrificed.”

Vanity Fair

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Jalen Brunson on his next contract after taking less from the Knicks: We’d love for them to take care of me—I feel like I made a sacrifice

7PM in Brooklyn: Chris Paul details convos with Kawhi, Ty Lue and Lawrence Frank ahead of his abrupt exit from the Clippers: He said that to me before he sent me home. CP we all going to retire your jersey, but your service is no longer needed. Before I left the room, I asked him. I was like, so L Frank, you said you was going to get me a meeting with T Lue, right? He said, I'm sorry, I couldn't do that. Go home.

x.com

Chris Paul details convos with Kawhi, Ty Lue and Lawrence Frank ahead of his abrupt exit from the Clippers 👀 pic.twitter.com/fG3ojh2YE4

— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) February 17, 2026

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Chris Paul: Lawrence Frank said we want to retire your jersey before sending me home

NBPA: Congratulations to former NBPA President, @CP3 on your retirement!

x.com

Congratulations to former NBPA President, @CP3 on your retirement! pic.twitter.com/478wAxwqEh

— NBPA (@TheNBPA) February 17, 2026

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Congratulations to former NBPA President,

Kevin Pritchard: Sometimes "tanking" can be misinterpreted by developing the younger players. We say the Gleague is a great place and it is...but there is nothing like true nba game speed. Thanks Rooster. Keep up the great work.

x.com

Sometimes "tanking" can be misinterpreted by developing the younger players. We say the Gleague is a great place and it is...but there is nothing like true nba game speed. Thanks Rooster. Keep up the great work.

— Kevin Pritchard (@PacersKev) February 17, 2026

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: We say the Gleague is a great place and it is...but …

The Martha's Vineyard girls basketball team ended the season on a high note.

The Vineyarders (8-11) beat Cape Tech (10-8) Tuesday, 61-35, to end a three-game losing streak.

Clara Rabeni led the way for Martha's Vineyard with 18 points. Madis Pitman contributed 12 points. Bella Burns also scored 12 points.

Senny Walton had 14 points for the Crusaders.

Also in high school sports action:

Girls Basketball 

Bourne 51, Dennis-Yarmouth 29: The Canalmen (6-14) beat the Dolphins (1-18) to end a three-game losing streak.

Girls Hockey 

Lobster Pot Tournament: Falmouth 4, Boston Latin 2: The Clippers (14-7) won their second in a row.

Boys Hockey

Jeff Hayes Memorial Tournament:Dennis-Yarmouth/Cape Tech/Cape Cod Academy 5, Monomoy/Mashpee 4: The Dolphins (7-13) beat the Sharks (11-9) as they jumped out to a big early lead, then held on for the win. Luke Contonio (two goals), Adam White (one goal), Matt Garbitt (one goal) and Kellan Desley (one goal) scored for the Dolphins. Liam Graham (two assists), Mason Manuel (one assist), Jake Moriarty (one assist) and Carter LaFrance (one assist) all had assists for the Dolphins.

For the Sharks, Max Cronen (two goals, one assist), Owen Cloney, (one goal, one assist) and Nick Garneau (one goal) scored. Luke Raftery also had an assist for the Sharks.

Adam Kurkjian covers high school sports for the Cape Cod Times. You can contact him at akurkjian@gannett.com and follow him on X at @AdamKurkjian.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape and Islands high school scores and highlights from Feb. 17.

Commanders' 2026 success unfairly hinges on 1 player originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Washington Commanders are tough to get a read on in 2026, mainly because we are unsure what sort of play we will get from Dan Quinn's team.

Jayden Daniels is the centerpiece, but he is coming off an injury-riddled 2025 season, which saw him play seven games, and he was 2-5. That isn't good.

Plus, the Commanders won't have Zach Ertz, who is injured, not to mention the possibility of Deebo Samuel not coming back either, and suddenly, Daniels' weapons look worryingly thin.

But the Commanders do have cap space to put some good pieces around him; they just don't have a lot of draft picks after using them to get Samuel and Laremy Tunsil last offseason.

However, is there any reason for hope in 2026 if you are a Commanders fan? 

Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame thinks there is because of one player.

 "Jayden Daniels will hopefully be healthier in 2026 after missing 10 games this past season, instantly elevating the offense," Verderame wrote.

More:Super Bowl champion makes incredible Chiefs free agency plea

Can Daniels recapture 2024 form?

Reaching that bar again might be tough, but if Jayden can play all 17 games, then surely the Commanders will be in a good spot.

After a 5-12 season in 2025, if the Commanders, with a healthy Daniels, can be pushing for the playoffs and win nine or 10 games, that will be deemed a good bounce-back season.

So far in Daniels' career, we've had one stellar season and one bad one. What will Year 3 bring?

We aren't sure, but being a young franchise quarterback means all the pressure is on your shoulders, and if Washington is to succeed in 2026, it will be because of Jayden.

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
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• Caleb Williams sets historical bar for Bears to reach in 2026
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• Chiefs' selection in mock draft nightmare fuel for NFL

Even back when the Cleveland Guardians traded for Kyle Manzardo ahead of the 2023 deadline, the consensus on him as a player was that he had the potential to hit at a high level.

Through his first full big-league season, the left-hander has shown that to be the case. In 2025, Manzardo logged a .768 OPS with 27 home runs and 19 doubles.

Even though the Guardians need Manzardo to take another jump at the plate next season, his bat alone won’t be what helps Cleveland reach its full potential as a team. The Guardians need Manzardo to be just as effective in the field as he is in the batter’s box.

Manzardo appeared in 142 games last season, with 68 of those starts coming as the team’s designated hitter, and 53 of them coming at first base. 

The problem is that the 25-year-old defense on the right side of the infield wasn’t the best, to say the least. Manzardo has an outs above average of negative three, and a fielding run value of negative two.

The Guardians were able to live with that last year because they had a Gold Glove winner in Carlos Santana at the position for over half the season. Now, Cleveland needs Manzardo to play more in the field, to give other players more opportunities in the lineup. 

Manager Stephen Vogt said, having Manzardo able to play first up to five or six times a week, “allows us to float the DH around. It allows us to get guys that we want to play more consistently off their feet and get them a DH day, without taking their bat out of the lineup. It allows us to do a lot of things.”

That designated hitter spot will be necessary for players such as CJ Kayfus, who may not have a defensive position, and Chase DeLauter and George Valera, who are injury-prone. Even though Jose Ramirez may not want to admit it, he needs a day every now and then where he should be off his feet in the fiel,d and solely focus on hitting.

There’s been a lot of talk about all of the muscle that Manzardo has put on over the winter. Yes, that should help his power numbers at the plate, but Vogt also believes that it could help on the defensive end as well. 

“That's how we wanted Kyle to go through the winter; to prepare was to be ready to play first base, four to five days a week,” Vogt said.

“Kyle did a tremendous job putting on strength. He's been working on his speed and agility. 
He said he feels faster, he feels quicker. And a lot of times when you put on strength, you do get faster and quicker. We're really pumped at the work that Kyle put in and continues to put in. I'm really excited for his future.”

Guardians Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Guardians. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.

Bayern Munich winger Luis Díaz is considered by many to be the best signing of the summer of 2025.

All the Bayern Munich’s greatest ever Colombian player has done is score 19 goals and tally 15 assists in 32 games across all competitions. Part of the reason for that success is his chemistry with Harry Kane and Michael Olise — something that Díaz greatly appreciates.

“It makes me very proud to play in a team with Harry and Michael. They are technically spectacular. Harry, for example, just does everything well. He has really surprised me. I’ve seen him play in England because we’ve played against Tottenham several times. But it’s one thing to see him on the other side, and it’s quite another to actually share the dressing room with him and be on the training pitch with him every day… and see how he works for us as a team, how he moves, how he constantly drops deep, demands the ball, and of course, how he scores goals,” told Sky Germany (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “He’s a machine. He really does everything well. I’m very proud to be part of this attack.

“Michael destroys you in one-on-one situations; he’s so technically gifted and makes all the difference. He’s a calm guy. On the pitch, he’s very communicative. He helps a lot, he pays attention to many details, and he’ll even say things like, ‘Hey, let’s defend like this.’ These are the kinds of details that help you grow as a footballer and make you feel comfortable. Again, tt’s incredible to play with players like that.”

The trio has combined for 73 goals and 45 assists so far this season and has shown no signs of slowing down. For Bayern Munich, the threesome has been invaluable.

If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…

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Big Ten college basketball play continues tonight with a compelling matchup as the UCLA Bruins head to East Lansing to face the Michigan State Spartans at the Breslin Center.

With March quickly approaching, both programs are fighting for conference positioning and NCAA Tournament momentum, making this one of the most intriguing games on tonight’s college basketball schedule.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch UCLA vs. Michigan State, plus key storylines heading into tipoff.

MORE: This College Basketball team could surprisingly not make the March Madness tournament in 2026

How to Watch UCLA vs #15 Michigan State

• Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
  
• Tipoff: 8:30 p.m. ET
  
• Location: Breslin Center (East Lansing, Michigan)
  
• Streaming: Peacock exclusive (watch live)

UCLA enters the matchup looking to bounce back after a tough stretch in Big Ten play, while Michigan State aims to continue building momentum on its home floor. The Spartans have been strong at the Breslin Center this season and currently sit near the top tier of the conference standings, making this a key opportunity for both programs as the regular season heads toward March.

The Bruins bring a roster filled with experienced talent, including guards Donovan Dent and Skyy Clark, along with forward Eric Dailey Jr., who have helped anchor UCLA’s offense this season. On the other side, Michigan State continues to rely on disciplined defense and efficient guard play, a hallmark of Tom Izzo-coached teams, as the Spartans try to strengthen their NCAA Tournament resume.

With conference standings tightening and tournament seeding becoming clearer each week, every result now carries extra weight. A road win would give UCLA a major boost heading into the final stretch of the season, while Michigan State can make a statement by defending home court against a nationally recognized program.

Live stream UCLA vs Michigan State exclusively on Peacock: Start your subscription now!

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OLYMPICS: 2026 Winter Olympics medal count, standings entering February 16

NFL Draft: 3 shocking 2026 NFL Combine snubs, full list of prospects attending

NFL: Tennessee Titans’ new logo leaked in Fanatics mishap?

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VIRAL: Chloe Kim ‘obsessed’ with $100k gift from NFL star Myles Garrett after Olympics

The post UCLA vs Michigan State live stream, college basketball TV channel appeared first on The Big Lead.

Rams' Super Bowl champion WR with two 90-catch seasons announces retirement from NFL originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Robert Woods proved on Tuesday how proud he was to be a Super Bowl champion with the Los Angeles Rams.

He chose to sign a one-day contract with the Rams so he could retire with the team he won a ring with. 

It's certainly a cool gesture by Woods, who didn't enter the league with the Rams or finish with the Rams but chose to put a bow on things with the Rams.

Woods began his pro career as a second-round pick, No. 41 overall, of the Buffalo Bills in the 2013 NFL Draft out of USC.

His first four seasons were played for the Bills. He had 203 catches for 2,451 yards and 12 TDs in 57 games with Buffalo.

MORE: The Packers are facing a bit of a ripoff with Malik Willis

Then came the best portion of his career, with the Rams.

Woods spent five seasons with Los Angeles. He had seasons of 90, 90 and 86 catches among those.

Overall, Woods grabbed 367 passes for 4,626 yards and 23 scores with the Rams across 68 games.

That included the Super Bowl championship with Matthew Stafford at quarterback.

Woods then went to the Tennessee Titans for 2022, catching 53 passes, and then two seasons with the Houston Texans, grabbing 60 passes total across those two.

In 2025, Woods spent the summer with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he was released before the regular season and didn't latch on anywhere else.

Woods ends his NFL career with 683 career receptions.

He was as reliable as they come for a long time, particularly with the Rams.

More NFL news:

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• Bills have options to replace WR Keon Coleman
• Michael Pittman's contract may point to a trade
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• Steelers could go trade route to find a new quarterback
• Could a Chiefs reunion with Tyreek Hill be closer?

MILAN — There are roughly 2,900 athletes in the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, all trying to win medals — except for one.

Already a gold medalist in the figure skating team event, Alysa Liu has a chance to add to the haul by taking home another piece of hardware in the all-important women’s singles. After the short program, she’s in position to do so, standing in third place behind the Japanese pair of Ami Nakai and Kaori Sakamoto.

Yet that’s not the top prize on Liu’s mind.

"I just really want to be invited to the Olympic Gala, so I'm just putting it out there,” she said. "I have a really cool gala program that I'm working on, and it's basically done. I have a dress for it and everything. I just got it today. So I'm thinking about it."

OK, what about a medal?

“A medal?” Liu chuckles. “I don't need a medal. I just need to be here, and I just need to be present. And I need people to see what I do next.”

Opinion: 'Blade Angels' fall back to Earth, but Alysa Liu offers USA hope

While that’s all fine and dandy for Liu, not everyone else in U.S. figure skating is feeling the same way. They desperately need her to be on the podium.

During a night billed as the grand reveal of the "Blade Angels," Liu is the only one still flying. Tapping into the emotions of her "Promise" program, she shined on the stage, capturing the audience’s hearts. 

She knew she did great when she was done, and almost couldn’t believe it. Her coaches Phillip Digugliemo and Massimo Scali were off the rink hugging, high-fiving and jumping for joy. The score reflected the outing, with Liu earning a season-best 76.59. 

More: Teenager leads Japan women's figure skating team that could sweep Olympics podium

The 20-year-old was the first U.S. skater to go, but the fellow Americans couldn’t replicate. Isabeau Levito was solid, but got pushed to eighth place after the Japanese skaters powered their way up the leaderboards. Amber Glenn had an impeccable start with the triple Axel and looked like she would be joining Liu up on the leaderboard.

Then the dreaded triple loop that wasn’t. Judges ruled it an invalid element, a devastating blow to the potential score Glenn could’ve received. She knew what happened, and understood the agony of ending up in 13th place. 

All three American women were considered possible medal contenders. Glenn is likely too far behind to get close to the podium, and while Levito is closer, the gap is still significant. 

Heading into the free skate, Liu is really the only hope left for the U.S.

Coming into the Winter Olympics, there was a belief the U.S. could end up winning gold in three of the four disciplines. After it opened the team event with a win, the possibility of four golds seemed in reach. There was also talk of an American sweep of women's medals.

Now nearly two weeks later, it may end up being the only gold U.S. figure skating gets. Madison Chock and Evan Bates controversially settled for silver in ice dance and Ilia Malinin’s tough free skate resulted in no medal in men’s singles. The pairs did well but nowhere near medal contention.

The U.S. needs to salvage this trip and end with a women’s medal. Gold is preferred, but Liu has a tough challenge going against Nakai and Sakamoto. You also can’t forget the other Japanese skater Mone Chiba, who is in fourth place. If Liu holds her own, she can hang. 

The doomsday scenario is if Liu doesn’t medal – and that could mean a Japan sweep. That could also mean Russian skater Adeliia Petrosian, in fifth, getting on the podium as an Individual Neutral Athlete — what would be the final nail in the coffin for the U.S. hopes.

Not only that, but no medal continues a drought of no U.S. women’s singles medalist the past 20 years, already its longest in Olympic history.

No pressure, right? Well, Liu isn’t feeling it. 

"I do have a new dress for the free skate, so I'm really excited for that,” she said.

Some might find the nonchalant attitude concerning, but remember this is who Liu is, and honestly, what makes her great. She skates because she loves it and has fun doing it. Her world-class talent is just a bonus.

Maybe it will help, because Team USA needs her to save the Olympics.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alysa Liu doesn't 'need' to win Olympic medal. But America needs her to

The Apple TV Formula 1 channel is now live. The technology giant secured the broadcast rights for the championship in the United States after the deal with ESPN came to an end in 2025. 

Here is what you need to know to access the new channel ahead of the 2026 F1 season.

How to watch F1 on Apple TV

Apple TV subscribers will be able to watch every practice, qualifying, sprint race and grand prix. At the time of writing, an Apple TV subscription costs $12.99 per month or $99 annually.

Those who don't pay for Apple TV will be able to watch 'select races' and all practice sessions.

The new F1 channel will now appear in the sidebar on viewers' TVs, as a quick link in the header on the website and as a shortcut via the search tab on an iPhone. The channel will include access to previous and upcoming races, in addition to extra content.

The channel already shows programmes for the three practice sessions, qualifying and the Australian Grand Prix as well as a Weekend Warm-up show. It also offers fans the chance to watch the race highlights for a number of the 2025 races.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari leads at the start

How long will Apple TV broadcast F1 in the United States?

Apple secured the F1 broadcast rights for the United States in October 2025, signing a five-year deal from 2026.

“This is an incredibly exciting partnership for both Formula 1 and Apple that will ensure we can continue to maximise our growth potential in the U.S. with the right content and innovative distribution channels,” said Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of F1, when the partnership was announced.

“We are no strangers to each other, having spent the past three years working together to create F1 The Movie, which has already proven to be a huge hit around the world.

“We have a shared vision to bring this amazing sport to our fans in the U.S. and entice new fans through live broadcasts, engaging content, and a year-round approach to keep them hooked.

“I want to thank Tim Cook [Apple’s CEO], Eddy Cue [Apple’s Senior Vice President of Services], and the entire Apple team for their vision, enthusiasm and passionate approach to delivering this partnership, and we are looking forward to the next five years together.”

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

MILAN (AP) — Like a shock to the system, hockey at the Olympics goes from nobody getting eliminated in group play to a single-elimination knockout round until one team is left standing. It's Game 7 every time.

“The anxiety just goes up a little bit,” said Drew Doughty, a three-time Olympian for Canada. “But all these guys on our team are made for these situations.”

With Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby leading the way, Canada looks primed for another run to the gold-medal game after winning each of the previous two Olympics with NHL players in 2014 and 2010. The U.S. could be on a collision course to meet its northern neighbor in the final, but Finland, Slovakia and others are out to spoil the story line that fans in North America are rooting for.

The quarterfinals are up next on Wednesday, with Canada set to face Czechia and the U.S. playing Sweden or Latvia. It’s Finland against Switzerland and Slovakia versus Germany in the other games.

1 Canada vs. 8 Czechia (4:40 p.m. CET/10:40 a.m. EST)

McDavid has nine points in nine periods, Macklin Celebrini has four goals and Canada outscored opponents by 17 in the preliminary round. Top-four defenseman Josh Morrissey looks as though he'll return from his injury absence, and two-time Stanley Cup-winning winger Brad Marchand is available for coach Jon Cooper.

Canada is absolutely the team to beat in Milan, and the Czechs know it all too well from getting beat 5-0 by Crosby and Co. in each team's opener.

“This might be the best team ever," Czechia's David Pastrnak said. “So, maybe let’s put the respect aside a little bit and try to take their game to them. Offensively, their power is incredible. ... We have nothing to lose, so we’re going to go out there and leave it all out there.”

Teammate Martin Necas joked: “We let them win the first one because we knew we weren’t going to win two in a row against Canada.” Rugged defenseman Radko Gudas respects the Canadians, but doesn't want Czechia to fear them.

“If you get intimidated, you don’t have anything (and) you shouldn’t be playing pro hockey," Gudas said. “We’ve got to have 120% of our effort (Wednesday) and be on top of our game throughout the whole game.”

The biggest question for Canada is whether Nathan MacKinnon will play after not practicing Tuesday for what the team called maintenance. MacKinnon took a forearm to the jaw in the game against France on Sunday.

“He’ll play through anything,” Crosby said. "That’s never really in question.”

2 U.S. vs. 7 Sweden (9:10 p.m. CET/3:10 p.m. EST)

Facing Latvia, Denmark and Germany in the preliminary round allowed U.S. coach Mike Sullivan to hone in on his optimal lineup and Connor Hellebuyck to show why he's the clear-cut starting goaltender. Winning 5-1, 6-3 and 5-1 means the Americans have not tested as much as some other top contenders so far.

That changes against Sweden, which had to play in the qualification round and beat Latvia just to get to this stage.

“As this tournament starts to move forward, the stakes get higher,” Sullivan said. “The competition gets stiffer, and I think our guys are excited for that challenge.”

The Swedes are only seeded seventh because they finished third in their group behind Finland and Slovakia based on a goal differential tiebreaker from one they allowed in the final minute of a 5-3 victory in their round-robin finale. Matthew Tkachuk rightfully called them “one of the powerhouses in the world,” so the difficulty level is ratcheting up big time for him and his U.S. teammates.

“We haven’t seen them yet in this tournament, but we’re very well aware of the personnel group that they have,” Sullivan said.

3 Slovakia vs. 6 Germany (12:10 p.m. CET/6:10 a.m. EST)

Slovakia was the beneficiary of Sweden's slip-up, but upsetting Finland last week put Juraj Slafkovsky and his teammates in an advantageous spot in the bracket. Only McDavid had more points in the preliminary round than Slafkovsky, who had six on three goals and three assists.

“They’re a good team,” Germany's Leon Draisaitl said. “They’re a deep team. They finished first in their group for a reason, and for us it’s a matter of finding our game early and getting to it and staying stingy.”

Four years ago in the Beijing bubble, Slafkovsky was tournament MVP when he scored seven goals and led Slovakia to bronze — the country's first Olympic medal in hockey. One more win, and it'll be playing for a medal again.

“The whole nation is watching,” said Dalibor Dvorsky, who scored the tiebreaker-changing goal with 39 seconds left against Sweden. "We just love playing good for our country, and hopefully we can make our fans even more happy in the next two games here.”

Standing in the way are Draisaitl and the Germans, who had little trouble with France in the qualification playoffs. Draisaitl, the 2020 NHL MVP and one of the best players in the world, had a goal and two assists in the 5-1 victory and will be Slovakia's main focal point to content.

“We’ve got to have the head on a swivel, especially with Leon,” Slovakia defenseman Martin Fehervary said.

4 Finland vs. 5 Switzerland (6:10 p.m. CST/12:10 p.m. EST)

Bouncing back from its surprising loss to Slovakia, Finland beat archrival Sweden and ran up the score on Italy to clinch the fourth spot and avoid the extra qualification game. The structure that the Finns typically win with internationally took longer than usual to materialize, but now they look like themselves.

“I think we are ready,” captain Mikael Granlund said. “Whatever comes for us, we want to be at our best.”

Switzerland shut out Italy 3-0 to reach the quarterfinals. Finland will be a tougher test.

“Every time the Finns play a tournament, whether it’s world championships or Olympics, they are always one of the favorites,” Switzerland captain Roman Josi said. "They play really good as a team, so we will have to be at our best.”

___

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

UFC 326 needs fights – and now it's got another one.

Veteran lightweights Drew Dober and Michael Johnson will collide on the March 7 event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the booking but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Dober (28-15 MMA, 14-11 UFC) snapped a three-fight skid in October when he finished Kyle Prepolec in come-from-behind fashion. The finish moved him into first place all-time for most lightweight knockouts. Nineteen of Dober's 26 bouts with the promotion have ended inside the distance.

Johnson (24-19 MMA, 16-15 UFC) is one of the longest-tenured fighters on the roster, but has shown no signs of slowing down. He enters the bout on a three-fight winning streak with victories over Darrius Flowers, Ottman Azaitar, and Daniel Zellhuber.

Johnson, 39, was scheduled to fight Alexander Hernandez in January, but the bout was scrapped on fight day due to irregular line movement.

The updated UFC 326 lineup includes:

• Champion Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira – for "BMF" title
• Caio Borralho vs. Reinier de Ridder
• Rob Font vs. Raul Rosas Jr.
• Brunno Ferreira vs. Gregory Rodrigues
• Cody Garbrandt vs. Long Xiao
• Drew Dober vs. Michael Johnson
• Cody Durden vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel
• Diya Nurgozhay vs. Rafael Tobias
• Jesus Aguilar vs. Su Mudaerji
• Donte Johnson vs. Dusko Todorovic
• Rodolfo Bellato vs. Luke Fernandez
• Gaston Bolanos vs. Joo Sang Yoo
• Alberto Montes vs. Ricky Turcios

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 326 fight card adds veteran lightweight clash

The Cincinnati Bengals have a lot of work to do on the defensive side of the ball to bring it up to being in the same ballpark as the quality of the offense. The gulf between the two is actually so large that it may take more than one offseason to bring them together.

Trey Hendrickson has been the big name thrown around. He is the biggest name on the Bengals’ roster that could hit free agency, but that doesn’t mean he’s the only name.

Here are several more pending free agents the Bengals should re-sign not named Trey Hendrickson (in no particular order).

Joseph Ossai, Edge

Ossai always seems to be on the verge of breaking out as a great pass rusher. He seems to have all the right stuff to be a double-digit sack guy, but the most sacks he’s ever had in a single season is five, which is how many he had over the last two years. He wouldn’t shape the defense in a way Hendrickson sticking around for another year potentially could, but if Hendrickson is gone, Ossai being back could help lessen that blow.

Maybe with consistent playing time, he could figure it out?

Joe Flacco, QB

If you told me I’d add Flacco to the list this time last year, I would have told you you’re crazy, but here we are. After looking competent when called upon in 2023, Jake Browning looked like he forgot how to play football in 2025. The Bengals traded for Flacco, and he righted the ship (at least offensively). Browning is a restricted free agent, and Flacco seems like he has another year in him. Hopefully, he’d be up to holding Burrow’s clipboard and not playing a meaningful snap (hopefully) in 2026.

Dalton Risner, G

The Bengals brought in Risner as a free agent on a one-year deal in 2025, and he was a breath of fresh air at the guard position, which hasn’t been great. He allowed only two sacks and started the majority of the season. He also seemed to help in right tackle Amarius Mims’ development. Burrow needs stability in front of him, and signing Risner on a multi-year deal will help give it to him.

Cam Taylor-Britt, CB

There is no question that CTB took a step back in 2025. He was benched multiple times and definitely regressed from where he started his career. That’s the thing, though—he was good at one point. Really good. Two years ago, CTB had four interceptions, broke up another five passes, and had a PFF coverage score of 70.3. I’m not sure what happened, but that guy is maybe still in there somewhere. After the season he had, he likely wouldn’t be too expensive, and, at worst, could be a depth piece.

Jalen Davis, CB

The former 2018 undrafted free agent has had a long career to this point, but the 30-year-old DB has rarely been on anything more than a minimum deal or a practice squad salary, so he should be easy for the Bengals to keep. He can play on the boundary or in the slot, though he’s been more effective in the latter and gave Cincinnati some nice production there down the stretch last season. PFF has him getting a one-year, $1.9 million deal, which sounds like a fair deal for both sides.

Tycen Anderson, S

Anderson hasn’t been able to crack the starting lineup, but he’s been a great special teams ace. Maybe he can get some more time on the field with the defense—because Geno Stone isn’t coming back—but continuity is a big deal, and so are special teams. This is another guy who won’t break the bank and won’t make many headlines, but he’ll do more good than most realize for Darrin Simmons.

Who makes your list?

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Eugene, OR

9:30

FS1

Oregon

Minnesota Golden Gophers
Record: 11-11 (4-10)
KenPom Rank: 83

Oregon Ducks
Record: 9-16 (2-12)
KenPom Rank: 97

Tonight will be the 4th game out of five where the Gophers are facing a team below them in the standings. The first three were losses (Penn State, Maryland and Washington). Can Niko Medved’s squad reverse this trend of losing to teams that are winning fewer games?

You may recall last year when the Gophers shocked the ranked Ducks for one of the more exciting wins under Ben Johnson.

The Ducks have fallen on some hard times since then and

KEYS TO A GOPHER WIN

Stop Nate Bittle – Bittle is the West Coast version of Northwestern’s Nick Martinelli. When he is rolling and scoring points, Oregon has been competitive. When he is held in check, they tend to lose. Stopping Washington’s Hannes Steinbach was a key on Saturday…that didn’t go well. Slowing down Bittle is important again.

Find your offensive comfort zone – The offense has stagnated a bit. Perhaps it is because Jaylen Crocker-Johnson wasn’t playing in the last game, maybe it was because we were broke from three or maybe they are just getting worn out. But getting back to cutting and working as a unit to get assisted layups is what we do best.

Make some shots – Obvious…I know. But we cannot go 7/28 from three and expect to win. Make a few shots and the weak Oregon defense opens up.

PREDICTION

It seems unlikely that Crocker-Johnson is playing again tonight, so the iron 6 plus Max Gizzi are going to have to get it done tonight on their own. I just can’t see a win with this group, even against Oregon.

Minnesota – 69
Oregon – 74

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mike Sirota completes a talented group of outfielders developing in the minor leagues, along with Zyhir Hope, Josue De Paula and Eduardo Quintero.

The Dodgers have been been admirers of Sirota, drafting him in the 16th round of the 2021 MLB Draft, but he ended up spurning them for college ball.

He was later drafted in the third round by the Cincinnati Reds, going 87th overall. According to MLB Pipeline, he was pegged to go in the top of the first round before suffering from a slump in his junior year.

Sirota was traded to the Dodgers in the Gavin Lux deal in January 2025.

At 22, Sirota has only two years of professional baseball under his belt, though his first year was cut short by injury, so he has only one true season as a pro.

He is six feet two inches tall, weighs 188 pounds, and bats and throws with his right hand.

Where does Mike Sirota rank as a prospect?

Sirota sits at fourth in the Dodgers’ MLB Pipeline rankings, No. 60 overall. The Athletic’s Keith Law has him in the same spot in the organization’s rankings, but places Sirota at No. 51 overall.

FanGraphs has Sirota at sixth in Los Angeles’ farm system. Baseball America has Sirota at 45th overall and third in the Dodgers prospect rankings.

ESPN has Sirota as the No. 55 prospect in baseball, ranking third in the organization.

How did Mike Sirota do in 2025?

Sirota played 115 games in Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, taking 99 at-bats, hitting seven home runs and 24 RBIs, good for a slash line of .354/.443/.687.

He also played with Great Lakes High-A, hitting .316/.458/.556 with six home runs and 30 RBIs to his name.

Mike Sirota Scouting Report

The outfielder will likely end up starting with the Double-A team in 2026, especially considering his age, turning 23 at some point during the season.

MLB Pipeline has Sirota projected to break into the major leagues in 2027, which means he will likely need to work his way up quickly and assertively to meet the timeline, but he is one of the farther-along prospects in the team’s system.

FanGraphs puts Sirota on a similar timeline, projecting a good deal of success in Tulsa next season.

Here are Dodgers’ prospect expert Casey Porter’s thoughts on Sirota when he spoke with Doug McKain, who celebrates Sirota as an old-school hitter.

“Yeah, talking about the hit tool. Now the opposite field hit tool, the complete offensive tool. And he’s a good defensive player too,” Porter said.

“I mean he’s a good athlete. He, he can run, no doubt about that. A guy I’ve actually put out on social media side by side to Paul Molitor. And the reason why I do that is the direct nature of which he gets to the baseball with his swing is just so impressive.

“I mean it, you know, there’s none of this loop to it, there’s none of this, whatever terminology or mechanics you want to preach. It’s none of that. It is as direct as baseball. It’s like it’s straight out of 1985. ‘Hey, we’re just trying to hit line drives, we’re trying to hit the ball the other way, we’re trying to stay inside the baseball.’

“And so I love watching Mike Sirota hit because with two strikes, he’s just as good as any other count because he’s looking to hit the ball the other way, no matter what the count is.

“So the, the offensive game for Mike Sirota, if you were to talk about the ceiling, is that he is going to gather a million hits in what I call the big part of the field.

“So if you go gap to gap, if you’re a hitter like Mike Sirota, you think opposite field gap, and if you’re a little bit early, you go pull side gap. And if you’re Mike Sirota, that’s the big part of the field, and what I like about him is that he’s going to use that big part of the field.

“That’s going to get him a lot of hits. So if you want a guy that’s going to gather a lot of hits, get on base, have a direct swing, put the ball in play, he’s your guy.”

Mike Sirota Grades

Scouting grades are on a 20-80 scale, with 50 being average. These are what scouts believe his potential is.

MLB Pipeline:

• Hitting – 55
• Power – 55
• Base-running – 60
• Arm strength- 55
• Fielding – 55

Overall: 55 out of 80

FanGraphs

• Hitting – 40
• Power – 55
• Speed – 60
• Fielding – 40

Overall: 45 with room to grow

For the current Dodgers prospect rankings, click here.

Borussia Dortmund put in an excellent performance tonight, beating Atalanta 2-0 and giving themselves an excellent chance of progressing to the Champions League knockout stages. Despite coming into the first leg of the Champions League play-offs with barely any centre-backs and a bench full of local children, BVB comfortably outplayed Atalanta and put themselves in a great spot heading into the second leg in Italy next week.

Serhou Guirassy opened the scoring just three minutes into the game, heading home from a Julian Ryerson cross (of course), and he set up Maximilian Beier for Dortmund’s second just before halftime. Dortmund almost made it 3-0 just before halftime, but Waldemar Anton’s header went wayward, and Julian Brandt also saw a difficult volley go over the bar just after the break. But you really couldn’t have asked for much more from BVB tonight. They completely shut down Atalanta and were good value for their 2-0 win.

Dortmund got off to the perfect start to their vital four-game stretch over the next two weeks. Hopefully this will be the confidence boost they need to continue their winning streak to close out February. Here are your nominations for Man of the Match in Borussia Dortmund’s 2-0 win against Atalanta.

Serhou Guirassy

A goal and an assist in the first half, this is not the first time Guirassy has put the team on his back lately (though this time the rest of the team followed). Atalanta’s defense couldn’t cope with Guirassy all night long, and even when he couldn’t get good looks on goal he was doing a great job of bringing others into play.

Julian Ryerson

Another Ryerson cross for a Guirassy goal. This combination is dragging BVB kicking and screaming into a title race, and possibly into the Champions League knockout phase. Ryerson was as industrious as ever out of possession, and he created several dangerous chances from set pieces that could have increased Dortmund’s advantage.

Maximilian Beier

Beier worked hard to provide support for Guirassy tonight, and his efforts were rewarded with a goal just before halftime. I thought he did his part defensively and was able to get into some really good positions in and around Atalanta’s penalty area. Another quietly good performance from the German forward.

Felix Nmecha

There were a few different players competing for this fourth spot. I thought Ramy Bensebaini and Jobe Bellingham both made good cases for a nomination, but Felix Nmecha sneaks in ahead of them. Nmecha shielded BVB’s makeshift backline excellently and was a solid contributor in possession too.

Your Thoughts?

What did you think of BVB’s performance tonight? Can they finish the job in the return leg? Let us know in the comments.

League One

Exeter City 1 - 1 Wycombe Wanderers FT

Jayden Wareham rescued a point for Exeter with a stoppage-time equaliser against Wycombe in interim manager Dan Green's first game in charge.

Green was in the Grecians' dugout following Gary Caldwell's departure to Wigan on Monday and saw his side get what they deserved in an entertaining clash at St James Park.

Wycombe went in front with their first shot at goal in the 22nd minute. Ewan Henderson picked out Fred Onyedinma in the box, just ahead of Joe Whitworth, and the Chairboys striker rounded the Exeter goalkeeper before firing into an empty net.

The hosts finished the half strongly and Pierce Sweeney headed an Ethan Brierley cross straight at Will Norris.

And at the start of the second half, Ryan Rydel stung the palms of Wycombe goalkeeper Norris with a fierce drive.

Exeter pushed for an equaliser, but found Wycombe hard to break down with the Chairboys.

But just as five minutes of stoppage time was announced, Wareham glanced a fine header into the corner from Akeel Higgins' perfect cross.

Substitute Timur Tutierov could have won it right at the death for Exeter, but shot into the side netting.

Report supplied by PA Media.

The Philadelphia 76ers added to their guard depth over the All-Star break by bringing back a familiar face in the form of Cam Payne. The Sixers acquired Payne from the Milwaukee Bucks at the 2024 deadline and he averaged 9.3 points and 3.1 assists in 31 games with Philadelphia down the stretch.

Payne then left for the New York Knicks in the offseason and averaged 6.9 points in 72 games for the Knicks. He helped them make the Eastern Conference finals before he left for the Indiana Pacers. He was released after the preseason and decided to go play overseas which led to him returning to the Sixers.

It's obvious that Payne made an impact on the Knicks as his former teammate, Josh Hart, took to Twitter and gave his reaction to Payne returning to the league.

Cam Payne!

— Josh Hart (@joshhart) February 16, 2026

Payne will shore up the guard depth behind Tyrese Maxey and give the Sixers a reliable player in the backcourt. He is somebody who can shoot it a bit and give Philadelphia some reliable ball-handling as well.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Knicks' Josh Hart reacts on social media to Sixers signing Cam Payne

The Chargers added a few coaches with ties to Western Michigan, hiring former defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary to oversee the defense and former linebackers coach Sean Spence in the same role.

With the two in Los Angeles, there is a clear connection to one of their former players and NFL draft prospect edge rusher Nadame Tucker.

Defensive tackle Jamaree Caldwell went to social media to endorse Tucker, one of his former college teammates, in response to a tweet that highlighted Tucker's production working under Spence this past season.

"‘dame been a dawg since I’ve met him , just needed a chance to prove it to everyone…. Was amazed when I first seen him in Juco," Caldwell said.

The two were members of the Houston Cougars' defensive line together before Caldwell transferred to Oregon for his final collegiate season in 2024 and was selected by the Chargers in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Tucker was a dominant force during the 2025 season, leading the FBS in sacks (14.5) and tackles for loss (21.0). His performance earned him the MAC Defensive Player of the Year.

Tucker has publicly praised O'Leary, stating that playing in his defense allowed him to "play freely" and use a specific technique that compared to the style of Khalil Mack.

Tucker projects a mid-round selection, and he would be a solid addition to a positional room that is lacking depth and pass rush juice.

This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Jamaree Caldwell endorses potential Chargers draft target

LIVIGNO, Italy — The ones who know, they'll talk about the words for a long time. Yet, if you didn’t know better – and let’s be honest, most of us would not – they'd sound like some complicated play call an NFL quarterback relays in the huddle:

Left nose butter triple cork 2160 safety.

In freestyle skiing, this is known by another term: Progression.

A new move. A trick so deliciously enticing that Team USA’s Mac Forehand raised both arms and stood with his mouth agape when he landed it cleanly, floored that he’d been able to pull it off at all, much less with an Olympic gold medal on the line. He’d never even practiced it before, he said afterward.

“The nose butter triple 21 has never been done before,” Forehand said. “It was the first night that it has been done – ever. Not even just in contests, I think. Ever.”

Um ... ever?

That's awfully good, right? Seriously, what could be better?

A right nose butter double bio 1620 safety, evidently.

So it was in a snowy freeski men’s big air at Livigno Snow Park. It was one for the ages, right down to the final instant. Norway’s Tormod Frostad one-upped Forehand’s 98.25, getting a 98.50 on his final run to pull ahead of Forehand for good and for gold, winning this stunning duel where neither posted a score worse than a 95 in three attempts.

Truly, neither deserved to lose.

“I think I'm just being biased because he's American,” said teammate Troy Podmilsak, who barely missed the podium in fourth, “but I really wanted to see (Forehand) on the top spot. I thought maybe he did deserve the top spot. But, I mean, I'm not a judge. And I'm not trying to take anything away from Tormod, either. He skied great.”

Mac Forehand dropped a stunning 98.25 in his final run to secure SILVER in snowy Livigno. 👏#WinterOlympicspic.twitter.com/BExoNDgmhu

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

He needed a huge score... and he GOT IT. Norway's Tormod Frostad delivers a 98.50 on his final run to take home the Gold. 🥇#WinterOlympicspic.twitter.com/HfUXmgK8qo

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

Going by the scores, this was the best big air event freestyle skiing has experienced. The judges certainly thought so from their vantage points. Of the 36 scores awarded to the 12 finalists’ three runs, a whopping 15 were 90-plus.

Which was a little surprising, given what had come down in Livigno in the 48 hours leading up the event: Snow!

So much snow. Call it a foot, 18 inches even. The snow just kept falling, and that continued all the way through this event, which went on as planned on a day when everything else on Livigno’s Olympic schedule was postponed by the weather.

Once this big air event started? Outstanding.

Podmilsak was good enough to have a shot to win. He counted scores of 94.00 and 90.50. Fifth-place Konnor Ralph, another American, had a 91.50. Norway’s Birk Ruud, who finished eighth, opened with a 95.00.

The judges perhaps backed themselves into a corner by awarding so many high scores early.

There wasn’t much room to improve.

But wasn't this the awesomeness you want from an Olympic competition? For the top contenders to push themselves and redefine the sport's limits in order to win?

Forehand said it was “terrifying” to stand atop the ramp before his final attempt and plan a trick he’d never done before – no one else either. “You don’t really know how it’s going to work,” he said.

What Forehand did was special, and it’s easy to just look at numbers and see “2160” for him and “1620” for Frostad and assume Forehand’s should have been rated as more difficult, because he rotated more.

But, as Forehand explained, it isn’t that simple.

“His tricks aren't a lot of rotating and a lot of spinning,” Forehand said of Frostad. “... But the way he does it and the approach on takeoff is so unique and so different. I don't think anyone has ever done (his) two tricks, either, before. It's cool to see that, and it's good for our sport. We can only spin so much.”

“It's the worst job to be a judge,” said Ralph, Forehand’s U.S. teammate. “… How do you decide what’s harder when you’ve never done anything?"

Reach sports columnist Gentry Estes at gestes@gannett.com and hang out with him on Bluesky @gentryestes.bsky.social

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mac Forehand misses Olympic big air gold but no losers in freeski duel

MILAN — Japan has a chance to sweep the women's figure skating competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

There was a lot of hype and hope that the United States trio of Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito would storm the podium, but after Tuesday's short program, only Liu has a chance to medal.

The Japanese skaters, however, are all in striking distance.

Ami Nakai is in first place (78.71 points). Kaori Sakamoto is second (77.23) and Mone Chiba finished fourth (74). Only Liu broke up their dominance with a third-place performance (76.59).

They now await Thursday's free skate to determine who takes home a medal.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Japan women's figure skating has chance to sweep Olympics podium

A wrestler in the Puyallup School District who has been accused of sexual assault will not compete at the state championships this week.

Sean Bessette, spokesperson for the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), confirmed to The News Tribune Tuesday that the athlete has withdrawn from the State Wrestling Championships, which are scheduled to take place Thursday through Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.

“I can verify that the [athlete] withdrew from the State Wrestling Championships later this week,” Bessette wrote in an email. “They were replaced by an alternate from the same WIAA District qualifying event.”

The athlete, who is allegedly transgender, has been accused of sexually assaulting a Rogers High School sophomore during a wrestling match on Dec. 6, 2025. The News Tribune previously reported that the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office has opened an investigation into the match.

The News Tribune is not naming the athlete accused of sexual assault because she is a minor and has not been convicted of a crime. The News Tribune is also not naming the sophomore who came forward about the assault, because she is a minor and an alleged victim of a sex crime.

Carly Cappetto, spokesperson for PCSO, previously told The News Tribune that a school resource officer assigned to the Puyallup School District did not learn of the incident until Jan. 30. The officer then reviewed video from the match and spoke with the alleged victim on Feb. 3, before submitting the case to the Sheriff’s Office’s sexual assault unit.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it would be investigating the Puyallup School District for allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports, allowing transgender athletes inside female locker rooms and “failing to adequately respond to allegations of sexual assault.”

Sarah Gillispie, spokesperson for the Puyallup School District, previously declined to share details or discuss specifics about the incident with The News Tribune, saying the matter is under investigation.

“What we can say is that student safety is a top priority and that all reports involving student safety are taken seriously,” Gillispie wrote in an email to The News Tribune on Feb. 10.

What happened at the December wrestling match?

Commentator Brandi Kruse released an interview with the alleged victim on Feb. 9. In a post on Kruse’s “unDivided” website, the alleged victim – a 16-year-old girl – said her opponent got on top of her during the match and pressed her fingers into her vagina.

Kruse published a 17-second video clip, which the 16-year-old’s mother recorded, that includes the moment in the match the girl said she was violated. The Rogers student appears startled and uncomfortable — judging from facial reactions she makes in the direction of her mother — when her opponent’s left arm goes between her legs. It remains there for about seven seconds as the two continue wrestling. The alleged hand contact can’t be seen because it’s obstructed from the camera’s view by the wrestlers.

In the interview, the girl said she was not aware that her opponent – who attends a different school in the Puyallup School District – was transgender until after the match, and that she would have reported it regardless.

The News Tribune previously tried to reach out to the alleged victim and her mother, but did not receive a response. The News Tribune also could not reach the family of the girl accused of sexual assault.

Cappetto previously told The News Tribune that the assault can’t be seen on video, and the investigation remains active.

News Tribune archives contributed to this report.

Two-time Olympic men's ice hockey champions Sweden will face the USA in the quarter-finals of the Milan-Cortina tournament after they beat Latvia 5-1 in a qualification playoff on Tuesday.

Sweden finished in third place in group play, forcing them to come through the play-offs.

But the Swedes, winners at the 1994 and 2006 Winter Games, had no trouble dismissing the Latvians at the Santagiulia Arena to move onto a meeting with the unbeaten Americans on Wednesday.

The other three quarter-finals also take place in a bumper day of action on Wednesday.

The Czech Republic will play Canada, the favourites for the title along with the USA, after defeating Denmark 3-2 in their qualification playoff.

Switzerland progressed to play reigning Olympic champions Finland by beating Italy 3-0.

Germany, led by 2020 National Hockey League (NHL) MVP Leon Draisaitl who opened the scoring, thrashed France 5-1 and will play Slovakia in the last eight.

Both Canada and the USA have rosters full of players from the NHL, who are playing at an Olympics for the first time since 2014.

gj/mw

Oilers' Leon Draisaitl achieves historic Team Germany Olympics feat vs. France originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Team Germany have done it. They are heading to the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics quarterfinals and a big contributor was Leon Draisaitl. The Edmonton Oilers star popped off against France which led to 5-1 stomp. They are now enroute to another international matchup to face the Juraj Slafkovsky-led Slovakia but before that Draisaitl notched a historic record.

Edmonton and Germany star etches name in Olympics history

Draisaitl has become the first German NHL player to have a three-point game at the Olympics. He got to do so by spending a game-leading 24:07 time on the ice to help guys Tim Stutzle and JJ Peterka find their groove on offense. It all paid off as these three in the same line were able to generate enough offensive pressure to prevent France from heating up at any point in the game.

The Oilers star now sets his eyes on winning against Slovakia, via Bill Price of NHL.com.

"Definitely a step in the right direction today. It's going to get harder; the tournament is getting smaller, and it's getting harder each and every round, so teams are going to get better. We know that. We're aware of that. We’ve got a big task ahead of us tomorrow, so today was a good step. And, yeah, well, we'll get ready for tomorrow," he declared.

As of the moment, Draisaitl and Stutzle have each notched six points for Germany at the Olympics. JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth has gotten four points while Frederik Tiffels has three. Each of them have been blazing at Milano Cortina but there is a big issue that they will have to face.

Fatigue plays a huge role on whether Germany makes it past Slafkovsky's Slovakia. In a span of less than 24 hours, Draisaitl and Co. will have played two games which will surely bang them up. Not to mention, their quarterfinals opponents are physical on defense, offense, and goaltending which means that they will have to go the extra mile at Milano Cortina.

Will Germany be able to replicate the same success?

More NHL and Olympics News:

• Nathan Mackinnon lauds Tom Wilson on being 'fantastic' for Canada at the Olympics

• Victor Hedman names Sweden's top need for Olympics quarterfinal berth

• Why Sweden isn't playing Rasmus Andersson or Jesper Bratt in Olympics today vs. Latvia

Giants, Bills and Browns could have interest in Lions $20 million release candidate originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Detroit Lions have seen significant turnover on their offensive line in recent years and that could very well continue in 2026.

Among the Lions' cut candidates, according to The Athletic's Colton Pouncy, is guard Graham Glasgow, who is entering the final year of his $20 million deal.

"Glasgow now enters his age-34 season, with one year left on his contract," Pouncy said. "With a post-June 1 designation, the Lions could free up $7 million in cap space by moving on. Considering the need to upgrade the center position and the youth added at guard in recent years, this makes the most sense for the team."

Glasgow has spent the vast majority of his time with the Lions at guard, but he was pushed into the starting center role last season after Frank Ragnow retired.

The results were not good. The Lions struggled to run the ball inside and Glasgow posted lackluster run-blocking and pass-blocking grades of 54.3 and 61.3, per Pro Football Focus.

Decline is a serious concern with Glasgow, as the 33-year-old has not looked the same the past two seasons.

However, a possible explanation for that was his move to center in 2025, and then his switching to left guard from right guard in 2024, which Glasgow admitted he wasn't comfortable with.

If Glasgow does hit the open market, three teams that could have interest in the veteran guard are the New York Giants, Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns.

In Cleveland, all five of the Browns' starting offensive linemen are pending free agents, which leaves the team in need of help all over. We could see Cleveland making a one-year bet on the aging interior lineman if all of the better options choose to sign elsewhere.

The Giants also have a need at guard with Greg Van Roten hitting free agency. The Giants don't have a great cap space situation, so a cheap addition like Glasgow is possible.

As for the Bills, guard David Edwards is set to be a free agent and should be paid handsomely. If Buffalo can't afford to bring him back, which is possible given the Bills' lack of cap space, a cheaper alternative like Glasgow might be necessary.

The last few years have not been good for Glasgow, no doubt, and that will likely hurt his stock in free agency.

But serviceable-at-worst guards still tend to do well on the open market and we suspect Glasgow won't have trouble finding a new home if the Lions cut him.

More NFL News

• Raiders rumor gives new life to Jim Schwartz joining Las Vegas
• Maxx Crosby trade rumors offer mixed news for Cowboys, Eagles, Pats, Seahawks
• Bills $29M cut candidate could draw interest from Broncos, Browns, Ravens
• Seahawks, Commanders, Texans could have interest in Titans cut candidate
• What Kenneth Walker franchise tag rumor means for future with Seahawks
• Steelers, Vikings could have interest in Raiders $75M cut candidate

Whenever Duke and North Carolina play each other, the matchup often determines who wins the ACC, who gets ranked in the AP Top 25 poll, who gets seeded where in March and, potentially, who lands the most coveted recruits.

No. 16 North Carolina defeated No. 3 Duke on a last-second 3-pointer from Seth Trimble to win the game in dramatic fashion. The student section rushed the court and then stormed Franklin Street, like it always does when the Tar Heels beat the Blue Devils in Chapel Hill.

Not only did the win confirm that North Carolina is here to stay as a national power, it also helped secure its future as well. Dylan Mingo, a five-star point guard from Long Island, New York, committed to the Tar Heels shortly after. According to Mingo, UNC’s thrilling victory over Duke was a big reason why.

"I chose North Carolina for North Carolina itself," Mingo said on ESPN's "First Take. "Seeing everything after they won the [Duke] game had a huge impact on my decision. It's so joyful. The players looked so joyful. If you heard Seth Trimble and Caleb Wilson, if you heard them speak after, they talked about how much they loved their community and loved North Carolina. They would do anything for it."

Dylan Mingo on why he chose #UNC: pic.twitter.com/6siyWf4Ehd

— Michael Koh (@michaelkohwchl) February 17, 2026

There has been debate the last couple of seasons about whether the Carolina-Duke rivalry has lost its luster. That perception is largely due to people holding onto nostalgia of what it used to look like, combined with Roy Williams and Mike Krzyzewski retiring in back-to-back seasons, along with the modern age of college basketball driven by the transfer portal and NIL.

However, the game still holds weight, with Mingo making his decision largely based on UNC’s win over Duke and everything that came with it.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Basketball: Dylan Mingo was swayed by Duke win

Details have emerged about the "comprehensive redesign" by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner of The Links at Spanish Bay.

On Tuesday, Pebble Beach Company and Hanse Golf Course Design revealed those plans to transform the golf course, one of four championship courses at Pebble Beach Resorts. In a news release, Pebble Beach Company said: "After the last round is played on March 17, 2026, the comprehensive redesign will elevate the course’s quality of experience to rival its illustrious neighbors along Pebble Beach’s famed 17-Mile Drive."

The announcement about the upcoming work on Spanish Bay, which opened in 1987, was reported in September 2023 and is now a month out from getting underway.

A news release states that the golf course will be entirely reworked along the Monterey Peninsula coastline. "The finished product will be more fun, playable and strategic for all golfers, while also better suited to challenge today’s elite player," said the release.

Specifically, here's what Hanse and Wagner plan to do:

• Relocate several green sites (including Nos. 14 and 18) to create room for an entirely new par 3 that will replace the current No. 13
• Expand putting greens by about 40 percent and completely resurface them
• Replace the rough in the green surrounds with low-cut turf to offer more recovery options
• Widen fairways by about 30 percent after repositioning some fairway bunkers
• Reposition and redesign tee complexes which will open sight lines. Forward tees will be reduced by about 500 yards to play at 4,705 total while the championship tees will be about 375 yards longer and will play at 7,115. Par will go from 72 to 71
• Redesign the cart paths to better blend into the landscape

The project will also improve the draining and irrigation, have 12 percent irrigated turf and there will be three more acres of environmental habitat than before.

“Working on a project like this is a golf course architect’s dream,” said Hanse, President and Lead Designer of HGCD, in a statement. “The Spanish Bay site is one of the best we’ve seen for golf, one where all your senses are stimulated by the crashing Pacific surf, and we are excited by Pebble Beach Company’s commitment to creating another extraordinary golf experience on the Monterey Peninsula. This opportunity truly brings out the golf fan in me as much as the designer.”

“We are highly confident in the HGCD team and their ability to transform Spanish Bay into a ‘must play’ course for any golfer visiting Pebble Beach," said David Stivers, CEO of the Pebble Beach Company. "We have seen a brilliant vision emerge from the planning stages and look forward to watching it take shape over the coming year.”

Pebble Beach Resorts also owns Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, Del Monte Golf Course and The Hay, a nine-hole short course designed by Tiger Woods.

The Links at Spanish Bay is scheduled to reopen for public play on April 17, 2027, about two months before the U.S. Open is held at Pebble. Pebble Beach Resort Reservations is taking bookings for The Links at Spanish Bay.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: The Links at Spanish Bay redesign will include an all-new par-3 hole

When the Seattle Seahawks signed wide receiver Cooper Kupp last spring, they inked him to an incredibly team-friendly deal. Seattle gave Kupp $26.5 million guaranteed in his three-year, $45 million contract, with $17.5 of it coming in year one. The remaining $9 million of that $26.5 was set to become fully guaranteed if Kupp was still a Seahawk five days after the conclusion of Super Bowl LX, which was Friday, February 13th.

Oh, would you look at that, we've already past that date, and Kupp is still on the roster.

If Seattle was going to cut Kupp to save some cash, they've missed their window. With the $9 million now fully guaranteed/invested in the two-time Super Bowl champion, it's a fairly strong indicator Kupp is going to be on the roster when the 2026 season comes around. Of course, there would have been no reason for them to move on from the Eastern Washington standout after only one year.

Kupp may not have lit it up statistically (his two touchdowns were a career-low, and his 593 yards and 47 receptions were the lowest since his sophomore season of 2018 when his season was cut short due to a torn ACL) but his presence on the team was felt in more ways than what shows up on a box score. Seattle had one of the youngest rosters in the league, and Kupp helping to provide veteran leadership to the team was invaluable. Not to mention he showed up in the biggest moments during the Seahawks' championship run. Kupp was actually Seattle's leading receiver in two of their playoff games, including Super Bowl LX. He also scored a touchdown against the Rams that ended up being the final points Seattle needed to win the NFC title game.

This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seahawks free agency: Cooper Kupp set to return to Seattle in 2026

Analyst gives 1 major reason Ravens could spiral in 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Baltimore Ravens will enter the offseason knowing that they have the nucleus of a Super Bowl-contending team in 2026.

Lamar Jackson, Kyle Hamilton, Derrick Henry, and Zay Flowers are the key players that Jesse Minter will have to build around.

If, and that's a big if, the Ravens can get a clean run on the health of its roster, then we can expect a significant bounce-back in 2026.

For Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame, in his latest piece, he's given a reason for fans to hope or mope ahead of the new season.

And for the Ravens, a reason to mope shines a light on something fans might not have been aware of.

"Derrick Henry is 32 years old, Lamar Jackson is 29 and has endured three notable lower-body injuries over the past five years, and All-Pro defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike’s status is unclear after injuring his neck last September," Verderame wrote.

More: Chiefs named best fit for 25-TD weapon

Is Ravens' Super Bowl window closing?

As long as you have Lamar, the window will be wide open, but there are only so many seasons left in his career.

Granted, Lamar could play until he's 40, but the mobility that has made him such a dangerous weapon will gradually leave him as he gets older.

Somehow, he's 29 years old already, and there isn't even a Super Bowl appearance on his resume.

Will that change under Minter? Given that Lamar isn't getting younger, nor is Henry, the Ravens would be wise to try to capitalize on the four-time MVP's prime.

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

Ivan Toney leaves the door open for a move back to the Premier League, Liverpool have no plans to sell Dominik Szoboszlai, but Nick Woltemade keen for a move back to the Bundesliga.

Al-Ahli's 29-year-old England striker Ivan Toney has left the door open for a move back to the Premier League. (Sky Sports)

Liverpool have no plans to sell Dominik Szoboszlai despite speculation linking the Hungary midfielder with Real Madrid, with talks progressing over a new contract for the 25-year-old. (Teamtalk)

Germany striker Nick Woltemade is unhappy at Newcastle and the 24-year-old would welcome a move back to Stuttgart or Bayern Munich.(Bild - in German)

Manchester United have no intention of lowering their £26m asking price for 28-year-old England forward Marcus Rashford, who is on loan at Barcelona. (Mail)

Nicolas Jackson and Chelsea will evaluate their options in the summer with Bayern Munich not expected to trigger an obligation to buy the 24-year-old Senegal striker during his season-long loan in Germany. (Mail - subscription required)

Sunderland will try to sign a new striker this summer to replace 25-year-old French forward Wilson Isidor, who wants to leave the club. (Football Insider)

Atletico Madrid want Argentina striker Julian Alvarez to sign a new contract but the 26-year-old's preferred destination is Barcelona.(Sport - in Spanish)

Tottenham, Crystal Palace and West Ham are among the clubs keen on signing Real Madrid's 32-year-old Germany defender Antonio Rudiger this summer. (Fichajes - in Spanish)

Nottingham Forest's 23-year-old Brazil defender Murillo has emerged as a key target for Chelsea but the Reds' asking price is around £70m.(Caught Offside)

Everton are set to reject any approach for 27-year-old English midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall this summer amid interest from Tottenham.(Football Insider)

• Get the latest on your Premier League team
• All your football quizzes in one place
• Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is poised to enter free agency this offseason. At 42 years old, Rodgers is a wildcard in the market, as he could choose to retire at any moment.

However, if Rodgers does decide to play another season, the Steelers should consider bringing him back. That said, Rodgers could also attract interest from a team looking to bolster its quarterback position to gain a competitive edge.

Mike DeFabo from The Athletic believes the Minnesota Vikings could be a player in acquiring Rodgers this offseason.

“The Vikings are the other team to keep an eye on, given Rodgers’ connection to Kevin O’Connell and J.J. McCarthy’s underwhelming play in 2025,” DeFabo wrote on Tuesday.

Minnesota took a step back last season by not re-signing quarterback Sam Darnold. Darnold went on to win the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks, while the Vikings missed the playoffs.

The Vikings are likely to bring in more competition for McCarthy this offseason. Rodgers could be the ideal quarterback to support McCarthy, as he might have the opportunity to sit behind Rodgers for a season and then aim to reclaim the starting position in 2027.

More NFL: NFL Writer Urges Steelers To Cut Pro Bowl Defensive Player This Offseason

The post Steelers Writer Names NFC Team That Could Have Interest In Aaron Rodgers This Offseason appeared first on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Texas A&M's Mike Elko reveals the biggest change he wants before college football's return originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

As college football embraces its new era of NIL and the transfer portal, many have questioned the need for a clear and singular point of leadership.  The current leadership model leaves each conference to govern themselves. The concern with that model is that it blurs the lines of protocol when more than one conference is involved.

The recent Dabo Swinney tampering press conference is a great example. In that press conference Swinney accused Ole Miss coach Pete Golding of wrongdoing. Under the current model, the ACC has no jurisdiction over the SEC. Nor would the opposite be true. Resulting in the question of how does college football, specifically the Power Four, govern itself?

On a recent appearance on The Hard Count, Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko questioned the NCAA’s leadership structure and advocated for a commissioner style model. According to Yahoo Sports, Elko questioned the current governance model. Claiming there is no centralized authority.

Elko argued that college football needs a singular decision maker. Conference realignment, NIL reform and guidelines, playoff expansion as well as changing the football calendar to coincide with the academic calendar have all been ideas debated. All of which would become easier hurdles to clear if there was a singular governing voice.

J.D. Pickell spoke with Elko and asked him if he could tweak one thing about college football, what would it be? “Put somebody in charge,” Elko said. “It’s a $1.2B industry without a singular voice making decisions for the betterment of college football.”

“I think until we get that, we will continue to flounder within some of those areas,” Elko continued. “What’s best for the SEC isn’t always what’s best for the other conferences. At some point, we’re going to have to have somebody making rules for the betterment of college football, enforcement of rules and all of it.”

More: Sacramento State's move to the MAC has everyone talking — For all the wrong reasons

Elko’s comments fall right in line with similar comments made by Nick Saban, James Franklin, Lane Kiffin, Deion Sanders, Chip Kelly, Gus Malzahn, Sonny Dykes, Mike Gundy and Ryan Day.

Gundy and Sanders have both advocated for not only a Power Four commissioner, but an NFL-forward model. Franklin and others have even advocated for Nick Saban to take on that role as someone every coach and program would respect. 

More:Nebraska finally admits Big Ten hasn't worked and wanted out

Despite repeated mentions by coaches for the need of a singular college football commissioner, the NCAA has made no announcements or had publicly aware conversations about this topic in any official capacity.

More college football news: 

• Oregon's Dan Lanning rips College Football Playoff, calls for major changes
• Deion Sanders buyout, contract details as Colorado Buffaloes coach
• Former Colorado All-American blasts Deion Sanders and son
• Dabo Swinney fires Clemson coaches immediately after loss to Penn State
• Ohio State's Ryan Day faces backlash after Cotton Bowl

Midfielder’s future message sent at crucial stage of the season

Is Dominik Szoboszlai considering a move to Real Madrid? His agent responds

Dominik Szoboszlai’s agent rejected Real Madrid transfer talk saying the midfielder is focused on Liverpool this season.

Agent sends clear message to Madrid

Speculation linking Real Madrid with Dominik Szoboszlai has been firmly played down by the player’s agent, Matyas Esterhazy.

Speaking on the NB1 YouTube channel, Esterhazy said transfer rumors are normal when player performs well but made it clear that summer move is not being considered at this stage.

His comments come after reports suggested interest from Real Madrid fuelled by public remarks from Vinicius Junior about regular contact with the Liverpool midfielder.

“This Is Not the Time”

Esterhazy stressed that the focus remains on the current campaign with Liverpool. He explained that the season is at critical point, with Liverpool competing in the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League.

According to the agent, Szoboszlai has repeatedly spoken about how important the Champions League is to him.

For that reason, discussing possible summer moves now is not appropriate. Esterhazy added that Liverpool are one of the biggest clubs in the world and that the Hungarian midfielder has an important role in the squad.

The midfielder is under contract at Liverpool until 2028. However recent reports have suggested there has been no major progress in renewal talks.

In England, Ruud Gullit is widely regarded as a Chelsea icon, yet his career might have taken a very different path had he accepted an approach from Arsenal as a teenager.

Growing up in the Netherlands, Gullit’s footballing ability was evident from an early age, attracting attention from across Europe. Even as a youngster, he displayed qualities that would later define him as one of the finest players of his generation. Arsenal were among the clubs keen to secure his signature and support his development.

Early Interest From Arsenal

The Gunners were one of several sides interested in the talented schoolboy and made their intentions clear. Gullit appreciated the recognition but felt the timing was not right to make such a significant move. He believed the interest arrived too early in his career and was reluctant to leave his surroundings at that stage.

He would later go on to represent some of the world’s biggest clubs, including AC Milan, establishing himself as one of the most accomplished players of his era. However, he has now revealed that Arsenal’s approach came during his formative years, when he was still shaping his future in the game.

Credit: Steve Munday/ALLSPORT

Gullit Explains His Decision

Speaking via Metro Sport, Gullit reflected on the opportunity and explained why he chose not to join the north London club. He said:

‘When I was at HFC Haarlem at the age of 17, I heard that Arsenal wanted to sign me.

‘Liam Brady was a scout at the club at the time, and I was made aware of their interest in bringing me to Highbury. There were talks between the two clubs.

‘It was a privilege that such a big club were interested in me at that age, but it was too early for me at that stage in my career, so I turned them down.

‘I just didn’t want to move to the club at that particular point in time.

‘I ended up spending a few more years at Haarlem before moving to Feyenoord, which felt like the right move for me.’

Gullit’s remarks highlight how close Arsenal came to signing a player who would later become one of European football’s most celebrated figures.

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Ruud Gullit reveals why he didn’t join Arsenal when they came calling

17 February 2026, 23:00

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17 February 2026, 22:00

Arsenal interest is scaring club into offering a new deal to player

17 February 2026, 21:00

Gordon Ryan may have hit the mats for the last time.

The all-time grappling great appeared to announce a retirement from competition on Monday, writing on Instagram, “For now, I can confidently say, I am done.” The 30-year-old cited his frustration with recurring stomach health issues as his reason for stepping away.

See Ryan’s post below.

Ryan is widely considered one of the best grapplers of this generation, having won numerous competitions around the world over the past 15 years. He holds wins over a litany of notable contemporaries, including longtime rival Felipe Pena, Nick Rodriguez, Andre Galvao, Marcus Buchecha, Garry Tonon, and Craig Jones.

However, Ryan’s health issues have limited his appearances in recent years and he has not competed since a win over Josh Saunders in June 2024.

“Today marks 10 years at black belt, 10 years on top of the sport, and the probable end to my competitive career,” Ryan wrote. “As many of you know, I’ve had this debilitating and seemingly unfixable stomach issue since recurring staph infections/antibiotics wiped out my good gut biome. Without going into too much boring detail, the problem has gone through phases of better and worse over the years, and has now morphed into a multitude of new problems, including me just getting sick or staph whenever I train hard and compromise my immune system in any way. Because of these issues, I have not been able to train or lift hard since January of 2024, as I just begin dry heaving immediately when I do.

“I competed in ADCC with no camp, at 10 percent of how I should have been operating, and I have seen no improvement in my condition since. This, of course, has been immensely frustrating, as my technical skills are far better than ever, my body is otherwise very healthy, and I’m only 30 (10 years from my prime). I have so much more left to give if I could just fix this one issue.”

Ryan concluded his statement by writing that he is focusing on solving his health issues and growing his gym. He did not rule out a return to competition in the future, and added he hopes to have two more matches against Vinny Magalhaes and then a proper retirement bout against Pena.

Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior has allegedly been the victim of yet more lamentable racial abuse on the football pitch during Los Blancos clash with Benfica in the Champions League play-off round. This time it appears to have come from one of the players on the pitch with him.

Vinicius opened the scoring in remarkable fashion just five minutes after the break, picking out the top corner for the opening goal. The Brazilian enjoyed the celebrations, but went overboard according to the referee, and was promptly booked by referee Francois Letexier. However the arguing did not stop there.

Referee activates anti-racism protocol

As the players returned to the centre of the pitch to take the kick-off, Vinicius and Gianluca Prestianni were involved in a continuance of the arguments that had broken out after Real Madrid’s celebrations. Prestianni, with his shirt over his mouth, said something to Vinicius, after which Vinicius ran to the referee and told him about it. Letexier then activated the anti-racism protocol.

When Vinicius went to tell the referee about it, it seemed he was saying the word ‘monkey’ [mono] to Letexier.

Game stops for ten minutes

As the fallout continued, Vinicius was seen speaking first to manager Alvaro Arbeloa, and then Jose Mourinho. After conversing with both, Vinicius then went to sit on the bench for several minutes, as Letexier went over to explain the sequence to the managers. During that time, one of Benfica’s staff members was sent off.

Following a break of around ten minutes, Vinicius and the Real Madrid players then returned to the pitch, with Prestianni on it. Following the match, neither Alvaro Arbeloa nor any of the Real Madrid players confirmed what Vinicius had allegedly said, but all called for significant action against Prestianni. Jose Mourinho has since said that Prestianni has disputed Vinicius’ claim.

Marc Cucurella’s role as an inverted full back was a hallmark feature of Enzo Maresca’s time as Chelsea boss. Things have changed.

Jason Cundy was on TalkSport this morning speaking very positively about Liam Rosenior’s impact at Chelsea.

He picked out one tactical switch that’s already quite clear from Enzo Maresca’s time in charge.

Cundy on the Cucurella shift used by Rosenior in his first month

Marc Cucurella battles for possession against Wolves. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

“The inverted full-back is less obvious for me, even though they do and can come inside,” Cundy said.

“But it’s not what we saw with Cucurella [under Maresca] where he’s come in and literally been another striker, it’s a slightly toned-down version of that.”

It’s true, to an extent, but if you’d seen what Cucurella’s replacement Jorrel Hato was doing on Friday night against Hull, you wouldn’t be saying the role has changed that much.

Still, there’s no doubt that our style has changed, and that our formation is now build to get players like Enzo Fernandez and the wingers into dangerous positions rather than relying on Cucurella to join the front line.

You can see Cundy speaking in the Chelsea show on TalkSport embedded here:

The players are away on holidays for the most part now, but this week will finally give Rosenior a little more time on the training pitch when they’re back. There are a couple of free midweeks to come in the near future, and it will be really interesting to see what other innovations the new boss is working on.

In other news…

Enzo Fernandez is having a great season, and the stats show it. He’s top of the league in a key statistic.

Mamadou Sarr made a promising first start for Chelsea – but how many more will he get before the season is out?

Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:

VfB Stuttgart face Celtic in a two-legged playoff tie after finishing outside the top eight in the league phase. However, Sebastian Hoeneß’s side will have the home advantage for next week’s return leg.

Celtic

After Aberdeen’s unsuccessful effort the previous season, Hearts are trying their best to end the dominance of Celtic and Rangers in the Scottish Premiership. It’ll be the first time either of the two giants will not be crowned champions if the league leaders maintain their form in the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the legendary Martin O'Neill managed to keep Celtic’s European dreams alive with four points in the last two games of the league phase. The 4-2 victory over Utrecht just about confirmed their place in the playoff spot as one of the unseeded teams.

Stuttgart

As for Stuttgart, Chema Andrés’ late goal against Young Boys secured a fifth Europa League win of the season at the end of last month. However, they have missed out on automatic qualification to the Round of 16 by a single point.

Stuttgart also relied on late goals in their rollercoaster 3-1 win over Köln on Sunday. Their focus will now be back on the continental front before the game away at bottom-placed Heidenheim. The Swabians last reached the Round of 16 in the Europa League in the 2012-13 season.

This is incidentally their first campaign back in the Europa League proper since getting knocked out by Lazio back then. Similarly, in their only previous meetup, Stuttgart were eliminated by Celtic in the Round of 16 stage back when the competition was called the UEFA Cup in 2002-03.

Team News

There are no new injuries in Stuttgart’s squad as Nikolas Nartey could even return to the side after missing the last couple of Bundesliga games. January signing Jeremy Arévalo is not named in the Bundesliga side’s revised Europa League teamsheet. Deniz Undav and Ermedin Demirović will be expected to start once again after scoring the goals in the weekend’s win.

Arne Engels, who joined the record champions from Augsburg at the start of last season, is among the list of Celtic players who will miss the game due to an injury. Meanwhile, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be unavailable since the transfer went through after the deadline date for submitting the Europa League squad.

Predicted Lineups

Celtic: Schmeichel; Araujo, Trusty, Scales, Tierney; Nygren, McGregor ©, Hatate; Yang, Maeda, Tounekti

Stuttgart: Nübel; Vagnoman, Jeltsch, Chabot, Mittelstädt; Karazor ©, Stiller; Leweling, Undav, Führich; Demirovic

We can add former Bayern Munich and Germany great Lothar Matthäus to the list of folks who think that FC Bayern and Konrad Laimer need to find a way to get a deal done.

“I think the team performed worst in the three or four games without him. Laimer is outstanding as a right-back, which isn’t actually his position, and he also makes an impact going forward. He forms a duo with Michael Olise, similar to Philipp Lahm and Arjen Robben,” Matthäus wrote in his column for Sky Germany (as captured by Abendzeitung). “He feels comfortable in Munich. Why would he choose to go abroad for half a million or a million more, where he would first have to settle in and prove himself again? A professional for whom football is paramount likes to play for a club where everyone has fun and enjoys themselves, and where titles are won. You get all that at FC Bayern, and the quality of life in Munich isn’t so bad either.”

BFW Commentary

Matthäus seems to be echoing a point made in last week’s Weekend Warm-up — Laimer and Bayern are just better together — and Laimer is more valuable to Bayern Munich than he would be elsewhere.

Will the two sides be able to get a deal done?

If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…

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Good afternoon!

Here is today’s roundup of the latest news, rumors, and analysis on your Jacksonville Jaguars.

Local links

Study up before your next trip to the watercooler.

Jaguars Mock Draft Roundup 02/17: The Draft Starts In The Second Round (Big Cat Country)

With the newness of this year’s draft setup for Jacksonville, we will take a look at what draft pundits think the Jags should be towards the end of the second round. Cleveland owns the rights to the Jags first rounder this year as part of the Travis Hunter trade, so Liam Coen and James Gladstone will have to sit tight for a while before beginning their second draft as a tandem.

How did the rise of Parker Washington save the Jaguars on third down? (Action Sports Jax)

After the bye, Washington seemingly attained football enlightenment. Despite ranking 59th in third-down snaps, Washington ranked 3rd in yards (243), 1st in yards per reception (27.0), 1st in yards after catch (109), 3rd in YAC per reception (12.1), and 1st in explosive plays (7) among receivers.

3 Teams Who Make Sense for a Walker Little Trade (Jaguars on SI)

Like the Lions and Browns, the Jaguars have some experience dealing with the Las Vegas Raiders’ front office. They made early contact with them about Jakobi Meyers during training camp and then pulled the trigger at the trade deadline to give both sides what they wanted. Unlike the Lions and Browns, the Raiders have a quality left tackle in Kolton Miller, but they need more.

Dream Offseason Trade Scenario for Every NFL Team (Bleacher Report)

The Green Bay Packers could look to trade Wyatt if they don’t intend to offer him an extension before his contract expires in 2027. With that being a possibility, former Packers linebacker coach and defensive run-game coordinator Anthony Campanile may push for a reunion via trade. In 2025, the Jaguars allowed the fewest rushing yards, but they finished 27th in sacks. Wyatt can make an impact on passing downs as a disruptive interior defender who gets after the quarterback.

2026 NFL free agency: Best team fits for the top 50 players (ESPN)

Under Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, Lloyd had a career-best five interceptions, taking one back for a score. That type of on-the-ball production at linebacker will garner interest in free agency, but I have Lloyd sticking with a Jacksonville unit that ranked top 10 in both scoring and run defense.

Highest-graded QBs from the 2025 NFL season: Matthew Stafford takes the top spot (PFF)

The 2025 season was pivotal for Lawrence to prove he could live up to the billing of his draft status. While it took some time for Lawrence to become acclimated to Liam Coen’s offense, once he found his footing, he was dangerous. From Week 13 through the end of the postseason, Lawrence generated a 92.6 overall PFF grade, the highest by any quarterback over that span.

Why Travis Hunter’s full-time switch to cornerback aligns with PFF grades (PFF)

Jacksonville gave Hunter opportunities on both sides of the ball straight away, with some definite bias toward playing wide receiver, but the early results tilted towards a full-time position on defense. Hunter played 323 offensive snaps in his rookie season, earning a 62.2 PFF offensive grade. On defense, he logged 162 snaps and posted a 73.2 PFF defensive grade.

Editor’s pick

Drumroll, please!

Buccaneers WR Mike Evans will return for 2026, explore free agency (NFL.com)

The news of Evans’ intent to continue playing confirms what his teammate, quarterback Baker Mayfield , said in late January: Evans still has ” more in the tank. ” Whether the Buccaneers have enough money in the bank to convince Evans to finish his career in the only place he’s ever known in his NFL career, however, remains to be seen.

Must-see media

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Let us know your thoughts in the comments below — and be sure to check our social media and The Feed for more Jaguars conversation!

During the Champions League playoff duel between Benfica and Real Madrid, football took a backseat. After the Royals took a 1-0 lead in the 50th minute, the game was interrupted for more than ten minutes. 

Background: Goal scorer Vinicius Junior visibly emotional approached referee Francois Letexier. Since he shortly thereafter triggered the racism protocol and stopped the match, it is likely that Vinicius complained about a racist comment from Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni.

The crux: While Prestianni was speaking to the Real star, he held his jersey over his mouth. Thus, Letexier lacked the necessary evidence to penalize Prestianni. However, given this conspicuous action, it is obvious that the Argentine expressed himself offensively.

In any case, the Madrilenians made serious accusations against their opponent after the final whistle. Captain Federico Valverde stated: “When you cover your mouth with your shirt while speaking, you obviously want to say something really ugly.” Prestianni uttered a word “that should never be used. What he said was pathetic."

Real coach Álvaro Arbeloa expressed similar sentiments. “Ask Prestianni what he said," he raged. “This is unacceptable. We cannot accept such things.”

Kylian Mbappé was even more specific. Speaking to 'TNT Sports', he said: “Number 25, whose name I don't want to mention because he doesn't deserve it, started saying unacceptable words, but then covered his mouth with his jersey so the cameras couldn't see, and said five times to Vini that he was a monkey."

Vinicius, who was almost continuously booed and had cups thrown at him by the spectators after the interruption, immediately returned to attack mode after the match. “Bernabeu, see you there!!!!!" he wrote meaningfully on 'Instagram'. The famous and notorious Real stadium will host the return match next Wednesday.

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

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Former Bills wide receiver announces retirement from NFL after 13 seasons originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

After 12 seasons in the NFL, a former Buffalo Bills wide receiver is calling it quits.

According to a post on social media, veteran wide receiver Robert Woods has announced he is retiring from the NFL.

The Los Angeles Rams also revealed that Woods is signing a one-day contract in order to retire with the team he won a Super Bowl with.

"After 27 unforgettable years of pouring my heart into this game, and 13 incredible years in the NFL – It's time for me to step away from playing the sport that has given me everything," Woods said on Instagram. "Football has never been a game to me – it has been my passion, my purpose, and my lifelong dream. I cherished every moment my cleats touched the grass. Every time I stepped onto the field, I was determined to leave a piece of myself in every snap."

Woods was a second-round pick of the Bills in 2013 and spent four seasons with the team while posting solid, reliable production.

Woods' career took off in Los Angeles, where he posted two 1,000-yard campaigns, including 1,219 yards in 2018 and 1,134 yards in 2019. He also won a Super Bowl during the 2021 campaign.

After five seasons with the Rams, Woods was traded to the Tennessee Titans, where he spent one season. Woods played his final snaps in the NFL over two seasons with the Houston Texans in 2023 and 2024.

Woods tried to give it a go for a 13th season and latched on with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025, but he didn't make it past cutdown day and never signed with another team after that.

Woods will no doubt go down as a franchise great for the Rams and one of the true good guys to play in the NFL.

More NFL News

• Mike Evans announcement is good news for Steelers, Bills, Broncos, 49ers
• Raiders rumor gives new life to Jim Schwartz joining Las Vegas
• Maxx Crosby trade rumors offer mixed news for Cowboys, Eagles, Pats, Seahawks
• Bills $29M cut candidate could draw interest from Broncos, Browns, Ravens
• Seahawks, Commanders, Texans could have interest in Titans cut candidate
• Steelers, Vikings could have interest in Raiders $75M cut candidate

The future of AJ Styles, despite what was advertised as his final match due to his loss to GUNTHER at the 2026 Royal Rumble, remains up for debate amongst fans, especially as a tribute to the "Phenomenal One" was announced for "WWE Raw" next Monday in his home state of Georgia. Many believe he could continue to wrestle on a much lighter schedule in TNA, due to the promotion's partnership with WWE that has been in place since the beginning of 2025. One former WWE star, and current TNA talent, Matt Hardy, said on his "Extreme Life of Matt Hardy" podcast he believes Styles will "come home" to TNA.

"In a perfect world, I would like to see AJ Styles return to his home, to TNA," Hardy said. "It's a little selfish for me to ask that, but I know he loves TNA. He feels at home at TNA and right now, TNA is in a position where AJ Styles could greatly elevate the company and he would be a big deal there... I know he is at that point where he's winding down, he doesn't want to work all the time, but there are some matches there that I know he would love to have."

Hardy said that he feels like Styles, despite being a little older at 48, is "so good and healthy," and is in "phenomenal" condition. The TNA Tag Team Champion said he believes Styles can still go at a very high level, and will end up going to TNA to have a few matches, including one previously teased with Frankie Kazarian, a bout that Hardy speculated didn't happen due to the WWE side of things, despite Styles being up for it.

Read more: Why WWE Won't Rehire These Current Wrestlers

AJ Styles in AEW?

Hardy said he's sure there are wrestling fans and others who would love to see Styles do something in AEW, as Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels, stars closely linked to the "Phenomenal One's" TNA career, are there. Hardy, who also previously worked for AEW, said that if the company's president, Tony Khan, wants someone to join his company badly enough, he is willing to pay a lot of money to bring someone in. He doesn't think Styles' final match will be in AEW, however.

"If I'm a guessing guy, I still think people who have never worked with WWE, people who have grown up loving pro wrestling and wanting to become a pro wrestler, and they probably got turned on to pro wrestling because of WWE in some way, shape or form, there's just such a loyalty that's still connected with WWE and appreciation about it," Hardy explained. "I guess it just depends on how much of that AJ has now when it's all said and done.

If Styles does make his way back to TNA, Hardy said he doesn't think he'll be at every TV taping or working full-time. He said he sees Styles being more of a part-timer, who comes in to make a big appearance to pop the crowd and increase viewership and ratings.

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit "The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy" and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

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League One

Burton Albion 1 - 0 Rotherham United FT

Tyrese Shade's 11th goal of the season was enough to settle a scrappy encounter with Rotherham as Burton lifted themselves out of the League One relegation zone with a 1-0 win.

Burton grew into the game after a slow start, with Rotherham looking to capitalise on any tiredness in the Brewers squad having played 120 minutes against Premier League club West Ham in the FA Cup at the weekend.

But Shade remained as sharp as a tack midway through the first half. Jake Beesley's ball into the box was scuffed by Kyran Lofthouse with Shade on hand to tuck home into the bottom corner.

Lofthouse came close in the opening seconds of the second half with Cameron Dawson coming to his side's rescue as he saved with his legs.

The visitors were almost gifted an equaliser when goalkeeper Brad Collins raced from his goal but was beaten to the ball by Sam Nombe who could not find the empty net from wide on the right.

Nombe continued to look the Millers' best chance for an equaliser but a header and wayward shot both failed to beat Collins.

Shade rippled the side netting with a snapshot late on as Albion tried to put the game to bed but a first win in six was secured.

Report supplied by PA Media.

Rams Super Bowl champion, former 1000-yard receiver announces retirement originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

A member of the Los Angeles Rams' 2021 Super Bowl team called it a career on Tuesday,

Robert Woods announced on social media that he is retiring from the NFL after 13 seasons. The Rams also announced that Woods signed a one-day contract to retire with the franchise that he spent five years with.

"After 27 unforgettable years of pouring my heart into this game, and 13 incredible years in the NFL – It's time for me to step away from playing the sport that has given me everything," Woods said on Instagram. "Football has never been a game to me – it has been my passion, my purpose, and my lifelong dream. I cherished every moment my cleats touched the grass. Every time I stepped onto the field, I was determined to leave a piece of myself in every snap."

During his 13-year career, Woods played for five franchises, but he's best known for his time in Los Angeles and with the Buffalo Bills. The 33-year-old tallied two 1,000-yard seasons, both coming with the Rams.

Woods began his career in 2013 as a second-round pick by the Bills. 

The USC product last appeared in an NFL game in 2024 with the Houston Texans. He spent some time on the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice squad in 2025, but didn't play a single snap before requesting his release in September.

We congratulate Woods for a fantastic NFL career and wish him the best of luck in his post-playing days.

Ric Tapia via Getty Images

Robert Woods is calling it a career after nearly a decade and a half in the NFL.

The veteran wide receiver announced his retirement Tuesday via Instagram, following a season he spent out of the league after the Pittsburgh Steelers released him in August.

"It's time for me to step away from playing the sport that has given me everything," Woods said. "Football has never just been a game to me — it has been my passion, my purpose, and my lifelong dream. I cherished every moment my cleats touched the grass. Every time I stepped onto the field, I was determined to leave a piece of myself in every snap."

The Los Angeles Rams later announced Woods, an LA native, would be retiring as a Ram.

Woods entered the NFL as a second-round pick for the Buffalo Bills after an All-American career at USC. He spent the early stage of his career as a starter on a run-heavy offense, then found his greatest success when he signed with the Rams in 2017.

By receiving yards, Woods posted the four best seasons of his career in his first four seasons with Sean McVay, working as a dangerous No. 2 receiver behind Cooper Kupp. He was on his way to another strong seasons in 2021 when he tore his ACL, leaving the hole that was filled by Odell Beckham Jr. during the Rams' Super Bowl LVI run.

The Rams traded Woods a month after winning the championship and he spent the remainder of his career with a diminishing role on the Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans and Steelers. Despite two 1,000-yard seasons, he was never selected to the Pro Bowl.

Many may still consider the Dallas Cowboys "America's Team," but for a nearly twenty year period, a strong argument was made that the New England Patriots took over that mantle, thanks to the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick dynasty. As a result, many people outside of the New England bubble became fans of the team. This includes AEW star and current Ring of Honor Women's Pure Champion Deonna Purrazzo, though as it turns out, winning was only part of the reason the New Jersey native rooted for the team.

Appearing on the February 9 episode of "Busted Open Radio" alongside former TNA co-worker Tasha Steelz, Purrazzo revealed her Patriots fandom. She also admitted that it came about not for the right reasons, citing cheerleader, the Patriots winning, and them being the favorite team of future WWE Hall of Famer John Cena, who Purrazzo had a massive crush on at the time.

"If you want to call me a fraud, by all means, because I was a cheerleader in the early 2000s being forced to learn about football, so I could call the proper cheers," Purrazzo said. "And they [the New England Patriots] just happened to be the dynasty and keep winning. And I was like 'Wait a second, John Cena likes that team. They win. And one day, I'm going to marry John Cena. And if I like that team, then we'll have something in common, so he'll like me too.' And then I liked them."

Ultimately, Purrazzo's love for Cena subsided, even if her Patriots fandom did not. In the end, it seems to have still worked out just fine for Purrazzo, as she married fellow wrestler, TNA star Steve Maclin, back in November 2022.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit "Busted Open Radio" and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription

Read more: 5 Wrestlers Worse Off After Leaving WWE

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Read the original article on Wrestling Inc.

Former Houston Texans wideout Robert Woods is calling it a career.

Woods, who spent two years in Houston as a veteran presence in a rebuilding environment, announced his retirement after 13 NFL seasons. He penned his goodbye and signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Los Angeles Rams.

"After 27 unforgettable years of pouring my heart into this game, and 13 incredible years in the NFL – It's time for me to step away from playing the sport that has given me everything," Woods said in a post on his Instagram account. "Football has never been a game to me – it has been my passion, my purpose, and my lifelong dream. I cherished every moment my cleats touched the grass. Every time I stepped onto the field, I was determined to leave a piece of myself in every snap."

Veteran wide receiver Robert Woods announced on Instagram that, after 13 seasons, he is retiring from the NFL. pic.twitter.com/uOuhEr5Q1g

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 17, 2026

A former second-round pick out of USC by the Buffalo Bills, Woods really hit his stride when he signed with the Rams in 2017, returning to the West Coast for the first time in four years. During his five seasons in L.A., he has most productive stretch of his career, totaling 367 receptions for 4,626 yards and 23 touchdowns in that span.

While he didn't play in the Rams' Super Bowl win over the Cincinnati Bengals, he did claim a ring. After that, Woods was traded from the Rams to the Titans. A year later, he signed a two-year deal with the Texans, totaling 60 catches for 629 yards and a touchdown.

We've signed @robertwoods to a one-day contract to retire as a Ram. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/Jm8jtxexKS

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) February 17, 2026

Woods spent last season on the Pittsburgh Steelers' roster but did not record a snap.

Woods finishes his NFL career with 683 receptions for 8,233 yards and 38 touchdowns across those 12 seasons, starting in 145 of 171 regular-season games played.

The Texans own nine picks in April's draft.

This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Former Texans WR Robert Woods announces retirement after 13 seasons

Real Madrid earned a small lead in their Champions League play-off tie with Benfica on a testing night in Lisbon.

Vinicius Jr scored a brilliant second half goal to secure the win and earn Real a one-goal lead to take into their next leg thanks to a curling, dipping strike from the just outside the penalty area on the left side.

But, his strike will be overshadowed by the scenes that followed with Vinicius firstly being shown a yellow card for an exuberant celebration in front of the home fans before the Brazilian then reported an alleged racist comment made against him to the referee.

That resulted in an 11-minute stoppage before the match resumed and Benfica boss Jose Mourinho was sent off for receiving two yellow cards in the game. Madrid host Benfica for the second leg at the Bernabeu next Wednesday.

Over in Turkey, Galatasaray and Juventus played out a seven-goal thriller but it was the home side who took the spoils with a 5-2 victory at RAMS Park.

Gabriel Sara opened the scoring for the hosts before a brace from Teun Koopmeiners saw the Serie A side equalise and then take the lead heading into the half time break.

Second halfgoals from Noa Lang, Davinson Sanchez and Sacha Boey sent Galatasaray into an huge lead and they will travel to Turin with a three-goal lead.

In Germany, striker Serhou Guirassy scored one goal and created another as Borussia Dortmund claimed a 2-0 victory over Atalanta.

The match kicked off 15 minutes late as the Dortmund team bus was caught in traffic, but they were fast out of the blocks as Guirassy put the home side in front inside three minutes with a header at the back post. Max Beier doubled the lead in the 42nd minute with that goal enough to earn victory for the German side.

Finally, Champions League holders Paris Saint Germain overcame a horror start and a two-goal deficit to beat 10-man Monaco 3-2 away from home.

Desire Doue came off the bench to spark the comeback and netted two goals and setting one up for Achraf Hakimi to earn a win for the French champions.

Monaco spent most of the second half down to 10 men after Aleksandr Golovin was shown a red card for a studs-up tackle on Vitinha with the referee upgrading his original caution to a sending off after consulting the touchline VAR screen..

The European champions host the return leg in Paris next Wednesday.

Raffaele Palladino maintains Atalanta can turn the Champions League play-off around with Borussia Dortmund, as it’s ‘only the first half,’ and reveals the cause of tension with Nico Kovac.

It was a bad start in Dortmund, partly because kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes when the hosts were late getting to the stadium due to a traffic jam.

That didn’t seem to affect them, as they scored within three minutes thanks to Serhou Guirassy’s towering header, then the same player set up Maximilian Beier for 2-0 just before half-time.

Palladino trusts Atalanta can fight back

DORTMUND, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 17: Nicola Zalewski of Atalanta is challenged by Waldemar Anton of Borussia Dortmund during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta BC at BVB Stadion Dortmund on February 17, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Pau Barrena/Getty Images)

Atalanta were forced into changes in Dortmund, as this week both Giacomo Raspadori and Charles De Ketelaere were ruled out for at least a month by injuries.

“We mustn’t talk about who isn’t here, but instead concentrate on who did play,” Palladino told Sky Sport Italia.

“It’s a pity we were 1-0 down right from the start, because we knew Borussia Dortmund are a very good team with strong individuals who can attack the space, they put in a cross and we didn’t mark properly on that goal.”

Fabio Capello in the Sky Sport Italia studio warned that playing man for man with that Dortmund attack was a recipe for disaster.

“I agree with that analysis, it’s true that their strikers have a lot of technical and physical qualities,” replied Palladino.

“I was struck by their midfielders too, they are complete players. However, our mentality must be to have courage. We studied our opponents, these matches are also helpful to understand our strengths and their strengths.

“It won’t be easy to turn this around, but I believe, the fans will be pushing us on, and this is why we love football, because it gives you the opportunity to turn things around.”

DORTMUND, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 17: Gianluca Scamacca of Atalanta is challenged by Waldemar Anton of Borussia Dortmund during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta BC at BVB Stadion Dortmund on February 17, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

Gianluca Scamacca made his return to the starting XI this evening, but seemed visibly rusty, as Nikola Krstovic was livelier when replacing him for the second half.

“We made too many errors and got stuck going down one flank, we were too predictable, too slow moving it around, but we did much better in the second half, with more possession, more movement, more options in attack, more spaces opening up.

“I got the feeling we were in a position to create something in attack, but we were lacking a little quality in the final third, with the final pass. There were things we didn’t do well tonight, we’ll analyse them with the lads and do better next time.

“Also don’t forget we were up against a strong side that is second in the Bundesliga, only six points behind Bayern Munich. I am sad about the result, but I also note they had only two shots on target and scored both of them. We have to think positive, our dream is to go through, and if we don’t manage it, we’ll know that we gave our all. There are many young players in this squad who gained experience from this for the future.”

DORTMUND, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 17: Maximilian Beier of Borussia Dortmund celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta BC at BVB Stadion Dortmund on February 17, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

It means La Dea have a mountain to climb in the second leg in Bergamo on Wednesday February 25, as they need to win by two clear goals just to force extra time in the Champions League play-off.

“This was just the first half, the second is on our home turf, and just as they put two goals past us this evening, we can do the same in Bergamo,” insisted Palladino.

“The lads know what we need to do, we will get back on our feet and certainly play the second leg with great intensity.”

DORTMUND, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 17: Niko Kovac, Head Coach of Borussia Dortmund, speaks to the media prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta BC at BVB Stadion Dortmund on February 17, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Pau Barrena/Getty Images)

There seemed to be some tension at the final whistle when Palladino stormed off and didn’t shake hands with Borussia Dortmund coach Kovac.

“I don’t like protesting, they were complaining for every single thing on the touchline. I try to leave the referees to do their job, in good and bad, so I just told him he ought to let the referees get on with it.”

The Dallas Cowboys hoped to be able to turn a project into a player when they signed defensive lineman Earnest Brown in 2024. After spending three years in Los Angeles with the Rams, he spent time in 2024 on the practice squads of both the San Francisco 49ers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. At the end of a lost season for both teams, the Cowboys signed Brown off the Bucs practice squad to the main roster.

He ended up sticking with the Cowboys into training camp, and although he was released after the preseason, the team re-signed him and kept him on the practice squad for the entirety of the 2025 campaign. He was never called into action, though, as the team remade their defensive tackle rotation on the fly. Brown seemingly made an impression on his coaching staff, as his former defensive line coach has brought him with him to his new team.

Brown has signed with the Tennessee TItans, where he will reunite with DL coach Aaron Whitecotton.

Former Cowboys DT Earnest Brown has signed with the Tennessee Titans. Reunites with Aaron Whitecotton after narrowly missing out on making the 53-man roster coming out of training camp.

— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) February 17, 2026

The Cowboys ended up with a rather deep cadre of defensive tackles by the end of the 2025 season. A position that started the offseason with a ton of question marks, added Perrion Winfrey early in the spring, Kenny Clark late in the summer and Quinnen Williams mid-season to completely revamp the depth chart. The additions revamped what many thought would be a porous unit and made them rather competitive up the middle of their defensive line.

Brown has appeared in 15 games across his career, and will be looking to notch his first sack if he is able to suit up in a regular season game under new head coach Robert Saleh.

This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Titans sign former Cowboys DL Earnest Brown, reuniting with DL coach

Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano was arguably the biggest women's fight in MMA a decade ago. A little later than ideal, it seems fans are being treated to a nostalgic fantasy bout when the two pillars of WMMA collide later this year.

'Rowdy' has found success in the WWE and several other business ventures since confirming her departure from the UFC 10 years ago. After spending a good portion of her life away from mixed martial arts, with no true sign of a return, the 39-year-old recently announced that she would be making her way back into the cage, against an old foe.

Aside from a loss to Cris Cyborg, Gina Carano has been flawless in combat sports. Carano cemented herself as a powerhouse throughout her career and competed at a higher weight class than Rousey, giving her a clear weight and power advantage.

The Rousey vs. Carano announcement came as a total surprise, but it has fans already discussing who will come out on top.

"Been waiting so long to announce this," Rousey said on social media. "Me and Gina Carano are gonna throw down in the biggest super fight in women's combat sport history!"

"And we're partnering with the fighter-first promotion, Most Valuable Promotions, as well as the baddest streamer on the planet, Netflix! This is for all MMA fans, past, present, and future. More to come. Much More."

The news was met with criticism from Rousey's long-term rival, Cris Cyborg.

🤡 all those years of ducking me at 145 when we were both in our prime?!

I thought you had CTE or something?

— CrisCy₿org.Com (@criscyborg) February 17, 2026

Also joining the conversation were notable UFC and combat sports athletes, most of whom loved the fight reveal.

Conor McGregor reacts to the news of Rousey and Carano returning to MMA pic.twitter.com/leAjMYT4OF

— The Mac Life (@TheMacLife) February 17, 2026

WOW https://t.co/MOS66B4k3w

— Invicta FC (@InvictaFights) February 17, 2026

Damn they really put RONDA ROUSEY vs. GINA CARANO together ! I’m intrigued 🔥🔥🔥

— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) February 17, 2026

Surreal moment. I started taking judo because of Ronda Rousey. Now I get to work with her and Gina Carano to bring MMA to Netflix. Here we go…@MostVpromotionspic.twitter.com/zphmZM47kO

— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) February 17, 2026

Gina is my dream fight 🥺 https://t.co/OuSd53FYU7

— Yana Santos (@YanaKunitskaya1) February 17, 2026

Gina the first woman to unlock the doors, Ronda the first woman to kick them out.. And Amanda the woman who helped glue the pieces together! What a moment for Women’s combat sports! 🙏🏼💕🙌🏼👑 https://t.co/2Std4BBZD3

— PEARL GONZALEZ (@PearlGonzalez) February 17, 2026

If all goes to plan, the women's legacy fight will take place in the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. The pair will lock horns after years of back-and-forth on Saturday, May 16, live on Netflix.

The World Baseball Classic returns for its sixth edition in March, featuring a 20-team field spread across four pools. In all, 47 games will be played over 13 days at four sites: the Tokyo Dome, San Juan Puerto Rico’s Hiram Bithorn Stadium, Miami’s loanDepot Park and Houston’s Daikin Park. 

Team Japan, the only nation to win multiple WBC crowns (2006, 2009, 2023), is aiming for its fourth title while the Dominican Republic (2013) and U.S. (2017) are the only other winners of the event. Japan’s roster features 2025 NLCS MVP Shohei Ohtani and 2025 World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, both of the Dodgers, in addition to Angels lefty starter Yusei Kikuchi and Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki.

The U.S. roster is led by captain Aaron Judge and features both 2025 Cy Young winners in Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes. Team USA boasts a combined 65 MLB All-Star Game appearances and four former MVPs in Judge, Bryce Harper, Paul Goldschmidt and Clayton Kershaw. 

Most games will be broadcast in the U.S. on the Fox family of networks (Fox, FS1, FS2) and streaming on the Fox Sports app and Tubi. 

2026 World Baseball Classic pools

Pool A | Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico 

Canada
Colombia
Cuba
Panama
Puerto Rico

Pool B | Daikin Park, Houston

Brazil
Great Britain
Italy
Mexico
U.S.

Pool C | Tokyo Dome, Tokyo

Australia
Chinese Taipei
Czechia
Japan
South Korea

Pool D | loanDepot Park, Miami

Dominican Republic
Israel
Netherlands
Nicaragua
Venezuela

2026 World Baseball Classic schedule

All times Eastern

Pool play

Wednesday, March 4
10 p.m.: Australia vs. Chinese Taipei (FS1) 

Thursday, March 5
5 a.m.: South Korea vs. Czechia (FS1) 
10 p.m.: Czechia vs. Australia (FS1) 

Friday, March 6
5 a.m.: Chinese Taipei vs. Japan (FS1) 
11 a.m.: Panama vs. Cuba (FS2)  
Noon: Venezuela vs. Netherlands (Tubi)
1 p.m.: Great Britain vs. Mexico (FS1)
6 p.m.: Colombia vs. Puerto Rico (FS1)  
7 p.m.: Dominican Republic vs. Nicaragua (FS2)
8 p.m.: Brazil vs. U.S. (Fox) – Daikin Park
10 p.m.: Czechia vs. Chinese Taipei (FS2) 

Saturday, March 7
5 a.m.: Japan vs. South Korea (FS1) 
11 a.m.: Canada vs. Colombia (FS2)  
Noon: Netherlands vs. Nicaragua (Tubi)
1 p.m.: Italy vs. Brazil (Fox app only)
6 p.m.: Puerto Rico vs. Panama (FS1)  
7 p.m.: Venezuela vs. Israel (FS1)
8 p.m.: U.S. vs. Great Britain (Fox)
10 p.m.: South Korea vs. Chinese Taipei (FS2) 

Sunday, March 8
6 a.m.: Japan vs. Australia (FS1) 
Noon: Cuba vs. Colombia (FS2)  
Noon: Dominican Republic vs. Netherlands (Fox)
1 p.m.: Italy vs. Great Britain (Tubi)
7 p.m.: Israel vs. Nicaragua (Tubi)
7 p.m.: Canada vs. Panama (FS2)  
8 p.m.: Mexico vs. Brazil (FS1)

Monday, March 9
6 a.m.: Australia vs. South Korea (FS1) 
Noon: Israel vs. Dominican Republic (FS1) 
Noon: Panama vs. Colombia (FS2)  
1 p.m.: Great Britain vs. Brazil (Tubi)
7 p.m.: Puerto Rico vs. Cuba (FS1)  
7 p.m.: Nicaragua vs. Venezuela (FS2)
8 p.m.: U.S. vs. Mexico (Fox)

Tuesday, March 10
6 a.m.: Japan vs. Czechia (FS1) 
7 p.m.: Netherlands vs. Israel (Fox app only)
7 p.m.: Puerto Rico vs. Canada (Tubi)  
9 p.m.: U.S. vs. Italy (FS1)

Wednesday, March 11
3 p.m.: Cuba vs. Canada (FS1)  
7 p.m.: Mexico vs. Italy (Tubi)
8 p.m.: Venezuela vs. Dominican Republic (FS1)

Thursday, March 12
No games

Quarterfinals

Friday, March 13
6:30 p.m.: TBD vs. TBD (FS1) – loanDepot Park
8 p.m.: TBD vs. TBD (Fox) – Daikin Park

Saturday, March 14
3 p.m.: TBD vs. TBD (FS1) – Daikin Park
9 p.m.: TBD vs. TBD (Fox) – loanDepot Park

Semifinals

Sunday, March 15
8 p.m.: TBD vs. TBD (FS1) – loanDepot Park

Monday, March 16
8 p.m.: TBD vs. TBD (FS1) – loanDepot Park

Championship final

Tuesday, March 17
8 p.m.: TBD vs. TBD (FS1) – loanDepot Park

Former Manchester United coach Steve McClaren has revealed exactly what sparked the bitter fallout between Cristiano Ronaldo and Erik ten Hag.

Acrimonious split

Ronaldo left United for the second time in his career on November 22, following a mutual agreement to terminate his contract with immediate effect.

His departure came after he granted an explosive and unauthorised interview to broadcaster Piers Morgan, in which he tore into the club and then-manager Ten Hag.

In a wide-ranging critique, Ronaldo publicly criticised the Glazers for failing to address the club’s infrastructural needs, casting doubt on United’s overall ambitions. He also revealed the deteriorated relationship with Ten Hag, explaining that after being benched, he could not offer respect that was not reciprocated.

Additionally, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner claimed that members of the United hierarchy were trying to force him out of Old Trafford.

Ronaldo has continued to needle Ten Hag with subtle digs, underscoring the mutual animosity that remains.

McClaren served as Ten Hag’s number two during the Dutch coach’s United tenure and therefore has a first-hand account of why exactly the pair fell out.

The former Jamaica national team boss spoke on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast and detailed what exactly went down.

McClaren spills the beans

McClaren said, “There was a lot of battles on that training field. There was a lot of ‘all I want you to do is this, this and this’. That was Erik’s coaching – Ronnie this is your job.”

“I used to say to Ronnie, ‘all he [Ten Hag] wants you to do is be the first press, make one…two…maybe even three runs, if you feel like it.’ Then recover back to the middle, in case we win the ball, and then we can play to you. That’s all we want you to do.”

“If you can’t do that, you won’t be playing, he won’t pick you. It was a little bit of a fight. Not a fight, but a standoff, who’s going to back down and who is going to win?”

McClaren continued, “Erik stuck to his guns. I think that’s the difference other people would have picked him, other managers would accommodate that behaviour as long as he scores.”

“That control has gone for managers and credit to Erik, Ronnie was still incredibly professional. It happened how it did, they went different ways and I think it was best.”

United currently sit in fourth position in the Premier League table, having won 13 points out of a possible 15 from their last five fixtures under Michael Carrick.

online polls

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

The franchise tag window opened Tuesday, and free agency starts next month. The 2025 season is done, but the NFL does not slow down. Attention has already shifted to trades, roster moves, and the 2026 NFL Draft.

Maxx Crosby’s name keeps coming up in those conversations. The Las Vegas Raiders star has been at the center of trade speculation for weeks now, and the chatter is not fading.

MORE: Browns’ Ronnie Hickman hospitalized after violent incident at NYC hotel

Even with Super Bowl LX still on the schedule, questions about Crosby’s future won’t go away. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport addressed the situation during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show.

Rich Eisen asked if the trade talk around Crosby was worth taking seriously. Rapoport confirmed there’s substance behind the rumors.

“Yeah, there is reason to bother, this is definitely not nothing. I just don’t know what it is yet. The reason why is like… there will be plenty of times where you see smoke around a player. Then you get to like March 10th, 11th, 12th and then okay now we learn why this player gets traded. I don’t know if that’s going to be the case with Maxx Crosby.”

“This is as complicated a situation as I can remember. I’ll go through the reasons why. One…[the way the season ended] had an effect on him. He wanted to play, it turns out he had a significant knee injury, but he wanted to play and was upset that he did not get to finish on the field with his teammates. …Then he has surgery and it’s not a trim, it’s a repair. It’s… not as major of a repair as it could have been.” Rapoport said.

Crosby had surgery in January for a knee issue that turned out to be more serious than initially expected. His recovery will take months, which means he likely will not be cleared by the time the new league year begins.

RELATED: Tyreek Hill breaks silence after Dolphins move on from injured star receiver

The tension between Crosby and the Raiders became obvious late in the season. The team shut him down despite reports that he wanted to keep playing.

That decision left some frustration on both sides, and it’s fueled speculation that bigger problems exist between the player and the organization.

Still, rumors tend to run faster than facts. Nothing concrete has come out yet, and Raiders fans would be smart to wait before treating the trade talk as inevitable.

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

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The post NFL Insider confirms ‘smoke’ around potential Maxx Crosby trade appeared first on The Big Lead.

Team GB's Winter Olympics curling medal hopes are now in serious jeopardy after Bruce Mouat's world champions were beaten 9-5 by Canada in Cortina.

Arriving in Italy as gold-medal favourites, the British quartet have lost four of their eight matches in a round-robin stage full of maybes and might have beens.

Now, they must beat the United States in their final game on Wednesday (13:05 GMT) and hope other results fall in their favour if they are to reach Thursday's semi-finals and salvage their chances of a podium place.

The 2022 silver medallists have spoken all week of playing well, but coming out on the wrong side of the narrow margins. And that was the case again against their great rivals high in the Dolomites.

A shot here and a shot there was the difference, as Canada kept their shape better in the big moments and confirmed their own progress.

"That wasn't a game where we played well," vice-skip Grant Hardie told BBC Sport. "We made too many mistakes and we're running out of time to put it right.

"I think we can deliver the right result tomorrow and hopefully get into the semis."

• Day-by-day guide to the Winter Olympics
• Full schedule including times of medal events
• Winter Olympics 2026 medal table

Mouat's rink have an excellent record against Brad Jacobs' team, and beat them in the last four of the worlds last spring.

But the Canadians knew they could improve their own chances - and inflict a little revenge - and they started strongly, opening a 3-1 lead after three ends.

The British team are considered the world's best, though, and righted themselves. Capitalising on a slight drop off by their opponents, they took two themselves in the fourth and another two in the six to lead with four to play.

However, the clank of granite went against them in the seventh, an unfortunate bounce leaving Canada the chance of three, which they gladly took.

Mouat and his team needed to respond. They couldn't. Instead, they gave up a steal to leave themselves with a three-point deficit with two ends to play.

It was a deficit that they could not overcome. And now, their aspirations of upgrading their silver medal from Beijing are no longer in their own hands.

GB's women are also in a perilous position, and also must beat the United States on Wednesday (08:05), as well as Japan later in the day (18:05) and Italy on Thursday (13:05) if they are to scrape into the last four.

Real Madrid have the lead in their Champions League play-off first leg against Benfica through a brilliant goal from Vinicius Junior, but it was followed by controversy. The Brazilian walked off the pitch and sat on the bench after a verbal altercation with Gianluca Prestianni.

The first half had been even until the final 10 minutes, when Real Madrid began to up the ante, and had several efforts on goal, but Anatoliy Trubin was equal to them all. The half-time break appeared to have come at the right time for Jose Mourinho’s outfit.

Vinicius Junior opens scoring with incredible goal

However five minutes into the second half, Trubin was left helpless by Vinicius. Cutting in from the left side with a tight angle, Vinicius unleashed a stunning effort into the top corner.

Vinicius walks off the pitch in protest

However the drama was not finished. After an altercation with some of the Benfica players during the celebrations of the goal, the war of words continued. Vinicius was booked, but continued to speak with Gianluca Prestianni. The Brazilian then ran over to the referee, and appeared to say that he was racially abused.

Vinicius told the referee, after which the game was halted for the best part of 10 minutes. Eventually the game got back underway, with only a red card for someone on the Benfica bench.

Brentford Under-21s secured a 2-1 victory over Charlton Athletic at Wheatsheaf Park on Tuesday evening, snatching the win with a last-minute goal in the Professional Development League.

The visitors had taken the lead in a game of few clear-cut chances, but Brentford battled and their persistence paid off in the closing stages when Ethan Laidlaw calmly converted from the penalty spot and in the dying moments Michel Boni calmly slotted home to seal the win in a tough game.

The west Londoners edged the opening exchanges of the game but it was the young Addicks who took the lead in the game through Ibrahim Fullah. The attacker rolled his defender before striking past Julian Eyestone.

The chances were few and far between in a first period that lacked tempo from both sides following the goal.

The second period improved in intensity and a momentary lapse in concentration from the Charlton backline saw Laidlaw get a glimpse of the goal but Josh Laqeretabua made a goal-saving block to deny the winger what looked like a certain goal.

In one of their few ventures forward, Joseph Wheeler-Henry surged down the byline, beat his defender and was brought down inside the area to win a penalty. Ethan Laidlaw stepped up and confidently converted from the spot.

The goal gave the home side renewed belief and they almost took the lead through second-half substitute Luca Picotto who struck a well-timed shot which only just went wide.

With the last kick of the game, the home side grabbed the winner through Boni who had the simple job of putting into the net following fine play from Laidlaw who rounded the goalkeeper.

The Bees are next in action on Tuesday 24 February as they take on Watford away from home.

Brentford: Eyestone, McKnight, McManus, Wheeler-Henry, Grey, Owen, Pierre (Picotto 46), Redknapp, Boni, Mawene, Laidlaw

Unused subs: Bobb-Semple, Tavaziva, Giscombe, Honor

Booked: Wheeler-Henry 21

Charlton: Hardy; Kuczynski, Laqeretabua, Ewens-Findlay; Enslin, Mitchell, Gough (c), Brown; Fullah, Dixon, Lock Unused subs: MacLorg, Safa, Amissah, Trialist, Hunter

Booked: Lock 32, Gough 86

When the WSL enters its March international break, Liverpool captain Grace Fisk will be available for selection for England’s matches against Ukraine and Iceland. The Lionesses will take the pitch in their Women’s World Cup Qualifiers ahead of the tournament kick-off in Brazil in 2027.

Fisk received her first call-up back in 2020 for the She Believes Cup under Phil Neville, with the English defender having recently returned to football in the UK after a spell in the US.

Prior to 2020 she had extensive experience with the English development teams, first appearing for her country at the U17 level.

She has yet to achieve her first senior cap, however, and will hope to feature in the build-up to the 2027 competition and the tournament itself.

Amber Glenn short program song, explained: Why Madonna's 'Like a Prayer' has special meaning for U.S. figure skater originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Olympic figure skating may be nearing its conclusion. But there's still time for fireworks in women's singles, the biggest draw in one of the Olympics' biggest sports.

Twenty-nine stars will take the ice during the two-day competition, which will see skaters complete routines in short program and free skate. Few of those talents are as notable — at least as far as U.S. audiences are concerned — as American standout Amber Glenn.

The 26-year-old is something of an anomaly in the field. For starters, Glenn is older than most of her adversaries. She also is openly bisexual and pansexual. Her openness with regards to her sexuality has made her a hit for the viewing public, particularly those who belong to the LGBTQ+ community.

Moreover, Glenn's performances are artful. Her skating style is elegant. But it's also intense.

Glenn's personality comes out when she prances onto the ice. It's especially notable when a famous refrain spills from stadium speakers as she darts from one end of the rink to the other.

With that, here's what you need to know about Glenn's short program — namely, its soundtrack.

MORE 2026 OLYMPICS: Live medal tracker | Viewer's guide | Day-by-day schedule

Why Amber Glenn uses Madonna's 'Like a Prayer' for short program

Glenn's song of choice for her short program is a familiar track to figure skating enthusiasts of a certain age. When she takes the ice on short, she does so with Madonna's 1989 smash hit, "Like a Prayer."

The song is an iconic one, the focal point in the beloved album of the same name that went on to sell more than 15 million copies worldwide. But it predates Glenn by 10 years. So, why did she feel so drawn to the ditty?

Glenn credits her choreographer, Catherine Hill, with the assist.

"'Like a Prayer' was a suggestion from my choreographer," Glenn told USA Today.

Glenn was initially unconvinced, associating the tune with a children's choir cover of the track that was featured during two sequences in the 2024 film, "Deadpool & Wolverine."

Hill was persistent in her push for Glenn to use the song, however. After parsing through the lyrics, Glenn was sold.

"Eventually, we really explored the meaning behind it and the passion that we could really pour into the program," Glenn said. "I'm really happy with how it came out."

MORE:Full guide to figure skating scoring system

"Like a Prayer" lyrics

Life is a mystery
Everyone must stand alone
I hear you call my name
And it feels like home

When you call my name
It's like a little prayer
I'm down on my knees
I wanna take you there
In the midnight hour
I can feel your power
Just like a prayer
You know I'll take you there

I hear your voice
It's like an angel sighing
I have no choice
I hear your voice
Feels like flying
I close my eyes
Oh God, I think I'm falling
Out of the sky
I close my eyes
Heaven, help me

When you call my name
It's like a little prayer
I'm down on my knees
I wanna take you there
In the midnight hour
I can feel your power
Just like a prayer
You know I'll take you there

Like a child
You whisper softly to me
You're in control
Just like a child
Now I'm dancing
It's like a dream
No end and no beginning
You're here with me
It's like a dream
Let the choir sing

When you call my name
It's like a little prayer
I'm down on my knees
I wanna take you there
In the midnight hour
I can feel your power
Just like a prayer
You know I'll take you there

When you call my name
It's like a little prayer
I'm down on my knees
I wanna take you there
In the midnight hour
I can feel your power
Just like a prayer
You know I'll take you there

Life is a mystery
Everyone must stand alone
I hear you call my name
And it feels like home

Just like a prayer
Your voice can take me there
Just like a muse to me
You are a mystery
Just like a dream
You are not what you seem
Just like a prayer, no choice
Your voice can take me there

Just like a prayer, I'll take you there
It's like a dream to me
Just like a prayer, I'll take you there
It's like a dream to me
Just like a prayer, I'll take you there
It's like a dream to me
Just like a prayer, I'll take you there
It's like a dream to me

Just like a prayer
Your voice can take me there
Just like a muse to me
You are a mystery
Just like a dream
You are not what you seem
Just like a prayer, no choice
Your voice can take me there

Just like a prayer
Your voice can take me there
Just like a muse to me
You are a mystery
Just like a dream
You are not what you seem
Just like a prayer, no choice
Your voice can take me there
Your voice can take me there
Like a prayer

Just like a prayer, your voice can take me there
It's like a prayer
Just like a prayer, your voice can take me there
It's like a prayer
Just like a prayer, your voice can take me there
It's like a prayer
Just like a prayer, your voice can take me there
It's like a prayer

MORE: What to know about Amber Glenn's sexuality

Madonna shouts out Amber Glenn for short program

Glenn wasn't the only person satisfied with her short program. Madonna praised the 26-year-old for her skating prowess on Instagram on Feb. 10, dubbing Glenn the "Baddie on Ice." 

“So proud of this Baddie on Ice”

͢ Madonna shared Amber’s ‘Like a Prayer’ short program on her Instagram story!
pic.twitter.com/Dkf03yQB4k

— Amber Glenn Updates (@AmberGlennDaily) February 11, 2026

She went one step further ahead of Glenn's women's singles event. The "Queen of Pop" lauded Glenn in a video message shown to the figure skater by NBC Sports staff.

US figure skater Amber Glenn received a special message from one of her biggest fans... Madonna 🤩

📽️: @NBCSportspic.twitter.com/PQy5j3GSGG

— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) February 17, 2026

"Amber Glenn, I just watched you skate to my song, 'Like a Prayer,' and I have to tell you, I was blown away by it," Madonna said. "You are an incredible skater. So strong, so beautiful, so brave. I can't imagine you would not win."

Glenn was taken aback by the gesture.

"I'm in shock, I'm in complete shock." Glenn said as she watched the video. "I'm legitimately shaking. Oh my god."

MORE: Inside Team USA's 'Alt, Gay and from New Jersey' figure skating team

ESPN’s Matt Bowen updated his top-50 free agents currently set to hit the 2026 market, and he included the best team fits for each one of these individual players, too. One of these players, cornerback Greg Newsome II, was given the Green Bay Packers as his best fit, according to Bowen.

Here’s what he had to say about Newsome:

The Packers’ cornerbacks struggled after Micah Parsons’ injury limited the pass rush, and new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon will install a zone-heavy scheme. That’s a fit for Newsome, who uses his backfield vision in coverage. Re-signing with the Jaguars is also an option.

I’d push back a little on the “zone-heavy” tag on Gannon, though. Over five years with the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals, here’s how Gannon’s defenses have ranked over the three major families of coverages:

• Quarters Family: between 2nd and 3rd in the league
• Man Coverage: between 24th and 25th
• Traditional Zone: between 26th and 27th

The quarters family of coverages is technically a zone scheme, but it’s better described as a match coverage scheme. Really, Gannon’s defenses disproportionately want to play what amounts to man coverage downfield, but only after routes get about five yards of depth (and they use the quarters tree of coverages to get that done). It’ll be less about having eyes on the quarterback and more about having eyes on a receiver, even though the cornerbacks won’t be in press alignments often. To me, that’s different than traditional zone coverages (like Cover 2 or Cover 3), which Jeff Hafley called at the 8th-highest rate in the NFL over the last two years, where defensive backs really are just covering blades of grass instead of receivers and want to make breaks on the ball based on a quarterback’s body language.

While Newsome ranks as Bowen’s 34th overall free agent of this class, he’s ranked as the 103rd player on the consensus free agent ranking. There, he’s the 11th-ranked cornerback in 2026, compared to 4th for Bowen. Jamel Dean, who is the 18th-ranked overall free agent on the consensus board, did not make the cut for Bowen’s top-50 list.

Bowen also made some landing spot predictions for the Packers’ outgoing free agents:

• #8 LT Rasheed Walker: Cleveland Browns
• #13 LB Quay Walker: Washington Commanders
• #17 QB Malik Willis: Miami Dolphins
• #21 WR Romeo Doubs: Las Vegas Raiders

All four of those players should net the Packers at least a fifth-round compensatory draft choice in 2027 (with Rasheed Walker likely bringing Green Bay a fourth-round pick), as long as the team doesn’t offset their losses with free agent additions this cycle.

Russia and Belarus will have a combined 10 para athletes at next month's Milano Cortina Paralympics, the International Paralympic Committee said in a statement on Tuesday.

Both countries were banned from Paralympic competitions after Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but regained full membership rights in the IPC after member organisations voted in September 2025 to lift their partial suspensions.

International federations for each sport on the Paralympic Games programme had said they would maintain bans on athletes from those countries, but Russia and Belarus won an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport back in December against the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS).

"Following the decision by IPC members at September 2025’s IPC General Assembly ... and December’s subsequent Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decision ... both NPCs were eligible to apply for bipartite slots through FIS for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in the sports of Para alpine skiing, Para cross-country skiing and Para snowboard," the IPC said in a statement.

Russia will have two spots in Para alpine skiing, two in Para cross-country skiing and two in Para snowboard.

"NPC (National Paralympic Committee) Belarus has been awarded four slots in total, all in cross-country skiing (one male and three female)," the IPC added.

While the athletes can compete under their own flags at the Paralympics between March 6 to 15, a limited number of Russian and Belarus athletes are competing as independent neutral athletes without flags or anthems at the ongoing Milano Cortina Winter Games, with the Olympic Committees of the two nations still sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 Paralympics: Russia, Belarus will compete under their own flags

What's happening in Lisbon? In the Champions League playoffs, Benfica is currently facing Real Madrid. After a goalless first half, Real took the lead through Vinicius Jr. in the 50th minute. Then things escalated on the field.

After a provocative celebration by the Madrid player, Benfica's Prestianni responded with some inaudible words towards Vinicius Jr. The Brazilian then angrily ran to the referee. Particularly noteworthy: Prestianni pulled his jersey over his mouth before speaking.

Referee François Letexier then activated the so-called racism protocol and sent both teams towards their benches. This led to scuffles between the teams. A Benfica official was even sent to the stands with a red card.

Subsequently, several teammates had to calm Vini Jr. down and encourage him to continue playing. It took over ten minutes before the game could resume. What exactly Prestianni said towards the Real star remains unclear.

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

Rockies' Kris Bryant breaks silence on retirement rumors, mindset amid injury recovery originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Colorado Rockies made a big free agent splash a few years ago, shortly after they let Nolan Arenado go in a trade to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Kris Bryant came to the Rockies on a huge $182 million deal through the 2028 season. But, once again, he's landed on the injured list and will miss significant time in his Rockies career.

Tomas Harding of MLB.com shared some very candid comments from Bryant, in which the third baseman revealed his stance on a possible retirement, and why he continues to make an effort to return for the Rockies in the face of so many injury issues.

Kris Bryant breaks silence on retirement, future with Rockies, MLB

"Rockies Kris Bryant says the pain in his back won't let him get to baseball activities," Harding reports, "but he continues to consult with doctors and trainers to see what can get him back to playing. He is not retiring, but sticking with rehab."

Bryant, the 34-year-old third baseman, isn't planning to retire just yet. He's still under contract for the next three seasons and is still trying to come back and play.

Since coming to the Rockies in 2022, Bryant hasn't played half a season yet. The most he's played in a season was 80 games in 2023, when he posted -1.0 bWAR with a .680 OPS.

His debut season with the Rockies was a bit more promising, with an .851 OPS and 128 OPS+ before he missed most of the year, playing only 42 games.

That 42-game season in 2022 was the second-most games he's played in a year with the Rockies. In 2024, Bryant played 37 games, putting up -0.7 bWAR with a .623 OPS. This past season, he had a .400 OPS with -0.5 bWAR in just 11 games.

More: Yankees to claim 23-year-old power-hitter off waivers from Rockies

After so many seasons of injury issues, it wouldn't be strange if Bryant retired. He's not planning to do so just yet, but when pressed about why he's still playing, and whether it's worth it to keep trying to come back, his response was very candid.

"I honestly try not to let myself get there, just because, like, when you're going through it every single day, you just try to make it day to day," Bryant said. "I think people out there with chronic pain, you don't want to think about so far in the future, because you're trying to get through the day. So I haven't let myself get there."

This situation for Bryant is a massively unfortunate one, as the former Chicago Cubs infielder, who looked to be on the Hall of Fame track, has had his career hit an abrupt stop since coming to the Rockies amid a chronic back injury.

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
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Sarah Stier via Getty Images

MILAN — The Blade Angels have arrived in Milan.

Alysa Liu led Team USA’s much-heralded trio of skating women on the ice for Tuesday night’s short program. The two-time Olympian and reigning world champion, skated a graceful, near-flawless program to Laufey’s “Promise,” recorded a score of 76.59, which put her in second place as she left the ice to a standing ovation from the Assago Ice Skating Arena crowd. 

“I kind of liked it,” she said as she skated off the ice.

Only a minor under rotation on a triple axel kept her from going to the top of the leaderboard, ahead of Japan’s Ami Nakai who scored a 78.71.

Isabeau Levito, skating to selections from movies starring Milan’s own Sophia Loren, followed Liu, beginning her routine with a triple flip into a triple toe loop. She executed the remainder of her routine with characteristic controlled, elegant precision. Levito earned a score of 70.84 to place her sixth with several skaters still to perform. 

Glenn, Liu and Levito — who collectively have dubbed themselves the “Blade Angels” — rolled into the Milan Cortina Olympics with as much star power and medal pedigree as any figure-skating American women in recent memory. 

No American woman has won an individual figure skating medal since Sasha Cohen’s silver in 2006. Sarah Hughes won gold and Michelle Kwan claimed bronze four years before that. The Blade Angels only have one combined Olympic appearance between them — Liu in 2022 — but together, they’ve amassed an impressive array of world and national championships. 

“It’s very special that there’s a woman from figure skating representing each section of the country,” said Johnny Weir, Olympian and NBC commentator.  “Isabeau Levito is from South Jersey to southside Philly. Amber Glenn is from Texas, and Alysa Liu from California, and I think it’s cool that there’s those three different perspectives and three different styles in each of those women.”

At the Olympics, they’ve had substantial downtime between events — or, in Levito’s case, before skating any events at all. Liu skated the short program element of Team USA’s gold medal-winning team competition, and Glenn the free skate element. But that competition ended more than a week ago, meaning they’ve been riding the rollercoaster of Olympic excitement and comedown. 

They’ve been preparing for this moment, individually and as a group, for years. They know what needs to be said, know what needs to be done. 

“As long as we do our programs to the best of our abilities, we cannot control the outcome,” Glenn said recently. “But I think the U.S. ladies have come so, so far in the last two decades, that if we do our jobs in Milan … then more than likely someone’s going to be up there.”

Now that the women’s competition is here, the Blade Angels have a fight on their hands. The event continues with the free skate program on Thursday, featuring the top 24 women from Tuesday night’s round, starting at 1 p.m. Eastern. At stake: a gold medal and immortality in the sport.

This story will be updated

Tuesday's Irish Premiership match between Portadown and Cliftonville at Shamrock Park has been abandoned due to floodlight failure.

It had been an entertaining start to the game and the away side led through Joe O'Toole's stunning strike.

However, in the 41st minute, the floodlights failed at Shamrock Park.

After discussions, the players were then taken off the pitch while they attempted to fix the issue but efforts proved unsuccessful.

This is the second time this campaign that the side have had issues with their floodlights after the second half of their Boxing Day derby against Glenavon was delayed by 15 minutes after an issue with the oil filter.

Last season, Glentoran's match against Larne at the Oval was postponed following floodlight failure early in the second half with this match replayed in full at a later date.

"This evening's Sports Direct Premiership fixture has been abandoned in the 41st minute following floodlight failure," a statement from Portadown read.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused with further details released in due course."

Real Madrid's Champions League knockout phase play-off tie at Benfica was halted for 10 minutes after Vinicius Junior and his team-mates left the field.

After putting the Spanish visitors 1-0 up in the second half at the Estadio da Luz, the Brazilian forward was booked for an excessive celebration.

Following an interaction with Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni, Vinicius ran over to referee Francois Letexier while gesturing towards the opposition player.

He then walked off the pitch and was followed by his Real Madrid team-mates, but play restarted 10 minutes later.

More to follow.

More to follow.

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We move on to week three of our Miami Dolphins scouting mock draft. This seven-round projection for the Dolphins is not necessarily about finding the right selection at each pick, but about finding names who might be under consideration. We then take a closer look at what is being said about that player.

As such, I also rule out players who were picked during the last two mocks, because there is no reason to take a second look at a player yet. After the NFL Scouting Combine, I will add those players back into the pool to get an updated look at them with their combine results.

I use Pro Football and Sports Network’s mock draft simulator to give me the structure of the projection, using the consensus rankings to see who will be on the board for each of Miami’s selections. Trades are allowed during this mock – but I do not create the trade, only respond if one is offered to me.

With that, let’s get into this week’s scouting mock draft:

2026 NFL Miami Dolphins Mock Draft Results – 3rd Edition

(I made picks using the PFSN Mock Draft Simulator)

First Round

Pick 11 – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

The Dolphins released wide receiver Tyreek Hill on Monday, a move that was expected but does leave the wide receiver depth chart wanting. Tate, who is widely considered the number one receiver on the board this year, falling to Miami at 11 seems ideal. He brings size to the position group immediately, adding a 6-foot-3, 200-pound target to the Dolphins’ offense. I do not know if he could actually be a consideration at 11, or if a team would try to jump up to grab him if he is falling like this, but if he is there, Miami might need not need to think about whose name should be on their draft card.

What they are saying:

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Ascending “Z” receiver who continues to step out from the shadow of Ohio State teammate Jeremiah Smith. Tate has good size but would benefit from more play strength. He builds momentum quickly on intermediate and deep routes, utilizing speed and tempo to pressure cornerbacks. He can win over the top on verticals or separate over the first two levels with route savvy and separation burst. Tate tracks throws at top speed and makes his adjustments to run under them. He combines timing, body control and catch radius to dominate air space and consistently lands on the winning side of contested catches. Pass catching comes effortlessly with soft, strong hands and he consistently works back on throws to keep ballhawks from hawking. Tate displays rare polish for a player his age and has the talent to become a heralded pro within his first three seasons. –

NFL Draft Buzz: Watch Tate’s tape and you see a receiver who wins with precision, body control, and an understanding of how to attack coverage rather than pure athleticism. Tate profiles as a classic X or movement-Z receiver who will thrive in the intermediate areas where timing and route discipline matter most. His ability to manipulate defenders at the stem, track deep throws, and come down with contested catches gives him a clear path to starting snaps early in his career. The question scouts will debate is whether he represents a true alpha receiver or an elite complementary piece.

Scheme fit matters here. West Coast systems and timing-based offenses will get the most out of what he does well. Tate excels in that 10-to-20-yard range where he can work against zone coverage, find soft spots, and convert third downs. His game reminds me more of Chris Olave than Garrett Wilson when looking at recent Ohio State products. He is a technician who separates with nuance, not a receiver who is going to run past NFL corners consistently. That is not necessarily a limitation, but it does define his role. The combine and pro day will be massive for his draft stock. If that 4.6 number holds up in Indianapolis, it could push him out of the top 15. But if he runs in the low 4.5s and proves the stopwatch wrong, watch his name climb boards in a hurry.

The production, the pedigree, and the polish are all there. Tate played opposite elite talent throughout his college career and still commanded targets when defenses had every reason to take him away. His championship experience, academic profile, and leadership qualities add to the package. There is a floor here that should comfort any team selecting him, even if the ceiling may not quite reach the special category. He is a Day 1 contributor with third-down value who should settle in as a productive starter for years. –

Damian Parson, Bleacher Report: Carnell Tate is next in the Ohio State pipeline of secondary wide receivers capable of emerging as a primary target at the NFL level.

Tate’s height and wingspan offer a quarterback-friendly target. He extends the catch point away from his frame and plucks the ball from the air. Tate is a bouncy athlete who can climb the ladder over defenders at the catch point. He has soft, reliable hands and excellent ball tracking skills.

Mike Renner, CBS Sports: Tate joined Ohio State’s program as a 5-star recruit in the 2023 class, per 247Sports. Tate thrives in the WR2 role in the Ohio State Buckeyes’ offense.

Carnell Tate is a ready-made deep threat with the most effortless ball skills in the class. He didn’t drop a single pass this season and hauled in 12 of 14 contested catches, according to PFF. –

Second Round

Pick 43 – Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

I did not include an offensive line prospect in last week’s scouting mock draft until the seventh round. This week, I start early with the first of two players to add to the line for Miami. Iheanachor might be a developmental project who needs a little time before he hits his full potential, having only started playing football in college, but he has shown flashes that might make him a first-round pick and a Week 1 starter. If Miami were to select him here with the idea that he competes for the starting right tackle position with Austin Jackson and, if he does not win the spot, they are happy with him sitting for a year to continue to grow into the job. This might be a really strong canidadte if he is on the board in the second round.

What they are saying:

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: An ascending, traits-heavy tackle prospect, Iheanachor is a former high school hooper and late-comer to football. He has good length and excellent lean mass. His hands and footwork need refinement, but his range and play strength should translate to any run scheme. There is work to do with pass-protection technique, but strong performances against Texas Tech’s rush duo last season and at the Senior Bowl suggest Iheanachor might be more game-ready than I previously anticipated. In a year light on high-end tackles, Iheanachor’s measurables, athleticism and upside could push him up the board.

NFL Draft Buzz: Watch any Arizona State game and you’ll see it within the first five plays: Iheanachor moves like no 325-pound tackle should be allowed to move. The feet are light, the hips are loose, and there is a natural athleticism baked into everything he does that you simply cannot teach. His pass protection numbers from 2025 tell you he’s already figured out enough to survive at a high level, and the Senior Bowl week confirmed that this wasn’t just a product of Big 12 competition. He held his own against legitimate NFL-caliber rushers in Mobile, and the buzz around him afterwards was well-earned. This is a player whose ceiling is genuinely scary in the best possible way.

Here’s the deal, though. The run blocking is a tier below the pass protection right now, and the technique still has stretches where it looks like a guy who’s only been playing football for five years. Because that’s exactly what he is. The hand placement wanders, the recognition against complex fronts wavers, and there will be possessions where he looks lost before snapping back into dominance on the very next series. That inconsistency is the cost of betting on upside over polish, and whichever team invests in him needs to understand that the bad reps are going to come, especially early. He had a 97.6% career pressure efficiency rate, which is strong, but the 16 penalties and occasional protection breakdowns remind you that the floor can dip when the processing slows down.

The ideal landing spot is a zone-heavy offense with a strong offensive line coach and enough veteran presence on the line that Iheanachor doesn’t have to carry the unit from day one. If he can sit behind an established starter or at least split time during his rookie year while refining his hand technique and protection calls, the payoff could be enormous. His physical tools and competitive fire put him in rare company among the tackles in this class. He is not the most polished blocker available, but he might have the highest ceiling of any of them. In a draft cycle thin on blue-chip tackle talent, that combination of traits and trajectory makes him a legitimate value pick.

Brandon Thorn, Bleacher Report: Max Iheanachor is a relative newcomer to football and his lack of experience shows up in unrefined footwork, inconsistent leverage and some glaring losses. However, he has the frame and quickness to develop into a swing tackle and starter during his rookie contract inside a veteran-led NFL offensive line room.

Iheanachor is a 6’6″, 330-pound offensive line prospect, who entered the Arizona State program as a 3-star JUCO recruit in the 2023 class.

Iheanachor started 14 games at right tackle last season and five during the 2023 campaign. He was born in Nigeria where he played soccer and eventually excelled in basketball during high school. Iheanachor did not start playing football until his time at East Los Angeles College (JUCO) in 2021.

Chris Pflum, Big Blue View: Iheanachor projects as a starting offensive lineman at the NFL level.

The big question is just how much development he will need to take a starting job. He’s only been playing football for five years and just three of those years are in a major college program. It’s possible that Iheanachor can win a starting job right away, but he may also need a year or two before he’s ready to start. While more old school evaluators will want to convert him to left tackle due to his athleticism, teams should view him as a right tackle prospect. Iheanachor has only played right tackle in college, and it isn’t worth it to try and reconstruct his technique for the left side. Instead, teams should keep him where he’s familiar and shorten his learning curve as much as possible.

Regardless, he has “first round” traits that border on “elite.” He might be viewed as a second round pick purely due to his inexperience, but his upside could well get him drafted in the first round. There’s a real chance that Iheanachor becomes the best tackle to come out of this draft class if he lands in a good situation with the right development.

Third Round

Pick 75 – Derrick Moore, Edge, Michigan

Moore might not be the flashy, top prospect as an edge rusher this year, but he should be a solid contributor who can continue to develop as he gets more playing time. He is a better pass rusher than a run stopper, but he is not horrible against the run. He uses his explosion off the line as his primary pass rush move, but may find NFL offensive linemen are prepared for that. Getting playing time as a rotational edge while continuing development may be the right answer here.

What they are saying:

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Edge prospect with good size and length. Moore is far more active and engaged as a rusher than he is as a run defender. He has the ability to set firm edges, but his approach against the run can lack urgency. Against the pass, Moore is a bull-rush aficionado, piling up pressures and sacks. He’s strong through the top of the rush but needs to prove he can consistently stress long, well-anchored tackles. When it’s time to finish, he tackles with reliable technique and timing. If Moore cranks up the fire on all three downs, he can become a good full-time player. Either way, he projects as a starter capable of racking up pressures.

K.C. Martinez, NFL Draft Buzz: Raw power matched with lightning quickness off the edge defines Moore’s game, but technical refinement stands between him and consistent production at the next level. His pass rush approach often hits a wall when initial burst doesn’t win, leaving him without counters when tackles anchor against his primary moves. The motor never quits, though. Moore runs with the kind of relentless energy that defensive coaches covet, chasing down plays from the backside and fighting through trash to affect quarterbacks. This effort partially masks technique deficiencies, particularly against the run where his pad level rises and compromises his leverage advantage. What makes Moore tantalizing is the foundation of physical gifts that can’t be taught – the bend, the burst, the frame. These traits will earn him early opportunities as a designated pass rusher while his every-down skillset develops. Creative defensive schemes will maximize his versatility by moving him around the formation, creating favorable matchups that leverage his athletic testing against less mobile blockers. Moore’s ceiling ultimately depends on how quickly he can translate his natural tools into refined technique – something that will determine whether he becomes an impact starter or remains a situational player at the next level.

Matt Holder, Bleacher Report:Derrick Moore is a well-put-together pass-rusher who did an excellent job of expanding his repertoire this season to have an impressive senior year. The 6’3″, 260-pound edge defender went from winning almost exclusively with speed to power to adding a nice inside counter move and becoming more explosive this season.

Moore went to Michigan as a 4-star recruit in the 2022 class and was a contributor off the bench, collecting a couple of sacks as a true freshman.

He got more playing time in Year 2, becoming an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection with 34 tackles, six tackles for loss, five sacks and two passes defended for the National Champs.

As a junior, the Baltimore, Maryland native became a starter and received honorable mention All-Big Ten honors again, collecting 23 tackles, six TFLs, four sacks and two PDs. This year, he cracked double digits in sacks (10), had 30 tackles, 10.5 TFLs and 3 PDs.

Chris Pflum, Big Blue View: Moore projects as a rotational edge defender with scheme diversity at the NFL level.

Moore is the type of player that a defensive coordinator should feel good about having on the field in just about any circumstance. He can impact the run and pass, and is disciplined enough to avoid hurting your team. Moore also understands who he is and has tailored his game to fit. He doesn’t throw a huge variety of moves at blockers only to have few of them work. Instead, he’s a tight, focused rusher and a reliable run defender.

However, he is also somewhat limited as an athlete – at least compared to the elite at the position. That could prevent him from ever becoming a truly feared pass rusher, which might be enough to keep him from being a starter. That said, he should still be a very valuable player as a third edge who plays a high volume of snaps to both spell and play alongside starters.

Pick 87 – Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State

The Dolphins’ defense under new head coach Jeff Hafley is likely going to run a lot of single-high safety looks, letting a free safety play center field while the strong safety is moved around the defense to create different looks and mismatches. Wheatley’s strong suit is playing as a single-high free safety. He is not pigeon-holed in that role, however, and could be used in coverage and as a run-supporter at times as well. He is not Minkah Fitzpatrick, but he does have some of the Swiss Army Knife traits.

What they are saying:

NFL Draft Buzz:Wheatley has all the tools NFL defensive coordinators covet in today’s passing league – the speed to erase mistakes, the instincts to create turnovers, and the versatility to handle multiple assignments. Watch him trigger from his deep alignment and close on intermediate routes, and you see a player who understands leverage and spacing at an advanced level.

His 6’2″, 200-pound frame combined with that blazing speed gives him the physical toolkit to match up with the league’s new breed of athletic tight ends and slot receivers. The film shows a player who processes information quickly, rarely gets fooled by misdirection, and consistently finds himself around the football. When he commits to being physical in run support, he can absolutely stone runners at the second level. The key word there is “commits” because the aggression comes and goes.

This is a solid starting safety prospect who should develop into a reliable contributor at the next level. The team that drafts Wheatley gets a versatile defensive back who can play strong or free, drop into the slot in dime packages, and occasionally roll down as a robber. He’s already shown the mental toughness to handle big stages, evidenced by his monster performance against Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. Give him a position coach who demands consistent physicality and a defensive coordinator who understands how to maximize his range and ball skills, and you’re looking at someone who can anchor a secondary for years.

Pick 90 – Sam Hecht, C, Kansas State

Hecht is a solid center. That is a great statement, and would give Miami a depth option for the position. They could look to use him at guard while serving as the backup center to Aaron Brewer, and he has the athleticism to pull from that position. He will need to add muscle to his build for the NFL level, but a solid interior offensive lineman here is a solid option for the Dolphins.

What they are saying:

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com:Hecht lacks ideal mass and length but it will be hard to find a center in this year’s draft with better technique. He plays with well-placed inside hands that help maximize his leverage and core strength. All schemes are available to him but his athleticism will shine when activated in space. He stays sticky to blocks once he connects, but his lack of length will put him on the wrong side of the battle from time to time in both the run and pass phases. Hecht needs to add more muscle mass to his frame but he has the consistency and tape of a future starter.

Brandon Thorn, Bleacher Report:Sam Hecht is a thickly built, sturdy, and alert presence at the pivot who won’t overwhelm or wow in space but has solid play strength and clear eyes to hold ground, sort movement, and keep the offense on schedule. Hecht’s mediocre power and recovery skills cap his ceiling, but his consistency on tape this year signals a high floor swing interior backup who can earn a starting job during his rookie contract.

Hecht is a 6’4″, 300-pound interior line prospect who entered the Kansas State program as an unranked recruit in the 2021 class.

Hecht is a two-year starting center who earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors from the coaches after 13 starts in 2024. He was born on April 3, 2003, and accepted his invite to the 2026 Senior Bowl.

Fourth Round

Pick 111 – Eli Raridon, TE, Notre Dame

Some will hate considering Raridon here because he has a major injury history – two ACL tears to the same knee in 2021 and 2022. But, he has performed well since those injuries and he could be a developmental option who will find early success if used the right way. He is a willing blocker who will get better with added strength. He makes his money as an inline tight end who can get into the seam and be a threat over the middle of the field. The tight end position has been a work in progress over the past several seasons, which could bring Raridon into consideration here.

What they are saying:

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Projects as a “Y” tight end with the ability to play and produce on all three downs. In the pros, Raridon might spend more time with his hand in the ground than he did at Notre Dame. He blocks with solid technique and good tenacity but still needs to add muscle mass to his long frame. The Notre Dame passing attack opened him up on intermediate hash throws against zone but he also has sneaky build-up speed and ball skills to make catches down the field. Raridon needs more experience but is an ascending talent who should become the seventh Notre Dame tight end drafted over the last nine years.

NFL Draft Buzz:Watch enough tape on Raridon and you see a tight end who can contribute right away in specific packages while developing into something more substantial with proper coaching and strength work. His length and ball skills create real matchup problems attacking the middle of the field against zone coverage, exactly the type of weapon coordinators love deploying on second-and-six to generate explosive plays. The blocking has come far enough that he won’t hurt you out there, though asking him to consistently stone defensive ends one-on-one right now might be asking too much. Medical evaluation determines everything with this kid, but assuming doctors sign off on those knees, you’re getting a tight end who can handle three-down work within a couple years.

Raridon fits best in offenses that value vertical passing concepts and deploy multiple tight end sets where his blocking doesn’t need to be elite every snap. Teams running heavy play-action will love how he threatens safeties deep and opens up underneath throwing windows. That size and catch radius make him a legit red zone weapon who can win contested catches, though he’s more effective running past linebackers than boxing out defensive backs in tight quarters. Organizations that use athletic tight ends primarily as receiving weapons while mixing in enough blocking to stay balanced will maximize what he brings. Needs patience early to add functional strength and expand his route repertoire, but the athletic foundation and competitive streak suggest the investment pays off.

Can’t ignore the injury history during evaluations, and some teams will simply pass because two ACL tears on the same knee represent too much risk regardless of what the medical staff says. For organizations comfortable with the reports, Raridon represents solid value as a developmental Y tight end with slot versatility who provides immediate contributions as a receiving weapon. His ceiling depends entirely on how much quality weight he can add without losing his movement skills and whether those knees hold up under NFL punishment. The tape shows enough to warrant a selection somewhere in the fourth or fifth round range, understanding that patience will be required before he becomes a true every-down player. Basketball background suggests the body control and spatial awareness needed at the position, while his football bloodlines indicate he understands offensive line nuances better than most tight ends. Won’t be a star, but he can absolutely carve out a productive NFL career if the medical checks clear and he commits to the weight room work required to maximize that unique frame.

Daniel Harms, Bleacher Report:Eli Raridon has legitimate three-down ability, with a well-rounded game that will help offenses in the run game and add explosives through the air. He’s got the size and speed to be a mismatch against most defenders down the field, and he’s improving his functional strength to create movement on them.

Raridon is a former 4-star recruit who has spent his entire four-year career with the Fighting Irish and is seeing his role in the offense expand in the offense.

Coming into the season, Raridon amassed 16 catches for 141 yards and three touchdowns, but he’s been used as a seam weapon and mismatch for Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr this season. His length and frame give him a leg up on defenders with the ball in the air and as he continues to improve his blocking technique, he’ll be a useful tool in an NFL offensive arsenal.

Fifth Round

Pick 149 – Josh Cameron, WR, Baylor

Under Mike McDaniel, Cameron probably would never even appear on the board. At 6-foot-1, 223 pounds, he is not the dynamic, sharp route runner who uses his speed to create separation. He is a bulldozer who is going to give the quarterback a giant target when needed. Cameron is not a number one receiver in the NFL, but he sure could be a major piece of an offense needing a possession receiver to make catches and fight for yardage. He could immediately be a major part of the special teams for the Dolphins, and he could be moved around the offense to take advantage of his size as a wide out, tight end, or running back.

What they are saying:

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com:Cameron is built like a big running back and is not shy about using that size, strength and body control to rack up touchdowns in the red zone. He’s smooth in tracking and adjusting to throws. Drops are a rarity. However, he lacks suddenness to beat press and needs plenty of route work to avoid seeing a heavy percentage of contested targets. Proving he can move beyond the relatively simple asks of the Baylor offense will be critical if he is to become more than a backup. Cameron has traits but the development could take some time.

Damian Parson, Bleacher Report: Josh Cameron emerged as Baylor’s top threat in the passing game during the last two season. He combines impressive play-strength, contact balance and yards-after-catch creation to transition into an effective NFL playmaker.

The two-time first-team All-Big 12 wide receiver is a physical route-runner with elusiveness in the open field.

Cameron is a former 0-star recruit who developed into an NFL-caliber target and playmaker. He is a densely-built receiver, who resembles a running back. He projects as a WR2 or third option at the next level.

Nick Falato, New York Giants on SI:Josh Cameron possesses an important blend of short area explosiveness in a dense frame. Cameron uses his frame well at the catch point with solid adjustment ability outside his frame, especially on throws behind him on the horizontal plane.

He’s crafty after the catch with the necessary physical traits to run through arm-tackles. Baylor often used Cameron on deep overs and crossing routes and his football IQ allowed him to find vulnerabilities in zone coverage.

Cameron is also an elite special teams asset as a punt returner; he averaged 20.7 yards per punt return in 2024 and finished his college career with a 14-yard return average.

Cameron’s baseline special team traits will provide value to any team. His upside as a receiver, though, remains questionable due to his lack of elite athletic traits and questions about his ability to defeat press and run a multitude of routes. Still, there’s enough to roll the dice on when it comes to Cameron.

Sixth Round

No Picks

Seventh Round

Pick 227 – Jadon Canady, CB, Oregon

The Dolphins need cornerbacks, so waiting until the seventh round to add someone to the position is not ideal – but again, this is not about making the right pick for Miami, but finding out who might be available at each pick. Canady is an interesting prospect because he might just be able to play everywhere in the defensive secondary. He is not the biggest cornerback, but he is extremely athletic and has the versatility to play boundary, field, and nickel or move back to play safety. He could be a chess piece moving around the defense and using his athleticism to make an impact.

What they are saying:

Daniel Harms, Bleacher Report:Jadon Canady builds his game around whatever the defense needs from him. Canady likely sticks at nickel cornerback in the NFL, but his versatility will be valuable at the next level.

He’s a highly versatile player bringing experience at safety, nickel, and cornerback to the defensive back room, along with his jitterbug energy level and physicality. He’s played for three colleges in his career and has made impacts at each stop along the way, and his experience made him a mainstay in Oregon’s defense in his redshirt senior year.

The former 3-star recruit and 3-star transfer is coming off an impressive 2024 at Ole Miss, where he put up a career high in passes defensed with 12. While he didn’t play every down for the Ducks, they wanted him on the field as much as possible to infuse the defense with his energy, football IQ, and toughness.

Angela Miele, Oregon Ducks on SI:With Canady’s performance through the 2025 season, the defensive back could have already boosted his draft stock. On top of his performance this season, Canady has been showing off his skills in the Shrine Bowl, and can continue to prove to the NFL why a team should select him.

Canady’s size, standing at 5-foot-11, could make him undervalued, but he could become an early pick on day three of the NFL Draft. What will make him a key asset to whichever team selects him is his versatility. Being able to rotate around the secondary and with his speed, he can be a steal for a team.

Alysa Liu lands most difficult combination in women's figure skating competition to post big score, chase gold medal at Olympics originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Alysa Liu is back.

She's lighter, happier, freer -- and she's in contention for a figure skating gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The United States star actually retired after the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, but she rediscovered herself and has returned.

On Tuesday in the short program, Liu looked like a star again.

She actually had the toughest combination in her program of anyone in the entire competition, according to the NBC broadcast.

Liu had to land a triple Lutz, triple loop combo, and she pretty much did. She had just a slight under-rotation that cost her a quarter of a point.

But when her routine was done, Liu ranked in second place among all short program scores with a 76.59.

ABSOLUTELY FLAWLESS ALYSA. pic.twitter.com/FBmrpECyUK

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

MORE: U.S. women's hockey star's brothers go viral at Olympics

The short program scores will be added to the free skate later this week to determine who medals.

Liu has work to do, but she looks happy. She couldn't stop smiling when her routine was complete, and when her score came up, she looked satisfied.

My beauty!!! Alysa Liu you’re so loved by me pic.twitter.com/9bqXppdLhu

— 𝑀𝑖𝑛𝑎 𝄞 (@minxrvas) February 17, 2026

Liu is part of a high-powered Team USA trio with Isabeau Levito and Amber Glenn.

Together, they're hoping to grab at least one medal, if not more. An American woman hasn't gotten an individual Olympic medal since 2006.

This might be the time, and Liu has returned and put herself in contention.

More Olympics news:

• This U.S. luge star was parodied on SNL
• Amber Glenn gets into music dispute during Olympic figure skating program
• Macklin Celebrini is chasing Hooley Smith's 1924 Olympics record
• U.S. Olympians get paid shockingly less than other countries for gold medals
• Controversy and cursing with Canada curling
• Chloe Kim's silver medal has some controversy

Florida basketball has looked like more than just a top-15 team. Nationally, the Gators are getting talked about like a real threat to make a deep run in March.

ESPN's Jay Bilas created rankings of the best 68 teams in college basketball and placed Florida at No. 7, signaling how much Todd Golden's team has stabilized after an early stretch that tested it against high-level competition.

Bilas notes that Florida took several early losses by two possessions or fewer, and the growing pains showed up most in the backcourt with turnovers and inconsistent perimeter shooting. Now, his read is that Florida has turned that corner and belongs in the contender tier.

The biggest reason is the frontcourt. Bilas grouped the Gators with the Michigan Wolverines and Arizona Wildcats as teams with the best big-man groups in the country, and pointed to Thomas Haugh as the engine behind that physical identity.

For Florida fans tracking the bigger picture, that is the headline: this team has the size and consistency to win in different ways, and it is starting to get evaluated like a legitimate NCAA Tournament factor, not just a good SEC story.

It's a sign of how far Florida has come as the season has taken shape. Here is everything Bilas wrote about the Orange and Blue.

What Bilas said about Florida

"The Gators played an incredibly difficult early-season schedule, and they took some losses, all of them within two possessions. Guard play was the issue, including turnovers and perimeter shooting difficulties — no real surprise, given that it's hardly easy to replace one of the best backcourts in SEC history.

"Yet throughout the early season, Florida made steady progress and seemed so close to being a legit contender. Well, this is a legit contender. The Gators are competing with Michigan and Arizona for the nation's best frontcourt, and Thomas Haugh is the engine behind that quartet of behemoths."

Jay Bilas' top 10 men's college basketball teams

1. Michigan Wolverines
2. Arizona Wildcats
3. Duke Blue Devils
4. Houston Cougars
5. Iowa State Cyclones
6. Illinois Fighting Illini
7. Florida Gators
8. UConn Huskies
9. Kansas Jayhawks
10. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida basketball ranked inside top 10 of ESPN Bilas Index

While the season isn’t over, it already feels safe to say the future is bright for North Carolina next season.

That’s because five-star point guard Dylan Mingo committed to the Tar Heels on ESPN’s “First Take” on Tuesday. Mingo chose UNC over Baylor, Penn State and Washington. For a program trying to bridge the gap between its current core and whatever comes next, this is the kind of recruiting win that can steady everything.

The wait is over: 5-star combo guard Dylan Mingo has officially committed to #UNC.

Mingo, who’s the No. 8 player in the ‘26 class, is Hubert Davis’ third top-10 commit and fifth top-12 commit since 2023. pic.twitter.com/Xto8JpAYT1

— Jacob Turner (@JacobTurnerNC) February 17, 2026

Mingo is not just another blue-chip guard. He’s a consensus five-star, ranked the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2026 class, the No. 2 combo guard and the No. 1 player in New York, according to 247Sports. He’s the kind of player you build around — and the kind of player North Carolina needed to land.

He’s not coming alone to Chapel Hill either.

UNC already has a top-25 recruit in forward Maximo Adams, who could slide into the role Caleb Wilson is expected to vacate when he leaves for the NBA after this season. On paper, Adams and Mingo give the Tar Heels just two high school commitments in the 2026 class. In reality, they represent two top-25 talents at positions of clear need.

That number — two — is where some fans might get stuck. How can North Carolina, with all its history and all its resources, stop at just two high school recruits?

In today’s game, there are two simple answers: the transfer portal and returning experience.

In the backcourt alone, Luka Bogavac, Isaiah Denis, Derek Dixon, Kyan Evans and Jonathan Powell are all expected back. The only guard currently set to depart is Seth Trimble, who is out of eligibility. That’s a lot of continuity for a team adding a high-usage guard like Mingo.

Up front, outside of Wilson, the Tar Heels still have options, too. Zayden High, Jarin Stevenson and Henri Veesaar all have eligibility remaining. Like Wilson, Veesaar is drawing NBA interest, with some mock drafts projecting him as a late first-round pick — roughly the basketball equivalent of a late second- or third-round pick in the NFL draft. He could return, but his stock has been trending in the right direction.

Following Dylan Mingo's commitment, here's UNC's updated scholarship chart

(based on "scholarship level players") pic.twitter.com/8gwJ2vJD4x

— Isaac Schade (@isaacschade) February 17, 2026

That’s the balancing act North Carolina faces now. The staff has to prepare for multiple scenarios: What if Veesaar leaves? What if another underclassman tests the draft waters more seriously than expected? What if someone surprises everyone and comes back? What if a couple of players decide to transfer?

That’s where the portal comes in.

If there are holes on the roster this spring — and in the modern ACC, there usually are — the Tar Heels will do what they’ve already shown they can do: turn to the transfer portal. It’s how they added important pieces like Stevenson and Veesaar in the first place. It’s how they can complement Mingo and Adams without overloading the scholarship count.

In that context, taking only two high school recruits isn’t a sign of complacency. It’s a sign of a program that understands how roster-building actually works in 2026.

A lot of credit has to go to Carolina head coach Hubert Davis, who has landed two top-25 recruits at two positions of need next season. The Tar Heels lacked a true point guard this season and have now found a potential replacement for Wilson. Now he and general manager Jim Tanner have to do the same through the transfer portal.

Could they be the key pieces to keep UNC among college basketball’s elite? Time will tell, and the Tar Heels still have to get through this season.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC basketball: 5-star Dylan Mingo commits, future roster takes shape

Lindsey Vonn reflects on the state of her health after arriving home from the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The ski racer detailed her experience at the event after she dropped out of the contest due to an injury she sustained during her stay in Italy.

Lindsey Vonn has since undergone surgeries after the brutal ski incident, which reportedly severely affected her tibia, drawing hundreds of sympathies from concerned fans all over the world.

Lindsey Vonn Breaks Silence On Immobility

The athlete issued a statement on her X account, noting that she has not stood on her feet in over a week due to being in a hospital bed and thus immobile since the race.

"And although I'm not yet able to stand, being back on home soil feels amazing. Huge thank you to everyone in Italy for taking good care of me," she concluded.

Vonn's post was received with positive reactions from fans who praised her for representing the country so proudly while putting her best foot forward.

"Welcome home. Even from a hospital bed, it must feel amazing to be back on familiar soil. Huge respect for pushing through, wishing you a smooth recovery," a commenter noted.

Another well-wisher urged her to take her rehab treatment seriously, emphasizing that such risks are expected due to her status as an athlete and also because greatness never comes easy.

The Ski Racer Admitted Her Participation In The Winter Olympics Was A Risk

 

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Breaking her silence on the situation, US Weekly reported that Vonn informed her fans that her fourth surgery went well and she would like to place some things into the right perspective.

First, she urged her fans to ditch the sad tributes and remain empathetic to her situation with the understanding that she took a risk by going for the competition.

Vonn noted that despite tearing her ACL a few days before the event started, she went in, knowing full well that every skier in the starting gate took the same risk. She noted that even the strongest skier in the world is at the mercy of the mountains and their wishes.

The skier was indeed competing at the World Cup race in Switzerland on January 30 when she tore her ACL, nine days before the winter Olympics started. In an Instagram announcement, Vonn had assured her fans that after extensive consultations, intense therapy, and physical tests coupled with skiing lessons, she was good to go.

The Ski World Cup Winner Praised Team USA In An Emotional Post After Her Surgery

On February 11, The Blast shared that Vonn took to Instagram to tell a deeply personal story about her injury and subsequent surgery, which happened in several phases. 

The painful encounter unfortunately ended Vonn's journey in the competition. In a series of images shared on her Instagram, Vonn lay on the hospital bed flanked by medical equipment, her injured leg held by an external fixator, and an encouraging thumbs up from the superstar. 

The athlete emphasized that since the injury, success has taken on a new meaning for her, and she has gotten more appreciative of the subtle progress she has been making.

The second image showcased Vonn interacting with the treatment nurse, while the third image spotlighted the overwhelming support received by the athlete so far in carts of colorful flower arrangements.

Vonn was filled with gratitude to the USA team, who stood by her side through the difficult days and continued to give a performance worth cheering for as they carried on without her.

Inside Lindsey Vonn's Painful Crash At The Winter Olympics

 

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A post shared by L I N D S E Y • V O N N (@lindseyvonn)

The 41-year-old suffered the crushing crash during her Olympic final run, where she lost control after speeding on a hill and crashing into one of the plastic markers lining the track. As shared by athletes, the right leg reportedly hit the ground first and caused a ruckus in the snow as the force threw her forward.

As if that was not enough, Vonn tumbled yet again and slammed her shoulder into the slope before the chaos ultimately ended. Medical crew quickly rushed to the scene as onlookers watched with panic in their eyes and intense concern for the sport star.

Vonn was subsequently airlifted off the mountain by a helicopter and transported directly to the hospital for emergency treatment. A medic who attended to the athlete on the spot detailed that she was in a lot of pain, and the nature of her injury warranted the airlifting.

Lindsey Vonn's Skiing Journey Over The Years

 

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The legendary skier made her debut in the Olympics over two decades ago in 2002 at Salt Lake City. According to Today, she also competed at the Winter Olympics in 2006, 2010 in Vancouver, and 2018 in PyeongChang.

She missed out on the Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014 due to a knee injury and made up for it with her fifth appearance at the Milan Cortina Games, although short-lived.

Vonn is a celebrated ski star, with three Olympic medals to her name and the record as the only American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the event in 2010. She won two bronze medals in the super-G and the downhill categories in 2018.

She announced her retirement in 2019, stating that her body was "broken beyond repair" and robbing her of the final season of her dreams. In 2024, she announced her comeback to The New York Times, noting that she had begun training with the United States ski team.

Wishing Lindsey Vonn a speedy recovery!

A wide-ranging report has revealed whether Abdukodir Khusanov can expect to play a major role for Manchester City next season.

The 21-year-old has impressed under Pep Guardiola since joining from RC Lens for £33.5 million in January 2025 in the wake of a defensive crisis, having made 32 appearances in all competitions for the Blues in his first 12 months at the Etihad Stadium.

Khusanov made a horror start on his full debut for Manchester City in a 3-1 win over Chelsea, making an error less than three minutes into his first start just days after flying to England to allow Noni Madueke to give the west Londoners an early lead.

The Uzbekistan international’s display improved as the first-half went on but Khusanov was taken off for John Stones after 54 minutes, though he has since turned the ship around and gone above and beyond to establish himself as a very capable and reliable deputy to the likes of Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol in defence.

Khusanov had played 1,589 minutes for Manchester City this season as the Blues vie for silverware on four fronts in the second half of the campaign, having progressed to the Carabao Cup final, FA Cup fifth round and the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.

While he is not first choice as of yet for Guardiola, John Stones’ injury-ravaged season has allowed Khusanov to pick up minutes in central defence as well as full-back now and again, though Matheus Nunes seems to have made the right-back position his own this term.

City endured another personnel crisis in defence this January, with Gvardiol and Dias going off with injury in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea to force club officials to recall academy graduate Max Alleyne from loan at Watford and close a £20 million deal to bring Marc Guehi in from Crystal Palace.

Ruben Dias made his first start for Manchester City since January in a 3-0 Premier League win over Fulham last week, with Stones also returning to the starting XI in a 2-0 FA Cup triumph over Salford City at the weekend.

Stones is expected to leave Manchester City when his contract expires in June, with Nathan Ake also facing an uncertain future with just over a year left on his own deal. Alleyne is expected to stay put and be integrated fully into the first-team setup next season.

City will be well-stocked in defence come the end of the season and it is worth asking where Khusanov will rank in Guardiola’s pecking order when the Catalan would also have all of Dias, Gvardiol, Stones, Ake and Alleyne at his disposal.

Khusanov has made it clear he prefers to play in central defence over right-back and despite the competition for places at the back, Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News has noted that the Uzbek star can expect to play a key role and gain enough minutes in his preferred position as Manchester City compete on all fronts again next season.

Guardiola has waxed lyrical of Khusanov’s adaptation of life in England in recent months and the Manchester City manager will no doubt look to lean on the assured central Asian star in the run-in, now that Dias and Stones have returned to action.

Victoria Mboko continues to go from strength to strength on the WTA Tour, where she is one of the most exciting players right now.

Mboko has a 13-4 win-loss record in 2026 so far, with her fine efforts including a run to the finals of the Adelaide International and the Qatar Open.

The 19-year-old fell short of a third career title on both occasions, having lifted the trophies in Montreal and Hong Kong in 2025.

Mboko had planned to compete at this week’s Dubai Tennis Championships, but injury has ruled the Canadian out of the WTA 1000 event.

Victoria Mboko follows Jennifer Capriati in rapid WTA rise

Mboko has, however, received very positive news amid her injury blow, having just broken the WTA Top 10 for the first time in her career.

Last January, she was remarkably ranked 333rd on the WTA Tour, but now finds herself as the new world number 10.

It’s a rise reminiscent of tennis Hall of Fame member Jennifer Capriati, who also enjoyed a rapid climb towards her rivals.

At 350 days, Mboko has now enjoyed the fastest rise from a Top 200 debut to Top 10 since Capriati in 1990, who took 203 days.

What did Jennifer Capriati achieve on the WTA Tour?

It’s a superb achievement from Mboko, although it does also highlight just how remarkable the career of Capriati was.

The American made it all the way to the top of the WTA rankings, and finished her fantastic career with 14 titles.

That included three Grand Slam titles – two at the Australian Open and one at the French Open – and an Olympic gold medal.

She impressively beat fellow legends Martina Hingis and Kim Clijsters in those major finals, after overcoming Steffi Graf at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Mboko will now be eyeing a hugely successful career too, although the teenager must simply take each tournament as it comes at this stage of proceedings.

She has dealt with her rise superbly thus far, and really doesn’t look like slowing down any time soon.

Mboko has already etched her name into her nation’s history, becoming just the fourth Canadian to break the WTA Top 10.

She has joined Carling Bassett-Seguso, Eugenie Bouchard and Bianca Andreescu on that exclusive list.

READ MORE:Coco Gauff reveals who she’s closest to on the WTA Tour

Harry Kane is setting the world on fire. Since coming to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023, the striker has been breaking records and playing himself into Ballon d’Or conversations. He is also one of the top earners at the club, and his contract expires in 2027.

Asked if Kane’s contract will be extended, ex-Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeneß said: “Yes, I would definitely make that clear. Harry is a stroke of luck for us. Due to the fact his release clause for summer 2026 has now expired and his contract now runs until summer 2027, we are currently under no pressure.”

The comments came as part of a wider interview on Bild that you can read here (paywalled).

Uli’s statement shows that, despite the fact that Kane is 32, the club is planning to keep him long term. The England captain shows no signs of decline, and it’s possible that his most productive years are still ahead of him. Extending him could net FC Bayern at least three or four more world class seasons.

If that costs a little bit more money, so what? It’s Harry Kane we’re talking about. He deserves every penny.

Hundreds of people have enjoyed watching a Shrovetide football match as part of a tradition dating back to at least 1762.

The event, in Alnwick, Northumberland, is played on the fields by the River Aln after a procession from the castle.

Several hundred people cheered the players on, with organisers saying it had been a fantastic day carrying on the yearly tradition.

Players representing the parishes of St Michael's and St Paul's attempt to get the ball through large goals known as hales. This year, St Paul's was victorious winning 2-0.

Here are some of our favourite pictures from the action.

Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.

More stories like this

• Hundreds attend ancient Shrovetide game
• The football games with 'no quarter given'

Related internet links

• Alnwick Hales

Austrian leaders Red Bull Salzburg parted ways with German coach Thomas Letsch on Tuesday after they lost and drew their last two league games.

They lead Linzer ASK only on goal difference.

"After careful analysis, I have come to the conclusion that Red Bull Salzburg need a new impetus," sporting director Marcus Mann, who has only been in his post six weeks, said in a statement.

Letsch is paying the price for not winning the league last season when the Austrian heavyweights were pipped by Sturm Graz.

A member of the 2025 New England Patriots rookie class has circled back ahead of the new league year.

The organization announced the re-signing of cornerback Brandon Crossley on Tuesday, bringing the list of futures contracts to 14.

Crossley, 25, first arrived in Foxborough as an undrafted free agent last spring. The 5-foot-11, 186-pound corner played 79 snaps on defense during his rookie preseason on the way having a hand in six tackles, one forced fumble and one pass breakup.

After being let go by New England at the NFL’s 53-man roster deadline in August, Crossley cleared waivers and signed to the practice squad at its formation. He returned in November and was released leading up to the AFC wild card versus the Los Angeles Chargers.

Crossley handled 13 starts, 35 tackles and one interception in 2024 at Southern Methodist. The former All-ACC honorable mention spent five years with the Mustangs after beginning his collegiate run at Colorado State in 2019. Across 66 appearances between the programs, he registered 146 tackles, six interceptions and returned both a pick and a fumble recovery for touchdowns.

The Patriots previously reached futures contracts with wide receivers Jeremiah Webb and John Jiles, tight end Marshall Lang, offensive tackle Lorenz Metz, guards Mehki Butler and Andrew Rupcich, defensive tackles Leonard Taylor III and Jeremiah Pharms Jr., linebackers Amari Gainer and Otis Reese, as well as safety John Saunders Jr. following Super Bowl LX. Later last week, running back Elijah Mitchell and offensive tackle Sebastian Gutierrez headed back to Gillette Stadium on deals for 2026.

Eight members of the AFC champions’ final practice squad have since become street free agents after having their contracts expire.

VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey have formed quite a backcourt duo this season for the Philadelphia 76ers, and their chemistry appears to extend beyond the court based on recent comments by the two at NBA All-Star Weekend.

Edgecombe was among the 10 rookies who suited up in the Rising Stars Game on Friday, earning MVP honors after leading Team Vince to the championship in Inglewood, California. He totaled 23 points in two games, including 17 in their first matchup.

The third overall pick helped set the tone for the three-game tournament as they eyed the title for their Hall of Fame coach. Edgecombe also wanted to put on a show for his All-Star teammate, who was courtside to watch the festivities at the Intuit Dome.

"Tyrese is my dog, man," Edgecombe said after the game. "He was like, he ain't coming to watch it if I ain't going to play hard. I was like, man, I'm going to play hard, so that's not a waste of his time. I didn't want to waste his time. I know he has a whole lot of stuff he could probably be doing right now, especially being an All-Star. Tyrese is my dog. I love him."

POV: You are Tyrese Maxey watching VJ Edgecombe sink the game-winning free-throws to win @CastrolUSA Rising Stars 🤳

(via @tyresemaxey/IG) pic.twitter.com/njjkghJTvq

— NBA (@NBA) February 14, 2026

Edgecome and Maxey, who are combining to average 43.8 points per game, have helped lead the Sixers to a 30-24 record, good for sixth in the Eastern Conference. Edgecombe is third among all rookies in scoring, while Maxey ranks sixth in the league.

With the arrival of Edgecombe, along with the contributions of Joel Embiid, Paul George, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes, among others, the Sixers have already surpassed their win total (24) from a season ago after battling injuries all year long.

Maxey, in hindsight, recognized that, as tough as last season was, he likely needed to experience it as part of his overall development in the league. However, as bad as it was, it enabled the organization to draft Edgecombe, which should pay off in the long run.

"The outcome was VJ Edgecombe, who is like a little brother to me now, you know what I mean?" Maxey said on Saturday. "He is great, man. Not just basketball-wise, but for our team personality-wise and culture-wise for our organization, and things that we're trying to turn around. I feel like this year we've done a really good job of turning things around."

This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Sixers news: Tyrese Maxey views VJ Edgecombe 'like a little brother'

Colorado football's new tight ends coach, Josh Niblett, has been a star of the Buffaloes' offseason. From his passionate opening statement to his enthusiasm in the weight room, Niblett is proving why Deion Sanders brought him to Boulder.

This week, Niblett was back, addressing the team and emphasizing the importance of staying focused and having the right vision.

"Vision's gonna fuel you, it is gonna give you a focus," Niblett said. "If your vision is right, your focus will be right...When you have the right vision, you will have the right finish...There's one thing we want to do here and that's win. Whatever it takes."

🔥 Powerful. Coach Niblett. Vision. Inspiring the Team 💛🦬

"Vision's gonna feul you. Its gonna give you focus. When you have the right vision, you will have the right finish. There's 1 thing we want. Win. Whatever it takes" https://t.co/p88ceVUOqCpic.twitter.com/JCcs8FFkqO

— JaKi 🇺🇸 (@JaKiTruth) February 17, 2026

Niblett continues to deliver the program with lively, inspirational speeches that clearly draw on his background as an elite high school head coach in the South.

While he has been addressing all position groups over the past month, Niblett, focusing this spring and into the fall, will be getting the most out of a tight end unit that was severely underutilized last season.

Follow Charlie Strella on X, Threads and Instagram.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Josh Niblett's inspirational messages continue for Colorado football

Football took a back seat for a few minutes in Lisbon. 

Benfica and Real face off in the first leg of the Champions League playoffs this Tuesday. Real opened the scoring against Benfica five minutes into the second half. 

Vini Jr. scored a stunning goal after getting past Dedic and firing into the top left corner of Trubin's goal. The Brazilian celebrated with a little "samba" dance in front of one of the corner flags. This earned him a yellow card for possible "disrespect." 

📸 FILIPE AMORIM - AFP or licensors

Such a celebration left many Benfica players dissatisfied, and fans started throwing various objects at the Real Madrid star. 

Afterwards, Vini Jr. reported being the target of racist abuse, prompting the anti-racism protocol to be triggered.

It is not possible to confirm whether it was a Benfica player or a fan who acted in this way. The match was halted for a few minutes, including a conversation between Vini and Mourinho. 

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

'No racism' gesture in soccer: Explaining FIFA's cross-arm signal first introduced by La Liga in Spain originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Developing effective and widespread anti-racism protocols has been a major emphasis by global football over the past decade.

While FIFA has championed its three-step process of pause, halt, and abandon a match affected by racial abuse, critics argue that in practice this has not achieved the desired effect.

One of the most troubled regions plagued by instances of such abuse is the Spanish professional league, where a number of black players have reported being subjected to chants, insults, and other targeted abuse across multiple spheres, including at matches, on social media, and throughout daily life.

Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior has been vocal in his demands for authorities to stamp out racism, even calling for Spain to be stripped of hosting rights for the 2030 FIFA World Cup if the problem is not tackled sufficiently.

Perhaps they have heeded those calls at last. The Spanish federation, along with La Liga, became the first to adopt a new anti-racism procedure in fall of 2024 which FIFA hopes will become standard across all leagues and competitions around the globe.

MORE: All the latest soccer news | Barcelona news | Real Madrid news

What is FIFA's 'no racism' cross-arm gesture?

FIFA has implemented a new gesture for referees and players to signal that racial abuse is occurring during a game.

Per the new guidelines from soccer's governing body, players and referees will have the ability to cross their arms at the wrists in an X to signal an instance of racist abuse. Players may use it to get the referee's attention, while referees can use it to indicate to the viewing public what has occurred.

Should this happen, the referee will immediately begin the three-step process already in place to handle racial abuse. The first of the three steps is to pause the game until the abuse ends, and should it not, the next two steps of suspending the match and abandoning the match will be taken in appropriate measure.

"By crossing their hands at the wrists, players can signal directly to the referee that they are being targeted by racist abuse, prompting the referee to start the anti-discrimination three-step procedure," FIFA explained in its anti-discrimination announcement.

Additionally, if the referee notices or identifies racial abuse themselves, they can also use the gesture to signal that the three-step process is being adopted.

MORE:Antonio Rudiger claims racial abuse during Club World Cup match against Pachuca

When and how is the 'no racism' gesture used?

In leagues where the guidelines are adopted, players are able to utilise this gesture when being targeted by racial abuse.

The crossed arms will signal to referees that they are the target of abuse and allow the official to take appropriate action.

Referees themselves can also use the gesture to signal that the match is being affected by racist insults and that the three-step protocol has been initiated.

While nothing fundamental is changing with this guideline, what it will hopefully do is to allow for greater transparency for viewers, which in turn will, theoretically, force referees to take more immediate action when abuse occurs.

As it stands, discussions about racist abuse on the pitch between players and officials are often difficult to identify in the moment, and thus referees can waver in their ability to implement the three-step process. Under this guideline, everyone will immediately know a player has been abused, which will put pressure on the referee to react promptly.

During the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Antonio Rudiger informed the referee of racial abuse by a Pachuca player, at which point the official signaled such by crossing his arms during the stoppage.

O árbitro Ramon Abatti Abel fez o sinal do protocolo antirracismo após uma discussão do Rudiger com o argentino Gustavo Cabral.

📸 Reprodução pic.twitter.com/DC76vycYMK

— Papo de Boleiros 🇧🇷 (@_papoboleiros) June 22, 2025

When did La Liga, FIFA implement the 'no racism' gesture?

As no specific timeline for implementation was given by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) at the moment of publication, it appeared that La Liga will begin implementing this part of the anti-racism procedures immediately, and that was indeed the case.

"The Royal Spanish Football Federation, together with La Liga, will incorporate the gesture for racist incidents that was approved at the last FIFA Congress held in Bangkok into the Protocol for Action on Public Incidents," said the RFEF in a statement. "An agreement was adopted unanimously to continue fighting racism together and efficiently."

Spain has witnessed a number of instances of racial abuse at football matches, with high-profile incidents both during and around La Liga matches. Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. has often been the target of racial abuse and has been an outspoken critic of what he considers to be the country's systemic issue with racism. Most notably, Vinicius posited that Spain should lose the right to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup if the problem isn't stamped out.

Steps have been taken towards reducing the problem. In June 2024, three men were jailed for racially abusing Vinicius in a match between Madrid and Valencia at Mestalla in May 2023.

The Brazilian posted on X: "Many people asked me to ignore it, others said that my fight was in vain and that I should just 'play football'. But, as I've always said, I'm not a victim of racism. I am an executioner of racists. This first criminal conviction in Spanish history is not for me. It's for all black people.

"Let the other racists be afraid, ashamed and hide in the shadows. Otherwise, I'll be here to call them out. Thank you to LaLiga and Real Madrid for helping to bring about this historic condemnation. There's more to come."

Do any other leagues use the 'no racism' gesture?

By the end of the 2024/25 European season, no other top leagues used the crossed-arms gesture, but La Liga was not the first worldwide competition to implement the process.

The gesture is in place at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, which is currently in action in Colombia.

It was then implemented for all subsequent FIFA competitions, including the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States where the Rudiger incident took place.

Vinicius Jr racially abused during Champions League match

After scoring the opening goal of Real Madrid's knockout playoff first leg at Benfica in February 2026, Vinicius Jr. informed the match official that he had been the target of a racist comment by a Benfica player.

Replays showed Gianluca Prestianni covering his mouth with his shirt before saying something to Vinicius in the aftermath of his celebration, at which point the Real Madrid star immediately runs to inform the referee what he has heard.

At that point, French referee Francois Letexier made the crossed-arms gesture to indicate there had been racial abuse, and the match was stopped for nearly 10 minutes as the situation was resolved.

How the incident played out in full:

▪️ Vinícius Júnior scores a worldie strike.
▪️ He is booked for celebrating overtly.
▪️ Gianluca Prestianni says something to Vini.
▪️ Vini then charges over to referee who initiates the racism protocol. https://t.co/wUMWvXvRtUpic.twitter.com/2zAag49es1

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Footballtweet) February 17, 2026

Throughout the stoppage, Vinicius Jr refused to continue playing the match, and multiple Real Madrid players protested the continued involvement of Prestianni in the match proceedings.

Eventually, the game resumed in the 61st minute, but there was a tense atmosphere in Estadio da Luz as the game continued. The CBS Sports broadcasters commented shortly after that "some of the air has been sucked out" of the match environment with what occurred.

During his Tuesday afternoon press conference, Alabama head coach Nate Oats officially revealed an injury update on Crimson Tide forward Taylor Bol Bowen prior to the Tide’s matchup against Arkansas. 

Oats revealed that the junior is likely labeled as day-to-day ahead of tomorrow’s contest. The talented forward was unable to practice yesterday, per Oats, and the Tide could turn to a multitude of playmakers should Bol Bowen be unable to play. The forward has played a crucial role off the Tide’s bench throughout the entire 2025-26 campaign, as Bol Bowen would prove to be a major loss against an extremely talented Arkansas team. 

Oats took a moment to share an in-depth update on Bol Bowen’s injury, as the Alabama head coach claims the forward’s length and athleticism could play a major role against the Razorbacks on Wednesday evening. 

“Taylor is kind of day-to-day,” Oats said. “He didn’t practice yesterday at all, and today, we had a real light practice that he went through parts of it. We’ll see how he’s feeling tomorrow. It’d be great to get him, though, because we need some length and athleticism in this game. So, it’d be great if we get him back."

Bol Bowen currently averages 7.2 points and 5.1 rebounds in his first season with the Crimson Tide. The forward transferred to Alabama following two seasons at Florida State, as Bol Bowen has flashed his true potential on numerous occasions this season. 

Alabama will host the Arkansas Razorbacks at Coleman Coliseum on Wednesday evening, as Bol Bowen’s status for the matchup remains up in the air. 

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.

This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Taylor Bol Bowen injury update for Alabama basketball vs. Arkansas

Steelers biggest loser of Aaron Rodgers waiting game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, for the past handful of years, have been stuck between being good, but not good enough to win it all.

And that leaves the franchise in the middle of nowhere. They aren't bad enough to get a top draft pick to replenish the roster, and they aren't good enough to cash in and win the Super Bowl.

With Mike Tomlin out and Mike McCarthy in, there was a thought that things could be changing for the franchise, but with Aaron Rodgers rumored to be open to a return in 2026, this has a familiar feel to it for Steelers fans.

And ESPN's Jeremy Fowler stated on SportsCenter over the weekend that he doesn't expect a swift resolution to Aaron's future, and because of that, the Steelers are in between a rock and a hard place.

They have to wait on Rodgers before making any decisive moves at the quarterback position, and as we know, time is money in the NFL.

More:Analyst drops worrying future update on Ravens' Isaiah Likely

Steelers need fresh approach

Is Rodgers the quarterback to get Pittsburgh a Super Bowl trophy in 2026? I think we know the answer to that, don't we? Is the franchise content with being there or thereabouts next season, without actually challenging?

It appears so.

Fans might like to see Will Howard get a shot because even if it doesn't work out and Pittsburgh goes 4-13 in 2026, at least it is something different. If Rodgers returns in 2026, we know what we are getting, and that is a team that won't be seen as a contender.

So, as the franchise waits on Rodgers, they find themselves in quarterback purgatory, and that isn't a spot any organization wants to be.

Why not rip the band-aid off and go in a different direction?

More NFL news:

• Analyst urges Lions to go after $35 million 5-time Pro Bowler
• Bills could acquire Super Bowl champion for astonishing price
• Ravens urged to trade for 23 sack monster for Jesse Minter
• ESPN analyst offers nightmare Lamar Jackson contract scenario for Ravens
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• Analysts reveal horror Justin Herbert narrative Chargers will hate
• Chiefs' selection in mock draft nightmare fuel for NFL

Ilia Malinin continued his media tour at the 2026 Winter Olympics Tuesday, Feb. 17 with a stop with NBC's Mike Tirico.

In the interview, which aired during a break in NBC's coverage of figure skating's women's short program, Malinin said it's been an "up and down" last few days for him since his disastrous performance in the men's free skate Feb. 13 that saw him lose the chance to a second Olympic gold medal with Team USA.

He also disclosed that he's received a handful of texts and calls from several decorated athletes, like Simone Biles and Tom Brady. Snoop Dogg also reached out.

MALININ: Says he 'was not ready to handle' the Olympic pressure

"It's honestly been a lot of ups and downs, and of course, following the free skate, it was a little hard at first and trying to realize what happened and how devastating it really was. But looking back at it, I got so much love, so much support, and everyone was there for me, had so many different people reach out to me," Malinin said.

"Tom Brady, Steph Curry, Biles, Snoop. I'm honestly just so honored for that and I feel like it just made my day, honestly."

Ilia Malinin talks with Mike Tirico about his 2026 #WinterOlympics experience. pic.twitter.com/PJ6OmdL6VB

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

Both Biles and Brady have been spotted in Milan during the 2026 Winter Games, including in the figure skating arena. Biles, who has won 11 Olympic gymnastics medals during her illustrious career, stood and applauded Malinin with her husband, NFL safety Jonathan Owens as the first-time Olympian struggled through his free skate performance

Malinin also disclosed that after giving himself a day, he did look at the influx of support messages that he received on social media following his short program.

"I gave myself one day just to kind of be in my own zone, be in my own space, but after that, I kind of just went online, see what people say, and a lot of positive messages, a lot of just love, a lot of just support...," Malinin said. "It just really hit me and it's a reason why I love this sport so much because no matter what happens, it doesn't define who you are as a person. And I think everyone realized that that night and I'm just super grateful to have the support from my team, my fans, my parents, who are also my coaches, and it's just wonderful."

The 21-year-old entered the free skate in first place in the men's singles event, but a few falls and mistakes during his free skate program dropped him all the way down to eighth overall, a shocking result for the "Quad God."

While he didn't win his individual program, Malinin is still walking away from his first Olympics as a gold medalist, as he helped deliver Team USA back-to-back gold medals in the team event.

"It's definitely something that will help me not feel the worst from my Olympic experience, and really just shows how grateful I should be for even stepping on the ice for that team event," Malinin said on helping lead Team USA to gold in the team event. "It was something that I was not sure that I was going to do, but making the decision pretty close to the deadline. I am so grateful that me and all the other teammates we fought and put so much energy, all of it into that game, and it's what gave us this gold medal, and I'm never going to forget that."

Malinin is set to perform in the exhibition gala on Saturday, Feb. 21 in Milan before returning home.

USA TODAY Sports' Cydney Henderson contributed to this story.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ilia Malinin says Simone Biles, Tom Brady reached out at Olympics

After back-to-back injury-time victories against Livingston and Kilmarnock in the Premiership, Celtic must regroup for Thursday night’s Europa League encounter against VfB Stuttgart. They hold home advantage in the first leg of the playoff round, but their performance needs to improve to match the German side’s standards.

Stuttgart are fighting for a Champions League berth, as the heavyweights like RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen are still behind in the Bundesliga standings. While the priority must be to maintain their league position, Sebastian Hoeneß’s men are well capable of making a deep run in Europe, overcoming the Parkhead test before eliminating the Scottish champions at Neckarstadion.

Predicted 4-3-3 Celtic Lineup To Face Vfb Stuttgart

Defence

Viljami Sinisalo has been knocking on the door with some decent Cup outings, yet Martin O’Neill is expected to rely on Kasper Schmeichel’s experience in this high-voltage European tie.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – JANUARY 29: Callum McGregor of Celtic interacts with Auston Trusty after the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Celtic FC and FC Utrecht at Celtic Park on January 29, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Julian Araujo has been a revelation since his January move. The on-loan Bournemouth right-back netted a stellar last-gasp winner against Killie, and his flair as a fullback makes him an assured starter over Colby Donovan and Anthony Ralston amid Alistair Johnston’s long-term injury. Although Araujo has been included in the Hoops’ Europa League squad, Benjamin Arthur, the other January recruit, misses out despite a lack of depth in the heart of the backline. Liam Scales and Auston Trusy must continue as the central defensive pair; however, fit-again Marcelo Saracchi should be restored down the left, having impressed since his return from injury. Kieran Tierney could be brought in the second half, exercising gametime management to avoid fitness woes.

Midfield

Celtic are lacking depth in the centre of the pitch following Arne Engels’ injury. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has not been registered either, thus forcing O’Neill to rely on Reo Hatate, even though the Japanese ace has struggled of late as a ‘number 8’. Benjamin Nygren, known for his poaching traits, is irreplaceable, as the Swedish star could also switch to a ‘number 10’ role if the gaffer decides to shift Hatate deeper and form a ‘double pivot’ alongside Callum McGregor. The skipper must exhibit his expertise as a deep-lying playmaker, whereas Luke McCowan and Paulo Bernardo are likely to wait for opportunities, being fringe options in the middle of the park.

Attack

Tomas Cvancara must return to the starting XI and spearhead the attack ahead of fellow January recruit Junior Adamu. Daizen Maeda should be shifted down the right, as the in-form Sebastian Tounekti deserves a first-team spot, proving his worth in recent weeks. Besides Adamu, James Forrest and Yang Hyun-jun, as well as Kelechi Iheanacho, might be involved as ‘super subs’, but the club decided not to register Joel Mvuka and Michel-Ange Balikwisha, even though they are fit enough to feature, unlike Callum Osmand and Jota.

Pierre Kalulu insists Juventus cannot hide behind alibis after their 5-2 defeat to Galatasaray, and wants to put the Alessandro Bastoni incident behind him. ‘It’s a pity.’

The Bianconeri had been leading 2-1 at half-time in the first leg of this Champions League play-off, with a Teun Koopmeiners brace overturning the early Gabriel Sara goal.

They went 3-2 down and a man down after the restart, crumbling to a 5-2 loss that gives them a mountain to climb in the second leg on February 25.

Kalulu surprised by Juventus collapse

ISTANBUL, TURKEY – FEBRUARY 17: Davinson Sanchez of Galatasaray A.S. celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Galatasaray A.S. and Juventus at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi on February 17, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)

“Goals keep coming from our own errors, but the most difficult thing to swallow was the second half performance overall,” Kalulu told Sky Sport Italia.

“Even with a red card, we should not have allowed all those scoring opportunities. We need to figure out what happened tonight, but it’s in the past now and in football you must be able to quickly move on to the next match.”

Gleison Bremer limped off with an injury in the first half, while they were also missing Jonathan David, Emil Holm and Dusan Vlahovic. Was the strain of their recent run of big matches to blame for this capitulation?

“No, you cannot hide behind fatigue when dealing with a Champions League fixture. That’s just the way it went today, it’s very difficult to work out what went wrong, but we’ve got to lift our heads and do better in future.”

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Pierre Kalulu of Juventus reacts as he walks off after being sent off by Referee Federico La Penna (not pictured) for a second yellow card offence during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Kalulu was in all the Italian headlines this week after his red card in the 3-2 Serie A defeat to Inter, as the second yellow was for a Bastoni simulation.

“Obviously, I was very irritable after that incident, but it is better not to talk too much, because sometimes it doesn’t really help. I just have to focus on the pitch, there are others who can talk about these matters.”

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Alessandro Bastoni of FC Internazionale Milano shoots and hits the post during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Inter defender Bastoni made a public apology today for exaggerating the contact to get Kalulu sent off, but above all for loudly celebrating the dismissal.

“I didn’t see what he said,” replied Kalulu.

“That match is in the past now, we’ve got to look to the future and not think about it anymore. All I will say is that it’s a pity.”

Paris recover to level 2-2 by half-time in Monaco

Champions League: Monaco strike twice early, PSG level by half-time

Monaco led PSG 2-0 through Folarin Balogun but Paris recovered to make it 2-2 at half-time at Stade Louis II on 17 February.

Monaco start fast, Balogun strikes twice

AS Monaco shocked Paris Saint-Germain in the opening minutes of Champions League playoff first leg in Monaco on Tuesday 17 February scoring after 55 second.

Folarin Balogun headed in from close range after a cross by Aleksandr Golovin giving Monaco an early 1-0 lead.

Monaco doubled the advantage in the 18 minute. PSG lost the ball, Maghnes Akliouche played through pass and Balogun finished low past PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov for 2-0.

PSG miss a penalty, Then find a way back

PSG had a big chance to reduce the gap in the 22 minute but Vitinha saw his penalty saved by Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Köhn after the spot kick was given for foul by Wout Faes on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Paris kept pushing and got their reward in the 29 minute. Désiré Doué who had just come on for Ousmane Dembélé in the 27 minute scored from the left side of the box after assist by Bradley Barcola to make it 2-1.

PSG then pulled level in the 41 minute when Achraf Hakimi finished from the right side of the box to make it 2-2 before the break.

At half-time, PSG had 77.3% possession and led the shot count 11-6, with 5-3 shots on target.

Monaco picked up two yellow card while PSG had none in first half.

This match is first leg of Champions League playoff, with the return game set for Wednesday at Parc des Princes.

No matter what type of pack-ripper you meet, you can count on being asked the same question: Who do you collect? But what is a collector to do when their favorite player gets traded to a different team? What about a new arrival who takes the team to the next level—but has a rookie card featuring a rival’s jersey? There’s no Fanatics Jersey Assurance in the Hobby, and even if a trade—or Super Bowl win—spikes the price of your card, it might not look right in your display case.

Now that the dust has settled on both NBA Free Agency and the Super Bowl, the team at Mantel took a look at their personal collections to shine a light on the 3 different paths collectors can take when General Managers and big games move the market.

The Team Player

Let’s say you’re like me: a sad Chicago Bulls fan forever tethered to the team thanks to a combination of Michael Jordan, Derrick Rose, and a slew of other players who could rock the Madhouse on Madison any day of the week. Over the past few years, I’ve found myself attached to Coby White, the #7 overall pick in the 2019 draft. As he grew into his own, I built a collection around the rising star combo guard. Naturally, I gravitated towards his rookie cards, from RPAs to graded autos—a Noir Shadow Signatures /99 and a Contenders Silver Auto /49, just to name a few.

Then, the day before the trade deadline, my sweet prince is moved to his hometown team. Not only have my cards begun to drop in value, but my shrine display case looks a little… off… now that Coby’s no longer a Bull. Do I sell, take what I can get, and use those funds to buy similar cards from one of the squad’s rising stars like Matas Buzelis—or admit that the Bulls are a poverty franchise and commemorate the glory days by sticking to Jordan cards?

Whether you’re a sad Bulls fan like me or a Seahawks fan basking in the glory of that Super Bowl win, the most team-friendly approach is to stick to cards featuring players on their current team. Do the 12s really want a card featuring Darnold wearing Gotham Green? Sure, his rookie cards will always hold the highest value, but if you’re trying to commemorate Darnold’s career comeback, you certainly don’t want to stare at a Jets card. Thankfully, fans have a few options to consider:

• Panini NFL Score – 1st of the Line – $125: Is it fair to call this Darnold’s “Seattle rookie card”? It reads oddly, that’s for sure, but grabbing the first-ever card featuring the redheaded QB in a Seahawks jersey feels like it fits the bill.

• Panini Phoenix Auto – $275: This set has never screamed “high-end,” but if there ever were an appropriate term for the QB’s career, it was a fiery bird rising from the ashes. It features Darnold in a Seahawks jersey, comes in some nice numbered editions, and can have a (sticker) auto, too.

• Panini Prizm Draft Legends – $299.99: I can’t imagine U Dub fans being too thrilled with anything SoCal, but hey, when it comes down to USC and the Jets, maybe the Trojans are the lesser of two evils.

• Panini Immaculate – $2,125: For the fan who has had season tickets since the team landed in the PNW five decades ago. This deserves one of those fancy levitating display cases from Airtime.

The Investor

Sure, James Harden is now playing for his sixth team, but maybe this time’s the charm! With the NBA Trade Deadline seeing the bearded former MVP jump ship from LA to Cleveland, fans in “The Land” have a real shot at making it out of the (admittedly weak) East. And while purists wait for Topps to print cards featuring Harden in a Cavs jersey, investors have already jumped on the news.

Over on Alt, Harden is up 1.7% over the past 30 days—not exactly a glowing review of the Cavs’ chances of beating the Thunder, Nuggets, or Rockets, but something to consider given that rookie cards for the future Hall of Fame hooper regularly command thousands of dollars.

Another intriguing example involves former Bulls big man Lauri Markkanen and his new counterpart, Jaren Jackson Jr. After years of borderline abuse toward their fans, the Utah Jazz might finally be turning the corner; they made a splash at the deadline by trading for a star forward and putting together a depth chart that looks, dare I say, good. While the 30-day average for Jackson cards is down 5.3% on Alt—likely due to his season-ending knee surgery—if you’re as hyped as analysts about the prospects of the 2026-27 Jazz, now might be the time to buy into Lauri—or JJJ—rookie cards. In fact, since the trade, five JJJ cards have sold for $1,000 or more on eBay (six, if you count this beauty that went for $990).

The Hobby is a game to some, but for investors out there, staying ahead of the curve is key, and that means taking risks on rising stars. Sometimes it really is about the long game.

The Fan Favorite

Some root for their home team. Others are only in it for the money. But for a select few, it’s all about one thing: their favorite player.

PCs come in all shapes and sizes, but some of the most fascinating ones you’ll see here on Mantel revolve around a single athlete—whether that’s a star like new Wizards center Anthony Davis or a small (but mighty) player who rarely makes it onto the court, like 5’7” Bulls guard Yuki Kawamura. In the case of the latter, I would pay stupid sums of money to have a signed copy of a card featuring his jump ball win against 6’5” Heat guard Kasparas Jakucionis. Make it happen, Topps!

These types of collectors are attached to a player in a way that few of us will ever understand. Maybe the player had a magical NCAA tournament run for the collector’s alma mater. Maybe it’s a beloved franchise cornerstone that embodies the organization. Regardless, they’ve got display cases filled with rainbow parallels, rookie cards, and everything in between.

Normally, this angle is all about connecting with a player. However, in some cases, it can impact the market, as is the case with the famous Pokémon collector who is trying to purchase every Kabuto card. Or, you can become Internet famous by cornering the market for Steven Adams cards.

Personal collections come in all shapes and sizes. That’s one of the beauties of this whole card thing. But just like opening up a hobby box, this isn’t for the weak. There will be wins, losses, trades, and more. The cards come and go, but thankfully, there’s always something new to share on Mantel.

Ahead of Atlético Madrid’s UEFA Champions League play-off first leg against Club Brugge, coach Diego Simeone spoke to the media for a pre-match press conference.

Simeone was asked specifically about his defenders, and this season’s first-choice pairing of Marc Pubill and Dávid Hancko, of whom he said “I think it’s clear what both of them can contribute, as first and foremost, they have good positional play, I think they both fit in very well on the pitch because of their characteristics.

“They’re both fast, both good at bringing the ball out… They need to improve in some areas, like all footballers, obviously but contributing to this stage of the championship, which is doing the team a lot of good,” he said.

Simeone further broke down the defensive options at his disposal after rotation against Rayo Vallecano at the weekend led to an ugly 3-0 defeat.

“In the last match, José María Giménez didn’t play badly, Clément Lenglet didn’t have a good night, but we’re there trying to get everyone in the best shape, because Dávid Hancko and Marc Pubill alone aren’t enough for everything that’s coming.” Simeone said. “The team belongs to everyone, not just 10 players.”

Diego Simeone on Álex Baena

“He always has a positive attitude, with a willingness to always give his best and a talent that sets him apart from the other midfielders we have. We need more from him and obviously we are going to demand what we see he has.”

Simeone on his personal reflection of the season

“I have a thought that I recently confirmed with my mum after my dad’s death (in 2022), because my mum was calm, she was at peace, and I said to her: how can you be so calm? Dad died. It’s because I gave everything, she told me. I gave all the love I had. That’s why I acted the same way when I had to stop playing and today, in reality, I have no need to look back and say: oh, I’d like to play. No, no, no. When I had to be there, I was there. When I had to play, I played. And when I had to give everything, I gave it. Sometimes I did well, sometimes I did badly, but I always gave 100 percent. And that gives me the peace of mind and tranquillity to face my life, to live in the same way my mum taught me.”

Simeone on motivation and consistency

“The players always go out there motivated. It’s very difficult for a player to go out and play badly. Koke said it, there are times when things go better; the team has a pattern and confidence in their play, and there are games when they don’t. It happens in several leagues. In these past four games, good things and bad things happened to us.”

Simeone on the Champions League

“Watching the Champions League, having always played in it, all the teams are good. There aren’t any bad ones. All the situations that can generate that strength generate calm. All teams are capable of generating that. Like all Champions League matches, especially away from home, we’ll have to play a tough and difficult match and try to get the result we want.”

The No. 24 Wisconsin Badgers look to complete a regular-season sweep of the Ohio State Buckeyes on Tuesday, February 17th. Tip-off is at 7:30 PM on Fox Sports 1, and the Badgers are 1.5-point favorites.  

The Badgers now find themselves ranked in the AP Poll for the first time since late November, thanks to a dominating win over then-No. 10 Michigan State, 92-71. The Badgers’ defense was stellar in limiting Michigan State star Jeremy Fears Jr. to only 14 points on 3-of-12 shots from the floor. Nick Boyd was the player of the game for Wisconsin with 20 first-half points and finished with a team-high 29 points in the victory. On Monday, Boyd was named Player of the Week by the Big Ten Conference.      

Turning our attention to Ohio State, what has changed for the Buckeyes since our last meeting at the Kohl Center?

Opponent Preview

It has been one step forward and one step backward for Jake Diebler and Ohio State. After their 92-82 loss on January 31st in Madison, the Buckeyes alternated wins at Maryland and at home against USC with losses at home to Michigan and on a neutral court to Virginia. Their 70-66 loss to Virginia in Nashville last Saturday drops them to 0-8 in Quad 1 games and keeps them on the outside looking in for the NCAA tournament.  

A big reason why Ohio State has lost its last two games has been rebounding. The Buckeyes were outrebounded in their 82-61 home loss to Michigan, 43-31, and in their loss to Virginia, 43-26.  

Bruce Thornton continues to lead the Buckeyes, averaging 20.5 PPG since their loss to Wisconsin. The senior guard has been the leading scorer for Ohio State in their last three games, including a 28-point performance in that loss to Virginia.

The Buckeyes will likely be without second-leading scorer John Mobley Jr., who sustained a hand injury in their 89-82 win over USC back on February 11th. Taison Chatman got the start in Mobley Jr’s sport against Virginia and scored four points on 2-of-5 shots from the floor.      

Score Prediction

The Badgers should expect a desperate Buckeyes’ team to play with energy right from the start in front of their home crowd. This is an Ohio State team that needs every win it can gather, or they will miss the NCAA Tournament for the fourth-straight season. That will not sit well with the folks in Columbus.

Wisconsin comes into this game having won four of its last five games at Value City Arena and has shown it can win major road games under Greg Gard. If the Badgers can contain Thornton and win the rebounding battle, then they will come out of Columbus with another road victory.    

Prediction: Wisconsin 84-79

​

The Rules of Golf are tricky! Thankfully, we’ve got the guru. Our Rules Guy knows the book front to back. Got a question? He’s got all the answers.

If I want to take a stroke-and-distance penalty under Rule 18.1 for a tee shot that I don’t want to find (or look for), my understanding is I can if I don’t declare it a provisional. Am I also correct in thinking that I can’t re-tee it? If not, do I drop the ball or place it?— Fred Erickson, via email

Fred, your understanding was correct, right until it wasn’t.

Rules

On the first point, yes, if you played from the teeing area and don’t want to find the ball, you can take stroke-and-distance relief and play again from said teeing area.

Regarding not being able to re-tee, wrong: Per Rule 6.2b, you can do so — again, you just need to play the ball from within the teeing area, whether on a tee or on the ground, as you prefer. It may not always pay to look for your ball, but it always pays to look up the appropriate rule.

For more tee-related guidance from our guru, read on …

A friend and I reached a tee box with only one marker. We played from where we thought was reasonable, guessing at the other marker’s location. Was that okay? — Warren Ayala, Anthem, Ariz.

In match play, you and your opponent (or friend or frenemy) can agree on how to decide the issue.

In stroke play, where the distinction becomes more important, contact the committee. Not reachable? Per Rule 6.2b(4), use reasonable judgment to try to play from the two club-length rectangle based on the front and outside edges of the tee marker. Clever committees will dot tee markers’ positions with spray paint for this eventuality.

Want to find the right gear for your bag in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

Got a question about the Rules? Ask the Rules Guy! Send your queries, confusions and comments to rulesguy@golf.com. We promise he won’t throw the book at you.

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The post Rules Guy: If I hit a tee shot that I don’t want to look for, can I re-tee my next shot? appeared first on Golf.

The Canadians have a massive rest advantage ahead of the quarter-final matchup with Czechia, who they’ve already handily beaten 5-0 in Group play. This might be the best Canadian team ever iced, and finding an anytime goal scorer with this elite group is easy pickings. Another half-dozen goals is very possible.  

Read more in my free betting picks for February 18, and make sure to check out our full Canada vs. Czechia predictions!

Team Canada goal scorer picks for today

Player
🥇 Bo Horvat	<<+550>>
🥈 Mark Stone	<<+210>>
🥉Devon Toews	<<+1500>>

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The biggest storyline from Tuesday’s Team Canada skate was the absence of Nathan MacKinnon, officially called a “maintenance day,” though it comes after the late hit he took vs. France — the same sequence that led to the Tom Wilson fight.

If MacKinnon sits, Bo Horvat could move up the middle into a stronger offensive role. A potential unit with Brad Marchand and Seth Jarvis would offer far more scoring upside than the Brandon Hagel / Nick Suzuki / Sam Reinhart line.

Horvat’s speed has already flashed in this tournament, producing two goals despite limited usage — including the third tally in Canada’s 5–0 win over Czechia in the opener.

🔥Bet Bo Horvat +550 now

Mark Stone (+210)

The second line of Mark Stone, Mitch Marner, and Sidney Crosby has quickly become a trusted trio for coach Jon Cooper, who dubbed them “the stabilizers” at practice this weekend.

Stone and Marner already show strong chemistry — helped by Stone’s Vegas familiarity — and the usage could climb even higher if Nathan MacKinnon sits, pushing this unit into a clear No. 2 role.

Stone logged just 13 minutes last game, but a jump into the 17–19 range is realistic. He’s scored in two of three games, has already beaten Lukáš Dostál in the tournament, and remains a net-front matchup problem for Czechia.

🔥Bet Mark Stone +210 now

Devon Toews (+1,500)

Let’s keep hunting for value with a Canadian long shot in the third spot. There are plenty of options, but we’ll go straight to the bottom of the board for the longest price at +1500 on Devon Toews.

He may be known for his defensive work, but Toews is logging heavy minutes alongside Cale Makar and already found the net against France. With Josh Morrissey working back from injury, this top pair could push well beyond 20 minutes. At this number, Toews is a worthwhile lottery ticket with real ice-time upside.

🔥Bet Devon Toews +1,500 now

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Olympics bobsled final results, highlights: USA's Frankie del Duca-Josh Williamson miss podium as Germany sweeps originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

JUMP TO:

• Olympic 2-man bobsled scores
• Olympic 2-man bobsled highlights
• Where to watch Olympic 2-man bobsled 
• USA Olympic bobsled schedule

The Winter Olympics showcase some of the most exciting sports, with bobsledding standing out as particularly thrilling.

Athletes race down icy tracks by pushing a sleek sled before jumping in and sprinting to beat the clock.

This sport demands incredible skill and strategy, but the high speeds and steep slopes make it especially exhilarating and daring. This year, the United States proudly sends 14 talented bobsledders.

Two notable competitors were Frank Del Duca and Josh Williamson. They were aiming to end a long dry spell for the U.S. in this event – the last time America won a medal in the 2-man bobsled was a silver in 2014.

Yet, Germany once again dominated, and the United States missed the podium. This marks the second consecutive Winter Olympics where Germany swept the bobsled events.

The Sporting News tracked live results and highlights from the USA's Frankie del Duca-Josh Williamson in the 2-man final.

MORE 2026 OLYMPICS: Live medal tracker | Viewer's guide | Day-by-day schedule

Olympics bobsled 2-man scores

Olympics bobsled live updates, highlights from 2-man final

3:46 p.m.: Ammour and Schaller put up a 3:41.52 for Germany, which at least guarantees them a medal. The USA will not win a gold medal, and Germany will sweep the podium.

3:44 p.m.: Frankie del Duca and Josh Williamson have potentially their best run and put themselves in the top spot, but it will all come down to what the Germans do.

3:41 p.m.: Tentea and Iordache timed in at 3:42.60 for Romania, which guarantees them a top 5 spot.

3:38 p.m.: Vogt and Ndiaye of Switzerland came in at 3:42.60, securing a spot in the top ten.

3:36 p.m.: Baumgartner and Mircea for Italy had a huge run of 3:42.67. This places the Italians well within the top 10.

3:34 p.m.: Kalenda and Miknis come in at 3:42.68 for Latvia. This locks them into a top-10 spot on the leaderboard.

3:32 p.m.: Hall and Greenwood representative of Great Britain, time in at 3:43.43, which drops them out of the top 10 on the leaderboard. 

3:29 p.m.: Treichl and Bertschler of Austria started off the top 10 leaderboard in Heat 4 with a time of 3:43.01. This secures them a top 10 spot. 

3:27 p.m.: Markus Treichl and Daniel Bertschler of Austria will kick off the top 10 leaderboard in Heat 4. 

3:05 p.m.: Heat 4 begins at the bottom of the results board. Therefore, Germany and the United States will both be heading toward the end of the event.

3:00 p.m.: Start of Heat 4.

2:05 p.m.: Heat 3 is fully finished, now the wait begins for Heat 4, which will be the final.

1:23 p.m.: Treichl and Bertschler for Austria jump into 10th with their time of 2:47.27.

1:20 p.m.: Heinrich and Hauterville of the French placed a 2:47.39 time.

1:19 p.m.: Hall and Greenwood put up a time of 2:47.26 for Great Britain.

1:17 p.m.: Kalenda and Miknis come in at 2:47.07 for Latvia.

1:15 p.m.: Baumgartner and Mircea for Italy had a huge run of 2:47.07.

1:12 p.m.: Vogt and Ndiaye of Switzerland came in at 2:46.96.

1:10 p.m.:Tentea and Iordache timed in at 2:46.84 for Romania.

1:09 p.m.: Frankie del Duca and Josh Williamson had a sloppy go for the U.S. and were not able to catch the Germans.

1:07 p.m.:Ammour and Schaller put up a 2:46.17 to cap Germany's participants.

1:05 p.m.: Friedrich and Schuller followed up with a 2:45.71 for Germany.

1:03 p.m.: Germany, which controls the leaderboard heading into this event, is first to compete. Lochner and Fleischhauer post a 2:44.79.

12:34 p.m.: Almost that time for Frankie del Duca and Josh Williamson of the United States.

The final push. ⚡@USABS back on the track for two-man bobsled at 1:00 PM ET.#WinterOlympicspic.twitter.com/GUFhfCKZLF

— Team USA (@TeamUSA) February 17, 2026

Where to watch Olympic bobsled 2-man final

Olympic bobsled 2-man final start time

• Date: Tuesday, February 17
• Time: 1 p.m. ET

The final two heats of the men's 2-man bobsled event start at 1 p.m. ET with Heat 3 first. Heat 4 is scheduled to take place at 3:05 p.m. ET. 

What channel is Olympic bobsled 2-man final on?

• TV channel: USA Network
• Live stream: Peacock

The 2-man bobsled event will air on USA Network and will also be live-streamed on Peacock. 

USA bobsled schedule 2026

Two-man

Tuesday, Feb. 17

Two-woman

Friday, Feb. 20

Saturday, Feb. 21

Four-man

Saturday, Feb. 21