Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto: Brazil v Costa Rica friendly venue
On Friday (27), the Women's National Team faces Costa Rica in a friendly match to be played at the Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium, located in Alajuela, Costa Rica, at 10 p.m. (Brasília time). Popularly known as “La Catedral del Fútbol,” the stadium was inaugurated in 1942.
Initially, the building was called “Estadio de Alajuela” and, since 1949, it has been firmly established as the home of Liga Deportiva Alajuelense (LDA). In 1966, the stadium was officially renamed “Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto,” in honor of the team’s legendary idol.
More than 1,800 matches have already been played at the venue, with over 3,500 goals scored. Currently, it features a hybrid pitch, made up of 85% natural grass and 15% synthetic turf.
Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium, in Alajuela, will be the stage for the clash between Costa Rica and BrazilCredits: Lívia Villas Boas/CBF
This is the only stadium in Central America that is fully powered by solar energy, completely meeting its electrical demand through this system. Additionally, it has twice hosted the World Cup by receiving matches of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in 2014 and 2022.
One of the most curious facts about the stadium is that it has a heart. In 1995, after the death of Alejandro Morera Soto, his heart was removed and placed in a silver urn, which now rests in a mausoleum located in the eastern sector of the stadium as an eternal symbol of his bond with the institution.
Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium, in Alajuela, will be the stage for the clash between Costa Rica and BrazilCredits: Lívia Villas Boas/CBF
Star Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is reportedly inching ever closer to a return based on a recent report coming from senior ESPN news breaker Shams Charania. According to Charania, Tatum has been a full participant in 5-on-5 scrimmages. This is likely to be among the final steps left to reach before a return to the court for the first time since the Achilles tendon injury he sustained vs. the New York Knicks in 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals sidelined the St. Louis native.
Still, both Tatum and the Celtics front office have kept the specifics of the Duke alum's recovery under wraps, and the entire organization has remained tight-lipped about any potential return date even as the likely range of dates draw closer.
For now, all we can do is wait for an official release to such an effect or an admission from someone within Tatum's camp to know when he will return to action for the Celtics.
But with this news, it is looking more likely than ever that such an outcome is not far off for fans of the storied franchise.
NEW YORK (AP) — CC Sabathia's No. 52 will be retired on Sept. 26 by the New York Yankees, who will dedicate a plaque in honor of the Hall of Famer at Monument Park before that day's game against the Baltimore Orioles.
Sabathia will be the 24th man to have his number retired by the Yankees, the first since Paul O'Neill was honored with the retirement of No. 21 in 2022. Twenty-three numbers have been retired, with No. 8 set aside for both Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey.
New York made the announcement Wednesday night.
Sabathia will join former teammates Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte with plaques in Monument Park, beyond Yankee Stadium's center-field fence.
Sabathia was a six-time All-Star who won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award with Cleveland and a World Series title in 2009, his first season with the Yankees after signing as a free agent.
He went 251-161 with a 3.74 ERA and 3,093 strikeouts, third among left-handers behind Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton, during 19 seasons with Cleveland (2001-08), Milwaukee (2008) and the Yankees (2009-19), including a 134-88 record with a 3.81 ERA and 1,700 strikeouts for New York.
Jun 17, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; NC State Wolfpack third baseman Alec Makarewicz (99) celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home run against the Florida Gators during the second inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
NC State’s offense cooled off considerably from Tuesday, scoring nine fewer runs in a comparative nailbiter with Akron. When the dust settled, the Wolfpack sweated out an 18-3 win over the Zips.
Joking aside, the Pack ran like a hot knife through butter in this one, jumping out to an 8-0 lead after three innings, then when Akron responded with a 3-run 5th inning, State scored 10 runs over the next two frames to put things away. The game was called after the top of the 7th inning on account of the slaughter rule.
Oddly enough – but not like it matters – Richmond looked like the better team of the two. Such is baseball. Either way, the Pack went 2-0 in their midweek games this week with a combined score of 45-3. That’ll get it done.
State has outscored their opponents 61-5 over the last four games, and the 7-1 Wolfpack have posted five double-digit run games so far this year.
Chris McHugh (2-for-4, 2B, 3 R, 3 RBI, BB, 1-1 SB), Brayden Fraasman (2-for-5, 2B, R, RBI), Sherman Johnson (2-for-3, R, 2 RBI, BB, HBP, 2-2 SB), and Rett Johnson (3-for-4, 3 R, RBI, BB) all tallied multi-hit outings. Ty Head (1-for-2, HR, 4 R, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 1-1 SB), Luke Nixon (1-for-2, R, 3 RBI, BB, SH, SF), Brandon Novy (1-for-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, SF, 1-1 SB), and Mikey Ryan (0-for-2, 3 R, 2 BB) all reached base safely multiple times.
Head led off the bottom of the first with a 404-foot bomb on a 2-0 pitch. That set the tone early and State never looked back.
Akron never threatened in this one, thanks to a great start by Luke Hemric, who tossed 4.0 innings of hitless, scoreless ball with two walks and two strikeouts in earning the first win of his Wolfpack career. Julien Peissel (1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K) struggled as the first man out of the bullpen. Ryder Garino (1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K) struggled with control, while Collins Black (0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K) set down both men he faced to finish off the game.
NC State hosts Sacred Heart this weekend in Raleigh. First pitch Friday is scheduled for 3:00pm. The Pioneers are 1-5 on the year.
Seattle Mariners center fielder, Julio Rodriguez, put together one of the best seasons in his young career, tying a high in home runs with 32, while nearly assisting in the team making their first ever World Series appearance as they lost to the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games of the ALCS.
The season before wasn't bad by any means. Still, there was a noticeable dip in his numbers from the 2023 season, where he essentially put himself more on the map after a great rookie campaign. The outfielder admitted he went into last season with a chip on his shoulder, but after bouncing back, he is just focusing on being the best version of himself.
"Last year, I had a chip on my shoulder. This year, it's more about being myself," Rodriguez stated on '30 Clubs. 30 Camps.'
If Rodriguez feels that he wasn't himself last year, then it can be scary for every other team in the league as it seems that the star is hinting that he has an even better version of himself to unlock, which doesn't sound crazy, because although the center fielder has been productive in all of his first four seasons, he is no where near his prime.
It is also impressive that a young player of Rodriguez's stature is recognizing the importance of staying true to his game, especially so early in his career.
Rodriguez has 112 home runs through the first four seasons of his career, which is best for 25th all-time for most homers hit in a player's first four seasons, and now entering his fifth, the outfielder is making it known he wants to continue improving and that it stays with being Julio Rodriguez, which should allow him to be just fine based on his previous body of work.
They had to go 100 minutes and seven penalty kicks deep, but the Lake Mary girls soccer team could finally celebrate Wednesday. Junior Kailey Susi drilled the fourth PK to give the Rams their second straight Class 7A state championship, 4-3 in PKs over Cypress Bay.
“It’s definitely the most nervous I’ve ever been, but we practice PKs all the time in practice so that helped me be confident,” Susi said. “I was just focused on my breathing and I wanted to do it for my teammates, so I was thinking about them.
“It felt amazing. It was just like a perfect experience and a perfect ending.”
Despite have a young team this season, the Rams were able to post a 20-2-1 record, one victory better than last year’s senior-laden squad. Lake Mary is 49-5-3 over the past two seasons.
Lake Mary dominated most of the game, keeping Cypress in defense mode. The Rams certainly were not without their opportunities before going into the two overtime periods, but neither team could find the net and it was still 0-0 heading into penalty kicks after 100 minutes of play.
“It’s hard. Your players are so tired and I’m over there trying to make the best decisions, but it’s hard because all that matters is an instant and dealing with pressure,” Lake Mary coach Christian Eissele said. “I’m just happy for them to come out on top. It was a crazy PK shootout.”
Lake Mary freshman Lily Ellis had the task of being in goal against the Cypress Bay penalty-kick barrage, but she was able to block four of the kicks to put Susi in position to hit the game-winner.
“It was so surreal. Everything I ever dreamed of as a kid just came true right now,” Ellis said. “I was thinking to myself, ‘Here we go, just gotta do my best and I know we all have it.’ It felt great.
“For me it was very stressful but once I made that first save … I just kinda knew. I had a feeling we were gonna win.”
It was a tough spot for the freshman keeper, but Eissele was confident in her abilities.
“I told her, ‘Just rely on you instincts. Just trust it and go,’ ” Eissele said. “She made some freaking crazy saves.”
Sophomore Natalie Rowen, senior Ava McKay and junior Myah Bonnett also made penalty kicks.
Lake Mary just couldn’t find a way to get the ball in goal in regulation.
Sophomore Siena Sigurdsson had a golden opportunity in the 53rd minute but after getting past one defender on a crossover, she ran into another and could only manage a lazy shot attempt, which bounded wide left.
Some nifty teamwork also failed to materialize just after halftime when Teagan Jahns directed a pass toward Ava McKay who kicked it over to Rowen, but her direct opportunity at the goal was blocked with a nice save by Cypress Bay keeper Alejandra Duran.
Lake Mary had other chances in the first half, as well. The most direct shot was a penalty kick after a called hand-ball in the 10th minute. Peyton O’Linn quick-footed a shot right at Cypress Bay keeper Duran, who was ready and caught the ball, mid-air.
Jahns sent a header into the goal area in the 16th minute, but Sigurdsson was just late arriving and could not catch up to convert. Sigurdsson also missed wide in the 32nd minute.
A large Lake Mary contingent, which made the short tip up I-4, was loud and made a huge, collective gasp in the second overtime when McKay sent a pass to the front of the goal but Sigurdsson’s header just missed, over the net high and right.
Jahn was Lake Mary’s leading scorer this season with 24 goals and Sigurdsson, who scored twice in the semifinal victory, had 20.
“It’s a crazy feeling and it definitely feels unreal,” Jahns said. “I have so much respect for my whole team and I’m so proud of my team through this whole process. In my heart I knew that we would come out on top in the end.”
Jahns, just a junior, has her eyes on the future.
“It definitely sets a standard for future years and it just shows how relentless we are and how strong-bonded we are and just that not matter what come at us we can always find a way out of it,” Jahns said. “It really sets the tone for the next years to come.”
Jontay Porter is set to play professional basketball once again.
Porter, who was banned for life by the NBA after a gambling scandal in 2024, signed a deal to play for the Seattle Superhawks in the rebuilt United States Basketball League, the team announced on Wednesday.
Before one game, the NBA said, Porter disclosed information about his health to someone he knew to be a bettor. The league said he also placed 13 bets on NBA games using someone else’s account, ranging from $15 to $22,000. None of those bets involved a game in which he played, but he did bet on the Raptors.
Porter’s attorney said that he had been “in over his head due to a gambling addiction.” He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in 2024, which is a felony that carries up to 20 years in prison. According to ESPN, he is expected to get between 3-4 years when he is sentenced.
A federal judge denied Porter’s request to keep playing professionally in Greece. If he takes the court when the league starts next month, it will mark Porter’s first professional game since his time with the Raptors.
The USBL’s first season was back in 1985, and it ran through 2008 before it shut down. It will start back up again on March 6 with eight new teams — the Yakima Heat, Vancouver Bears, Bakersfield Majestics, Seattle SuperHawks, Salem Capitals, Lilac City Legends, San Diego Surf and Los Angeles Blue Waves — all based on the west coast.
The Superhawks will open their season against the Legends on March 7.
Feb. 25—All of the meets, invitationals and practices have concluded.
Top times have been recorded, and the heats have been assembled.
Hundreds of swimmers are set for the WPIAL Class 3A and Class 2A championships Thursday and Friday at Pitt's Trees Pool.
How many records will be set?
WPIAL champions will be crowned as several former and defending champions hope to again find themselves atop the medal podium.
The top eight finishers in each event will be awarded medals, but only the WPIAL champion again will earn an automatic bid to the PIAA championships set for March 11-14 at Bucknell University.
The remaining entries to the state meet will be determined based on times recorded at each district or regional meet throughout the state.
The Class 3A timed finals will be Thursday and Friday at 9:45 a.m. with the Class 2A meet to start at 3 p.m. both days.
Ten swimmers who have previously won WPIAL titles are back hoping to add more gold to their resumes.
Dani Hinkson, senior, North Allegheny
Hinkson will swim with hopes of capturing a third Class 3A girls championship in the 200-yard individual medley. Last year, she won the 200 IM with a time of 2 minutes, 7.72 seconds on Day 1 and came back on Day 2 to earn a seventh-place medal in the 100 backstroke. Hinkson went on to take 10th in the 200 IM at the PIAA championships while placing 16th in the 100 back. She is switching things up this year with a move from the 200 IM to the 100 butterfly where she is seeded third. Hinkson also is seeded fifth in her return to the 100 back.
Amber Klingensmith, junior, Norwin
Klingensmith is the defending champion in the Clas 3A girls 100 fly (56.34), and she will go for a repeat title as the fourth seed in a hotly contested finals heat against Hinkson and the likes of North Allegheny senior Evan Ogden and Upper St. Clair freshman Catherine Miller. Klingensmith also took third in the 100 back at WPIALs last year and enters this year's championships at Pitt as the top seed in the event.
Ava Komoroski, junior, Peters Township
Komoroski will go after her second WPIAL Class 3A girls title in the 100 free after outracing the field to the wall last year in a winning time of 51.68. She went on to place 12th in a competitive group of swimmers at states. Komoroski also finished as the WPIAL runner-up to Mt. Lebanon's Sylvia Roy in the 50 free before taking ninth in the event at states. She leads the field as the top seed in the 100 free Friday while earning the No. 2 seed in Thursday's 50 free behind Fox Chapel freshman Delaney O'Toole.
Nazar Zoukovski, senior, Upper St. Clair
The Arizona commit didn't let being the hunted in the Class 3A boys 100 free last year deter him from defending his 2024 title with a winning time of 45.38. He went on to claim fifth in the event at states. He will go after a three-peat in the 100 free Friday as the No. 3 seed behind Upper St. Clair senior Ben Whitehead and Mars sophomore Dom Davis. Zoukovski also was last year's WPIAL runner-up in the 50 free to current Tennessee freshman McClellan Clark before placing third at states ahead of Clark (fifth). He is this year's 50 free top seed.
Claire Bacu, senior, North Allegheny
Bacu has been at or near the top of the standings at WPIALs for four years and is expected to be there again Thursday and Friday. The Brown University commit is the two-time defending Class 3A girls 500 free champion and is seeded first (4:57.44) in the event Friday with one of three times under five minutes this season. The distance specialist also is the top seed in Thursday's 200 free (1:50.92). She finished second to Fox Chapel graduate and Michigan freshman Sarah Pasquella in last year's 200 free finals heat at both WPIALs and states.
Chris Heese, senior, Latrobe
Heese, a Swathmore College swim commit, won his first WPIAL championship last year by taking the Class 3A boys 100 breaststroke title in a time of 55.94. He went on to place 11th in the event at states. He heads up one of the smaller event fields in boys Class 3A at WPIALs (16 entries) as the 100 breast No. 2 seed (57.91) Friday behind Mt. Lebanon junior Rinzen Sherpa (56.48). Heese also is the No. 3 seed for Thursday's 50 free (21.05) behind Zoukovski and Davis. He placed fourth in the 50 free last year.
Ava Jochims, junior, Shady Side Academy
Jochims made an immediate WPIAL splash as a freshman in 2024 with a first place in the 500 free and a runner-up finish to Hampton's Lainey Sheets in the 200 IM. She returned to WPIALs last year and was twice golden, besting the field in the 500 free (4:54.22) and the 200 IM. Her time of 2:00.09 in the 200 IM set a WPIAL record. She was runner-up in the 500 at Bucknell as a freshman but came back to win it all last year. Jochims boasts the best girls Class 2A times this season in the 200 IM (2:02.83) and 500 free (5:04.94) and is the top seed for both.
Sam Cavanaugh, senior, Northgate
There was nobody better than Cavanaugh in the 200 IM at last year's WPIAL boys Class 2A championships. The Bucknell commit took gold in a time of 1:52.95, a half-second better than Mt. Pleasant graduate and Pitt freshman Joseph Gardner. But Garder would edge Cavanaugh for the title at states. Cavanaugh also took third at WPIALs last year in the 500 free (4:39.80) and then placed runner-up to Mt. Pleasant grad and St. Bonaventure (N.Y.) freshman David Mutter at the PIAA meet. Cananaugh is the top seed for the 200 IM on Thursday and 500 free on Friday.
Joshua Reed, junior, Indiana
Reed stood at the top of the podium in the boys 50 free (21.38) and on the runner-up step in the 100 free (47.29) at last year's WPIAL boys Class 2A championships. He then took second at states in the 50 free (21.28) and third in the 100 free (46.85). Reed struck gold at Bucknell as the lead leg of the winning 200 free relay with seniors Preston Kessler, Matthew Blystone, and Joey Margita. Reed returns to Trees Pool on Thursday as the top seed in the 50 free (21.18) and at the head of the pack Friday in the 100 free (47.55).
Lainey Sheets, senior, Hampton
Sheets heads into her final WPIAL meet a six-time individual medalist. That includes a pair of gold medals as a sophomore in both the 200 IM (2:03.02) and 100 back (55.30). Last year, the Duquesne commit switched her first-day event to the 100 fly and finished runner-up (55.40) to Freeport graduate and Duquesne freshman Kira Schrecongost (54.85). Sheets remained in the 100 back and placed second (55.56) to Mt. Pleasant graduate and UConn freshman Kiersten O'Connor. Sheets and Schrecongost then repeated their 1-2 WPIAL finish at states, and Sheets took third in the 100 back at Bucknell. She will go for WPIAL gold Thursday as the top seed in both the girls Class 2A 100 fly and 100 back.
Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.
The UFC will not profit from its planned event at the White House.
The event, which is currently slated to take place June 14, is expected to take place on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. The idea began as a proposal by president Donald Trump, and shortly thereafter, UFC CEO Dana White, along with TKO, began building a viable plan to make the event a reality.
The expectation is that the event will feature an octagon surrounded by seating for no more than 5,000 people on the South Lawn. At the Ellipse, there is to be a larger viewing party area, which White has claimed will host up to 85,000 people to watch the event on large screens.
The one-of-a-kind event presents many logistical hurdles and is currently projected to cost around $60 million. TKO president Mark Shapiro stated matter-of-factly on a quarterly financial call Wednesday that the event will not turn a profit, with an aim of recouping half of the total amount spent through sponsors and new partnerships.
"By the time we get done, all is said and done with the event, what we play the fighters and the fan fest we're gonna have, that could move north," Shapiro said about the $60M price tag for the White House event (h/t Jed I. Goodman via X). "It's definitely not moving south – it could move north. Bottom line is, it's still a moving target. We are working to determine, on a parallel track, a package of inventory, in and around the weekend of events, that we can monetize primarily with corporate partners – B2B players, which will offset half of the spend. Even if that $60(M) goes up, or rides up on us, we believe we can offset half of the spend. Today, we see it as $60(M) offsetting $30(M).
"I would mention we have several current and prospective partners that are pursuing multi-year partnerships with TKO assets that likely will be inclusive of the White House event. We have a lot of current and prospective partners that would like to be involved, and are inquiring about inventory, as part of their greater partnership deals they either already have, or are negotiating with us for the future. But I want to be clear about something: we will not profit from the White House event independently. We will not be making money on America's 250th anniversary."
The UFC's other one-off event at Sphere in Las Vegas in 2024 cost over $20 million. The White House number is a significantly larger financial burden. Despite not profiting from the White House event, TKO is viewing it as an investment for the future.
White has stated in recent interviews that he expects the event to be the most-viewed fight card promotion has ever put on. The event will be simulcast on CBS and Paramount+. According to White, matchmaking for the card is already complete, although there are still logistical issues to iron out.
"This is an investment for the long term," Shapiro said. "This is about earned media, this is about sampling new fans, casual viewers, a spectacle and a stage that will ultimately expand our audience our viewership, and our success on Paramount+."
With just four games remaining in the regular season, Texas A&M men's basketball is looking for a statement Quad 1A win at Arkansas on Wednesday night.
In what should be a rowdy environment at Bud Walton Arena for the conference battle between two rivals, the Aggies must play clean basketball against the stingy Razorbacks, who rank fourth in the conference in turnover margin and third in blocked shots.
The outcome of Wednesday's contest will depend on Texas A&M's ability to keep talented Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. from having another massive performance. Acuff leads the SEC in scoring and has recorded 20-plus points in his last eight outings. He also ranks first in the conference with 6.2 assists and 34.6 minutes played per game.
If the Maroon and White can lock down Acuff and prevent him from wreaking havoc, Bucky McMillan's squad will have the opportunity for a massive upset and potentially lock a spot in March Madness.
Follow along with live coverage below, as the Aggies take on the Razorbacks in late-night hoops action from Fayetteville:
The Texas A&M vs. Arkansas game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2. Dave O'Brien, Jimmy Dykes and Alyssa Lang will be on the call inside the Bud Walton Arena. Streaming options for the game include the ESPN App and FuboTV, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Texas A&M vs. Arkansas time today
Date: Wednesday, February 25
Start time: 8 p.m. CT
The Texas A&M vs. Arkansas game starts at 8 p.m. CT from the Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Ark.
Team Leaders - Texas A&M
Points Per Game: Rashaun Agee (14.0)
Assist Per Game: Jacari Lane (3.5)
Rebounds Per Game: Rashaun Agee (8.9)
Steals Per Game: Rylan Griffen (1.5)
Team Leaders - Arkansas
Points Per Game: Darius Acuff Jr. (22.2)
Assist Per Game: Darius Acuff Jr. (6.2)
Rebounds Per Game: Trevon Brazile (7.1)
Steals Per Game: Trevon Brazile (1.5)
Texas A&M vs Arkansas predictions, picks, odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Tuesday, February 24
Texas A&M, Arkansas:
Spread: Arkansas by 7.5
Over/under: 170.5
Moneyline: A&M +280 / Arkansas +102
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.
Some fans choose their team, and some fans are chosen by their team. Which was it for you? Today, we want to hear your stories:
How did you become a fan of the New England Patriots?
When did you first become a fan? Were you born into it? Was there a specific game or season that pulled you in?Or a specific player? What’s the earliest moment you remember as a fan?
Please head down to the comments to share your stories with the community, so we can all get a bit nostalgic together.
CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 10: Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears and DJ Moore #2 of the Chicago Bears visit on set of the Wildcard on Prime post game show after an NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on January 10, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
All during the 2025 season, we asked you guys to vote on your confidence in the direction of the Chicago Bears in our weekly SB Nation Reacts surveys. As expected, there were a couple of blips, but for the most part, the belief in Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams, and company drove our confidence up, up, up, and away!
The season didn’t end as we all hoped, but it sure as heck ended up better for us than the fans of our division rivals, the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, and Minnesota Vikings.
While we were tabulating our confidence in our team, the same thing was happening at our sister sites. For a reminder on how the teams finished, our Bears went (11-6), the Packers were (9-7-1), the Vikings finished third at (9-8), with the Lions last at (9-8).
Check out this animated visualization of the NFC North here.
SB Nation also made a graphic showing the confidence of fans for all seven of the NFC playoff teams.
While you’re here, let us know your confidence in the Bears this offseason.
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - AUGUST 01: Logan Storley grapples with Thad Jean during the finals of the PFL 2025 World Tournament at Boardwalk Hall on August 1, 2025 in Atlantic City, Florida. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The PFL is bringing Logan Storley back to South Dakota.
On Wednesday, the PFL announced that the promotion is returning to Sioux Falls for an event at the Sanford Pentagon on May 2, headlined by a welterweight battle between Storley and Florim Zendeli, and also featuring a women’s flyweight contest with Cheyanne Bowers making her promotional debut against the undefeated Sabrinna de Sousa.
A native of Roslyn, S.D., Storley (18-4) took part in the first PFL event in Sioux Falls, winning a unanimous decision over Luca Poclit in 2024. After that, Storley competed in the 2025 PFL welterweight tournament in 2025, losing to Thad Jean in the finals.
The 2024 PFL Europe welterweight champion, Zendeli (11-1-1), is on a five-fight winning streak, coming off his PFL Champions Series win over Omar El Dafrawy in October.
In the co-main event, Bowers (7-2), a Sioux Falls native and former LFA champion, returns to her home turf riding a two-fight winning streak. Meanwhile, her opponent, de Sousa (5-0), is unbeaten in five professional fights and coming off back-to-back wins under the PFL banner in 2025.
The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine is scheduled this week and people finally get to put eyeballs on some of their favorite prospects and see how they stack up. Here are some names that need an important week at the combine. These prospects need to shake off the negative narratives that surround them and climb draft boards.
Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
Watch the drills, this is all about the movement skills. His 2025 season ended with a broken left ankle and teams will want clean imaging, full strength, and confidence that it won’t linger when he has to drive and climb the pocket. If he checks out medically and looks functional in footwork-based drills, it can stabilize him as a safe quarterback option rather than a medical discount.
Carson Beck, QB, Miami
This will be a huge day for Beck during the throwing session. Beck’s elbow injury and rehab are the headline, so we need to see the ball come out clean with no obvious guarding, and teams will hammer him on medical details and how he’ll manage workload.
Jalon Daniels, QB, Kansas
Daniels has a well-documented injury history across multiple seasons, so the combine is as much about medical confidence and long-term availability as it is about drills. Teams will also probe how he sees his own playing style. If medicals cooperate and he interviews as someone with a realistic durability plan, he can shift from a questionable prospect to a viable Day 3 development bet.
Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt
Pavia’s height is the debate as teams map batted-ball risk and sightlines to their pass game. Interviews and podium also matter because he’s had extra attention around the listed size and off-field chatter, teams will want to prove he can keep the message tight and stay professional. If he handles the scrutiny professionally, he can become a scheme-specific riser instead of a hard pass due to size and attitude questions.
Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
With Proctor it’s all about conditioning and weight. Proctor’s size is rare, but the combine is where teams ask, “Can he carry it?”. He also needs to look light enough in mirror sets and change-of-direction work to stay at tackle, not get shoved into a guard-only projection. If he tests and drills like a functional athlete for his frame, he can lock in premium value.
Dontay Corleone, DT, Cincinnati
Another medical clearance question. Corleone’s power is obvious, but his draft value revolves around the prior blood clot history and whether teams are comfortable long-term. The medical re-check and team-doctor conversations are the event for him, everything else is secondary, though decent movement testing helps reduce two-down only fears.
RJ Maryland, TE, SMU
Maryland is coming off an ACL injury that ended his 2024 season, so teams will want clean reports and to see whether his lower-body explosion and change of direction look like pre-injury Maryland. Tight end drills and how he talks about rehab matters. If he looks springy and checks out medically, he can protect his complete tight end projection. If not, he risks being viewed as a limited role pass-game specialist.
Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston
In-line blocking, in-line blocking, and yes more in-line blocking questions. Koziol’s receiving production is fantastic, but he’s a red flag with blocking limitations. The blocking work and drills will be where scouts decide whether he can be more than a big slot. Interviews also matter here because teams want him to be honest about what he is today and how he’ll develop strength technique.
Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
A big combine is needed here to show off some route-running polish. Branch has electric traits, but he has a less-developed route tree and the need for more nuance is crucial at the combine. Combine drills are a big deal for him because they’re the easiest way to show refinement quickly. If he looks crisp and controlled, he can move from gadget guy to a player teams trust on a fuller receiving option.
Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
For Tyson it’s almost entirely medicals and team interviews this week because he’s reportedly not doing on-field workouts while dealing with a hamstring injury. That makes the medical checks and how he explains his rehab the centerpiece to his combine. If the hamstring checks out clean and teams get a believable plan for being ready by pro day or early OTAs, the top of the draft narrative holds.
Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
He’s got to prove he’s not just a Sun Belt big body winner, but an NFL possession receiver who can separate and win with more than size. The combine matters for him in three lanes, first is measurements, second is athletic testing (especially 10-yard split), and third is on-field drills to show functional route nuance with clean breaks and hand timing.
Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State
Everyone knows this guy can fly, the combine is where he has to show he’s not only a straight-line threat but can catch cleanly, show proper form in route breaks, and the ability to track and finish. Teams will also use interviews to understand how he learns details and whether he can expand beyond take the top off.
Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
Ah yes, the measurements combine guy, we get one every year this high in the consensus rankings. Teams are looking for confirmation on his body type and especially length and arm profile. That’s not a small concern since arm length affects how you stack, separate, and finish against NFL tackles. If he comes in with reassuring length for his play style and then tests like a high-end power athlete, he can lock in top-tier EDGE value.
Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech
He has to prove he’s more than flashes. Athletic testing and on-field drills can turn a traits rusher into a clean projection, and interviews matter because teams want a plan for developing counters and run-game technique.
Nadame Tucker, EDGE, Western Michigan
Small-school EDGE prospects live or die on two things in Indy, verified measurables and verified movement. The question isn’t can he play, it’s whether his athletic profile is NFL-caliber, and is he mentally ready to jump multiple levels of competition
Interviews are massive in terms of football IQ, and coachability, and any strong testing number gives scouts permission to trust the traits over the level-of-competition concern.
Harold Perkins Jr., LB, LSU
The combine is about role and buy-in, so teams will ask whether he’s an off-ball linebacker full-time, a hybrid EDGE, or a weapon you move around, and they’ll use interviews to see how he communicates and whether he embraces doing the unglamorous stuff. Testing and drills need to confirm the explosion that makes him different, because that’s what justifies building packages around him.
Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
He has to prove NFL linebacker clarity and if he can he be a true three-down MIKE or WILL. Teams will lean hard on interviews and athletic testing to validate that he can carry match routes and close in space, not just shoot gaps. If he tests elite and shows command in meetings, he can be valued as a modern every-down impact linebacker.
Keionte Scott, DB, Miami
Scott’s value is tied to being a true nickel-hybrid rather than a boundary-only corner, so teams will scrutinize short-area burst, change of direction, and whether his skill set translates cleanly to the role they need. If he tests like a high-end space athlete and sells teams on a defined role, he can become a strong Day 2 target instead of a tweener.
Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
He’s the classic medical swing prospect in this years class. He missed the 2025 season with a torn ACL, so the combine is about stability tests, and whether teams believe he’ll be the same mover when he has to plant in man coverage. If the medicals and movement look clean, he stays in as a legitimate Round 1 prospect; if there’s any lingering concern, teams start pricing in a redshirt year or reduced early-career availability. That means going down a round.
D’Angelo Ponds, DB, Indiana
His tape says he plays bigger, but the combine will still force the size conversation. His height, weight, and arm length will frame whether teams keep him outside, peg him as nickel-only, or view him as matchup-dependent. The athletic testing is huge here because undersized corners have to win with burst, change-of-direction and recovery speed, and interviews matter because coordinators want to know what roles he can handle mentally.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 26: A Miami Dolphins helmet sits in the bench area during the fourth quarter of the NFL 2025 game between Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 26, 2025 in Atlanta, United States. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A lot has happened for our Miami Dolphins this offseason thus far, with a lot more yet to come. I assume most of us believed there would be some changes, perhaps even big ones, to the team this offseason, but I doubt any of us foresaw the wholesale changes made to the front office, coaching staff, and roster thus far. So far, the moves have had mixed reactions from the fan base, with some all in, some completely doubting the entire thing, and some sitting somewhere in the middle. I’ve dealt with disappointment from my favorite NFL team for so long that I just hope each time it will be different, and it never seems to be. Here’s to hoping, even if foolishly, one more time.
So with that in mind, this evening’s question of the day is:
With everything that has happened and with much more to come, what scares you the most about this offseason? It can be concerns about the new staff, the direction of the roster, or anything else. Maybe they will do something truly egregious like no longer carrying your favorite beer at the stadium. Either way, we want to know.
Please share your thoughts and answers in the comments section below-
International soccer returns Wednesday night as Mexico hosts Iceland in an international friendly at Estadio Corregidora in Querétaro, Mexico. This will be a tune-up match as both nations continue preparations ahead of upcoming international competitions and the 2026 FIFA World Cup cycle.
Kickoff is set for 9:00 p.m. ET, with fans in the United States able to watch on TUDN, Univision, FOX Deportes, and stream live via Fubo.
Jun 28, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Mexico forward Santiago Gimenez (11) and midfielder Roberto Alvarado (25) react after Saudi Arabia defender Abdullah Madu (not pictured) scores an own goal in the second half during a quarterfinal match of the 2025 Gold Cup at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
For Mexico, this friendly represents more than just an exhibition. Head coach Javier Aguirre is using the February camp as a crucial evaluation window, giving Liga MX-based players an opportunity to secure future national team roles before European-based stars rejoin the squad later this year.
El Tri enters the match in solid recent form, having picked up wins over Panama and Bolivia earlier in 2026 while continuing to refine tactical identity ahead of a demanding international schedule that includes upcoming matches against Portugal and Belgium.
Projected starters such as Roberto Alvarado, Marcel Ruiz, and Armando González are expected to play major roles as Mexico looks to maintain its attacking rhythm while testing lineup chemistry.
Iceland arrives in Mexico, undergoing a transition period following its failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Newly appointed manager Arnar Gunnlaugsson will oversee his first match in charge, using the friendly as an opportunity to integrate younger and less experienced players into the national setup.
Several established European-based stars are unavailable, meaning several Icelandic players could earn their international debuts on Wednesday night. Despite the inexperience, Iceland remains known for defensive organization and physical play, traits that have historically made it difficult for opponents in international competition.
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Ancelotti watches 👀 Corinthians draw, Cruzeiro still without a win
At Mineirão, Cruzeiro and Corinthians drew 1-1 this Wednesday (25th), in the fourth round of the Brasileirão 2026.
With just over 100 days left for the World Cup, Carlo Ancelotti, coach of the Brasileirão National Team, was at the stadium to observe possible candidates for a spot in the group of 26 called up.
Who do you think Carleto has his eye on, huh? Share your opinion!
⚽ The Game
Before 10 minutes of play, the Raposa started the move on the right side up to the edge of the area, where Matheus Pereira exchanged passes with Kaio Jorge and fired a left-footed shot to open the scoring.
Being the better team on the field, before the clock hit 20 minutes, Cruzeiro troubled goalkeeper Hugo Souza with a powerful shot from Lucas Romero and a cross finish from Christian.
Still in the first half, Kaio Jorge found the back of the net for the alvinegra, but the play was annulled after VAR indicated the striker was offside.
With a mixed team, the best chance for Timão was a cross finish by Vitinho, right after the goal from the Minas team, but Cássio saved it without difficulty.
After the break, the Raposa had a chance to extend the lead with a shot from outside the area by Matheus Pereira, but the shot lacked curve.
However, after a corner taken by Garro, João Pedro rose above everyone and headed the ball to level the score.
The Cruzeiro fans, once again, booed Tite and called for the coach's departure.
🚦 Standings
With the result, Corinthians reached seven points and entered the G-4 to occupy third place, while Cruzeiro - still without a win in the Brasileirão - got two points and moved up from the bottom to 18th place.
Timão returns to the field next Saturday (28th), when they visit Novorizontino for the semifinals of the Paulistão.
The Raposa, on the other hand, will host Pouso Alegre for the second leg of the semifinals of the Campeonato Mineiro.
In the Brasileirão, the teams will only play again on March 11th.
With another day of spring training games in the books there’re plenty of interesting moments and stories to take a look at throughout MLB. A wild incident with a broken bat, the Tigers taking a page out of the Dodgers’ book as they look to take a jump and the New York Yankees set a date to celebrate a Hall of Famer and retire his number.
The Check-Swing Broken Bat
Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu stepped up to bat against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday, and something unprecedented happened.
Abreu stopped hiss swing to lay off of a breaking ball, but his bat snapped off at the handle and continued forward despite him clearly holding up in time.
Despite the barrel technically crossing the plane, the umpires ruled the pitch a ball and the at-bat continued. Abreu ultimately grounded out to the shortstop.
Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander Receive Deferred Contracts
The Tigers splashed on pitching in free agency this offseason, bringing in Framber Valdez, Kenley Jansen and Justin Verlander in free agency.
Per a report from the Associated Press, Verlander and Valdez both have money deferred until 2039, with $31 million of the $128 million owed to the pitchers to be deferred. Verlander will receive just $2 million of the $13 million he’s owed this year, with the rest coming in annually from 2030-39. Valdez took on a similar pay structure, and will receive $2 million of his $20 million signing bonus every year from 2030-39.
Valdez was the top pitching free agents this offseason and further bolsters a strong Detroit squad, and Verlander — a lock for the Hall of Fame once he retires — returned to the team which drafted him nearly 22 years ago.
From left, Detroit Tigers starting pitchers Framber Valdez, Jack Flaherty, Justin Verlander, Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize pose for a photo during Verlander’s introductory press conference at the 34 Club of Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida, on Feb. 12, 2026.
Yankees to Retire CC Sabathia’s Number
The Yankees made a formal announcement Wednesday that they’d be immortalizing Hall of Fame left-hander CC Sabathia in Monument Park. They named Sept. 26 “CC Sabathia Night” and will hold a retirement ceremony and plaque unveiling.
Sabathia spent 11 of his 19 MLB seasons with the Yankees, posting a 3.81 ERA through 307 appearances. A Cy Young and World Series-winner, Sabathia made three consecutive All-Star Games with the Yankees from 2010-12.
DENVER, COLORADO - DECEMBER 23: Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche faces off against Barrett Hayton #27 of the Utah Mammoth at Ball Arena on December 23, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Olympic break is finally over!
After a three week pause for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, the Colorado Avalanche kick off the next phase of their historic 2025 – 2026 campaign for one last(?) visit to Salt Lake City to face the Utah Mammoth.
Colorado Avalanche (37-9-9)
The Opponent: Utah Mammoth (30-23-4)
Time: 7:00 P.M. MST/9:00 P.M. EST
Watch: ALT, ALT+ (Avalanche Broadcast Area), KUPX-TV (Utah Broadcast Area), ESPN+, NHL Center Ice (Outside Regional Broadcast Areas – US), SN+, NHL Centre Ice (Canadian Broadcast Areas)
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio KKSE-FM 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche won’t have the luxury of easing their way into the swing of things as the NHL schedule resumes. They play five games in seven days right out of the chute, with four of those games coming in two back-to-back contests. Tonight’s game against Utah marks the first in those pairs of back-to-back games; the Avs will face the Minnesota Wild for the first time on Ball Arena ice on Thursday evening.
The Avs were one of three teams that sent at least eight (8) players to Italy to participate in the Olympic games. Martin Nečas was selected to play for Czechia. Having previously played in the Olympics (Sochi, 2014), Gabe Landeskog made his return to the Olympic stage, now representing Sweden as its team captain. Joel Kiviranta and Artturi Lehkonen were selected to the Finland roster, capturing the bronze medal. Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews played for Canada, earning the silver medal. Brock Nelson, a third-generation Olympian, captured gold for the United States, adding the fourth Olympic gold medal to his family mantle, joining his grandfather Bill Christian and great uncle Roger Christian (Squaw Valley, 1960) and his uncle Dave Christian (Lake Placid, 1980).
While it will be a welcome sight to see a (relatively) healthy Avalanche lineup for the first time in nearly two months, there will be one notable absence on the roster. On Tuesday morning, the Avalanche announced that they had traded defenseman Sam Girard, along with their second round pick in 2028, to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Brett Kulak. Kulak, 32, was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers in the deal that sent him and goaltender Stuart Skinner to Pittsburgh. During his brief tenure with the Penguins, Kulak scored one goal and added six assists for a total of seven points in twenty-five games. He had two assists in thirty-one games played with Edmonton earlier this season. This is a considerable drop off from his previous season with Edmonton, where he set a career best in goals (7), assists (18), and points (25).
Coach Jared Bednar said this of Kulak: “You’re getting a big, solid D that can skate, and defend real well, and move the puck. He does a lot of good things, a guy that has been to back to back Stanley Cup Finals, and was an integral part of [Edmonton’s] blue line, and what they were trying to do as a team. We like the player a lot, and so, we’re excited.”
He added, “This is a big, strong guy that defends really well. He’s got a ton of experience as well. It’s just a different look for us, right? I think Kulak’s a guy, that depending on how you’re matching up in the playoffs, that he can go up and play with a guy like Cale if I want to move [Toews] against another team’s top line. […] Maybe Kulak can go up and Toews can go down and he can take care of that matchup with a guy like Manson. It gives us flexibility there that I don’t think we necessarily had with [Girard].”
Bednar noted that Kulak, along with most of the Avs roster, would arrive in Salt Lake City on Tuesday night, with some members of the team flying out this morning in order to get some extra rest.
With the NHL season paused through the Olympic break, MacKinnon will look to reclaim the NHL points lead; he trails Olympic teammate Connor McDavid (96) by three points. MacKinnon entered the Olympic break as the NHL’s goal scoring leader (40), the only player in the League to reach this milestone thus far. Nelson is one goal shy of reaching the thirty goal mark for the fourth time in his career. With Mackenzie Blackwood going 1-1 in both games before the break, expect Scott Wedgewood to start in goal this evening. Wedgewood last started on January 29, a 7-3 loss against the Montréal Canadiens at Bell Centre.
The Avs still remain the undisputed leader across the Central Division, Western Conference, and League standings. A win today would give them a seven point cushion over second place Minnesota, and although they still have two games in hand over their division rivals, every point will matter even more as teams jockey for position ahead of the postseason. The Dallas Stars, who have a game in hand on Minnesota and sit one point behind them in the division, host the Seattle Kraken tonight, so one can bet that Minnesota will be keeping a close eye on both games.
The Avs currently lead the season series against Utah, winning two of the three games played. They have yet to win at Delta Center to this point in the season, but won the most recent matchup on December 23, a 1-0 decision.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas Gabe Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin Ross Colton – Jack Drury – Victor Olofsson Joel Kiviranta – Parker Kelly – Gavin Brindley
Defense: Devon Toews – Cale Makar Josh Manson – Brent Burns Brett Kulak – Sam Malinski
Between the Pipes: Scott Wedgewood Mackenzie Wedgewood
Utah Mammoth
Utah started out 2026 with a bang, going 12-5 since the start of January. They sit in fourth place in the Central Division standings, edging out the Anaheim Ducks by one point for the first wild card spot in the Western Conference. They won two of their previous three contests prior to the start of the Olympic break, a 6-2 defeat of the Vancouver Canucks, and a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Tonight’s game is the third of a five game home stand at Delta Center, where Utah has performed considerably well: they boast a 17-8-2 record on home ice.
Occupying a wild card spot may seem a bit surprising during this sophomore campaign for Utah, but those who followed the former Arizona Coyotes are familiar with this trend. While there have been some changes to the present-day roster, the current version’s performance has echoes of its previous incarnation, being competitive just enough to find themselves on the periphery of the postseason, only to fall short time and again. Utah GM Bill Armstrong, with the backing of his new ownership group in Ryan and Ashley Smith, has infused his team’s roster with some new life, acquiring defenseman Mikhail Sergachev from the Tampa Bay Lightning prior to their inaugural season, and right wing J.J. Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres. Sergachev set a personal best in goals (15) in his first season with Utah and currently leads all defensemen in points (38). Peterka, who signed a five year, $38.5 million dollar extension as part of the trade with Buffalo, is tied with Sergachev in points, and ranks third in goal scoring (20). Armstrong may have a few more moves up his sleeve as the trade deadline approaches, so this could be the year that his squad bucks the trends of the past, which would be an incredible testament to the club’s performance since taking the ice in downtown Salt Lake for the first time last October.
Like Colorado, Utah sent multiple players to Italy to participate in the Olympics. Peterka was selected to the German Olympic roster, defenseman Olli Määttä joined Kiviranta on Finland’s roster, goaltender Karel Vejmelka joined Nečas to represent Czechia’s goaltending contingent, and captain Clayton Keller won gold with the United States alongside Nelson.
Keller leads all skaters in assists (37) and points (54). Dylan Guenther leads all skaters in goals (25), just two shy of his personal best (27). Nick Schmaltz is second in goals (23), equaling his personal best he set during the 2021-2022 season with Arizona. Vejmelka is tied for first place with Tampa’s Andrei Vasilevskiy in goaltender wins (27), a personal best since entering the League with Arizona during the 2021-2022 season.
Tonight’s game wraps up the four game series against Colorado. Utah’s previous victory came on October 21, with Guenther scoring the game winning goal for the 4-3 decision.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Clayton Keller – Nick Schmaltz – Lawson Crouse J.J. Peterka – Barrett Hayton – Kailer Yamamoto Michael Carcone – Jack McBain – Dylan Guenther Brandon Tanev – Kevin Stenlund – Liam O’Brien
Defense: Mikhail Sergachev – Sean Durzi Nate Schmidt – John Marino Ian Cole – Nick DeSimone
The Charlotte Hornets have been one of the most impressive teams in 2026. The trio of LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, and Brandon Miller looks to be the core for the long-term future. Coby White seems ready to join that core, as he wants to stay with the Hornets beyond the 2025-26 season.
White is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026. He will likely get offers around the league because he is a valuable offensive player. However, he would prefer to stay with the Hornets because he likes the organization and he feels right at home in North Carolina.
White wants to stay with the Hornets for the foreseeable future
During his Chicago Bulls days, White was always a shining light on the roster. He was always a positive force on offense, as he was a playmaker and scorer at the same time. It was a tough situation to be in because Chicago kept struggling.
Now that he is with the Hornets, he might have found the optimal role for himself. At the moment, he is a sixth man, which means he has the green light whenever Ball, Knueppel, and Miller are not on the floor. Considering that White loves Charlotte, that might be the role he wants in the long run.
He has kept a close eye on the Hornets throughout the season. That is probably because they were rivals with the Bulls for the spots in the Play-In Tournament, but it seems the Hornets have leapfrogged White's old team by now.
White will play the remainder of the season in Charlotte, but it will be interesting to see where he ends up. Being an unrestricted free agent means he has the freedom to choose, but at the moment, he seems set on staying in Charlotte.
"They did some podcasts saying they want me to be there for a long time. I don't think they would have said that if they didn't mean it. Obviously, I want to be a Hornet for a long time, so I want to be. Every moment I've been here, I've really enjoyed it, I've really enjoyed everyone's presence here, and I want to be here for a really long time," White said about his future in Charlotte.
It will be an interesting situation for both parties, but they appear to have similar perspectives. If they can sign him to an extension sooner rather than later, it would be good for all the parties moving forward.
The Kansas City Chiefs' run game needs a big overhaul, with Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt both set to be free agents.
It isn't known if the Chiefs will bring either back, but the franchise has been linked with a host of backs this offseason, such as Breece Hall and Travis Etienne.
But now we can add another.
Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane could be the latest player moved on as the Dolphins enter a rebuild, with ESPN's Dan Graziano saying a deal would be hard to get done, but also naming the Chiefs as a potential landing spot.
"The league seems to believe the Dolphins are in a full rebuild, which means they're getting calls on all of their star players," Graziano wrote. "My sense is that they're far more likely to extend Achane's contract than to listen to those trade offers, but in their situation, you answer the phone when it rings. So, call any Achane trade a significant long shot that would take an awfully enticing package to get done."
In the ESPN piece, Achane's chances of being traded are just 10%, but that doesn't mean the Chiefs shouldn't call.
Of course, the asking price for De'Von will be key, and I can assure you the Chiefs won't want to break the bank for Achane either.
Especially when there is a chance of getting Jeremiyah Love in the NFL Draft.
But is it worth at least a phone call to gauge interest? Absolutely. While the Dolphins might not want to lose Achane, the Chiefs can certainly test their resolve.
Barcelona member takes legal action against Laporta ahead of March elections
Lawsuit filed days before crucial presidential vote
Barcelona member takes legal action against Laporta ahead of March elections
A Barcelona member has filed a legal complaint against Joan Laporta ahead of the club’s presidential elections on 15 March.
A new twist in Barcelona’s election race
The build-up to Barcelona’s presidential elections has taken dramatic turn after club member launched legal action against Joan Laporta who is running again for the top job.
Barcelona are set to elect a new board on 15 March following the recent resignation of Laporta’s board, a step required before standing in the upcoming vote.
The election is expected to shape the club’s direction during critical period on and off the pitch.
Lawsuit filed ahead of key vote
According to Mundo Deportivo, a member named Isidro Navarro has filed lawsuit accusing Laporta of receiving money through unjustified commissions.
Navarro is not from Barcelona, as he is linked to the city of Toledo but he has had a long-standing relationship with the Catalan club.
His membership had ended some time ago before he decided to reactivate it.
(Video) Cristiano Ronaldo sparks debate with new celebration after Al Nassr goal
Al Nassr captain sparks debate after scoring
(Video) Cristiano Ronaldo sparks debate with new celebration after Al Nassr goal
Cristiano Ronaldo caused debate after new celebration following his goal for Al Nassr against Al Najma in the Saudi Pro League.
Unusual celebration catches attention
Ronaldo opened the scoring on Wednesday in rescheduled match from round 10. After finding the net, the Portuguese forward celebrated in way fans had not seen before making movements similar to playing basketball.
Link to Ruben Neves comments?
Some supporters believe Ronaldo’s celebration was response to recent comments made by his compatriot Ruben Neves midfielder of Al Hilal.
Neves spoke after Al Hilal’s 1-1 draw with Al Taawoun in another rescheduled round 10 match. In comments to Thmanyah channels, he criticized handball decisions saying that some players were touching the ball inside the penalty area “as if it were basketball or handball” without punishment after VAR checks.
Background to the controversy
Neves’ remarks came after penalty was awarded against Al Hilal when the ball struck the hand of Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic inside the box.
Following Ronaldo’s goal and celebration, many fans linked the two moment suggesting the Al Nassr captain was sending message.
The New York Yankees are bestowing an awesome honor upon CC Sabathia.
It was expected once Sabathia made it into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, but now it's official: Sabathia will have his jersey number retired by the Yankees.
Sabathia wore No. 52 with the Yanks, and they'll hold a ceremony in September to honor the big left-hander.
It brings Sabathia into an amazing club. He'll be the 24th jersey number retired in the Yankees' storied history.
Chris Gabehart said in a Wednesday legal filing that the lawsuit against him by former employer Joe Gibbs Racing isn’t about protecting trade secrets but instead ‘punishing a former employee for daring to leave.’
And while less seemingly less consequential on the merits of the lawsuit itself, Gabehart also revealed his reasons for leaving Joe Gibbs Racing in the first place by citing a culture of dysfunction with driver Ty Gibbs at the center of the tension.
Ty Gibbs is the grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs.
Joe Gibbs Racing sued Gabehart last week, seeking damages of over $8 million dollars, for allegedly embarking on a ‘brazen scheme to steal JGR’s most sensitive data’ and take it with him to Spire Motorsports, which hired him last week as Chief Motorsports Officer. JGR amended the suit to include Spire as a defendant on Tuesday.
Prior to joining Spire, Gabehart served as competition director for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2025 in his 13th season with the organization, with stops as an engineer and crew chief prior to his most recent assignment.
Joe Gibbs Racing also filed a restraining order and motion for injunctive relief to prevent Gabehart from working at Spire. An initial hearing has been scheduled at the Western District of North Carolina court on Friday.
As for why Gabehart left, the italicized below text taken directly from the filing indicates a culture of dysfunction, that ultimately contributed to him not being able to do the job he felt he had accepted.
“I notified JGR that the job was not, at all, as advertised. I was promised a COO-type role overseeing all competitive operations with autonomy to lead. Instead, I found myself constantly intertwined with Coach (Joe) Gibbs, senior JGR executives, and family members when making even routine competition decisions—a dysfunctional organizational structure that I could not continue in.”
Gabehart said Coach Gibbs overseeing the No. 54 car driven by his grandson undermined his role as competition director and that he was pressured to take over as crew chief for the 23-year-old driver. He says that the family, which not cited by name, includes Ty’s mother and JGR COO Heather, took an increasingly hands-on role with the No. 54 car that did not align with Gabehart’s duties.
“It was my view that the No. 54 car should be managed and held accountable in the same manner as the organization’s other cars. Instead, the No. 54 car was managed directly by Coach Gibbs and everyone in the organization knew it.
Beginning early in the 2025 season, Coach Gibbs repeatedly pressured me to take over as crew chief of the No. 54 car. I consistently declined, explaining that as Competition Director, I did not believe this was the right move, that it would undermine the long-term development of the team, and that I did not want to be crew chief of the No. 54 or any other car. Despite my objections, Coach Gibbs and ownership continued pressing, and I eventually conceded to the pressure by first helping the No. 54 team more behind the scenes and then, beginning on June 28, 2025, by publicly serving as the crew chief and calling the races on Sundays for nine consecutive races before returning those duties to the original crew chief, Tyler Allen, against the strong desires of ownership, when I made it clear that I did not want to serve as a crew chief for the long term.”
Gabehart said decisions relating to the No. 54 car were made without his ‘counsel or input’ and that the driver, Ty Gibbs’ was not held to the same competition meeting attendance standards as Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin.
On November 6, Gaebhart was granted a meeting with Coach Gibbs to discuss the schism and that they agreed that a parting of ways would be most amendable. Gabehart says JGR stopped paying him in November while he negotiated departure terms with the organization.
JGR has since sued Gabehart, claiming over $8 million dollars in damages and the potential for further harm if the former competition director continues to work in a organizational leadership capacity at Spire Motorsports.
For his part, Gabehart wrote that he paid for his own forensic audit and it showed ‘no evidence I transmitted, distributed, used or otherwise shared any JGR confidential information. No text messages. No email attachments. No dissemination whatsoever.’ Gabehart shared a letter (below) that shows a willingness from Spire Motorsports to also subject itself to an audit to show that it had not received nor used JGR proprietary data.
Gabehart says that letter went ignored and JGR chose instead to sue. The lawsuit claims Gabehart made a folder on his JGR account titled ‘Spire’ and synced it with his personal accounts.
Gabehart did not deny that but stated the folder was for the purposes of evaluating the decision to leave JGR for the rival race team.
“This lawsuit is not about protecting trade secrets—it is about punishing a former employee for daring to leave.
“Granting injunctive relief and preventing me from working in NASCAR, where I have dedicated my entire career, would deprive me of my livelihood and ability to work in my chosen profession. Granting the injunctive relief requested by JGR would effectively bar me from pursuing my livelihood in the only industry in which I have developed expertise over the course of my professional career.”
The complete legal response to the lawsuit by Chris Gabehart can be found below.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 06: Gianni Vazquez of Mexico poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in at Meta APEX on February 06, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Today (Weds., Feb. 25, 2026), Sherdog reporter Tom Feely revealed Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) newcomer Gianni Vazquez has been released following his unanimous decision loss to Javid Basharat at UFC Vegas 113 earlier this month (Feb. 7, 2026) inside the Meta Apex in Las Vegas.
Missing weight — especially by that margin — is rarely tolerated by the promotion, and it appears to have cost him his roster spot.
Complicating matters further, Vazquez spent most of his career competing at Flyweight (125 pounds), making the miss at 135 pounds even more puzzling. At 31 years old, and after grinding out five straight wins to finally earn a UFC opportunity, his Octagon run may have come and gone in a single appearance.
Elsewhere, former Ultimate Fighter competitor Nathan Fletcher has also been let go. The Liverpool native — and training partner of Paddy Pimblett — went 1-2 during his UFC stint. Fletcher (9-3) submitted Zygimantas Ramaska in his promotional debut but dropped consecutive decisions to Caolan Loughran and Rinya Nakamura.
Fletcher has already re-signed with Cage Warriors, while Vazquez now looks to rebuild outside the Octagon.
SIGNED ✍️ Nathan Fletcher Returns to Cage Warriors at #CW202 Manchester 🔥
Don't miss his comeback and run at the title starting on March 14th live from the BEC Arena!
Feb. 25—FARGO — On a 20-degree night in February 1969, following a snowstorm that clobbered much of North Dakota, 600 people stood outside the Civic Memorial Auditorium in Fargo, waiting and hoping they'd be lucky enough to see the hottest show in town.
They weren't.
Inside, the Harlem Globetrotters had reached capacity. In all, 3,357 people got there earlier to claim general admission seats — for a whopping $1.50 to $3 apiece.
For a couple of hours, those lucky enough to get inside the Civic watched the iconic team "clown their way" to a 94 — 79 exhibition victory.
This kind of love for the team — which marks its 100th anniversary this year — wasn't unusual.
"The Harlem Globetrotters have always proved to be a top attraction locally," The Forum reported in October 1953. Stories in the decades since echoed the same sentiment.
The Harlem Globetrotters traces its roots to Chicago's South Side in 1926, when players from Wendell Phillips High School competed out of the Giles American Legion Post No. 87. They first played as the Savoy Big Five before promoter Abe Saperstein bought the club in 1927 and began touring as the "New York Harlem Globe Trotters." Harlem invoked the cultural capital of Black America; "Globetrotters" suggested a worldwide reach that was, at first, more aspirational than anything.
In their early years, they were a serious competitive team, often playing hometown squads wherever they traveled. They won the World Professional Basketball Tournament in 1940 and, in 1948, stunned the Minneapolis Lakers at a time when professional basketball was still segregated.
By 1950, Globetrotter Chuck Cooper became the first Black player drafted into the NBA. Soon after, Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton became the first Black player to sign an NBA contract.
But Saperstein understood that dominance alone wouldn't sustain crowds.
"Saperstein recognized early ... that the fans would soon tire of an exhibition in which a home team was trounced thoroughly," Forum sportswriter Eugene Fitzgerald wrote in 1953.
Comedy — often credited to Reece "Goose" Tatum — was woven into the act. Buckets of water and confetti. Trick balls and trick shots. Magical dribbling exhibitions. All with "Sweet Georgia Brown" as the soundtrack.
"Abe was the business agent, the coach, chauffeur and sixth man," Fitzgerald recalled. The Trotters traveled in a Model T Ford equipped with side curtains for protection against the elements — protection that surely came in handy on Upper Midwest tours.
Fitzgerald admired Saperstein not just as a promoter, but as a person. In a 1953 column, he recalled running into Saperstein on a New York City street. From nearly a block away, Saperstein spotted the Fargo sportswriter calling out, "Hey Eugene!" proof that even smaller cities and their people were on Saperstein's radar.
They first played in Fargo-Moorhead 95 years ago.
"The Globetrotters ... visited Fargo first in 1931," Fitzgerald wrote in 1966. "They haven't missed a year since."
Saperstein, Fitzgerald added, had "a soft spot for this area," where the Trotters did flourishing business meeting hometown teams.
In the 1930s, the Globetrotters played a three-game series against a North Dakota All-Stars squad made up of former NDAC (now NDSU) and UND standouts — names like Emmett Birk, Bob Finnegan and Russ Anderson. The All-Stars beat them two out of three.
NDAC coach Bob Lowe even suggested the homegrown players might win four of six in a prolonged series — proof that good things can happen when arch rivals work together.
Eventually, Saperstein began touring with regular opponents — the Washington Generals, New York Nationals, California Chiefs, Boston Whirlwinds and the House of David — ensuring spectacle without bruising hometown pride.
By the late 1950s, the stops had grown into full-scale events.
In February 1958, 4,500 fans packed Concordia's auditorium for a night that started with an opening game between the "Galloping Gophers," made up of University of Minnesota senior football players, and Concordia freshmen. (The newspaper never clarified whether they were freshman football players, freshman basketball players or first-year volunteers they grabbed from the campus cafeteria. Either way, Concordia won 49 — 34.)
Then came the main attraction. The Globetrotters defeated the House of David — a beard-wearing group of former college players— 79 — 50. Halftime featured unicyclists, baton twirlers, a trampolinist and Lilly Yokoi, billed as "the ballerina of the bicycle."
By the 1960s, the Globetrotters fielded three touring units, performing in 69 countries, before two Popes and once before 75,000 fans in Berlin.
For those who couldn't see them in person, ABC's "Wide World of Sports" became appointment television. Viewers would sit through "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat" before enjoying the controlled chaos on the court. This was as much of a must-see on Saturday for kids as "Fat Albert" and "Hong Kong Phooey."
Famous names passed through the roster: Meadowlark Lemon, Marques Haynes, Curly Neal, Goose Tatum, Geese Ausbie — and Wilt Chamberlain, who played with the Globetrotters before becoming one of the NBA's most dominant players.
In 1985, the Globetrotters made history again when Lynette Woodard became the first woman to join the team, followed by others who helped expand the act and its audience even further.
Through it all, Fargo-Moorhead fans kept turning out. The venues grew larger (including Fargodome and Scheels Arena). Tickets were reserved, so no more waiting out in the cold.
Marissa Aldeen of Moorhead remembers an extra special outing to see the Globetrotters in 2020 with husband Jason and children Simon, then 10, and daughter Harper, then 6.
"Harper and Ice (player Brittany "Ice" Hrynko) had bonded during the meet and greet before the game. During the game, Ice invited Harper to sit courtside with her," she said. "We had no idea she would end up on the court with the players doing a trick. That was super cool!"
Justin Terjesen of Kulm, N.D., first discovered the Harlem Globetrotters watching them in Scooby-Doo movies. He attended his first game in Bismarck and later saw them in Fargo.
"The Harlem Globetrotters are absolutely amazing, hilarious, and are so great entertaining us fans with laughter," he said.
The venues may be warmer now, and the tickets more than $3. (Most now range in price from about $20 to $100.)
But the anticipation feels much the same.
Nearly a century after they first laced up sneakers in Chicago, the Harlem Globetrotters are still doing what they've done here since 1931 — drawing crowds, drawing laughs and occasionally drawing a line out the door.
On that February night in 1969, 600 people learned a lesson Fargo fans have understood for decades: If the Globetrotters are coming to town, don't be late.
Ends David Bailey and Romello Height each had double-digit sacks totals and were ranked among the top 15 in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Tackles Lee Hunter and Skyler Gill-Howard each relished their opportunities to take on blockers and let teammates fill in the gaps.
The immediate payoff came with the Red Raiders celebrating their first outright league title since 1955, their first Big 12 crown and their first College Football Playoff appearance.
Four of the five transfers who helped transform Texas Tech into a national power received a different reward — appearing at the NFL's annual scouting combine in Indianapolis.
“All five of those guys we had come in, they’re really good football players, tremendous football players, and pretty much they’re all here getting ready for the combine,” former teammate Jacob Rodriguez said Wednesday.
"Shoot, they’re even better human beings. The people that they care about, the way they came in the program and made a difference in the program was really special.”
Rodriguez benefitted, too.
Playing behind the speedy pass rushers and big, beefy interior linemen, the linebacker had the best season of his college career — 128 tackles, seven forced fumbles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries. His draft prospects soared and Rodriguez finished fifth in Heisman Trophy balloting.
Still, it was a costly proposition for Texas Tech, which paid an estimated $7 million to get the five game-changing linemen. Nearly half of that total reportedly went to Bailey, who some dubbed the highest-paid defensive player in college football's NIL era.
Bailey, of course, insists he was worth every penny and few at Texas Tech would quibble with him given the results.
“They should have paid the inside linebackers a little bit more,” he said. “They were the leaders of the defense, everything ran through them."
For combine observers, this is life in a new world — one where more than 300 invitees no longer arrive dreaming of big paydays and joking about how some players might pocket less cash after turning pro.
“I never had to deal with that,” 53-year-old New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn said, discussing the absence of NIL deals during his college days in the early 1990s. “I do know it's a real thing and a lot of these players are taking pay cuts (to play in the NFL). But I will say this is what they deserve, probably, because of the amount of money they bring to the college.”
Just how much has changed?
Wednesday's interview room could have doubled as an entrepreneurs roundtable.
At one point, defensive tackle Cam Ball explained why he spent all five seasons at Arkansas and how he's attempting to honor his late father's passion for barbecuing. Ball grew up moving grills for his father's Atlanta-based catering company and once his NIL deals kicked in, he continued to help his father though no longer needed need the paycheck.
Today, eight months after his father, Charles, died, Ball and his girlfriend are still cooking. Ball continues to perfect his secret, vinegar-based sauce with seasonings and trimmings his father taught him, while his girlfriend takes care of things such as baked beans and macaroni and cheese.
“Every now and then I would help with the grills on his truck, I started to become more curious about it,” Ball said, with a large silver chain and a large photo of his father dangling near his heart. “When I got to college, I started experimenting on my own how to do things, how to cook, how to season meats because he taught me how to do all those things. We had NIL in my second or third year, so I didn't really need the money, I just wanted to get the experience.”
Former Bearcats defensive tackle Dontay Corleone, naturally, has an NIL deal with a Cincinnati restaurant that features “The Godfather” burger.
And Hunter explained how he'd used his NIL money to buy his mother a house and a car, to care for his 5-year-old daughter, Kaylee, and to help his brother start a trucking business by purchasing two 18-wheelers.
“It feels amazing,” Hunter said. “There's still more, now I'm working to get (my brother) a bigger truck. That's my goal, to provide for my family and the people I love.”
Texas Tech gave Hunter that opportunity last season and he and the school both cashed in. Now the question is will that continue in the NFL?
While Bailey could be a top-five selection and Hunter and Rodriguez are both ranked in the top 10 at their respective positions, the futures of Height and Gill-Howard are more uncertain. But at Texas Tech, there's no doubt about their overall value.
“I think we had the best defensive front in the country this year. It was a lot of fun to play behind those guys and play with them,” Rodriguez said. “They should have paid them more, I guess. They were as advertised and better.”
Feb. 25—MITCHELL — Mitchell girls basketball coach Dave Brooks has announced his retirement, effective at the end of the 2025-26 season.
The Kernels have had a successful run under Brooks' leadership, with a record of 58-33 in four seasons, three consecutive trips to the Class AA state tournament and an Eastern South Dakota Conference title in 2024.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to have coached the Mitchell girls basketball team," Brooks said in announcement from the school. "I have enjoyed my time working with the players and staff, and I appreciate the support and guidance I have received."
Mitchell enters the regular-season finale on Thursday at O'Gorman in Sioux Falls with a 12-7 record. The Kernels will play in a SoDak 16 state-qualifying game on March 6 against an opponent to be announced.
Brooks was previously an assistant coach for former head coach Cole Knippling and then took over the head job after Knippling's departure following the 2021-22 season. Each of Brooks' final three seasons have included a winning record, with a 20-4 record in 2024 and a fifth-place state finish in 2025.
"Coach Brooks' journey with the girls basketball program is a pretty incredible one," Mitchell Activities Director Cory Aadland said in a statement. "What started as a hobby as an assistant coach turned into coach Brooks being a staple of Mitchell Kernel girls basketball and the head coach of one of the most successful runs in program history. He brought a youthful energy to the program and his ability to develop meaningful relationships with the girls was a joy to watch. We thank him for his selfless service and wish him well in his retirement."
The search for a head coach for the 2026-27 season will begin immediately.
Feb. 25—WAGNER, S.D. — For Gannon Knebel, the road to the top of the podium has been paved with near-misses, long summers and a relentless pursuit of one final goal.
An individual state wrestling title.
The 215-pound senior for Wagner High School will make his fourth appearance in the Class B state wrestling tournament Feb. 26-28 in Sioux Falls, carrying with him an unbeaten 33-0 record and the No. 1 seed at 215 pounds.
It is his final ride. And this time, Knebel wants the first-place medal more than ever.
"Yeah, it definitely boosts it for sure," Knebel said of the confidence gained from winning the 215-pound Region 3B individual title. "That kid (Winner's Mason Curtis) I just wrestled is the No. 2 kid (at 215 pounds in Class B). So, it definitely gives me confidence, but it's important to take it one match at a time and stay confident. I am going to try to go get it, and it's going to take everything I have left."
Knebel recently proved why he sits atop the bracket, rolling to a 19-3 technical fall over Warriors' Curtis, who holds a 26-8 record and sits at No. 2 in the Class B 215-pound seedings, in the Region 3B championship match on Feb. 21 in Winner. The dominant performance was another statement in what has been a flawless senior campaign that has included six tournament titles.
The numbers over his career are equally impressive. In six varsity seasons with the Red Raiders, Knebel has compiled a 188-46 record heading into this weekend's state tournament. Over the past three seasons alone, he is 114-4.
Yet for all the wins, two losses still linger.
As a sophomore in the 2023-24 winter season, Knebel went 36-2 at 190 pounds, capturing a Region 3B title before falling in a 7-2 decision in the state championship match to Custer senior Parker Noem to finish second. Last year as a junior, he elevated his game even further, posting a 45-2 record at 190 pounds. Again, he claimed a region title and advanced to the state finals, only to drop a narrow 4-1 decision to Canton's undefeated Teague Granum, who finished 28-0.
Twice a runner-up. Twice within reach.
"I have failed a lot in my career," Knebel said. "I am coming off another second-place finish at state, so I got a lot of motivation built up. In the summer time, I really put a lot of work in and it's paying off this year. But it's time to go finish."
That work ethic has been evident since his earliest days in the lineup. Knebel wrestled varsity as a seventh-grader, and by his freshman season in 2022-23, he was 39-14 at 160 pounds, finishing second in the Region 3B meet and seventh in his first-ever state tournament appearance.
Each year brought growth and expectations.
"He's been solid for us for a long time, and has been such a great leader and role model for our guys," Wagner head coach David Kocer said. "He has earned every bit of this. He has worked his tail off and has been a great asset to our team. He's a senior and it's going to be tough to watch him go."
Now competing at 215 pounds, Knebel has combined strength with experience, turning close matches into dominant wins.
"My dad (Jason Knebel) is also a coach, so really him and my entire family have put as much time into this as I do," Knebel said. "And coach Kocer kicks my butt a lot, but he's definitely behind my success, for sure. I give a lot of credit, if not all of it, to him."
Kocer believes the opportunity is there for Knebel to finish the job in his final ride with the Red Raiders boys wrestling program.
"It would be awesome to see him on top of that podium this time around," Kocer said. "He's been so close for two years in a row and that's heartbreaking. But he has a chance to get that done this year and that's the goal."
Beyond wins and medals, Knebel's legacy in Wagner extends into the locker room.
"He's going to leave big shoes to fill for our team and from a leadership standpoint," Kocer said. "He has been a cornerstone for our program the last five-to-six years, so it's going to be hard to see him go but I know he's got a bright future ahead and I am excited for him."
Coming off a loaded February sports schedule, some more significant news dropped around NBC on Wednesday.
The Athletic's Andrew Marchand reported that the network is likely set to part ways with some of its talent on "Football Night in America," the longtime pregame show to "Sunday Night Football."
Tony Dungy, the former Indianapolis Colts coach, is "likely" among the faces who will be leaving the program, per Marchand.
Here's what to know about Dungy's reported exit from NBC.
Why is Tony Dungy out at 'Football Night in America'?
On Wednesday, Marchand reported that Dungy is "likely" out of "Football Night in America" moving forward —a show he was part of for 17 NFL seasons. However, the move is not yet final, and there is reportedly a "small possibility NBC could change its mind."
NBC is said to be eyeing a "new-look show," which includes possibly taking "the show fully on the road next season" and cutting down on its "large cast," per Marchand. There were "many" contracts among NBC's studio analysts that expired after the 2025 season.
NBC appears to be eyeing a revamped "Football Night in America" for the 2026 season, which likely means Dungy will be making an exit.
Was Tony Dungy fired by NBC?
Dungy has not yet been let go by NBC, as Wednesday's report was simply indicating he is "likely" to be removed from the "Football Night in America" crew for 2026 — he also reportedly has not been informed of any changes yet.
According to Marchand, the move is not final and there is a "small possibility NBC could change its mind," or choose to allow Dungy to contribute in a "reduced role" for the network.
Tony's Dungy involvement in Bill Bellichick Hall of Fame controversy
Dungy was recently near the center of a major NFL offseason story when legendary New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was not elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot.
Dungy, a Hall of Fame voter, became a focus after Belichick, one of the most decorated coaches in NFL history, was unexpectedly left out. Reports suggested some voters may have withheld votes as a response to Belichick’s involvement in past controversies.
Because Dungy was the Colts’ head coach throughout the 2000s and had a long-standing rivalry with Belichick’s Patriots, speculation arose that he may have influenced the outcome. Dungy fueled the rumors by repeatedly declining to say whether he voted for Belichick.
Was Tony Dungy removed because of Bill Bellichick controversy?
Dungy has yet to be officially let go by NBC, but even if he is, it's unlikely his exit is due to his Hall of Fame voting controversy with Bill Belichick.
NBC owns a premiere NFL slot with its "Sunday Night Football" program, and the lead-into the game, "Football Night in America," is one of the most successful pregame shows in sports. The likely changes are being made to create a "new-look show," per The Athletic.
In 2023, Dungy was at the center of another controversy due to a tweet of his that included anti-LBGTQ rhetoric, but after publicly apologizing, he returned to NBC — that controversy also likely is not playing a role in Dungy's future on "Football Night in America."
Feb. 25—AIKEN — Aiken High's Steve Smith, boys and girls tennis coach, said he knew when he met Alex Hammel during his freshman year that the student athlete had the potential to reach greatness.
In a full circle moment, Smith was one of multiple proud witnesses as Hammel signed to play for Erskine College's men's tennis program which took a six-year hiatus following its 2018 season but is returning in full swing for the 2025-26 season.
"I could tell from the beginning that he's very serious about tennis, he's very intense...he's had his ups and downs but I always knew that he was going to work hard," Smith said. "He's grown as a player and in life...it's great to see that. That's what you want to see in an athlete. I think he's going to be well-equipped for the future."
Hammel shared after his Feb. 24 signing that he was able to get a taste of Erskine after being invited to a college prospect day by its men's tennis coach, Matt Shumate.
"Everyone was just really close with each other and they were like family, so I decided that's where I wanted to be," he said.
"It feels great," he said about officially signing to the university. "I'm ready to take the steps. There's always that nervousness, but I'm mainly excited and I'm really ready."
"I know I'm not going to be the best player on the court because we have a lot of really good players that have committed, but I know that I bring a lot of leadership and accountability and energy," Hammel said. "So I think that's what's going to bring the team together and make a family."
The athlete, supported during his signing by parents Chris Hammel and Tasha Davis, said that he'll miss the challenge of playing alongside competitors such as South Aiken High alongside his friends and teammates.
"We play a lot of tough competition," he said. "When you play against tough competition, it makes you a better player.
"I'm ready to see what this year has in store," he added.
One of the hottest topics on social media is what the Tennessee Titans will do with the fourth overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, and while general manager Mike Borgonzi didn’t reveal any secrets, he did touch on some of the prospects during his NFL Scouting Combine press availability.
For the most part, Tennessee has often been linked to the three top edge rushers in this class: Reuben Bain, Arvell Reese, and David Bailey, in the majority of mock drafts published by different outlets. So it should be no surprise that when he was asked about the edge position and if the Titans had started dissecting the top prospects as the combine hits high gear.
#Titans GM Mike Borgonzi shares his thoughts on the top 3 edge rushers in conversation for their No. 4 overall pick: Rueben Bain Jr., David Bailey, and Arvell Reese pic.twitter.com/6If2k24kp0
While there was no clear indication of how the team is leaning, Borgonzi confirmed that all three prospects have had formal interviews with the Titans in Indianapolis, and they each bring something different to the table, ironically, all matching what defensive coordinator Gus Bradley described in his introductory press conference.
Bain profiles as a power guy with the ability to slide inside on passing downs, Bailey attacks with speed and length off the edge, and Reese is versatile with the ability and experience to add an explosive playmaker at multiple positions.
The Titans are in dire need of some playmakers on their front seven, and any of those three can make an impact. Unfortunately, until the team kicks off free agency and starts adding some talent to their roster, figuring out which impressive prospect they have zeroed in on is impossible.
And ESPN's Dan Graziano thinks the Jaguars could be interested in moving off Thomas Jr.
"There has been no indication that trading Thomas is something the Jaguars are planning, but there are teams monitoring the situation in case the hypertalented LSU product has fallen far enough down the Jacksonville depth chart that the front office would consider a move," Graziano wrote.
As Graziano pointed out, there haven't been any indications that the Jags want to move on, but where there's smoke, there's fire.
And we've heard enough about Thomas Jr.'s situation that there has to be something to it.
Thomas Jr. with Allen is a tantalizing prospect. Yes, the Bills will be taking a risk, but Thomas Jr. has only played two NFL seasons, so he is hardly the finished product.
But if the Jaguars deem him not good enough, Buffalo could get him at a discounted price. Plus, he's still on his rookie deal.
If I'm Brandon Beane, I'm making a call to Jacksonville. Like now.
Feb. 25—SIOUX FALLS — Three fierce days of wrestling get underway on Thursday at the Premier Center for the South Dakota High School Activities Association's state wrestling championships.
By Saturday, a total of 42 state individual titles will be handed out — the most ever for a South Dakota state wrestling tournament — plus team champions in each of the two boys classes and girls wrestling.
Wrestling begins at 10 a.m. on Thursday with the opening round, followed by the quarterfinals at 4 p.m. Thursday. Friday's semifinal round begins at 3 p.m., with the placement matches for third, fifth and seventh at 10 a.m. Saturday and the championship round at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Here's a look at what to know for the competition:
* Five Class A wrestlers remain undefeated entering the state tournament, led by a pair from Watertown. Gage Lohr looks for a fifth state championship this season at 157 pounds with a 24-0 record, while teammate Shea Richter is 41-0 in his senior season at 132 pounds. Sturgis senior Tyler Baldwin has a perfect record at 120 pounds at 43-0, Rapid City Central junior Pierce Hurd is 43-0 at 113 pounds and Tea Area's Tyler Woodring enters the 138-pound bracket with a 42-0 record for his senior year.
* Lohr, a junior, is looking to become only the second five-time state champion in Class A history, joining Brandon Valley's Navarro Schunke, who reached the mark in 2024. Madison's Caleb Hodges is seeded No. 2 behind Lohr in the 157-pound weight class and has a record of 33-1 this season.
* Sioux Falls Lincoln's Carlos Rodriguez Jr. is the Class A leader in wins this season, with a record of 47-8. A Patriots junior, Rodriguez is the No. 5 seed in his weight class at 285 pounds.
* Watertown's Braylon Schell leads the Class A participants with 31 pins to his name. Schell wrestles at 106 pounds. Fellow Arrow teammate Shea Richter, wrestling at 132 pounds, leads Class A wrestlers in technical falls with 21 this season.
* Parker Graveman, of Sturgis, is the Class A leader in takedowns with 184 to his name for the season. He has a 43-4 record and wrestlers at 132 pounds, where he's the No. 4 seed in the bracket. The top-seeded Richter is second with 147 takedowns with only one allowed this season.
* Eight Class A wrestlers are looking for repeat state titles. That group includes Baldwin, Richter, Woodring and Lohr, plus Sioux Falls Lincoln's Hudson Cisar (144), West Central's Kaden Haakinson (113), Sturgis' Kelson Dirk (190) and Brandon Valley's Elijah Schunke (285).
* The top Class A programs collected a lot of state qualifiers to the tournament. Pierre and Sturgis both qualified wrestlers in all 14 weight classes, while Watertown, Madison and Rapid City Central each had 13 qualifiers. Aberdeen Central and Harrisburg each qualified 12 wrestlers to the state meet.
* Sturgis won the 2025 Class A team points title for a second year in a row, and the Scoopers are coming off their third consecutive Class A state dual wrestling title in February.
* Six wrestlers are in the Class B state tournament with undefeated records. Winner freshman Apollo Willuweit has an undefeated record at 47-0 at 106 pounds, as does Parkston senior Wyatt Anderson at 47-0 at 175 pounds. At 138 pounds, Wessington Springs/Woonsocket/Wolsey-Wessington junior Jacksen Carter remains perfect at 37-0, and Canton's Aidan Kranz has a 37-0 mark at 190 pounds. Wagner senior Gannon Knebel has a 33-0 record at 215 pounds and Webster Area's Haeden Jorgensen has a 26-0 record in his senior season at 144 pounds.
* Flandreau's Justin Klein leads the Class B participants in most wins this season, with a record of 49-9 at 175 pounds for the Fliers. He is part of a bracket that includes three wrestlers that already have 45 wins or more. That includes Anderson, of Parkston, who is 47-0, and Tri-Valley's Landyn Reiser, who is 45-4.
* Canton's Gunnar Swenson is the Class B leader in pins entering the state tournament with 38 falls to his name. Swenson is the No. 6 seed in the 285-pound bracket (46-10), which has Winner's Legend Benedict (44-5) as the No. 1 seed.
* After 10 seniors won state championships in 2025, only three wrestlers are in line to defend titles this season. Willuweit is joined by Sisseton's Holden Hawkins, who is 48-1, and is the No. 1 seed at 165 pounds. Hawkins' only loss came to South Dakota State commit Cavin Carlson, of Willmar, Minnesota, on Jan. 3 at the Rumble on the Red Tournament in Fargo, N.D. Also looking to defend a state title is Canton's Conner Giedd, who wrestles at 157 pounds and is the top seed at 38-2.
* Winner qualified only seven wrestlers to the state tournament but five of them are the top seeds in their brackets. That includes Willuweit and Benedict, plus brothers Rylan Robbins (120) and Roukyn Robbins (126) and Ryken Orel (150). Mason Curtis, who wrestles at 215 pounds, is the No. 2 seed in his bracket for the Warriors.
* Winner has two of the top takedown artists in Class B wrestling. Roukyn Robbins leads the class with 170 on the season, while Apollo Willuweit has the third-most 128 this season without allowing a takedown to an opponent this season. Tri-Valley's Landon Reiser has the second-most takedowns in Class B with 130.
* Miller/Highmore-Harrold's Talon Ping leads Class B wrestlers in technical falls with 18 this season. Ping is the No. 1 seed in his bracket at 132 pounds with a 37-7 record.
* Canton is going for an 11th state title in Class B in the team points race and its ninth in a row. It is the longest streak in South Dakota team wrestling history for either class. It already won the Class B state dual title earlier this season over Bon Homme/Avon.
* The Cavaliers of Bon Homme/Avon qualified 13 wrestlers to the Class B state meet, the most of any team. Canton is sending 12 wrestlers, while Philip/Kadoka Area/Wall and Tri-Valley each qualified 11 wrestlers and Kimball/White Lake/Platte-Geddes is sending 10.
* Six wrestlers in the state girls wrestling tournament enter with undefeated records and at least 15 wins. Quinn Butler, of Lemmon, has a 43-0 record at 140 pounds, while junior Summer Guthmiller, of Sioux Valley, is 38-0 at 155 pounds. The youngest of those undefeated wrestlers is Ella Coomes, of Madison, who is an eighth-grader with a 35-0 record and is the No. 1 seed at 100 pounds.
* Harrisburg had two undefeated wrestlers with Rhiannen Heimdal carrying a 37-0 perfect mark at 170 pounds as a senior and Regina Stoeser with a 16-0 record at 130 pounds.
* Stoeser is seeking her fifth state wrestling championship, something that was done for the first time by Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon standout Peyton Hellmann in 2025. Stoeser is committed to wrestle at Fort Hays State in Kansas, which is where Hellmann wrestles collegiately as well.
* The sixth member of the still-undefeated club in girls wrestling this year is BHSA's Britney Rueb, is in the running for her fourth state championship as a senior. Rueb won in 2021, 2022 and 2024, and then missed the 2025 state meet with a knee injury. Rueb is back in the 135-pound bracket this year with the No. 1 seed and a 25-0 record.
* In all, nine wrestlers are looking for repeat titles, including Stoeser, Guthmiller and Heimdal. Watertown has three of them: Olivia Anderson is 47-3 this season and wrestling at 120 pounds, senior Allison Konrad is 40-1 at 190 pounds and junior Eden Hach is 42-1 and looking for a repeat at 235 pounds.
* The 155-pound weight class includes the Cossacks' junior Guthmiller, who won last year's state championship at 138 pounds with an undefeated season and is the No. 1 seed, while Pierre's Abbigail Lewis (30-1) is a defending champion from 152 pounds and is pursuing a third-straight state championship as a junior. Guthmiller pinned Lewis in the third period of their lone meeting this season in December in Watertown.
* McCook Central/Montrose's Alexis Bryant is in a bid for a third consecutive state championship. Bryant is 46-6 this season for MCM but is the No. 3 seed at 115 pounds behind Custer's Savannah Bell (36-3) and Watertown's Brooklynn Randall (35-2).
* Also looking for repeat titles includes Groton's Liza Krueger and Canton's Finley Evjen. Krueger is the No. 1 seed at 105 pounds and has a 42-2 record and Evjen is the No. 1 seed for the C-Hawks with a 31-1 record as a freshman at 125 pounds, and Evjen is seeking a third-straight title.
* Butler has made the finals in each of the last two years but is looking for her first title. She was 47-2 last season and was 36-2 in 2024 but fell to Stoeser and Rueb, respectively, in those tournaments.
* The 190-pound weight class will be one to watch, as Konrad is the No. 2 seed. The top seed is Jessica Hite, of Custer, a Wildcats junior with a 36-3 record and was third at 185 pounds last season.
* Rapid City Central's Jamii Washechek has a state-best 91 takedowns this season. The Cobblers' eighth-grader is the No. 7 seed at 100 pounds with a 43-17 record.
* Sturgis' Brooklynn Baird is the state's leader in wins this season entering the state tournament with a record of 48-7 as a senior for the Scoopers. A total of 44 of those wins have been pins, the state's most in the girls division. Butler ranks second with 41 pins and Bryant is third with 36 pins.
* Baird is the No. 5 seed in the 135-pound bracket which includes the top-seeded Rueb, Pierre's Lexie Hillmer who is the No. 2 seed with a 30-3 record and Spearfish's Mathilde Matsuda, who is 40-6 and the No. 3 seed. Hillmer, Baird and Matsuda all placed in the top-five of last year's 132-pound division won by Hellmann.
* This is the first state tournament in which there are 14 girls weight classes to match the boys. The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) requires states to adopt a 12, 13 or 14-weight class system for boys and girls, and South Dakota chose to have 14 weight classes for both boys and girls. This is also the sixth year of an individual girls wrestling tournament in South Dakota.
* Canton leads the state competition with an entry in 13 weight classes in the girls weights. Aberdeen Central, Brandon Valley, Pierre, Sturgis and Watertown all qualified nine wrestlers to the state meet.
Feb. 25—WINNER, S.D. — With only seven singlets packed for Sioux Falls, the math says the odds are stacked against them.
But the belief inside the Winner High School boys wrestling room says otherwise.
When the lights come on Feb. 26-28 at the Premier Center, the Warriors won't have the numbers most Class B team title contenders bring to the state tournament. What they will have is seven battle-tested grapplers, five No. 1 seeds, two seniors chasing one last ride, and a group that is anything but ordinary.
Depth wins team wrestling championships in late-February. But sometimes, belief sharpened in a small-town wrestling room can be just as dangerous.
"They just feed off each other, you know, iron sharpens iron," Winner head coach Spencer Novotny said. "Those guys drill with each other every day and that's kind of the product of it. It's mainly just their work ethic because if I tell them to do something, they do it one more time than they have to and that's the way all of them are."
After hosting and competing in the Region 3B tournament on Feb. 21, the Warriors punched seven tickets to state. Five of those seven claimed individual region titles and enter the Class B bracket as No. 1 seeds in their respective weight class. As a unit, the seven qualifiers boast a staggering combined record of 274-26 this season.
But numbers tell only part of their story.
With just seven wrestlers in the field, Winner faces an uphill climb in the team standings race. Depth often determines who hoists the team plaque at the end of the three-day tournament. For the Warriors to seriously contend for the team title, they will likely need near-perfect performances across all seven weight classes with individual first-place finishes.
"We knew to compete with the team race here in the regional meet, we would probably have to get nine or 10 kids through to state," said Novotny following the Region 3B meet in Winner. "We had seven seeded in the top four, which is good, but to have a better team score you need more than that. So, we're going to need all of our guys that qualified to do really well in the state meet to get the team result we are striving for."
And leading the charge is 106-pound freshman Apollo Willuweit, the Region 3B champion who carries a flawless 47-0 record into state. As the No. 1 seed at 106, Willuweit has dominated all season and will look to cap an unbeaten freshman campaign with a second consecutive state championship.
At 113 pounds, senior Judd Hansen enters as the Region 3B runner-up. Hansen owns a 33-7 record and is seeded fourth in Class B. In his final trip to state as a senior, Hansen will rely on experience and grit to climb the podium and add valuable team points.
The middleweights may be where the Warriors make their strongest push. Sophomore Rylan Robbins (40-2) claimed the Region 3B title at 120 pounds and holds the No. 1 seed. At 126, freshman Roukyn Robbins (46-2) mirrored that feat, capturing a regional championship and the top seed in his bracket.
Senior Ryken Orel has been a cornerstone all season at 150 pounds. With a 38-2 record and a Region 3B title, Orel also enters as the No. 1 seed in Class B.
"I just know that the guys that we qualified, they are grinders every single week," Orel said. "They are the ones in there every day at practice, giving all that they can. The seven that we got that qualified, they can all do big things for us."
At 215 pounds, junior Mason Curtis finished as the Region 3B runner-up and enters the state meet as the No. 2 seed with a 26-8 record. Curtis will face a challenging bracket with No. 1-seeded and unbeaten Gannon Knebel of Wagner, who beat him in the region title match, but has positioned himself as a legitimate contender for a deep run and a potential rematch in the championship bout.
Rounding out the lineup is sophomore Legend Benedict. The 285-pound Region 3B champion owns a 44-5 record and the No. 1 seed at heavyweight.
Still, belief runs deep inside the Winner wrestling room.
"This year, I would say all seven of our guys are heavy hitters," Orel said. "In my eyes, all seven guys can make it into the state finals and have a chance to win it. We have a special group and I am really going to miss these guys when it's over."
For Orel, the motivation is personal heading into the final meet of his prep career.
"I just want to leave a legacy that people will remember because of all of the hard work I put in to get to where I am," Orel said. "We have a banner in the wrestling room with all the (individual) state champs, and I want my name on there. My brother and three of my uncles are on there, and I just want to put myself on there, too."
And while the math may not favor a seven-man roster, the Warriors are ready to embrace the challenge with a team title in their sights.
"We talk about it all the time at practice, if everyone achieves their own individual goals then our team will have success," Novotny said. "I just hope everyone wrestles individually well, and then the team points will take care of themselves. It's going to be tough for us to try and get on top of that team podium, simply because we're only taking seven kids to state. But I would not bet against these seven guys."
Myers, the 6-foot-8 defenseman, is in his 17th NHL season.
His first six were with the Buffalo Sabres, then he went to the Winnipeg Jets.
This is Myers' seventh season with the Canucks.
On the 2025-26 season, Myers has one goal and seven assists in 57 games. He also has 91 blocked shots and 65 hits.
Myers is averaging 20 minutes and 13 seconds of ice time per game, so he's in good enough shape to show up to a contender and help right away both in playing time and in defensive production.
He was a much better offensive player early in his career, but now he uses his veteran moxie to get the job done.
Holding Myers out on Wednesday night suggests that a deal is imminent, so stay tuned.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Players from the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team said Wednesday that they felt love and support from the men’s team throughout their road to a gold medal in Milan, and that’s what they’ll remember — not the laugh some players had when U.S. President Donald Trump joked that he’d be impeached if he didn’t invite the women’s team to the White House.
“I can’t wait ’til this blows over in a week and we can go back to each team being proud of what we accomplished. And proud of each other,” Minnesota Frost forward Taylor Heise told The Athletic after Frost practice.
In a video posted on social media, Trump called into the men’s locker room to congratulate players after their overtime win over Canada on Sunday. On speaker phone from what appeared to be FBI Director Kash Patel’s cellphone, Trump said, “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team. You do know that.”
Heise said she didn’t know if the begrudging invite registered with the euphoric players, pointing out that she could hear Dylan Larkin and Brock Nelson yell, “Two for two,” and Matthew Tkachuk say excitedly, “Absolutely,” before Trump dropped the impeachment quip.
You can hear the genuine pride in Donald Trumps voice when he called the Team USA Hockey Team pic.twitter.com/ch6GbXShwh
“Keep in mind the situation and the emotions that they’re going through in the locker room,” gold medalist and Frost forward Britta Curl-Salemme said. “I remember our locker room after, you’re laughing at anything, you know what I mean?
“Obviously, is that the perfect response? Is it an appropriate comment or joke to make? No, I don’t think so. But I just go back to the way that they treated us, and the support they gave us, and they were as happy as anyone to see us succeed, and same with us for them. That’s what I’m focusing more on. … I didn’t meet a single one of them that wasn’t very kind.”
Added Frost forward Grace Zumwinkle, “They came to a lot of our games, and we went to a lot of theirs. And I think there was that mutual level of respect, and it was evident with Ellen Hughes also being on our staff as well, and her two sons (Quinn and Jack) being on the (men’s) team. So, yes, we did feel the respect, and then just having been in the Village with them, as well, was a good experience.”
Heise said many of the men’s players have called and texted apologies over the past few days — and to reiterate their support for the women’s team and how proud they were of them.
“A lot of us are more concerned with what was said prior to the laugh, and I think that is what it is,” Heise told The Athletic. “Now everyone’s been making everything political, and obviously we’d love to keep politics out of sports, but I think that we felt the love from them and we don’t want this to fully overshadow our win. I do think partially that it did, and that’s unfortunate, but at the end of the day, we’re still gold-medal winners.”
Added two-time gold medalist and Frost forward Kelly Pannek, “Our experiences with the men’s team was different (than what’s been portrayed), I think. We all know being there what it felt like to have their support throughout the tournament, to support them, and how great of a moment it was for everyone that was a fan of both teams, to come together and say how great it was that we both won a gold medal for the first time ever.
“And it really was such a special feeling being there and even to be able to spend some time with them after their win, and the respect that they were showing us. And I think the video is what it is. You’d have to ask them, I think, their feelings on it, but I think there’s also elements to it with the phone call, specifically — it’s not surprising, to be frank. So I don’t know why we expect differently, but I think for us, it’s also just about getting back to the focus on our team and what our team accomplished, and that was, I think, dominant hockey.”
U.S. women’s team captain Hilary Knight, speaking at a Seattle Torrent news conference on Wednesday, told reporters: “I just thought the joke was distasteful and unfortunate. I think the way women are represented, it’s a great teaching point to really shine light on how women should be championed for their amazing feats. And now I have to sit in front of you and explain someone else’s behavior. It’s not my responsibility.”
Knight added that she is “extremely proud” of the fact that the U.S. men’s and women’s teams both won Olympic gold.
“But these women are amazing,” she said. “And whatever’s going on should never outshine or minimize their work and our success on the world’s stage.”
When the U.S. women returned to the Olympic Village at 4 a.m. after beating Canada in their gold-medal game, Frost players said the men’s team — already asleep ahead of its semifinal the next day — had left them beer so they could celebrate. And after the women’s team returned from the closing ceremony after the men won Sunday, Heise recalled getting big hugs from Larkin, Auston Matthews and Charlie McAvoy.
Players from both teams hung out in the Village afterward.
“We sat there and reminisced on what it meant to be gold medalists at the Olympics,” Heise said. “At the end of the day, I respect the men’s team.”
On Tuesday, 20 of the 25 men’s players traveled to Washington, D.C., to have lunch with President Trump, visiting with him in the Oval Office and touring the White House. In the evening, many of the players attended the start of the president’s State of the Union address to be recognized. Trump announced that goalie Connor Hellebuyck would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom — one of the two highest civilian awards in the United States.
The women’s team was also invited, but USA Hockey announced Monday that the players couldn’t go because of logistics. As Pannek said Wednesday, the women’s team was in Milan significantly longer than the men’s team and had already departed. Players were on their way back or already back with their college and PWHL teams.
“Players are back competing with their professional and collegiate teams and are in the midst of their season,” USA Hockey said in a statement Wednesday. “They’re honored and grateful to be invited and any opportunity to visit the White House as a team will be based on their schedule once their seasons conclude.”
The Frost players didn’t seem to be aware of an official agreement for the women’s team to visit the White House. Pannek said, “I do know that there’ll be a time that all Team USA athletes will be invited, as there has been in the past.”
Heise said whether or not the team attends will be up to Knight as captain.
“Whatever Hilary says, we’ll figure out,” Heise said. “If she makes a statement, then we’ll follow what she has to say.”
Jeremy Swayman on the reaction to the postgame call with President Trump:
“We should’ve reacted differently. We’re so excited for the Women’s team and have so much respect for the Women’s team.” pic.twitter.com/NLJmk7wlE5
Regardless, the players seem ready for the controversy with the men’s team to be over and done with.
“I think that I would love to talk more about how great our team was — how close we were, how special the group was, how historic what we accomplished was,” Pannek said. “Those are all the things that I’d rather highlight versus things that are outside of our control.”
The fans in New Jersey got a chance to salute the gold medalists.
Before the Devils' game Wednesday night against the Buffalo Sabres, Jack Hughes got a chance to skate out to center ice for some recognition for his gold medal with Team USA at the Olympics.
Hughes didn't want to do it alone. On the Sabres is forward Tage Thompson, who was his U.S. teammate.
So before skating out into the spotlight, Hughes headed over to grab Thompson from the Sabres bench.
Together, they got their recognition at center ice.
Hughes, of course, was the final hero on an incredible run to the gold medal game and then past Canada with a 2-1 overtime win. It was Hughes who slotted home the walk-off goal to claim the Olympic championship.
Thompson was a crucial piece of the powerplay throughout the tournament, including a goal and an assist in the Olympic semifinal win over Slovakia.
They were two of 25 members of the team, which won its first gold medal since 1980 in men's hockey.
It was an awesome gesture by Hughes to bring Thompson out with him. It does more than just recognizing a Devils star for what he did. It allowed the crowd to recognize two of the United States' talented forwards who were a part of history.
Tennessee Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi was busy at the 2026 NFL Combine on Wednesday. He met with players and addressed the media ahead of player workouts on Thursday. He was asked about the players at the Combine, of course, but also about current players and their futures with the team. One of the players he was asked about was offensive lineman Peter Skoronski.
.@Titans GM Mike Borgonzi said the team’s goal is to get something done contract wise with Peter Skoronski. Said the team has had ongoing conversations with a number of players heading into free agency.
The Titans drafted Skoronski in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He was the 11th overall pick, higher than most offensive linemen are drafted, and he has met every expectation the Titans have placed in front of him. He was a tackle at Northwestern, but the Titans moved him inside to guard during his rookie season.
He has grown over his three years in the NFL, and in 2025 was one of the most elite pass blockers in the league. He's also durable, starting all 48 games he's appeared in, and rarely missing a snap.
There are options for the Titans when it comes to Skoronski's contract. He's completed three years on his rookie deal, which means they can exercise his fifth-year option, should they choose to do that. And it's possible they do that just for insurance purposes.
What they'd really like to do, though, is give him a full extension to keep him around longer than one extra year. Skoronski has shown clear growth, he's durable, he's available, and he hasn't reached his peak yet. Top-tier offensive linemen aren't exactly a dime a dozen, so keeping him around to protect Cam Ward is a top priority for the Titans.
The good news is that the Titans and Skoronski have time, especially if the Titans exercise the fifth-year option. If they don't come to a full-on extension agreement in the near future, expect to see that option exercised as a fall-back plan if talks stall.
The New England Patriots are in the market for all things defense in the 2026 NFL Draft. Positioned late in a very deep defensive class, the Patriots will have plenty of talent on the board for their 31st and 63rd-overall selections.
Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez is ranked on many big boards smack-dab in the middle of those two selections, but he could wind up being one of the best players in the entire draft.
Rodriguez finished fifth in Heisman voting this past college football season, and if you weren’t able to tune in to some of his Red Raiders games, you really missed out.
Rodriguez had 128 tackles, seven forced fumbles, and four interceptions. The outrageous season wasn’t a fluke either, as he recorded 127 tackles and five sacks the year before.
In my opinion, Rodriguez is a top 10 defensive player in this class. However, since he is an off-the-ball linebacker, his positional value is about as low as it gets in terms of the NFL draft.
During his interviews before the NFL Combine begins on Thursday afternoon, Rodriguez told reporters that he isn’t worried about fitting into a scheme at the next level; he is prepared to play every position on the field.
“I can play at any position that they need me to play,” Rodriguez said. “I can play at SAM out in space, I can play the MIKE, I can be a green dot and I can play the WILL.
“I think I can play any position that they bring up to me, and I think I'm very much capable of doing anything.”
After totalling more than 300 tackles in his college career, you’d be crazy not to believe Rodriguez.
Several mocks have sent the linebacker to New England at pick No. 63, but I struggle to see a future where he is available that late.
With two picks in the fourth round and four in the sixth, I would be in favor of the Patriots trading some capital to get a player like this.
Keep an eye on Rodriguez at the combine, as his athletic numbers will make or break his draft stock.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki revealed his thoughts after his first start in spring training this year.
Sasaki spent most of last season on the injured list, making his final start of the year in may 2025. He returned as a relief arm, and performed well above expectations for the end of the season and the playoffs.
He struggled in his first start back, though, as he allowed three runs through 1.1 innings pitched on three hits and two walks. Despite those struggles, though, he managed three strikeouts and topped out at 98.6 mph with his fastball.
“There were some positive things, but also things I need to work on,” Sasaki said.
“In the bullpen, I felt pretty good about the forkball but once I got on the mound, it didn’t go well. And the four-seam, I felt pretty good in the bullpen but once I got on the mound, it felt a little off.”
Feb 13, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) throws in the bullpen during spring training camp. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Sasaki historically had issues with starting games, as his eight MLB starts last season yielded a 4.72 ERA. He will have plenty of time with the Dodgers’ camp heading into his sophomore season, as he will not be participating in the 2026 WBC with Team Japan.
The team is yet to reveal when his next start will be, but the young right-hander will be looking to bounce back and claim a spot in the rotation in the upcoming year.
Across both divisions, eight divers represented seven schools, Mason being the only school with multiple participants. However, just one diver ended up on the podium.
Here's how the girls diving state championships shook out.
Four Division I divers flirt with podium, finish in top 16
St. Ursula's Alexis Mendenhall set the early tone with a 35.7-point dive to settle into eighth place before Milford's Audrey Fox and Mason's Isabella Giraldo caught up with respective dives of 45.1 points and 42.55 points.
Mount Notre Dame's Marissa Zang moved up from 16th to 11th in the middle rounds, thanks to consistent scores of 39.6, 40.8 and 38.5.
Through five rounds, they were all grouped together with Fox in 10th, Giraldo in 11th, Mendenhall in 12th and Zang in 13th. All four divers were separated by no more than eight points until Giraldo surged into ninth place in the ninth round with a 45.6-point dive. She followed it up with a 42-point dive in the 10th round and a 41.8-point dive in the final round, finishing in ninth place with 424.25 points.
Mendenhall dropped to the back of the pack before a 43.7-point finale put her in 13th place, one spot above her 2025 result.
Fox showed the most promise through the first two cuts, placing as high as sixth after the second round and sitting in ninth after the eighth round, but a 24.15-point dive in the 10th round dropped her to 13th. Despite a 40-95-point effort in the final round, she finished in 14th with 399.35 points. Still, it was nine places higher than her junior-year finish.
Coming off the district championship, Zang hung out in the middle of the pack throughout the day. A ninth-round score of 38.85 points moved her up to 12th but a 31.05-point effort in the final round dropped her back to 15th. The junior ended her first state championship appearance with 392.5 points.
Giraldo's teammate, Corinne Hartmann, matched her 2025 result with a 22nd-place finish and 172.8 points. She was in 14th place after three rounds but dives of 28.8 points and 33 points caused her to miss the first cut.
In her first year in Canton, Walnut Hills sophomore Grace Kim took 23rd place with 168.3 points. Two of her dives were fantastic, achieving 37.4 points and 40.7 points and her other three averaged 30.1 points. She'll be a name to watch in the next two years.
Calli Rieskamp, Aubrey Barlag earn top 16 finishes in Division II
For the second year in a row, Rieskamp and Barlag represented Cincinnati in the finals of the DII competition. Both improved on their 2025 result.
Rieskamp, the sectional champion, moved into fifth place after the second round, thanks to a 45.1-point dive. She immediately moved up to third in the fourth round with a 42.9-point dive.
Barlag, the district champion, sat in fifth place after the first round and hung around the top 10 throughout the morning. She even got within one spot and 2.35 points of Rieskamp after the ninth round, thanks to a 42.9-point dive.
Rieskamp tumbled from third place to 10th after three consecutive dives that averaged 24.3 points but scored 40.95 and 43.2 on her final two attempts to finish in sixth place with 381.85 points, seven spots better than her 2025 result.
After making the second cut with room to spare, Barlag moved from 11th place to ninth, where she ended the competition with 362.4 points, a one-spot improvement over last year.
The player who is likely to be the first Sooner off the board is defensive lineman R Mason Thomas. Despite only playing in 10 games for Oklahoma during his senior season, he showed plenty of ability and promise while at OU. In fact, some believe that Thomas might be a first-round draft choice.
That list includes ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., who released his latest NFL mock draft for the first round this week. Kiper thinks that Thomas will be selected on the draft's first night, and he has Thomas teaming up with fellow former Sooner Rhamondre Stevenson on the AFC Champion New England Patriots, as the 31st overall pick.
"As they try to get back to the Super Bowl with a talented roster, the Patriots could use another solid edge rusher or two. Thomas can get offensive tackles leaning and then beat them with either speed or power. He uses his hands well and shows good bend off the edge. He had 15.5 sacks over the past two years. K'Lavon Chaisson is hitting free agency, so New England would love to have someone like Thomas getting after the quarterback." - Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN.
Thomas spent his entire career in Norman, and he developed into a fantastic pass-rusher for the Sooners. During his final two seasons, he was an impact star at defensive end, and turned into OU's closer, shutting down games when opponents were trying to make a late drive for a comeback.
Most mock drafts have Thomas being selected late in the first round, or early in the second round. If he is chosen on the first night, he'll be OU's first defensive player since Kenneth Murray in 2020 to be picked in the first round.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.
It's easily been the worst season of head coach Dana Altman's 16-year tenure with the Oregon Ducks, as the team is well below .500 and set to finish in the bottom five of the Big Ten. Despite that, Oregon "remains fully committed" to Altman, per ESPN's Jeff Borzello.
Borzello wrote up each of the questionable coaching situations in college basketball, with Altman falling under the "Potential retirements to monitor," section.
There has been speculation for each of the past few seasons of Altman's potential retirement, with the longtime Ducks head coach shooting down those rumors repeatedly. Now, it appears as if he'll continue to have to shoot down those rumors, as Borzello reports that he is expected back with the Ducks for the 2026-27 season, spurning retirement and staving off being fired in spite of the disappointment campaign for Oregon.
Injuries have easily been the biggest culprit of the Ducks' lack of success this season, as standout point guard Jackson Shelstad played in just 12 games before his season ended with a hand injury. Star center Nate Bittle suffered through a nagging lower body injury in December and January, causing him to miss several contests. A handful of reserves, namely backup center Ege Demir, have also been sidelined for chunks of time.
But beyond the injuries, Altman has been visibly frustrated with his inability to connect the roster together and win games, something that he's done consistently — he had produced at least 20 wins in every season — during his time with the Ducks.
The looming retirement rumors, coupled with the nature of Oregon's season, fueled the fire that Altman wouldn't be back next season. But per Borzello's reporting, that appears to be false, as Altman is expected to once again roam the sidelines for the Ducks men's basketball squad come the 2026-27 season.
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DETROIT (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder will be missing four starters for their matchup of conference leaders against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.
Oklahoma City won't have its four leading scorers: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdomen), Jalen Williams (hamstring), Ajay Mitchell (abdomen) and Chet Holmgren (back), along with sixth-leading scorer Isaiah Hartenstein (calf). The only player from the top six that will play in Detroit is Isaiah Joe, who averages 11.0 points, and the only regular starter will be Lu Dort.
The game was billed as a possible NBA Finals preview, with the Western Conference-leading Thunder at 45-14 and the Pistons leading the East at 42-14.
The NFL scouting combine is currently taking place in Indianapolis, where players are looking to increase their stock in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. The Spartans sent two players to the combine, including punter Ryan Eckley. During Wednesday's media day, Eckley spoke to the media about his time at Michigan State. Specifically talking to the Detroit Sports Podcast, Eckley echoed his love for the university.
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 Cory Linsner on X @Rex_Linzy
Jack Hughes was a star in the NHL for the New Jersey Devils before he became a viral sensation after scoring the goal that gave Team USA the gold medal in the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The first overall pick by New Jersey in the 2019 NHL entry draft, Hughes had scored 141 goals and 351 points in 368 games as NHL play resumed. He also is known now for a smile that features some missing teeth. That's the price one pays for playing hockey and winning a gold medal in the Olympics. Well worth it.
Gary Neville explains how Senne Lammens has proved him wrong
Gary Neville has admitted he was unsure about Senne Lammens when Manchester United signed the goalkeeper last summer.
The former United defender, however, now believes the 23-year-old has a “big, big future” at Old Trafford.
Lammens was initially expected to be a back-up rather than first choice. Instead, the former Royal Antwerp player has now moved ahead of Altay Bayindir and Andre Onana in the pecking order.
Clean sheets have not always come easily, but the Belgium international has still played his part in a strong recent run. After all, United have won five of their last six Premier League matches under interim head coach Michael Carrick.
Lammens was even named man of the match as United won 1-0 against Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday night.
Standout player
Speaking on his Sky Sports podcast, Gary Neville asserted that Senne Lammens was the top performer against the Toffees even without having to be spectacular.
He conveyed that: “The goalkeeper, I thought, was my man of the match tonight – not necessarily because he made loads of amazing saves, but everything he did he just did really calmly and well.”
In addition, the pundit emphasised specific moments late in the game, notably praising the keeper’s handling under pressure.
“The tip over the bar at the end, there was a shot that just bounced in front of him and he just held it, and then Everton had 10 corners,” said Neville.
Moreover, the 51-year-old observed that Lammens’ calmness was crucial against the backdrop of such a hostile away atmosphere.
He remarked that a goalkeeper who “just does his job calmly” and is not “frantic” can make “a big difference” when the home side are applying “enormous pressure.”
From concern to confidence
Furthermore, Neville highlighted his earlier doubts about the transfer.
The former full-back admitted that he feared the move came too soon for a young keeper without an established reputation at the highest level. “I had my concerns when he came in,” Neville argued.
He continued: “Why would you take a chance with a goalkeeper who’s young, who’s not got the pedigree, he’s played in a different league, he’s going to come to Manchester United and it could eat him up.”
This view, however, has changed quickly. Neville now insists that: “It is early, but he looks like he’s got the temperament and he’s got the technical quality”.
Essentially, a young signing who arrived with question marks is now winning over one of United’s most recognisable former players. Everyone at M16 will be hoping for more of the same.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The former competition director of Joe Gibbs Racing claimed Wednesday the Pro Football Hall of Fame coach is suing him for “daring to leave” the NASCAR team when the situation surrounding Gibbs' grandson became untenable at the organization.
Chris Gabehart admitted in his declaration filed in the Western District of North Carolina that he did take photographs on his phone of a JGR excel file and other projects that he had played a role in developing. But Gabehart insisted his own forensic audit proved the information was never shared with any other organization.
JGR has sued Gabehart for allegedly embarking on “a brazen scheme to steal JGR’s most sensitive information" and on Tuesday night added Spire Motorsports to the suit. JGR also requested a restraining order preventing Gabehart from working for the rival team.
JGR alleges Gabehart took proprietary information from the team to bring with him to his new role at Spire.
Gabehart is challenging that narrative and claims his 13-year tenure at JGR began to unravel when he was pressured last season to crew chief Ty Gibbs, the grandson of the team owner, despite having been promoted to competition director at the end of 2024.
“I notified JGR that the job was not, at all, as advertised. I was promised a COO-type role overseeing all competitive operations with autonomy to lead,” Gabehart wrote in the declaration. “Instead, I found myself constantly intertwined with Coach Gibbs, senior JGR executives and family members when making even routine competition decisions — a dysfunctional organizational structure that I could not continue in.”
Gabehart claims he expressed “serious concerns” about how Ty Gibbs' No. 54 team was managed, specifically that it was not held to the same standards as the teams for Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin, and that the car “was managed directly by Coach Gibbs and everyone in the organization knew it.”
Gabehart said he conceded to pressure to crew chief Ty Gibbs in a behind-the-scenes role and then in late June he called nine consecutive races on the pit box for the young driver. He maintains he offered specific examples of the No. 54 team's differential treatment that undermined him as competition director, specifically that Ty Gibbs “was not held to the same meeting attendance standards as others on the team.”
When the situation came to a head near the end of last season, Gabehart claims he began working on a separation agreement with JGR and was told to say he was “on vacation” if anyone asked why he was not working. He maintains JGR stopped paying him in November as negotiations over his parting grew contentious and talks eventually ceased.
JGR has since sued, claiming Gabehart violated his contract and stole confidential team trade secrets when “his demands for additional authority were rebuffed by JGR’s owner.” JGR claims Gabehart has caused more than $8 million in damages to the organization.
Gabehart maintains he paid for his own forensic audit and it showed "there is no evidence I transmitted, distributed, used or otherwise shared any JGR confidential information. No text messages. No email attachments. No dissemination whatsoever.
“This lawsuit is not about protecting trade secrets,” Gabehart claimed, “it is about punishing a former employee for daring to leave.”
JGR was founded by Joe Gibbs in 1992 after he won three Super Bowls as Washington’s football coach. Gibbs is a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and NASCAR Hall of Fame and now co-owns JGR with his daughter-in-law, Heather.
Heather Gibbs is the mother of Ty Gibbs, who is at the start of his fourth full Cup season driving for his grandfather. Ty Gibbs was successful in NASCAR's second-level series, where he won 12 races and the 2022 championship. His father, Coy, was found dead in his hotel room the morning after Ty won the championship.
Ty Gibbs moved to the Cup Series in 2023 and is winless in 125 starts. The 23 year old finished a career-best 15th in the 2024 Cup standings.
Gabehart joined JGR in 2012 as an engineer, worked his way to crew chief for Hamlin, and became competition director ahead of the 2025 season. Gabehart spent six seasons as Hamlin’s crew chief and the duo won 22 Cup races — two of which were the Daytona 500 — and qualified for the championship finale three times.
Hamlin finished fifth or better in six seasons under Gabehart, while Hamlin’s wins and laps-led were second-best in the Cup Series during that period.
The lawsuit filed by JGR contends its own forensic audit after Gabehart said he no longer wanted to work for the organization found Google searches about Spire Motorsports, folders titled “Spire” and “Past Setups” and more than a dozen images of JGR files containing confidential information and trade secrets.
Gabehart admits to taking the photos and creating the “Spire” folder, but said the folder was for his own evaluation of whether or not to join the rival race team.
“We’re just focusing on celebrating the women in our room, the extraordinary efforts," Knight told ESPN on Wednesday. “And continue to celebrate three gold medals in program history as well as the double gold for both men’s and women’s at the same time.”
Knight, a two-time gold medalist whose 15 goals and 33 points in Olympic competition are the most by a U.S. hockey player at the Games, said she's not focusing on an offhand comment by Trump after the American men topped Canada for gold in overtime on Sunday.
Talking on a speakerphone in the postgame locker room, Trump extended an invitation to the White House to the men's team, then added, “We’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that.” The president later joked that if he didn't extend the invitation, he would probably be impeached.
While the vast majority of the men's team flew to Washington on Tuesday and visited Trump in the White House before being guests at the State of the Union, many of the women's players were on the way back to their professional or college clubs.
USA Hockey, which said it was “honored” by the invitation, cited logistical issues as the major hurdle that prevented the women's team from stopping by the White House. The team was originally scheduled to fly commercially into New York on Monday, but was forced to reroute through Atlanta due to a snowstorm in the Northeast.
Several players were going to stick around New York for promotional purposes, even ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange. Those scheduled appearances had to be canceled because of flight changes.
Knight lamented that the video — which included several players laughing after Trump's comments — took on a life of its own and didn't convey the true nature of the relationship between the men's and women's teams.
“I think the guys were in a tough spot,” Knight said. "So I think it’s a shame this storyline and narrative has kind of blown up and overshadowing that connection and genuine interest in one another and cheering each other on.”
Kelly Pannek, a forward on the women's team, told reporters, “the video is what it is" but added it was a “special feeling” spending time with the men's team after they won the first Olympic gold for the U.S. in 46 years. Pannek believes there is mutual respect and support on both sides of the relationship.
Goaltender Jeremy Swayman told reporters in Boston after returning to practice with the Bruins that the men “should have reacted differently” to Trump's remarks.
“To share that gold medal with them is something that we’re forever grateful for,” Swayman said. "And now that we’re home we get to share that together forever and see the incredible support we have from the USA and share this incredible gold medal.”
The earliest the U.S. women could make a visit would be in late spring after the conclusion of the Professional Women's Hockey League season.
Knight called the dustup a “really good learning point” and hopes that it will affect the way women are talked about both inside and outside of the sports world.
The U.S. won 12 gold medals in Milan Cortina, with women playing a hand in eight of them.
“Women aren’t less than," Knight said. "And their achievements shouldn’t be overshadowed by anything else other than how great they are.”
How Juventus fans reacted to second Galatasaray goal and UCL exit
All Juventus fans at the Allianz Stadium gave the Bianconeri a standing ovation after Barış Alper Yılmaz scored the second goal for Galatasaray, eliminating the Serie A giants from the Champions League.
Juventus nearly completed a stunning comeback in the Champions League knockout play-off on Wednesday. Football Italia was among the accredited media in Turin tonight.
Juventus fans’ reaction to Champions League exit
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Luciano Spalletti Head Coach of Juventus FC reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
Victor Osimhen scored the first goal for Galatasaray in the extra time, and Alper Yılmaz finished it off with two minutes remaining, beating Mattia Perin on a counter-attack.
With just a few seconds left to play, all the Juventus fans at the Allianz Stadium stood up to give a standing ovation to the players who had been reduced to ten men at the beginning of the second half when Lloyd Kelly was given a straight red card.
TURIN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 16: General view inside the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Juventus and Borussia Dortmund at Juventus Stadium on September 16, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
Most of the supporters then walked out of the stadium, only to be insulted by the ultras in Curva Sud, who called their fellow fans “crappy.”
Ultras remained in the stands beyond the final whistle and continued to chant for the team.
Michigan State hit a home run when it hired women's basketball coach Robyn Fralick, and it continues to show as she is in the home stretch of her third year as the leader of the program. Despite the on-court success the Spartans have been having, Fralick's prowess has been well received off of the court as well.
The latest feather in the cap of the Spartans head coach, Fralick has been named an assistant coach for the women’s U18 National Team. She will be joined by Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey, who will serve as the team's head coach, and California head coach Charmin Smith. They will be leading the FIBA U18 AmeriCup team this summer.
Spartan fans will be quick to give congratulations to Fralick on a tremendous honor.
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 Cory Linsner on X @Rex_Linzy
The New England Patriots have the No. 31 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and all signs point to the team investing in their edge rush in the first round.
There have been several names thrown around, and head coach Mike Vrabel himself confirmed that they hosted more than 10 edge rushers for interviews before the start of the NFL Combine on Thursday.
Insider Evan Lazar reported that among those 10 is Texas A&M linebacker Cashius Howell.
Howell had the most sacks among draft-eligible players in college football’s premier conference, the SEC.
The 22-year-old wrapped up two highly productive years for the Aggies with 11.5 sacks during the team's playoff run. He played five college seasons, with his career beginning at Bowling Green, where he recorded 9.5 sacks as a redshirt sophomore.
Very few players in this draft class have more than his 27 sacks during their college career. However, at just 6-foot-2, he leaves a lot to be desired as far as the NFL prototype pass-rush build is concerned.
Clearly, his size has not hindered the linebacker from getting into the backfield in college. But it does show up in the run game on numerous occasions.
He is a bendy pass rusher who has polished moves, but he is not entering the league as a three-down defensive end. His NFL comparison is Will McDonald IV of the New York Jets.
BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — Frankfort’s Ana Mendoza won a championship at 100 pounds in the North Regional wrestling competition Sunday at Buckhannon-Upshur High, and 18 locals qualified for the state tournament.
Sunday marked the first time West Virginia held regionals for girls wrestling, with a corresponding South Region event at Parkersburg High School taking place the same day.
The girls state tournament will be held at Marshall Health Network Arena on March 7.
West Virginia has held a girls state championship since 2020, though it has been unsanctioned and not run by the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC).
Last week, the WVSSAC Board of Directors voted to approve girls wrestling as a preliminary sanctioned sport beginning with the 2026-27 school year.
More than 300 girls wrestlers participated this year, hailing from 86 schools across the state.
At Sunday’s North Regional tournament, Mendoza was Frankfort’s lone state qualifier and the lone wrestler from an area school to win a regional championship.
The top eight performers in each weight class qualified for states.
Moorefield, which was fourth in the team competition, had seven top-eight finishes. Two took third place in Lee Anne Coon (100 pounds) and Kailyn Penkov (185), two were fourth in Annie Barr (126) and Grace Simmons (132), two ended fifth in Jalee Lender (152) and Kourtney Smith (235) and Morgan Malone placed eighth at 138 pounds.
Keyser finished sixth as a team and had five state qualifiers: Morgan Jones (126 pounds, second place), Mya Burgess (132, second), Kandice Dixon (107, third), Libby Delsignore (114, 5th) and Khloe Cosner (152, eighth).
East Hardy’s Morganne Miller was the runner-up in the 145-pound class, Madilyn Funk was sixth at 120 pounds, and Chloe D’Amico placed eighth at 132.
Petersburg’s Kaitlin Booth was seventh at 114 pounds, and Hampshire’s Avery Steinmetz placed eighth at 120.
Md. Regionals Friday at Garrett College
MCHENRY — The two-day Maryland Class 2A/1A West Region wrestling tournament begins Friday at Garrett College.
Competition begins with the girls individual tournament on Friday at 4:30 p.m.
The co-ed region tournament on Saturday begins at 9:30 a.m.
Admission is $12 and is free for ages 6 and under. Tickets can be purchased on the GoFan website or app. There will be no on-site ticket sales.
COLLEGE PARK — In the first year of Northern’s and Southern’s swimming programs, the two schools combined to send six athletes to the Maryland state championship meet.
The meet was held last Saturday at the University of Maryland’s Eppley Recreation Center.
Northern sent five student-athletes while Southern had one.
Rowan Rikhye of the Huskies was one of three freshman boys to podium in the Class 3A/2A/1A meet.
He placed eighth in the 200-yard freestyle, timing 1:51 flat, and was 10th in the 100 freestyle at 51:44.
Rikhye was the only freshman in the top 10 of the 100 freestyle.
“Rowan delivered a truly remarkable performance this season,” Northern assistant coach Somi Rikhye said. “What makes this even more extraordinary is that he accomplished all of it while battling illness throughout the week. His toughness, talent, and drive set the tone for what we believe will be an incredible future.”
Freshman Lilah Rikhye finished 18th in the girls’ 200 individual medley, finishing in 2:29:97.
“Lilah also had an outstanding season and proved herself as one of the top emerging swimmers in the state,” coach Rikhye said. “Competing in the 200 medley, she achieved a personal best and finished 18th in the state as a freshman, an incredible accomplishment. Her work ethic and discipline have been exceptional all year.”
Kirstin Ellis, Mary Thrush, Lula Faulkner and Lilah Rikhye combined for the 200 freestyle relay, placing 22nd with a time of 2:01:52.
It was a season-best time by 3:07 seconds.
“Our freshman relay group showed something truly special this year,” coach Rikhye said. “The four swimmers consistently improved with every race, working together and growing as a unit. Their chemistry, commitment, and steady progress point to enormous potential in the years ahead.”
Northern was the recipient of the Doug Southerland Sportsmanship Award, given to the team that shows the best overall sportsmanship during the state title meet.
“We are also incredibly honored to have received the Sportsmanship Award,” coach Rikhye said. “In our first year, Northern Garrett High School made a splash at the state level and proudly represented Western Maryland. We felt welcomed and respected at both regional and state meets, and that meant a great deal to our team.”
Southern’s Kathryn Sweitzer qualified in two events.
Sweitzer placed 19th in the 500-yard freestyle, timing 6:03:26 and 22nd in the 100 backstroke at 1:11:87.
“Kathryn is Southern’s first swimmer to compete at the State Meet,” Southern head coach Alison Sweitzer said. “It is exciting to see her pride at being able to represent her school at this level. Swimming is a sport rooted in consistency. She trains day in and day out, often when no one is watching. The enthusiasm from her fellow teammates and support from the Southern community as a whole was wonderful.”
Northern had seven swimmers on the roster this season, while Southern had four.
Competing at states against schools with up to 1,200 students, both programs feel optimistic about the future.
“This first season was a success in so many ways,” coach Sweitzer said. “Southern had four swimmers who excelled, improved, and represented the Rams in a special way,”
“Records were made, and we had critical support from our fellow Northern team. Members of the Indoor Track team and our very own Student Member of the Board volunteered to work our home meet. This program will grow and enrich so many Garrett County students.”
Boston Celtics rookie Hugo Gonzalez received quite the praise from Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic after their two teams squared off this past Sunday. Both players have played for Real Madrid basketball team at a young age, helping pave the way for their NBA careers, with Doncic becoming one of the best players in the world, since entering the NBA in the 2018 draft.
Speaking with reporters after the game on Sunday, Doncic said it was very special to play against Gonzalez after their previous encounters with Real Madrid, to which the Celtics rookie took a lot of respect from. Doncic said Gonzalez is an amazing person and amazing player, and on Tuesday night, Gonzalez responded by saying the Lakers star is an example for everybody.
Hugo González responded to Luka Dončić's well wishes for him after their first matchup in LA the other day with @RealBobManning tonight: "It was great ... for any guy that's coming out of the (Real Madrid) academy, he's an example for everybody." @CLNSMediapic.twitter.com/3q2HLHNqNr
"He's an example for everybody," Gonzalez told CLNS Media. "The best situation you could ever be in (in Real Madrid), he's also a great person and we have a great relationship. He did his first two camps in Madrid in the city that I was living in, and I asked him for a photo, I was lucky that his first two camps were in my city."
Doncic would add to his praise for Gonzalez, saying he's a "high-effort player, who is all around the court. It's only his first year, he's still has time to learn and I think he's going to be a very important piece for every team he plays for."
Coming to Boston as the 28th overall pick in this year's draft, Gonzalez has earned the trust of Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla with his aforementioned high effort, and tenacious defense. On a team that has had opportunities for others to shine due to injury and the loss of Jayson Tatum, Gonzalez has surprised many by making a considerable rookie impact.
When it comes to wide receiver-needy teams, all eyes are on Philadelphia Eagles star A.J. Brown.
That's because Brown has been floated as a trade candidate this offseason thanks to his dissatisfaction with the Eagles' offense in recent years.
While head coach Nick Sirianni and general manager Howie Roseman have said they want to keep the wideout, they also didn't close the door on a trade.
"Will A.J. be here next season? I think we're still in a spot, like, I can't guarantee how anything is going to play out into next season. I'm thinking I'm going to be the coach next season, but you can't guarantee anything past tomorrow," Sirianni said.
In an article ranking the top trade candidates this offseason, ESPN's Ben Solak put Brown on the list and believes there's a 60% chance he gets dealt.
Brown's individual play seemed to fall off a touch last season, but it's fair to believe his frustration with the offense led to some disinterested play. An acquiring team is risking that Brown is beyond his athletic prime (he will turn 29 this summer), but he has only one year of guaranteed money on his deal, so it would not be too big of a commitment. And the recent ceiling of Brown's play has been top-five receiver level. He had 1,003 yards last season, and he has tallied at least seven touchdowns in each of the past four campaigns.
Predicted chance of getting traded: 60% Potential team fits: Patriots, Bills, Ravens
All three of those teams make sense as landing spots for Brown.
The Patriots could cut Stefon Diggs this offseason thanks to a huge cap hit. Even if they bring him back, the Pats need more depth in a room that is otherwise young and unproven.
The Bills are in rough shape at wide receiver after striking out on Keon Coleman in the draft and Joshua Palmer in free agency in recent years. Khalil Shakir is a solid target for Josh Allen, but Buffalo needs a lot more and preferably a true No. 1.
Baltimore's need at receiver isn't as dire, but there's definitely still a need there. Zay Flowers has been a reliable target for Lamar Jackson, but he doesn't have much support from Rashod Bateman and DeAndre Hopkins is a pending free agent.
We like the Patriots as the most likely landing spot for Brown of these three teams thanks to their cap space, stable of draft picks and head coach Mike Vrabel's connection with Brown from their days together with the Tennessee Titans.
The Bills have all the motivation in the world to make a strong push for Brown, but they are in rough shape financially and acquiring Brown could seriously hinder the team's ability to address multiple other needs.
Baltimore is a middle-of-the-road option with a sufficient amount of cap space, but the Ravens also have bigger fish to fry on defense and could opt to spend their resources there instead of investing in another wideout.
The Maryland Class 1A West Region I playoff brackets were finalized this week with the Fort Hill boys and Southern girls capturing the top seeds.
Fort Hill, which won the Western Maryland Athletic Conference for a fourth straight year with a 7-1 record, earned a first-round bye to the region semifinals by virtue of its 15-6 finish.
The two-time reigning state runner-up Southern girls also snagged a bye to the last four of the region following their 17-5 season. The Rams won the WestMAC for a third straight season, finishing 8-0 a second year in a row.
The Fort Hill boys will take on the winner of No. 4 Mountain Ridge (11-9) and No. 5 Northern (9-12), a region quarterfinal matchup that takes place on Friday at 6 p.m. in Frostburg.
Elsewhere in the quarterfinals, No. 2 Southern (14-8) hosts No. 7 Hancock (5-16) on Friday at 6 p.m., and No. 3 Allegany (12-8) welcomes No. 6 Clear Spring (6-16) on Friday at 5:30 p.m.
Fort Hill has won the last three 1A West Region I championships, advancing to the state semifinals in 2022-23 and '23-24 and falling in the quarterfinal round last season to eventual state champion Cambridge-South Dorchester.
On the girls side, the Rams will await the team that emerges victorious from No. 4 Fort Hill (10-11) and No. 5 Mountain Ridge (10-12), which tips off on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Cumberland.
The region semifinal in Oakland will take place on Tuesday, March 3, at 6 p.m. according to Southern Athletic Director Matt Redinger.
The other two region quarterfinals are also both slated for Saturday at 1 p.m.
No. 2 Allegany (14-6) hosts No. 7 Clear Spring (3-16), and No. 3 Northern (13-8) welcomes No. 6 Hancock (5-13).
Southern has won the past two 1A West Region I championships. Both runs ended as state runner-up to Pikesville, which has won the past five Class 1A titles under Michael Dukes.
Md. state finals move to UMBC
The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association announced earlier this month it's moving the boys and girls state championship games to UMBC’s Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena beginning this year.
The championship games previously were played at the University of Maryland's XFinity Center.
It will mark the first time the boys finals will be held at a site other than the University of Maryland since 1947. It was held at the XFinity Center from 2003-25, Cole Field House from 1956-01 and Ritchie Coliseum from 1947-55.
Those sites hosted both state semifinals and final until 2021 when the state moved to hold semifinals at neutral sites and the boys and girls finals both at Maryland.
Before that, the girls semifinals and finals took place at Towson University between 2014-19, UMBC from 1993-2013 and Catonsville Community from 1973-92.
W.Va. girls playoffs begin Thursday
The West Virginia girls region tournaments begin later this week.
The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission did away with sectional tournaments last season, opting instead for single-elimination region play to begin immediately.
Keyser (16-3) is the No. 1 seed in the Class AAA, Region II playoffs and needs to win just one game to qualify for the state tournament for a third straight season.
The Golden Tornado will face the winner of No. 4 Elkins (8-9) and No. 5 Bridgeport (6-15) in the region co-finals in a state qualifier on Tuesday, March 3, at 7 p.m.
Hampshire (13-8) is seeded third in the same region and plays a first-round game against No. 6 Robert C. Byrd (6-15) on Thursday at 7 p.m.
If the Trojans win, they'll play a state qualifier against No. 2 Lewis County (13-7) on Tuesday, March 3, at 7 p.m.
In the Class AA, Region II playoffs, No. 4 Moorefield (7-13) hosts No. 5 Frankfort (11-10) in the first round on Friday at 7 p.m. The Yellow Jackets swept the Falcons, 53-34 and 38-27, during the regular season.
The winner of that contest will square off with the victor of No. 1 Lincoln (13-8) and No. 8 South Harrison (2-13) in the region co-finals for a spot in the Class AA state tournament on Thursday, March 5, at 7 p.m.
Petersburg had its four-year state tourney berth streak snapped last year, and it hopes to start another. The Vikings (14-6), seeded third, welcome No. 6 Braxton County (9-13) on Friday at 7 p.m. in their playoff opener.
That game's victor faces the winner of No. 2 Philip Barbour (14-8) and No. 7 Berkeley Springs (11-10) for a berth at states on Thursday, March 5, at 7 p.m.
In the Class A, Region II playoffs, No. 5 Paw Paw (7-7) heads to No. 4 Pendleton County (9-11), No. 6 East Hardy (1-16) visits No. 3 Tygarts Valley (11-6), and No. 7 Union (1-13) hits the road to face No. 2 Pocahontas County (17-2).
All three first-round matchups take place on Thursday at 7 p.m.
UCL | Juventus 3-2 Galatasaray (5-7 agg): Heroic fight back not enough
Juventus staged a heroic comeback after Lloyd Kelly’s red card to force Galatasaray into extra time 3-0 on the night, but Victor Osimhen sealed their Champions League exit 5-7 on aggregate.
The Bianconeri had a very slim chance of qualifying after the 5-2 first leg defeat in Istanbul, where they had been leading 2-1 until collapsing with Juan Cabal’s red card. He was suspended along with Andrea Cambiaso, plus Emil Holm, Dusan Vlahovic and Arek Milik injured, Gleison Bremer only fit for the bench, and Kenan Yildiz starting despite not being at 100 per cent. Victor Osimhen shrugged off a knee issue to start with fellow ex-Napoli man Noa Lang, while Mario Lemina returned from suspension.
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Juventus start team eleven before the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
Their capitulation in the first leg was part of a general crisis for Juve, who had one draw in the last five competitive games going into this clash, going out of the Coppa Italia quarter-final and sliding to fifth in Serie A.
There were two big early chances, as Federico Gatti and Teun Koopmeiners couldn’t keep their headers down from six yards, but Mattia Perin made a great save on Osimhen’s volley from a flicked-on throw-in. The goalkeeper stepped in after a series of damaging Michele Di Gregorio howlers.
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray reacts against Federico Gatti of Juventus FC during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
Osimhen sprinted back trying to help the defence, instead clattering makeshift left-back Weston McKennie for a yellow card, while Manuel Locatelli stung the goalkeeper’s gloves from distance and Francisco Conceicao curled wide on the resulting corner.
Kenan Yildiz forced a fantastic save from Urugcan Cakir at the near post after his shot took a deflection off Davinson Sanchez.
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Kenan Yıldız of Juventus FC drives the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
Davinson Sanchez also made an error to spark the Juve attack that resulted in a clumsy Torreira sliding tackle through the back of Khephren Thuram inside the area. Manuel Locatelli converted the penalty to get the Old Lady back in this tie at 3-5 on aggregate.
Jonathan David’s very heavy first touch ruined a Kenan Yildiz roll across just before half-time, with Thuram drilling the rebound wide.
Juventus went a man down in Istanbul and it happened again in Turin, albeit in bizarre circumstances. Kelly landed awkwardly and on top of Baris Alper Yilmaz’s calf, so the referee awarded a second yellow card. As the defender was arguing he hadn’t done it on purpose, the referee was called over for the VAR review and changed it to a straight red card instead.
Even down to 10 men, Juve still threatened a goal when Kenan Yildiz squirmed between two and got the finish deflected inches wide of the near post.
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Referee João Pinheiro shows the red card to Lloyd Kelly of Juventus FC during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
Gatti also nodded over again, but finally got a finish on target when he tapped in at the back post on a Pierre Kalulu low cross from the right, making it 4-5 on aggregate.
Osimhen fired over and it was so nearly 5-5 on aggregate with Thuram’s final contribution before being substituted, as he burst into the box and drew out the goalkeeper, floating his lob over the empty net.
Juve came even closer moments later, as Yildiz at full stretch volleyed the Jeremie Boga cross onto the upright from point-blank range.
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Manuel Locatelli of Juventus FC celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
It was only a warning, as an Edon Zhegrova free kick was knocked down by Koopmeiners for the McKennie header at the far post to make it 3-0 on the night, 5-5 on aggregate.
Galatasaray threatened on the counter in stoppages, but Baris Alper Yilmaz chose completely the wrong pass for Osimhen, while Kenan Yildiz drilled wide from the edge of the box.
The teams could not be separated and it went to extra time, despite the Bianconeri being down to 10 men since the 48th minute.
Juve continued to attack and should’ve scored a fourth when Boga rolled across from the left, but McKennie laid it off for Zhegrova to bend horribly wide from 12 yards.
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Weston McKennie of Juventus FC celebrates with teammate Kenan Yıldız after scoring the third goal of his team during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
Eren Elmali came sliding in at the far post, just unable to connect with the Leroy Sane cross, but Galatasaray did restore their advantage on aggregate when Gatti slipped trying to intercept the Baris Alper Yilmaz assist and Osimhen drilled the finish through Perin’s legs at the near post.
Juventus kept pushing even with 10 men for an hour, as Zhegrova’s ferocious strike from a tight angle was palmed away, Filip Kostic slipping to fire the rebound wide, then Boga fired a couple of efforts off target.
In the final moments, an inspired Wilfried Singo through ball saw both Osimhen and Baris Alper Yilmaz spring the offside trap, the latter beating on-rushing Perin for Galatasaray to qualify 7-5 on aggregate.
Yılmaz puts it beyond doubt for Galatasaray as they march into the Champions League round of 16 💫@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/dlW3XgeE23
There was still applause from the crowd, who appreciated the extraordinary effort made.
JGR Files to Block Gabehart’s Spire RoleJoe Gibbs Racing
Joe Gibbs Racing has asked a federal court to enforce an 18-month non-compete clause against its former competition director Chris Gabehart that would prevent him from accepting a similar position with Spire Motorsports.
JGR contends in a document filed in US District Court in Charlotte, North Carolina, that since Gabehart wasn’t terminated “without cause,” the non-compete restriction applies.
JGR is requesting a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction that would prevent Gabehart and Spire Motorsports from competing against JGR. Spire Motorsports has announced it has hired Gabehart as its chief motorsports officer.
The hearing on the request for the restraining order is scheduled for Friday.
JGR is seeking more than $8 million in compensatory and punitive damages and attorneys’ fees.
Chris Gabehart with Denny Hamlin.Jared C. Tilton - Getty Images
On Wednesday, the day after JGR added Spire Motorsports to its federal suit, a summons was issued informing Spire it had been named in JGR’s civil action. Spire must file its response within 21 days.
JGR maintains the injunction it requests doesn’t prohibit Gabehart from working in stock car racing or at Spire. It only prevents him from performing the same job functions he performed at JGR for “a limited and identified number of competitive teams.”
JGR contends that Gabehart’s actions “injured JGR’s standing in the marketplace by diminishing the value of its trade secrets, reducing JGR’s competitive advantages, and enabling Spire—and potentially other competitors—to unfairly compete against JGR in NASCAR races.”
Gabehart’s former employer contends that allowing Gabehart and Spire to compete against JGR would be in violation of Gabehart’s contractual obligations. JGR also wants the temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction issued to keep the two from “retaining, using, disclosing, and misappropriating JGR’s confidential information and trade secrets.” The team also contends that Gabehart agreed not to recruit JGR employees for 18 months after his termination from JGR.
JGR contends that the day after Gabehart announced his decision to leave the Huntersville, North Carolina, team in November 2025, he sat down at his JGR issued computer while it was connected to JGR’s network, and for 15 minutes used his personal cell phone to take at least 20 pictures of several things including:
How much JGR pays its drivers.
Complete team payroll details.
JGR’s revenues from sponsors, partners, and other sources of income for 2024, 2025, and 2026 NASCAR seasons.
JGR’s comprehensive post-race audit and analyses of team and driver performance for the 2025 NASCAR season.
JGR’s pit crew analytics for the 2024 NASCAR season.
JGR also contends that Gabehart saved JGR files on his personal Google Drive showing:
JGR’s car setups during the 2025 season.
Proprietary engine outputs and recommended gear shift points.
The manner in which JGR sorts, picks out, and runs tires through a race.
How JGR measures its own cars’ fuel usage during a race and predicts other teams’ fuel usage.
Sesay is the No. 77 overall prospect and No. 10 EDGE in the 2027 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 4 recruit in Pennsylvania.
Rivals ranks Sesay higher than other recruiting services. He checks in as the No. 38 recruit, No. 5 EDGE and No. 3 player in the Keystone State in the updated Rivals300.
There’s a noticeable omission from Sesay’s top six, as Ohio State entered this week as the program trending for his pledge, per the Rivals Recruiting Prediction Machine. The Buckeyes were among the teams that had him on campus back in the fall.
When the Pittsburgh Steelers go on the clock in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, they could go any number of directions with that choice. The consensus among NFL draft pundits is wide receiver with quarterback a distant second. Today, we are taking a look at two different mock drafts from two of the most respected draft analysts in the industry to see if they agree on the Steelers.
First up we have Mel Kiper Jr. from ESPN. Kiper decided to roll the dice on Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 21 overall pick. Here's what he had to say about the pick:
The Steelers have to think about the QB position with a longer-view lens. They could bring back Aaron Rodgers or opt for another veteran stopgap to keep them in contention next season, but even if they go that route, they should still address their future at the position. Simpson has just 15 starts to his name, and his 2025 season was uneven, but his game has a lot of promise. He navigates the pocket well and threw 28 touchdown passes to just five interceptions last season. Pittsburgh could let him learn behind a veteran for a little while before turning the offense over to him.
Next up it's NFL Network's Bucky Brooks. He opted for USC wide receiver Makai Lemon with that Steelers first-round pick. Here's what Brooks had to say about it:
If Mike McCarthy gets Aaron Rodgers to stick around for another year, the Steelers could take a wideout with exceptional running skills to elevate a passing game that will feature more short and intermediate throws. Lemon is a versatile playmaker with a game that will enable him to work effectively from out wide or in the slot at the pro level.
The reality of this situation is that Pittsburgh could be eyeing down this exact scenario. And to be honest, whether or not the Steelers bring back quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the option of taking Simpson would still be on the table. Simpson has a perfect opportunity at the NFL Scouting Combine to close the gap between him and Fernando Mendoza, separate himself from that next tier of quarterbacks and cement his spot in the first round.
Obi Toppin, who last played on Oct. 26 and has appeared in three games this season, is listed as questionable on the latest injury report.
The 27-year-old, sixth-year forward has been practicing since last week. Should he play Thursday, it would mark a layoff of exactly four months. He had been out with a stress reaction in his right foot.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 24: General manager Duke Tobin of the Cincinnati Bengals speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There is so much going on during the week of the NFL Scouting Combine. News flies around at a furious pace as all the teams congregate in Indianapolis.
For as much happens on the field with potential draft prospects testing their physical abilities, there is even more that goes on behind what fans will see through a camera.
One of the most crucial things will be teams meeting with prospects for the first time. It is a chance for front offices to get an impression of who they could very well be drafting in a few months.
The Cincinnati Bengals are no exception here. Players’ agents leak out which teams talked to their guy, and we as fans can get a microcosm of who a team might be interested in.
Is this a perfect science? No, obviously not. However it can be a piece to the puzzle we see finished following the draft.
Here is who the Bengals have reportedly met with at the Scouting Combine
Four years ago, the Cleveland Browns “won” the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes by getting the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback to agree to a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract. But before they could get him to sign on the dotted line, the Browns had to send three first-round picks, a third-round pick, plus two fourth-round selections.
Those draft picks turned into DT Jordan Davis, RB Jahmyr Gibbs, WR Brian Thomas, WR Jalin Hyatt, RB Dameon Pierce, and TE Cade Stover. It’s been deemed as the worst trade in NFL history, which stings for a Browns franchise that was already desperate enough to make such a bold move for who they thought would be their franchise quarterback for years to come.
Yet, Watson has been anything but. He’s yet to start more than seven games in a single season with the Browns, and has only made 19 starts in three seasons in Cleveland. He’s completed just 61.2% of his passes for 3,365 passing yards, 19 TDs, 12 interceptions, while leading the Browns to a 9-10 record in the process.
Now 30 years old, Watson is headed into the final year of his contract, but he has a cap hit of $80.7 million. Considering how poorly he’s played as a member of the Browns, while given his enormous cap hit, some have wondered if the new coaching staff wouldn’t have any interest in having Watson as part of the new-look QB room.
Yet, according to first-year head coach Todd Monken, that couldn’t be further from the case. Rather, he sounds excited for the opportunity to work with Watson, and possibly even help the QB regain his elite form from his days in a Texans uniform.
“I think anytime that you have a player that at one time has exhibited the skillset at an elite level, I think you’re always going to give them the benefit of the doubt that somehow we might be able to get that out of him again. And I think that’s how you should look at every player. I’m going to let it play out.
I think it’d be completely unfair just like it would be in any classroom setting — be it a history exam — and all the students walk in, and before they’re actually given the exam, you give them a grade. Well, how would you give them a grade? Based on male, female, race, how they look, how they’re dressed? I think that’s unfair.
I know that I’m excited to work with him. I’m excited to work with all of our players on the roster. That’s what you’re paid to do as a coach.”
Todd Monken on Deshaun Watson
If there’s any semblance of hope that the Browns can still get some positive production out of Watson, then it’s up to Monken to figure it out. If not, Watson will be a free agent at the end of the 2026 season anyway, and then the Browns can finally move forward from arguably their biggest mistake yet. Or, maybe Watson can prove everyone wrong and get back to being the MVP candidate he was in Houston.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Dallas Stars surged into the Olympic break on a six-game winning streak. The Minnesota Wild won their last five games to finish 8-1-1 before the NHL 's three-week schedule pause.
Both teams have maintained top-five records in the league for much of the season — and they've constantly been trying to catch the rival Colorado Avalanche.
Such has been the predicament in the powerful Central Division, where the NHL's siloed playoff format would pit the Stars against the Wild in the first round if the standings were to stay this way. The Avalanche would then be favored to face the winner in the divisional bracket, likely bouncing two of the top five teams in the league from the postseason by the second round.
“It’s a fun division to be a part of,” Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson said, “because every game really matters.”
The Avalanche went 37-9-9 for an NHL-leading 83 points before the break, a sparkling record that has actually lost some luster from earlier this winter. They led the division by 12 points on Jan. 11, but the Wild (34-14-10) with 78 points and Stars (34-14-9) with 77 points have narrowed their gaps.
Colorado came out of the break with a game at Utah on Wednesday, when Dallas hosted Seattle. Minnesota had an extra day before playing at, conveniently, Colorado on Thursday.
“They become a little bit more human now and are losing a few games, so if we win tomorrow and get on a little run we might be able to catch up some ground to them,” Gustavsson said after practice on Wednesday.
Colorado and Dallas play three more times. The Stars won the first matchup with the Avalanche in a shootout. Dallas and Minnesota meet twice more, having split their first two games. The Avalanche and the Wild play two more times after splitting their first two matchups, with the Wild's win coming in a shootout.
“We pretty much have to sweep them, and we’ve got to greatly outplay them to take that spot,” Stars center Matt Duchene said. “So could it be done? Yes. Will it be done? Probably not, to be honest, but that’s OK. It feels like in our division we’ve got go through the gauntlet every year, and we’re ready for that.”
The Avalanche had four players competing in the Olympic gold medal game in Italy on Sunday, alongside three from the Wild and two from the Stars. The three teams combined sent 23 players to the Winter Games, making the final stretch all the more intriguing. Not only will each club need to recreate the momentum it had prior to the break, but the Olympians — particularly the Americans and Canadians — must be reintegrated after not getting the time off that most of their NHL peers had.
The Stars are expecting to miss leading scorer Mikko Rantanen for multiple weeks after he suffered a lower-body injury with Finland in the Olympics.
“My experience with these streaks is that when you have a big break like this, it kind of interrupts the rhythm,” Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said.
But that doesn't mean he's expecting a fade, considering his team's recent performance.
“There was a very clear visual of what our players felt they were doing better and we as coaches felt we were doing better in those five or six games than we had prior,” Gulutzan said, “and I that hasn’t left us.”
With defensemen Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber and forward Matt Boldy winning gold medals for the U.S. and then heading to the White House during their whirlwind celebratory return, the Wild will have three key players who've been on the go the whole time. But they're young — and the experience ought to help them come playoff time, coach John Hynes said.
“When you get in those environments of high-stakes games, really it’s like three Game 7s because you have a quarterfinal, and then you have a semifinal, and then you have a medal game, and they’re all one and done,” Hynes said, as he broke down the benefits: “The preparation, understanding of how to play in those situations with that type of pressure and fanfare and knowing that one mistake could cost the game.”
___
AP Sports Writer Stephen Hawkins in Dallas contributed to this report.
Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa clarifies Kylian Mbappe situation after latest injury setback
Real Madrid booked their place in the Champions League Round of 16 after a 2-1 victory over Benfica on Wednesday, which ensured a 3-1 aggregate success in their play-off round tie.
As per Diario AS, head coach Alvaro Arbeloa gave his thoughts on the match. He explained that it was difficult for his side in the opening stages, but they got better as proceedings went on.
“In any game you’re not going to have it easy. You’re going to suffer, it’s the best competition in Europe. They pressed us, it was difficult for us to get out, there was space at the back and we didn’t take advantage of it. Until we corrected that a little after half time, and that’s when we did better. We went from strength to strength.”
Arbeloa: Tchouameni is going to score goals for Real Madrid
Arbeloa was pleased with the performance of Aurelien Tchouameni, who scored Real Madrid’s equaliser on the night.
“Tchouameni’s goal was very important. We’ve talked about it a lot these days, he’s at a spectacular level. If he was able to accompany, he was going to score goals. It’s the first of many he’s going to score, I hope.”
Vinicius “must be our leader and our reference” – Arbeloa
Arbeloa also heaped praise on Vinicius Junior, who scored once again.
“He played a great game, very unbalanced, scoring goals, creating danger. He has a lot of MVPs at home so it is good for Tchouameni to get this one – he does the dirty work that is usually not recognised much. When Mbappe was there we already needed him, and now that he is not, we need him much more. He must be our leader and our reference. We have seen that he can make a difference.”
Image via Angel Martinez/Getty Images
Arbeloa clarifies Asencio, Mbappe injury cases
Raul Asencio was forced off in the second half after taking a blow to his head, and Arbeloa has confirmed that the Real Madrid defender has gone to hospital. However, he does not believe the issue to be serious.
“It looks like something with the neck, it doesn’t seem serious. He has gone to the hospital, hopefully it is just a scare. The blow has been tremendous, our stomachs have shrunk. But it looks like it’s going to be nothing.”
Arbeloa also explained the situation with Kylian Mbappe, who dropped out of the squad to face Benfica at the last minute.
“I can’t say the difference between discomfort and injury. The best thing was to stop and recover. He can’t play. We hope he will be back in a few days or weeks.”
AS Monaco bow out with their heads held high against Paris Saint-Germain
Delivering a performance full of courage and once again reduced to 10 men in the second half, the Red and Whites stood up to PSG in the Champions League play-off return leg and exit the competition with their heads held high (2-2).
The upset was within reach. Ahead at half time, the AS Monaco players – later reduced to 10 men around the hour mark and then trailing – kept believing until the very end as they stood up to PSG, the reigning Champions League holders (2–2). A cruel elimination in the playoffs that should not overshadow the courage-filled performance of the Rouge et Blanc. Match report. ✍️
The context 📅
Beaten 2-3 in the first leg at the Stade Louis-II after playing with a numerical disadvantage for 45 minutes, the Rouge et Blanc still had every chance in this Champions League playoff against PSG. But to do so, they needed to deliver a complete performance and overturn a statistic provided by Opta, which stated that, since the away goals rule was abolished, 92% of teams that won the first leg away from home have gone on to qualify.
We’ll have to play our game while taking every factor into account, even if we shouldn’t overthink things. Above all, we’ll try to stick to the game plan we want to implement tomorrow and approach it with a mindset focused on pushing toward an outcome that keeps all hopes alive, and obviously, the earlier in the match, the better.
The lineup 👥
For the second leg, Sébastien Pocognoli lined his team up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, as Maghnes Akliouche returned to the starting XI behind Folarin Balogun and alongside Mamadou Coulibaly. Aladji Bamba, who impressed off the bench in Lens, started in midfield with Lamine Camara. Meanwhile, Denis Zakaria was once again deployed in central defence, alongside Wout Faes and Thilo Kehrer, who was absent last week.
The scenario 🎞
Backed by nearly 1,500 Monaco supporters in the away end, the Rouge et Blanc made a strong start as a Wout Faes effort went just wide (5′). DDominant and present in every duel, they then came close to opening the scoring through Mamadou Coulibaly, but his effort from six yards sailed over the bar (9’). Shortly after, a header from Thilo Kehrer also skimmed past Matvei Safonov’s post (11’).
Effective pressing from Monaco
Having applied intense pressure in PSG’s half, as shown by the five ball recoveries in the attacking third in the opening half-hour, the club from the Rock carved out another chance through Lamine Camara, whose long-range strike was saved by PSG’s Russian goalkeeper (30’). The two sides then went blow for blow: first Folarin Balogun forced Safonov into a fingertip save (38’), before Bradley Barcola saw his effort crash against the crossbar (41’).
A perfect 24th birthday for Maghnes
As the match was heading toward a goalless half time, Mamadou Coulibaly played a clever pass into the box for Maghnes Akliouche to finish with the help of the post on his 24th birthday (0–1). A #MadeInLaDiagonale goal that level the score in the playoff!
Right after the restart, PSG threatened through João Neves, whose dinked header was pushed away for a corner by Philipp Köhn (50′). Unfortunately, the Monégasques were once again reduced to 10 men after Mamadou received a second yellow (59′).
A terrible seven minutes
The situation turned disastrous, especially as Monaco conceded an equaliser in the very next play via Marquinhos (1-1, 61′), then fell behind when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia doubled PSG’s aggregate lead from close range (2-1, 66′). Sébastien Pocognoli then maked a triple substitution, which saw Christian Mawissa return to action (74′). PSG subsequently dominated possession, and it took a superb save from Philipp to stop a powerful Désiré Doué shot (78′).
An almost miraculous feat
The Red and Whites absorbed the pressure and then broke on the counter through Simon Adingra, who found Jordan Teze to score the equaliser (2-2, 91′). An equaliser was possible in stoppage time, and from a final free kick from Lamine Camara, Wout Faes’ header narrowly missed the target (94′).
Frustratingly, the referee blew the final whistle shortly afterwards to confirm the draw on the night (2-2), meaning a cruel elimination for AS Monaco in this Champions League play-off. Now, attention turns to the 24th matchday of Ligue 1 and the home game against Angers on Saturday (19:00) at Stade Louis-II.
The highlights 🎥
5′: Faes’ attempt went wide of Safonov’s goal
9′: Coulibaly’s shot from six yards goes over the bar
11′: Kehrer’s angled header goes left of the post
30′: Camara’s long-range strike saved by Safonov
31′: Doué’s powerful shot from the edge of the box sails well over
38′: Balogun forces Safonov into a fingertip save from a lob
41′: Barcola hits the crossbar45′: Akliouche opens the scoring with a left-footed shot off the post (0-1)50′: Köhn turns away Neves’ dinked header for a corner61′: Marquinhos scores the equaliser from close range (1-1)
66′: Kvaratskhelia scores from close range after Köhn’s save (2-1)78′: Köhn makes a near-post save from Doué91′: Teze converts Adingra’s cross to equalize (2-2)94′: Faes narrowly misses a header from Camara’s cross
The stat 📊
Maghnes Akliouche has been involved in four goals in 10 Champions League matches this season (1 goal, 3 assists), matching his output in the same number of appearances last season (2 goals, 2 assists). At 24, the Monaco player becomes the first player for a French club to score on his birthday in the Champions League since Ángel Di María (who scored twice at 29) and Edinson Cavani (30) for PSG on February 14, 2017, against Barcelona.
🗓️ The match sheet:
Wednesday 25 February 2026 (21:00) – Parc des Princes
Champions League – Second leg play-off: PSG 2-2 AS Monaco
Half time: 0-1
Goals: Marquinhos (61′), Kvaratskhelia (66′) for PSG; Akliouche (45′), Teze (91′) for AS Monaco
Yellow cards: Zakaria (24′), Vanderson (48′), Coulibaly (55′), (59′) for AS Monaco
10-man Monaco fall short as PSG clinch Round of 16 spot in Champions League thriller
Paris Saint-Germain secured their place in the Champions League last 16 after a 2-2 draw with AS Monaco in the second leg of their playoff tie.
Holding an aggregate advantage from the first leg, PSG did enough over the two matches to progress despite being pushed hard at the Parc des Princes.
Monaco began with intent and were rewarded just before the break.
Mamadou Coulibaly slipped a precise pass into the path of Maghnes Akliouche, who finished first time into the bottom corner via the post to give the visitors the lead on the night.
The goal levelled the tie’s momentum and underlined Monaco’s positive approach.
PSG had threatened earlier through Bradley Barcola, whose effort struck the crossbar from a tight angle, but the hosts struggled to impose sustained control in the opening half.
The turning point arrived shortly before the hour mark.
Coulibaly, already on a booking, was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge on Achraf Hakimi, reducing Monaco to ten men.
PSG capitalised almost immediately.
Desire Doue advanced down the right and delivered a low cross that was turned home by Marquinhos from close range to restore parity on the night.
With the extra man advantage, the holders began to dominate territory and possession.
Their pressure told again in the 66th minute.
Hakimi’s powerful effort was parried by Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Kohn, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia reacted quickest to convert the rebound from inside the box.
At 2-1 on the night, PSG looked in control of both the match and the tie.
Monaco, however, refused to fade completely.
Deep into stoppage time, Jordan Teze collected a loose ball in the area and fired into the bottom corner to make it 2-2.
The late equaliser added drama but did not alter the outcome.
PSG’s aggregate lead remained intact, ensuring their qualification for the knockout stages for a 14th consecutive season.
The performance showed Monaco’s resilience, particularly before the red card shifted the balance.
It was a professional if imperfect evening for PSG, as they managed the key moments required to progress.
The holders now await their next opponents in the last 16, with the ambition of defending their European crown still firmly alive.
Victor Osimhen: Benni McCarthy reveals why United snubbed Galatasaray ace
Manchester United were briefly linked with a move for Victor Osimhen in the past, but the transfer never materialised. The Red Devils were looking to address their No. 9 position under former manager Erik ten Hag when the Nigerian was running riot at Napoli.
Osimhen spent parts of his career at Wolfsburg and Lille, but it was at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium that he became a household name. The Nigerian scored 31 goals in 39 games across competitions in the 2022/23 campaign, helping the Partenopei lift the Serie A title.
United were in the market for a new striker in the summer of 2023 and Osimhen was identified as an option. However, the Red Devils opted against a move for the 27 year old and signed Rasmus Hojlund instead from Atalanta.
Former United striker coach Benni McCarthy, who spent two years at Old Trafford from the summer of 2022, has now shed light on the club’s decision to snub the Nigerian.
AFCON concerns
Speaking to Newsday on the BBC World Service, McCarthy insisted that AFCON played a key role in the Premier League giants’ decision not to pursue Osimhen. He said: “If you spend £100m on a player, you don’t want to lose him for AFCON. I think he would have been very successful there. But it [AFCON] was a big stumbling block.”
“Losing him for so many important matches, the team suffers not having the main striker there. So the decision was made. Literally [a] big part was because of the AFCON and Victor Osimhen’s name got scratched off – not a player of interest because of that.”
Osimhen stayed at Napoli for another season, and joined Galatasaray initially on loan in 2024 before the move was made permanent last summer. This season, the Nigerian has scored 15 goals and set up five more in 23 appearances in all competitions.
Hojlund, meanwhile, failed to live up to expectations at Old Trafford and was offloaded last summer on loan to Napoli, who have an option to sign him permanently at the end of this season.
Osimhen could have been a hit at Old Trafford
McCarthy insisted that Osimhen had all the qualities to be a hit at the Theatre of Dreams, adding: “He scores goals, he works exceptionally hard, and he’s a player [who is] immune to the noise.”
“Playing for Man Utd won’t have a lot of effect on him because of what the boy has gone through [in] his life. Where he comes from, he’s seen way worse than this. Him not scoring for five games in a row won’t affect him. He’ll just keep going on because he knows what struggle is about.”
“[It] made me kind of sad as well because, my whole career, I fought to represent my country because I’m African.”
United signed Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig last summer in a bid to strengthen the position once again. The Slovenian has been in impressive form since the turn of the year, and has scored eight goals from 24 games in all competitions this season.
Final Thoughts
United have lacked a potent goalscorer like Osimhen for a while, and the Nigerian could certainly have been a superb addition to their squad. However, that ship has sailed and if recent signs are any indication, Sesko could finally be the No. 9 the Red Devils have craved.
Batters, pitchers and catchers will be able to challenge the umpire’s calls of balls and strikes this season using the Automated Ball-Strike system, and one of the pitchers best positioned to take advantage of the new rules is none other than Los Angeles Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
And in 2025, Yamamoto was among the league leaders in that category, tying for fourth place.
Both Yamamoto and Logan Webb of the San Francisco Giants had 15 such pitches, behind the Athletics’ Luis Severino with 22, the Milwaukee Brewers’ Quinn Priester with 17 and the Tampa Bay Ray’s Zack Littell with 16.
It’s possible, of course, that these incorrectly called balls will be countered by incorrectly called strikes.
Oct 31, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays in the second inning during game six of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Why Do Umpires Struggle With High Fastballs?
The Athletic asked Cincinnati Reds pitcher Hunter Greene, who’s noticed that high fastballs are less likely to be called strikes.
“A lot of umpires have issues with high-velocity throwers, like they’ll move (flinch) and that will (mess) up their pitch calling,” Greene said. “It’s been like that for a long time.”
Will ABS Change How Yamamoto Plays?
Some pitchers told The Athletic they’re waiting to see if any adjustments will be necessary due to the addition of ABS, while others said they’re expecting to work the top corners of the zone more, knowing that they can remedy incorrect calls.
Yamamoto, the reigning World Series MVP, probably won’t want to change too much, as he has far more to lose than to gain.
That said, if he wants to win the Cy Young Award as the National League’s best pitcher, he might need a little extra beyond just his unconventional warmups.
A few challenges turning called balls into high strikes could be the difference between strikeouts and hits, and between stranded runners and earned runs.
What do you think? Should Yamamoto adjust at all given the addition of ABS? Let us know in the comments.
"I want to see him take it and run with it," Swinney said Feb. 25 during a news conference before the beginning of spring practice. "... He's been working toward this but really want to see him take command of the offense."
After spending three seasons as Cade Klubnik's backup, Vizzina is in the "pole position," Swinney said, meaning he is the frontrunner to be Clemson's starting quarterback in 2026.
Vizzina, a redshirt junior, will have to beat out Chris Denson, Trent Pearman and signees Brock Bradley and Tait Reynolds.
In 14 games and one start, Vizzina has completed 61% of his passes for 596 yards with four touchdowns and one interception and has rushed for 109 yards over 38 attempts. In his lone start in 2025, Vizzina completed 69% of his passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-24 loss to SMU.
If Vizzina isn't Clemson's starter, Swinney is confident in the rest of his quarterbacks despite all combining for no starts. He doubled down on his optimism this offseason as Clemson did not pursue a transfer quarterback.
"We got a very dynamic, athletic group," Swinney said. "We got five guys that I believe can play quarterback at this level. We ain't always had that."
Swinney said quarterbacks won't be "live" this spring, meaning they won't be hit by defenders. Still, he added Clemson will create situations in practice to have a "sense of reality" for true game action.
All will have to learn new offensive coordinator Chad Morris' offense, too. He was hired as Clemson's offensive coordinator again in January to replace Garrett Riley, who was fired after three seasons. Morris last served as the team's offensive coordinator from 2011-14.
Is Tristan Smith practicing with Clemson during NCAA eligibility lawsuit?
Swinney said wide receiver Tristan Smith is allowed to practice fully with Clemson during his eligibility lawsuit against the NCAA.
"Hopefully, it'll go his way, especially when you look around the country and you see some of the decisions that get made compared to his situation," Swinney said. "We'll just have to go through the process."
Smith filed a lawsuit against the NCAA on Jan. 21 to gain an extra year of eligibility. The judge requested a formal hearing, but the dates were moved from Feb. 3 to March 31 to now June 8.
Swinney said if Smith's lawsuit isn't successful, the wideout can enter the NFL Supplemental Draft or join Clemson's "Tiger Trust" program to graduate and train as a student-coach for the 2027 NFL Draft.
Smith transferred to Clemson in 2025, recording 24 catches for 239 yards and one touchdown in 13 games and four starts.
Swinney announced starting tight end Olsen Patt-Henry and Collin Sadler both will be out for all of spring practice. Patt-Henry suffered a patella tendon injury against Furman last season that required surgery, and Sadler had shoulder surgery before the Pinstripe Bowl.
Other than those two players, everyone will be available to fully practice or be limited. Among those is wide receiver Bryant Wesco Jr., who suffered a neck/back injury against SMU in October. Swinney said Wesco, who recorded 31 catches for 537 yards and one touchdown in 2025, will participate in everything except for live contact.
Some Clemson players are battling injuries but not long-term ones. Those include: linebacker Sammy Brown (wrist), cornerback Corian Gipson (hand), offensive linemen Brayden Jacobs (foot) and Elyjah Thurmon (shoulder), defensive linemen Makhi Williams-Lee (undisclosed) and Amare Adams (lower leg), and wide receivers T.J. Moore (lower body) and Cole Turner (lower body).
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at DCarter@usatodayco.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
Bianconeri beat Galatasaray but bow out of Champions League
The Juventus Men’s First Team put in a brave and commendable performance on the pitch against Galatasaray to win 3-2 on the night, but it wasn't enough to secure a place in the next round of the Champions League as it was a 5-7 aggregate defeat.
Having gone down to ten players at the start of the second half, the Bianconeri still managed to take the game into extra time. However, two goals in extra time for the Turkish side saw the match end 3-2, bringing the Bianconeri's European adventure to an end.
THE MATCH REPORT
At the Allianz Stadium, Juventus approached the match against Galatasaray with bravery, pace and great attacking intent, taking control of the game from the very first minutes. The Bianconeri got off to a flying start, as Kenan Yildiz sent a precise cross into the box, where Federico Gatti rose at just the right moment, but the header went just wide. In the 10th minute, another cross, this time from the right, created danger. Chico Conceicao sent in an inviting ball which Teun Koopmeiners pounced on but failed to find the target. The Bianconeri's pressure did not let up as the minutes passed. In the 22nd minute, Manuel Locatelli tried to surprise the Gala defence with a shot from distance, but the visiting goalkeeper deflected it for a corner. From the resulting corner, Conceicao attempted a left-footed curler towards the far post, but it went just wide.
On the half-hour mark, Yildiz took matters into his own hands inside the box, skipped past a man and shot towards the near post, and the deflection almost fooled Ugurcan Cakir, who managed to stretch out and deny Luciano Spalletti's side the lead. However, a goal was clearly on the way and it arrived in the 37th minute. Khephren Thuram was brought down in the penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot: Locatelli stepped up and coolly beat the visiting goalkeeper to make it 1-0, sending the Allianz Stadium into raptures. It was a deserved half-time lead for Juventus.
The second half began with a shock as Lloyd Kelly was sent off, forcing Juventus to play the entire second half with ten players. However, the momentum of the match remained unchanged as Juventus continued to dominate. In the 55th minute, Yildiz once again set the Allianz Stadium alight with a sensational slalom run: he accelerated, skipped past several opponents and burst into the penalty area, but his shot was deflected wide at the last moment. Eight minutes later, Locatelli delivered a precise free kick for Gatti's header, but it went just over the bar.
The second goal came in the 70th minute and was a deserved reward for Juventus' pressure: Pierre Kalulu's shot-cross crossed the box, and Gatti pounced again at the far post to make it 2-0 with great determination. Juventus continued to push forward. In the 77th minute, Thuram slipped into the box, taking advantage of a favourable bounce, and tried a lob, but the ball went over the bar. Two minutes later, Yildiz met Jeremie Boga's cross with a diving header and hit the post, just missing out on a third goal. In the 82nd minute, Juventus scored their third goal, as Koopmeiners cleverly flicked the ball on to Weston McKennie, who, from two yards out, slotted home to make it 3-0, a goal that brought the tie back to level terms on aggregate.. After ninety minutes of high intensity and entertainment, the match went into extra time.
The first half of extra time began with a huge chance for Edon Zhegrova, who, after receiving a pass from McKennie, who in turn had been set up by Boga, had the opportunity to make it 4-0 with his left, but he failed to find the post to Cakir's right. Just as the first quarter of an hour seemed to be coming to an end, Galatasaray scored through Victor Osimhen. Zhegrova came close to scoring again at the start of the second half of extra time, but his left-footed shot was saved by Cakir and fell to Filip Kostic, who volleyed over the bar. With one minute to go, Galatasaray scored again, this time through Baris Yilmaz. That was the end of a great performance by Juventus, but it was not enough to keep them in Europe.
The Falcons have informed wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge that they are releasing him, according to Jordan Schultz of The Schultz Report.
Hodge went on injured reserve in December with a shoulder injury.
In 12 games last season, Hodge totaled three receptions for 31 yards on offense and nine tackles on special teams. He played 10 percent of the Falcons' offensive snaps and 72 percent of the special teams snaps in the games he played.
Hodge earned Pro Bowl honors in 2024 for his special teams play.
He spent four seasons with the Falcons after one season with the Rams (2018), two with the Browns (2019-20) and one with the Lions (2021).
Finding value in the MLB Rookie of the Year market is a tricky game.
Teams are incentivized to start their best rookies on the Opening Day roster (bonus draft pick if that player wins the award after spending the whole season in MLB), but that hasn't had a 100% success rate.
The most highly-touted rookies, such as Trey Yesavage and Konnor Griffin, have seen their price tags shorten, and they aren't as appealing.
I'm looking further down the MLB odds board for my AL and NL Rookie of the Year predictions as spring training continues.
Projecting Rookie of the Year is the most daunting of the MLB awards. And for that reason, I tend to shy away from it during preseason except for some speculative long-shot wagers. When Paul Skenes won in 2024, I waited until after his first start. His odds got longer because he only went four innings, and perhaps some doubt emerged. He put that to rest pretty quickly.
Obviously, there's risk here, too. If Skenes shoved in his first start, then I would never have gotten that value boost. It's why I'm holding off on pulling the trigger on Konnor Griffin. He smoked two home runs in a spring game this week, which may explain why he's now the betting favorite in the NL, but there is still some risk that he gets sent to the minors to start the season. I would rather risk it and grab him at better odds or not bet him at all.
Your inclination may be to target players who are locks or almost locks to make their team's Opening Day roster. But sportsbooks aren't offering great numbers there. For as good as Trey Yesavage was in the postseason, I don't want to bet on him at +370 after he pitched more innings than he ever had before. So, for now, I try to make educated long-shot dart throws.
Bet
Odds
Bet date
Units
Bubba Chandler
+1400
February 25
0.25
Chase DeLauter
+2000
February 25
0.25
Bubba Chandler wasn't as highly touted as Skenes, but he wasn't super far off, either. He posted a 1.83 ERA over his first 39 1/3 innings at Triple-A in 2024. Those numbers took a bit of a dive last season, but his first taste of MLB hitting went pretty well. The 4.02 ERA wasn't amazing, but he had a low walk rate, didn't surrender home runs, and had a 2.66 FIP that suggests at least some positive regression.
With Griffin taking all the headlines at Pittsburgh Pirates camp, it's perhaps easy to forget that Chandler likely has a rotation spot on Opening Day unless things go all the way sideways this spring. His ace upside is enough to take a flier here.
Chase DeLauter is currently projected to open the season in the Cleveland Guardians outfield. Injuries have slowed his progression a bit, but he is a dangerous hitter, which is exactly what Cleveland needs. He doesn't strike out (15.8% K-rate in 42 minor-league games last year) and has major home run potential from the left side.
Players I'm keeping an eye on throughout spring training: Carson Benge (Mets), Andrew Painter (Phillies), Joe Mack (Marlins), Robby Snelling (Marlins).
Benge and Painter could crack their respective Opening Day rosters, which makes their current prices pretty appealing. Painter isn't far removed from Tommy John surgery, though, and the Phillies may take it slowly with him, meaning we could get a better number if we wait.
Although all players have an equal chance of winning the AL Rookie of the Year Award, the honor has been claimed disproportionately by outfielders since its inception in 1949. Outfielders have 24 victories compared to 17 for pitchers and 17 for shortstops. Catchers are bringing up the rear with just two ROY victories over the past 73 years.
No franchise has won more Rookie of the Year awards than the Dodgers. "The Blue Crew" have claimed 18 RoY trophies dating back to the club's early days in Brooklyn.
However, unlike the AL — where the West has been the recent home of the top rookies — the NL East has housed six of the last 13 RoYs, with a mix of outfielders, infielders, starting pitchers, a catcher, and even a reliever.
When last year's Champions League finalists Inter Milan were knocked out by Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday, it seemed as if Italian football was on the brink of making unwanted history.
With Atalanta trailing by two goals and Juventus three down after their first-leg ties, there was a real possibility of a Champions League last 16 without any Italian clubs for the first time since 1987-88, when the competition was still the European Cup.
But, while Juventus ultimately came up short despite an impressive fightback against Galatasaray, Atalanta have become the somewhat unlikely saviours of Italian football in the Champions League.
Trailing 2-0 to Borussia Dortmund from the first leg of their knockout phase play-off tie, they scored three goals in 57 minutes - before converting a dramatic last-second penalty after Karim Adeyemi's goal had looked to have forced extra time.
"Everyone had written us off," said Atalanta defender Davide Zappacosta.
"This match showed once again how strong this group is - we always believe and we never give up."
Why Atalanta's progress is important for Italian football
Atalanta are Italy's only representative in the Champions League last 16 [AFP via Getty Images]
Since the reintroduction of the last-16 knockout round to Europe's showpiece competition in 2003-04, there has always been at least one Italian representative.
Not since 1987-88, when Napoli went out in the first round of the European Cup to Real Madrid, has Serie A had no teams in the last 16 of the competition - or first knockout round when it took other formats.
After Inter's exit on Tuesday, many Italian football experts were labelling it a disaster for the sport in their country.
"It is a piece of history," said journalist Vincenzo Credendino. "Speaking about Italy and Inter, this is one of the worst pieces."
Another Italian football journalist, Daniele Verri, said all three sides failing to make the knockouts would have been a "complete debacle, a disaster for our clubs".
Atalanta's progress - and the manner in which they battled through - at least provides hope, although it doesn't get easier for them in the last 16, with either Arsenal or Bayern Munich awaiting.
But against Dortmund, they showed the kind of self-belief that will stand them in good stead against either the Premier League or Bundesliga leaders.
"Now Atalanta are the darlings of Italian football," former West Brom and Aston Villa defender Curtis Davies said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
European football expert James Horncastle added: "They're sort of Serie A's Bodo/Glimt in many respects.
"They were a yo-yo club until about eight years ago and we've not only seen them win a European trophy and reach three Coppa Italia finals but really establish themselves in the Champions League."
Football journalist Nicky Bandini described Atalanta's comeback win as "significant" for Italian football, adding: "I think there would be more of a feelgood factor that carries over for a team like Atalanta than there would be for Juventus or for Inter because they haven't been traditionally one of the big teams of Italian football."
'A dream come true' - how Atalanta defied the odds
Atalanta won the Europa League in 2024 [AFP via Getty Images]
While Inter and Juventus have a rich and successful history in Europe's premier club competition - they have won five European Cups/Champions League titles between them - Atalanta are relative minnows by comparison.
They first played in the competition in 2019 and have reached the last 16 twice before, with their best run being to the quarter-finals on their debut.
They did win the Europa League in 2024 but in their past two Champions League appearances, have failed to make the knockouts.
The Italians had never before overturned a two-goal first-leg deficit, underlining the difficulty of the task they faced against Dortmund.
But the showed great spirit and desire, even after the disappointment of Adeyemi's goal leveling up the tie after Atalanta had worked so hard to go from 2-0 down to 3-2 up on aggregate.
"It's an unforgettable night, a dream come true," Atalanta coach Raffaele Palladino said.
"We put everything into this performance: heart, soul, spirit and courage. We played an Atalanta-style match, and that's why we're so happy with what we achieved."
Atalanta captain Marten de Roon added: "We knew we had to play the perfect match and we did.
"We suffered when we had to, attacked when we had to, and in the end the result is deserved."
Colorado Avalanche forward Brock Nelson was among five members of the U.S. men’s hockey team to skip a trip to the White House and President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, according to multiple reports.
Trump invited the team after its 2-1 overtime win over Canada on Feb. 22 in the gold medal game of the Olympics in Milan, Italy. Twenty of the 25 players went to Washington, and Trump honored them during his address.
Nelson was back in Colorado on Feb. 24 — alongside three Avs teammates who played for Canada in the gold medal game, the Denver Post reported. Nelson came back to spend time with his family, the social media post said.
Trump’s invitation triggered backlash against the team, as many players appeared to laugh at Trump’s joke that he would have to invite the women’s team as well or risk being impeached. The women won their gold medal on Feb. 19, also by beating Canada 2-1 in overtime.
Trump invited the women’s team after inviting the men, but the women’s team declined the invitation.
Which US men’s hockey players did not go to Washington?
In addition to Nelson, four players skipped both a tour of the White House and the State of the Union:
Three more players — Auston Matthews, Clayton Keller and Dylan Larkin — were in Washington but were not seen at the address.
Why did the US women’s hockey team decline a trip to the White House?
Officially, the team declined because of logistical issues.
“We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal-winning U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,” a team spokesperson told USA TODAY. “Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate. They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.”
Unfortunately, it appears it's also going to force Reed to go under the knife. PWInsider reports that Reed was immediately sent to Birmingham, Alabama following "Raw" this week, with the idea that he would get surgery to repair his torn biceps as soon as possible. The travel was fortunately not too long for Reed, as "Raw" took place in Atlanta, Georgia, meaning the Vision member only needed to drive a couple of hours for his evaluation.
It's unclear whether Reed has had the surgery by now, or if he was merely evaluated upon arriving in Birmingham, with the surgery set to occur later. Regardless, Reed will still have to miss significant time. No date has been set for when Reed can return to the ring, though a biceps injury typically takes between 3 to 9 months to heal, depending on the severity of the tear.
The injury forced WWE to make changes on the fly, as Reed was originally scheduled to win his Elimination Chamber qualifying match against Jey Uso and Original El Grande Americano, thus putting him in the Men's Chamber match this weekend. In addition, Reed was also penciled in for a match at WrestleMania 42 in April, though it's unclear who he would've been wrestling.
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 18: Ryan Weathers #40 of the New York Yankees looks on during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 18, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As we continue on with spring training, it’s time for a little night baseball. Tonight, the Yankees will welcome the Nationals into Steinbrenner Field, which will feature our first look at one of the newest members of the Bronx Bombers.
Tonight, Ryan Weathers will take the mound for his first appearance as a Yankees. The team acquired him in a trade from the Marlins over the offseason, and he seems mostly slated to be a depth arm, who could appear as a starter or out of the bullpen (more likely the former than the latter, at least to begin 2026). However at 25 years old, he’s still young enough that there’s hope he could develop into something intriguing.
After loading up yesterday’s lineup, this one has fewer expected regulars. Amed Rosario, Jasson Domínguez, and Ben Rice make up the top third of the order, and even the middle one of those three has some questions about his Opening Day roster status. Besides that, we will get a look at prospect George Lombard Jr. tonight.
CJ Abrams and Dylan Crews are the big names in the Nats’ lineup tonight, while Andrew Alvarez will take the mound for them.
We hope that you’ll come join us in the game thread for tonight’s matchup, and here’s everything you need to know on how to catch the action.
How to watch
Location: George M. Steinbrenner Field — Tampa, FL
This was always going to be practically impossible to turn around the 5-2 first leg defeat in Istanbul, even more so after Lloyd Kelly was sent off in the 48th minute with Juve 1-0 up on the night from a Locatelli penalty.
Nonetheless, they forced extra time with Federico Gatti and Weston McKennie goals, had a big chance to win it with Edon Zhegrova, then ultimately the extra man was felt with two late Victor Osimhen and Baris Alper Yilmaz strikes.
Locatelli so proud of Juventus effort
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Manuel Locatelli (2nd R) of Juventus FC takes a penalty kick to score his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
Galatasaray enter the Champions League Round of 16, winning 7-5 on aggregate, but the Allianz Juventus Stadium crowd applauded their team’s truly heroic efforts down to 10 men for over an hour.
“We put our heart and soul into this game, even more than that. An incident made it all more complicated in the first leg, but today I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart.
“The atmosphere in the stadium was incredible, these are nights that stay with you. We soaked up the energy from them that we needed.”
Juve had been criticised for lacking a fighting spirit this season, but that could not be an accusation levelled at them this evening, coming so close to an incredible turnaround.
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Manuel Locatelli of Juventus FC celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
“We gave our heart and soul. I always ask the players to do that, and tonight we really did, so this is what we’ve got to carry with us going forward,” added Locatelli.
“This is the Juventus we wanted to see, and the one we must always be. We need to always try to play at this level. We are on the right track and mustn’t lose that believe.”
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Khephren Thuram of Juventus FC reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
There were some big chances that went begging tonight, and Khephren Thuram was in tears on the touchline after McKennie equalised on aggregate.
“I think we can only compliment the players tonight for their efforts, mistakes can happen. Now we’ve got another important game coming up against Roma and must focus on that.”
The end of January was crunch time in the UEFA Champions League as teams battled it out for a place in the knockouts.
Heading into the final matchday of the league phase, only a handful of sides had been eliminated from contention for at least a spot in the knockout-stage playoff round.
With all games kicking off at the same time on matchday eight, it promised to be a frenetic ending to the first phase of the 2025/26 tournament. And, boy, it did not disappoint.
With the knockout playoffs having concluded on Wednesday, we now know which teams will compete from the Round of 16 onwards.
Here is a run-down of how things look in terms of teams qualifying for knockout-stage proper.
The top eight from the league phase qualified automatically for the Round of 16, and they are joined by the eight winners of the knockout playoffs.
It's an extremely coveted position as those sides not only avoid the peril of a playoff matchup but are also seeded in the Round of 16 draw, so they will be partnered with an opponent that finished lower in the table.
Seeded teams in bold
Team
Nation
How they qualified
Arsenal
England
1st place in league phase
Bayern Munich
Germany
2nd place in league phase
Liverpool
England
3rd place in league phase
Tottenham Hotspur
England
4th place in league phase
Barcelona
Spain
5th place in league phase
Chelsea
England
6th place in league phase
Sporting CP
Portugal
7th place in league phase
Manchester City
England
8th place in league phase
Real Madrid
Spain
9th in league phase; def. Benfica in playoffs
Paris Saint-Germain
France
11th in league phase; def. Monaco in playoffs
Newcastle United
England
12th in league phase; def. Qarabag in playoffs
Atletico Madrid
Spain
14th in league phase; def. Club Brugge in playoffs
Atalanta
Italy
15th in league phase; def. Borussia Dortmund in playoffs
Bayer Leverkusen
Germany
16th in league phase; def. Olympiacos in playoffs
Galatasaray
Turkey
20th in league phase; def. Juventus in playoffs
Bodo/Glimt
Norway
23rd in league phase; def. Inter Milan in playoffs
Champions League league phase 2025/26 final standings
9. Real Madrid 10. Inter Milan 11. Paris Saint-Germain 12. Newcastle United 13. Juventus 14. Atletico Madrid 15. Atalanta 16. Bayer Leverkusen 17. Borussia Dortmund 18. Olympiacos 19. Club Brugge 20. Galatasaray 21. Monaco 22. Qarabag 23. Bodo/Glimt 24. Benfica
Eliminated from Champions League:
25. Marseille 26. Pafos 27. Union Saint-Gilloise 28. PSV 29. Athletic Club 30. Napoli 31. Copenhagen 32. Ajax 33. Eintracht Frankfurt 34. Slavia Prague 35. Villarreal 36. Kairat
Teams in Champions League Round of 16 and knockout playoffs
After matchday seven in 2025/26, Arsenal and Bayern Munich were the only teams to have mathematically guaranteed a bye to the Round of 16. The remaining six saw their spots confirmed on January 28.
Teams qualified for Champions League Round of 16
Pos.
Club
Nation
1.
Arsenal
England
2.
Bayern Munich
Germany
3.
Liverpool
England
4.
Tottenham
England
5.
Barcelona
Spain
6.
Chelsea
England
7.
Sporting CP
Portugal
8.
Manchester City
England
Teams qualified for Champions League knockout playoffs
Below the top eight Round of 16 byes, the next 16 clubs qualify to the knockout-round playoffs.
Positions 9-16 were seeded in the playoff-round draw and had the preferred second-leg home match, while positions 17-24 were unseeded.
Teams in Champions League knockout playoffs 2025/26
Pos.
Club
Nation
9.
Real Madrid
Spain
10.
Inter Milan
Italy
11.
PSG
France
12.
Newcastle
England
13.
Juventus
Italy
14.
Atletico Madrid
Spain
15.
Atalanta
Italy
16.
Bayer Leverkusen
Germany
17.
Borussia Dortmund
Germany
18.
Olympiacos
Greece
19.
Club Brugge
Belgium
20.
Galatasaray
Turkey
21.
Monaco
France
22.
Qarabag
Azerbaijan
23.
Bodo/Glimt
Norway
24.
Benfica
Portugal
Teams eliminated from Champions League 2025/26
On matchweek seven, only four teams had their interest in the competition completely ended, meaning 30 of the 36 competitors still had something at stake on January 28.
Teams eliminated from the Champions League league phase
Pos.
Club
Nation
25.
Marseille
France
26.
Pafos
Cyprus
27.
Union Saint-Gilloise
Belgium
28.
PSV
Netherlands
29.
Athletic Club
Spain
30.
Napoli
Italy
31.
Copenhagen
Denmark
32.
Ajax
Netherlands
33.
Eintracht Frankfurt
Germany
34.
Slavia Prague
Czechia
35.
Villarreal
Spain
36.
Kairat
Kazakhstan
When are the Champions League knockout playoffs 2025/26?
The first legs of the playoff matches took place over February 17-18, 2026. The return legs were a week later over February 24-25.
When are Champions League Round of 16 games 2025/26?
The Round of 16 games will be played over March 10-11, and March 17-18.
GREEN BAY – Green Bay Press-Gazette/PackersNews reporter Ryan Wood grades every Packers player following each season.
The painstaking process includes charting every play for each player. The 11-part series by position group concluded Feb. 23.
We took a look at the 36 players who had complete grades in both of the past two seasons to find out who improved, who declined and who basically performed at the same level.
Here is a breakdown of those 36 players:
Jordan Morgan made the biggest leap in grades
Second-year offensive lineman Jordan Morgan improved the most, according to the grading system, going from an F in 2024, his rookie season, to a C+ in 2025.
Morgan got snaps at four of the five offensive line positions last season.
Wrote Wood: “A lot of turbulence for a player franchise made premium investment to acquire with 25th overall pick in 2024. An expectedly mixed bag in production, but played better than instability might indicate.”
Other notable increases:
Safety Evan Williams went from C+ to A-
Safety Javon Bullard went from C to B
Long snapper Matt Orzech went from C to B
Brandon McManus had the biggest drop in grades
Kicker Brandon McManus, in his second season in Green Bay, had the largest decrease in the grades, going from an A- to an F in 2025.
McManus salvaged a shipwreck of a kicking game midway through the 2024 season but was disrupted by injuries in 2025 and ultimately accounted for 7 missed points in a 4-point playoff defeat at Chicago.
Wrote Wood: “Trusted he would be forthcoming with injury and miscalculated, leading to multiple misses in return at Pittsburgh followed by misses in defeats by field-goal margin vs. Panthers and Eagles. … Ultimately missed kicks in 7 games, including 6 straight early in season.”
Other notable decreases:
Center Elgton Jenkins went from B to D
Left tackle Rasheed Walker went from B- to C-
Running back Josh Jacobs went from A- to B-
Cornerback Carrington Valentine went from C+ to D+
Here’s who got the best and worst grades
Three players received A- grades this season: safety Xavier McKinney, punter Daniel Whelan and safety Evan Williams.
McManus was the only player to receive an F. Tight end John FitzPatrick got a D-, while three had Ds: Jenkins, wide receiver Bo Melton and defensive end Arron Mosby.
Here’s a breakdown by the three phases
Of the 16 players on offense, 5 went up, 7 went down and 4 stayed the same.
Of the 17 players on defense, 7 went up, 7 went down and 3 stayed the same.
Of the 3 players on special teams, 2 went up and 1 went down.
The stars of AEW are currently in Denver, Colorado for this week's episode of "AEW Dynamite" and the taping of this weekend's episode of "AEW Collision," but one man who won't be involved in those shows is "The Mad King" Eddie Kingston.
Pro Wrestling Junkies took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to announce that Kingston, who was supposed to be doing a meet-and-greet with fans at an event this weekend has had to pull out due to medical reasons. Kingston was also supposed to host a seminar alongside his tag team partner Ortiz, but that has been temporarily postponed as Ortiz has reportedly agreed to go ahead with seminar free of charge if enough people want it to happen.
Mike Johnson of PWInsider has since confirmed that the reason for Kingston pulling out of all scheduled events for this week is due to the former ROH World Champion suffering from severe migraine headaches, and will be focusing on his health for the immediate future. Pro Wrestling Junkie have offered a full refund to those who had bought tickets for the meet-and-greet.
Kingston has been back in AEW for just over five months at the time of writing after missing 16 months of action due to a serious knee injury. He returned on the Zero Hour portion of the 2025 AEW All Out pay-per-view where he beat Big Bill, before forming a short-lived team with Hook. However, when Hook re-joined The Opps at Full Gear 2025, Kingston ended up challenging Samoa Joe for the AEW World Championship on the Winter is Coming edition of "Dynamite" in a losing effort. Since then, Kingston has reunited with Ortiz, who had also missed over a year of action due to injury, and feuded with the Grizzled Young Veterans. That rivalry came to a violent end on the February 7 episode of "Collision" where Kingston, Ortiz, and The Rascalz defeated the Grizzled Young Veterans, Bryan Keith, and the aforementioned Big Bill in a Parking Lot Fight.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 3: Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank reacts after the Falcons win in overtime against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 3, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta NWSL franchise doesn’t start league play until 2028, but that hasn’t stopped them from making history.
According to Sportico’s Kurt Badenhausen, Aflac will be the front-of-jersey sponsor on a seven-year deal worth $28 million. Atlanta NWSL have shattered a women’s sports record.
The current record-holders were the Portland Thorns with Ring that set a new record for average annual value, with Bay FC and Sutter Health follow just behind at $2.5 million per year.
The WNBA’s record is believed to belong to the Golden State Valkyries and Chase, according to Sportico.
Atlanta's NWSL won't start play until 2028, but it is already setting records. Their new seven-year front-of-jersey sponsorship deal with Aflac is worth $28M and believed to be the highest in the history of women's sports. Details 👇 via @Sportico.https://t.co/7ZM92X7ofz
On November 12, 2025 the NWSL awarded its 17th franchise to Atlanta and owner Arthur Blank, alongside AMBSE. The club will begin play in 2028 with home matches being played at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Women’s sports investment continues to pour in and skyrocket. What record will be set next?
Superstar receiver A.J. Brown and Mike Vrabel spent three years together with the Tennessee Titans. They won many games together. They came to the doorstep of the Super Bowl together. To simplify things, they went through a lot together. And when Brown was unceremoniously traded from Tennessee, the safest assumption was that Vrabel had nothing to do with it. Vrabel's own unceremonious firing by the Titans said it all.
Flash forward to the present, and a seemingly disgruntled Brown might have his days numbered as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. That's at least according to curious comments from Philadelphia head coach Nick Sirianni at the NFL Scouting Combine, who, per ESPN, was noncommittal about Brown's future with the Eagles. Given how unhappy Brown was with the Eagles' offensive operation in 2025, it's probably foolish to guarantee he will still be wearing Eagles green come September.
In other words, now is the time to spark up all of your Brown trade ideas, dearest readers. If not now, when?
Don't look now, but Vrabel's reigning AFC champion New England Patriots need a top playmaker. The coach's combine comments about his continued relationship with Brown will likely only serve as kindling for any trade rumors.
Mike Vrabel was asked about his existing relationship with A.J. Brown, who the Patriots coach drafted when he was with the Titans. The #Eagles WR recently spoke about his bond with Vrabel on the Julian Edelman-Rob Gronkowski podcast.
Honestly? Vrabel's thoughts about Brown and his habit of checking in with him now and then seem pretty harmless to me. It's very common for coaches and players who like each other to stay in touch even when they're no longer on the same team. It happens all the time. None of what Vrabel said here strikes me as a development that suggests the Patriots are about to acquire Brown from the Eagles. At least, not at face value.
Even still, hearing how Vrabel continues to be in Brown's corner is interesting from a trade perspective. If the Patriots didn't need a No. 1 receiver, it'd probably be safe to overlook Vrabel's comments entirely. But since they do, anything that he says about Brown will (understandably) be somewhat overanalyzed for the foreseeable future.
Until we get meaningful clarity about Brown's ongoing dynamic with Eagles leadership, that won't change.
The New England Patriots might be considering shifting players along the offensive line, and one possibility is moving Jared Wilson from left guard to center.
If New England decides to move Wilson from left guard, the Patriots might consider filling the left guard position with a potential free agent.
However, the Patriots should not look to the soon-to-be free agent guard Wyatt Teller.
Teller just wrapped up his eighth season in the NFL, his seventh with the Cleveland Browns, during which he played in 13 games. Once regarded as one of the top guards in the league, Teller made three Pro Bowl appearances from 2021 to 2023. It seems that his performance is starting to decline.
The 31-year-old guard experienced a setback this past season, with Pro Football Focus ranking him 40th out of 81 guards and giving him the 65th-best pass blocking grade at his position.
New England's offensive line struggled, allowing 48 sacks during the regular season, and one area of concern was left tackle Will Campbell's performance in the postseason.
The Patriots need to find a left guard who can excel in pass protection and help Campbell begin to develop his game. While Teller is a fantastic locker room presence, he may not have the same level of play he once did.
Stoke manager Mark Robins spoke to BBC Radio Stoke after their 2-1 Championship win over Oxford United.
"I'm pleased with some of the performance and the result, immensely.
"I am pleased with the way the supporters stuck by us and helped us get that result over the line.
"When there is an opponent sat in front of you with a low block or a mid block then it is really difficult to break down. We knew we had to play in a certain way, and I thought we got the balance almost spot on.
"The only disappointment for me was the defending on the set-play and we allowed them back into the game when we should have been one, two or three up by that stage.
"We were brave, took the ball in good positions, and to all intents and purposes did the right thing a lot of the time. I'm still looking for more. It isn't quite there yet, but it was enough to win the game. It was a really good three points. It is a step forward for us."
David Pack hasn’t just missed coaching, he’s missed the little things.
He never stopped thinking about them in 14 years away from Tennessee high school football. He spent most of his Friday nights during that span as a spectator. Some Fridays he’d attend two games.
This fall, he'll finally have his own team again.
Pack, who delivered CPA’s first two TSSAA football state championships in the early 2000s, was introduced as Franklin Christian Academy’s new coach in a Feb. 25 team meeting.
Several years ago, Pack was at the Opry Hotel with family when a Prevost charter bus caught his eye, reminding him of coaching road games.
“The door was open, so I walked around to the side and smelled the inside of the bus,” Pack said. “I stepped up on the steps, and I always sat in the same seat, so I eyeballed that seat. I didn’t go in there … but the smell of that diesel fuel, the smell of that bus. I stepped back and imagined 45 guys walking out of the door with pea coats and travel bags to go to a semifinal game somewhere in some foreign county. I was like, ‘Gah, how good would that be?’”
Pack, 63, set the stage for CPA’s modern football success with his Class 1A state champion teams in 2000 and 2002. He also led Ensworth girls basketball to its first state title in 2008 and spent four years as FRA’s football coach and assistant to the head of school.
Pack hasn’t coached or taught in 14 years since resigning from FRA following his 2012 arrest on a misdemeanor charge of patronizing prostitution during a Metro sting operation. Charges against Pack were later dismissed and expunged from his record.
“We are getting the best version of David Pack,” FCA athletic director Darrin Joines said in a release. “His is a story of grace and redemption, a story that we are excited to be part of at FCA.”
Pack was emotional explaining what the FCA opportunity means to him. He went into local business management after leaving football in 2012 and will continue those ventures during his time at FCA.
“The last 14 years, and the 49 years preceding it, all the great things have come out of the unseen,” Pack said. “It's been the mystery in the unknowns and the pursuit of — what's to come that you can't see?”
FCA, a small Division II-A school of 201 students, went 6-5 in its first TSSAA football season last fall just two years removed from playing eight-man football. Falcons coach KJ Jorgensen resigned in February.
The situation is similar to Pack’s start-up job at CPA, where the Lions played games at a public park and practiced in a space adjacent to a retention pond. He went 77-28 in eight seasons there.
Pack joked that his football is "current." He hasn't been completely detached from the sport.
“In some scenarios, you’re inheriting a lot and standing on the shoulders of giants who preceded you. I’ll be coaching the giants here, whose shoulders the future FCA teams will stand on,” Pack said. “And I can’t wait, really.”
Pack went 23-22 in four seasons as FRA’s football coach from (2008-11). Also during his career, he spent five seasons as an Ensworth football assistant while coaching the Tigers’ girls basketball team. He also was a football assistant and girls basketball coach at Brentwood Academy.
“His profound ability as a coach is unmistakable,” FCA Head of School Noah Brink said, “and I have every confidence that all of our programs will see greater success because of his influence.”
Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.
Oliveira (36-11 MMA, 24-11 UFC) was knocked out by Topuria in their vacant lightweight title fight at UFC 317 last June. During his title reign, Oliveira choked out Gaethje at UFC 274 but was stripped of his belt prior after missing weight.
"A fight's a fight, but my money will be on Topuria to win," Oliveira told MMA Junkie through an interpreter.
Oliveira will challenge Max Holloway (27-8 MMA, 23-8 UFC) for the BMF title when they rematch in the UFC 326 headliner March 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (Paramount+). A win could set him up for another shot at Topuria, but Oliveira is more concerned with re-gaining the belt.
"The reality is I'm not looking for rematches, I'm not looking for revenge on the guys who have fought me," Oliveira said. "I'm just looking to fight, and I want to win, and I want to be the champion. So, whoever has the belt, that's who I'm fighting. It's not specifically looking for that rematch with him."
Birmingham City manager Chris Davies said his team failed to compete with Millwall in their 3-0 defeat at The Den.
Davies told BBC Radio WM: "I said to the players that we have to hold our hands up and say we didn't deserve anything from that match. We were well below the competitiveness required when you come to a place like this, firstly to keep clean sheets and then to have a go yourself in the game.
"This is a timely reminder of how challenging this league is, and what you have to do in every single game, and we weren't good enough.
"Their tails were up but it wasn't [a case of] carving us open, a lot of it was setpieces. The first [goal] was off a long throw was a great finish to be fair, an outstanding moment of quality.
"The second was a shot off a post and a rebound. These are really sloppy mistakes from our point of view and the third was a wide free kick, so it wasn't a game where we were having massive problems generally, but when it comes to the basics, the bouncing balls and ugly side to the game, we were short and it cost us."
Clemsonbasketball continues to build momentum on the recruiting trail, and another highly regarded prospect in the 2028 class is set to get his first extended look at Tigertown.
Four-star forward Braxton Bogard will take an unofficial visit to Clemson on March 7, according to multiple recruiting outlets. Bogard is currently ranked as a top 40 national prospect in the 2028 class and is considered one of the premier forwards in his cycle.
Bogard stands 6-foot-8, 210 pounds, and plays at Archbishop Spalding High School in Severn, Maryland, a program that has produced several high-level Division I talents. His blend of size, skill, and versatility has made him a fast riser nationally, and Clemson is now firmly on his radar early in the process.
Bogard’s game is built around offensive polish and positional flexibility. Evaluators describe him as a modern forward who can score in multiple ways, featuring a smooth turnaround jumper from the post, soft touch around the rim, and enough perimeter skill to play facing the basket. He shows bounce finishing above the rim and the body control to convert through contact.
That versatility was on display when Bogard earned co-MVP honors at the Pangos All-East Frosh/Soph Camp, an event that consistently features many of the nation’s top underclassmen. His performance there helped solidify his status as one of the most intriguing long-term prospects in the country.
While Clemson’s 2028 board is still taking shape, Bogard’s early interest suggests mutual curiosity between both sides. The visit gives the Tigers a chance to showcase their player development infrastructure, NBA pathways, and vision for how Bogard could fit into the program long term.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 06: Alex Karaban #11 and Silas Demary Jr. 32 of the Connecticut Huskies protect the lane from Bryce Hopkins #23 of the St. John's Red Storm during a college basketball game at Madison Square Garden. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
UConn men's basketball will deliver a high-stakes send-off to its Hartford fanbase Wednesday evening, needing a win over No. 15 St. John's to remain in contention for an outright Big East title and avenge a heartbreaker at Madison Square Garden.
The Huskies bounced back after a stunning mid-week stumble to Creighton in the conference title race, breezing past Villanova over the weekend thanks to a dominant second half. Meanwhile, St. John's will look to defend the nation's second-longest active winning streak at PeoplesBank Arena, last losing to Providence Jan. 3.
Wednesday's matchup will air on Peacock and NBC Sports Network, with tip-off set for 7 p.m. ET. It will also be available on the radio via the UConn Sports Network, Fox Sports Radio 97.9 and a series of local affiliates.
St. John's exploited the most glaring weakpoint in UConn's highly efficient defense - the Huskies' .41 free throw to field goal ratio is among the worst in the country - when the two teams met earlier this month, attempting 31 foul shots in an 81-72 win. Star Red Storm center Zuby Ejiofor accounted for 10 of these attempts in a 21-point, near triple-double performance and has been one of the nation's most proficient players in drawing fouls, requiring a concerted effort from UConn's frontcourt to keep him off the glass and the charity stripe.
On the other end, UConn will look to rediscover its typically whizzing ball movement against a stingy St. John's defense, as the Huskies registered just 14 assists on 29 made field goals and a negative assist-to-turnover ratio for the first and only time this season when the two teams met in New York City. Silas Demary Jr. accounted for nine of UConn's turnovers in a mercurial performance for the Huskies point guard, finishing with 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Dan Hurley received a breakthrough performance from his reserves against a high-caliber Big East opponent in Villanova, as UConn outscored the Wildcats 22-8 in bench points over the weekend. The Huskies coach only afforded his bench players 28 total minutes during UConn's first meeting with the Johnnies, and will likely hope to provide more of a respite this time around against St. John's up-tempo, high-pressure defense.
"I think I've mismanaged my bench probably for the past two weeks, and I've got to get those guys on the court. They're a big reason why we had some of the best non-conference wins of anyone this year."
Cincinnati is seeking $1 million from quarterback Brendan Sorsby for allegedly violating the terms of his revenue-sharing deal when he transferred from the Bearcats to Texas Tech over the offseason.
Sorsby, Cincinnati’s starting quarterback for the past two seasons, has one more season of eligibility remaining. His revenue share deal with the Bearcats was through the 2026 season, and Cincinnati claims in a lawsuit filed Wednesday that Sorsby promised to pay $1 million in liquidated damages if he transferred to another school before it concluded in December of 2026.
In a statement to the Athletic, a representative of Sorsby said the suit was “misguided.” Cincinnati, meanwhile, said it “honors the contractual commitments” it makes to athletes and “we expect student-athletes and their representatives to do the same.
Remember, athletes are not directly classified as employees of their respective schools and schools have long been hesitant to grant athletes employee status.
Sorsby’s representative at LIFT Sports Management provided the following statement: “Pursuing legal action against Brendan Sorsby is misguided. University of Cincinnati, through its revenue-share structure, paid him $875,800 for a season he fully completed and in that time, he generated millions in value for the program. Attempting to recover those funds now sends the wrong message to current and future student-athletes and risks damaging the long-term credibility of Cincinnati football. This is further disappointing given that Brendan parted ways with UC in what was a mutually agreeable manner.
“The money the university seeks to recover from him is nothing more than an unlawful penalty under Ohio law. Because UC has chosen to pursue this course of action, Brendan will aggressively defend the lawsuit and pursue any and all damages he incurs as a result of it.”
Sorsby was one of the most coveted quarterbacks in the transfer portal cycle after the 2025 season. He ended up signing with Texas Tech for a reported $5 million NIL deal. The Red Raiders made the College Football Playoff in 2025 after spending big money on transfers ahead of the season and are attempting to replicate the formula in 2026.
Buyouts are becoming more and more common in college football for transferring players now that schools can directly share revenue with players. Duke and Darian Mensah came to a settlement agreement ahead of his transfer to Miami after he had signed a new deal with the program ahead of the 2026 season.
Mensah entered the transfer portal late after a lucrative offer from the Hurricanes. Washington's Demond Williams also briefly explored a transfer in January, but his buyout with the Huskies reportedly was a sticking point, and he announced he was remaining at UW.
Sorsby was 207-of-336 passing for 2,800 yards and 27 TDs with just five interceptions in 2025. He also rushed for 580 yards and nine touchdowns on just 100 carries.
This tweet encapsulates the turnover perfectly, as Colorado has now lost 77 years of NFL experience since March 19, 2025. The Buffaloes will not only have new offensive and defensive coordinators but also a new quarterback coach, tight ends coach, defensive line coach and cornerbacks coach in 2026. That is a lot of new faces in key positions. Not all of the moves are bad, but it is definitely something to keep an eye on.
Colorado has lost 77 years of NFL experience since March 19th of last year.
As fans have been calling for, there's been a major shift for more college coaches with Brennan Marion and Chris Marve.
— 2025 Big XII Burner Tournament Champion (@SKOBUFFS22) February 25, 2026
Moving on from offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur is understandable. He never seemed to fully mesh with the college game during his tenure in Colorado, even with Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter at his disposal. Then last year, with Kaidon Salter, Ryan Staub and Julian Lewis, it turned into a disaster. Brennan Marion should be an upgrade and bring more creativity with his Go-Go offense.
Under Livingston, the Colorado defense in 2024 improved from 121st in scoring defense to 43rd, from 124th in passing yards allowed per game to 40th, and from 64th in sacks to 15th, which also led the Big 12. The Buffs were especially impressive in the second half of the season, allowing just 11.5 points per game, a top 10 mark nationally and best in the conference. The 2025 defense was also solid against the pass, ranking 41st nationally in passing yards allowed at 203.2 per game and 56th in red zone defense.
Colorado did not waste time finding a replacement, promoting linebackers coach Chris Marve to defensive coordinator. Marve joined the Buffs staff this offseason after a two-year run as Virginia Tech's defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach. He has experience calling a defense and ideally slides in smoothly.
It is noteworthy that Colorado has two new coordinators who must prepare an almost entirely new team to begin the season with three of its first four games on the road against Power Four opponents. It is a less-than-ideal situation for any team.
The Buffs open at Georgia Tech in Week 1, travel to Northwestern in Week 3, and then head to Waco to face Baylor. That is no easy stretch for new coordinators finding their footing. Will it work out? The jury is still out, but it will not be easy.
Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.
Super Bowl LX-winning head coach Mike Macdonald has revealed that he received a text from Tom Brady after the big game.
Appearing as a guest on The Rich Eisen Show, Macdonald said that Brady texted him congratulating him on the victory, to which Macdonald replied with a joke about Brady and the Las Vegas Raiders stealing Seattle's offensive coordinator, Klint Kubiak (who is now the Raiders' head coach).
Mike Macdonald says Tom Brady and Peyton Manning texted him after winning the Super Bowl 👀
New England Patriots fans won't exactly be smiling from ear to ear upon hearing the news that the Pats legend Brady was texting Macdonald.
While Brady was simply being a good guy, plenty of Patriots fans are still miffed with Brady for his reluctance to openly root for the Pats in the Super Bowl.
Others defending Brady pointed to his position as an owner of the Raiders, not to mention his broadcasting role, which requires neutrality and professionalism.
The Patriots unveiled a 12-foot bronze statue of Brady outside of Gillette Stadium last August, commemorating the GOAT's six Super Bowl rings in New England.
PEORIA, Ariz. — The team that bidets together stays together.
Or at least that’s the mantra of the Chicago White Sox after news that the team is introducing bidets in the clubhouse at the request of Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami.
The jokes write themselves when it comes to the subject of eco-friendly hygiene, but the Sox are using the topic as a way to help Murakami acclimate himself as “one of the boys.”
“Obviously, the western culture, it’s just not as popular over here as in Japan,” pitcher Davis Martin said. “I think it’s hilarious. It’s fun and if anyone wants to try it, it’s going to be good. We’ve already had jokes with it and it has already brought us closer as a team. We had some material, but to talk to Mune about it a little bit, it’s been fun.”
There are no bidets at the Sox’s Camelback Ranch complex in Glendale, so it’s safe to say the Sox are waiting on bidet.
Several players asked Tuesday about the bidet admitted they’ve yet to experience one. A bidet is supposed to provide better hygiene and help the environment by reducing the reliance on toilet paper.
Pitcher Mike Vasil and Martin were both interested in trying it out, while others were more wary.
“I can’t say I’ve ever had one, so I don’t know,” left fielder Andrew Benintendi said. “I’ll have to get some feedback first. But it’s something that’s kind of a conversation starter and lightens the mood a little bit. Obviously, the more camp goes on and the longer we’re around each other, the more comfortable we’re going to get. It’s definitely an interesting way to start conversations.”
General manager Chris Getz said the decision to install bidets at Rate Field “speaks to (the notion) of trying to get Mune as comfortable as possible.”
Getz noted that “there was no demand by any stretch” from Murakami.
“He mentioned it, and I said ‘That seems like something that we can accommodate,'” Getz said. “I said something about it, and someone from (Japanese toilet manufacturer) Toto reached out to me in an email and said, ‘We can help you out with this.'”
Vasil said he heard the Sox would have five bidets in the clubhouse, so there will be no waiting. Getz wasn’t sure about the messy details and deferred to team executives Brooks Boyer and Terry Savarise.
“I just push for the accommodations,” he said.
Murakami has been the focus of Sox camp, and fans watched him intently on the backfields Tuesday morning. Since he wasn’t in the Sox lineup Tuesday for a 12-10 win over the Seattle Mariners at Peoria Stadium, the Japanese media contingent that flocked to watch him Monday at Salt River Field in Scottsdale was largely absent.
“There is a real buzz to it, no question, and that started when we announced the deal,” Getz said. “He had a lot of success in Japan, and everyone is really curious about how this is going to translate. We are as well … Walking around, there are eyes on him. But he’s comfortable with that, it seems.”
Murakami has been having fun, learning how to do Ken “Hawk” Harrelson impressions from Chicago Sports Network reporter Chuck Garfien, and goofing with his teammates.
“When it’s time to play baseball, he’s very serious,” manager Will Venable said. “But there is definitely a lighter side to Mune. He’s got a big personality, funny dude and definitely likes to joke around with the guys. Time and place for everything but he’s doing a great job being locked in on the field.”
Maybe the Sox needed a big character like that in a laid-back clubhouse? It does help take some attention away from the rebuilding aspect of this camp.
But Venable disputed the notion.
“I think that every one of those guys serves their purpose in the clubhouse dynamic and we have some other guys that are similarly ‘personality guys,'” he replied. “I think our group is a special group that way. They have a bunch of different personalities, and most importantly, they all get along.”
There is no jealousy over the media focus on one player, and players know that what helps the White Sox will ultimately help them in the long run.
“It’s great to grow the brand of the Chicago White Sox,” Martin said. “Right now, where we’re at as a team and where we’re going, it’s fun for not only Chicago-based fans but also fans that Mune brings across from Japan.”
Benintendi, beginning his fourth year on the South Side, was the last big free agent signed by the Rick Hahn regime, when the Sox were coming off a poor 2022 season. Benintendi, Lenyn Sosa and Korey Lee are the last position players left from that 101-loss team in ’23 that started the three-year stretch of 100-plus losses, and Benintendi sees a light at the end of the long, dark tunnel.
“Once they kind of started this rebuild thing, you can kind of predict how it’s going to go initially,” he said. “You hope to get out of that rebuild pretty quickly, and last year was a big step for a lot of guys. A lot of debuts, a lot of firsts for a lot of guys. They obviously still have to go through things and learn, but it feels more like we’re prepared to win more games and are prepared to win more.”
Getz said he liked hearing catcher Edgar Quero tell CHSN the Sox will make a push for the playoffs, but he isn’t ready to get ahead of himself in the rebuild. He said to look at where the Sox were a year ago and where they are now, with players from Colson Montgomery to Kyle Teel stepping forward and the additions of Murakami and Serathony Domínguez.
Whether the Sox made enough moves to satisfy fans is debatable. They rank 28th in payroll, according to Spotrac. Getz said Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf has been supportive of the plan, as slow as it has been. So will Reinsdorf be willing to add if the Sox shock the experts and need help at the trade deadline?
“I don’t doubt that,” Getz said. “Let’s put ourselves in that position first.”
Brandon Aubrey has established himself as one of the NFL’s elite kickers since joining the Dallas Cowboys in 2023, and contract talks are heating up between the two parties ahead of Aubrey reaching restricted free agency next month.
According to Todd Archer of ESPN, the Cowboys have offered kicker Aubrey a deal that would make him the highest-paid kicker in the NFL, topping the $6.4 million average per season currently earned by Kansas City’s Harrison Butker. However, sources have told Archer that Aubrey’s agent, Todd France, is seeking a deal closer to $10 million per season, leaving a significant gap between the two sides.
If no agreement is reached, Dallas is expected to place a second-round tender on Aubrey, which would put a one-year offer on the table estimated at $5.8 million for the 2026 season. The tender would also enable the Cowboys to receive a second-round pick in the 2026 Draft this April if they decline to match any offer from another team.
Aubrey, who will turn 31 years old in March, began his professional career playing soccer after four years at the University of Notre Dame. After being released in 2018, Aubrey worked as a software engineer before deciding to switch to football. After two seasons with the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL, he signed with the Cowboys in July 2023. Since then, he is a three-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro, including a first-team nod in 2023. Aubrey was the NFL's scoring leader in 2023 and holds several league-wide records, including most consecutive made field goals to start a career and most career field goals of 60 yards or more.
The Detroit Tigers have decided to keep Tarik Skubal atop their rotation, and they're planning to go all-in for the 2026 season in his final year with the team.
He's making $32 million, but in the final year of his contract, he's set to make well north of that figure in free agency. He might land the biggest contract of any pitcher ever.
MLB.com's Brent Maguire made a bold prediction on Skubal, with the Cy Young lefty recording 300 strikeouts, which would be the ultimate contract year across every major sport.
"Skubal punches out 300 hitters," Maguire predicts. "Considering what's at stake for Skubal and the Tigers this season, it's not hard to envision the lefty pushing upwards of 200 innings."
The 2026 season is a huge one for the Tigers and Skubal. For the lefty, this is his contract year, where a good performance can result in generational wealth.
For the Tigers, this is their final year with Skubal. They will want to get the most out of their Cy Young ace, especially since they will have a tough time retaining him next offseason.
With that in mind, Skubal will be given plenty of chances to stay in games as the Tigers hope to get the most out of him. And with Skubal, if he can not just pitch at a high level, but eat a ton of innings in the process, it would be a huge boost for his free agent stock.
This past season, he reached 241 strikeouts in 195.1 innings pitched. In 2024, across 192 innings, he had 228 strikeouts.
If he can pitch well more than 200 innings this season, and also keep his strikeout rate per-nine innings rate above 11.0, then his odds to reach 300 strikeouts would increase.
But it's still not going to be easy. Not only does he have to pitch at an elite level all year, but he needs to pitch more than he ever has in his career.
If he can make 33 starts and go a bit deeper into games while striking out a lot of batters, he could do it. Maguire's prediction is a bold one for a reason. It's not very reachable.
But Skubal has the talent to do it. If he does record 300 strikeouts in 2026, not only would he likely win AL Cy Young for a third-straight year, but he would've had one of the best contract years ever across every professional sport.
Hoops 360 hosts Caroline Fenton and Cassandra Negley discuss whether Vanderbilt can continue its climb and earn a No. 1 seed in this year’s tournament. Commodores head coach Shea Ralph joins the show to share what she learned from legendary UConn head coach Geno Auriemma and highlights why her team has seen so much success this season.
Plus, which teams are suddenly on the hot seat after tough late-season losses? Should Tennessee and Duke be concerned heading into March?
Have a question or topic you’d like us to cover? Drop it in the comments, and we may feature it in an upcoming episode.
The Miami Dolphins have already made some tough decisions this offseason to set themselves up for a better future, as they've released some top players (Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb) and fired head coach Mike McDaniel.
Could that be the start? Could Miami follow up with more shocking moves? Interestingly, ESPN's Dan Graziano and Benjamin Solak identifiedDolphins running back De'Von Achane and wide receiver Tyreek Hill as two of the top trade candidates in the NFL this offseason.
Achane is in the final year of his rookie contract, and through three seasons has rushed for 3,057 yards and 22 touchdowns on 5.6 yards per attempt while catching 172 passes for an additional 1,277 yards and 13 scores.
"The league seems to believe the Dolphins are in a full rebuild, which means they're getting calls on all of their star players," Graziano wrote. "My sense is that they're far more likely to extend Achane's contract than to listen to those trade offers, but in their situation, you answer the phone when it rings. So, call any Achane trade a significant long shot that would take an awfully enticing package to get done."
Waddle has three years remaining on his extension and has caught 373 passes for 5,039 yards and 26 touchdowns in his five years in the NFL.
"There were whispers of a potential Waddle deal at the trade deadline in October, but those might have been generated from the interested teams rather than from the Dolphins," Graziano wrote. "With Tyreek Hill released, a Waddle deal would represent a significant reset in Miami. And if the Dolphins are going to handle a $99.2 million dead money hit for Tua Tagovailoa, they are going to have to cut costs somewhere. (On the third day of the league year, $15.2 million of Waddle's $23.39 million 2027 salary will become fully guaranteed, too.)
"But as I said on Achane above, my sense is that the Dolphins see Waddle as a building block who's under contract and aren't eager to move on from him. They'll get calls, no doubt, but it would take a lot for them to deal him."
Both Graziano and Solak agree that it's unlikely that Miami will move on from Achane and Waddle this offseason, the way that they did with Hill and Chubb. With these players, both in their mid-20s, they can help usher in the next wave of Dolphins, who they hope will help them break their championship drought.
Who’s next after Fernando Mendoza in the NFL Draft quarterback class of 2026? That’s a question both teams and draft analysts are trying to figure out during this week’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. One of the emerging candidates for the second quarterback is Penn State’s Drew Allar.
Oct 4, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) – Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Could Drew Allar emerge as the No. 2 quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Stranger things have happened.
With the latest news that Allar will throw here in Indianapolis during Saturday’s on-field workout session for quarterbacks, his star is rising already. Arm talent is arguably Allar’s biggest asset as a prospect, and showing off the prodigious strength and zip can only help Allar. When compared to competitors like Ty Simpson from Alabama or Garrett Nussmeier from LSU, Allar’s sheer size and athleticism are likely to shine during the Combine as well.
Why Allar?
The former five-star recruit definitely looks the part of the prototypical NFL pocket passer. A well-built 6-foot-5, Allar has a naturally strong arm that delivers throws with zip all over the field.
Allar isn’t some pocket stiff, however. He’s a decent athlete who can chew up yards on the ground with his long gait (302 rushing yards in 2024). One of the biggest feathers in his cap is his ability to avoid catastrophic mistakes. Allar once threw together over 300 straight passes without an interception.
That judicious trust of his considerable arm strength compares to a younger Matthew Stafford. Allar will attempt tight-window throws that others in this class can’t conceive of completing. Yet he’s smart enough to know when to move on to the next progression if he doesn’t like it.
Foremost, Allar is coming off the season-ending ankle injury. Even prior to the injury, his game had not shown any real forward progress. His erratic accuracy continued to be a growing problem. Downfield throws were an adventure, though to be fair to Allar, his receiving corps in 2025 did him few favors.
Much of what plagues Allar as a passer comes from inconsistent mechanics. In watching his film, Allar’s feet, arm angle and hip alignment all sorely lack consistency. Those are the same problems he had earlier in his Penn State career. Stagnation in skills is a big sin for NFL prospects, especially when they’re as highly-touted as a prospect as Allar was coming out of high school.
Beyond the scattershot passing, Allar really struggled to handle pressure. The phrase “deer in headlights” comes up often, and it unfortunately fits. There’s no easy fix for quarterbacks who can’t reliably handle pressure, unfortunately, beyond hoping that Allar will grow out of it with more experience and perhaps playing behind a better offensive line.
Just as Allar has his supporters, there are many who cannot buy into any ascension.
It’s too early to say, but Allar would have to really wow NFL teams and scouts with his arm and also in the interview rooms to elevate himself up to being QB2 in this draft class. That door is open, though, because those same evaluators remain underwhelmed by Simpson, Nussmeier and the rest of the QB class after presumptive No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza.
Rape case: Achraf Hakimi backed by Parisian supporters
Achraf Hakimi has the support of Parisian ultras
Rape case: Achraf Hakimi backed by Parisian supporters
On Tuesday, Achraf Hakimi returned to court to face rape charges. This Wednesday night, during the Champions League clash against AS Monaco, the Moroccan received support from Parisians.
Sent to the criminal court ahead of a rape trial, Achraf Hakimi was backed by the Collectif Ultras Paris. Indeed, during the second leg of the Champions League play-off against AS Monaco on Wednesday night, the Paris Saint-Germain supporters' group unveiled a banner for the Moroccan right-back.
"Achraf total support" could be read in the stands.
Liverpool Are In The Running To Sign This Bundesliga Winger: Should Slot Go For Him?
In a recent report, The Telegraph (subscription required) claimed that Liverpool are in the running to sign Red Bull Leipzig winger Yan Diomande. It has been revealed that the Reds would have to rival Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign the Ivory Coast wide player next summer.
Diomande’s Impressive Form In German Football
Diomande is having a productive campaign at the German club as he has put in a series of impressive performances for them on the left flank. The 19-year-old has scored nine goals and secured seven assists in 25 matches for RB Leipzig this season across various competitions.
The Ivory Coast talent is currently among the best young wingers in German football. Therefore, Liverpool would do well to win the race for his services in this summer transfer window.
His current deal at the Red Bull Arena will run out in the summer of 2030. Hence, the Reds would have to launch a convincing offer if they want to land him this off-season.
LEIPZIG, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 21: Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig reacts after missing a chance during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund at Red Bull Arena on February 21, 2026 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
Should Liverpool Boss Arne Slot Go For Diomande?
Diomande is a good dribbler with the ball at his feet and has got the eye to play some decisive passes on the offensive end of the field. He can shoot the ball with power from long range and can contribute by scoring and creating his fair share of goals from the wide areas.
The Ivory Coast sensation is primarily a left-winger but can also operate as a right-sided wide player if asked to do so. However, there are some concerns over whether he can adapt to the physicality and high intensity of the Premier League if the Reds manage to move in for him later this year.
Diomande would add more firepower to Liverpool boss Arne Slot’s attack. He has what it takes to fight for a regular first-team spot at the Merseyside club in the coming seasons.
At 19, Diomande has got the ceiling to be a future star in English football as long as he continues to improve with each year. With all things considered, Slot would be wise to go for a player of his skill set as he would be an ideal long-term successor to Mohamed Salah at Liverpool.
WATCH: Vinicius Junior scores to put Real Madrid on the brink of Champions League progression
Real Madrid are heading through to the Champions League Round of 16, having taken the lead on the night against Benfica at the Bernabeu.
It was a tricky start, and on 14 minutes, Benfica struck the opening goal courtesy of Rafa Silva, who stabbed home following a great save from Thibaut Courtois to stop Raul Asencio from putting the ball into his own net. Fortunately for Real Madrid, they drew level on the night thanks to Aurelien Tchouameni, whose ferocious strike from the edge of the box left Anatoliy Trubin with no chance.
Real Madrid have been pushing for the goal that would put them on the brink of progression, and it has now come. Vinicius Junior was allegedly subjected to racist abuse in the first leg, but eight days on, he has scored to give Los Blancos a 3-1 aggregate lead.
NFL Combine betting sits between the Super Bowl and the NFL Draft in April.
The league’s annual assessment of NFL prospects isn’t as popular as those two gambling options but does scratch the football betting itch, with several props available across various events, like the 40-yard dash.
I lace ‘em up and see if I can best the bookies with my NFL Combine predictions and picks.
There have only been nine runs faster than 4.265 seconds at the NFL Combine since 1999.
Of those times, only two players stood shorter than 5-foot-11: Rondel Menendez (5-foot-9) and Dri Archer (5-foot-8). Posting an impressive 40-yard dash time requires explosiveness to get going, but also a lengthy stride to maintain speed throughout the sprint.
As we close in on the combine, Mississippi State receiver Brenen Thompson is the frontrunner for fastest 40-yard time. He’s a former Texas high school 200-meter champion but stands just 5-foot-9.
Other combine markets are padding the Under 4.265 seconds as much as -130, and there is always a propensity for bettors to bet on “something to happen” rather than not. Thompson will be fast, just not that fast.
Highest vertical jump: Over/Under 43.25 inches
Pick: Lower than 43.25 inches
-120 at DraftKings
It’s been a minute since we’ve truly seen elite bounce in the vertical jump event.
Last year, Nick Emmanwori was the first prospect to post a 43-inch vertical in four years, and heading into the 2026 NFL Combine, the best bouncers top out around 40 to 41 inches.
One guy garnering attention is Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq, who earned the nickname “The Freak” due to his incredible athleticism.
He recorded a 41.5-inch leap last summer at a weight of 255 pounds. He’s expected to be around 240 pounds for the combine but getting past the 43-inch bar is a big ask.
Longest broad jump: Over/Under 137.5 inches
Pick: Over 137.5 inches
-120 at DraftKings
Just to be clear, 137 inches is 11 feet, five inches. The unofficial world record is 12 feet, three inches, set by former corner Byron Jones at the 2015 NFL Combine. That’s the average length of a great white shark in one bound. That's nuts.
Last year, Emmanwori was tops in the broad jump at 138 inches, and we haven’t had a 140-plus jumper since 2019, when there was apparently something in the water at Lucas Oil Stadium as three guys reached that mark.
We might see a prospect or two crack that bar in 2026. Cincinnati receiver Jeff Caldwell reportedly posted a 141-inch broad jump last year, and while expectations for the combine are tempered, he could still clear 137.
Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers recorded a jump of 135 inches last year – a five-inch improvement from 2024 – and was a high school champ in long and high jump in Texas.
This market is as pricy as Over 137.5 inches -130 at some books — one of the rare NFL Combine markets padding the Over.
Feb 17, 2026; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard Andrew Rohde (7) dribbles the ball as Ohio State Buckeyes guard Puff Johnson (6) defends during the first half at Value City Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images | Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
The Wisconsin Badgers 84-71 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes secured their spot as a ‘lock’ for the NCAA Tournament in ESPN’s Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology predictions.
Heading into the game, Wisconsin was as close to a ‘lock’ as you could get, but the game had serious implications for the Badgers’ potential seeding. Wisconsin had just lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes, which dropped their projections after a big week with wins over the Illinois Fighting Illini and Michigan State Spartans.
A loss to Iowa would’ve further spiraled those projections, and Wisconsin didn’t have any other major opportunities to make up ground until the season finale on the road against the Purdue Boilermakers. But the win over Iowa gave the Badgers their fifth Quad 1 win of the season and secured them as the sixth ‘lock’ in the Big Ten in Lunardi’s projections.
Here’s what classifies as a lock, according to Lunardi.
“Teams that have nearly a 100% chance to be called by the committee as an at-large selection (if necessary). They would need a significant change in momentum to miss the cut.”
The other five current ‘locks’ in a deep Big Ten so far are Purdue, Illinois, Michigan State, Michigan, and Nebraska.
Currently, the Badgers are trending as a No. 7 seed in Lunardi’s latest projections, putting them on the same line as NC State, Villanova, and Utah State. As for the Big Ten teams ahead of them, here’s their current projected seed lines:
The Boston Celtics have been one of the best defensive teams in basketball this season, especially lately.
The Celtics have allowed fewer than 100 points in seven of their last 12 games. Over their last 10 games, they have the best defensive rating in the NBA, going 9-1 during that span.
Boston has allowed the fewest points per game in the league this season at 107.6. The team also ranks seventh in defensive rating and third in field-goal percentage.
The Celtics are coming off two of their best defensive efforts of the season after allowing just 89 points to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday and 81 points to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. They also started February by yielding only 79 points to the Milwaukee Bucks, so all three of their lowest opponent point totals have come this month.
Derrick White when asked about the Celtics having the top-ranked defense in the NBA in their last 10 games:
“We just have a standard. A lot of guys that can guard a lot of positions and do a really good job of just following the game plan and committing to that.” pic.twitter.com/I7C9jpKNDG
"We just have a standard. A lot of guys that can guard a lot of positions and do a really good job of just following the game plan and committing to that," White said.
That includes White, who's one of the league's best defenders. He's averaging 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals per game this season, both career bests.
With White, Jaylen Brown, Neemias Queta and others anchoring the defense, the Celtics remain one of the toughest teams in the league to score on.
They'll try to ride their stifling defense to another road win tonight against the Denver Nuggets.
⚠️Worrying scene: Asencio forced off with a serious injury
The second half of the match between Real Madrid and Benfica was underway when one of the worst collisions occurred.
Raúl Asencio and Eduardo Camavinga didn’t see each other and both jumped to head the ball, ending up colliding.
From the images, it seemed the Frenchman would be the most affected, however, ever since he fell, the central defender was unable to get up.
Since he couldn’t recover, he had to be taken off immobilized with the help of the medical staff, and Alaba came on in his place. The official diagnosis is expected in the coming hours.
Deshaun Watson has not played in a game since October 2024 due to a torn Achilles.
But he's still under contract with the Browns in 2026 and at this point, it appears Cleveland is ready to give him another shot at being the starting quarterback.
To put it mildly, Watson has been ineffective since the Browns traded form him in the 2022 offseason. Between injuries and suspensions, he’s played just 19 games since the trade, completing 61.2 percent of his passes for 3,365 yards with 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
It’s a far cry from the elite player Watson appeared to be during the 2020 season, when he finished with a league-leading 4,823 passing yards, 33 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a 70.2 percent completion rate. That was also before Watson was suspended for sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions.
Still, because Watson has played at a high level before, new head coach Todd Monken said on Wednesday that he’s interested in seeing whether Watson can get back to that level of performance.
“I think anytime that you have a player that at one time has exhibited the skillset at an elite level, I think you're always going to give them the benefit of the doubt that somehow we might be able to get that out of him again,” Monken said in his press conference at the scouting combine. “And I think that's how you should look at every player. I've said that. You guys have heard me say it. I'm going to let it play out.
“I think it'd be completely unfair just like it would be in any classroom setting — be it a history exam — and all the students walk in, and before they're actually given the exam, you give them a grade. Well, how would you give them a grade? Based on male, female, race, how they look, how they're dressed? I think that's unfair.”
Effectively, Monken was saying that he’d like to work with Watson and see what’s there for himself. But that does’t mean he’s going to completely disregard the tape.
“Now you're going to have some preconceived notions, obviously, because we have prior evidence, but I don't decide who plays,” Monken said. “The players decide who plays. I've never decided who plays.”
There’s also the possibility that Monken may provide a fresh perspective that could raise Watson’s performance.
“You'll have to ask him. I don't know how he'll view that,” Monken said. “I know that I'm excited to work with him. I'm excited to work with all of our players on the roster. That's what you're paid to do as a coach. Just like [G.M.] Andrew [Berry is] going to trust what we call on fourth-and-1, I'm going to trust him that we're going to put an elite roster together that allows us to build a consistent winner.”
Kristaps Porzingis made his Golden State Warriors debut on Thursday, Feb. 19. Unfortunately, he was back on the injury report for the team's game against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, Feb. 22, and didn't make the trip to New Orleans for Tuesday's loss. Porzingis will also be absent when the Warriors face the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday.
When speaking with the media ahead of Tuesday's loss to the Pelicans, Steve Kerr addressed Porzingis' illness before noting that the veteran big is starting to show signs of improvement.
"He's getting better," Kerr said. "I didn't talk to him today, but our training staff did. He's just been really sick, but making some improvements. So we'll see how he is. It's just an illness. It's not related. It's a bug."
The Warriors knew Porzingis had been dealing with health issues over the past year when they traded for him. Acquiring him was always going to be a dice roll in terms of availability. Nevertheless, when healthy, Porzingis is capable of making a sizeable contribution to the Warriors roster.
Unfortunately for Warriors fans, there's no timeline for when Porzingis will be back on the court. However, when that time does come, the hope will be that he can start stringing a run of games together.
Feb 24, 2026; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Cade Tyson (10) dribbles in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
The Michigan Wolverines beat the Minnesota Gophers 77-67, clinching a share of the Big Ten title and improving their record to 26-2. The very limited Gopher roster played the Wolverines to within 32-28 at halftime and maintained that four-point cushion for the first 10 minutes of the second half before Michigan went on a run to increase their lead and held on for the win.
Cade Tyson led the way for Minnesota with 20 points while making 5/10 from three.
THE STAT: At this point, we know who we are and know that Michigan is a legitimate threat to win the national title. Minnesota played one player off the bench for seven minutes, zero minutes in the second half. And Michigan’s bench outscored Minnesota’s 35-0.
TURNING POINT: Grayson Grove made a layup after a Michigan turnover with 10:19 left in the second half to cut the lead to four. But from there, Michigan went on a 19-5 run, opening up the lead to 18 and with just over five minutes remaining, Minnesota’s hopes for a massive upset were vanquished.
HOT: Over his last two games, Tyson is 12/21 from three and averating 23.5 points per game. If his legs are getting tired from playing 40 min every game, it isn’t showing.
NOT: Michigan’s leading scorer, Yaxel Lendeborg, was held to just three points in 24 mnutes played last night. The senior averages 14 points per game and is expected to be a lottery pick, but this was his lowest scoring game since November of 2023 when he was playing for UAB.
GOOD MOVE: The Gophers controlled the pace of the game from the opening tip, and this a key for them to be able to stay in this game with Wolverines. They employed their 2-3 zone immediately and they did not bother to attempt offensive rebounds, allowing them to get back and set up their defense. Not allowing Michigan to score quickly and attempting to neutralize their frontcourt was their best chance at stealing a win.
NOTABLE: Minnesota is now 0-44 against top five teams on the road. I didn’t expect to have a winning record, but you would think they would have lucked into at least ONE road win over a top five team in the program’s history.
UP NEXT: The Gophers get UCLA at home on Saturday morning at 11:00. There are just three games left before the Big Ten Tournament where the Gophers appear to be likely a 12 or 13 seed.
Michigan State heads on the road on Thursday evening for arguably the toughest road venue they'll play in all season long.
The Spartans will battle top 10 Purdue on Thursday from Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind. Both Michigan State and Purdue must win this game to remain in the hunt for at least a share of the Big Ten regular season championship, with the loser officially eliminated from the race.
Michigan State comes into this matchup looking to build off back-to-back home wins last week against UCLA and Ohio State. The Spartans are 22-5 overall and 12-4 in Big Ten play on the season.
Purdue is also looking to build off some recent success, which included a blowout win over rival Indiana last Friday. The Boilermakers have an identical record as the Spartans of 22-5 overall and 12-4 in Big Ten play.
Prepare for this game by checking out the television info and my game prediction below:
Broadcast Info
Date / Tip Time: Thursday, Feb. 26 at 8 p.m. ET
TV: Peacock / NBCSN (streaming)
Game Prediction
Prediction: Purdue 81, Michigan State 73
Michigan State has lost seven straight at Purdue, dating back to 2014, so something has to give right? Well, I unfortunately don't think that'll be the case. The Spartans are certainly capable of winning this game and don't think Purdue is leaps and bounds better than them, but in Mackey Arena, it's just different... I expect Purdue to lead throughout most of this game with Michigan State keeping it in striking distance but failing to steal the much-needed road upset.
Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page onFacebookto follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
Feb 24, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Mouhamed Dioubate (23) attempts to get around South Carolina Gamecocks forward Jordan Butler (0) during the second half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images | Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
The Kentucky Wildcats get a desperately needed road win over South Carolina, by a final score of 72-63. With Otega Oweh having an off night and the Cats’ bench giving minimal help, Denzel Aberdeen bailed out the Wildcats on the offensive end with 19 points, five assists, and zero turnovers.
In a sluggish win for the Wildcats, their bench combined for just 16 points as Mark Pope couldn’t find much rhythm in his second unit. The trio of Jasper Johson, Trent Noah, and Brandon Garrison combined for just four points that were all tallied on Garrison’s stat line.
It was Mo Dioubate who prevailed in the paint and on the glass on Tuesday night in Columbia as he carried the Wildcats bench. Dioubate finished the game with 12 out of the 16 points for the Cats, and also added four rebounds and two on the offensive glass. He also chipped in a block and a steal.
All of the Wildcats’ bench finished in the plus side of their +/-, but Pope will be looking for a little more contribution as the team is looking for their final push as March looms closer.
Dioubate spoke to the media after his solid showing against the Gamecocks, admitting that he’s gone through some struggles recently and was just happy to get this win.
“The last few weeks, I’ve been going through some adversity on the court,” he told reporters. “I’ve just been trying to move forward. I understand we have a goal in mind. We’re trying to win. We can’t cry over spilled milk. We just have to keep moving.
“I understand that my team needs me, so I can’t be too hard on my feelings over a bad game or anything like that. We just have to keep moving forward.”
With three games remaining in the regular season, the Wildcats have dealt with some crucial injuries and will run a nine-deep rotation in the postseason. It’ll be important that the team stays consistent and players step up off the bench, making Dioubate’s role all the more important if other bench players can’t step up.
😳 Another miracle on the cards in Italy? Gala are bottling it big time
After the 5-2 triumph in the first leg, it was actually expected that Galatasaray would prevail in the CL intermediate round. But right now, that is absolutely not certain.
Although Juventus has been down to ten men since the 49th minute, the Italians are leading 3-0. Locatelli scored the 1-0 in the 37th minute, before Gatti added another in the 70th. Weston McKennie made it 3-0 in the 82nd minute.
By now, Osimhen & Co. must be breaking out in a cold sweat. To be knocked out after such a first leg would definitely be really annoying.
Now it’s your turn: After Atalanta, will Juve pull off the next Italian miracle or will Gala go through in the end? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments!
Juventus vs. Galatasaray: Kelly red card incident explained
Juventus defender Lloyd Kelly received a straight red card at the beginning of the second half of a Champions League match against Galatasaray as he ‘endangered the safety of his opponent.’
English defender Kelly was shown a straight red card at minute 48 of a Champions League knockout play-off second leg.
Why was Kelly sent off in Juventus vs. Galatasaray?
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Lloyd Kelly of Juventus FC reacts after receiving a red card during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
The Bianconeri were one goal up, but needed two more to level the score after a 5-2 defeat in Turkey last week.
Kelly went for an aerial duel with Alper Yilmaz and appeared to accidentally land on his opponent’s ankle.
The Juventus defender was already on a yellow card and was shown a second one, but Portuguese referee, Pinheiro, was still urged to the pitchside monitor to review the incident and ultimately decided to show a straight red, infuriating Luciano Spalletti and Juventus players.
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Manuel Locatelli (2nd R) of Juventus FC takes a penalty kick to score his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
UEFA then explained: “Juventus player, No. 6, using his studs, made a strong, unfair contact with the opponent’s left ankle, which clearly endangered the safety of his opponent.”
Kelly stormed off the pitch in anger and kicked a wall as he headed towards the tunnel.
Football Italia is among the accredited media at the Allianz Stadium tonight. You can follow the live action as it happens on the Football Italia live blog.
Lloyd Kelly receives a straight red card after VAR review for a challenge on Yılmaz 🔴@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/9v1LiIvVJJ
Ethan Wheatley: Bradford City boss explains bizarre decision on Man United loanee
Bradford City manager Graham Alexander has explained what motivated his recent bizarre decision involving Manchester United starlet Ethan Wheatley.
Bradford loan
Wheatley joined Bradford on loan during the winter transfer window. He spent the first half of the campaign on loan with Northampton Town.
He did well at Northampton but United recalled him. A report covered by The Peoples Person relayed that United deemed his spell there a success but ultimately felt he would develop better elsewhere.
Thus far, Wheatley has made five League One appearances for Bradford, coming off the bench each time. He has yet to register a goal contribution.
Bradford were in action on Tuesday against Rotherham, winning 1-0. Wheatley was among the substitutes yet again but was handed a golden chance to feature more prominently when he was brought on in the 24th minute in place of the injured Kayden Jackson.
However, Wheatley didn’t finish the game, himself being withdrawn after 50 minutes of action.
Alexander spoke to reporters after the final whistle and revealed what prompted him to hook Wheatley and replace him with Stephen Humphrys at Valley Parade.
Bradford boss explains Wheatley decision
The Bantams gaffer said about Wheatley [as quoted by the Yorkshire Post], “I saw him a few minutes before we brought him back off and put Humphs (Stephen Humphrys) on, he was absolutely breathing out of his backside.”
“He’s missed a lot of football over the winter with his injury and he’s getting back up to speed.”
“I thought it was the right thing to bring him on for Kayden with our press. They’re quite an aggressive line-up, so there’s space in behind for us to keep working.”
Alexander added, “I did actually say to Chris (Lucketti) after five minutes, because it was quite early when he came on, I think we might have to use another nine at a certain point.”
“I thought it could be good for Humphs to come on with how they play for the last 20, 25 minutes. All three of them proved a handful for Rotherham to deal with.”
Alexander’s comments indicate that Wheatley is still working his way back to full fitness, having spent multiple weeks on the sidelines during the latter stages of his Northampton loan.
Changes are surely coming to the San Francisco 49ers‘ roster this offseason. The team has already admitted that Brandon Aiyuk’s days with the 49ers are over, but they haven’t announced a transaction quite yet.
Meanwhile, the 49ers could be preparing to say goodbye to All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams if they can’t reach a contract resolution soon. But that’s not all.
There has also been a lot of smoke about a potential Mac Jones trade this offseason, but the 49ers have been unwilling to declare him as a goner. However, the 49ers have indicated that they’d prefer to keep Jones, who has just one year left on his contract.
Though recently, 49ers general manager John Lynch admitted that the 49ers are willing to hear out trade offers for the Pro Bowl QB. But he also warned other general managers that it’s going to take a “fairly strong” offer to get the 49ers to trade him.
“He’s really good for us, and we value that.” Lynch said. “So somebody would have to come with something fairly strong for us to consider. And then I don’t know what we do. Obviously, there’s always something that would make you [do it], but I think we’re a better team with him on it and we just like having him around.”
Teams are always hunting for their next starting quarterback. The 49ers feel they have a franchise QB in Purdy, plus a starting-caliber backup in Jones. Yet, now they could capitalize on Jones’ improved value and parlay it into another contributor if they get the draft compensation they seek.
Atalanta scored a dramatic penalty with the last kick of the game as the Italians staged an incredible fightback to beat Borussia Dortmund and progress to the last 16 of the Champions League.
The hosts had faced an almighty task after losing the first leg 2-0 in Germany, but scored twice in the first half through Gianluca Scamacca and Davide Zappacosta to level the tie on aggregate.
Mario Pasalic made it 3-0 in the 57th minute, but Karim Adeyemi looked to have taken the game into extra time when he curled in a leveller overall.
But, with just seconds left in stoppage time, Ramy Bensebaini caught Nikola Krstovic on the head in the box with a reckless high boot as the Atalanta forward attempted to meet a cross following a mistake by visiting keeper Gregor Kobel.
After a check by the video assistant referee (VAR) for a penalty and a possible red card, referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez was summoned to the screen, after which he decided to award the spot-kick and dismiss Bensebaini with a second yellow card.
Lazar Samardzic then kept his cool to convert the highest of pressure penalties, sending the ball into the roof of the net and Atalanta into the last 16, where they will face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich.
The home fans celebrated wildly at the final whistle after witnessing an amazing display of desire and determination from their side.
Atalanta knew they needed an early goal to give them a chance of a famous comeback - and they got just that in the fifth minute.
Lorenzo Bernasconi sent a low cross in from the left, where former West Ham forward Scamacca was in the perfect place to tap in.
As Dortmund looked increasingly rattled, the hosts added a second on the stroke of half-time when Zappacosta's shot from outside the box took a deflection on its way into the net.
After Adeyemi's 75th-minute strike cancelled out Pasalic's effort, the tie opened up with both sides having chances before the end.
But the decisive moment came in the third of three minutes of stoppage time as extra time beckoned.
Kobel failed to clear and gifted Atalanta an attacking opportunity that led to the penalty as Bensebaini flicked out a leg backwards as Krstovic stooped to meet the cross.
Amid the chaos and furious protests on the Dortmund bench at the decision, substitute Nico Schlotterbeck was also shown a red card. Atalanta substitute Giorgio Scalvini was also red carded for his part in the argument.
It was a remarkable end after a remarkable effort by Atalanta.
Not since Liverpool, in their 2019 semi-final against Barcelona, had a team progressed after losing the first leg of a knockout-stage tie by two or more goals.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel called on the NFL to increase staffing at its replay command center to ensure reviews from all games are treated equally.
Vrabel spoke at the NFL scouting combine Wednesday and was asked about comments earlier this week by league executive Troy Vincent that there were a handful of mistakes made in replay last season in games played in the early Sunday afternoon window when as many as nine games were played at the same time.
“We need to make sure every game is treated the same — from the prime-time game on Sunday night to the prime-time game on Monday or Thursday or whether it’s one of those one o’clock games that is the lifeblood of our league,” said Vrabel, who is a member of the competition committee.
“So if it’s something we need to take care of in the offseason, staffing issues that need to be taken care of so that those things are looked at, we need to be really good at replay because there’s going to be mistakes on the field. ... We have to get to a system in replay that’s as close to 100% accurate as possible.”
Vincent said earlier this week that out of the 171 plays that were called on replay or replay assist, there were only a handful that were mishandled. The majority of those came in the 1 p.m. ET window, when there are more games being played simultaneously.
“There were five after we kind of took a step back and breathed — four of them (were) in the 1 o’clock window,” Vincent said. “Just volume and you go, ‘Ah, if we had to do that one again, just looking at it.’”
At least one of those plays proved crucial in the playoff race. Vincent cited a replay review in a Week 14 game that overturned a ruling on the field of an interception thrown by Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers. The decision cost Baltimore 46 yards in field position, and the Ravens eventually lost the game 27-22 when a potential go-ahead TD pass from Lamar Jackson to Isaiah Likely was ruled incomplete by replay.
That call was not one of the five Vincent referenced, but he did say it warranted more discussion about what is or isn’t a catch. A win in that game for Baltimore would have given the Ravens the AFC North title instead of the Steelers.
An increase in staffing at the replay command center during windows with more games would not solve all of the inequities in comparison to higher-profile games, which feature significantly more cameras used by the broadcasters.
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch, a former broadcaster and a new member of the competition committee, said that needs to be addressed as well.
“I do think that’s something we want to strive for as a league,” Lynch said. “I think there’s some uniformity you can get by requiring teams to have fixed cameras and things. I know all those things are being discussed, but that is a reality that the one o’clock games, there’s multiple games going on at the same time. So, the New York headquarters, they’re not going to have all their attention on that game. And then within that, the element that I talked about just not having the amount of cameras and angles. That’s a reality and something that we have to figure out because every game is important in our league, not just the prime-time games.”
“Chloe [Kitts] will come back next year," Staley said. "I think she said that on Instagram. Right? Well, as far as I know (she’s coming back). Transfer portal isn't open yet.”
Kitts, a 6-foot-2 forward, tore the ACL in her right knee in September and is out for the season. Before Staley's confirmation, it was unclear if Kitts would return to South Carolina or declare for the 2026 WNBA Draft. Kitts hasn't announced her return on Instagram. Staley may have been referring to an October 2025 post the Gamecocks senior made when sharing news of her ACL injury.
"While this isn't how I hoped my senior season would go, I'm trusting God's timing and purpose," Kitts wrote. "I'll continue to lead, support and push my team from the sidelines. We have big things ahead!"
Before her injury, Kitts started was a starter for the Gamecocks. The South Carolina forward was part of the undefeated 2023-2024 team that won a national championship. Kitts posted career highs in points (10.2), rebounds (7.7), assists (1.9) and steals (0.7) her junior season.
Kitts won MVP at the 2025 SEC Tournament and averaged 10.6 points during South Carolina's NCAA Tournament run. Kitts finished the 2025 NCAA Tournament with two double-doubles, including 15 points and 11 rebounds in the Sweet 16.
In fact, there was one specific event that the Kansas City Chiefs tight end and his Grammy-winning fiancee watched from start to finish - the Men's hockey finals.
The NFL star revealed on the Wednesday, Feb. 25 episode of his "New Heights" podcast that he and the "Opalite" singer watched Team USA capture the gold with a thrilling 2-1 win over Canada on Sunday.
"Me and Tay watched the entire game, man," the Chiefs tight end told his brother, former Philadelphia Eagles center turned ESPN analyst, Jason Kelce. "And it's just so f---ing epic, man. From the first drop of the puck, man, that game was nonstop action and had me at the edge of my seat."
"Loved every bit of it, man," Travis added.
During Wednesday's episode, Travis, 36, and Jason, 38, donned matching Team USA jerseys, while discussing the epic win for the Americans.
"Twinsies," Jason said happily, adding "Same jerseys."
They then discussed star forward Jack Hughes, 24, scoring the "golden goal" in overtime to secure the win for the U.S. men's team.
"I just f---ing exploded when I saw ol' Jack Hughes f---ing put it right in between the legs, man," said Travis in reference to Hughes sneaking the puck in between Jordan Binnington's legs in overtime to defeat Canada.
"They crushed it. USA was so much fun to watch throughout the entire tournament, man. That semifinal game that you went to, I'm sure we'll get into the rundown, but absolutely epic," Travis added.
Jason agreed, saying, "There is just something about hockey, whether it's playoff hockey or national hockey. When guys are going all out, it's just the most fun sport to watch on the planet."
INDIANAPOLIS – Jacob Rodriguez won’t know for another two months where he’ll be playing football in 2026. But the former Texas Tech star doesn’t need the NFL draft to inform him where he’ll be.
“Home is wherever she is,” Rodriguez said Feb. 25 at the league’s annual scouting combine, a reference to his wife, Emma.
And while that might seem like a stock answer for one half of a young couple, it’s hardly simple in the case of the Rodriguezes. That’s because Emma, who graduated from West Point in 2023, is now a Black Hawk helicopter pilot – meaning not only does the lieutenant have a demanding Army career of her own, she’s likely to be stationed anywhere in the United States, to say nothing of the likelihood she’ll be deployed.
“We’ve been doing long distance for our whole marriage, and so it’s something that we’ve kinda been used to,” said Jacob Rodriguez of Emma, who was also his high school sweetheart in Texas. “I know she has a lot going on, I have a lot going on. We both try to find the time to get to talk to each other.
“Whenever we get to see each other, it’ll be great.”
In the meantime, NFL ballcarriers are likely to see a lot of Rodriguez, an off-ball linebacker – and sooner than later.
An All-America in 2025 for the Red Raiders, the Big 12’s Defensive Player of the Year and winner of numerous awards last season (Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Butkus Award, Lombardi Award and the Chuck Bednarik Award among them), Rodriguez’s 140 solo tackles over the past two seasons were the most in FBS. He also forced seven fumbles in 2025, tied for the most in a single season over the last decade, and finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting despite his position.
“Just a total playmaker – run stuffing, sacks, interceptions, pass breakups. He does it all, even scored a touchdown on offense,” said ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller.
“I know there’s going to be some conversation about athletic ability, (lack of) explosiveness in the lower body … (but) in terms of just pure football players, Jacob Rodriguez is one of the best in this class.”
Jacob Rodriguez 'will be a starter in the NFL' draft expert says
Listed at 6-foot-1, 235 pounds by Texas Tech, Rodriguez may not have ideal size for his position – which he hasn’t even played all that long – and may not blow anyone away with his other physical traits. But he’s taken the long road to success before.
“I’ll make this prediction here early: Jacob Rodriguez might not be a top 100 pick in this draft, (but) he will be a starter in the NFL,” says Miller.
“I would not be surprised if he works his way into a rookie starter position and then has a very nice, long career because of the instincts, the football IQ, the awareness and the toughness that he plays with.”
Rodriguez has only been a linebacker since 2022, when he changed schools and positions after getting a scholarship to play quarterback at the University of Virginia coming out of high school. But a coaching switch in Charlottesville led him to enter the transfer portal – where he languished before getting a lifeline from Texas Tech, with caveats: He had to walk on ... and switch positions. Yet his experience behind center has translated nicely to his new role – though he did score a pair of red-zone TDs in 2025 on direct snaps in option packages in a callback to his former football life.
“It definitely helps,” Rodriguez says of his QB background. “Preparation is the biggest thing. Quarterbacks prepare in such a way that they have to know everything that’s going on on both sides of the ball.”
Said Miller: “You see that – the understanding of the game, the knowledge of the game definitely shows up now that he’s on defense.”
Yet so does the hard work and leadership.
“Jacob is one of the guys who has to come around and cools me down when I'm talking trash. It's exciting to play with J-Rod,” said Texas Tech defensive lineman Lee Hunter, one of several Big 12 champion Red Raiders invited to this year’s combine.
"J-Rod is the GOAT. He's a dog. He takes pride in what he's doing."
And, similar to most defensive quarterbacks, that means a lot of time studying the playbook and opponents.
“A lot of it comes from preparation,” said Rodriguez, who’s already met with the Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears at the combine.
“You kinda know where the ball’s gonna go, and so you can have a quicker step to be able to get there. And then a lot of it has to do with effort – if you’re playing defense, then you’ve got to play with a lot of effort. That’s kinda mandatory.”
Rodriguez models his game after Buffalo Bills linebackers Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard but became prolific at creating turnovers by watching former Bears cornerback Charles "Peanut" Tillman, whom he recently met.
“There has to be a purpose to take the ball away – everything you do should be wanting to take the ball,” said Rodriguez.
Jacob Rodriguez and his wife, Emma, have had a special journey together leading them to Texas Tech ❤️ @MartySmithESPN sat down with them both to hear about their connection 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/hJlG0O7HU4
It would be a ball for Emma Rodriguez if she's able to continue seeing her husband play in person. She managed to make the trip from her duty station in Fort Riley, Kansas, to see all of his home games in Texas Tech’s magical 2025 season, which ended with a loss to Oregon in the CFP quarterfinals.
“Long distance is hard, but whenever you’re with the right person, it’s incredibly worth it,” Emma Rodriguez told ESPN last season.
“We live very different lives but very demanding lives at the same time. And as long as we get to do it together, that’s what makes it worth it.”
Married now for nearly three years, Jacob Rodriguez says his union with Emma is “normal,” underpinned by trust and inspiration.
“She motivates me so much,” he said. “I wouldn’t be here without her.
“She’s great, she’s so high performing in her own right. It helps us because she understands how much work you have to put in to do something at a high level, and so I think we have a mutual respect for each other on that end.”
And, if the NFL does them a solid, maybe a place to make a mutual home sooner rather than later.
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Former Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman appeared as a guest on Foul Territory on Wednesday.
When asked about what he focused on this offseason in terms if baseball improvement, Bregman pointed to strength and conditioning.
"First and foremost, (you) gotta take pride in being available," Bregman said. "I got hurt last year, so I wanted to make sure that I was healthy for 162 (games) and a postseason run, so I really locked in on the strength and conditioning and physical therapy."
Alex Bregman says he locked in on strength conditioning and physical therapy over the offseason in hopes of making himself more available in-season.
Bregman also said he wants to get his swing-rate down into the 35-39% range and make contact further out in front of the plate. pic.twitter.com/5J5S19Zo5S
"I think the two things that I wanna work on for sure this year is lowering my swing rate, getting it back down into the 35-39 (percent) range ... (to be) more aggressively selective at the dish," Bregman continued.
"Also, making contact further out in front of home plate (is a goal for 2026)."
Bregman’s 2025 season marked another All-Star campaign for Bregman. After leaving the Houston Astros as a free agent and signing a three-year deal with the Red Sox, he played in 114 games for Boston, batting .273 with 18 home runs, 62 RBIs, 64 runs scored, and an .822 OPS (.360 OBP, .462 SLG).
His performance included strong plate discipline, with a low 14.1% strikeout rate and 10.5% walk rate, contributing to a 125 wRC+ and 3.5 WAR. Though limited by a quadriceps strain that sidelined him for stretches, Bregman delivered consistent production in a potent lineup.
Career-wise, through the end of 2025, Bregman has amassed 1,250 hits, 209 home runs, 725 RBIs, and a .272/.365/.481 slash line over 1,225 games, primarily with the Astros where he helped secure two World Series titles. His resume features multiple All-Star selections, a Gold Glove, and a Silver Slugger.
Following the 2025 campaign, Bregman opted out of his Red Sox contract and signed a five-year, $175 million deal with the Chicago Cubs in January.
James Harden joined the Cleveland Cavaliers in February 2026 (Nick Cammett)
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden fractured his thumb against the New York Knicks and is questionable to play their next game, the team said Wednesday.
The news comes as a blow to the in-form Cavs, who acquired former NBA Most Valuable Player Harden this month and have won six of seven games since.
"Cavaliers guard James Harden injured his right thumb in last night's 109-94 win over New York," said a team statement.
"A postgame examination by the Cavaliers' medical staff, followed by X-rays taken today, confirmed a non-displaced fracture of the distal phalanx."
"Harden will undergo treatment and continued evaluation and will be listed as QUESTIONABLE for tonight's game against Milwaukee. An update on his status will be provided as appropriate."
The Cavaliers are currently joint-third in the Eastern Conference, and are among the top contenders for this year's NBA title.
The 36-year-old has never won a championship despite being one of the most decorated players in the league.
"We're working to build something special," said Harden after his new side's most recent win on Tuesday night.
Utah Valley University guard Ally Criddle (13) calls out to her teammates as she brings the ball up the court while guarded by Brigham Young University guard Brinley Cannon (24) during an NCAA women’s basketball game between the BYU Cougars and the UVU Wolverines held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Utah Valley University sports teams will be allowed to play in upcoming Western Athletic Conference postseason tournaments amid an ongoing legal dispute between the school and the league over exit fees.
Utah 3rd District Court Judge Denise Porter issued a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction Tuesday pending further litigation in the case.
Porter ordered the WAC to permit UVU to participate in all WAC and NCAA postseason tournaments and/or championships. She further ordered the conference to “immediately” reinstate the school to all WAC-sponsored media broadcasts and make UVU teams, coaches and athletes eligible for postseason awards.
“The court is persuaded that careful review of the motion pleadings, exhibits and papers show that UVU will likely prevail upon its claims and is entitled to the equitable remedy of a restraining order as relief to reinstate their participation in the conference while the fee issue is litigated to prevent irreparable harm,” the judge wrote.
What is the dispute between UVU and the WAC about?
The WAC filed a lawsuit against the Orem-based school earlier this month in district court in Tarrant County, Texas, alleging UVU has refused to pay a $1 million “contractually obligated” exit fee.
Because the university didn’t make the payment by Jan. 31, it was deemed no longer a member in good standing with the conference, according to the lawsuit. The WAC barred UVU from conference tournament and NCAA championship play and from appearing on conference-sponsored television, radio or other media packages.
UVU filed its own complaint against the WAC in Utah about two weeks later seeking an injunction requiring the conference to allow its teams to participate in upcoming WAC tournaments and championships and to reinstate UVU teams to all WAC-sponsored media broadcasts.
“Indeed, over the course of the next three months, the WAC will conduct eight post-season tournaments that are the last — and in some instances only — opportunity for the student-athletes of WAC member schools and/or student-athletes to qualify for national NCAA tournaments that are typically broadcast nationwide (if not worldwide)," according to the court filing.
“The harm if UVU’s teams and student-athletes are not permitted to participate in these tournaments is unquantifiable.”
In a separate court filing, UVU argues the case belongs in Utah, specifically Utah County, because the events giving rise to this dispute occurred where the school is located.
UVU contends that as other schools fled the WAC in 2024, the conference proposed the remaining members sign a “commitment agreement” running through the end of the 2025-2026 academic year. In exchange, the conference promised additional revenue and “would include reduced and/or waived exit fees” should a school decide to leave after that time, according to court documents.
The agreement would distribute about $5.6 million to retained members paid for by exit fees from departing members, including close to $300,000 June 2024 and another $1.15 million last June, according to the UVU court filing.
Porter found in her ruling the WAC tried to “squeeze out” UVU while still bound to the commitment agreement and unilaterally moved to rescind it in a “manner that was unfair towards a vested right UVU had earned by performing pursuant to the contract to expect diminished or excused exit fees.”
Negotiations failed to reach a resolution
The conference argues that Tarrant County, Texas, is the proper venue for the case because UVU participated in governance and oversight of the WAC there, signed a contract to abide by conference bylaws and recruits athletes and employees in the state. WAC headquarters are located in Arlington, Texas.
In its lawsuit, the WAC maintains that UVU breached its contract with the conference in failing to pay the exit fee, rendering the school a member not in good standing.
“The WAC has been consistent, upfront, and open with UVU and has attempted to avoid this dispute,“ per the lawsuit. ”Unfortunately, UVU preferred to elevate this dispute and refused to comply with contractual obligations as expressly agreed to and as set forth in the bylaws."
Both sides say they tried to resolve the issue without going to court.
Porter found in her order that the damage to UVU outweighs the damage to the WAC. She wrote that restrictions the conference placed on the school would cause “significant” harm to its institutional brand and business. The WAC not getting the $1 million exit fee is not irreparable harm, she wrote.
The WAC crowns champions in nine women’s sports and seven men’s sports. Conference tournaments and championships in track and field, basketball, softball, baseball and golf are coming up in the next three months, starting Feb. 27 with men’s and women’s indoor track.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 06: Mohammed Usman of Nigeria reacts after his knockout victory over Zac Pauga in a heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on August 06, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Just a few days later, Usman was bounced from the YouTube-streamed lineup due to “undisclosed reasons.“
That’s according to a report from MMA Fighting, which also shared the news that former UFC light heavyweight, Thiago Santos, would be replacing Usman against fellow UFC veteran, Guto Inocente.
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA is exactly what it sounds like: an MMA fight without gloves.
Here’s the current heavyweight lineup for April 10:
Anthony Smith vs. Chase Sherman Guto Inocente vs. Thiago Santos Alexandr Romanov vs. Nikolay Kovalenko Bruno Cappelozza vs. Todd Duffee
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA returns on May 1 in Miami for the second round of its $500,000 heavyweight tournament.
Champions League 2025/26: When will the round of 16 draw take place?
Champions League 2025/26: Date, time and venue for the round of 16 draw
Champions League 2025/26 / @x.com
The UEFA Champions League this season is entering its decisive stage. As the knockout rounds approach, the round of 16 draw marks a pivotal moment in the race for the trophy.
Date and venue of the round of 16 draw
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has officially announced the date of the round of 16 draw. It will take place on Friday, 27 February 2026, after all the qualifying play-off matches have concluded.
The ceremony is set to begin at 11:00 am (GMT) and, as tradition dictates, will be held at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
Under the tournament's new format, eight clubs have secured direct qualification by finishing in the top eight places of the league phase: Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool FC, Tottenham Hotspur, FC Barcelona, Chelsea FC, Sporting CP and Manchester City.
Meanwhile, five other teams have booked their spots through the play-offs: Atlético de Madrid, Newcastle United, Bodø/Glimt, Bayer Leverkusen, and Atalanta.
Thus, the list of qualified teams is now almost complete, pending the results of the remaining play-off matches still underway.
£100m Morgan Rogers deal is on as Liverpool interest confirmed
Liverpool are eyeing up big changes in their attack ahead of the summer transfer window.
Despite spending £450m last summer - including British record deals for Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak - Richard Hughes is not done yet.
With doubts over both Mohamed Salah and Federico Chiesa there is a sense that another big-name recruit could be coming on board before the 2026/27 season commences.
We’ve seen the likes of Mateus Mane and Yan Diomande linked in recent weeks - but there is a growing sense that Liverpool will set their sights on a bigger proven talent.
Liverpool have got concrete interest in Morgan Rogers
The Aston Villa playmaker - a multifaceted attacker who can play in various positions - recently extended his contract from 2030 to 2031.
That has given Unai Emery’s side a little more leverage on the England international’s transfer value - with it being reported last summer that he would be available for around £80m.
His price according to the report has grown beyond £100m now - with Rogers having provided eight goals and five assists in the Premier League season thus far.
Villa are gunning for the Champions League but again have got mounting financial problems on the horizon.
An inability to comply with PSR, financial fair play and the impending Squad Cost Ratios could mean another big-name player is sacrificed in the off-season.
That will become all the more likely if they are to drop out of the Champions League places.
Rogers now valued at £100m or more
“Villa still may need a significant outgoing, even though they're on course for Champions League football this season,” Jacobs writes.
“Chelsea and Liverpool are two of several Premier League clubs who hold a concrete interest in Morgan Rogers.
“Villa, should they get Champions League football, will certainly not be ruling out just keeping Morgan Rogers if the player wishes to stay and the finances allow, but don't be surprised if Premier League clubs make a serious push for Morgan Rogers in summer 2026, despite the fact that he only signed a new contract extension last November.”
It’s not the first time Liverpool have been linked with the former Manchester City youth. His form last season put him on the Reds’ radar - although attackers were sourced from elsewhere in the shape of Wirtz, Isak and Hugo Ekitike.
Rogers - an attacking midfielder in Emery’s usual set-up - can also play from the left and even up front in a bind. He could therefore provide many solutions for a Liverpool attack which could be remodelled in a big way over the summer.
2026 Women's AFCON: 30 players called up to represent Burkina Faso in training camp
The Stallions women's team has already arrived in Morocco
2026 Women's AFCON: 30 players called up to represent Burkina Faso
As part of their preparations for the Women's AFCON, coach Pascal Sawadogo has called up 32 players for a training camp in Morocco.
The Burkina Faso women's national team arrived in Morocco on February 25 for an intensive training camp ahead of the Women's AFCON finals. Pascal Sawadogo has selected 30 players, including 4 goalkeepers, 10 defenders, 8 midfielders, and 10 forwards.
The main squad features standout names such as captain Charlotte Milogo, Nana Juliette, Belm Alimta, Rasmata Sawadogo, Sawadogo Balkissa, and Mariam Ouattara. During this camp, Burkina Faso is scheduled to play two friendly matches against Morocco.
Travis and Jason Kelce rock Team USA hockey jerseys to celebrate the men and women's gold medal wins at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Credit: New Heights/YouTube (2)
NEED TO KNOW
Travis and Jason Kelce matched in Team USA jerseys to discuss the men and women's Team USA hockey wins at the 2026 Winter Olympics
The football brothers praised both teams for their respective wins against Canada in Milan to secure a gold medal
Jason and his wife, Kylie, cheered on the teams in-person in Milan
Move over, football jerseys!
Jason and Travis Kelce wore their American pride on their sleeves when celebrating both the men's and women's hockey teams after they each defeated Canada 2-1 for the gold medal victories at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
In the latest episode of New Heights, the NFL brothers were amped up over the thrilling wins by both ice hockey teams — so to celebrate, they slipped on Team USA jerseys in red, white and blue for the duration of the podcast that dropped on Wednesday, Feb. 25.
Travis and Jason Kelce on "New Heights" released on Feb. 25, 2026. Credit: New Heights
"USA! USA!" the co-hosts chant at the start of the episode, where they discussed the highlights in the men's milestone win, which marked the hockey team's first Olympic victory since the 1980 Miracle on Ice, plus shouted out Laila Edwards and the women's team for their "epic" triumph.
To accompany the Kansas City Chiefs tight end's Team USA jersey, he opted for a white baseball hat that had "USA" stitched in red lettering and the multi-colored Olympic rings beneath it on the cap's front above its dark-shaded brim.
"USA... Hockey capital of the world! Men's and women's. Gold medal," Jason touted in the episode, highlighting the women's hockey team, who defeated their heated rival Canada with a 2-1 win three days prior to the men's team victory.
He added, "Best country on the planet in hockey. I don't want to hear any arguments."
Travis revealed that he and his fiancée, Taylor Swift, watched the men's hockey gold medal game together in New York on Sunday, Feb. 22, which coincidentally fell on the same day as his dad Ed Kelce's birthday.
U.S. women's hockey team celebrates after winning gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty
"Me and Tay watched the entire game, man," the Chiefs star said. "And it's just so f---ing epic, man. From the first drop of the puck, man, that game was nonstop action and had me at the edge of my seat."
"Loved every bit of it, man," he added.
During the men's finals, star player Jack Hughes, 24, scored the "golden goal" in overtime for a victorious ending to the 2026 Winter Olympics.
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"I just f---ing exploded when I saw ol' Jack Hughes f---ing put it right in between the legs, man," said Travis of the star forward, who snuck one in between Jordan Binnington's legs in overtime to defeat Canada.
The NFL brothers marveled over Hughes' missing front tooth, which was knocked out after he took Canadian Sam Bennett’s hockey stick to the face earlier in the game.
Jack Hughes hits the golden goal at the 2026 Winter Olympics for Team USA. Credit: Elsa/Getty
"Golly. It looked like he had lost that tooth once or twice before," Travis noted. "They crushed it. USA was so much fun to watch throughout the entire tournament, man. That semifinal game that you went to, I'm sure we'll get into the rundown, but absolutely epic."
The Kelce family had been very supportive of the women's hockey team in the days leading up to the Winter Games and on site in Milan.
Jason and his wife, Kylie Kelce, cheered them on in person, while Travis and his brother even donated to help star Edwards fly her entire family out to watch her play. (Edwards is from Cleveland Heights, like the Kelce brothers!)
Laila Edwards celebrate after scoring a goal for Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Credit: Gregory Shamus/Getty I
"Tip of the cap, to you Laila," the Chiefs star said on New Heights, before going on to praise her performance and entire women's team. "That was awesome to see you go and get it — I'll tell you what, man. She has a f---ing shot!"
"She was very, very good throughout the Olympics," shared the Eagles star. "After talking to her, you realize she's from Cleveland Heights, man. There's just this humbleness, but also she's a great person and it comes across very apparent when you speak to her."
Then, Jason revealed that he and Kylie got to meet the entire women's hockey team at the Olympics.
"They're a great team, man. They're tight-knit, they're playing jokes on one another. Just so proud for all of them. It's an incredible moment to win a gold medal," the Eagles center added.
Travis wondered, "I could only imagine what that feels like."
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 24: General manager Chris Ballard of the Indianapolis Colts speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On negotiations with Alec Pierce and Daniel Jones with the new league year starting soon.
”Yep, good. I’ve had great discussions with both of them. We will continue to work this week and see if we get something done. It’s been very positive. Look when both sides are driven to get it done, it usually works out the right way. There’s a long, I know 4-5 days doesn’t seem like a long time, but it can be in these situations, but both players and we are driven, the agents have been great to work with. We just gotta keep working through it.”
On if he would use the franchise tag for either player to make sure at least one of them doesn’t hit free agency:
“It’s not what we want to do. It’s a tool we have, it’s not what we want to do though.”
Regarding Michael Pittman Jr.’s future with the team after his doubts on a podcast
”I love Mike. Did y’all know Pitt is a pilot now? I had no… I mean I knew he was dabbling with it but I didn’t know that he was going up in the air and flying solo and doing all that.”
“Pitt’s an interesting guy, so look I think the world of Pitt and who he is as a player. Any suggestion that he is not going to be here is a pure hypothetical in my mind.”
He was asked a follow up by Jake Arthur on if it is realistic for him to play at his $29 million cap figure when the Colts have to pay Alec Pierce
“Mike Bloom does an unbelievable job for us, so whatever challenges we have we will work through them as we get these contracts done.”
Mooney Ward health and retirement decision update
“We’ve had discussions… our couches and Shane have had long discussions with him (everyday) and I had a long discussion with him at the end of the year. Mooney is a special kid young man who had some unfortunate circumstances. The 2nd Concussion was pretty severe and when he had the 3rd one he fought me, he wasn’t happy with the doctor or I. We are going to do the right thing for the player.
He’s in a good frame of mind. I’m not going to get into the hypotheticals of what’s going to happen but his frame of mind is really good right now.”
James Boyd followed up with a question of if he (Mooney Ward) was still deciding.
Ballard responded with:
“I don’t want to say he is still deciding, all indications is he is wanting to move forward and play.”
DeForest Buckner post surgery update
“Yeah he is good. And I think he was some relief for Buck when he got it done. I mean look it was really the first, I mean he’s had injuries before, but it was the first time that he had one that was pretty serious. Then getting the surgery done the relief that I think he felt like 1. I feel better instantly and 2. I can play football again.
I’m not going to put a time frame on it, we are expecting him back for Training Camp. The way he works and who he is, wouldn’t surprise me if it’s sooner. He will be back and he will be ready to go and I think he will have a good year.
What traits are the Colts seeking out for Day 2?
“History has proven that great players have come from anywhere in the draft. Whether their are a 1st Round Pick, 2nd Round Pick, Undrafted Free Agent. There’s certain athletic traits that we do look for but the one consistent: Bernie was a really good player coming out who played a lot of football, Pierce has played a lot of football, JT played a lot of football, Pittman… These guys have played a lot of football. Our scouts do a great job digging and getting these guys who we think can produce right away.
They come from everywhere. I think you know us we like to acquire picks. I’m not saying we wouldn’t like to move in the draft as that is always a possibility but there’s a good chance we will end up moving back. And we have plenty (of them). And we are going to get 2 comp picks and we are at 7 (right now) so I would anticipate us having more when its all said and done.”
Anthony Richardson’s eye recovery and if he’s regained his full vision
“Well he is getting better. He just had, I know he met with another specialist. He’s getting better and he’s been cleared to play football. I’m proud of him, I’m proud of Anthony man. Here’s a guy who’s had to deal with a lot of injury stuff that you know, happens. Unfortunate accident with his eye, he doesn’t win the job, Daniel wins the job.
I think the one thing that I don’t know if everyone appreciates about Anthony, I do, and I know some of his teammates do: he’s a really good teammate. Positive, wants to do the right thing.
So it’s trending in the right direction, still got a ways to go. But he is cleared to play and the eye is getting better. We’ll just work from there.
On if he sees a future for Richardson in Indianapolis:
”Yeah. I’m not going to (speculate) kinda with any player you don’t know what is going to happen and things change. But yeah we like Anthony.“
On what derails QB development besides injuries
”Lack of… that’s a… I mean… golly man, that’s a long answer there. So many factors because you are seeing it in the league now. Especially with a first round pick, they are really given year 1 okay benefit of the doubt but year 2 if they are not superstar flush them. That’s kinda been the MO.
You can see it with the guys around the league who have bounced back and matured and gotten the snaps and figured out the game. I mean Sam Darnold just won a Super Bowl doing it, Baker Mayfield is a guy, Daniel… I mean we have had these guys when development happens in a QB, organizationally and in general, everybody succeeds at their own rate. They, and I’ve said this numerous times, I think all of them have to stand on the edge of the cliff because they are going to struggle.
I just had a talk with a guy about this. They are going to struggle and they are going to be criticized like they’ve never been criticized before. And if you think about it especially in today’s age in social media where we stamp and make superstars even before they are a superstar and they get to our league and it’s not easy. They’ve got to stand at the edge of the abyss and not jump.
I wish I had a answer for that one, I’d probably quit and become a consultant and make a lot of money.“
Which positions will be the focus of the offseason with getting younger and faster?
“The front 7, we’ve had some pretty good players here. Like speed on defense we gotta get faster on Defense and we really have to on the front 7.
On how that message extends to the current roster of players and who the Colts are going to lose because of that, Ballard elaborated:
“It’s a fair assessment. I think we will work on it as we go along. We gotta see how free agency works out and then you attack the draft in that way. The draft we think is good on the defensive side of the football especially in the front 7. But it’s a definite area we need to address.”
📋 São Paulo line-up to face Coritiba, aiming to go clear at the top
São Paulo and Coritiba face each other this Wednesday (25th), at Couto Pereira, at 7:30 PM (Brasília time), for the fourth round of the 2026 Brasileirão.
Coxa is in tenth place with four points.
Meanwhile, Tricolor Paulista has seven points and is in second place.
Bahia, Fluminense, and Palmeiras have the same number of points, but Alviverde has a better goal difference (6 x 3 x 2 x 2).
Compared to the last match (2 x 1 over RB Bragantino, for the Paulistão), coach Hernan Crespo chose to rotate São Paulo's squad, with only goalkeeper Rafael and defender Alan Franco remaining among the starters.
Coritiba, on the other hand, led by coach Fernando Seabra, comes from a 2 x 2 draw with Operário, which resulted in the team's elimination from the Campeonato Paranaense.
Feb 24, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider speaks at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
We live in a fascinating time when it comes to the NFL and data within it.
There is so much information available, but sometimes that can be overwhelming. Understanding what you are looking at and more importantly how it can help are critical factors for football fans everywhere.
It is in this way that Amazon has really helped during their Thursday Night Football broadcast. They have an offering in addition to the main coverage, Prime Vision, that allows to see nuances of a game that may not be visible to the naked eye.
TNF Analytics Expert Sam Schwartzstein joined me for a conversation during the week of the NFL Combine to discuss Prime Vision, its benefits, how even casual fans can benefit form it, and data at large across the NFL.
Prime Vision has done such a great job of working with features that may someday make their way to the full broadcast, as Prime Video continues to pioneer the integration of AI into live sports through broadcast enhancements called Prime Insights. These innovations help to highlight key athletes, illuminate hidden aspects, forecast pivotal moments, and bring fans closer to the action.
At the end of the day football is still football, and all of the data in the world can only go so far. The data is helpful obviously, but it has to be married and cross-referenced with the proper findings on tape to draw full conclusions.
People like Sam and the team at Amazon make that possible. Thanks to them for the hard work.
Jack Draper won the prestigious Masters 1,000 title at Indian Wells last year [Getty Images]
British number one Jack Draper suffered a second-round loss to Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech on his return to the ATP Tour at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Contesting his first event on the men's tour since the US Open six months ago, Draper marked his comeback from injury by beating Quentin Halys in straight sets on Monday.
But the 24-year-old's tournament was ended by world number 31 Rinderknech in a 7-5 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 loss two days later.
Draper has slipped to 15th in the world, after reaching a career-high ranking of fourth last summer, following his long-term absence caused by a bruised bone in his service arm.
The issue, which began during the clay-court swing last April, progressively worsened to the point that he was forced to withdraw before his second-round match at the US Open in August - and subsequently finished his 2025 season.
Draper ended his 164-day wait to make his return to competition when he played - and won - one match for Great Britain at this month's Davis Cup qualifiers.
Draper said he was "really proud" to make a winning return to the tour following "a lot of down moments [during] the last eight months".
Seeking to build on the victory over the 68th-ranked Halys, Draper made an assured start on serve as he lost just two points across his opening four games.
But he crucially failed to take his first two break points in the 11th game, before Rinderknech seized his opportunity to clinch the opening set in the following game.
Draper was the first to come under pressure in the second set as he withstood three break points to restore parity at 3-3 but, from the brink of trailing by a set and a break, he reset impressively.
The Briton lost just one point over his next three service games and would not relinquish control of the tie-break after winning four of the first five points.
However, it was Rinderknech who forced the breakthrough in the deciding set - with that proving enough to secure a quarter-final meeting with Russian fifth seed Andrey Rublev.
Positives to take from Draper's tour comeback - analysis
In his opening match, Draper had enough quality to see off Halys. He did not possess quite enough sharpness against Rinderknech.
Draper was again wearing a compression sleeve on the affected left arm, although a string of winners from his dominant side - including an eye-catching 100mph forehand which whipped past Rinderknech - showed he was not afraid of holding back.
The Briton has also switched to a platform serve, meaning he stands with his feet slightly wider to allow a smoother transfer of weight, in an attempt to alleviate pressure on the bothersome bruised humerus.
That illustrates how Draper knows he needs to continue managing the issue.
Draper will be pleased how he pushed a tuned-up Rinderknech until the very end, even though he was unable to create opportunities on his opponent's rock-solid service game.
Rinderknech's variation and precision on a quick surface was hard to cope with. But Draper's lack of recent court time also showed in some rusty returning as the match reached its critical stage.
Once the feeling of frustration which inevitably follows any defeat subsides, Draper will reflect positively on the strides he has made in Dubai - assuming he recovers without any major issues.
Next he heads to Indian Wells - to defend the biggest title of his career - with valuable court time in the bank and the first step of a comeback likely to require patience completed.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been frustrating fans all across Major League Baseball in recent years after winning back-to-back World Series titles.
One of the main catalysts for the recent frustration is two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. His dominance has taken MLB by storm. He's one of the best hitters and an elite pitcher. But, while he's had some truly remarkable seasons, he's yet to put it together in one year.
But, maybe not for long, MLB.com's Brent Maguire made a very bold prediction on Ohtani, as he predicted the Dodgers superstar to hit 50 home runs and strike out 200 batters during the 2026 MLB season.
Shohei Ohtani predicted to hit 50 HR, reach 200 Ks
"Ohtani clubs 50 homers, strikes out 200 on the mound," Maguire predicts. "It's worth reiterating: Ohtani's done the unthinkable on so many occasions that he could very well pull off something like this."
Ohtani hitting 50 home runs in a single season, while impressive, wouldn't be a surprise. In fact, it might be surprising if he doesn't reach that mark.
In both seasons with the Dodgers, Ohtani has hit 54 and 55 home runs. In his MLB career, Ohtani has 280 home runs. Barring a surprise, he should eclipse 300 this year, and reaching 50 homers, of 330 for his career, wouldn't be too big a surprise.
The strikeouts on the mound are the main issue for Ohtani. Since 2018, Ohtani has pitched in 100 games, which included 14 starts last season. He had a 2.87 ERA with 62 strikeouts, good for 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings.
If he can pitch a full season, as he did in 2022 when he made 28 starts, Ohtani reaching 200 strikeouts is doable. That 2022 season, across 28 starts and 166 innings, Ohtani had 219 strikeouts. As a hitter that season, Ohtani had 34 homers.
Ohtani has accomplished both of these feats, 50 homers and 200 strikeouts, in a single season before. But putting both together in one year would almost certainly mean that he'd win his fourth-straight MVP award.
While this might be a bold prediction from Maguire, it's not that unrealistic a goal to strive for in 2026 for Ohtani. If he can pitch a full season and not miss any time due to injury, reaching 50 homers and 200 strikeouts as a pitcher is well within his abilities.
🟥 Bizarre red card moment plays key role in Juve vs Galatasaray
Juventus have been left with it all to do tonight during their Champions League round of 16 second leg playoff clash with Galatasaray.
Much of the Italian football world was left stunned after La Vecchia Signora succumbed to a 5-2 defeat in Istanbul last week, with many questioning the direction of the club as well as Serie A on the back of their massive reversal away from home.
Not without hope, Juve took the lead this evening thanks to a converted penalty in the 37th minute by Manuel Locatelli, narrowing the aggregate deficit to just two goals with plenty of time left for more.
But the night would turn sour soon after when Lloyd Kelly would receive his marching orders after a second booking just three minutes after the restart.
In bizarre fashion, match official João Pedro Silva Pinheiro would subsequently upgrade the yellow to a straight red, with Kelly becoming just the second Englishman since Olympiakos' Matt Derbyshire (2009-10) to receive a red card in a UCL knockout stage match for a non-English team (per Opta).
Down a man regardless in the manner of Kelly's sending-off, Juve now have a mountain to climb in Turin if they are to progress to the round of 16.
Notre Dame men's basketball coach Micah Shrewsberry suffered an Achilles injury during Tuesday night’s loss to Duke, a team spokesperson confirmed to On3.
The injury compounded a disastrous night for the Irish in a 100-56 defeat. It marked the worst home loss in program history.
While the extent of Shrewsberry’s injury was not disclosed, he wore a large boot on his left foot and remained seated on the bench throughout the second half. Shrewsberry later entered the media room on crutches. “The season of hell continues,” he told reporters.
It's unclear at this point when the injury happened.
Shrewsberry's team sits at 12-16 with three ACC wins. The loss to Duke was tough from the beginning. The Blue Devils led 54-22 at halftime and dominated the glass 26-10 before the break. Freshman Cameron Boozer scored 20 first-half points with nine rebounds.
Nov 17, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) looks to pass beside Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) in the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are in a packed portion of their schedule, playing their fifth game in seven nights on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks. There’s a good chance we see them strategically rest a few players tonight. Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell have already been ruled out (Mobley with the calf, Mitchell with a groin strain).
James Harden is also listed as questionable after suffering a fracture in his right thumb last night versus the New York Knicks. It’s impossible to know with this stuff — but it appears Harden’s injury was a best-case scenario and he shouldn’t miss much time. Of course, take that with a grain of salt.
Cleveland is getting a slight relief in their opponent tonight. After facing the Knicks yesterday and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, the Milwaukee Bucks should seem easier. That’s partly why the Cavs are resting a few of their key players. They might not even need them tonight.
With that said, it’s important to never overlook an opponent. The Bucks may be without Giannis Antetokounmpo, but they still have NBA players on their roster who can burn you.
Former Cavalier Kevin Porter Jr. is playing quality basketball recently, scoring 32 points in his last game against the Miami Heat. Bobby Portis is a bucket, as well. He’ll be someone to watch for in this matchup.
Cavs injury report: Evan Mobley – OUT (calf), Donovan Mitchell – OUT (groin), James Harden – QUESTIONABLE (hand), Max Strus – OUT (foot), Tristan Enaruma – OUT (G League), Riley Minix – OUT (G League), Darius Brown – OUT (G League)
Bucks injury report: Giannis Antetounmpo – OUT (calf), Taurean Prince – OUT (neck), Alex Antetokunmpo – OUT (G League)
Cavs expectedstarting lineup: Dennis Schroder, Sam Merrill, Dean Wade, Jaylon Tyson Jarrett Allen
Bucks expected starting lineup: Kevin Porter Jr, Ryan Rollins, AJ Green, Kyle Kuzma, Myles Turner
With free agency a month away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ offensive tackle position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.
Starters: Kolton Miller, DJ Glaze
Backups: Charles Grant, Dalton Wagner, Joshua Miles
Free agents: Stone Forsythe
Going into the season, Kolton Miller had just signed a big long term extension and was viewed as the only proven starter on the club. Then he was lost four games into the season and replaced by free agent acquisition Stone Forsythe. He and Glaze manned the two tackle spots and were among the most abused tackle duos in the league. Charles Grant was a third round pick by the team (99 overall) out of William and Mary and barely saw the field.
Condition: Serious
While Miller is the entrenched starter at left tackle, the Raiders could use an upgrade at the right tackle spot. They must look first at free agency and then possibly high in the draft as well to find an answer there. The last thing the Raiders need is for their top pick rookie QB to be running for his life every game.
Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu returned to the Bay Area after a performance that captured the world, and the City of Oakland can't wait to celebrate her achievement.
The City of Oakland and Mayor Barbara Lee announced late Tuesday night that the city is planning a community-wide celebration for Liu.
Liu is the first American woman to win an individual gold since Sarah Hughes in 2002.
"Alysa represents the heart, grit, resilience, and joy of Oakland," reads the city's post. "Her achievement has filled our city with pride, and we are coordinating with her team now to finalize a date so the community can celebrate her together," the
The city has not released details on when the event and celebration will be held, but they are expected to do so soon.
Regardless, Oakland residents were excited to hear that the City of Oakland, Liu's hometown, had attempted to organize a grassroots celebration through Reddit.
Well, it's unclear how the city plans to celebrate Liu; some folks on Reddit and Facebook have provided their ideas to show their appreciation for the city's newest legend.
"She should get a parade drawn by gold and black horses, in the same pattern as her hair, in a manner reminiscent of a Roman triumph," one commenter said on social media.
Liu won the world's attention by being unapologetically herself
For fans of figure skating, Liu's final performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics truly defined her as a one-of-a-kind person and one-of-a-kind skater.
Since she was 5 years old, Liu had trained as a figure skater at her father's behest. She eventually won her first national title at 13, walked away from the sport at 16, returned at 18, became a world champion at 19, and is now an Olympic gold medalist at 20.
Upon her return to the sport, Liu wanted to ensure that her training and performance would stem from her own decisions. This philosophy changed her view of skating, from competitive ambition to an artistic perspective.
"I learned that I really just want to make art and also look at other people's art and appreciate art honestly," Liu told USA TODAY Sports. "I learned what I like, what I don't like."
But beyond her time on the ice, Liu's style and personality have turned her into an American icon across the internet.
Liu has become an American icon in more than one manner. A legend in the world of figure skating and as an image of how one can succeed while being true to themself.
There’s a new offensive-minded regime in the Pittsburgh Steelers, and head coach Mike McCarthy will no doubt be looking to acquire additional playmakers this offseason.
At wide receiver, the Steelers are currently down to DK Metcalf and Roman Wilson, with depth questions still looming behind the top two options.
If Pittsburgh ultimately looks to add another explosive option in free agency, Tutu Atwell of the Los Angeles Rams would be an intriguing acquisition.
Some have been quick to dismiss Atwell's talent as a result of his subpar stat line last season, but it's hard to fault the wideout when playing with a receiver corps featuring Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.
Possessing game-changing speed and a knack for creating huge plays, Atwell could give the Steelers a steal at wide receiver this offseason. Atwell has proved in years past that he's capable of a larger, WR2-esque workload, which is exactly what the Steelers are looking for opposite Metcalf.
Contract prediction
Atwell isn't commanding $10 million annually like the contract he received last offseason, with Spotrac projecting his average annual value at around $2.6 million. The Steelers could get away with signing Atwell to a two-year, $6 million deal.
For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
The Boston College men’s hockey team has won three in a row and four of their last five to help make a push for the NCAA Tournament as we now have just four games remaining in the regular season. Things have been going well for the most part, and the teams recent sweep of a two-game series against UConn has them on the right side of the tournament bubble as things stand. With a big series against BU coming up, let’s take a look at some of what has been going on for the Eagles as they look to solidify their postseason status.
POWER PLAY COMING UP BIG
BC’s power play has been an enormous part of their success this season. After a down year in 2024-25 when they converted on fewer than 18 percent of their chances, the Eagles are sixth in the NCAA this year and the top of Hockey East with a 28 percent success rate. They have 28 goals so far on the man advantage and they’re scoring them at big times. James Hagens scored the eventual game winner on Friday night with a power play goal and the team combined for three a few weeks ago to help win the Beanpot against BU. This somehow felt like a bit of a weakness last season despite the presence of Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault so for the team to have improved to such a large degree is impressive.
One big reason for the improvement has certainly been the addition of Ryan Conmy to the team. Conmy has four power play goals on the season – good for third most on the team – but he’s recently made his presence felt the most as a distributor. Take a look at his assist on Dean Letourneau’s power play goal from Saturday afternoon for an example of just that
The puck is on and off Conmy’s stick and onto Letourneau’s almost immediately. It gives Dean the extra bit of time he needs to get off a perfect shot and tie things up. And then there’s his pass to set up Hagens for the aforementioned winner on Friday night.
A perfect cross ice pass right in the wheelhouse for Hagens to fire home a one-timer. Those are the kinds of quick passing plays that make a power play successful, and BC has certainly been making the most of their man advantages of late.
ANDRE GASSEAU REMAINS ON FIRE
Andre Gasseau has been on an absolute tear since returning from injury in January and is playing the best hockey of his collegiate career. The senior forward is already up to sixth in scoring for the team despite playing in just 17 of 30 games and is over a point per game pace for the first time in his career. He has playing in 12 games since rejoining the lineup on January 16 and has at least one point in 10 of those games. Five of those games have been multi point games and he had a three assist night on Friday in the team’s 5-2 win against UConn.
Gasseau has mostly been skating on the team’s top line with James Hagens and Oscar Hemming lately and that trio has looked fantastic in basically all of their minutes. They might not be quite as dominant a trio as some of the top lines we’ve been able to see at BC in recent years, but they’re absolutely clicking on all cylinders right now and as we get closer to the end of the season, that’s all you can really ask for. And it’s nice to see this kind of success for Gasseau in particular, who has been an extremely solid and reliable player basically ever since he stepped on the ice back in his freshman season. Now he’s standing out more on an individual level and making plays like this to help close out games in overtime:
That’s a heck of a play from start to finish by Gasseau. Basically an end to end rush that includes burning a UConn defenseman, gets stopped on his chance from in close but is able to recover the loose puck and quickly make a tough pass on the tape to Lukas Gustafsson who gets the winner with a nice shot. Gasseau has been a huge part of the team’s success over these past few months and its great to see him playing this well after missing some time in the middle of the season.
JAKE SONDREAL COOLING OFF
Bit of a bummer here but Jake Sondreal has really cooled off after a great start to his sophomore season. That’s not to say he’s been bad, he’s still pretty noticeable on the ice and has certainly had some moments over the past few weeks, but the scoring numbers have dropped off quite a bit. After putting up 19 points through the end of December, Sondreal has just one goal and one assist in his last 12 games and no points in his last seven.
Again, that’s not to say he’s been playing poorly by any stretch and his season totals of 21 points in 30 games is already a huge step in the right direction after having just six in 36 games last year. And maybe it’s not entirely surprising since his slump just so happened to coincide with Gasseau’s return to the lineup and Oscar Hemming joining the team. He’s playing in more of a depth role now than he was back in October and November when he was getting some looks in the top six. But two points in 12 games is more than just a slight drop-off of his pace from the first half of the season and he hasn’t scored a goal since January 23. He’s struggling a bit right now and that’s not the end of the world, especially since the team has been playing well around him. It would just be nice to see him rediscover some of that scoring touch he had a few months ago, because he was looking like a really solid player for a while there.
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - JANUARY 11: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Jacksonville Jaguars hands off to Travis Etienne Jr. #1 during the first quarter in the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Buffalo Bills at EverBank Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Jaguars fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Jaguars fans — should Jacksonville bring back Devin Lloyd and/or Travis Etienne?
The former first-round picks lived up to the hype, no debate. We all have eyes. These are fantastic players who deserve the paydays they’re about to land.
According to Spotrac, Lloyd has a market value of $20.1 million per year. That’d put him right between Fred Warner ($21 mil) and Roquan Smith ($20 mil) for the league’s highest-paid off-ball linebackers in terms of annual earnings. Ouch!
Etienne’s projected market value of $6.8 million per year would be much easier to swallow. That’d be less than Tony Pollard ($7.25 mil), D’Andre Swift ($8 mil), and notably, the recently re-signed Javonte Williams ($8 mil). Dallas brought back Williams on a three-year, $24 million contract, which is probably the ballpark of what Etienne will land. That deal did no favors for Etienne’s camp, but on the other hand, New York’s imprisonment of Breece Hall could lead to a pretty hot market for Etienne and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III next month.
As Henry recently covered in depth here, Jacksonville’s first question this offseason is where to bring back Lloyd. More analysis on the Jaguars’ free agency is coming very soon.
Until then, let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
The Philadelphia 76ers started off their 3-game road trip with a dud in the bayou as they lost by 15 to the lowly New Orleans Pelicans. It was their season-high fourth straight loss and it appeared they were headed for another loss when they faced the Minnesota Timberwolves on the second night of a back-to-back.
However, Tyrese Maxey laced up his sneakers and led the Sixers to a much-needed win over the Wolves. Then, in the return of Joel Embiid from injury, Philadelphia handled business against the East-worst Indiana Pacers on Tuesday to go 2-1 on the trip.
The Sixers were able to shake off what was slowing them down a bit and will now turn their attention to returning home and hosting the Miami Heat in a hugely important matchup on Thursday.
"I think being realistic, if you come out here and get two out of three, you gotta be happy, right?" coach Nick Nurse told reporters after the win over the Pacers. "Obviously, it didn't start very well at all, but I still think we're kind of shaking off some All-Star, pre-imposed rust and stuff. I think we've had enough games to do that now, and two good ones on the road."
Now, nobody's going to be jumping for joy over a win against these Pacers, but a win is a win. Especially, when considering how tight things are in the Eastern Conference. The Sixers are currently only half a game head of the Orlando Magic for the No. 6 seed--and the final guaranteed playoff spot in the East--and 1.5 games ahead of the Heat.
Thursday's matchup will be huge for tiebreaker purposes as well. The Heat won the first matchup between the teams way back on Nov. 23. If the Heat win on Thursday, they will own the tiebreaker with only one more matchup between the teams on March 30 down in South Florida.
The Cleveland Browns enter yet another season with uncertainty at the quarterback position. Head coach Todd Monken specifically spoke to it during his media availability at the NFL combine on Wednesday, stating the Browns will hold an open competition and look to have training camp reps sorted out ahead of time. However, he was specifically asked about the potential of their $46 million quarterback, Deshaun Watson, after returning from an achilles injury.
Monken stated that he is willing to give Watson the benefit of the doubt and that he will have a shot to win the starting job entering the 2026 season. Speaking on Watson at the combine, here is what his new head coach had to say about his chances of winning the starting job this year:
"Anytime you have a player that at one time has exhibited that skill set at an elite level, you're always going to give them the benefit of the doubt that somehow we might be able to get that out of them again. And I think that's how you should look at every player... I'm going to let it play out."
Interesting answer from Browns new HC Todd Monken on having confidence that Deshaun Watson can win the starting job:
"Anytime you have a player that at one time has exhibited that skill set at an elite level, you're always going to give them the benefit of the doubt." pic.twitter.com/V0KrAUYraI
So, we know that Sanders and Watson are the two quarterbacks that Monken has spent the most time talking about. However, will a mystery fourth quarterback enter the fold in either NFL free agency or the 2026 NFL Draft? We will get our answer to that question over the coming months.
There is a beauty in the basketball we see after the All-Star break. The fun is in the sprint toward the playoffs when we can see and feel the urgency from teams, identity against identity, working to sprinkle in more game plans. There is a separation from how good you are as a team and a pivot into how much can you sustain that good. Teams are working to put each other in a box and they have to problem solve their way out of it.
How much do you believe in what you do? How many different ways can you get back to it?
With that in mind, I’ve been sitting and thinking about the Western Conference, where the Oklahoma City Thunder have fallen off their early historic pace and now have company at the top of the conference.
OKC and San Antonio: Battle for West’s top seed
Injuries have defined this stretch for OKC, but the team has found a way to stay on the right course. We all have someone in our lives who looks out their window on the weekend, takes a deep breath and admires their work. That’s the feel I’ve gotten from Mark Daigneault during this stretch.
OKC’s focus on next man up, executing on offense and harassing teams defensively has held steady no matter who has been on the court. Casually adding Jared McCain’s playmaking and shooting has helped, but the Thunder have been able to play through Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein to balance things on both ends of the floor with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams sidelined. Meanwhile, the lights may be brighter on Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe and a host of others, but they have kept the ball (and effort) moving.
The tricky part for the Thunder is that team in San Antonio refuses to go away. It’s one thing for the Spurs to have beaten the Thunder four out of five times this season, it’s another for the Spurs to have not lost a game in the month of February (nine straight wins), meaning they are now only three games behind the Thunder for the top spot in the West.
It’s easy to point to the play of Victor Wembanayama on both ends of the floor, but when you see the Spurs you see a team that is playing with more poise, more composure and more belief in what they are doing on both ends of the floor. Stephon Castle is willing to defend anyone on the planet, De’Aaron Fox has brought a consistent presence for this team, and when you watch them you see a team that understands the assignment.
The Spurs may not have everything they need, but they have positioned themselves as a real threat that can make a run with how they defend and how they attack offensively.
That brings me to the rest of the playoff teams.
Big questions for rest of West contenders
The Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves have had me in a headlock for the last few days. If you look at the Western Conference standings you can see just how tight things are between them. With every night, a win or loss could send them to a different position in the standings.
At a time of year when you’re supposed to be sharpening who you are as a team, the discomfort of the Western Conference delivers an alternate reality: two of these teams will advance and knock on the door of a conference finals run, two will go home early and disappointed, and there is a high likelihood they face each other to determine their fates.
It does not help that this is also the time of year where the feeling of a fatal flaw begins to stick to you as a team. It could be an inability to perform in the clutch, an inability to defend consistently, an inability to put enough lineups out there to navigate difficult moments.
Houston Rockets: They are currently the 3-seed in the Western Conference and, at times, it doesn’t feel that way. This is one of the top defensive units in the NBA, and they have used that as a base to put themselves in this position. But will that be enough to make up for the question marks they have offensively?
This is a team that is comfortable playing methodically in the half-court, but is that what hampers them in clutch time? Kevin Durant has accelerated their path and has the ability to take and make all of the shots that can throw a defense’s scheme over the top rope, but what can boost that? How much does this team need Alperen Şengün to not only make plays, but be the type of offensive player that draws help from defenses? How will Amen Thompson adjust to alternating between spacing in the dunker spot and being an on-ball attacker when defenses are willing to switch and go under? Will Reed Sheppard, who has continued to grow, be able to find a consistency on offense to stay on the court when teams look to attack him defensively?
Denver Nuggets: They would seem like the team to elevate from this group on paper. Years of talking about the “non-Jokić minutes” have turned into a balanced roster that could thrive in those moments and went 10-6 when he was out due to an injury. That would be an unbelievable boost in most years, until you realize their recent 3-6 stretch has come with him back on the court.
This feels like a team that needs to get healthy more than anything (Denver is 8-2 with the starting lineup of Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokić), but what do they do in the interim? How do they push themselves to prepare for the playoffs?
This stretch could be a reminder that, while they have worked to add more things defensively to adjust, they do not have the wiggle room on that end of the floor. An inability to contain dribble penetration, rough transition defense and breakdowns against cutters are things their defense simply can’t afford. As good as Murray and Jokić are, the absence of Gordon has taken a bite out of their ability to punish teams in clutch moments. And as high as the highs have been for the Nuggets, how many little things are chipping at their ceiling as we approach the playoffs?
Minnesota Timberwolves: They have made back-to-back conference finals which should have them out of this group, but questions remain. This is a team led by Anthony Edwards — who should have the Clutch Player of the Year sent to him by now — that features improved play from Julius Randle and Jalen McDaniels and the defensive presence of Rudy Gobert. The formula is there. The Wolves can beat anyone in the NBA. But it also feels like they can lose to anyone in the NBA.
Effort and focus should be raised come playoff time, but can they put themselves in a position to capitalize on it? Are they secretly a team built for the playoffs that understands the assignment, or do they have a fatal flaw as a team destined to knock on a door they are not meant to open?
Los Angeles Lakers: They boast Luka Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves, a trio that I maintain you don’t want to have to deal with come playoff time. Availability has been the toughest part as they have waited for most of the season to have all of their big 3 healthy to find a level of consistency to match the potential. While most will point to the defensive end of the floor with this group, my eyes remain on the offense.
This is a group whose top players not only have to score, but have to score at a high enough level that defenses feel the need to help, which opens up plays for everyone else. When teams feel they can pressure and stay at home, will the Lakers be able to keep pressure on teams? When the offense slips, is that when you truly feel how little the defense can make things up in the moment?
This team has a high ceiling and a lot of firepower, but little margin for error. The Lakers have mixed in zone, switching, help and activity to disguise their defensive woes, but if the offense is not firing at 100% they have a tough time masking those issues. The talent will always give them a shot, and a playoff game plan should open things up, but they have to make defenses blink consistently.
All of these teams have strengths, most have weaknesses. The question becomes, how can they poke at each other on their journey toward a championship? To navigate this conference you will have to do it on both ends, with the versatility to get back to who you are and an identity you can lean on. Only time will tell which teams are sharp enough to find a way come spring.
On Tuesday, Carolina Panthers president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan made his shot across the bow to quarterback Andy Dalton public. Morgan, during his media availability from the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, told reporters that the team is looking into adding a fresh arm to compete for the backup spot behind starter Bryce Young.
And now, on Wednesday, the ship may be starting to sail—as ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that the Panthers have been receiving calls regarding a potential trade of the 38-year-old veteran.
Yes, it seems like a foregone conclusion that the Raiders will be selecting reigning Heisman Trophy winner and national champion Fernando Mendoza atop the 2026 NFL Draft. But Mendoza's path to the field may not be as direct.
New general manager John Spytek stated on Tuesday that he's not a fan of "running out" a young quarterback right away. Perhaps Las Vegas could mimic Carolina's approach from 2023, when they acquired Dalton to help mentor their own No. 1 overall pick.
New York Jets
When the Raiders grab Mendoza, that'll leave the Jets without a worthy quarterback option at the No. 2 slot in the draft.
Although Dalton wouldn't be a long-term solution to New York's longstanding conundrum under center, he can serve as a solid bridge to whoever is next in 2027 and beyond. Plus, he could provide some much-needed stability for second-year head coach Aaron Glenn, who is already on the hot seat.
Minnesota Vikings
J.J. McCarthy has become more of a meme than he has an answer for Minnesota. He's played just 10 games since being taken with the 10th overall pick in 2024, passing for a 57.6-percent completion rate with 11 touchdowns to 12 interceptions.
Dalton may be able to bolster McCarthy's game and give head coach Kevin O'Connell a more trustworthy option, if need be, in 2026.
Cincinnati Bengals
Obviously, the Bengals do not need a starting quarterback. But they might, given the injury woes of their current one, want an upgraded insurance policy.
Like they did with wide receiver Adam Thielen last summer, maybe the Panthers give Dalton a storybook-like ending and send him off to his old stomping grounds in what could be his final NFL campaign.
Michael Page is bothered to see Zuffa Boxing pay such a large purse to one of its most recent signees.
British boxer Conor Benn left Matchroom to join Dana White's Zuffa Boxing for a reported $15 million, one-fight deal. The payout has been met with shock from several UFC fighters, including former bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley.
Add Michael Page to the list.
"It's not something that I'm happy about," Page said on "The Ariel Helwani Show." "When the announcement of Paramount, big money, partnership came, people were asking me, 'Are you excited about this?' My answer was, 'Well, what does that mean for the fighters? Until we understand how that's going to translate to the fighters, there's nothing really to be excited about.' Then I heard about the increase in bonus structure, and this is why I wasn't bothered to be excited initially because, for me, that doesn't do enough comparatively to the amount of money they've just brought in for themselves. Dana White's always been quite excited about going into the boxing world.
"But to see it and how highly he values people away from the sport that built his reputation, it's just upsetting, to be fair. It's disappointing more than anything. That's all I'll say on that. I love Conor Benn, but he's nowhere near the best in his field. ... I hate hearing stories of fighters getting to what is the pinnacle of your career in terms of the UFC and still being broke. That just shouldn't exist unless you're completely terrible with money. In any other sport, when you get to the pinnacle, there's a lot of other things that are settled in your life. This is something people have complained about, Francis Ngannou being the heavyweight champion of the world and broke, borrowing money from a friend of his, (Kamaru) Usman, but why was he even in that situation is the question for me."
Page (24-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC) is currently confused by the state of his relationship with the UFC after they offered him rising welterweight Sam Patterson for UFC Fight Night 270 (Paramount+) on March 21 from The O2 in London. He opened up about the strange matchmaking after coming off back-to-back wins over formerly unbeaten Shara Magomedov and ex-UFC middleweight title challenger Jared Cannonier.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto marches to the beat of his own drum, and his work ethic is widely-regarded by the franchise.
The right-hander is a workhorse, with no more proof needed than his Game 7 heroics of the 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays.
He came into the game after pitching multiple high-leverage innings in the postseason and throughout the regular season, lacking any rest between his Game 6 start, and delivered three shutout innings to close out Game 7.
Yamamoto, after taking some time off following the World Series celebration, was one of the first pitchers to report to the Dodgers’ Spring Training complex in Arizona for the 2026 season.
Feb 11, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) warms up with rubber javelins in the front fields of Camelback Ranch during Spring Training Workouts. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports
Throughout his February preparations, as he gears up for the World Baseball Classic and another long season with a postseason run, Yamamoto has been seen using some interesting on-field preparation methods.
Yamamoto, using his signature knee bend, gets his body loose while rotating his hips; his feet stay on the side as he holds a ball, much bigger than a baseball, as if he is preparing to throw a shotput.
Eventually, he throws the ball without a full release and leg extension, seemingly getting his body moving and limbering up for his full pitching wind-up.
In an interesting addition to his workout routine, Yamamoto was seen barefoot during spring training, holding two weighted balls and working on his balance and delivery, getting a different feeling from his legs.
He steps on top of an elevated mound with a rubber on it and winds up for his full delivery, throwing at a higher effort level than his other weighted ball throw, but still having a longer follow-through.
Finally, there is no more signature workout for Yamamoto than his javelin throws, which have become synonymous with his workout routine.
Throughout the season, he uses them to prepare and keep his body in sync, and with his work ethic, essentially training year-round, the righty is always keeping a javelin handy.
The javelin has become such a phenomenon that pitchers Clayton Kershaw, Tyler Glasnow, and Walker Buehler — back when he was on the team — were curious and tried to learn his technique.
The throwable object is not as long as the javelins thrown during the Olympics; it is a toy, much shorter.
Yamamoto does not lift weights or follow conventional workouts; instead, he relies on the guidance of his trainer, Osaka clinic director Osamu Yada, to get him ready for the season.
Honorable mention: yoga
According to The Chosun Daily, Yamamoto rolls out a yoga mat, lies down, and stretches, standing on his head and doing an odd set of back spins and stretches to work out his entire body.
All of these workouts are done throughout the year, with some of the intense portions coming in the offseason. While some may question the viability of his techniques and training schedule,
“In the spring the plant sprouts, in the summer the flowers bloom and in the fall the fruit appears,” Yada said.
“The same thing happens here. After a number of years, you start to understand how the cycle unfolds throughout the year.”
Depending on the weather, Wake is taking on one of the worst power conference teams in the nation today—the Boston College Eagles. The season has been one to forget for BC as the Eagles have lost 8 games in a row and 10 of their last 12 in ACC play. Boston College is yet to notch a Q1 or Q2 win this season, and the only team they have beaten outside of triple digits in the NET is Syracuse (76). Boston College has one of the worst offenses in the country, currently ranking 336th in 3-point percentage, 298th in 2-point percentage, and 364th (out of 365 DI teams) in free throw percentage. While Wake has definitely not had the season we thought they may have this year, they are still 100 spots better than BC in the NET rankings, and this game should probably not be close.
Jasmine Jasudavicius is looking to get back on the winning track with a Canadian crowd on her side.
The UFC announced Tuesday that Jasudavicius (14-4) is set to fight Karine Silva (19-6) in a flyweight bout at UFC Winnipeg on April 18.
Ag. Fight was first to report the matchup, which was originally planned for an Ottawa event in April before UFC Winnipeg was finalized.
This is an important fight for Jasudavicius, who was on the cusp of a title shot before suffering a fast first-round knockout loss against Manon Fiorot this past October. Prior to that setback, Jasudavicius had won five straight fights, including victories over former UFC champion Jessica Andrade and one-time title challenger Mayra Bueno Silva. The St. Catharines, Ontario, native is currently No. 10 at 125 pounds in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings.
Silva (No. 15) has lost two of her past three fights, sandwiching a decision win over Dione Barbosa between losses to Maycee Barber and Viviane Araujo.
Alberta’s Melissa Croden (7-3) will also be defending home soil when she meets Daria Zhelezniakova in a bantamweight bout. Croden is 1-1 in her first two UFC outings, while Zhelezniakova has won three of her past four fights, most recently defeating Melissa Mullins.
UFC Winnipeg takes place at Canada Life Centre is headlined by a welterweight bout between Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott.
If you’re a regular reader of Blogging The Boys, you’re probably familiar with a metric called Approximate Value. If not, consider this post your introduction.
We’ve used Approximate Value (AV) and the closely related Weighted Approximate Value (wAV) on and off for more than a decade, and particularly often during our draft coverage. As we ramp up our draft coverage again this year, we’ll likely feature the metric repeatedly. So, in order to get everybody on the same page, we’ll use this post as a detailed introduction to AV.
”Approximate Value” was developed by Doug Drinen at Pro-Football-Reference.com and is designed to assign a specific value to any player at any position for any given year. The algorithm behind AV weights position-specific metrics (i.e. yards or points scored/allowed) with an indicator for durability (total games played and seasons as their team’s primary starter) and quality (Pro Bowl and All Pro nominations) and then normalizes all this at a team level. Drinen left PFR a while back, but PFR continues to update these numbers.
There are many ways to use the AV metric, one of them is to look at the 2025 Cowboys roster through the AV lens, which is what we’ll do today. Before diving into the Cowboys’ numbers though, a little more explanation by Doug Drinen:
“Essentially, AV is a substitute for — and a significant improvement upon, in my opinion — metrics like ‘number of seasons as a starter’ or ‘number of times making the Pro Bowl’ or the like. You should think of it as being essentially like those two metrics, but with interpolation in between.”
And like every stat, AV has its limitations.
“AV is not meant to be a be-all end-all metric. Football stat lines just do not come close to capturing all the contributions of a player the way they do in baseball and basketball. If one player is a 16 and another is a 14, we can’t be very confident that the 16AV player actually had a better season than the 14AV player. But I am pretty confident that the collection of all players with 16AV played better, as an entire group, than the collection of all players with 14AV.”
This is an important aspect to keep in mind: The AV numbers are relative. Players on good teams will score higher than players on bad teams, some positions (e.g. QB) will score higher than others (e.g. safeties), position groups (e.g. offensive linemen) will score roughly the same even if there are differences in actual performance.
You can sum up a player’s AV over the course of his NFL career to get a Career Approximate Value (cAV), which is the unweighted sum of a player’s AV scores, but PFR also offers a Weighted Career Approximate Value (wAV), which is a way of balancing peak production against raw career totals; for each player, PFR computes the following weighted sum of seasonal AV scores:
100% of the player’s best season, plus 95% of his 2nd-best season, plus 90% of his 3rd-best season, plus 85% of his 4th-best season, …
And so on.
For a single season, the AV number starts at 0 and has gone as high as 26 only once in the Super Bowl era: In 2006 Ladanian Tomlinson reached that mark when he set the NFL record for rushing TDs (28) and also topped the league with 1,815 rushing yards.
Topping the 2025 list is Houston’s Will Anderson with 20 points, followed by two fellow defensive linemen, Myles Garret and Zach Allen, both with 19 points. AV points are fluid from one year to the next, but a rough scale for this year would look something like this:
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Approximate Value
Description
No. of players 2025
19-25
MVP- or Player Of The Year level performance
3
12-18
All-Pro/Pro Bowl level performance
57
6-11
Starter quality
403
3-5
Backup player or limited playing time
467
1-2
Role player
735
0
Scrub
523
Note that there are only 463 players in the league with an AV of six points or more, an indication of starter quality. That’s an average of only about 15 players per NFL team, and that’s an important take-away here: No team in the league has starter quality players at every position, especially not in the salary cap era. Keep that in mind as we review the Cowboys roster below, sorted in descending order from 15 points to zero.
Twelve to Fifteen Points – The Pro Bowlers
1. Dak Prescott (15 points)
2. George Pickens (14)
The AV metric is heavily weighted toward rate or counting stats like passing or receiving yards instead of efficiency metrics, and that plays in Prescott’s favor, as he had a prolific passing season (No.1 in completions, No.3 in yards, No. 4 in TDs) in 2025. With 15 points, Prescott ranks T4th behind only Josh Allen (18), Drake Maye (18), and Matthew Stafford (16) and got a Pro Bowl nod for his 2025 season.
Fellow Pro Bowler George Pickens is also ranked T4th among wide receivers: He ranked 3rd overall in receiving yards, but ranked “only” 8th in TDs, so he is ranked behind Puka Nacua (18), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (16), and Zay Flowers (14).
Nine to Ten Points – The borderline Pro Bowlers
CeeDee Lamb (10)
Quinnen Williams (9)
Tyler Smith (9)
Javonte Williams (9)
Terence Steele (9)
Lamb missed three games, and that likely cost him a point or two in AV. Barring injury he’d likely have been ranked a tier higher. But he eventually made the Pro Bowl anyway, so all is well.
Quinnen Williams als0 made the Pro Bowl, and his AV was arguably impacted by playing in Dallas for half a season. PFR gave him six AV points for eight games with the Jets, but only three points for seven games in Dallas. And that’s because a defensive lineman’s rating is largely based on how many games he played, how many games he started, how good his team was defensively, and whether he garnered any All-Pro or Pro Bowl honors. But like Lamb, he too still made the Pro Bowl.
Tyler Smith is the third Pro Bowler in this tier.
Javonte Williams ranked ninth in rushing yards last year, but is ranked “only” T14th in AV. In this case, missing post-season accolades see him ranked behind his peers.
Terence Steele looks like the odd one out here, given the grief he receives from many Cowboys fans. But he has started 17 games for three years in a row and has averaged 8 AV points per season over his six-year career. Many have argued that Steele needs to be cut to generate cap savings of between $9 million (pre-June 1) and $14 million (post-June 1) but at the cost of about $9 million in dead money. Few realize that extending him by an extra two years could save the Cowboys up to $10 million in 2026 without any dead money. Don’t be surprised if the Cowboys extend Steele.
Six Points – The Wiley Veterans and the Rookie Standout
Kenny Clark
Kenneth Murray
Tyler Booker
Kenny Clark gets the Quinnen Williams AV-treatment for coming to Dallas. Clark averaged 9 AV in Green Bay for the last four years, and then drops to 6 points in Dallas. That’s the effect of playing for the worst defense in the league.
Kenneth Murray benefits from starting 16 games thanks to a supremely weak Cowboys LB room that didn’t see anybody challenging the lackluster Murray for his spot.
If Tyler Booker had not missed three games, he might have reached seven AV points, a promising start for the rookie standout.
Five Points – The starters with reduced starts and the Pro Bowl gift
Osa Odighizuwa
Cooper Beebe
Tyler Guyton
Jake Ferguson
Three starters here did not start the full 17 games, Odighizuwa (13 starts), Beebe (11 starts), Guyton (10 starts) are all penalized for missing starts. Ferguson profits from a late Pro Bowl nod that elevates him into this six-point tier.
Four points: The Backups
Donovan Wilson (15 starts)
Dante Fowler (11 starts)
Logan Wilson (8 starts)
Brock Hoffman (7 starts)
Ryan Flournoy (4 starts)
KaVontae Turpin (2 starts)
Most players listed here received limited playing time as they spelled the starters or had specific but limited roles on the team.
The odd one out is starting safety Donovan Wilson, and you’ll notice that he is the highest-ranked secondary player on the team. And that has a lot to do with how much the secondary underperformed last year. Here’s a simplified version of how the AV for the secondary is calculated:
AV = (Individual points / Sum of all individual points for all secondary players) * Team points for secondary
Individual Points: Games started * 5 + Games played + Sacks + Fumble recoveries * 4 + Interceptions * 4 + Defensive TDs * 5 + Tackles + Post-season bonus.
Team Points: Defensive points allowed per drive / NFL average defensive points allowed per drive.
You can see how a team that ranked T22nd in sacks, T24th in fumble recoveries, T29 in interceptions, scored just one defensive TD, and ranked dead last in points allowed per drive won’t have great defensive AVs, especially for a turnover-bereft secondary.
Three points: Underperforming defense and backup OL
Malik Hooker (12 starts)
DaRon Bland (12 starts)
Kaiir Elam (7 starts)
Jadeveon Clowney (6 starts)
Donovan Ezeiruaku (9 starts)
Sam Williams (5 starts)
T.J. Bass (5 starts)
Nathan Thomas (4 starts)
What is true for the secondary also holds true for the pass rush: there just wasn’t a ton of production that would warrant higher grades.
The two backup linemen show up well here, just two points below Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe. Does that mean they are ready to challenge the starters? Perhaps. But the Cowboys did play musical chairs on the offensive line last year, so it might be instructive to understand how the whole OL came together in terms of AV. To do that, I looked at who started at which position and then allocated the AV points accordingly. Here’s the result:
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LT
LG
C
RG
RT
Player (Starts)
AV
Player (Starts)
AV
Player (Starts)
AV
Player (Starts)
AV
Player (Starts)
AV
Guyton (10)
5
Smith (13)
7
Beebe (11)
5
Booker (14)
6
Steele (17)
9
Thomas (4)
3
Bass (2)
1
Hoffman (6)
4
Bass (3)
2
Smith (3)
2
Hoffman (1)
0
Adeniji (1)
1
Total
10
Total
9
Total
9
Total
8
Total
9
As you can see, AV is distributed pretty evenly across the offensive line, the variance in individual player AV is largely due to the different number off starts.
Two Points – The Marginal Contributors
Markquese Bell
Trevon Diggs
Reddy Steward
DeMarvion Overshown
Shemar James
Marist Liufau
Jack Sanborn
Malik Davis
Jalen Tolbert
These are all players who received limited playing time for different reasons. The question in this group is about trajectories: Are their arrows pointing up or down?
One Point – The Role Players
Luke Schoonmaker (2nd round pick)
Shavon Revel (3rd round)
Caelen Carson (5th round)
Jaydon Blue (5th round)
Solomon Thomas (Free agent acquisition)
Miles Sanders (Free agent acquisition)
James Houston (Free agent acquisition)
Hakeem Adeniji (Free agent acquisition)
Joe Milton (Trade acquisition)
Trikweze Bridges (Waiver wire)
Juanyeh Thomas (UDFA)
Hunter Luepke (UDFA)
Brevyn Spann-Ford (UDFA
Alijah Clark (UDFA)
This is a bit of a tricky group. In principle, these are players that saw limited playing time, but for different reasons. Some of them are special teams aces, some were limited by injuries, some simply didn’t put up a lot of production, some of them simply are career backups.
For the Cowboys, it’s a little disappointing to see some of their recent draft investments on this list.
Zero Points – The Scrubs
This list contains all players who were active on the game-day roster at least once in 2025 (and are not on IR) but did not record any significant stats or playing time. Note that special teams play is not included here or any of the metrics above.
Jay Toia (90)
Mazi Smith (89)
Jonathan Mingo (80)
Josh Butler (26)
Corey Ballentine (23)
Phil Mafah (10)
Jalen Moreno-Cropper (8)
Trevor Keegan (6)
Zion Childress (5)
Isaiah Land (3)
Parris Campbell (2)
Justin Barron (0)
Ajani Cornelius (0)
Princeton Fant (0)
Nick Leverett (0)
Perrion Winfrey (0)
Before anybody starts hyperventilating about who the AV metric is calling a scrub, keep in mind that this is a measure of the performance in 2025, and most of these players did not accumulate any significant playing time as you can see by the snap count behind each name. Note that where the number indicates zero snaps on offense or defense, each player had at least some snaps on special teams.
Special Teams:
Brandon Aubrey (4 AV)
Bryan Anger (2 AV)
Trent Sieg (1 AV)
CJ Goodwin (1 AV)
AV is not really designed for special teams play, so these special teamers are running outside of the regular ranking. Of note though: Brandon Aubry is tied for 4th among kickers, Bryan Anger is tied for 9th among punters, and Trent Sieg is tied for 29th among long snappers.
***
So, there you have it, the entire 2025 Cowboys roster at a glance. In total (and including specialists), that’s 201 AV points for the Cowboys, which ranks them somewhere around 19th in the league.
Also, note that the Cowboys have just 10 players with an AV of six points or more, signifying starter quality. You may disagree with this, of course, but the AV metric says 12 of the 22 starter spots last season were manned by non- starter-quality players for the Cowboys. The positions without a single starter-quality player: corner, safety, defensive end, and tight end – and linebacker barely squeezed in one starter-quality player, though I don’t think Kenneth Murray is that.
And finally, here’s how the Cowboys roster compares to the league average and to the Super Bowl champions in terms of AV Tiers.
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Approximate Value
Description
Total NFL 2025
Dallas Cowboys 2025
Seatte Seahawks 2025
No. of Players
in %
No. of Players
in %
No. of Players
in %
19-25
MVP- or Player Of The Year level performance
3
0.1%
—
—
—
—
12-18
All-Pro/Pro Bowl level performance
57
2.6%
2
2.8%
5
7.8%
6-11
Starter quality
403
18.4%
8
11.1%
11
17.2%
3-5
Backup player or limited playing time
467
21.3%
19
26.4%
13
20.3%
1-2
Role player
735
33.6%
27
37.5%
17
26.6%
0
Scrub
523
23.9%
16
22.2%
18
28.1%
With 2.8% of the players in the all-Pro/Pro Bowl tier, the Cowboys are right at the league average, but they are three players short in that tier versus the Seahawks. Could CeeDee Lamb (10), Quinnen Williams (9), and Tyler Smith (9) move up into that tier in 2026? Sure they can, but that would leave the Cowboys even more stretched in the Starter Quality tier, where they are already short at least three players versus the Seahawks and four versus the league average. Can some guys move up from the tier below to fill that gap? Sure, if Cooper Beebe, Tyler Guyton, Daron Bland, or DeMarvion Overshown can play a 17-game schedule in full health, no problem. But health issues are going to hit you every season.
In short, the 2025 Cowboys, as measured by AV were about 5-6 starter quality performances away from being at least a league average team and possibly even a contending team. That’s a lot to fix in one offseason.
But winning can help: The 6-10 team in 2020 managed only 189 AV points but rebounded to a 12-5 record in 2021 and 243 AV points. And like the 2025 team, the 2020 team only had 10 players of starter quality and above, and that number jumped to 17 in 2021. The Cowboys will need to repeat that in 2026.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 23: A general view of the stadium during the spring training game between the Colorado Rockies and Chicago White Sox at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 23, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Evil Empire arrives at Salt River Fields, and the run they had last post-season is ongoing. The Dodgers have won their first four games, outscoring their opponents by a whopping 34-6 margin so far. So let’s hope this is not an omen of things to come in the regular season. But we are sending Zac Gallen to the mound today – and I would imagine, after the news that Merrill Kelly won’t be ready to start the season, he’s most likely to be the Opening Day starter for the D-backs in four weeks time, against these same Dodgers. But it will be Gallen’s first start of spring, so I wouldn’t expect him to throw more than a couple of innings. Here’s the full Arizona line-up:
Also potentially pitching: RHP Dylan Ray, RHP Drey Jameson, RHP Gerardo Carrillo, RHP Alfred Morillo, RHP Hayden Durke, LHP Spence Giesting, LHP Avery Short, RHP Casey Anderson, RHP Indigo Diaz and LHP Carlos Rey. Jameson is probably the one I’ll be keeping a particular eye on, seeing if he can flash the sharply increased velocity he showed in the Arizona Fall League. He was hitting 99 mph there after, of all things, a botox injection in his neck helped relieve elbow discomfort. If he can get back to the form he had, I’d not be surprised to see him getting the chance to close out games for Arizona.
This one is going to be streamed through dbacks.com, though I haven’t clicked around enough to find the exact location yet. Mike Ferrin is on the call, and will be joined by former D-back Jake Lamb, acting as the color commentator. That should be fun.
Feb 23, 2026; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Fans watch a spring training game between the Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images | Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
Today the Texas Rangers head on over to Goodyear, AZ, which is the spring home of the Cleveland Guardians.
RHP Nathan Eovaldi is set to make his second start of the spring for Texas opposite RHP Slade Cecconi for Cleveland.
Today’s Lineups
RANGERS
GUARDIANS
Sam Haggerty – 2B
Steven Kwan – CF
Danny Jansen – C
Chase DeLauter – RF
Michael Helman – CF
Jose Ramirez – 3B
Ezequiel Duran – SS
Bo Naylor – C
Tyler Wade – RF
Gabriel Arias – SS
Mark Canha – LF
Daniel Schneemann – LF
Jonah Bride – 1B
Brayan Rocchio – 2B
Willie MacIver – DH
David Fry – DH
Richie Martin – 3B
CJ Kayfus – 1B
Nathan Eovaldi – RHP
Slade Cecconi – RHP
I don’t believe there’s a broadcast for this one again so you’ll have to follow along on Gameday. First pitch from Goodyear Ballpark is scheduled for 2:05 pm CT.
Serie A giants will demand ‘big money’ for Barcelona dream target – Romano
FC Barcelona have made the signing of a new centre-back one of their main priorities for the summer transfer window this year.
The Blaugrana prefer to bring in a left-footed central defender, having parted ways with Inigo Martinez last summer, which left a hole in the backline.
As has already been reported, Inter Milan mainstay Alessandro Bastoni is considered the ideal target by the reigning La Liga champions.
Romano confirms Barcelona admiration for Bastoni
Now, reliable transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has corroborated claims that Barcelona are indeed interested in signing Bastoni from Inter Milan.
The journalist claims that the Catalan giants appreciate the Italian international a great deal and see him as a dream target for the summer transfer window.
Barcelona are big admirers of Bastoni. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
However, Romano further confirms that signing Bastoni will be anything but easy, as Inter Milan consider him a crucial player for their project.
So, in case there is a possibility of a sale, the Nerazzurri will demand ‘big money’ for his signing, which could complicate matters for Barça given their financial situation.
Romano clarifies that, at this point, there has been no negotiation or movement from Barcelona towards Bastoni, and that, for now, there is nothing happening beyond their clear appreciation for the Italian.
It’s been a long time since the Philadelphia Eagles used the franchise tag on a player. The last time they did was way back in 2012 with wide receiver DeSean Jackson.
So, it’s certainly not something that the Eagles do often. However, perhaps this offseason could be an exception.
Jaelan Phillips named Eagles' franchise tag candidate
The Eagles were just one of 10 teams with a tag candidate listed, as they’re not especially common across the league. Only two players were tagged across the league’s landscape in 2025, while nine were tagged in 2024.
From Locker:
“The odds that Phillips would attain the franchise tag given his injury history are slimmer, plus that general manager Howie Roseman has deployed it only one time since 2010. But the 26-year-old Phillips, the 14th-best player on the market, would be a difficult loss for Philadelphia if he leaves the building considering the team’s need at edge rusher.”
With Phillips, the logic of why the Eagles might want to tag him is pretty simple. If they don’t feel comfortable making a long-term commitment to hm, but want to keep him around for another year, at least, perhaps they would throw the tag on him. After trading a third-round pick for him in November, it makes sense that the Eagles wouldn't want to lose him for nothing in free agency.
Would Phillips be happy about that? No, probably not. Players don’t typically like getting tagged because it prevents them for getting long-term security on a deal.
If a player gets seriously hurt while playing under the tag, it could seriously impact that player’s earning potential moving forward. But, football is a business at the end of the day, and the Eagles have the right to deploy the tag if they so choose.
There’s also the chance that the Eagles could deploy the tag and still reach some sort of a long-term deal with Phillips, like they did with Jackson back in 2012.
BEREA, OHIO - FEBRUARY 03: Todd Monken talks with the media after being introduced as head coach of the Cleveland Browns during a press conference at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on February 03, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Wednesday, it was new HC Todd Monken’s turn to talk to the media, for the second time since being hired for his first head coaching position in the NFL.
Monken rode the line between thoughtful and blunt throughout the 20 minutes with the entire media unit, and another 10 with just the Cleveland media (where he called out a reporter for asking a “baited question on that one” about the quarterback position).
When asked about having a work-life balance, Monken clearly loves the work he gets to do:
Monken with perhaps his quote of the press about getting paid to coach football in the NFL pic.twitter.com/oL7DIQf4F8
Similar to what former Browns HC Kevin Stefanski would say, Monken put responsibility for failures with the Baltimore Ravens on himself and the team as a whole:
When asked about the Ravens failing to live up to expectations, Monken took an all encompassing approach to answer pic.twitter.com/wLqDWhJV9e
As expected, Monken was asked multiple questions about the quarterback position and would like to have a starter in place as soon as possible, but is not in a hurry:
Monken would prefer to have QB1 going into training camp but doesn’t seem like he’s going to force it pic.twitter.com/r3wRAgNYvd
Talking about Watson potentially returning to his previous form, Monken is “gonna let it play out,” but not just with Watson pic.twitter.com/mvuncXYzNq
It is clearly a new era for the Cleveland Browns, including numerous swear words throughout the media sessions. Whether Monken provided more actual information compared to Stefanski is up to opinion, but the new head coach presents things significantly differently.
What are your thoughts on Monken’s communication style after his second media session since taking over the Browns
The NFL combine is in just a couple of days, and nine ClemsonTigers are looking to increase their draft stock. In this series, we're going to dive into each player and break down exactly what they'll need to do in Indy to separate themselves and solidify their draft value.
DeMonte Capehart is a prototypical size interior defensive lineman that most experts expect to go in the middle of Day 3. He flashes as a first-round talent, but consistency issues and limited playing time dip the prospect down drastically. It’s almost a guarantee that Capehart boosts his stock at the combine, as his traits are rarely seen in the NFL.
Why He Could Rise
Rare combination of size and speed. Capehart is expected to be in the 91st percentile in height, 72% in weight, and 98% with his forty time. If a player with this archetype played on the EDGE, they would be a first-round pick (think Lukas Van Ness in 2023, a backup at Iowa turned 13th overall pick). An interior defensive lineman that can truly rush the passer is more valuable than a pass-first EDGE rusher. One should expect Capehart’s Day 3 grade to receive an upgrade after this week in Indy.
I'd be hard pressed to see DeMonte exit the top 175, aside from conditions that could theoretically affect any prospect (shaky medical testing, poor interviewee) but have not been attributed to Capehart throughout his collegiate career. He could underperform with his 40, as it’s expected he tests extraordinarily well. Capehart has a ceiling as high as any interior defender in this class, and is expected to showcase his athleticism later in the week.
INDIANAPOLIS ― The thing about new Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley is they at least sound like they know what they're doing.
Oh, we have no idea of Sullivan will be great as his job or Hafley will be great at his.
But one thing they have in common is that they speak clearly and directly and confidently and with conviction. And for the Dolphins' franchise, that's a step in the right direction.
And yes, since they were hired at the same time ― go figure! ― and they worked together previously in the Great Lakes Region of the Midwest (I'm tiring of mentioning you-know-where) they're on the same page.
Lock-step as they say.
The Dolphins had Chris Grier, a nice person who did not experience a Dolphins playoff win as general manager, as a central figure and voice for 10 years (26 total with the organization).
And so the old new-voice concept comes into play here with the man they call "Sully."
But he's saying the right things. At least they seem like the right things.
My favorite Sullyism from the NFL Scouting Combine was this: “You’ve got to operate with discipline and long-term thought process and not try to do something that doesn't make sense just to check the box that you can sleep good at night.”
It has long felt like Miami, under Grier, was steered by checking boxes in the offseason.
Sometimes it's better to have no spouse than the wrong one. Or no 'best' friend.
Or no... well, you get the picture.
This was a new spin on things, suggesting discipline and long-term thought.
I like it.
Sullivan and Hafley are going to have to be patient. And so will Dolphins fans.
Fans overwhelmingly - at least for now - say they are on board with all this.
Miami isn't using the "rebuild" word, let alone "tear-down" or "soft tank."
They're choosing their words more carefully, while not dismissing reality.
"We're not gonna be big shoppers in free agency, but we'll have an opportunity to add a role player or two that could come in and help us win," Sullivan said.
A role player or two!
The Dolphins were fifth in free-agent spending over the past five years, via Spotrac, at $1.34 billion with a "B" dollars. Cleveland, San Francisco, Jacksonville and Buffalo are also big spenders.
But it hasn't worked. Ross has a thick wallet but never has placed a home playoff ticket in it.
Hafley, a former college head coach, is also a highly-competent speaker.
That will be helpful in press conferences. That should be helpful in front of the room of (mostly young) players.
Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley speak clearly and with intent
Hafley, like Sullivan, seems to speak with intent.
"We have a shared vision for the importance of a solid foundation," Hafley says.
Sullivan, smartly, suggested the importance of building a culture and also embracing an "underdog mentality" in 2026.
I like that. It harkens back to 2019, Brian Flores' first season.
This team may go 4-13 or 5-12 this season but the results - to voluntarily inject a football cliche - will truly not be as important as the Dolphins' new process.
We have no idea if Sullivan and Hafley are the right duo to lead Miami to its first playoff win in 27 years.
But we like the sound of Sullivan's strategic plan. Decisions will be based on a longer-term vision and with a steady eye toward the future. He also wants a "healthy salary cap state."
This would seem to push the free-agent scale away from big-ticket free agency quarterback Malik Willis, but one never knows for certain.
"Sustainable foundation, not quick fixes," Sullivan said, speaking generally.
A new voice. A leader who says he's not planning to just "check boxes."
Atalanta Bergamo's Mario Pasalic (Up) celebrates scoring his side's third goal with teammates during the UEFA Champions League Intermediate Round second leg soccer match between Atalanta Bergamo and Borussia Dortmund at New Balance Arena. Federico Gambarini/dpa
A debatable penalty in stoppage time helped Atalanta dramatically dump Borussia Dortmund out of the Champions League after overturning a first-leg deficit to march into the last 16.
The Germans were favourites coming into Wednesday's play-off second leg in Italy after their 2-0 win at home last week. But they could not cope with Atalanta's verve or their own frailties as Gianluca Scamacca, Davide Zappacosta and Mario Pašalić put the hosts 3-0 up.
Karim Adeyemi levelled the tie in style before Dortmund team mate Ramy Bensebaini, the fall guy all night, was adjudged to have conceded a spot-kick when clearing the ball and Lazar Samardžić converted eight minutes in stoppage time.
The Italians won 4-1 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate to leave Dortmund seething at themselves and the match officials.
It means an all-German last 16 clash is no longer certain in Friday's draw, with Bayern Munich facing either Atalanta or Bayer Leverkusen, who got past Olympiacos Piraeus in their play-off on Tuesday.
Atalanta players celebrate their side's second goal during the UEFA Champions League Intermediate Round second leg soccer match between Atalanta Bergamo and Borussia Dortmund at New Balance Arena. Federico Gambarini/dpaAtalanta Bergamo's Gianluca Scamacca (C) celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the UEFA Champions League Intermediate Round second leg soccer match between Atalanta Bergamo and Borussia Dortmund at New Balance Arena. Federico Gambarini/dpaAtalanta Bergamo's Gianluca Scamacca (R) scores his side's first goal during the UEFA Champions League Intermediate Round second leg soccer match between Atalanta Bergamo and Borussia Dortmund at New Balance Arena. Federico Gambarini/dpaBorussia Dortmund's Karim Adeyemi (C) celebrates scoring his side's first goal with teammates during the UEFA Champions League Intermediate Round second leg soccer match between Atalanta Bergamo and Borussia Dortmund at New Balance Arena. Federico Gambarini/dpa
AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event - WWE
Following the February 23 episode of "WWE Raw," it looks as if the career of "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles is officially over. After weeks of speculation following the Royal Rumble Premium Live Event on January 31 where Styles didn't leave his gloves in the ring after his loss to Gunther, Styles had an extended tribute dedicated to him to close out this week's episode of "Raw." The tribute ended with The Undertaker making a surprise appearance, with "The Deadman" informing Styles that he will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame over WrestleMania 42 weekend.
During his final run with WWE, Styles got to have one more match with Shinsuke Nakamura, a man he has a long history with dating back to their days in New Japan Pro Wrestling together. Nakamura was one of the many names on hand to bid farewell to the former WWE Champion, but Nakamura took to Instagram earlier today to pen his own tribute to Styles, complete with a series of photos Nakamura took himself.
Nakamura wrote "AJ left the ring with his family by his side. That's the right way to go. We fought. We pushed each other. We made history. As a rival, I respect him. As a friend, I'm happy for him. Much love, brother." Nakamura was the one who almost let the cat out of the bag regarding Styles' retirement as he revealed in another Instagram post uploaded before his match with Gunther that Styles was planning on retiring at the Royal Rumble, and it looks as though that plan is now true. The "King of Strong Style" wasn't the only familiar face the likes of The Good Brothers, Frankie Kazarian, Abyss, and even Air Paris, Styles' first tag team partner, where all on hand to send Styles off into the sunset.
BVB is out! After a 1-4 defeat in the second leg, Dortmund's Champions League journey ends in the intermediate round.
The most controversial moment of the match happened in the final minute. After a misplaced pass from Kobel, Pasalic got the ball again and crossed it into the middle. Bensebaini, who cleared the ball with his heel, also caught Krstovic in the process, who was left lying on the ground with a bleeding face.
📸 PIERO CRUCIATTI - AFP or Licensors
After reviewing the footage, referee José María Sánchez Martínez awarded a penalty – Samardzic converted coldly into the corner.
Although Bensebaini clearly hit his opponent while clearing the ball, the scene is sure to spark debate. The immediate argument was that Krstovic had lowered his head too much for a penalty to be given.
After the 4-1 victory, Atalanta is now in the round of 16 of the CL and will face either Bayern or Arsenal.
Now it's your turn: Was the penalty the right decision or not? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments!
MILWAUKEE (AP) — James Harden is questionable for Cleveland's game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night because of a right thumb injury.
The Cavaliers guard was injured during Tuesday night's 109-94 win over the New York Knicks. Harden was examined by the Cavaliers medical staff after the game and X-rays on Wednesday showed a non-displaced fracture of the distal phalanx.
Harden will undergo treatment and evaluation. The 17-year veteran was traded by the Los Angeles Clippers to Cleveland on Feb. 4, and is averaging 18.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and eight assists in his seven games with the Cavaliers.
Cleveland (37-22) has won eight of its last nine games and is tied for third place in the Eastern Conference.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 16: A detail view of a New England Patriots helmet during the third quarter of the NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 16, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Coming off a Super Bowl berth, the New England Patriots have a clear plan in mind for the 2026 offseason: it’s about remodeling, not rebuilding, as head coach Mike Vrabel said after the season.
The NFL Draft naturally is a major part of this process. Until the event in late April, the Patriots — led by Vrabel and EVP of player personnel Eliot Wolf — will be conducting interviews, working out prospects, inviting them for a finite number of pre-draft visits, and in general try to get as complete a picture as possible. It remains to be seen what this process eventually leads to, but there will be plenty of news to report.
In order to find out who the Patriots have already spoken to or worked out thus far, please make sure to bookmark this regularly-updated pre-draft tracker. We will have all contact listed to the best of our knowledge.
(Note: Please scroll down for a meeting-by-meeting breakdown)
Quarterback
N/A
Running back
Kejon Owens (Florida International): Senior Bowl
Jordon Vaughn (Abilene Christian): College Gridiron Showcase
Caleb Anderson (Michigan): College Gridiron Showcase
Rashad Battle (Pittsburgh): American Bowl
Elijah Culp (James Madison): American Bowl
Michael Dansby (Arizona): American Bowl
Andre Fuller (Toledo): East-West Shrine Bowl
Al’Zillion Hamilton (Fresno State): American Bowl
Jaden Rios (Texas State): Hula Bowl
Safety
Dathan Hickey (Youngstown State): College Gridiron Showcase
Cam Smith (Marshall): Hula Bowl
Gavin Gibson (North Carolina): Hula Bowl
Jalen Stroman (Notre Dame): Senior Bowl
Specialists
Garrison Grimes (LS | BYU): East-West Shrine Bowl
Laith Merjan (K | Kansas): Hula Bowl
Whereas the list above gives an overview over the prospects the Patriots have been in contact with before the draft, the following overview is a breakdown by meeting opportunity plus the source of each report.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 24: James Tibbs III #98 of the Los Angeles Dodgers warms up against the Cleveland Guardians during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch on February 24, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers look to remain undefeated this spring, as they are on the road take on the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.
Roki Sasaki makes his spring debut against right-hander Zac Gallen.
Alex Condon spoke to the media on Tuesday between games against Ole Miss and Texas. He's put up back-to-back 20-point-plus games with a combined 14 rebounds and 10 assists, helping his confidence grow.
Condon talked about being the big man that the offense runs through and the support the rest of the frontcourt gives him. He focused on Rueben Chinyelu's rebounding surge and Thomas Haugh's scoring, while tipping his cap to Micah Handlogten as well. Condon said the group has a lot of chemistry and experience playing together, which has helped them improve over the season.
As a reigning national champion, Condon talked about the mindset required to get through the end-of-season stretch and how keeping things light can help. Still, the team is focused on winning big games and playing the right brand of basketball each day.
Here's everything Condon said on Tuesday.
Condon on growing confidence
“I just grow with confidence every game. I feel like I’ve done a better job the last few games, not worrying about the result of my performance. Just going out there and hooping, doing what I do best. I put so much hard work in and just trusting the process.”
On Rueben’s rebounding surge
“It’s a pretty standard thing for him right now. I look up in the first half, and he’s almost got a double-double every game. That’s a standard he’s set for himself now. Last game, he was kind of, not down on himself, but you could tell he wasn’t used to not getting the same amount of rebounds. I’m sure he’s going to bounce back in this game and be super motivated and ready to go."
Did you foresee him turning into this kind of player?
"It’s pretty crazy. We saw it in practice last year. We had the big three with the guards, and the offense went through them and got more opportunities to shoot the ball well. We always knew he had that talent. It’s just tapping into that and running more of a style for our team.”
On his stat line and decision-making
“Turnovers were a big emphasis for me the past few weeks. I had a few too many against Georgia and another game. It’s hard to trust me to run our offense from the top of the key and choose which players are going to get the shot on that possession. Running our offense through the bigs is pretty unique in college basketball. I think it’s a really good thing that we have going on here.”
On making a three-pointer, shooting with confidence
“It was like finally one of these went in. All my teammates said they knew it was going in before I shot it. I definitely shot it with confidence, how I shoot in practice every day. I just have to take the good ones and keep playing the game."
On passing up more three-point shots after that
"It’s a split decision in your head that you've got to go with your gut. If I think we can get a better shot, I know I’m a good shooter, but we have elite shooters and players on our team. I just look for the best shot possible every possession and do the overall best thing for the team to win in the end.”
On interior passing chemistry
“We have a lot of chemistry. Everyone wants each other to succeed, which is what makes us such an elite frontcourt. I feel like I know where Tommy’s going to be before he even starts moving. I have that kind of connection with him because I’ve been playing with him for so long. Me and Rue are starting to get to that point as well, even him throwing me the ball. He says to me all the time, 'I got you, I got you.'
"Rue's awesome. He’s really developed his passing and his overall game offensively. Everyone knows Micah is super unselfish, too, with his hockey assists and offensive rebounds. We just have an elite group of guys in the frontcourt.”
On championship experience and the stretch run
“It’s still one game at a time. We’ve got two really good tests this week on the road against Texas. They play well at the house. They’re a good team. We can’t take any team for granted, and then Arkansas on Saturday. WE've just to take one game at a time. We know that when March comes around, we’re going to be in the right place. I think we're playing the right way, kind of basketball.
"Early on, it was a new team, and we had to get used to playing with each other. Now I think we’ve really found our groove and are getting back to what our team was like last year at this time. I think we’re almost there.”
On Haugh's breakaway dunk
“It was pretty funny. I looked at X, and he had his hand on his head. If Tommy threw the ball to him, he probably would have thrown it off the backboard, but I reckon he would've just laid it up, so I'm glad Tommy dunked."
On ribbing Haugh after that play
"Tommy can windmill very easily, so I was a bit disappointed when he didn't do it, but two points is two points at the end of the day. He dunked it pretty hard as well, so you can't be too mad at the bloke. He is one away from 1,000, so I let him know about that, too."
Did he know he is so close to that milestone?
"I told him at the last media timeout he needed three points. I told him to shoot a three. He got the dunk, so he’s going to get it this game.
Did you joke with him about hitting 1,000 points first?
"I wouldn't say I joked with him about it, but it's a little edge that I have over him. He's had a good season, but I got the 1,000 points first. It’s pretty cool to get recognized for that. We're very blessed to be in that situation. Me and Tommy have been playing together for three years. Both reaching 1,000 points in the same time span is pretty cool.”
On recovery and physical play
“It’s definitely been some physical games. Kentucky really stood out with guys trying to match our physicality down low. You feel like you played a rough game after those. Our athletic trainer does a great job prioritizing our guys and getting us in the next day. Todd does a great job scheduling light day-after practices as mental days, focusing on what’s coming up and what we can do better from the previous game. He does a great job of player load.”
On family support and team roles
“Ryan’s (Haugh's father) is a good bloke. Both of those parents, Jen and Ryan, are like a family away from my family. Just knowing they cheer for me as well as their own son is pretty special. I'm grateful to have those guys.
On post-game TikToks
"Coop's always looking for guys after the game to get in the TikTok. That's good. We have guys like that, who want the team to be great. Everyone’s got a role and everyone plays that role very elitely. We did that last year, and it led to a great team. We had a really fun team off the court, kept things light and funny but are able to lock in at the same time. We’ve got great guys in that regard.”
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James Harden came out of Monday night's Cavaliers win over the Knicks, scoring 20 and looking like a guy who is thriving in a simplified role in Cleveland.
He also came out of it with a fractured right thumb that leaves him questionable for Wednesday night's Cavaliers game against the Bucks, the team announced.
This is a non-displaced fracture on his off hand. While certainly not ideal and would impact his handles, this is also not an injury expected to keep him out for an extended time.
The Cavaliers have already said Donovan Mitchell (groin strain) and Evan Mobley (calf injury management) are out Wednesday night in Milwaukee. With the Cavaliers playing on the second night of a back-to-back and Detroit looming on Friday, this is the smart move by the Cavaliers (who are playing the injury game to avoid Adam Silver's wrath and a fine).
The Cavaliers are 6-1 since Harden started suiting up for them, and he is averaging 18.9 points and eight assists a game. The Cavaliers' offense is thriving (third-best in the league) during that stretch, and the win against the Knicks was a sign that this team needs to be taken seriously as a threat to come out of the East. There is a real optimism in Cleveland right now.
PREVIEW | Parma vs Cagliari - team news, lineups, predictions
Parma and Cagliari clash this Friday at the Stadio Ennio Tardini for matchweek 27 of the Serie A. The match will be broadcast live at 19:45 on DAZN.
Parma currently have 32 points and lie in 12th position. In their last match, Carlos Cuesta's team prevailed 0-1 against Milan (Serie A 2025/26).
Cagliari have 29 points to their name this season and occupy 13th position in the table. In their last outing, Fabio Pisacane's team drew 0-0 against Lazio (Serie A 2025/26).
The last meeting between the two teams ended with Cagliari winning 2-0.
Manchester United agree first summer transfer window with £4.3m deal
Manchester United Agree Altay Bayindir Exit as Summer Plans Begin
Manchester United have reportedly agreed their first deal ahead of the summer transfer window, with Manchester United moving closer to sanctioning the sale of Altay Bayindir.
According to reports in Standard Sport, an agreement has been reached between United and Besiktas for a fee of €5million, around £4.3million. Fanatik claim the two clubs held a meeting this week, with Bayindir now expected to complete the move once the transfer window reopens.
Standard Sport, who were responsible for the original report, outline that the 27 year old will have one year remaining on his contract at the end of the season. United do hold an option to trigger a further 12 month extension, however indications suggest an exit is now the most likely outcome. Personal terms are reportedly progressing, and Besiktas had previously attempted to secure the goalkeeper’s signature in January before United blocked a late departure.
This is understood to be a strategic decision as the club reshapes its goalkeeping department ahead of 2026-27.
Photo IMAGO
Goalkeeper Hierarchy Shift at Old Trafford
Bayindir began the season as United’s first choice in the Premier League. However, the situation changed dramatically in October when summer signing Senne Lammens took over the No1 shirt.
Since losing his place, Bayindir has not made another appearance. That shift in hierarchy has effectively accelerated talks over a permanent exit, with United open to recalibrating their options.
Lammens has quickly established himself as a key figure. His composure, distribution and command of the area have drawn praise, most notably from Gary Neville.
“I’ve said it before, people get tired me saying it, I do think [the goalkeeper] is the most difficult position and most scrutinised position in English football,” Neville said on Sky Sports after Man United’s 1-0 win over Everton.
“I had my concerns when he came in, I thought: ‘Why would you take a chance with a goalkeeper who’s young, who’s not got the pedigree, he’s played in a different league, he’s going to come to Manchester United and it could eat him up’.
“It is early, but he looks like he’s got the temperament and he’s got the technical quality, he’s doing the right things, he holds the ball when he should hold it, he punches when he should punch, but even when he punches it’s not one of those wild punches, everything seems under control.
“This kid, he’s come in and I really have been impressed with him. He looks like he’s got a big, big future early days.”
Those words carry weight, particularly when assessing United’s long term planning.
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Andre Onana Ready to Compete for No1 Shirt
The developing situation around Bayindir also opens the door for Andre Onana.
Currently on loan at Trabzonspor, Onana has registered four clean sheets in 20 appearances across all competitions. As per the Guardian, he wants to fight to re establish himself as United’s No1 and believes he will be given an opportunity to do so.
From United’s perspective, this presents a delicate balancing act. Lammens is gaining momentum and external backing, while Onana remains a high profile asset determined to reclaim his status.
Competition for places will be intense if both goalkeepers return for pre season. Internal belief appears strong that a fair evaluation will take place before any definitive decisions are made.
What is clear is that United are already laying groundwork for the summer. Agreeing an exit early for Bayindir signals proactive planning rather than reactive movement.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
From a Manchester United supporter’s perspective, this feels like sensible squad management. Altay Bayindir has not done much wrong, but football at this level is ruthless. If Senne Lammens has taken his chance and impressed in big moments such as the 1-0 win over Everton, then the club must back merit.
The bigger question surrounds Andre Onana. Four clean sheets in 20 games for Trabzonspor is respectable, though not spectacular. However, confidence and rhythm matter hugely for goalkeepers. If he returns sharp and determined, he absolutely deserves a fair fight in pre season.
Gary Neville’s comments about Lammens having a “big, big future” are exciting, but early promise must translate into consistency over 38 games. United have been burned before by instability in this position.
Ultimately, strong internal competition raises standards. If Lammens continues his upward trajectory and Onana pushes him all the way, United benefit. Selling Bayindir for £4.3million while clarifying the hierarchy feels like decisive business. The summer rebuild has started quietly, but it has started with purpose.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) looks on after being sacked during the first half of the NFL Wild Card game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA on January 12, 2026. Credit - USA TODAY Sports
After the ugly display Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers offense put out in yet another Wild Card round defeat, this time by a score of 30-6 at home against the Houston Texans, it felt like the end was near. It seemed like a foregone conclusion that the 42-year-old gunslinger would call it a career. But not so fast.
With legendary Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin (and most of his staff) moving on after that postseason game, it would seem to make sense that Rodgers would as well. Tomlin was one of the main reasons the future Hall of Famer came to Pittsburgh in the first place. But now, with Rodgers’ old coach Mike McCarthy installed as the new boss and much of his new staff now in place, the rumblings out of Pittsburgh have been surprisingly pro-Rodgers.
Owner Art Rooney II said he’d “left the door open” for Rodgers’ return, and McCarthy said he “definitely” would like to work with Rodgers again. Most recently, general manager Omar Khan said that there is no deadline for Rodgers to make a decision on returning. Though he did caveat that with the expectation that it wouldn’t be a drawn-out process like last year.
Now, ESPN insider Adam Schefter reports that the scuttlebutt around the league is that Rodgers will make the call on whether he wants to come back for a 22nd season by mid-March when the new league year commences.
“The belief around the league is that, the feeling is, he’s supposed to give an answer by mid-March,” Schefter reported on February 25. “Many people thought that there would be no chance he’d be back. It certainly sounds like it’s an absolute consideration. And it sounds like … he’s more likely than not to be back today. I think the feeling is, he could be back with the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
The three main questions are: Will Rodgers come back at all? If he does, when will he make that call? And when he does, which team will he be joining as a free agent? Schefter believes the Minnesota Vikings are an interesting proposition, but overall, the Steelers seem most likely.
Many Pittsburgh fans will roll their eyes at the thought of another 10-7 season with old man Rodgers. However, former two-time Super Bowl champ and current ESPN NFL analyst Damien Woody believes Rodgers might still be Pittsburgh’s best option under center.
“Steelers owner Art Rooney II said, ‘We don’t rebuild… the expectation is for us to compete and contend every year.’ So if that’s going to be the case, with the limited options that are out there … Aaron Rodgers might be your best option right now,” Woody argued. “If the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to contend, who else are they going to turn to?”
Woody did say that he expects the Steelers to draft another youngster in April. And while they won’t be trading up for Fernando Mendoza, Woody could see them drafting one as early as the first round. Perhaps that rookie sitting for a year behind Rodgers could be the QB formula the Steelers use here.
Paul Skenes’ final spring training outing was not perfect. It was not dominant. But it was exactly what it needed to be.
The Pirates ace made his last appearance in camp before departing to join Team USA for the World Baseball Classic, throwing 2.1 innings against the Braves. The pregame goal, according to manager Don Kelly, was simple. Get him close to three innings and keep him on schedule.
The four walks jump off the page. That is not typical for him. But it is late February. Command is usually the last thing to fully lock in during spring.
He did not give up much hard contact. The only hit was a fly ball that turned into a triple after being misplayed in the outfield. The lone earned run came on an Austin Riley homer. For context, all three runs that crossed the plate in that inning scored after Skenes left and Jarod Bayless took over.
The stuff looked fine. The fastball had its usual life. He missed bats. He worked through traffic without things spiraling.
That is all the Pirates wanted.
Skenes had already thrown three “ups” in a recent simulated game, so this was about fine-tuning, not stretching him out fully. Now he heads to the World Baseball Classic, where the innings will matter a little more and the intensity will ramp up.
Pirates manager Don Kelly says Paul Skenes’ start today against the Braves will be Skenes’ last spring training start before he leaves to join Team USA.
Skenes had three “ups” in his last simulated game. The hope is for him to throw at least three innings today, Kelly said.
And if you are in Pittsburgh, the timing looks right.
Pirates season opening week
The Pittsburgh Pirates open their 2026 season on the road at Citi Field to take on the New York Mets. It is a three-game series with the opener on Tursday March 26th. They take Friday off, and finish the series on Saturday and Sunday. The Pirates then head to Cincinnati for a three-game series.
Pittsburgh then opens its home season on Friday, April 3rd, against the Baltimore Orioles. The San Diego Padres come to town next, which means Skenes will likely make his first three starts against the Mets, Reds and Padres.
The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2026 NFL draft.
During the 2025 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers selected one player who wasn't at the NFL Scouting Combine. That player was Micah Robinson, whom the Packers selected with the 237th overall pick.
A player prospect who wasn't invited to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine that the Packers could target on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft is Ethan Burke. The Texas edge rusher checks in at No. 63 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A native of Texas, Burke recorded 1.5 tackles for loss during his first season with the Longhorns. In 2023, Burke recorded 41 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. The following season, Burke recorded nine tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception and four pass deflections. This past season, Burke recorded 40 tackles, seven tackles for loss and three sacks.
"Burke was the type of glue guy every great defense needs and it’s not a coincidence Texas’ defense success has coincided with his being an impact player on the defense, not just this season but over his three years as a primary contributor," Eric Henry, a Texas beat reporter for Horns247, said. "He blocked two kicks this season (three for his career) both of which played a major role in Texas winning those contests."
At 6-6, 269 pounds with nearly 34-inch arms, Burke certainly looks the part of an NFL defensive end. The Texas defensive end is a force at the point of contact. He has quick, powerful hands and powerful legs to force his way into the backfield. He has a motor that doesn't turn off and he's always in pursuit of the football. Despite never being a full-time starter, Burke had outstanding backfield production. Over the past three seasons, Burke recorded 25 tackles for loss and 58 run stops.
"Burke isn’t just the player who will set the edge or be around the ball – he’s capable of shedding blockers and making the play himself," Henry said. "When you look at his size, he is more than physically capable; however, it’s his instincts and length that give him an advantage. Burke has an 83-inch wingspan, which helps make him a matchup nightmare."
Burke isn't a twitched-up edge rusher; however he has adequate initial quickness and converts speed to power. He has the brute strength to drive offensive tackles backwards and heavy hands to deliver thunder. He's a crafty edge rusher who uses active hands to keep himself clean. This past season, Burke recorded 26 pressures to go along with his three sacks.
"This is an area of his game that has been solid over the past three seasons, but never quite moved into the category of good or great," Henry said. "Part of that is simply the role he played on the defense. In 2023, then-freshman linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. emerged as the main pass-rush threat, followed by the last two seasons of fellow edge Colin Simmons... In 2024, Trey Moore was brought in from UTSA to be a premier pass-rusher and over the last two seasons, Moore was part of Texas’s NASCAR package, which limited the number of opportunities Burke had to record sacks. Overall, I see him as a three-down player who has room to grow as a pass-rusher, but he’s likely never going to be a double-digit sack player."
Burke would provide an impact on special teams. During his time with the Longhorns, he logged 427 snaps on special teams.
Fit with the Packers
In Micah Parsons, the Packers have one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. Now, they need to add reinforcements to that room.
Kingsley Enagbare is set to hit the open market and if he's not re-signed, it would open the door for Barryn Sorrell and Collin Oliver to take on more snaps.
Another potential departure could be Rashan Gary. It's possible that the former first-round pick could be a cap casualty. However, the way Gutekunst spoke about Gary at the combine yesterday, the door remains open that the former Michigan Wolverine will be in Green Bay to start the 2026 season.
With or without Gary, the Packers will likely look to add another body to their defensive end room this offseason and Burke could be an ideal target on Day 3. He's a steady player who won't get bullied off his spot against the run, and he's a savvy pass rusher who may never post 10-plus sacks in a season, but as part of a rotation, he could post 5 to 7 sacks a season. On top of all that, he'd provide an impact on special teams. Adding a player like that late on Day 3 is incredibly valuable.
"Ethan Burke checks all of the boxes of a player who maybe isn’t a selection in rounds one through three, but come the fourth or fifth round, you’re getting tremendous value with zero character concerns," Henry said. "Quite frankly, I believe Burke’s best football is ahead of him, especially considering lacrosse was his primary sport until his junior year of high school. I’m surprised he didn’t get a combine invite, but if he can test well come pro day, Burke might make it into round three."
At the NFL Scouting Combine, before the players hit the field, we get to hear from those at the top of the organization as they decide what they do in the coming weeks with the team. The combine gets a lot of focus as a draft event, but it is also a time when coaches and general managers open up about various issues and needs for the team.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Bucs general manager Jason Licht spoke to the media to discuss a wide range of topics.
We wanted to gather up various points and discussion pieces from the last two days and share them here for your consumption. One thing was clear, though, through all the clips, Licht is well aware this team needs some help, and he seems ready to get them just that. Primarily, he is aware of the depth issues the team faces.
But enough from us, here from the man himself.
Jason Licht remains confident in Todd Bowles
Throughout our conversation with Bucs general manager Jason Licht, he expressed support for Todd Bowles. Here’s what he had to say when asked to address the fans who don’t share that same confidence. pic.twitter.com/215eU1lPJG
Jason Licht is excited about Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish
#Bucs GM Jason Licht invested heavily into the secondary last year in CBs Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish. Licht took the time to discuss what each can bring going forward. pic.twitter.com/32oR2FEbNq
Jason Licht is open to trading a premium pick for a player
#Bucs GM Jason Licht has never traded more than a third-round pick for any player, but he is “not opposed” to the idea of trading premium capital to make a blockbuster trade. pic.twitter.com/d9gzBRX7Ik
Jason Licht is excited to have former Indiana QB coach on the Bucs staff
Video: Jason Licht talks about the Bucs’ excitement about new quarterbacks coach Chandler Whitmer, who coached at Indiana last season. pic.twitter.com/mW0gsaSElq
Rick Pitino isn’t shy about speaking his mind. Even when it comes to breakfast with his team.
The Hall of Fame coach took to social media on Wednesday to air frustration over what he saw during a team meal in Hartford.
“Just finished breakfast in Hartford with the team. 13 players and 5 coaches and a special priest. All looking at their phones. No conversing — Next discussion coming with my wonderful group,” Pitino wrote on X.
Just finished breakfast in Hartford with the team. 13 players and 5 coaches and a special priest. All looking at their phones. No conversing 🤦🏻♂️ -Next discussion coming with my wonderful group 😀
The post quickly circulated, offering a glimpse into the 73-year-old coach’s old-school philosophy about team bonding and communication. Pitino, now in his fourth year leading St. John's, has always taught discipline and connectivity within his program. But this one might be an old school take.
On the court, the Red Storm have responded. St. John’s entered Wednesday night’s matchup against No. 6 UConn Huskies with a 22-5 record and firmly in contention for another Big East title.
The milestones have come rapidly for Pitino. He secured career victory No. 907, moving him into third place on the NCAA Division I men’s basketball all-time wins list following a victory over Creighton.
Despite the accolades, Pitino has downplayed personal achievements. He remains focused on guiding the Red Storm through a pivotal stretch while the program and coach continue discussions on a potential new contract. His current six-year deal is valued at approximately $20 million.
When the MLS All-Star Game comes to Charlotte this summer, the league will also invest in the community, awarding $15,000 grants to four nonprofits across North and South Carolina through its Hometown Heroes Showcase.
Channel 9 sports reporter DaShawn Brown explains how it works with help from Charlotte FC midfielder Brandt Bronico, recently named an all-star ambassador.
Bronico has fully embraced being dubbed the “mayor,” with his work in Charlotte extending far beyond the pitch through years of advocacy and service.
“When I first started getting involved, I was, like, you don’t really know what to expect. It’s just, like, how can I help?” Bronico said.
Seems only right, this “mayor” is among the first voices to help launch the MLS All-Star Hometown Heroes Showcase. The showcase features four grants, awarded at $15,000 each, celebrating nonprofits and their leaders across the Carolinas.
“People always see the product or the highlight that goes online when these organizations go out and help others, but they don’t realize what goes into it,” Bronico said. “There’s so much that goes into the background that is unseen that really these grants can help not jumpstart but heighten the impact that they have.”
Nominations started Wednesday with groups required to meet one or more of the following criteria:
Equipping students and teachers for classroom success.
Fostering wellness for the whole person through confidence, connection and healthy habits.
Expanding access to nutritious meals.
Delivering essential items to help meet basic needs.
“Ultimately, the whole reason any of us are here is to help other people,” Bronico said. “Honestly, I think that’s the most important part. That’s kind of what it’s all about.”
Nominations run through March 15. Click here for more information.
To be considered by the selection committee, the organization and its leader must be:
Based in North or South Carolina.
A current resident.
A registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization demonstrating a minimum of one year business operations.
VIDEO: MLS All-Star Game prepares to move to the Queen City
Brown has delivered a series of epic performances for the Celtics this season. With Jayson Tatum sidelined by an Achilles injury and key departures from the championship roster, Brown has stepped up as the primary leader, averaging 29.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game across 51 appearances.
Brown's scoring ranks among the league's elite, and he has recorded multiple high-impact outings, including a 32-point, eight-rebound, seven-assist effort in a dominant win over the Lakers on February 22, and a triple-double of 23 points, 15 rebounds, and 13 assists against the Warriors on February 19.
The Celtics sit at 38-19 (second in the East), defying expectations for a "gap" year. Brown's consistent production has fueled their competitive standing and drawn praise, even earning MVP endorsements from figures like LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith.
With the NFL Combine almost here, fans finally have something to look forward to after a few quiet weeks.
The combine is an exciting time for anyone who likes diving into offseason hype and scouting players they hope their team will draft. Every year, a handful of standout performances drastically change how teams and fans evaluate prospects. Sometimes those numbers point to a future star. Other times, they are misleading.
Draft stock can rise or fall quickly based on a single workout, just as the odds on many of the best US betting apps shift on where players might be selected. With that in mind, let’s look at a few examples of players who had great NFL Combine performances but ultimately failed to live up to expectations.
Anthony Richardson
Without his performance at the combine, there is simply no way Anthony Richardson would have been the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Richardson ranksfirst all-time among quarterbacks in both the vertical and broad jump and third in the 40-yard dash with a 4.43 time. When that athleticism was paired with elite arm strength, comparisons to Cam Newton quickly followed. The difference was that Newton was an elite college quarterback, while Richardson was not.
Today, Richardson finds himself on the bench for the Colts after a few disappointing seasons marked by erratic throws and durability issues.
Isaiah Simmons
Coming out of Clemson, Isaiah Simmons was viewed as a do-it-all defender who could transform an entire unit. He was labeled theprototype for stopping modern offensive weapons, yet he quickly became a liability for the Cardinals. While Simmons showed plenty of ability in college, his combine performance vaulted him to the eighth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
He earned a 99 production score and a 99 athleticism score, both best among linebackers that year. Despite that, Simmons has struggled to find a consistent role at the NFL level. Just six seasons into his career, he is already on his third team and barely sees the field for the Panthers.
John Ross
Before Xavier Worthy broke the record, John Ross owned the fastest 40-yard dash time in NFL Combine history. For wide receivers, that one drill can change everything, and it did for Ross. His 4.22 time convinced the Bengals to select him ninth overall in the 2017 NFL Draft.
From the beginning, the pick failed to pay off. Ross never developed into a reliable receiver, finishing his career without even 1,000 total receiving yards. Eventually, he fell out of the league entirely.
Conclusion
It is hard to blame these players for failing to meet the unrealistic standards set by their combine performances. The bigger issue lies with poor evaluation by franchises. As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, there will once again be jaw-dropping displays of athleticism. While they are fun to watch and easy to dream about, history shows that elite combine performances do not always translate into great NFL careers.
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Slade Cecconi (44) dries his hands off in between pitches during the first inning of Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series at Progressive Field, Oct. 2, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio. | Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
No TV or Radio today, so discuss statcast/GameDay/hope one of our community members is on site.
The Huskies opened the season more or less on plan. They entered the year ranked, but just sneaking into the top 25. Their on-field performances looked like a team on that level, if not slightly better. While they dropped three games in their opening weekend in San Antonio, those losses were competitive and came to teams ranked 1, 1, and 9 in the country. The Dawgs also picked up a victory over #9 Nebraska. The following week, they made their W-L record a bit prettier with a dominant five-game sweep of Fresno St, San Jose St, and Santa Clara. At 7-3 and without a bad loss, the Huskies looked no worse than the top-25 team the rankings said they were.
Those results brought them to a busy week at the Mary Nutter Classic in Cathedral City, CA. The annual event brings some of the best teams in the country to Coachella Valley. The Huskies opened the tournament against #22 South Carolina, s similarly-ranked team who looked like a good measuring stick for UW. Things went south quickly for UW. Sophia Ramuno struggled in the circle. She could not get out of the second inning and yielded 4 runs on 3 H, 3 BB, and 2 HBP, with the big damage coming on a three-run homer. Rylee Rehbein and Morgan Reimer were a bit better in relief, but each gave up two more runs on the way to an 8-1 loss.
The Huskies righted the ship over the next three games. They faced Saint Mary’s, Auburn, and BYU on Friday afternoon and Saturday and won all three games decisively. Reimer pitched five shutout innings and Alexis DeBoer hit another home run to beat Saint Mary’s 7-0. Reimer was even better against a very solid Auburn team with a complete game in which she allowed only a single earned run. Giselle Alvarez powered the offense with a three-run homer that was enough for the Dawgs to prevail 5-2. BYU has struggled as a team early this year, so it was disheartening to see Raimuno chased after three batters again. However, Rehbein held the Cougars in check, DeBoer hit her customary HR, and the Huskies pulled away to win 8-3.
Through Saturday, things were looking pretty solid for the Dawgs. The loss to South Carolina was more one-sided than UW would’ve hoped, but there is no shame in losing to a team of that quality, and UW neatly took care of business in the next three. Sunday was a different story, though. The Dawgs opened against #4 Oklahoma, one of the nation’s dominant programs in recent history. With Ryan Maddox in the circle, the Sooners opened the game double, double, single, homer. Four batters, four runs. By the end of the inning, Rehbein was back in the game and the Dawgs were down 6-0. Another DeBoer bomb was the only bright spot as the run prevention didn’t get any better. After five innings, the Sooners led 15-2 and the game was mercifully over.
The Huskies bounced back quickly in the final game of the weekend against LMU. Ally Hetzel shrugged off the OU blowout and hit a three-run homer to stake the Huskies to an early 3-0 lead. From that point, the pitching and defense struggled to hold the lead. Reimer just kept her head above water through 4.1 innings of relief. She gave up eight hits and a walk, but left with the game tied at three. Two of the runs she gave up scored directly from errors, two of three UW errors for the game. Ramuno came in for the sixth and gave up two runs to give up the lead. UW rallied to get one back in the bottom of the sixth but could not even the game back up.
In UW’s defense, LMU is no slouch. They came into the game ranked #10 in the mid-major poll and received votes for the national top 25 this week. Still, the loss to a WCC team on the heels of looking uncompetitive against Oklahoma lowers the perceived ceiling for a team that looked very promising over the first two weeks. DeBoer is a major bright spot. She already has seven HRs in 16 games and sports a .905 SLG. Hetzel, Jadyn Glab, and Ava Caroll have also been offensive bright spots, while Gaby Toney has flashed serious power. The pitching and defense still needs improvement. Reimer has an impressive 0.98 ERA, but it’s fair to question if she can sustain that with a pedestrian 33/16 K/BB ratio through 43 IP. She has also given up 11 unearned runs on top of the six earned, plus six wild pitches and four HBP- not the most fundamentally sound performance so far. Ramuno has had more electric stuff with 34 Ks in 27 IP (against only 4 BBs), but she has also been more susceptible to hard hit balls, giving up seven HRs and three doubles. Rehbein and Maddox have provided most of the rest of the innings and both have given up way to many walks and hits. Batters have slugged six HRs off of Rehbein in only 14.1 IP.
The Huskies will have another trip to California this week with a chance to get back on track. They will play San Diego St and Cal Poly twice each and CSU-Northridge once on Friday-Sunday. The Dawgs will aim to get through the weekend unscathed, but will also want to show improvement in their pitching and defense.
On the bright side, the Dawgs did remain in the top 25 (#24), and we got this all-time X thread from the immortal Coach Tarr.
Thread (1/8) I’ve been involved in youth sports and elite college athletics for 45+ years. Every time I say that, I’m humbled. I’ve seen generations of athletes grow, struggle, rise, and thrive.
NFL Coach of the Year odds were high on Mike Vrabel entering last year, and he delivered, guiding the New England Patriots all the way to the Super Bowl.
Looking forward to a new season, a similar storyline is emerging, with DraftKings favoring John Harbaugh as he begins his first campaign as head coach of the New York Giants.
With Harbaugh listed at +500 to restore order in Gotham, here’s a look at the latest NFL odds for 2026-27.
Here is a look at the opening odds for NFL Coach of the Year. John Harbaugh (+500) opened as the betting favorite.
John Harbaugh (+500)
Jesse Minter (+750)
Joe Brady (+950)
Robert Saleh (+950)
Kellen Moore (+1200)
Mike McCarthy (+1200)
Kevin Stefanski (+1400)
Brian Schottenheimer (+1400)
Jim Harbaugh (+1600)
Todd Monken (+2000)
Klint Kubiak (+2200)
Ben Johnson (+2200)
Aaron Glenn (+2200)
Matt LaFleur (+2200)
Dan Campbell (+2500)
Shane Steichen (+2500)
Liam Coen (+2500)
Kevin O'Connell (+3000)
Jeff Hafley (+3000)
Dan Quinn (+4000)
Demeco Ryans (+4000)
Zac Taylor (+4000)
Sean McVay (+4000)
NFL Coach of the Year prediction
The New Orleans Saints caught fire at the end of last season, winning four of their last five games. With a full season of Tyler Shough under center, Kellen Moore could see this team take a big step forward in his second year as the Saints’ HC.
Based on last season’s win-loss records, the New Orleans Saints are set to have the second-easiest schedule in the NFL this season. New Orleans could quietly emerge as a contender to win the NFC South, a title it hasn’t claimed since 2020.
There has not been a back-to-back Coach of the Year winner since 1982 and 1983 (Joe Gibbs).
There have been 13 multiple winners of the Coach of the Year award, with three coaches (Don Shula, Chuck Knox, Bill Belichick) taking it home 3+ times.
Only one man has won NFL Coach of the Year honors despite his team finishing below .500 in the standings that season (Jimmy Johnson in 1990).
On social media, football fans experienced a rollercoaster of emotions: Italian euphoria, German distress, and a flood of memes. Here are the best reactions.
Josh Hines-Allen didn't start off the 2025 season at his best, but the Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end quickly proved that he belongs among the NFL's elite.
Hines-Allen began the year looking like he might end as a disappointment, but he surged later in the season to be a formidable threat.
Hines-Allen finished the regular season ranked second in quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, behind only Detroit's Aidan Hutchinson. Including the AFC wildcard game against Buffalo, Hines-Allen hit the 100 pressure mark.
He's been getting plenty of notice from analysts ever since, with PFF ranking him eighth in pass-rush win rate metric and 14th in pass-rush productivity. And he's been named in the top 10 for edge defenders in the league.
"Hines-Allen was one of four players (Anderson, Hutchinson, Verse) to hit the century mark in total pressures for the season (including the playoffs)," Ryan Smith wrote for PFF. "It was the fourth straight season that he finished the year among the top 15 edge defenders in PFF overall grade."
2024 had been a rough season for Hines-Allen, but it wasn't entirely his fault. Under Ryan Nielsen's leadership, the Jaguars' defense floundered, with multiple defenders — including Hines-Allen — putting on weight; this then made them less effective. Hines-Allen said his weight ultimately reached 285 pounds, and it slowed him down.
"My mindset was always to be as dominant. But it was a little, obviously, holding a little bit more weight puts a little bit more wear and tear on the body," he said in a press conference last summer, adding, "And it was a lot too much. Again, learn to adapt, gotta know what works best for you, something I tried and something I'm like, Alright, I probably don't want to do that again. So we're working on maintaining a good goal for me this year, and put some good tape out there."
Ultimately, the Jaguars fired Nielsen and brought in Anthony Campanile, who turned Jacksonville's struggling defense into a unit for the league to fear. For Hines-Allen specifically, he is now listed at 255 pounds, and ultimately flourished under Campanile's new scheme.
Arbeloa issues concerning Mbappe fitness update – ‘Will be out for a bit longer than just a few days’
Real Madrid face off against SL Benfica today in the UEFA Champions League without their ace goalscorer Kylian Mbappe.
The French superstar was ruled out of the contest after it emerged that he had not fully recovered from his previous knee injury that he had sustained back in December.
The 27-year-old striker had, for a number of weeks, been playing through the pain. However, he had to stop training early on Tuesday, leading up to the Benfica clash, and his absence from the squad list was confirmed today.
Arbeloa issues update
Ahead of kickoff at the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa provided an update on Mbappe’s current situation and it appears to be rather concerning.
The former defender admitted that his forward’s injury will not be only a matter of few days and that he would be absent for a longer time.
“Kylian Mbappe will be out for a bit longer than just a few days,” Arbeloa said, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano.
Mbappe out for an extended period. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
“For sure Kylian has to recover well before returning,” Arbeloa added.
The whole circumstance surrounding Mbappe and the handling of his injury raises concerns.
After all, Arbeloa, during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, had stated that the French international would be fit and ready to play against Benfica. And, now he is claiming that the forward will be out for longer than just a few days.
So far this season, Mbappe has scored 38 goals across all competitions and is the leading scorer for Real Madrid. His absence, without a doubt, will come as a major blow.
UCL | Atalanta 4-1 Borussia Dortmund (4-3 agg): Dea miracle in Bergamo
Atalanta performed a football miracle by overturning the 2-0 Champions League play-off first leg defeat to beat Borussia Dortmund 4-1 on the night with a last-gasp Lazar Samardzic penalty, 4-3 on aggregate.
La Dea had a big task ahead of them after losing the first leg 2-0 in Germany, their third consecutive defeat in the competition. Charles De Ketelaere and Giacomo Raspadori were still out of action, with Ederson only fit for the bench, but Gianluca Scamacca returned to the starting XI. Borussia Dortmund were missing Niklas Sule, Italian Filippo Mane and cup-tied Patrick Drewes, but Emre Can was back after a month out.
BERGAMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: General view inside the stadium as players of Atalanta and Borussia Dortmund line up prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Atalanta BC and Borussia Dortmund at Stadio di Bergamo on February 25, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Nicola Zalewski nearly scored in the fourth minute, Gregor Kobel fingertipping the angled drive past the far post, but the breakthrough arrived moments later.
Lorenzo Bernasconi got down the left and rolled across, Ramy Bensebaini sliding in got it wrong and just kept the ball going for Scamacca to tap in from six yards.
Emre Can had to put it out for a corner when Bernasconi volleyed a Lazar Samardzic cross back from the far post, then Kobel made a sensational fingertip save on another Zalewski scorcher.
Serhou Guirassy nodded the first Dortmund chance wide at the back stick on 28 minutes, then Marco Carnesecchi needed quick reactions to deny Julian Brandt from close range on an inspired Maximilian Beier through ball.
BERGAMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Davide Zappacosta of Atalanta celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Atalanta BC and Borussia Dortmund at Stadio di Bergamo on February 25, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Zalewski curled just over the bar after a strong Isak Hien run, and Atalanta cancelled out the first leg deficit on the stroke of half-time when Zappacosta’s strike from the edge of the area took a deflection off Bensebaini to wrongfoot Kobel.
After the restart, Carnesecchi made another impressive save on Guirassy after a debatable offside call, while Mario Pasalic couldn’t get enough power on the finish to surprise Kobel from Scamacca’s lay-off.
Kobel also rushed off his line to narrow the angle when Marten de Roon was sent clear down the right, but Dortmund were inches away from scoring when Beier’s angled drive beat Carnesecchi to bounce off the inside of the far post.
BERGAMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Felix Nmecha of Borussia Dortmund controls the ball whilst under pressure from Marten de Roon of Atalanta during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Atalanta BC and Borussia Dortmund at Stadio di Bergamo on February 25, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Atalanta survived the scare and took the lead for the first time in the tie when De Roon’s cross found Pasalic for a glancing header at the back stick from six yards, making it 3-2 on aggregate.
There was bad news as Sead Kolasinac limped off with a muscular problem, then Guirassy hit a fresh-air shot from eight yards in a move that saw Carnesecchi’s double save on the striker and Fabio Silva.
Borussia Dortmund got it to 3-3 on aggregate moments later, as Karim Adeyemi cut inside and bent his curler into the far top corner from inside the box.
Samardzic squirmed between two to drill inches wide of the far post, but there was drama deep into stoppages when Kobel rushed outside his line to clear and got it wrong, allowing Pasalic to cross from the left, which Bensebaini clumsily tried to intercept with a high boot behind him, kicking Krstovic in the head.
The contact was not in doubt, as the striker was bleeding, but it took a VAR On-Field Review to award the second yellow card to Bensebaini and above all the penalty, which Samardzic converted into the top corner to send Atalanta through 4-3 on aggregate.
Lazar Samardžić with an emphatic penalty to seal an incredible night for Atalanta as they progress to the round of 16 in the Champions League 👏@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK
Borussia Dortmund crash out of Champions League in Bergamo
Dortmund had the advantage from the first leg with their 100th Champions League (formerly European Cup) win last week, but they were under pressure from the first whistle. Moments after Gregor Kobel’s first save of the game, stopping Nicola Zalewski’s effort, Gianluca Scamacca put the hosts in front on the night in the fifth minute.
The striker scored his third goal in as many home Champions League games from Lorenzo Bernasconi’s delivery. Ramy Bensebaini and Daniel Svensson could’ve intercepted the low cross, but there was poor communication between the two defenders.
Atalanta’s pressure continued with Bensebaini having to make a professional foul before Kobel’s second save from Zalewski’s attempt. The third yellow card of the Champions League season means the Algerian will either miss the first leg of the Round of 16 ORRRR next season’s league phase opener at the time.
The two goal scorers from last week combined for Dortmund’s first chance of the game around the half-hour mark. Serhou Guirassy’s header from Maximilian Beier’s cross failed to find the target. A few minutes later, Julian Brandt did manage to force Marco Carnesecchi to a save after Beier’s through pass.
At the other end, Jobe Bellingham made a crucial tackle to deny Lazar Samardžić. A minute later, ex-Schalke defender Sead Kolasinac did the exact same inside Atalanta’s box against Guirassy. Dortmund had their best spell of the game in the closing stage of the half, but Atalanta leveled the aggregate score with yet another questionable defending in the last meaningful action before the break.
Bernasconi’s delivery from the left caused trouble once again as Kobel’s desperate punch invited Davide Zappacosta to try his luck from the edge of the box. Dortmund’s goalkeeper scrambled to get into a position where he could save Zappacosta’s shot, but the ball ended up in the net after Bensebaini’s telling deflection.
Carnesecchi was the first to be tested after the restart when he deflected the ball from Guirassy. Shortly after, Beier went agonisingly close when he hit the post with a low effort. Dortmund were also unfortunate since the rebound narrowly evaded Brandt.
That was crucial as Atalanta scored at the other end from their first chance of the half. Fans’ favorites Marten de Roon and Mario Pašalić combined to put the Serie A outfit in front for the first time in the tie. The Mainz-born Croat scored yet another crucial goal with a free header from the captain’s cross.
Niko Kovac immediately introduced Karim Adeyemi and Fabio Silva, who scored his first Dortmund goal to save them against RB Leipzig on Saturday. This time, it’s the former who leveled the score after receiving a pass from fellow substitute Carney Chukwuemeka in a crowded box.
The 24-year-old has scored eight Champions League goals since the last campaign. Samardžić nearly turned the script once again before the end of regular time, but the former Hertha BSC midfielder was unable to keep his shot on target from a promising position.
Just when extra-time seemed a formality, Kobel made another mistake, which left Bensebaini in an awkward position to try stopping Nikola Krstović. The referee awarded an injury-time penalty with Bensebaini dismissed for the second booking, while Nico Schlotterbeck saw a straight red for his protest from the substitute bench.
More importantly, with the last kick of the tie, Samardžić scored the penalty to send Atalanta through. Dortmund exit the Champions League before the Round of 16 stage for the first time since 2021/22.
Dortmund will face another season-defining game on Saturday when they host league leaders Bayern Munich. Since they’re already out of the cup, Bundesliga is their only chance to end the season with silverware.
Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen are the only remaining Bundesliga teams in the Round of 16 of the Champions League. There is a possibility of an all-German tie when the draw is out on Friday.
Liverpool defender confirms exit after 9 years at club: “experiences will live with me forever”
Liverpool Academy Exit Confirmed as Balmer Prepares for New Chapter
Balmer Bids Farewell After Nine Years
Liverpool’s academy has long prided itself on production, on polish, on patience. Yet the modern game rarely affords time in abundance. Pathways narrow quickly, particularly at a club where expectation sits heavily and competition for places grows fiercer with every intake.
Liam Balmer, an England youth international, has now confirmed that his own journey at Liverpool will conclude at the end of the season. After nine years on Merseyside, the 16 year old defender will depart in search of opportunity elsewhere, with Leeds United poised to secure his signature.
Balmer joined Liverpool at under nine level and progressed steadily through the ranks. Comfortable on either flank, though primarily deployed at right back, he developed into one of the academy’s more highly regarded defensive prospects. His elevation into England’s youth set up underlined that promise.
Yet academy football can be unforgiving. For every player who ascends towards Anfield’s bright lights, several others must reassess their route.
Instagram Message Signals Move
Balmer confirmed his decision publicly, offering a heartfelt message that reflected both gratitude and realism.
“After 9 years at this club, i will be leaving at the end of the season,” he wrote on his Instagram.
“Thank you to everyone at the club who has worked with me to this point. I’ve made friends that i will have for life and experiences that will live with me forever. It’s time for me to move on to another chapter and leave this one behind.”
“Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout my journey. YNWA”
In those words there was appreciation, but also acceptance. Liverpool’s academy remains among the most competitive environments in the country. For young defenders, the queue can be long and unforgiving.
Leeds United Set to Benefit
Leeds are expected to be the beneficiaries of Balmer’s decision. Reports indicate that he has agreed to join the Yorkshire club at the end of the current campaign. Balmer appeared to confirm that trajectory by reposting a story from talent scout outlet The Talent Hunter, stating that he will sign for the Whites.
The move will see him link up with Leeds’ academy at Thorp Arch, a set up intent on building its own future around youth development and upward mobility. For Balmer, it offers clarity and, perhaps more importantly, a clearer pathway towards senior football.
Liverpool, meanwhile, continue to refine their rebuild, balancing elite ambition with the realities of a crowded academy system. Balmer’s departure does not diminish his time at the club, nor the investment made in him. It simply reflects the difficult arithmetic of modern football.
Tiger Woods has been giving plenty of signals lately that he plans to play in this year’s Masters.
He’s still working his way back from the 2025 back surgery and has also been managing an Achilles issue on top of that.
Speaking with reporters at Riviera last week, Woods stopped short of ruling out a return at Augusta. He said:
Even after such a long absence, Woods remains golf’s biggest attraction. Despite being away from the game for nearly two years, his presence still brings excitement to the sport.
Colt Knost shares his thoughts on whether Tiger Woods will play the Masters this year
Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images
Golf fans are getting increasingly excited about the possibility of Woods appearing at Augusta National in April.
Knost admitted: “If you would have asked me a couple of weeks ago, if I thought Tiger was gonna play, I’d say probably no.”
“I honestly am now leaning towards, yes.”
“I think there’s a better chance he plays than he doesn’t. Just seeing him move around out there, his attitude, just his, I don’t know, everything.”
“He just looks good right now, he’s going up and down the steps there on 18 at Riviera.”
“Walking is the biggest issue for him. And he said he’s been making full swings at home. They haven’t been great, but it’s Tiger Woods.”
“We got some time. We got six weeks until The Masters. I’m starting to think we’re going to see him tee it up.”
Tiger Woods: Why patience could be the key ahead of a Masters return
The main worry for fans of Tiger Woods is that he might come back to competitive play too soon and cause lasting damage to his back.
It’s happened before, including in 2024. Two years ago, he made a quick return for The Masters after pulling out of The Genesis Invitational just two months earlier.
That decision ended up making things worse, and he hasn’t played competitively since The Open Championship that same year.
The good news is that Tiger appears to be moving well at the moment, with no major pain reported and The Masters now two months away.
Walking without issue is important, especially considering how tough Augusta National can be on the body.
Even so, Woods should only commit if he feels fully ready. There will be other opportunities to compete at Augusta, but another premature comeback could make it hard for him to take part in any future events at all.
Like many other teams, the Oklahoma City Thunder have dealt with plenty of injuries, as ailments begin to add up for the defending champions in the second half of the season.
Though the Thunder still lead the San Antonio Spurs for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference by three games, they'll be shorthanded to say the least in Wednesday's matchup against the Detroit Pistons.
For starters, No. 1 and 2 leading scorers Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams remain out with abdomen and hamstring injuries.
Ajay Mitchell has also been ruled out with an abdominal strain.
To make matters worse, Oklahoma City Thunder insider Brandon Rahbar reported that Isaiah Hartenstein has been downgraded to out.
Rahbar also reported that the duo of Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso are now listed as doubtful for the contest.
If Holmgren is unable to suit up, Oklahoma City will be without five of their six leading scorers, leaving Isaiah Joe as the highest scorer, only averaging 11 points per game on the year.
In their absence, along with Joe, the newly acquired Jared McCain is expected to take on scoring duties along with Cason Wallace who has scored 20 points or more in back-to-back games against the Raptors and Cavaliers.
If Oklahoma City were to lose Wednesday and San Antonio were to beat Toronto, the Spurs would be within two games of the top-seed.
Following Wednesday's road matchup against the Pistons, the Thunder will return home for another tough matchup Friday against the Denver Nuggets.
Pete Alonso broke a lot of New York Mets fan's hearts when he signed with the Baltimore Orioles during the offseason. One fan who was upset was the eight-year old son of comedian John Oliver, who really got into baseball during the 2025 season and was excited for the team's 8-3 start.
Of course, the rest of the regular season didn't go as expected as the Mets finished 83-79 and failed to make the postseason.
During an appearance on NBC's "Late Night with Seth Meyers" this week, Oliver, the host of HBO's "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver," told a story how of he had to explain to his son that he couldn't change his favorite baseball team even when things go bad.
"Watching [my son] fall in love with this guy — he has a signed ball [from Alonso] — and having to go into his room and say, ‘Pete Alonso’s going to Baltimore,’ and he said, ‘Are you sure I can’t be an Orioles fan?’" Oliver said. "‘We’ve had this discussion.’"
In an attempt to make up for breaking the heart of a young Mets fan, Alonso took to social media on Wednesday to try and smooth things over — and get Oliver's son to ignore his dad and convert his fandom to the Orioles.
"I saw what your son had to say about being upset of me signing with the Orioles, but, hey, he could always become an O's fan," Alonso said. "[I] would love to extend an invitation to you and your family to come down to Camden [Yards] for a game this year and you guys can get out on the field for batting practice. Hopefully you guys come down and have some fun. Hope to see you soon. Go O's."
Alonso will be back at CitiField this season when the Orioles visit for a three-game series in September. The first game back will be sure to be an emotional evening with Mets fans paying tribute to the slugger and Oliver's son revealing whether Alonso's influence will have him wearing Orioles gear instead of Mets paraphernalia.
The Miami Dolphins finished their 2025 campaign with an average pass-rush unit, recording sacks on 7.04% of opposing quarterback dropbacks, which ranked 16th in the league.
Now, with Bradley Chubb getting released this offseason, Miami needs to find another edge rusher to get after the quarterback in 2026 and beyond.
While the Dolphins could sign a proven veteran, there's also a chance that they look to the upcoming NFL draft and use one of their top picks on the position. Interestingly, Rueben Bain, one of this year's top edge prospects, confirmed on Tuesday that he'd met with the team at the combine.
Bain, 21, was a four-star recruit out of Miami Central Senior High School when he committed to the University of Miami. Over the last three years, he's recorded 121 tackles, 20.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, two passes defensed and one interceptions.
He also earned ACC Defensive rookie of the Year in 2023, ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2025, All-American honors in 2025 and All-ACC honors twice.
The Hurricane would love to stay at home and play for the Dolphins in the NFL, and he would certainly be loved by the hometown fans. However, if Miami wants him this year, they may have to move up in the first round to get him.
Forever Collectibles is selling a $900 bobblehead of Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani to commemorate the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Pre-orders for the bobblehead have already begun, and only 26 copies of the item are available. The bobbleheads are individually numbered No. 1 through No. 26, and are officially licensed by Major League Baseball.
The bobblehead is 18 inches tall, and contains the following features, per FoCo’s website.
Portrays Ohtani wearing his Japan 2026 World Baseball Classic home uniform in a poised gameday stance, ready to shine on the world stage
Oversized, team-colored bobblehead design for maximum display presence
“JAPAN” wordmark display and number 16 on front of jersey in case there were any doubts about where your allegiances lie.
Authentic batting helmet with bold “J” logo display for added national pride
Pinstriped uniform details and batting gloves to capture his on-field look
World Baseball Classic 2026 logo display on top of base so you can celebrate the global tournament
World map-themed base surface to represent baseball’s worldwide reach
Front name display with “SHOHEI OHTANI” text so everyone knows who the face of your franchise is
Japan text display and Japanese flag graphic on base for an extra dose of international spirit
Handcrafted
Hand painted
There is a nearly identical USA version of Ohtani’s bobblehead featuring New York Yankees MVP outfielder Aaron Judge.
Ohtani isn’t the only Dodger to receive a personalized bobblehead for the upcoming tournament, though, as Will Smith also has an $80 figure using his likeness.
Other MLB stars who have a bobblehead of the same price are Tarik Skubal, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Nolan McLean, Paul Skenes, Gunnar Henderson, Kyle Schwarber, Clayton Kershaw, Bryce Harper, Cal Raleigh, Brice Turang, Bobby Witt Jr., Alex Bregman and Judge.
Apr 2, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Spectators receive Shohei Ohtani bobblehead before the Los Angeles Dodgers play against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Will Shohei Ohtani Pitch in the World Baseball Classic?
While Ohtani is set to feature for Team Japan in the upcoming WBC, he will not be taking the mound.
Manager Dave Roberts confirmed the star would only be grabbing a bat during the tournament during DodgerFest 2026.
“Well, he’s not gonna pitch in the WBC, but he will be ramping up his arm to get ready for this season and I think for me is I don’t know how many innings he threw last year, but obviously with the full offseason going north of what he did last year,” Roberts said.
He also joked about coming in to face former teammate Mike Trout as he did in the 2023 WBC, but seeing as how Trout didn’t make the roster, that possibility also shut down.
Florida baseball won a high-scoring affair against the FIU Panthers, 17-11, on Tuesday night. After the victory, head coach Kevin O'Sullivan and left fielder Blake Cyr spoke with the media, touching on a powerful offensive performance and some up-and-down pitching.
Luke McNeillie started the game. O'Sullivan was pleased with his stuff, despite allowing a pair of early runs. He praised Ricky Reeth and Eli Blair, the latter making his season debut. Jackson Hoyt and Caden McDonald ran into some trouble, with the former failing to record an out, but Sully said that the performance was not indicative of how the team views the left-handed freshman. Sully was pleased with the pitching staff only walking two guys all night.
Offensively, things started out slow, but the Gators ended up scoring 14 runs with two outs, something both men praised. It's a much different offense than last year, and Cyr noted that the team has "different ways to score."
Being a Miami transfer, Cyr talked about the upcoming weekend series in Coral Gables, calling it just "another series" but admitting that the team will play with some extra fire against an in-state rival.
Here's everything they said after Tuesday's win.
Sully on Luke McNeillie
"I think he's feeling fine. I think he's probably just a little rusty still. He probably just needs to get a couple more outings. Hopefully, he'll get sharp when we head down to Miami this weekend, but his stuff looked fine. We want to keep him around 40. That's exactly where he was at."
Sully on Tom Slater being tossed
"No, it was just about the hit-by-pitch."
Sully on Eli Blair's debut
"Yeah, I thought he and Ricky (Reeth) both did (settle things down) after the guys they followed. I thought both of them threw the ball good."
Sully on offense, season-high 17 runs
"It was really good. I don't know how many runs we scored with two outs. Maybe somebody could tell me at some point, but it has to be close to double digits, because I know when we went to the bench and brought in Strip(ling), and he got that single, and we scored all those runs after that. And I think we scored maybe three the next inning. It was back-to-back seven-run innings."
Sully on importance of finding a second lefty
"Yeah, it's really important. We'll see a couple more tomorrow. That was just a little disappointing with Jackson (Hoyt) because he's been throwing the ball good in the preseason, and he's got a good arm. But tonight was not indicative of what we think of him. So, he's going to have to move on and move beyond this outing."
Did the weather play a factor for Hoyt?
"I don't know. At some point, you've got to take care of your own business. You can't control the weather. Both teams got to play in it, and Ricky Reeth figured out a way to get through his and Eli Blair figured out a way to get through his. Positive is we only walked two. It's a little bit of a different lineup because they run six left-handed hitters up there."
Sully on Landon Stripling getting more at-bats, other bats
"I thought he had good at-bats like he always does. I thought Blake Cyr continued to swing the bat really good. Ethan had another good night at the plate. Cash Strayer got a knock. Lawson had a big double. Kyle Jones had a double with three RBIs. I think our offense was good tonight. The first couple of innings were a little slow to go, but after that we were pretty good."
Blake Cyr on playing with more confidence this year
"I would say I'm just going out there and having fun every day. Having Skip back is awesome. He's been great for the team. Even Slate, man, he's awesome. Just going out there and having fun every day."
On playing more loose
"For sure. I'm a senior this year, and you never know when it's your last chance to be able to play baseball. I'm just going out there enjoying every single day. God gave me the opportunity to be out here every single day, so I got to take advantage of it."
How would you assess your play so far?
"I'm just having fun. I just want to keep playing ball every single day."
Blake Cyr on this year's offense
"Yeah, I think we mash, that's for sure. Our offense is unbelievable. Probably one of the best I've been a part of. To your point of last year, I think the difference between this year and last year is this year we have so many different ways to score runs. It's not just home runs. Look at tonight. I don't know how many runs we scored with two outs, but it was an absurd amount. Fourteen runs with two outs. Come on. That's a special offense to be on, to score 14 runs with two outs."
Blake Cyr on lessons learned last year
"It was more of a mental thing for me last year, especially with it being my first full season back before my dad passed away. So it was a tough and long season for me, and I think it was an unbelievable, great journey that I needed to happen. I knew everything was going to be all right. I'm just playing the game that I love every single day. Nothing has changed. He's up there watching me. I think having last year, going through that, and then mentally being, it's okay. Just go be a kid out there and go have fun like you always do."
Blake Cyr on teammates' support
"I think it's been everything, especially Sully and the coaching staff. They do an unbelievable job inside the walls of the support. I wish everyone got to know how much they really do mean to the team and how much they help, other than baseball. This coaching staff and their support system, it means the world."
Blake Cyr on return to Miami
"I'm just excited. I made a lot of connections there in my two years in the city of Miami. So I'm excited to get back down to Miami. With the weekend, I just think it's another series. It's another team across those lines. We just want to go out there and win and compete every single inning, every single pitch. So that's really all it is when it comes to the game."
Anyone on Miami you're still close with?
"Of course. Cuvet and I are really close. A lot of guys have left and gotten drafted, but Cuvet comes to mind."
Blake Cyr on keeping an emotional balance in a rivalry
"We're going to have some fire in us because it's an in-state team and they're good. We're going to be good. So I think just knowing that we're playing another really good team is all I'm really focused on. This is going to be a real competition.
"As long as we continue to do what we're doing and stay on all cylinders, I think we're going to be fine. I don't want to make it more than it really is. It really is just another weekend against a good ball club, and we're going to go down there and take care of business."
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PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - MARCH 13: Mac Horvath #19 and Aidan Smith #8 of the Tampa Bay Rays sign autographs for young fans prior to the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park on Thursday, March 13, 2025 in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Acquired in the Arozarena trade, Smith became the prince who was promised, a five tool athlete with a strong bat, good face, and a preternatural glove in center field. That promise unraveled a bit in 2025, with his strikeout rate rocketing nine percent and his power stroke faltering after facing harder velocities in High-A, causing both his hit and power grades to drop into the 40’s. It was a full transformation into a “center field” profile, but with his ceiling that’s not a compliment. He plays with a fire, but the dip in contact rate left some evaluators feeling burned.
Rank
Player
Position
Votes
Total
Percentage
Last Season
1
Carson Williams
SS
14
25
56%
1
2
Brody Hopkins
RHP
19
25
76%
8
3
Jacob Melton
OF
14
28
50%
N/A
4
Theo Gillen
OF
14
26
54%
13
5
Ty Johnson
RHP
12
25
48%
15
6
Daniel Pierce
SS
13
23
57%
N/A
7
Jadher Areinamo
INF
15
28
54%
N/A
8
TJ Nichols
RHP
13
28
46%
N/R
9
Michael Forret
RHP
8
33
24%
N/A
10
Santiago Suarez
RHP
11
30
37%
16
11
Anderson Brito
RHP
7
28
25%
N/A
12
Xavier Isaac
1B
9
28
32%
3
13
Caden Bodine
C
10
25
40%
N/A
14
Brendan Summerhill
OF
11
27
41%
N/A
15
Slater de Brun
OF
10
25
40%
N/A
16
Nathan Flewelling
C
8
26
31%
N/A
17
Trevor Harrison
RHP
9
26
35%
10
18
Jose Urbina
RHP
13
26
50%
25
19
Tre’ Morgan
1B/LF
15
25
60%
4
20
Jackson Baumeister
RHP
12
27
44%
12
21
Aidan Smith
OF
17
29
59%
6
Smith surged from only late consideration in the voting to surpassing a player he tied with last week — stopping his free fall before Bush Jr. could rise further in the rankings. Farther in the rankings? Not sure. Adding Gill Hill!
Candidates
Fabricio Blanco, SS 17 | S/R | 5’11” | 161
A bat-first middle infielder, the Venezuelan is an elite prospect within the context of the international signing process, with some believing he’s the best Rays signee this off-season, despite gathering only a $1 million bonus. He can barrel up from both sides of the plate, but may settle into a right handed swing in the long term, with quick hands. He has the ability and instincts to stick at short, with a high-IQ approach and gritty demeanor.
Homer Bush Jr., OF 24 | R/R | 6’3” | 215 AA | .301/.375/.360 (122 wRC+) 546 PA, 0 HR, 57 SB, 8.8% BB, 17.9% K
Acquired in the 2024 Jason Adam trade, the starting center fielder at Double-A passed the test of advanced pitching, but just barely. He lacks in-game power due to a lack of use of his lower half in his swing, and he whiffed more often than you can for long term success with a low-power approach. His calling cards are Rays-grade defense and plus-speed, having notably swiped 57 bags in back-to-back seasons.
Cooper Flemming, SS 19 | L/R | 6’3” | 190
One of the best high school bats in the 2025 draft, Flemming surprisingly fell into the Rays laps in the second round. He has a too-quiet swing that lacks the load necessary to hit for power, but he’s historically compensated for that with a high contact rate that would have rated him as first round material if his defense projected to stick. The Rays were able to convince him to forgo an education at Vanderbilt by going above slot ($2.3m, Comp-A money).
Gary Gill Hill, RHP 21 | 6’2” | 160 A+ | 3.82 ERA, 4.37 FIP, 136.2 IP (25 GS), 18.8% K, 5.3% BB
A groundballer, Gill Hill was a feather in the cap for the Rays scouting department when snagged in the sixth round in 2022. He raised his armslot in 2024 to great success, but got off to a rocky start in 2025, which muddies the water on his statline. On the whole, GGH has the body and the look to be a major league starter, particularly thanks to a plus fastball in the upper 90’s and plus control, but needs to find a longterm solution for opposite handed hitting as he climbs the ladder. Accordingly, he projects as a reliever until his arsenal finds a plus third pitch.
Brailer Guerrero, OF 20 | L/R | 6’1” | 215 A | 249.338/.399 (119 wRC+) 222 PA, 6 HR, 9 SB, 11.3% BB, 29.3% K AFL | 2 H, 0 HR, 2 SB, 3 BB, 16 K, 29 PA
Good news: the $3.7 million 2023 signee made the leap out of the complex league in his final teenage season. Bad News: He was injured yet again, with hamstring and knee injuries limiting him to 51 games for Charleston. The Rays tried to make up for lost time with an aggressive assignment to the AFL that resulted in only two hits in 29 plate appearances. He makes loud contact from a quick, quiet swing which he pre-loads by reaching back for even more power. He appears to make early decisions to swing, leading to a bit extra whiffs against anything off-speed, but that could easily clear up with some consistent playing time.
Dom Keegan, C 25 | R/R | 6’0” | 210 AAA | .241/.306/.429 (89 wRC+) 297 PA, 10 HR, 0 SB, 8.1% BB, 30.6% K
Keegan is at an inflection point in his minor league career, having joined the 40-man roster as the third catcher, and overall the jury is still out. Trusted more at first base than backstop at Vanderbilt, the Rays have kept him behind the dish but reports still have his defense below average, and 2025 was a wash after an elbow injury in the Spring sank his season, in particular his bat speed. While the lack of progress on the edges of his game has some evaluators calling into question his once-sure major league projection, he’ll get a long look in Spring Training, where his ability to punish mistakes in the zone may flourish.
Victor Mesa Jr., OF 24 | L/L | 5’11” | 195 AAA (MIA) | .301/.368/.510 (136 wRC+) 171 PA, 7 HR, 4 SB, 9.9% BB, 16.4% K MLB (MIA) | 6 H (1 HR), 5 BB, 5 K (81 wRC+) 38 PA
This Cuban power bat already made his major league debut with Miami last year after bouncing back from a spring hamstring injury, and was dealt to the Rays in February. He profiles as a fourth outfielder but has an option remaining, so the organization may send him down for regular playing time and one last chance for something more in development. If not, he’s a center field capable on defense, which goes a long way for a platoon bat. In the running for the nicest guy in baseball.
Acquired in the Shane Baz trade, Overn was once a top draft prospect after committing to baseball over football at USC, but surprisingly struggled as a draft-eligible sophomore. That didn’t stop Baltimore from taking him in the third round (97th overall) in 2024. Now a professional, Overn overhauled his swing in the first half of 2025, and earned an early promotion to Double-A for his efforts, where he didn’t look overmatched. His biggest threat is his speed, which raises his floor and gives him an easy projection to a major league bench thanks to plus defensive instincts (BA gave 70’s to his run and field tools). His offensive profile is buoyed by his ability to work the count, but evaluators would like to see him punish fastballs more often for him to be considered a regular.
Taylor entered 2025 as a top-100 prospect after demolishing High-A (154 wRC+), and left 2025 as an afterthought on prospect lists, although he was selected as an Arizona Fall League “Fall Star” in between, where he worked to keep his chase rate low and his hard hit rate high. The juice must have been worth the squeeze, as the Rays have elected to invite Taylor to major league Spring Training this year.
Victor Valdez, SS 17 | R/R | 6’1” | 186
A pretty swing with a low whiff rate earned Valdez a big payday this winter — $3.5 million — with as good of a power projection as you can reasonably ask for from a a teenage bat, having been given a 25+ home run projection by Baseball America, who also praise his plus foot speed, bat speed, and control of the zone. Reports say he has ever improving lateral movements on defense, with smooth actions and a strong arm. If it all clicks, it’s a middle-of-the-order bat on the left side of the infield. At signing, the Rays gave him a comp to Francisco Lindor. It will be interesting to see if his first professional season can solidify the five tool profile.
NEPTUNE — Christian Shenk knew exactly what was at stake every time St. Augustine swimmers stepped up to the blocks for the NJSIAA Non-Public final. It was a chance at history.
The Hermits met their goal, defeating Delbarton, 100-70 for their fourth straight state title. It's the first time St. Augustine has won four in a row, after a three-peat from 2007-09.
"When I was younger, I'd look at Prep and they'd keep winning. But we've done something that has never been done," said Shenk, a Williamstown resident who was first in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle and part of two winning freestyle relays.
"We all came here to continue the legacy, and we all contributed to that. It means something. It feels great."
St. Augustine has won 10 Non-Public championships, six in Non-Public A. This was Delbarton's first trip to a final since winning in 1999.
Green Wave coach Pat Savidge highlighted his 12 seniors, only two of whom – Femi Oshodi and Dalton Brooks – are club swimmers. That group lost in sectional quarterfinals as freshmen and sophomores, and in the semifinal last winter.
Delbarton also ended Chatham's 58-meet winning streak, and wrested the Morris County title from the Cougars for the first time since 2020.
"They're the kids who have seen this program grow," Savidge said. "I know they're upset, but they're proud."
The meet was tied, 31-31, at the break. Oshodi and freshman C.J. Friends went 1-2 in butterfly. Delbarton took a two-point lead into the 100 free, after Brooks and Dom Narduzzi went 2-3 behind Shenk.
But St. Augustine's Frank Ferzetti, Nick Stride and Billy Jenkins swept backstroke. That gave the Hermits a nearly insurmountable 18-point lead.
"It took that determination and perseverance," said senior Luke Bickett, who edged Brooks in the IM and won the 500. "We know what has to get done. We were ready. ... This team has been setting a legacy. It's good to be a part of it."
Non-Public Final
St. Augustine 100, Delbarton 70
Medley relay: Delbarton (C.J. Friends, Kerim Mumcuoglu, Femi Oshodi, Dom Narduzzi)1:33.66; 200 freestyle: Christian Shenk (SA) 1:40.03; 200 individual medley: Luke Bickett (SA) 1:54.1; 50 freestyle: Friends (D) 20.87; 100 butterfly: Oshodi (D) 50.08; 100 freestyle: Shenk (SA) 46.02; 500 freestyle: Luke Bickett (SA) 4:38.97; 200 free relay: St. Augustine (Shenk, Mitchell Johnson, Gio Catania, Alex Morrison) 1:26.15; 100 backstroke: Frank Ferzetti (SA) 53.02; 100 breaststroke: Morrison (SA) 57.72; 400 free relay: St. Augustine (Bickett, Jonah Alvarez, Ferzetti, Shenk) 3:09.78.
Team records: St. Augustine 9-0, Delbarton 11-2.
Site of meet: Neptune Aquatic Center. Distances in yards.
The California high school boys basketball 2025-26 campaign is deep into the postseason as championship games are right around the corner.
The No. 1 team in our sixth set of California high school boys basketball rankings are the Sierra Canyon Trailblazers, which are currently 26-1 on the season, soundly defeated Notre Dame, 70-46 on Tuesday night. Besides the Trailblazers, which other programs should we watch for out of California when it comes to the state’s top high school boys basketball teams?
The Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory.
Here’s a look at the top 25 teams in the Golden State according to the Massey Ratings, which ranks teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule and margin of victory, as of Feb. 25.
1. Sierra Canyon Trailblazers (26-1)
The California high school boys Top 25 rankings are topped for the sixth straight week by the Sierra CanyonTrailblazers (26-1), winners of 21 straight games after they knocked off Notre Dame on Tuesday night in a 70-46 decision. Sierra Canyon is as good as they come in the country as they feature 5-Star+ Brandon McCoy at combo guard along with 2027 four-star small forward Maximo Adams (North Carolina commitment). The Trailblazers have set themselves up for a showdown with No. 2 ranked Harvard-Westlake on Saturday.
2. Harvard-Westlake Wolverines (25-5)
Jumping up to the second spot in this week’s rankings are the Harvard-Westlake Wolverines (25-5), which has won four straight games since losing to Crespi on Jan. 31. The Wolverines feature one of the more talented rosters around as Havard-Westlake 2026 four-star shooting guard Joe Sterling (Texas signee) and 2027 three-star guard Cole Holden. Harvard-Westlake recently defeated No. 11 La Mirada, 71-57, and now have a highly anticipated rematch with Sierra Canyon this weekend.
3. Notre Dame Knights (22-7)
Hopping back into the Top 5 of the California high school boys basketball rankings are the Notre Dame Knights (22-7), which which saw their season come to an end against top-ranked Sierra Canyon on Tuesday night. As of late, the Knights have faced the likes of national powers Sierra Canyon, Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.) and Paul VI Catholic (Va.), respectively. Notre Dame is led by a pair of future Division I players in 2027 four-star point guard NaVorro Bowman Jr. and 2026 three-star small forward Zach White (San Diego commitment).
4. Redondo Union Sea Hawks (25-4)
The Redondo Union Sea Hawks (25-4) were one of the state’s hottest teams recently, but their season came to an end last week in a 73-70 loss to La Mirada. The squad had won 20 of their last 21 contests before the loss, with the only previous losses coming against Maryland’s The Bullis School, Arizona’s No. 1 ranked Sunnyslope and San Gabriel Academy.
5. St. Joseph Knights (22-2)
Rounding out the Top 5 of the California high school boys basketball rankings are the St. Joseph Knights (22-2), which have played one of the state’s toughest schedules and are still going strong in the current postseason. The Knights only two losses on the season have come against two out-of-state programs in Faith Family Academy (TX) and St. Xavier (KY), respectively. St. Joseph’s last win was over Bakersfield Christian (67-57 win) and are slated to take on No. 25 Buchanan on Saturday.
Massey Ratings California High School Boys Basketball Rankings Nos. 11-25
Megan Keller became a household name when she scored the golden goal during the 2026 Olympics gold medal match to give Team USA the win against Team Canada.
With the win, Keller became a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a three-time medalist at the Winter Games. She's also a six-time World Champion.
For fans of Keller, the attention she is receiving is a long time coming.
After the Olympics, the 29-year-old went straight from Italy to Boston, where she plays for the Fleet of the PWHL.
The captain of the Fleet, Keller has led the team to the top of the league. The hope is that her momentum from the Olympics and the supporters of the women’s team will carry over to the PWHL.
TOSS THOSE GLOVES @megan_keller4 YOU JUST WON A GOLD MEDAL 🥇
Here’s all you need to know about Keller, from stats to her magical run at the Olympics.
Megan Keller College Stats
Keller, from Farmington Hills, Michigan, started her career at Boston College. While there, the All-American won the Cammi Granato Award, becoming the first defenseman to win the Player of the Year twice.
Keller finished with 158 points, becoming Boston College's all-time leader in defenseman scoring.
"The hardest worker, the player that does whatever you ask of her and pushes the envelope for everyone, also keeps it light, keeps it light in the locker room, keeps it light on the ice for her teammates. She's just an incredible teammate," former coach Katie Crowley said about Keller via CBS News.
Megan Keller PWHL Stats
Keller became a founding member of the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association following college. She later became one of the first members of the Boston Fleet in the new PWHL.
Initially an alternate captain, Keller was named to the Second Team All-Star in the PWHL’s inaugural season. In 2023-24, Keller was a PWHL Defender of the Year finalist and Second Team All-Star. Following the departure of Hilary Knight, Keller became the official captain of the Fleet.
Keller had four goals, eleven assists, and 15 points in her first season with Boston. Her second year saw her score five goals, have eight assists, and have 13 points. Before the Olympic break, Keller had five goals, six assists, and eleven points.
It’s safe to say she will shatter her previous records when action resumes.
Megan Keller Olympic Stats
Scoring the game-winning goal to clinch gold for Team USA this year, Keller tied the tournament lead with nine points. That total is tied for the second-highest by a defender in a single Olympic tournament.
Keller would score three goals at the 2026 Olympics and six assists, more than her run in 2022 (zero and four) and 2018 (zero and two).
Jack Hughes, who scored the golden goal for the men's team, also in overtime against Canada, shouted out Keller after scoring.
The Detroit Lions' backfield, featuring Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, remains one of the NFL's most potent two-headed monsters and new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing plans to keep it that way through strategic workload management.
"I think you’re always going to try to find ways to get your best players on the field. Whether that’s 25 times a game or five times a game.
"I also know that no one is going to play 100% of the snaps and if they do, they’re not going to make it through 17 games. There’s a balance and a fine line. There’s also times you got to find time to give them a break and give them a blow so that they can make it through a four- or five-month NFL season. It’s kind of finding that balance.
"Yes, when you have two players of that dynamic ability, you want to find things that they can do together, because it puts stress on the defense," Petzing said.
The added injury exposure has always been my concern with playing the Sonic & Knuckles duo together. The point of having two quality backs who share the load is to increase the likelihood that at least one will be available at any point in the season - and that at least one will be available in the playoffs.
For these reasons, I would prefer to not see Gibbs and Montgomery playing together during the regular season except for maybe rare, select situations. The playoffs are a different beast where the increased reward might be worth the risk.
Regardless of what the coaching staff decides, it’s reassuring that Petzing is weighing injury risk when making strategic personnel decisions.
Robert Livingston, who served as CU's defensive coordinator from 2024-2025, has left the program to become Denver's new defensive pass game coordinator, according to The Athletic's Zac Jackson. The news of Livingston leaving Colorado to join the Broncos was first reported by Thee Pregame Network.
Livingston, 40, overlapped with current Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2014-2015 while Joseph served as Cincy's defensive backs coach. Livingston coached for the Bengals from 2012-2023 before joining Deion Sanders' staff in Colorado. He previously coached at Furman and Vanderbilt.
Jim Leonhard previously served as the Broncos' defensive backs coach before being promoted to assistant head coach and pass game coordinator. Leonhard left the club this offseason to become the new DC of the Buffalo Bills. It appears that Denver has essentially replaced him with two coaches: new DBs coach Doug Belk and Livingston. It's also possible that Belk could focus on cornerbacks.
John Terry “frustrated” after missing out on Chelsea caretaker role
John Terry says he was left “frustrated” after being overlooked for a caretaker role at Chelsea following the sudden departure of head coach Enzo Maresca in January.
The former captain, who now works part-time as an academy mentor, was not included in the interim set-up, with Under-21s coach Calum McFarlane instead chosen to lead the side for matches against Manchester City and Fulham. Terry, who travelled with the development squad, admitted he felt he should have been involved. Speaking on Golf Life YouTube channel, Terry, responding to whether he was annoyed by the decision said: “Not annoyed, probably more frustrated… I feel like I should have been part of that.” He added that while he respects decisions made by the club’s hierarchy, he remains unclear why he was overlooked despite his experience and coaching qualifications.
Terry’s comments highlight his ongoing struggle to secure senior opportunities. Having served as assistant to Dean Smith at Aston Villa and Leicester City, and completed his UEFA Pro Licence, Terry believes he has earned the chance to progress. He has previously described the lack of openings as “really disheartening,” insisting he is “ready and willing” to take the next step.
For now, his influence at Stamford Bridge remains largely confined to the academy, watching from the sidelines as the club moves forward without one of its greatest leaders in a frontline role
Worst-case scenario in the second leg of the Champions League playoffs: Borussia Dortmund is trailing Atalanta Bergamo after less than 20 minutes.
The home team, needing to overcome a 0-2 deficit from the first leg against BVB, scored after just five minutes to take the lead – directly exploiting a well-known Dortmund weakness.
Just like in the Bundesliga match against Leipzig, Dortmund was outplayed on the left defensive side.
After a cross from Bernasconi and an unfortunate clearance attempt by Bensebaini, it was Gianluca Scamacca who was able to slot in for the 1-0 lead.
Even though BVB would still advance as of now, the Black and Yellows should be warned by now. It won't be easy today.
It would be easy to see an accomplished big man being added to the roster of the Boston Celtics head of the 2026 NBA trade deadline as a threat for Neemias Queta, who has only this season truly begun to cement his place as an impact frontcourt player with Boston. But to the contrary, the Portuguese center has embraced the addition of former Chicago Bulls big Nikola Vucevic, using the opportunity to learn from a vet instead.
So said the man himself after the Celtics' 97-81 road win vs. the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday (Feb. 24) night. "It's been huge," said the Utah State alum. "(I'm) trying to pick his brain every day, trying to figure out how I can get better on my game as well."
"And for the team, I think he's just been a great, great addition in terms of spacing the floor, being able to be a threat down low," said Queta. "He's going to rebound for sure, too, so he's going to be key for us later on in the season."
"We're still trying to figure out a couple (of) things with him and how to get him in his best spots," he noted. "And he's trying to get loose, too."
"He's trying to not be that passive, and that will be key for us when he's getting more aggressive and making teams decide what they have to do with him, we'll be in a better spot. So we're in the transition period, and I think we're doing a good job."
Recently, I had to fork over the most amount of money that I have ever lost on the golf course. To be clear, it is not an amount that is going to put me out on the street with a beggar's cup. I did not have to dip in my savings. I'm going to be able to pay all of my bills this month (though I really wish I had the extra $7 now for the "Penguin" visit at my son's daycare). And the best part? My wife doesn't read anything I write, so she's never even going to see this and conduct a Jack Bauer-level interrogation to find out the exact sum. It's all good in my hood.
But it certainly did get me thinking, how much is too much money to play for on the golf course? For me, the number I parted with was right in the ballpark. But here's the thing: I agreed to it on the first tee. And in multiple text messages prior to the round. My thought process the entire time was that I was going to win the match and win that amount of money. Because that's how competitors think. It never occurred to me that losing was an option.
Unfortunately, it is very much one of the options when you agree to play for money. You might win it, you might lose it, or it might be a total wash. Even if you're the one getting a boatload of shots, you might lose all of it about six different ways, like I did. It happens. I'd do it again tomorrow. Unless the penguins are coming back to daycare.
But the simple fact is that not everyone is comfortable with playing for big money, or any money at all. In my view, though, if you're not going to put a little something on the line, what the hell are you even doing out there? It doesn't have to be $50 or $100. It could be $5. It could be $3. It just has to be something that makes the eight-footer matter. An amount that makes it mean something. As one tour pro told me last year when discussing this topic, it's not even about how much it is, it's just about taking your buddy's money and putting it in your pocket. For me, the action IS the juice.
Of course, members at elite, old money places, or members of the BurnerVerse, would tell you anything over $5, or a classic $5-5-10 Nassau, is gauche. Playing for, say, $50, or going full high-roller status and playing for hundreds or even thousands, is downright classless. All that does is create unnecessary tension amongst friends. Losing large sums like that could be relationship-altering. I can buy all that.
But I'd personally never fault anyone for wanting to up the ante, and I'd never cry poor after the fact if I agreed to it. That's my overall point here—the entire group has to agree on the amount, and it has to be extremely clear. It actually wasn't even that clear to me in this recent game, which had about five different games within the game, but I was glad to not be the one keeping score. These were serious golfers, like myself, who keep serious score and a seriously-close eye on every little thing happening in the match. I've kept so much score in my life that I love when someone else does and just tells me at the end how much I won or lost, which was the case here. There were matches within matches, junk within junk. I knew what I was getting into, and I actually had a great stretch on the final six or seven holes that cut into my losses. That's right, I was on track to lose even more, but myself and my partner were able to save some face and make it a lot less painful.
Just make sure you set the parameters and everyone knows them on the first hole, and that you know everyone is good for it and you won't have to shake anybody down. $10-10-20? $20-20-40? $5-5-10? If anyone in the group even hints at the amount being a little too rich for their blood, you should respect their feelings and meet in the middle. Do not, under any circumstances, pressure anyone into playing for more than they want to. While I'm all for being a competitive dog, it is still supposed to be fun and light-hearted. I want to be able to talk a little smack, too. If you're playing for more than someone wants to, beating them, AND talking smack, that is a recipe for combustion.
Play for a little, play for a lot, I'm game for whatever. Make sure the group is comfortable not only with losing the agreed upon amount, but hearing about it afterward.
Do you have a "stupid" golf problem? A question you're too ashamed to ask your close friends? A conundrum that needs to be talked out in a public forum? We're here to help. If you have etiquette-related inquiries or just want to know how to handle some of the unique on- or off-course situations we all find ourselves in, please let us know. You can email me (chris.powers@wbd.com) or send me a DM on Twitter/X (@Cpowers14) or on Instagram (@cpthreeve).
The Athlete of the Week, presented by our good friends at Glen Oaks Community College, is live once again.
I decided to hold the voting beginning until Wednesday. The poll itself will run until Sunday at noon this week to allow for more voting for the strong options we have up for the weekly honor. Last week's winner was Bear Geibe of Constantine, who ran away with the award in garnering more than 76 percent of the total votes cast.
Geibe, along with 36 other local wrestlers, will be competing for a state championship next weekend, March 6-7, at Ford Field in Detroit. Congratulations to each one of them for making it this far into the wrestling tournament and qualifying for a very cool experience at Ford Field. You'll see some of those names here in the poll.
Congratulations out to the Three Rivers boys bowling program as well, which won a regional championship on the lanes.
Voting is unlimited once again. You can vote for more than one student-athlete at a time as well.
Jayna Larson, Three Rivers — Larson won a regional bowling championship this past weekend, totaling 1,152 total pins knocked down in her six individual games.
Clayton Shortridge, Bronson — Shortridge won an individual regional championship for Bronson on Saturday. He bowled over 1,316 total pins during his time at the regional.
Braylon Faile, Three Rivers — Faile won a regional championship at 165 pounds for Three Rivers on Saturday in Division 2. Faile is now 49-5 on the season and will seek his 50th win at the finals.
Louis Smith, Three Rivers — Smith remains undefeated on the season, heading into the finals at 53-0. He won a regional championship at 175 pounds on Saturday and set the new school record for career wins at Three Rivers.
Jaxon Smith, Three Rivers — Jaxon Smith heads to the state finals with a record of 46-8 on the season. He won a regional championship for Three Rivers at 190 pounds on Saturday.
MacKenna Webster, Three Rivers — Webster is in search of winning a state championship this year at 145 pounds. She's 38-1 to date this season and secured a regional championship on Saturday.
Gabe Erwin, Bronson — Erwin is one of three regional champions for Bronson this year, he won his Division 3 regional at 175 pounds. Erwin's return trip to Ford Field sees him at 47-3 so far this season.
Layne Knisely, Bronson — Knisely has already surpassed the 50-win plateau this year, sitting at 51-3 heading into the state finals. He's also racked up better than 200 career wins for the Vikings and will compete at 190 pounds in Division 3.
Sam Tappenden, Bronson — Sam Tappenden of Bronson is aiming for a 50-win season, heading into the state finals with a record of 48-8. Tappenden secured a regional championship for the Vikings on Saturday.
Brock Woodhouse, Marcellus — Marcellus' Brock Woodhouse, a junior, is headed to the state finals and Ford Field next weekend. He won a regional championship for the Wildcats at 285 and currently sits at 34-4 on the year.
Contact Sports Editor Brandon Watson at mailto:bwatson@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @BwatsonSJ.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 10: Tremaine Edmunds #49 of the Chicago Bears lines up during an NFL wild card playoff game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on January 10, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Bears have granted linebacker Tremaine Edmunds permission to seek a trade, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribunereported on Wednesday.
Edmunds, who turns 28 in May, just finished the third year of the four-year, $72 million contract he signed with the Bears in 2023. In 13 games in 2025, he tallied 112 tackles, three tackles for a loss, four interceptions, nine pass deflections, and a sack. He played at a high level before a groin injury in November caused him to miss four games, upon which his production decreased. All told, he ranked sixth in the NFL in PFSN’s LB Impact Scoring at 89.3.
Releasing or trading Edmunds would free up $15 million in cap space for the Bears if they do so before March 15. Should they wait until after then to unload him, it would free up $14 million. Per OverTheCap, Chicago is over $4 million in the red, so creating cap space is a necessity.
Even with the increase in NFL cap space since 2023, Edmunds remains the third-highest paid off-ball linebacker in average annual salary at $18 million. The question hasn’t been whether he’s a solid football player, but rather, if his level of play justifies that large of a salary. Given Chicago’s choice to let him pursue a trade, the team seems to have revealed its answer.
We’ve got some great matchups on the hardcourt tonight, including the Oklahoma City Thunder taking on the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics facing the Denver Nuggets.
Games like those are loaded with talent, and I’ve found my favorite player props for those matchups and more NBA picks for Wednesday, February 25.
But they might be overmatched when they visit the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons in the second half of a back-to-back.
The Pistons already had a big edge on the glass, ranking third in rebounding rate to the Thunder’s 22nd. Heavy legs mean more missed shots and fewer boards for OKC.
That has me backing Tobias Harris to go Over 5.5 boards. He’s averaging 6.7 over his last 11 games, hauling down six or more eight times over that stretch.
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ESPN
Prop #2: Ty Jerome Over 16.5 points
+100 at bet365
The Memphis Grizzlies don’t have many bucket-getters these days. So, getting Ty Jerome back has been a big help.
And while sportsbooks have adjusted his point totals after some solid performances, it's not enough to scare me away against the Golden State Warriors.
Jerome has played just seven games since returning at the end of January. He’s averaging 19.3 points while shooting 39.5% from three and has topped 16.5 points in six of those games.
Tonight, he plays a Warriors team that is stumbling and ranks 17th in defensive rating since the start of February.
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBCSBA, FanDuel Sports Network Southeast-Memphis
Prop #3: Derrick White Over 6.5 assists
-105 at bet365
The Boston Celtics continue to impress. They’ve won nine of their last 10 and now close out their West Coast road trip against the Denver Nuggets.
The Celtics aren’t known for moving the ball, but the guys who do, specifically Derrick White and Payton Pritchard, will try to pass the ball a little more with Jaylen Brown nursing a knee injury.
Today, my favorite bet is White to go Over 6.5 assists. He’s averaging 7.5 per game over his last 10 games and has topped this number seven times over that stretch. Denver ranks 20th in opponent assists per possession.
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Sean Payton and Drew Brees accomplished a lot together. The former coach-and-quarterback duo won 135 regular season games with the New Orleans Saints, plus nine playoff games -- and a world championship in Super Bowl XLIV. And when Brees was chosen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his first ballot, Payton was as happy as anyone to see his old quarterback get his time in the spotlight.
“I’m super excited for him and his family, you’re talking about Brees. I saw him probably two weekends ago. He was back (in New Orleans) for Mardi Gras. That was a big deal. To be part of that with somebody was emotional. He just represented all the things that was so good relative to his play. He truly… We’ve seen this with other athletes, but he truly brought the best out of all of us. Coaches. His work ethic was something. That was pretty cool to get that call. He has sat on it for three weeks I think. His wife planned the surprise with him, and then I was just… And the idea that he went in with (Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Luke) Kuechly. Those two had this cat and mouse game going on forever. So their busts will be next to each other. It was pretty cool.”
Brees himself has spoken about those battles with Kuechly over the years, and it's fitting that they're going into the Hall of Fame together. And as Payton said, Brees had a work ethic and ability to elevate the talent around him that few quarterbacks have matched. He's just the eleventh first-ballot passer to be chosen in 35 years, during a modern era of football that has seen rules changes and rapid advancements to the passing game. There have been a lot of good quarterbacks in that time. As Payton laid it out, Brees was one of the greats.
Jake Guentzel was absent from the White House on Tuesday, when his teammates on the United States’ Olympic gold-medal winning men’s hockey team met with President Donald Trump.
“It was just kind of a timing thing for me and my family,” the Tampa Bay Lightning winger said. “I was definitely not denying the request to go. It was obviously a dream come true to go. I was fortunate to go in 2017 when Trump was in office, but just thought with games 3 (in the next four days), we have a lot of games coming up the rest of the year. It’s going to be a tough schedule.
“So 2 weeks of Olympic break, I thought it would be good to just come home, rest and recover, spend some time with my family before we get going. That’s where I’m at with it.”
During the US men’s Olympic hockey team’s visit to the White House, winger Matthew Tkachuk let President Trump don his gold medal. “I’m not giving it back,” the commander-in-chief joked. pic.twitter.com/v67U5fUshf
The Lightning are hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs today and the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. They host the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday after Friday’s day off.
Guentzel has 26 goals and 34 assists in 55 games this year for the Tampa Bay Lightning, underscoring his importance to his NHL team.
The Oregon Ducks have been among the teams with the most players sent to the NFL since Dan Lanning took over as head coach in 2021. They had 10 players taken in the draft last season and they are expected to send another talented crop of players to the next level this year.
Two Ducks, defensive tackle Derrick Harmon and offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr., rounded out the team’s first-round selections in 2025, and ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. is predicting the same outcome this April. Although it isn’t a competition, the respected analyst has this year’s pair of Oregon players achieving a high average draft position.
Kiper Jr. is projecting safety Dillon Thieneman to go to the Minnesota Vikings with the No. 18 pick in the first round. The Vikings have hit the nail on the head with a number of defensive selections in recent years, and Thieneman should be no different.
He is an excellent coverage safety who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty in the run game either. Just a few picks later, Kiper Jr. thinks the Philadelphia Eagles will scoop up Kenyon Sadiq with the 23rd pick to bolster their tight end room.
Their starter at the position last year, Dallas Goedert, is currently set to be a free agent, and while the team has expressed interest in retaining him, his situation is in flux. Sadiq would be the perfect replacement with his instant blocking impact and his ceiling as a receiver.
Things can always change between now and the draft, but it looks like the Ducks will have multiple players selected in the first round once again.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
Tyler Warren made an immediate impact during his rookie season, but there are three other members of that 2025 Indianapolis Colts draft class that head coach Shane Steichen is excited to see in Year 2.
Unfortunately, the rookie seasons for cornerback Justin Walley and safety Hunter Wohler were ended very early due to season-ending injuries in training camp.
However, before that, both players had caught Steichen's attention with their play.
"I'm very excited about both those guys," Steichen said at the NFL combine. "They were having tremendous training camps. Obviously, unfortunate circumstances with the injuries there. But Walley, he's a guy that can play inside, play outside for us. Fiesty, sticky in coverage.
"And then same thing, Hunter on the back end playing safety, the ball just found him in training camp. He had a great sense, a great feel playing the coverages that we were playing, but he was always in the right spot at the right time. He had a hell of a camp."
Walley appeared to be on his way to earning meaningful playing time at cornerback before the knee injury, and even in a very talented Colts' cornerback room in 2026, Lou Anarumo may work to find ways to get him on the field.
Wohler could find himself competing for the starting strong safety role with Nick Cross set to be a free agent.
"To get those guys back, get them healthy, will be huge for us," Steichen added.
Steichen would also speak highly of offensive tackle Jalen Travis, who took over at right tackle late in the year after Braden Smith was placed on injured reserve.
When called upon, Travis held his own, allowing one sack and 12 pressures over 175 pass-blocking snaps. He also graded out well as a run-blocker by PFF's metrics.
"I think there's huge upside with Jalen," Steichen said. "Obviously, he did some good things for us. A big human. I think Tony does a great job with those guys up front, getting them prepared each and every week. Very smart player. Picked it up pretty fast, so excited about what the future holds for him."
With Smith a free agent, the Colts could turn to Travis to be their full-time starting right tackle in 2026 and beyond.
BOULDER, COLORADO - AUGUST 29: Defensive Coordinator of the Colorado Buffaloes Robert Livingston walks the field prior to the game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Folsom Field on August 29, 2025 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
According to multiple reports, including ESPN’s lead league insider, Adam Schefter, the Denver Broncos are hiring former Colorado defensive coordinator Robert Livingston as their defensive pass game coordinator.
Broncos are hiring Colorado defensive coordinator Robert Livingston as their defensive pass game coordinator, per source. This move now reunites Livingston with Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, whom he previously worked with on the Bengals’ staff. pic.twitter.com/VXTvrE3mgC
With Jim Leonhard becoming the Buffalo Bills’ defensive coordinator, the Denver Broncos had to replace a significant part of their defensive coaching staff this offseason. Well, they did not have to look far to find his replacement, as they hired Colorado’s defensive coordinator, Robert Livingston, to be their defensive pass game coordinator on Vance Joseph’s defensive coaching staff.
He is 40 years old and has been with Colorado since 2024, and previously, was on the Cincinnati Bengals coaching staff in various roles from 2012 through 2023. He started his coaching career at Furman as a safeties coach before joining the Bengals as a scout from 2012 through 2014. During that time, he overlapped with Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who was also with the Bengals at the time. He would be promoted from scout to defensive quality control coach in 2015, and a year later, in 2016, he was promoted once again to be the Bengals’ secondary coach. He held that role through 2023 before being hired by Colorado to be the defensive coordinator with Coach Prime in Colorado. Now, he reunites with Vance Joseph on the Denver Broncos staff as their defensive pass game coordinator.
He takes over a talented group of players that includes 2024 Defensive Player of the Year in cornerback Pat Surtain II, All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga, along with Riley Moss, Ja’Quan McMillian, Jahdae Barron, Brandon Jones, and others. It’s a talented group, but one that did not force enough turnovers last season. Head coach Sean Payton has put an emphasis on the defense creating more turnovers, so it’ll be up to Livingston and the rest of the Broncos defensive staff to achieve that.
Jim Leonhard was widely regarded as a top up-and-coming coach and earned a defensive coordinator job this offseason, so Livingston has some big shoes to replace in Denver. So far, the additions Sean Payton has made to his coaching staff have worked out, with many of them earning promotions around the league and with the team. Could Robert Livingston be the next coach to see his coaching career take off after spending time with the Broncos?
Inter are busy trying to find new center-backs to rejuvenate their corps, but they need to pay attention to the future of one of their own, as Barcelona have shortlisted Alessandro Bastoni, Mattia Moretto reports (via SOSFanta).
The Blaugrana are looking for a left-footed defender who could contribute offensively. The Italian star perfectly fits the mold. Their summer plans will be clearer after their elections, but their front office is surely very keen on the Nerazzurri stalwart.
Barcelona would have to tender a humongous offer to even start the conversation, and Bastoni has begun discussing an extension with Inter. His current contract runs out in 2028. There are all the premises for him to continue at San Siro despite the buzz.
If the renewal doesn’t materialize before the summer, the Catalonians could have an outside shot, provided he offers at opening to their pursuit. He’s very focused and attached to his current side. The operation is at best in its infancy.
The 26-year-old moved to San Siro from Atalanta for €31M back in 2018 and has been a staple after a loan at Parma, racking up nearly 300 appearances. He has 41 caps with Italy under his belt.
Our Take on Bastoni, Inter, and Barcelona
It’s probably just routine chatter tied to the Blaugrana’s campaign, when it’s normal to make big promises, and to the fact that he’s up for a new contract. The supposed interest from other sides helps his camp obtain higher numbers. He could play anywhere with his skillset, but the partnership is likely to continue a while longer, even though the Nerazzurri might have to make some sacrifices in the summer because of their early UCL exit.
Legendary Inter Milan & Brazil Striker Regrets Not Winning Ballon d’Or: “Moratti Tried To Help Me, But Mentally I Was No Longer There”
MoreoFormer Inter Milan striker Adriano has opened up on his well-documented off-field struggles toward the end of his career at San Siro.
Speaking to Betsson via FCInterNews, the Brazilian superstar admitted that Massimo Moratti had tried to help him overcome his issues.
Widely regarded as one of the best strikers of his generation, Adriano had all the makings of a future Ballon d’Or contender.
Adriano combined raw power, technique, and a lethal left foot, which made him virtually unplayable at his peak.
Furthermore, he was unstoppable for most of his five-year stint at San Siro, earning the nickname L’Imperatore.
Indeed, the Emperor won three consecutive Serie A titles with the Nerazzurri between 2006 and 2009.
More importantly, he was often the decisive factor for Roberto Mancini’s all-conquering side.
Unfortunately, his notorious downfall started when he lost his father to a hear attack just weeks after leading Brazil to Copa America glory in 2004.
From that moment on, Adriano’s life turned into chaos, with the 44-year-old eventually admitting to becoming an alcoholic as a result of this tragic loss.
Inter Milan Icon Adriano Admits Massimo Moratti Had Tried to Save His Life
MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 25: Adriano celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between Inter and Sampdoria at the Meazza Stadio on January 25, 2009 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by New Press/Getty Images)
Aware of Adriano’s potential and his personal struggles, former Inter president Massimo Moratti had tried to help him get back on track.
However, it was already too late. Indeed, the once fiercest striker in Serie A had already lost interest in football.
“In my opinion, I could have won the Ballon d’Or,” Adriano stated. “They gave it to Shevchenko, but at that time, I was at the same level.
“I could have really done more in my career,” he added. “I always think about it.
“When I watch my videos, I think I could have done another 3-4 years at a high level if I had managed to fix my head, I could have won the Ballon d’Or. But what happened happened. I cannot change that.”
“I could have done much more, but at a certain point, Adriano was no longer there. To be an ‘Emperor,’ I first had to be Adriano, with the right mindset, and at that moment in my life, I wasn’t like that.
“I thought too much about what had happened to my father. It’s not an excuse, but it truly saddened me. I had been the top scorer at the Copa América and the Confederations Cup, then my father passed away.
“At first, I didn’t realize it. I kept going, but then it started to hurt.
“At that time, I wasn’t thinking about football or money. I knew I wasn’t myself anymore. I didn’t want to stay just to earn money; I wanted to enjoy myself on the pitch, and at that stage it wasn’t like that.
“And I knew Moratti didn’t want to let me go; he wanted to send me to a clinic, but I refused. After being called up to the national team, I called Moratti and he released me so I could play for São Paulo.”
Adriano Reiterates Love for Inter Milan
MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 11: Adriano of Inter celebrates scoring during the Serie A game between Inter Milan and Sampdoria at the San Siro on March 11, 2006 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by New Press/Getty Images)
Finally, Adriano reflected on the deep affection he still holds for the club that shaped his career and gave him so much.
“When I returned to Inter, I also played some good matches, but it wasn’t the same,” Adriano added. “I lacked joy and desire.
“In 2009, I realized I had to go back to Brazil for good. Moreover, I needed to sort my head out, hoping to fix things in my mind.
“I couldn’t pretend with my teammates. I was no longer interested in playing, and it wouldn’t have been fair to Moratti either, who helped me so much.
“When I come to Italy, I feel a lot of affection toward me, and that gives me immense satisfaction. It hasn’t always been easy. Like all human beings, we can make mistakes, but my life has been full of emotion.
“Inter has always been my second home. Whenever I have the chance to come to Milan, memories of my playing days and the fans come flooding back. I’m happy to be around people who care about me, even supporters of other teams.
“The respect from those who back different colors means a lot to me; they greet me, ask for photos, and that’s truly beautiful for me.”
Atalanta CEO on bad blood with Borussia Dortmund: ‘We had to go hungry’
Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi jokes that he and his colleagues ‘had to go hungry’ after Borussia Dortmund decided against attending a customary lunch before Wednesday evening’s Champions League play-off decider between the two teams.
Before Champions League matches, it is tradition for the directors of the respective clubs to sit down over a lunch on the day of the game.
This has not happened for either of the play-off matches between Atalanta and Dortmund, however, as there is still bad blood between the two sides following the transfer of teenager Samuele Inacio from Bergamo to the Bundesliga side in 2024.
“Unfortunately, we did not have that lunch, so we went hungry,” shrugged Percassi during an interview with Sky Sport Italia before kick-off in Atalanta-Dortmund.
“We hoped they would take the opportunity to open up a dialogue, but that did not happen. We go forward.”
Percassi on Atalanta vs. Borussia Dortmund decider
BERGAMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Felix Nmecha of Borussia Dortmund controls the ball whilst under pressure from Marten de Roon of Atalanta during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Atalanta BC and Borussia Dortmund at Stadio di Bergamo on February 25, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Percassi went on to discuss the support that he has felt from the Atalanta fans heading into their Champions League decider against Dortmund.
“From the moment we got on the bus at the Zingonia training camp to arrive in the city and reach the stadium, we felt the passion of the fans,” Percassi told Sky Sport Italia.
“That has been a decisive element for us, and it’s a pity that we have been unable to count on the supporters during away games recently. Hopefully we can dialogue with the institutions to face these problems, including the upcoming Coppa Italia semi-final, because football without its fans is not the same.”
And on the game itself, he added: “It is going to be a very difficult and complicated match, but we know how competitive the Champions League is. Getting a result this evening would be something historic, once again, for this club.
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)
“It is already extraordinary that we are here, so we’ll enjoy this moment with the spirit of Atalanta, hoping to have no regrets.
“Every season, our approach does not change. The objective is to secure Serie A safety as quickly as possible, that is not just a phrase, it is how we genuinely think.
“Obviously, in recent years the capability for investment in recent years makes us hope for targets beyond that, but we see around the sport that big investments do not necessarily provide big results.
“They might let you sign important players who in theory make the difference, but they still have to settle with the rest of the team, and translate that investment into results on the field.
“We have great humility, because we know our status and where we come from. Last week, we played in one of the biggest stadiums in Europe, which holds 82,000 people, and you realise it’s a different reality to our own.
“We hope to make as few mistakes as possible, to keep our feet on the ground, remembering Atalanta achieved results in recent years precisely because we combined humility with ambition and determination.”
Bruno Fernandes: Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams explains why United star is unstoppable
Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams has explained why Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes is simply unstoppable.
Captain fantastic
Fernandes has arguably been one of, if not the best signing United have made since the retirement of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson.
Very few have captured the essence of being a United player like Fernandes since he joined in 2020 from Sporting CP. From day one at Old Trafford, he’s been the engine room of the side, and he’s only shouldered greater responsibility with each passing year.
Last season, despite United finishing a lowly 15th place, he still notched an impressive 19 goals and as many assists, scooping up the club’s Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards.
He has been in inspired form again this term. The Portugal international currently boasts six goals and 12 assists in 24 Premier League appearances.
Whether deployed in a deeper role or further forward, he has consistently delivered.
With United pushing for a guaranteed top-four finish, Fernandes is likely to be decisive in whether or not the team secures Champions League football.
A recent report covered by The Peoples Person relayed that he is enjoying his football under Michael Carrick and if United return to club football’s most prestigious competition, he will not look to depart Old Trafford.
Adams, who has come up against Fernandes on the pitch, spoke to Men in Blazers and explained what exactly makes the United man unplayable.
Adams makes Fernandes revelation
The USMNT star said, “It’s impossible to take Bruno Fernandes out of a game.”
“He can make something out of nothing, but also he just goes and finds the game.”
“So he completely ruins your tactics of the way that you want to play. Oh, Bruno Fernandes should be here but 70 per cent of the game he won’t be there.”
Adams added, “I’m not really around him. I’m not really able to defend him, so it becomes difficult.”
“He’s a ridiculously talented player.”
United return to action on Sunday when they host Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace.
Deion Sanders is heading into the 2026 season with two new coordinators.
According tomultiple reports, the Denver Broncos are hiring Colorado defensive coordinator Robert Livingston. The former Bengals assistant spent two seasons in charge of the Buffaloes’ defense.
Livingston will serve as the Broncos’ defensive passing game coordinator under Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. The two worked together with the Bengals, as Livingston was the team’s defensive backs coach from 2016 through 2023.
Colorado went 3-9 in 2025 as the defense allowed 6.1 yards per play and 30.5 points per game. Colorado ranked 112th out of 136 teams in scoring defense.
The Buffaloes’ defense was much better in 2024. As Colorado went 9-4 and had star defensive back and wide receiver Travis Hunter, the Buffs gave up 23.1 points per game and 5.1 yards per play. Both sides of the ball took a major step back in 2025 as Colorado had its worst season of Sanders’ three in charge.
Before he was at Sacramento State, Marion was the offensive coordinator at UNLV. Former NFL head coach Pat Shurmur was the team’s offensive coordinator to start the 2025 season but tight ends coach and passing game coordinator Brett Bartolone was calling plays in November.
The Buffaloes had an eye toward the future late in the season, too. Freshman QB JuJu Lewis sat out at the end of the year to preserve his redshirt. Colorado started three different quarterbacks in 2025 as Kaidon Salter, Ryan Staub and Lewis all got starts. Staub transferred to Tennessee while Salter is out of eligibility.
Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Johnson Wagner has offered a lighthearted apology after drawing a comparison between Scottie Scheffler and the PGA Tour’s latest winner, Jacob Bridgeman.
Jacob Bridgeman capped off the West Coast Swing by claiming victory at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera. Despite the added pressure of playing alongside Rory McIlroy, he managed to stay composed for most of Sunday’s round.
Bridgeman now leads the FedEx Cup having finished in the top 20 in all five of his starts this season. He has ended both of the signature events so far on 18 under par.
Jacob Bridgeman compared to Scottie Scheffler after his Genesis Invitational win
Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images
Speaking on CBS Sports, Johnson Wagner picked out Bridgeman as the biggest surprise from the opening weeks of the season.
He also went on to talk about what he sees in Bridgeman that reminds him of Scottie Scheffler.
“For him this year, it was after Memphis when the greens were so firm that he decided, knowing that he was going to be in all the major championships, he needed to get a spinnier golf ball to be able to compete on the firm greens and the toughest conditions. For him to make the changes that he’s making, getting in the gym, getting with Scott Hamilton and working as hard as he has to get there, I don’t think we’re going to see Jacob Bridgeman go anywhere.
“He’s almost got, and I’m sorry I’m going to do this, but he’s almost got the Scottie Scheffler work ethic where he is going to leave no stone unturned and he’s going to get every single thing out of his game.”
Jacob Bridgeman has areas to build on despite his hot start to the season
Bridgeman’s challenge now is to keep building momentum. The PGA Tour doesn’t slow down for anyone, and staying sharp will be key if he wants to stay in the mix.
His approach play has stood out early this season, but there’s room for growth with his driving if he wants to push into the sport’s upper tier.
This season, Bridgeman sits 67th in driving distance and 89th in accuracy. Those numbers aren’t far off the tour average but highlight an area where gains could be made.
While his short game still has some catching up to do, the strides he’s made with his irons are clear.
If his reputation for hard work holds true, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more progress soon.
The New England Patriots drafted Kyle Williams in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but he had just 209 receiving yards on the season.
Williams ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, and his speed was a factor on the field this season. He scored three touchdowns, all of at least 30 yards. His speed was on full display during his 72-yard score against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, despite some flashes, he never became a key player for the team.
Williams has the tools to be a solid piece in the Patriots' offense, and executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf noted what he needs to do to make that happen.
"The way we used him was as more of a speed player, which he definitely has," Wolf said on CLNS on Tuesday. "He's got more in him that he can show. He's gotta get stronger, and I think he'd be the first one to tell you that. The fact that he was able to play in all 21 games for us is a testament to his ability to be available."
Getting stronger seems to be the focus for Williams this offseason, but he will look to not sacrifice his speed. He is an explosive player, and getting stronger to help him see the field more.
He would be able to win against more physical corners and be a bigger factor as a blocker in the run game. He is still only 23 years old, and will be looking to build off his three-touchdown rookie season.
The Chicago Bears are facing a few big decisions this offseason. While the team needs to address the safety room and figure out what to do at pass rusher, there are a few big trade candidates the Bears need to figure out as well.
DJ Moore is the most obvious one, as the veteran wide receiver could be dealt this offseason if the right offer is made. But, Tyson Bagent could also be on the move, as could Cole Kmet. The Bears need to clear some cap space, and those veterans all could be dealt.
But, a different veteran, $72 million linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, is another possible cap casualty. And amid such trade/cut speculation with Edmunds, according to Brad Biggs of The Chicago Tribune, the Bears have made a big decision on Edmunds' future.
Bears make big Tremaine Edmunds trade decision
"The Bears have granted permission for LB Tremaine Edmunds to seek a trade, according to a league source," Biggs reports. "... Will be interesting to see if the Bears can attract an offer."
With Edmunds potentially on his way out to save cap space, the Bears have given the veteran linebacker the ability to seek out a trade this offseason.
He's in the middle of a $72 million four-year deal, and would save the Bears a little over $12 million if they cut him this offseason.
But, in an ideal world, the Bears would be able to trade him this offseason for any value. That would mean the Bears get even a little something in return for moving on from Edmunds, while also saving a ton of cap space as well.
Edmunds is an eight-year NFL veteran and is only 27 years old. He has 14 interceptions in his career and has made two Pro Bowls, both coming with the Buffalo Bills in 2019 and 2020.
This past season, Edmunds had nine passes defended to go with four interceptions, one sack, and 112 total tackles. He's had at least 100 tackles in every season of his career.
While the Bears could simply cut him to save cap space, they're giving Edmunds the chance to explore trades this offseason. While it might not be easy to find a suitor who's willing to spend $17,437,500 on Edmunds, any trade would be worth it.
There's likely to be interest, but to what extent is left to be determined. But this trade decision from the Bears, letting Edmunds seek out a trade fit, is a sign that the veteran linebacker's time in Chicago is coming to an end this offseason, one way or another.
The No. 17 Alabama Crimson Tide aim for their sixth straight win as they host the Mississippi State Bulldogs tonight.
With Tide star Labaron Philon listed as questionable, the spread is tough to handicap, so my Mississippi State vs. Alabama predictions focus on the Bulldogs’ team total.
Mississippi State vs Alabama best bet: Mississippi State team total Over 80.5 (-115)
Although the Alabama Crimson Tide's elite offense won't be quite as dominant without Labaron Philon, their poor defensive effort will be on display regardless.
The Tide play at the second-fastest adjusted tempo in the country, and that, combined with their lax defense, has resulted in them ranking 353rd in points allowed per game (83.9).
Meanwhile, the Mississippi State Bulldogs have ramped up their pace over the last month, and their offense is surging. They've scored more than 88 points in three straight games while boasting a 60.4 eFG% over that span.
Mississippi State vs Alabama same-game parlay
Since we’re betting the Over on the Bulldogs team total, it also makes sense to back point guard Josh Hubbard.
The sophomore ranks ninth in the country with 22.0 points per game and could be the only MSU player averaging double digits tonight, with Jayden Epps listed as questionable.
Hubbard has scored more than 30 points in three of his last four games while recording 3+ assists in three of his previous five contests.
Mississippi State vs Alabama SGP
Mississippi State team total Over 80.5
Josh Hubbard Over 26.5 points
Josh Hubbard Over 3.5 assists
Our beyond the arc SGP: Point Guard Duel
Aden Holloway is second on Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball in points (16.9) and assists (3.9) per game, trailing Jahvon Quinerly Philon in both categories.
If Philon doesn’t play, Holloway’s usage rate is expected to soar in a game projected to feature a frenetic pace and plenty of scoring.
Mississippi State vs Alabama SGP
Josh Hubbard Over 26.5 points
Josh Hubbard Over 3.5 assists
Aden Holloway Over 18.5 points
Aden Holloway Over 4.5 assists
Mississippi State vs Alabama odds
Spread: Mississippi State +14.5 (-110) | Alabama -14.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Mississippi State +850 | Alabama -1400
Over/Under: Over 175 (-110) | Under 175 (-110)
Mississippi State vs Alabama betting trend to know
The Over is 10-2 in the Bulldogs' last 12 games on the road (+7.80 Units / 59% ROI). Find more college basketball betting trends for Mississippi State vs. Alabama.
How to watch Mississippi State vs Alabama
Location
Coleman Coliseum, Tuscaloosa, AL
Date
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN U
Mississippi State vs Alabama key injuries
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Tampa Bay Lightning star Jake Guentzel didn't go, and on Wednesday morning, he addressed it with reporters. He said it was due to "timing."
"I was definitely not denying the request to go," he said. "It was a dream come true to go. I was fortunate to go in 2017 when Trump was in office."
"We've got a lot of games coming up the rest of the year. It's going to be be a tough schedule," he added. "Two weeks of Olympic break, thought it good to come home, rest and recover, try to spend some time with my family before we get going."
DOVER, Del. (AP) — NASCAR scrapped the “ Promoter’s Caution ” for this season’s All-Star race at Dover Motor Speedway and will run a three-segment, 350-lap competition.
The May 17 event marks the first time in the 42-year history of the All-Star race that it will be held in the Northeast. NASCAR moved the All-Star race from North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, to Dover so that North Wilkesboro will be a points-paying Cup race. Dover lost its traditional Cup race for at least one season.
All drivers will race in the first two segments.
The top 26 finishers from the first segment will have their starting order inverted for the second. The remaining drivers will line up by finish.
The lowest combined finishing positions from both segments set the starting lineup for the 200-lap final race. The All-Star race final will feature 26 cars, with race winners and previous champions automatically locked in. The remaining spots will be filled by results from the first two segments until the field reaches 25 drivers. The final position will be awarded through the fan vote.
During the final segment, a competition break will take place at or around Lap 225.
There is again a $1 million prize for the race winner in the exhibition race. No points are at stake.
Christopher Bell passed Joey Logano with nine laps remaining and cruised to victory last season in an action-packed NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Last season’s race featured the “Promoter’s Caution” that allowed the track president to decide when to throw the yellow flag at a random point in the race to bunch the field. The late flag helped cost Logano the victory and the $1 million prize.
Dover will also hold a Truck Series race on Friday and a second-tier series race on Saturday. It will mark the first time in NASCAR history that all three national series compete during All-Star Weekend.
Rochdale defender Sam Beckwith has signed a two-year contract extension which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2028.
The 24-year-old, who moved to the Crown Oil Arena from Maidenhead United, was named players' player of the season in 2024-25 and was also included in the National League's team of the season.
He is currently sidelined by a hamstring injury which has kept him out of action since December.
A few weeks ago, I wrote this article saying how I believe Washington has the personnel to fit better into a base 4-3 rather than a 3-4. Yesterday both Adam Peters and Dan Quinn spoke at the NFL Scouting Combine, and although neither would come out and say that new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones would be implementing his version of the 3-4, Quinn did talk about the versatility of veteran defensive tackle Daron Payne, mentioning him being able to play both as a 3-4 defensive end and a nose tackle.
In his presser just now, Dan Quinn talked about Payne being able to play 3-4 end and NT – “He’s big enough to be a 3-4 end… He’s got the strength that can play inside at NT and quickness to move”
They won’t say it, but sounds like 3-4 front is coming
This raised a lot of eyebrows within Washington Twitter, where folks have guessed for weeks what new scheme Jones would bring to D.C. Did Dan Quinn just let the cat out of the bag?
If Jones is adamant about implementing a 3-4 defense, or at least principles of a base 3-4, a lot will need to change to make that happen. First, let’s take a look at each defensive scheme in some more detail.
4-3 Base:
This front uses the more traditional 3-technique defensive tackles, and the “hand-in-the-dirt, edge-setting” defensive ends. First, let’s take a look at the defensive tackles needed to run this defensive effectively.
The 3-technique defensive tackle is usually lined up over the offensive guard or shaded to the inside or outside eye. Sometimes (in certain packages) they can be asked to be a two-gapper, and kick into the A gap to a 1-technique. What sets these players apart from a 3-4 defensive tackle, is that they are asked to penetrate the line of scrimmage, opposed to occupying blockers. In a traditional 3-4 base, the defensive tackles have gap responsibility, meaning they are usually asked to plug a gap, while occupying more than one blocker. The 4-3 defensive tackle is usually a quicker, more agile playmaker, who has the ability to beat a one-on-one block, and make plays in the opposition’s backfield.
The defensive end is the most important linemen in a 4-3 defense. These players are usually 6’ 3” or taller, and weigh between 260-275 pounds. Two decades ago, the defensive ends in an odd-front were bigger, run-stuffing humans, who looked like defensive tackles, but played with the agility and quickness of a linebacker. Reggie White and Howie Long were two defensive ends that fit this description. Over the last 10-15 years, the position has changed quite a bit. Today’s defensive ends in a 4-3 base have to be multi-dimensional athletes, who are strong enough to set the edge against the run, but are also agile enough to use their quickness, body lean, and flexion to beat offensive tackles on their way to the quarterback.
The 4-3 base defense uses three linebackers. The middle linebacker is referred to as the MIKE. He is the player normally tasked with making the defensive calls and gets the defensive linemen and other linebackers in the right position. This player is often referred to as the quarterback of the defense. He must be multi-dimensional, as he is often asked to take on centers, guards and H-backs at the point of attack but also must be able to drop back into high-hole coverage, cover a back out of the backfield, or even spy a quarterback. The weak side linebacker is called the WILL. This is usually the team’s most athletic linebacker who excels in coverage. The WILL is asked to be versatile as well, as they are often used in a variety of blitz packages, but could also be responsible for leverage coverage on slot receivers, and hook-curl/flat coverage in zone defenses. The strong side linebacker is called the SAM. He may be a good pass rusher but also needs to be able to come up and set the edge on stretch or tosses, or when there is a defensive line stunt where the defensive end is asked to pinch or slant inside. The SAM is also asked to jam, and cover in-line tight ends in passing situations. SAMs are usually the linebacker subbed out in nickel.
Pros: Tough defensive to run against if defensive ends are playing their role correctly. Linebackers are huge in their responsibility against heavy passing teams. Allows a more evenly distributed zone defense with each linebacker having a defined area. Defensive ends don’t have to read and react as much. Defensive linemen are able to pin their ears back and just play football.
Cons: Not as easy to disguise fronts and blitz packages. Takes the element of “confusion” away from some defensive coordinators. Relies heavily on defensive tackles ability to generate pressure on quarterbacks (if you don’t have good 3-techniques, this defense can become a liability).
3-4 Base:
This defensive front uses three defensive tackles, and four linebackers (two inside and two outside). The role of the players changes drastically compared to the 4-3.
The nose tackle is an important part of any 3-4 defense. This player is normally a “space-eater”, who plays over the nose of the center, or shaded to either A-gap (although many teams are now going for a quicker, lighter more agile gap-penetrator). The nose tackle is asked to absorb double teams from the center and play-side guard, and like the defensive tackles, he often goes unnoticed, as his job is to free up the inside linebackers to make plays in the run game.
The 3-4 defensive end is a much different position than the 4-3 defensive end. These players are usually larger, slower space-eaters, who again, are asked to absorb more blockers than to create havoc in opposing backfields. The main difference between a 3-4 defensive end and a 4-3 defensive end is that the defender does not have contain responsibilities. All three of the defensive linemen in a 3-4 are usually tasked with gap responsibilities. They are asked to occupy an area on the line of scrimmage and control that area with their size and strength, often absorbing multiple blockers. This allows the middle linebackers more freedom to play sideline to sideline.
The outside linebackers in a 3-4 are more like defensive ends in a 4-3. They are the players who set the edge against the run and also rush the passer. Unlike their counterparts, the 3-4 outside linebackers are required to play in space, as they must have the ability to match-up against tight ends, and drop into flat or seam coverage when asked. These players are often labeled as “tweeners” and have become more prevalent in the college game due to the popularity of the spread offense. The 3-4 outside linebacker is usually lighter and more agile than the 4-3 defensive end but also needs to have the strength to anchor the play side against the run. These guys were usually the pass-rushing linebackers or under-sized defensive ends in college.
Finally the two inside linebackers in a 3-4 are the field generals. They are very similar to the WILL and MIKE in a 4-3, and are very instrumental in both stopping the run, and setting up in high and low-hole zone coverage against the pass. They are sometimes called the MIKE and JACK if they are viewed as more interchangeable pieces.
Pros: The 3-4 allows more versatile blitz packages and exotic defensive fronts designed to confuse offenses. If the proper personnel is in place, it can be a tough defensive to run inside against. This defense can generate a lot of quarterback sacks and hurries from the outside linebacker position.
Cons: Outside zone, stretch and tosses can exploit this defense if the outside linebackers are not disciplined. Teams who run a zone blocking scheme are often successful running the ball against 3-4 teams, as there are often cutback lanes along the line. Linebackers are more susceptible to play-action passes. Tight ends can exploit weaknesses in coverages. Outside linebackers NEED to be able to drop into coverage, or the offense can easily find mismatches in the passing game. It is very hard to find players who excel at both rushing the passer and playing coverage.
Currently, Washington lacks a true nose tackle, a true 3-4 defensive end, two outside linebackers and a MIKE linebacker. On top of that, there are also players who really don’t fit well into what a 3-4 typically asks players to do.
Jer’Zhan Newton – much better suited as a one-gapping defensive linemen who can play over a guard.
Dorance Armstrong – not a player you want playing in space and having to cover.
Javontae Jean-Baptiste – too stiff to effectively play in space and cover.
Frankie Luvu – too slow to be a true 3-4 off-the-ball linebacker, and not big or strong enough to play as a 3-4 outside linebacker. Lacks good pass-rushing skills.
To get this defense ready to switch to a base 3-4 defense, Adam Peters will need to take advantage of both free agency and the draft to fill the many holes that exist.
Fulham star is impressed with the skillset of Arsenal man
Fulham’s Calvin Bassey watched Arsenal’s win against Tottenham and was impressed by Eberechi Eze’s performance in the match. The Englishman was in sensational form, scoring twice and taking his tally against Spurs this season to five goals.
Spurs have officially become his favourite opponent as an Arsenal player, though his overall skillset remains highly impressive. Eze has consistently shown creativity, vision and composure in attacking positions, making him one of the most exciting players in the squad.
Arsenal Could Maximise His Talents
Many observers believe Arsenal are underusing Eze. Mikel Arteta could unlock even more from the attacker if the team plays to his strengths. Fortunately, Arteta has time to develop him, as Eze has signed a long-term contract with the club. The manager’s guidance will be central to helping him deliver consistently high-level performances.
Eze is a player who clearly enjoys his football, particularly when he is in form. His mood on the pitch often translates into energetic and effective displays, as was evident against Tottenham. His confidence and flair were key factors in his double strike during the game.
(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Bassey’s Impressions
Bassey spoke about Eze’s impact in a conversation with Alex Iwobi on the latter’s YouTube channel. He said, “I think he meant that touch. He has far too much quality to not mean that. Bro he’s too strong though, he is strong bro. And he can move. I had to put everything and went [shoulder barge movement].”
His comments underline just how highly fellow professionals rate Eze. Strength, agility and technical ability combine to make him a difficult player to stop, and his performances continue to impress both fans and opponents alike.
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James Bord consortium pull out of Sheffield Wednesday takeover talks
The consortium led by James Bord has pulled out of its proposed £47.8m takeover of Sheffield Wednesday, leaving the Championship club still searching for new owners while in administration, BBC Sport has reported.
Bord’s group had been named preferred bidders in December and had since spent more than £4m helping to fund the club’s running costs. However, in a statement released on Wednesday, the consortium said “the historic mishandling of the club and pattern of catastrophic underinvestment means our sizeable binding bid can no longer be justified.” They added that they “know this will be a bitter disappointment to many” and apologised to supporters who had hoped the long-running ownership saga was nearing an end.
Administrators Begbies Traynor now face the task of finding an alternative buyer, although they say other interested parties have already come forward. The club remains operational and funded until the end of the season, but its long-term future remains uncertain.
Wednesday have been in administration since October following financial problems during Dejphon Chansiri’s ownership, and their relegation earlier this week has added to the challenges ahead. Under English Football League rules, failure to meet creditor repayment conditions could also lead to further points deductions, increasing the pressure to secure new investment quickly.
Barcelona planning to sign full-back on free transfer this summer
Despite making just two starts in the past month, Barcelona are looking to make their move for Joao Cancelo permanent. The Portuguese defender arrived on loan in January from Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, after taking a pay cut to make the deal happen.
Cancelo’s deal caused a stir in Barcelona, with manager Hansi Flick originally keen to bring in a central defender. However President Joan Laporta reportedly sanctioned the deal before getting the green light from Flick following a conversation with agent Jorge Mendes in December. His return to the club could be made permanent though.
Barcelona plans to keep Joao Cancelo
The Blaugrana will attempt to make his move permanent in the summer though, say Sport. The Catalan daily explain that Barcelona have promised to sign him on a permanent deal if he makes it financially viable, and if his performances are up to scratch. That requires him not only to take a significant wage cut, but also to negotiate an exit from Al-Hilal on a free transfer. His deal in Saudi Arabia runs until 2027, meaning he will have a year remaining on it this summer.
Image via Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Debate over Cancelo continuity
A slightly different picture is painted by Marca, who say that there is uncertainty over his future. The sporting department of the club is debating what to do with Cancelo, whose arrival was greeted with mixed reviews, but if he continues the form he showed against Levante, then it could persuade the club to try and keep him. The 31-year-old provided an assist for Frenkie de Jong, and he provides cover for both full-back positions, where currently they only have Gerard Martin, Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde beyond Cancelo.
It is certainly a significant reaction to one performance; Cancelo has played six times thus far for Barcelona, racking up 248 minutes. The Levante game was the first time that he finished a match, having been withdrawn in his other two starts, and it was the first time he stood out positively. After the game, Cancelo did point out that he was getting back to fitness since arriving at the club.
Within the coaching staff, Minnesota has seen a pile of talented leaders take off. Daronte Jones, for instance, is now the defensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders while Brian Angelichio is working as the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Several other coaches — Michael Hutchings, Tony Sorrentino, and others — got scooped up. As a result, some extra help has been needed.
Vikings Solidify Coaching Changes
To begin, note the top leaders. A quick-hitter list:
Kevin O’Connell, Head Coach
Frank Smith, Assistant Head Coach
Brian Flores, Defensive Coordinator
Wes Phillips, Offensive Coordinator
Matt Daniels, Special Teams Coordinator
Standing above all other coaches are O’Connell and Flores. Both have proven to be above-average options, with O’Connell being a good coach while Flores often sits in elite territory.
Smith is the new name within that crew, replacing Mike Pettine. In the past, Smith has worked for the Dolphins, Chargers, Raiders, Bears, and Saints. His backround is on offense.
Note, as well, that Daniels has proven to be very good, someone who has pushed Will Reichard, Andrew DePaola, Ryan Wright, and Myles Price (among others) up to excellent performances on specials. Meanwhile, Phillips comes across as being very passionate and knowledgeable about football, though he’s overshadowed since he doesn’t call plays.
Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
Shrinking things down to just the offense brings these names to the forefront:
Chris O’Hara, Assistant Offensive Coordinator
Keith Carter, Offensive Line
Derek Warehime, Assistant Offensive Line
Ryan Cordell, Tight Ends & Game Management Coordinator
Keenan McCardell, Wide Receivers
Derron Montgomery, Assistant Wide Receivers
Josh McCown, Quarterbacks & Passing Game Coordinator
Jordan Traylor, Assistant Quarterbacks & Passing Game Specialist
Curtis Modkins, Running Backs & Running Game Coordinator
Kyle Caskey, Offensive Quality Control
Ben Ellefson, Offensive Assistant
Shrinking things down to just the defense brings these names to the forefront:
Gerald Alexander, Defensive Backs & Passing Game Coordinator
Chenzo Funari, Assistant Defensive Backs
Thad Bogardus, Outside Linebackers
Dalmon Gibson, Assistant Linebackers
Ryan Nielsen, Defensive Line & Running Game Coordinator
Patrick Hill, Assistant Defensive Line
Mike Siravo, Inside Linebackers & Senior Defensive Assistant
Charlie Frye, Defensive Assistant
Will Johnson, Defensive Assistant
Finally, there are the coaches who don’t fit as easily into those categories. Chili Davis is helping on special teams as an assistant. Henry Schneider IV is the Vikings’ version of Dwight Schrute as Assistant to the Head Coach.
Aug 22, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell looks on against the Tennessee Titan during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
The Vikings are coming off a 9-8 season. Essentially, an average team that was undone largely through poor quarterback play. Minnesota’s collective leadership must figure out the QB spot. If not, then the upcoming season will again lead to disappointment.
In fact, failing to reignite the quarterback spot will mean that the Vikings’ coaching staff will mean that more coaching changes will get made in the Twin Cities.
Lotito Reportedly Ready to Sit at Round Table With Protesting Lazio Fans
Lazio president Claudio Lotito is reportedly seeking a truce with the club’s organized fan groups, who have revolted against his reign.
The Background
The Biancocelesti supporters have become increasingly dissatisfied with the current state of affairs at the club. They were already irritated with the club officials for causing the disastrous transfer ban last summer. And when Lazio finally had the opportunity to reinforce the squad in January, the fans felt that the team had instead been weakened.
The Stadio Olimpico was virtually empty during the match (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Therefore, the organized fan supporters refused to attend the Aquile’s last two home fixtures against Genoa and Atalanta, while urging all other Lazio supporters to join them. Hence, Maurizio Sarri’s men have already played twice in a virtually empty Stadio Olimpico.
According to Il Messaggero, Lotito has realized that this situation is no longer sustainable from a sporting and financial standpoint. Therefore, the club owner is now willing to heed the advice of his sporting director, Angelo Fabiano, who urged him to call for a round-table meeting.
Who Will Be Included in Lazio Round Table
This summit would be attended by multiple stakeholders, including supporters, journalists, industry figures and the academic world. The patron is currently considering three large locations for this event, which would serve as a dress rehearsal for the club’s upcoming general assembly later this year.
It remains to be seen if the fan representatives will be willing to attend this meeting or instead march on with their protest until Lotito sells the club, which remains their ultimate request.
Fabio Capello reveals why Juventus must win their next Serie A game
Fabio Capello has closely followed Juventus this season and understands the frustration felt by supporters, as their campaign appears in danger of unravelling. The pressure surrounding the club has intensified in recent weeks.
The men in black and white fought hard to remain among the leading sides in Serie A after a disappointing start to the term. However, they now risk missing out on a top-four finish next season. That possibility would represent a significant setback for a club of their stature.
Juventus have dropped too many points in recent matches. As a result, the gap between them and the teams above has continued to widen. Momentum has shifted at a crucial stage of the campaign.
Crucial Clash with Roma
This weekend, Juventus face AS Roma, a direct rival in the battle for a Champions League place. The Old Lady must secure the result they require to keep their hopes alive. Anything less could severely damage their ambitions.
The club is working tirelessly to salvage the season. Every remaining fixture must now be approached as a must-win encounter. Consistency and composure will be essential if they are to regain control of their destiny.
Capello believes failure to defeat Roma could have serious consequences. He views the upcoming match as a pivotal moment in Juventus’ campaign.
Luciano Spalletti (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Capello’s Warning
As reported by Tuttojuve, he said, “It will already be a decisive match for the Old Lady, but less so for the Giallorossi. Spalletti seemed to be on the right track, but the second half in Istanbul against Galatasaray and the bad defeat against Como last week have plunged the Bianconeri back into difficulty. Losing in Rome would likely mean slipping to within seven points of the Champions League places, if Napoli were to win in Verona. The situation would become very complicated.”
Capello’s assessment underlines the fragile state of Juventus’ season. A defeat in Rome could deepen their crisis and leave their Champions League ambitions hanging by a thread.
In the aftermath of the U.S. men's Olympic hockey team's historic gold medal win over Canada, there was hope that Team USA would be able to avoid turning their sporting achievement into a divisive political moment.
We've already seen the team's phone call with Donald Trump in which the U.S. president made a disparaging remark about the gold medal-winning women's team to the laughter of the men's players. In that same call (on FBI director Kash Patel's phone), Trump invited the team to Washington to visit the White House and attend the State of the Union address Tuesday night.
After the video of the call went viral, Team USA stars Jack and Quinn Hughes tried to distance themselves from that politicization and criticism. But in that same D.C. visit, the Hughes brothers were photographed wearing Trump USA hats alongside Karoline Leavitt. Sabres center Tage Thompson went as far as to wear an actual MAGA hat in the photo.
The last thing anyone wanted when USA won was for it to become political. Can’t cry “don’t make it political, people just look for stuff, etc.” with this. It was all avoidable pic.twitter.com/G4w6aPs0Bq
Again, Jack had dismissed the notion of making a political choice to attend Trump's address. But by wearing that hat, he made an explicit political statement, signaling the visit was as much about meeting Trump as it was about simply visiting the White House as a gold medalist.
Jack, who scored the winning goal, is set to return to New Jersey for the Devils' Wednesday night game against Buffalo. We'll have to see if he's asked to speak more about the hat choice. Quinn and the Wild play on Thursday night in Denver.
As the 2026 Formula 1 season gets under way, we have a new American outfit on the grid in the form of Cadillac.
Interest in F1 has been rising on the United States market, with Haas and Cadillac two full-fledged constructors while Red Bull Ford engines power the Red Bull and Racing Bulls cars. Three grands prix take place in the country, in Texas, Miami and Las Vegas.
Given (or perhaps because of) the strength of American motorsport, there have been few American F1 squads since the world championship began in 1950. We’re excluding the numerous teams that appeared at the Indianapolis 500 when that counted for the world championship between 1950 and 1960, because they were not F1 teams and didn’t contest GPs.
There were a number of privateer American entries that made sporadic appearances at their home GP, perhaps most bizarrely Indy legend Rodger Ward with his Leader Cards Kurtis Kraft-Offenhauser Midget racer in the 1959 US GP. But we’re looking at the teams that ran serious F1 efforts across multiple races.
So, here are our top five American F1 teams, based on their success, impact and longevity.
For the record, the UK-based Team Haas (USA) Ltd that ran Lolas at the end of 1985 and most of 1986 scored six points from its 19 starts. Its best finish came in the 1986 Austrian GP, when Alan Jones led home team-mate Patrick Tambay in a 4-5, albeit two laps behind Alain Prost’s winning McLaren.
We’d also like to give an honourable mention to the Scarab team, which made just two world championship starts in 1960. The front-engined machine was obsolete by the time it arrived, but it makes a tremendous sight and has proved a competitive proposition against its contemporaries in historic racing.
5. Parnelli
Parnelli had the driving talents of Mario Andretti and former Lotus designer Maurice Philippe, but it wasn't a winner in F1
Parnelli had the driving talents of Mario Andretti and former Lotus designer Maurice Philippe, but it wasn't a winner in F1
Years: 1974-76 Starts: 16 Best finish: 4th Best qualifying: 3rd Fastest laps: 1 Points: 6
American racing legend and 1963 Indy 500 winner Parnelli Jones set up the Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing team with Velko Miletich at the end of the 1960s. The squad, often simply called Parnelli, initially focused on Indycar, where it found immediate success.
Having won two Indy 500s and three USAC titles, Parnelli moved into F1 in 1974. It had ex-Lotus designer Maurice Philippe, plus Mario Andretti to drive the single entry.
The Cosworth DFV-engined VPJ4 made its world championship debut in the Canadian GP. Andretti qualified 16th and finished seventh, just a quarter of a second off scoring a point. He then started third for the Watkins Glen finale but was excluded for receiving assistance from his mechanics outside the pits.
Although Andretti was rarely a top-10 qualifier in the 1975 campaign, he did score points in Sweden and France. However, the loss of Firestone backing left a sponsorship hole that was never filled and the team folded just three races into the 1976 championship, Andretti having finished sixth in the South African GP.
4. Haas
Kevin Magnussen's fifth place for Haas in the 2022 Bahrain season-opener was the team's first points finish since 2020
Kevin Magnussen's fifth place for Haas in the 2022 Bahrain season-opener was the team's first points finish since 2020
Years: 2016-present Starts: 214 (ahead of 2026 season) Best finish: 4th Best qualifying: 4th Fastest laps: 3 Points: 386
Gene Haas’s squad has to be regarded as the most successful new team to enter F1 for many years. F1 is notoriously hard to break into, but Haas scored points on its debut in the 2016 Australian GP and finished as high as fifth in the 2018 constructors’ championship.
The team’s HQ is in America – Kannapolis, North Carolina – but it does also have a base in the UK for European events and a 'hub' at Ferrari's base in Maranello, Italy. Haas was the first American F1 team since the unrelated Haas Lola team closed in 1986.
Haas has a strong Italian influence. Dallara, builder of cars for many one-make categories, has made the chassis from the start and Ferrari has always supplied its engines. It also has a technical partnership with F1’s most successful team, helping to keep costs down.
Following its first season running Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez, Haas fielded Kevin Magnussen alongside Grosjean for four seasons. The team has yet to score a podium finish but has recorded two fastest laps and its best result so far is a 4-5, scored at the 2018 Austrian GP.
With both drivers replaced by rookies Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin – and the decision to focus development on F1’s new rules for 2022 – the 2021 season was Haas’s toughest. It had comfortably the slowest car and failed to score a point for the first time.
But Magnussen returning to replace Russian Mazepin following the invasion of Ukraine (which also led to the dropping of Uralkali sponsorship) provided an unexpected boost. The VF-22 was a major step forward for Haas and Magnussen scored a popular fifth place in the 2022 season opener in Bahrain.
Bringing the Schumacher name back to F1 didn’t work out, though. As Mick’s repair bills mounted up, the team opted to replace him with veteran Nico Hulkenberg for 2023.
The VF-23 could be quick over a single lap but went through tyres quickly on race pace, so the team ended the season bottom of the constructors’ championship, and neither driver bettered Hulkenberg’s seventh place in the season opener. That led to team principal Guenther Steiner, whose colourful personality led to Haas enjoying more exposure on Drive to Survive, being dropped in favour of senior engineer Ayao Komatsu.
Haas might actually have finished sixth in 2024, but for rival Alpine scoring an unexpected double-podium finish in the wet in Brazil, which left Haas seventh. Magnussen was let go a second time at season’s end, replaced by promising rookie Oliver Bearman, who had scored points on his F1 debut when he substituted for Carlos Sainz in Jeddah. Alpine refugee Esteban Ocon came in to replace Hulkenberg, who left for Sauber.
Aerodynamic and chassis issues with high-speed bouncing held the team back over the opening half of the 2025 season, while Ocon persistently complained of instability under braking. Despite a stronger season overall in 2024, scoring more points, rivals improved to a greater degree and Haas closed out the year eighth in the constructors’ championship.
3. Penske
John Watson scored Penske's only F1 win at the 1976 Austrian GP
John Watson scored Penske's only F1 win at the 1976 Austrian GP
Years: 1971, 1974-76 Starts: 32 (including two running McLaren M19A and two running March 751) Wins: 1 Podiums: 4 Poles: 1 Fastest laps: 0 Points: 26 (excludes point scored by Penske chassis run by ATS)
America’s greatest motorsport team only briefly tried its hand at F1, but its three-season spell was tinged with both tragedy and triumph.
Penske had run McLarens in the final two GPs of 1971, with Mark Donohue taking a fine third in the wet at Mosport. But the team, now an Indy 500 winner as well as a former Trans-Am and Can-Am superpower, returned with its own chassis in 1974.
Donohue, coaxed out of retirement for the project, finished 12th on the Cosworth DFV-engined PC1’s debut at the Canadian GP. The team planned a full campaign for 1975, running a single car for the 1973 Can-Am champion.
Donohue scored points in the 1975 Swedish GP but became frustrated at a lack of pace and not being able to make the progress he wanted with the PC1. The team switched to a March 751 and Donohue was fifth in the British GP before being suffering fatal injuries in a warm-up crash at the Osterreichring.
Having missed the Italian GP, Penske returned for the US GP finale, now with John Watson aboard the PC1.
Watson drove the PC3 to points in the 1976 South African GP and the car was soon replaced by the PC4, which became a competitive proposition. Third places at Paul Ricard (where he was excluded but then reinstated) and Brands Hatch (after James Hunt’s disqualification) was followed by victory at the Osterreichring.
Having qualified second and overcome early challenges from Ronnie Peterson’s March, the Tyrrell of Jody Scheckter and the McLaren of poleman Hunt, Watson came through to win by 10.8 seconds, a year after the death of Donohue at the same venue. Famously, Watson then shaved off his beard following a bet with Roger Penske.
Despite the car’s competitiveness, there was only one more points finish and Penske ended up fifth in the constructors’ table, behind Ferrari, McLaren, Tyrrell and Lotus.
Roger Penske then decided to focus on Indycar and sold the cars, which ran with limited success under the ATS Racing Team and Interscope Racing banners in 1977. Those outings are not included in our above figures.
2. Shadow
Shadow cars looked great, but were quick too. Here's Jean-Pierre Jarier at Interlagos in 1975, where he took pole in the DN5
Shadow cars looked great, but were quick too. Here's Jean-Pierre Jarier at Interlagos in 1975, where he took pole in the DN5
Don Nichols’ Shadow team started as an American outfit but raced under a British licence from the 1976 season. Its one victory came under the British flag, but Shadow should have been a winner before then and was very much American Nichols’ project.
Tony Southgate’s svelte DN1 scored a podium second time out in the 1973 Spanish GP, driven by American George Follmer, and the DN5 set the pace in early 1975. Jean-Pierre Jarier took pole for the first two rounds and led the Brazilian GP comfortably until the cam arm of the fuel metering unit seized.
Just over a month later, Tom Pryce did win the non-championship Race of Champions at Brands Hatch in the high-downforce car. There were other flashes of pace, including Pryce taking pole for the British GP at Silverstone, but driver errors, bad luck and unreliability prevented Shadow from scoring the win it deserved. Developing the Matra V12-engined DN7 was also a distraction, as was F5000.
The team was never as quick again, but it did get its one day in the sun, or rather rain.
Alan Jones qualified his DN8 14th for the 1977 Austrian GP at the Osterreichring. Most started on slick tyres in the slippery conditions and Jones made good progress, soon reaching second place. When Hunt’s Cosworth DFV blew with 11 laps to go, Jones moved to the front to score Shadow’s – and his – first world championship F1 victory. While Jones would join Williams and go on to become world champion, Shadow sunk further down the grid.
It lost some of its staff and sponsorship to the new Arrows operation in 1978, there was a legal dispute over the similarities between the DN9 and Arrows FA1 (which Shadow won), and Shadow became part of Theodore Racing before closing its doors in 1980.
It had also been a team tinged with tragedy. Peter Revson was killed in a testing accident at Kyalami in 1974, while Pryce died in horrible circumstances at the same venue in the 1977 South African GP when he struck a marshal running across the road.
1. Anglo American Racers (Eagle)
Dan Gurney won 1967 Belgian GP in his own Eagle car and was often the nearest challenger to the Lotus 49
Dan Gurney won 1967 Belgian GP in his own Eagle car and was often the nearest challenger to the Lotus 49
It was only around for three seasons, but Anglo American Racers and its Eagles made a big impact on F1, not least because the T1G is widely regarded as one of the finest-looking racing cars of all time.
One of America’s greatest drivers, Dan Gurney left Brabham at the end of 1965 to set up his own team, the F1 arm being based in the UK. Ex-Lotus man Len Terry was brought on as designer and Weslake developed V12s for the Eagle, thus it was not simply a Cosworth customer as with the two previous entries on this list.
Initially propelled by an underpowered Climax engine, the first car made its world championship debut in the 1966 Belgian GP, with Gurney scoring the team’s first points with fifth place next time out in France. They were the first F1 points gained by an American machine.
The V12 arrived towards the end of the season and Gurney won the Brands Hatch Race of Champions early in 1967. The Eagle was fast – Gurney invariably qualified near the front – but reliability was a problem and the V12 tended to lose power during races.
The arrival of the Cosworth DFV-engined Lotus 49 moved the goalposts but Gurney was often its closest challenger. He brilliantly won the 1967 Belgian GP at a record speed and would have won at the Nurburgring had the Eagle not suffered halfshaft failure in the closing stages.
Despite a third place in Canada, the lack of other finishes restricted Eagle to seventh in the constructors’ table as Goodyear’s support for the team’s F1 effort waned.
Financial issues and the greater availability of the DFV in 1968 rendered the Eagle uncompetitive and AAR ran a McLaren in the final three races of the championship, with Gurney finishing fourth at Watkins Glen, before quitting F1.
All American Racers and Eagle chassis went on to become powerful forces in Indycar, scoring two Indy 500 wins and a USAC title in the 1970s, before AAR ran Toyota’s successful IMSA GTP programme in the early 1990s.
Eagle later enjoyed great success in Indycar and IMSA competition
Eagle later enjoyed great success in Indycar and IMSA competition
Los Angeles City Section (Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)
The City Section boys soccer playoffs are in turmoil.
On Wednesday, City Section commissioner Vicky Lagos announced that Marquez and South East have been removed from the Open Division playoffs because of ineligible players that violated CIF bylaw 600, which bans players from participating in outside leagues during the the season of their sport. Both players are involved with MLS Next, a soccer development program.
South East reached the Open Division final after beating Marquez in the semifinals. Marquez was scheduled to face El Camino Real in the final but now is also out. As a result, two schools that were beaten in the first round, Birmingham and Venice, will play Thursday at Birmingham for the right to face El Camino Real at 6 p.m. at Pasadena City College on Saturday for the Open Division title.
But there are more problems. At least four Birmingham players, thinking their season had ended, have already started playing for their club teams, so they won't be eligible to play for the Patriots on Thursday.
Franklin was also removed from the playoffs, and Chatsworth and L.A. Jordan forfeited games this season for similar reasons.
"It's a big mess," Lagos said.
Birmingham athletic director Rick Prizant, who is part of the West Valley League, is proposing to change bylaw 600.
"This proves we should get rid of the rule," he said.
Lagos emphasizes before the season to coaches that players can't play in club competitions or in showcases during their high school soccer season. Lagos said she doesn't believe any of the head coaches were aware of the violations. She received an email last week informing her of a possible South East violation and another Monday regarding Marquez.
The Broncos dipped into the college ranks to find a replacement for Jim Leonhard as their defensive pass game coordinator.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Broncos will hire University of Colorado defensive coordinator Robert Livingston to fill that spot on Sean Payton's coaching staff. Leonhard left the Broncos to become the Bills' defensive coordinator.
Livingston has been on Deion Sanders's staff in Boulder for the last two seasons. He was a member of the Bengals' coaching staff as their safeties coach from 2016-2023. He was a scout and a quality control coach in Cincinnati for three years before taking on that role.
Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph was on the Bengals' staff in 2014 and 2015, so this will not be the first time that he and Livingston have served on the same staff.
Spring training is in full swing, the World Baseball Classic looms, and Opening Day will soon follow.
We're looking ahead toward the various award races, including the American League and National League MVPs. Unsurprisingly, Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are leading the pack, but there may be value further down the board.
Below, I analyze the AL and NL MVP MLB odds for the 2026 season and explain why Wyatt Langford and Jackson Merrill are excellent sleeper options for your futures predictions.
Before Opening Day, I don't like to focus too much on the chalk picks. There's no real value in betting on Shohei Ohtani at -125 or Aaron Judge at +225. Feel free to disagree, but both players have some injury history, and even if they didn't, I don't want to invest too much before a regular-season pitch is thrown.
And this way, if either Judge or Ohtani comes storming out of the gates, I can abandon the market entirely or invest differently as more information comes in. For now, I like to target a couple of players who are a little further out on the fringes with upside.
Check back as the season progresses for more MVP picks, as I update my analysis as the data flows in.
Bet
Odds
Bet date
Units
Wyatt Langford
+4000
February 25
0.25
Jackson Merrill
+5500
February 25
0.25
The Texas Rangers raced outfielder Wyatt Langford through the minor leagues after selecting him fourth overall out of Florida in 2023. He was a polished college hitter, and while the major-league results are a tad underwhelming so far, he's an appealing option to break through in 2026 and reach the highest plateau.
He is a legitimate five-tool talent, not unlike Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony. The difference is Anthony is +1700 entering his second season (first full year), while Langford is +4000 entering his third. I expect Langford to take strides in his strikeout rate, which was a high but not catastrophic 26.4% last season. He doesn't have a history of high K%, and we shouldn't expect it to be the norm now.
Langford also rips the shit out of the ball. He ranked in the 87th percentile in barrel rate, 82nd in average exit velocity, 81st in hard-hit rate, and 90th in walk rate. He has patience and makes good, hard contact with consistency. He also plays strong outfield defense and was in the 88th percentile in sprint speed. A 40-40 season isn't the craziest outcome to consider.
On the National League side of things, San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill was just shy of winning Rookie of the Year in 2024, and expectations were sky-high. But injuries limited him to 115 games, and he stole only one base after swiping 16 as a rookie. He also saw his strikeout rate spike from 17% to 22.4%. As with Langford, we can anticipate positive regression based on past performance in the minors.
He was still an above-average hitter (116 wRC+, 3.0 FanGraphs WAR), but it was a step down. His expected slugging was still in the 86th percentile, and he lifts the ball at an elite level, rarely hitting grounders. If he can push his hard-hit rate and exit velocity back to where they generally sat in 2024, a much better outcome is in the cards.
Here are the last 10 winners of the AL and NL MVP Award, with Shohei Ohtani leading the way as a four-time winner, with two in the AL and two in the NL. Only Frank Robinson has also won MVP awards in both leagues.
Barry Bonds holds the record for most MVP awards (seven)
The New York Yankees have won the most MVPs in MLB history with 25, while the St. Louis Cardinals are second, leading all NL teams, with 21. No player for the Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Mets, or Tampa Bay Rays has ever won MVP.
Most sportsbooks will display odds in the American format as listed above. When Goldschmidt ran away with the MVP award in 2022 his odds had a minus (-) sign ahead of the number for a large part of the season.
Paul Goldschmidt -6000
That means that a bettor in August had to wager $6,000 to win $100 by betting on Goldy to win MVP. Before the season starts, almost every player will have a plus (+) sign ahead of their odds.
Shohei Ohtani +200
That means a bettor would have profited $200 for a $100 wager on Ohtani before the season started.
If American odds aren't your thing, simply use a tool like our odds converter to switch the odds to decimal or fractional format. Most online sportsbooks also give you the option to change the odds format that you see.
The Chicago Bears could be close to moving away from one of their core pieces on defense. The team has granted permission for linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to seek out a trade with one year remaining on his contract. The news was first reported by Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
The #Bears have granted permission for LB Tremaine Edmunds to seek a trade, according to a league source. He's under contract for the '26 season at $15M. Still young and was Pro Bowl-caliber player thru first 10 games before minor injury. Finished year healthy. Led D in tackles.
Edmunds, a 2018 first-round pick, has been with the Bears for the last three seasons. He signed a lucrative free agent deal in 2023 for four years worth up to $72 million to be the field general on defense. Edmunds has been a productive player in Chicago, totaling more than 100 tackles in each of the last three years. He, along with TJ Edwards, formed a solid duo in the middle of the defense in 2023 and carried that into parts of 2024.
After the Bears overhauled their coaching staff, Edmunds began playing the weak side linebacker position under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and found success. Early in the season, the former Pro Bowler excelled in the role, producing three straight weeks of double-digit tackles and coming away with four interceptions. Unfortunately, Edmunds suffered a groin injury in the second half of the season that knocked him out of four games. After returning, Edmunds struggled to recapture his early-season form. He finished the year with 112 total tackles, three for loss, four interceptions, and one fumble recovery.
Entering the final year of his deal, Edmunds is owed $17 million, and it appears the Bears don't want to be on the hook for that money. Edmunds will only be 28 entering the 2026 season and has shown he can be a solid performer when healthy. But it seems like his days in Chicago are numbered. We'll see if the Bears get any takers or if they opt to release him, which would save them $15 million against the cap.
Team USA's men's hockey team celebrate their gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
Five members of Team USA's men's hockey team were not present for Donald Trump's State of the Union address on Feb. 24, despite being invited by the president
The remaining 20 members of the gold medal team visited the White House and shook hands with Trump before attending the speech
Many of the players who missed the event had NHL games scheduled for Feb. 25
After winning their big game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, the U.S. men's hockey team traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with President Donald Trump.
However, five of the newly minted gold medalists were notably absent from the White House visit, which preceded the president's annual State of the Union address.
Members of Team USA's men's hockey team attend Donald Trump's State of the Union Credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty
While he seemed thrilled to host the men's team, he laughingly implied that he'd "have to" invite the women's hockey team after they also won a gold medal in their own respective victory on Thursday, Feb. 19.
At Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday, Feb. 24, he claimed that the U.S. women's hockey team — who declined to attend the event — would soon be visiting the White House to celebrate their own Olympic victory.
A rep for the women's team told PEOPLE in response to Trump's remarks, "Players are back competing with their professional and collegiate teams and are in the midst of their season. They’re honored and grateful to be invited and any opportunity to visit the White House as a team will be based on their schedules once their seasons conclude."
While the women's team didn't travel to D.C. on Tuesday, 20 members of the men's team did, where they stopped by the White House before heading over to the U.S. Capitol to watch Trump speak inside the House Chamber.
All but five of Hellebuyck's teammates were there for the announcement; Brock Nelson, Jackson LaCombe, Jake Oettinger, Jake Guentzel and Kyle Connor were notably absent. Reps for USA Hockey did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on the players' absences.
According to USA Today, the NHL paused its season for three weeks so that members of the league could represent various countries in the Games. The season resumed play on Wednesday, Feb. 25, one day after the State of the Union and just three days after the men's hockey team concluded their play at the Olympics.
Team USA hockey player Brock Nelson after Team USA defeated Canada in the Men's Gold Medal match at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Feb. 22, 2026 Credit: Catherine Steenkeste/Getty
Many of the players are scheduled to play games for their respective NHL teams on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 26.
Jackson LaCombe's team, the Anaheim Ducks, faces off against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. A reporter for The Sporting Tribune noted that both LaCombe and his teammate Mikael Granlund, who skated for Finland at the Games, were headed back to Anaheim, Calif. on Tuesday and were expected to land later in the day.
Jake Guentzel of the Tampa Bay Lightning is also due back on the ice on Wednesday.Tampa Bay Timesreporter Eduardo Encina noted that he was "back in Tampa" on Tuesday, though he wasn't on the ice for the team's practice that day.
The Colorado Avalanches face off against the Utah Mammoths on Wednesday. Denver Postreporter Corey Masisak noted, "All four guys who played in the gold medal game are back in Denver this morning."
Team USA hockey player Jake Guentzel at the Men's Semifinals Playoff match between the United States and Slovakia on day fourteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games on Feb. 20, 2026 Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty
That included Team USA member Nelson, who "skipped the White House/DC trip to come back here with his family," Masisak said.
His fellow teammates Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Devon Toews played for Canada at the Games.
Speaking to The Athletic on Tuesday, Connor noted that he was back for practice with the Winnipeg Jets ahead of their Wednesday game against the Vancouver Canucks.
Team USA hockey player Jake Oettinger at the Winter Olympics on Feb. 18, 2026 Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty
“I’m just getting ready,” he said. “We play on Wednesday. It’s a big second half so I just wanted to make sure I was ready.”
The hockey player explained that he “[didn’t] really have any thoughts” on the manner in which Trump extended his invite to the women's hockey team.
Team USA hockey player Jackson LaCombe during a game against the Los Angeles Kings on Jan. 16, 2026 Credit: Ric Tapia/Getty
“There’s so many things happening,” he said, referencing Trump's phone call. “We just won the gold medal and things are going on so I don’t really remember what he said. It’s such a whirlwind, just celebrating.”
Jonah Javad, a reporter with local Dallas outlet WFAA, also noted that Oettinger was back in Dallas ahead of the Dallas Stars game against the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday.
Team USA hockey player Kyle Connor at the Canada Life Centre on Oct. 28, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Credit: Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty
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Other members of the hockey team, including Hellebuyck, who is also a member of the Jets, and star players Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils, are expected back on the ice on Wednesday with their NHL teams.
Hughes addressed the "backlash" his team received after accepting the president's invitation in an interview with the Daily Mail after their Olympic win.
"Everything is so political. We're athletes. We're so proud to represent the U.S., and we get the chance to go to the White House, meet the president. You know, we're proud to be Americans," he said. "No matter what your views are, we're super excited to go."
If you are a Las Vegas Raiders fan and you're hoping the franchise will keep Maxx Crosby around as the Klint Kubiak era begins, you'll like the latest update on the star defensive end's future.
Crosby, a two-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler, has been the focus of speculation regarding his future with the organization after he signed a three-year contract extension last year that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league.
Many have been unsure as to whether or not a trade might be made this offseason to ship Crosby off to a new home, but Raiders GM John Spytek looked to shut some of those rumors down on Tuesday at the 2026 NFL Combine.
"I do, yes," replied Syptek when asked whether the franchise plans to retain the standout pass rusher, who has 69.5 sacks to his name over his seven-season NFL career.
Las Vegas GM John Spytek told reporters at the scouting combine in Indianapolis that he expects Maxx Crosby to be with the Raiders this season.
Spytek described his relationship with Crosby as "great." He also drove home the point that, to rebuild the organization, the Raiders need to bring in top-tier players and retain them – and that includes keeping Crosby around.
"Maxx is an elite player, and I've been very upfront from the start when I got here that we're in the business of having really good players on the team and we need a lot more of them," Spytek said. "It's hard to build a great team without elite players."
After the Olympics, the Wild get right back into the swing of things with three games in four days.
The three Olympic Gold Medalists Brock Faber, Quinn Hughes and Matt Boldy all returned to practice on Wednesday and will play on Thursday.
Wild head coach John Hynes returned and ran practice today. He said that the three USA players will want to play Thursday so the plan is that they will.
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There's a reason why the NFL is the most popular and most powerful league in our great country. Even offseason activities have become must-see television. Take the scouting combine, for instance. The Philadelphia Eagles and the other 31 NFL franchises travel to Indianapolis every year for football's biggest job fair. Each team gains an opportunity to get to know prospects more intimately.
He's a six-foot-four, 330-pounder who earned First-Team All-Big 12 and First-Team All-American honors in 2025. When speaking to the media in Indianapolis, he mentioned Eagles stars Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis as two players he watches consistently. he also says playing with them would "be crazy." He says he would love playing alongside both as a teammate.
Here's where this gets complicated. The Eagles are always looking to add insurance at defensive tackle, but theories suggest that they'll address other needs early. Their most pressing needs are at tight end, edge rusher, outside cornerback, wide receiver, safety, and offensive line depth.
Taking a defensive tackle with early-draft capital doesn't seem likely, but this is less about depth and more about realistic draft options. Did you see how excited that young man was to talk about the possibility of joining the Eagles?
That's what makes the NFL, its scouting combine, and this time of year so compelling. Mock drafts focus on roster construction and positional value. We will spend nearly three months discussing the draft before the end of April. These prospects will be dissected until we're blue in the face by the time the selection meeting arrives.
Will the Philadelphia Eagles invest premium capital at defensive tackle? They probably won't, but the NFL Combine isn't just about filling holes. It's about identifying culture fits and competitive fire, and Lee Hunter has both in abundance.
TimesofIndia.com in Chennai: The stakes are high. The remaining Super Eight matches are must-win games, contingent on South Africa's results going in their favour. The situation wasn't this desperate but the "worst game in the last two years" has now put the Indian cricket team in a tight spot ahead of clash against Zimbabwe in Chennai. The last five matches showed the defending champions were tactically predictable due to an overdose of left-handers. Ever since the debacle in Ahmedabad on Sunday, calls to add a right-hander have only grown louder. Not that Sanju Samson is the answer to all problems but he gives you a tactical edge and could well force the oppositions to move away from the predictable off-spinner plan.
The wicketkeeper-batter had a long hit in the nets on Tuesday and strong Playing XI hint emerged when he donned the big gloves for the drills towards the fag end of the session. He faced a mix of pace and spin during the marathon hit and grew more confident as he played against Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar. India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said after the South Africa game that Samson would be a talking point in the next few days and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed that the discussions have revolved around the right-hander. Kotak, however, kept the Playing XI cards close to his chest.
"There can be changes, yes. It goes without saying that we discussed, because there are two lefty openers, number three is also left-handed and opposition is bowling off-spin. I personally don't think that there is any problem there also. But because we lost wicket in first over, obviously any team would think. So we are thinking and we will see how it goes because we never decide the team too early and obviously it is not fair to start telling your plannings also in so advance. But yes, definitely there will be thoughts," said Kotak on eve of the match.
If Sanju returns to the India XI, it will balance the left-right issue, but the entry points for the middle order, especially the firing lower-order, led by Shivam Dube, could become interesting for the remaining two games. Dropping Tilak Varma for Samson and moving Ishan Kishan to No. 3 could have been another option but Kotak's backing for the left-hander didn't point in that direction. This is despite a sorry showing this tournament - 107 runs in five innings at a strike-rate of 118.88. Kotak supported Tilak and watched over him during the side's optional practice session in the afternoon.
"Tilak has no such issues. In the Pakistan game, our target was good. I said earlier that 175 on that wicket was good enough. And we followed the planning. Because the same thing – and there the ball was actually spinning. And after that start, any team wouldn't want is 3-4 wickets to go at once. So Tilak... it is a matter of two boundaries. Sometimes a batsman doesn't get those balls. If he is at 34-35 in 30 – 32 balls or at 26 in 28 balls – if he gets one or two boundaries and a six, he will be at 38.
"So I don't think it is a question of run a ball. Neither he has any such instruction, neither he himself is thinking like that. Sometimes depending on wickets and depending on situation, I think there was more about partnerships in that game in Colombo and I think we achieved that. Yes, if Hardik had clicked more, who got out on the first ball, then we were hoping for 190 and we knew that was above par score and everyone knows that. So, there is no such tension of Tilak or Abhishek or even of losing one match."
The other talking point would be Rinku Singh and his place in the playing XI. The left-hander has had mediocre returns in the tournament and missed both team training sessions due to a personal emergency. Although he is set to rejoin the side on Wednesday evening, holding on to the spot looks highly unlikely at this stage. This could leave management with another change. If Samson walks in with Tilak holding his spot, the two players on their way out could well be Rinku Singh and Washington Sundar, making room for all-rounder and vice-captain Axar Patel.
It will be interesting to see what kind of batting order they opt for but adding a right-hander in the mix gives them a tactical edge — something that has indeed been a talking point recently.
"The discussions, to be very honest, if I tell you, it is more about tactical. A lot of tactical discussion goes on, the guys are bowling here, this is how we are approaching, this is how you are approaching, what other options you have for any batsman. Not just for Tilak, for Abhishek also, if you would have seen yesterday, it was the same thing we talked. So those things are more about planning, what a batsman can prepare and how much he actually wants to do that because end of the day it is batsman's thing to decide what he likes, what he wants to do. But to give different ideas is obviously our job," explained Kotak.
Apart from lacking the fire and confidence of the preceding bilaterals, India have been tactically questionable. Thursday presents an opportunity not only to address that but also to find the XI which can help them cover all bases, and stay ahead of the opposition.
Jaylen Waddle has been thrown into trade rumors over the last few weeks as the Miami Dolphins embark on a rebuild, but it sounds like the team has no plans to move on from their dynamic wide receiver.
According to Dan Graziano of ESPN, Miami views Waddle as a building block for the future and isn't eager to cut ties with him. The franchise will receive calls on the receiver's availability, but it will take a lot for the Dolphins to even consider trading him.
"My sense is that the Dolphins see Waddle as a building block who's under contract and aren't eager to move on from him. They'll get calls, no doubt, but it would take a lot for them to deal him," Graziano said.
All three teams will be searching for wide receiver help this offseason and will have to look elsewhere to solve their problems.
San Francisco's receiver room will look a lot different in 2026, as Brandon Aiyuk's days with the franchise are coming to an end, and Jauan Jennings could also depart in free agency. Waddle would be an electric fit in Kyle Shanahan's offense with his big-play ability and game-breaking speed.
Washington and Pittsburgh don't have a dire need for a receiver, but Waddle could definitely help both squads. Outside of Terry McLaurin, the Commanders don't have much receiving talent.
The same goes for the Steelers, who need to find DK Metcalf a running mate this offseason to bolster the passing attack.
With Waddle likely staying put in Miami, receiver-needy teams, like the 49ers, Commanders, and Steelers, will have to look elsewhere.
Aaron Rodgers’ NFL future has been a popular topic in the last two offseasons. After a tumultuous tenure with the New York Jets (winning only five games in two seasons), Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers were in negotiations for several months.
It took until June to learn about the four-time MVP’s decision. He joined the Steelers on a one-year, $13.6 million deal to extend his career. He led the Steelers to a 10-7 record and the AFC North championship, while going 327 of 498 for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Some think Rodgers would take a lot of time to make up his mind, but ESPN insider Adam Schefter explained that the decision might come sooner than expected.
“The belief around the league is that he’s supposed to give an answer by mid-March,” Schefter said. “Many people thought there was no chance he’d be back but it certainly sounds like it’s a consideration.”
“The feeling is that he could be back with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But, if we go back to last year, he wanted to play in Minnesota. I don’t know how Aaron Rodgers feels and I don’t know how the Vikings feel. They didn’t want to do that last year because they were being protective of JJ McCarthy.
“But, do they still feel the same way or is Aaron Rodgers part of the conversation?”
Aaron Rodgers’ decision about whether to return for his 22nd NFL season is expected sooner than last year and there is a belief it could come by mid March.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers warms up before an AFC Wild Card Round game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium. Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
On Tuesday, Steelers general manager Omar Khan made it clear the team wants to run it back with Rodgers. The fact that they signed Mike McCarthy as their new head coach could entice the 42-year-old to add one more season to his resume.
“I spoke to him last week. Mike McCarthy has spoke to him,” Khan said. “He knows how we feel about him. Right now, we’re proceeding. … He’s a free agent, and he’s not on the roster, but he knows how we feel about him.”
The Steelers couldn’t move past the Houston Texans in the wild-card round of the 2025 NFL playoffs. They hope that an offensive-minded coach can get them over the hump.
Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey of the New York Jets might be on the hot seat this offseason. Following a rough 2025, the Jets need to turn things around.
One of the most important decisions to make this offseason is what to do with the quarterback room. Justin Fields didn't work out, leaving the Jets with a big need at QB.
ESPN's Dan Graziano shared some good news for the Jets, as Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray has just a 5% chance of being traded this offseason. This is good news for the Jets, as they could land Murray for cheap, and without having to part with assets for him.
Jets get good news on Kyler Murray trade odds
"If Arizona is willing to pay down a big chunk of the money, that could help; but odds are Murray ends up getting released before that 2027 guarantee kicks in next month," Graziano writes.
Murray is in the middle of a $230 million contract, and he has a huge $19.5 million guarantee that kicks in if he's on a roster on the third day of the 2026 league year.
He's already on the books for $36.8 million guaranteed in 2026, so the Jets, or any team trading for him, will be taking on a ton of money for this season.
But, with ESPN's "Predicted chance of getting traded" for Murray at just 5%, the Jets got some good news in that they might not have to take on the massive contract from Murray this offseason.
Murray is 28 years old and coming off an injury-shortened 2025 season where he had 962 passing yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions in five games.
The year before, he had 3,851 passing yards with a 68.8% completion rate and 21 touchdowns to 11 interceptions, along with his 572 yards and five touchdowns rushing.
He's a solid dual-threat quarterback and would be a significant improvement over Fields if the Jets can find a way to bring him to New York.
Murray's trade odds being at just 5% is a good thing for the Jets, as trading for the Cardinals veteran would cost too much. Simply signing him in free agency would be much better, and based on ESPN's prediction, that looks like an option for the Jets this offseason.
The 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana, is in full swing. Team delegations are meeting with prospective players, interviews are happening, and on-field workouts are in progress. And beyond all of that, there is movement under the water.
This is the time when NFL teams and agents get together and discuss the upcoming league year. Rumors begin to fly, and teams reveal a bit of what they are thinking with the prospects they choose to meet with.
With so much activity, we've created a tracker for the prospects the Tennessee Titans decide to meet with, both formally and informally. This way, we'll get an idea of what Mike Borgonzi and Robert Saleh have in mind for the team in 2026.
As each day at the Combine passes, the list below will be updated.
Reuben Bain, EDGE, Miami
.@CanesFootball edge Rueben Bain said he killed his formal interview with the @Titans.
Sidney Crosby missed the final two games of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, and now, he will miss a significant portion of the NHL campaign.
After undergoing further evaluation upon his return to North America, the Pittsburgh Penguins confirmed that their captain will be sidelined for a significant portion of the remaining NHL campaign. What began as a hopeful quest for one last international medal has evolved into a race against time to save the Penguins' season.
The diagnosis leaves a generational void in the heart of a Pittsburgh lineup that will need every point it can get come the homestretch.
Crosby suffered a lower-body injury in Canada's quarterfinal game against Czechia and did not return for the rest of the Olympics. Canada went on to lose the gold medal game to the United States on February 22.
At 38 years old, Crosby had been having another standout season with 59 points in 56 games. His absence leaves a significant hole in the Penguins' lineup as they push for a playoff spot in the final stretch of the season. Pittsburgh sits in second place in the Metropolitan Division at 70 points.
What happened to Sidney Crosby?
Crosby's injury occurred during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan during Canada’s quarterfinal match against Czechia. At the red line, Czech defenseman Radko Gudas toppled over Crosby. As they fell, Crosby’s legs appeared to "split" awkwardly, and his right knee buckled under the weight of the contact.
Despite being visibly hobbled, Crosby stayed on the ice. Seconds later, he was "sandwiched" along the boards by Gudas and Martin Necas. After this second impact, he pulled up, circled back to the bench, and was seen in deep conversation with trainers before limping to the locker room.
If Sidney Crosby *Only* misses 4 weeks. That puts him out for 15 games. The Penguins have 26 games left. They have a 5 point playoff cushion. But Sid leads the team in goals and points.
Although he briefly remained on the bench, he did not return to that game and subsequently missed both the Olympic semifinal and the gold medal game. Though coach Jon Cooper said during a press conference that "this will not be [Crosby's] last Olympic game," the captain did not return for the 2026 campaign.
While Hockey Canada initially labeled him "day-to-day" in hopes he could return for the Gold Medal game, the Penguins' medical staff in Pittsburgh provided a more sobering update upon his return.
Crosby will be out for at least four weeks with the NHL campaign resuming, meaning he will miss a significant portion of the homestretch for Pittsburgh.
There's no exact timeline for when Crosby will return to action, as the NHL is not disclosing the exact injury and his recovery. But the center will miss at least four weeks of the season.
If he is back on the minimum timeline, the Penguins will have 11 games remaining upon his return.
Constitution Hill amassed almost £900,000 in prize money before three falls last year [Getty Images]
Constitution Hill will pursue "the next chapter" in Flat racing after being ruled out of this year's Champion Hurdle and any further races over jumps.
Having won the prestigious race in 2023, one of National Hunt racing's biggest names had been lined up for another bid for success on 10 March at the Cheltenham Festival.
In a statement on X, trainer Nicky Henderson and owner Michael Buckley said it "was a sad day" and the decision followed "a lot of time soul searching".
But Henderson added: "He leaves the jumping world sound [and] happy and ready for the next chapter.
"It has been a staggering journey so far and Michael has had to endure some dark days, but of course enjoyed the enormous highs and thrills of an extraordinary horse."
Having triumphed in his first 10 races under jockey Nico de Boinville, Constitution Hill's falls - including at Aintree and Cheltenham - had left Henderson mulling over his future.
The successful switch to Flat at Southwell last Friday showed his potential.
Starting 6-4 favourite and with five-time champion jockey Oisin Murphy in the saddle, the move paid off as he took to the front well before the line and held firm to win by nine-and-a-half lengths from Square Necker and Gambino.
Henderson said: "He showed on Friday night that he has another career in front of him that could possibly take us all to new playing fields.
"It was a terrific night for both him, us, and I believe British Horse Racing and we are very aware of the public perception and the possible consequences of running over hurdles and feel it is not fair to ask him and Nico to do it again.
"Cheltenham have kindly invited Constitution Hill to parade on Champion Hurdle day to give all his National Hunt supporters the opportunity to say goodbye."
The New York Giants face a key decision this offseason regarding outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux: Retain him long-term or trade him.
Thibodeaux completed his fourth NFL season with the Giants in 2025. The 25-year-old edge rusher recorded 2.5 sacks, nine QB hits, and five tackles for loss last season. He also defended two passes. He missed seven games due to a shoulder injury sustained during the Giants' 24-20 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 10.
His production has declined notably in recent years. After posting 11.5 sacks in 2023, Thibodeaux tallied 5.5 in 2024 and just 2.5 in 2025 (across only 10 games). This drop-off, combined with recurring injury concerns, has raised questions about his future in New York.
The Giants have a surplus of impact defensive linemen with Brian Burns and Abdul Carter, and it seems more likely they'll try to find a trade partner for Thibodeaux than extend the 2022 first-round pick ahead of his fifth-year-option season. The question is whether the Giants can find a taker for him at that salary in a deep offseason edge rusher market, but the chatter at the combine indicates they're going to try.
Thibodeaux signed a four-year, $31.3 million rookie contract with the Giants in 2022. The team exercised his fifth-year option, so he is under contract for the 2026 season at $14.75 million (a club option that becomes guaranteed upon exercise).
As a former No. 5 overall pick out of Oregon, Thibodeaux remains a foundational piece of New York's pass rush when healthy. However, the decision ultimately rests with the Giants, who must weigh his talent and potential against cap considerations, injury history, and the team's defensive depth in determining whether to retain or trade him this offseason.
🚨Confirmed XIs: Dortmund look to book their place in the last 16
Today, Borussia Dortmund will visit Bergamo to play the second leg of the Champions League playoffs after their 2-0 victory at Signal Iduna Park.
There are two doubts in the black and yellow goal. Nico Schlotterbeck and Emre Can have been able to train, but their starting spots were decided at the last minute.
The Pittsburgh Penguins will host 10 home games through the end of March as the team returns to PPG Paints Arena following the Olympic break.
The upcoming home stand includes six weekend games and features various giveaways, like bobbleheads and apparel. The schedule begins Thursday and runs through March 31, highlighted by themed events such as “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” Day and the annual Her Hockey Day celebration.
The Penguins return to action Feb. 26 with a matchup against Olympic gold medal-winning goal scorer Jack Hughes and the New Jersey Devils at 7 p.m. The first 7,500 fans in attendance will receive a Check Your Heart oven mitt.
Special ticket packages are available for First Responders Night and Penn State University Night, which include a co-branded quarter zip. The team begins the month of March at PPG Paints Arena on against the Vegas Golden Knights at 1 p.m. The game is designated as “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” Day to celebrate the legacy of the Pittsburgh television icon.
On March 5, the Penguins face the Buffalo Sabres at 7 p.m. for Margaritaville Night. The first 7,500 fans will receive a Hawaiian shirt and a ticket package is available that includes a co-branded Margaritaville cooler backpack.
The evening also features the second “The Pitt” Night of the season, a live performance by The Suns of Beaches Band and an appearance by an African penguin from the National Aviary. The schedule includes a weekend of back-to-back rivalry games against the Philadelphia Flyers on March 7 at 5:30 p.m. and the Boston Bruins on March 8 at 4:30 p.m. Fans at the Flyers game will receive a team yearbook presented by Highmark.
The matchup against the Bruins marks Irish Heritage Night and the Sticks and S.T.E.M. event, featuring interactive concourse booths and custom lab coats for children ages 12 and under. Two afternoon weekend games are scheduled for later in the month, with the Penguins hosting the Winnipeg Jets on March 21 at 1 p.m. and the Carolina Hurricanes on March 22 at 3 p.m.
The first 7,500 fans on March 21 will receive a Kris Letang “Big Three” legacy bobblehead. March 22 marks the eighth annual Her Hockey Day, featuring a shirt designed by fan and artist Alana Lipham. Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche visit Pittsburgh for a 7 p.m. game on March 24. U.S. Steel will host local students as part of the Reading Champions program during the game.
The team will host Country Night on March 28 at 5 p.m. against the Dallas Stars. Special ticket packages for the evening include Penguins-branded cowboy hats, while other packages are available for Medical Worker Appreciation Night and Union Strong Night.
The month concludes on March 31 with a 7 p.m. game against the Detroit Red Wings. The night includes Dollar Hot Dog Night and Organ Donation Night, along with community nights for Carnegie Mellon University and local cheer and dance teams.
Full and half-season memberships for the 2026-27 season are currently on sale. These plans include access to interest-free payment options and a gift with purchase.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 16: Francisco Lindor #12 and Carlos Mendoza #64 of the New York Mets look on during spring training workouts at Clover Park on February 16, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Carlos Mendoza provided an update on Francisco Lindor to the media today, saying that the Mets’ shortstop can restart “impact” activities in 2-3 days after having the stitches removed from his surgically repaired left hand on Tuesday.
Lindor underwent surgery on February 11 to repair a stress fracture in his left hamate bone and the estimated recovery time was six weeks, putting him on track to return right around Opening Day. Lindor is progressing as expected, according to Mendoza, and is still on track to meet that timeline provided all goes well as he resumes baseball activities. He has been present at Port St. Lucie with his teammates, but not an active participation in spring training thus far. However, that should change soon.
What is less clear is how long it may take Lindor’s power to return once he starts swinging the bat again. Baseball players are particularly susceptible to hamate injuries and in fact, multiple other players suffered hamate injuries right around the same time Lindor did this spring. Though the surgery recovery timeline is fairly standard, some players suffer lingering effects, particularly in the power department. However, the majority of players have good outcomes. The only thing that will determine which bucket Lindor falls into is time.
Speaking of time, Lindor has missed very little of it since coming to the Mets, despite playing through discomfort on a few occasions. The 32-year-old also underwent right elbow debridement surgery following the conclusion of the 2025 season, but there is not any evidence that has hindered him at all this spring. Though Lindor should be able to take the field for the Mets on March 26 as scheduled, his hamate injury has prevented him from participating in the World Baseball Classic for Team Puerto Rico, which plays its first game on March 6 against Colombia.
✅ Atalanta v BVB line-ups: choices on Scamacca, Pasalic, Samardzic
Atalanta needs something very close to a miracle to reach the Champions League round of 16 in the second leg of the playoffs against Borussia Dortmund.
Raffaele Palladino’s team must overturn the 0-2 deficit from Signal Iduna Park within 90 minutes at the NewBalance Arena. The Goddess has already delivered many magical nights in Europe, and will need another one to turn this tie around.
Alex Mitchell also appeared off the bench in all three British and Irish Lions Tests in Australia last summer [Getty Images]
England's first-choice scrum-half Alex Mitchell has been ruled out of the remainder of their Six Nations campaign with a hamstring injury suffered in Saturday's 42-21 defeat by Ireland.
Mitchell has started England's last 10 Six Nations matches having secured his spot as head coach Steve Borthwick's preferred number nine in the run-up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Leicester's Jack van Poortvliet replaced Mitchell off the bench in the 24th minute at Allianz Stadium.
Bath's Ben Spencer is another scrum-half in the wider squad, while Sale's Raffi Quirke has been called up as additional cover.
Mitchell's absence raises the prospect of an entirely new half-back partnership starting 7 March's meeting with Italy, with George Ford coming under pressure from fly-half rival Fin Smith after an underwhelming performance against Ireland.
Elsewhere in the squad, centre Ollie Lawrence will miss a two-day training camp this week with a knee injury, but is hopeful of returning in time to face Italy, while George Furbank will return to Northampton to play in Saturday's Premiership Rugby Cup match against Saracens for more game time.
Should Furbank, who has endured a torrid run of injuries over the past year, come through that fixture, the full-back is in line for a return to England's matchday squad.
Coming into the tournament on the back of 11 successive victories, England had high hopes of challenging for a first Six Nations title since 2020, but defeats by Scotland and Ireland means they instead head to Rome attempting to regain stability, rather than trophies.
England have won all 32 previous meetings with Italy, but the Azzurri have enjoyed an impressive campaign so far, beating Scotland in the opening round and pushing Ireland and France hard in defeat.
After securing a 97-81 win over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night, the Boston Celtics are hoping to consolidate the second seed in the Eastern Conference when they visit the Denver Nuggets in a nationally-televised game Wednesday night.
The Celtics (38-19) continue to outperform expectations and have closed to within 4.5 games of the East-leading Detroit Pistons. Boston's strong season to date has come entirely without All-Star forward Jayson Tatum, who suffered an Achilles injury last May and has yet to play this season.
With rumors building that Tatum is getting closer to a return, expectant fans will have to wait at least a little longer to see the 27-year-old don the Celtics' famed green jerseys.
Is Tatum out against the Nuggets?
Yes, Tatum will miss the Celtics' game against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets, which tips off at 10 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
When will Tatum return?
Tatum's highly-anticipated return does not yet have a date.
ESPN's Ramona Shelburne reported last week that the five-time All-NBA selection has not yet made a decision on whether he will return at all this season.
However, speculation persists that Tatum could make his comeback in dramatic circumstances on Sunday, when the Celtics host the rival Philadelphia 76ers in another national broadcast
Confirmed Lineups: Atalanta BC vs. Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund traveled to Bergamo for the return leg of their Champions League knockout stage tie against Atalanta. The Black and Yellows won the reverse fixture thanks to goals from Serhou Guirassy and Maximilian Beier.
Niklas Süle and Filippo Mané are the only absentees from BVB’s traveling squad. Nico Schlotterbeck and Emre Can returned to the side after missing the home leg. The influential center-back will start on the bench, while the captain will start the game days before another crunch fixture against his former club on the weekend.
Here are the lineups for tonight’s clash at Stadio di Bergamo.
Walking along Säbener Straße this Wednesday, the sun warmed your skin, the birds were chirping and you could even smell it: spring is slowly approaching. At this time of year, FC Bayern’s season also hots up – this year finally in all three competitions again. Although head coach Vincent Kompany gave his players a day off on Wednesday in 14 degrees and bright sunshine, the team's focus is already fully on Saturday's eagerly awaited Bundesliga top-of-the-table clash at Borussia Dortmund (18:30 CET).
On Thursday and Friday, Joshua Kimmich, Harry Kane and Co will intensify preparations for the Bundesliga Klassiker before travelling to North Rhine-Westphalia. While the Munich men are resting, BVB are battling for a place in the Champions League round of 16 in their play-off second leg at Atalanta this evening. That could lead to a reunion with Bayern – Friday’s draw will reveal all.
Olise & Pavlović with individual session
But it wasn’t all quiet at the German record champions’ training facility on Wednesday. Aleksandar Pavlović and Michael Olise, for example, took advantage of the ideal conditions for individual sessions. That kind of mindset over the coming crucial weeks of the season will help to ensure that it won’t just be the sun shining at Säbener Straße in the summer, but also one or two trophies.
If AJ Styles did get the itch to end his retirement at some point, the future WWE Hall of Famer is reportedly well aware that a “substantial offer” is waiting for him from AEW.
On Monday, WWE delivered the sort of send-off fans wanted for wrestling legend AJ Styles. After the heartbreak of his career-ending loss to Gunther at the Royal Rumble last month, supporters of “The Phenomenal One” got the catharsis they needed.
Styles got the chance to let fans know how much he appreciated them and say goodbye as an in-ring competitor. He got a fantastic highlight reel package. Was showered with love by his contemporaries, and then was surprised with the news that he would be inducted into the 2026 class of the WWE Hall of Fame.
It was one of the best send-offs WWE has ever put together for a retiring performer. However, it has not stopped the speculation from diehard AEW fans that he will eventually make the jump to the rival wrestling brand. Styles has close friends in the company, and CEO Tony Khan has not hidden the fact that he is a big fan of his.
In a new report from Justin Barrasso, fuel was seemingly added to the rumors of Styles going to AEW. However, it may be a long wait before it happens.
AJ Styles knows a big offer is waiting for him in AEW
Credit: WWE
“With Styles getting inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, it severely limits any potential AEW owner, Tony Khan had of bringing Styles in for a surprise appearance at the Revolution pay-per-view in March,” Barrasso wrote. “For AEW, their post-WrestleMania show is Double or Nothing in May–and even that feels too soon for Styles to appear.
“That isn’t to imply Styles was looking to wrestle again. He meant what he said about spending time at home with family. But speaking to a few people close to him, Styles was well aware that AEW was willing to make a substantial offer,” he added. “And it was likely going to be one that wouldn’t cost him much time away from home.”
Styles himself even left the door open to a return to wrestling down the line. Typically, when WWE gives a performer a retirement sendoff, they don’t go back on it. If Styles did want to return, Paul Levesque could break away from the trend that Vince McMahon started. If he doesn’t, it would make a return in AEW not a question of if, but when.
Northwestern's Nick Martinelli (2) celebrates during the Indiana versus Northwestern men's basketball game at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. | Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
It started off with Northwestern falling behind by 11 just over 10 minutes into the game. It started off with a horrific defensive effort and a stagnant offense. It started off looking like Northwestern would suffer its sixth loss in seven games and fall to second-to-last in the Big Ten standings.
But I hope you didn’t turn your TV off.
Staring down a 13-point deficit with 4:48 to go in the first half in a hostile Assembly Hall against a team that needed a win to keep its season alive, the Wildcats played a near-perfect 25-minute stretch of team basketball. Northwestern (12-16, 4-13 B1G) willed its way to a second straight win and its sixth consecutive victory over Indiana (17-11, 8-9 B1G), the largest streak in series history, via a couple of vital factors.
A stifling defensive adjustment at half
The first half, or really the first 15 minutes of the game, featured what could be called an embarrassing defensive effort from Northwestern.
Lamar Wilkerson was the main problem. He entered the game averaging 21.1 points on the season and shooting over 38% from three. However, early on, it seemed that NU was unaware of Wilkerson’s shooting abilities. He made four threes on four attempts early in the first half, and most of them were open looks. The scouting report seemingly wasn’t emphasized enough, as Wilkerson got whatever he wanted.
Consequently, Indiana’s players fed off of Wilkerson’s energy. As NU consistently allowed open corner three-pointers and closed out with a disheartening passiveness, the Hoosiers made six threes in the first 10 minutes of the game and shot 50% from three in the first half. Somewhere around the 10-minute mark, when the Wildcats decided they couldn’t take any more threes, their defense overcorrected. NU players stuck to their men like glue, forfeiting easy buckets in the paint for driving Hoosiers. Indiana shot 63% from the field in the first half and entered the break with 42 points on the scoreboard and probably felt like they should have had more.
But then something changed.
The Wildcat defensive effort in the second half greatly increased, and the ‘Cats poured cold water all over what had been a scorching Hoosier offense. Northwestern ran Wilkerson off the three-point line throughout the second half and forced him into tightly contested jump shots. The ‘Cats started forcing Indiana turnovers and caused the Hoosiers to take a number of questionable shots. From Tre Singleton to Angelo Ciaravino, the entire Wildcat roster played the second half with an intensity that Indiana failed to respond to.
Overall, whatever head coach Chris Collins said in the locker room worked. Indiana finished the game shooting 46% from the field and 36% from three – far below its first half numbers. The most staggering stat of them all is that the Hoosiers went without a field goal from the 10:04 mark in the second half to the 31-second mark. Well over nine minutes without a field goal. Northwestern’s defensive adjustments allowed it to complete the comeback.
The bigs came to play
The headliner is obviously Nick Martinelli.
Martinelli, who seems to be fully emerged from his midseason lull, scored 28 points on 12-of-21 shooting from the field. He scored 21 points in the second half, including eight straight to start the second period to get the ‘Cats back into the game and then seven more with under three minutes remaining to ice the game.
The overall dominance was more of the same for Martinelli, who had his 20th 20-point game of the season, but the important thing to note was his clutch-time offense. While Martinelli and Northwestern as a whole have mightily struggled to close out games this season, this one was different.
With 2:58 remaining, Martinelli drained a 22-foot three-pointer to give Northwestern the lead. On the next possession, Martinelli stepped into a midrange jumper to extend the ‘Cats’ advantage to two possessions. Then, on the third straight possession of the sequence, Martinelli swished a hook shot to give Northwestern the 67-63 lead with one minute remaining. He went 3-of-4 in the clutch and proved to be the superstar the statistics suggest he is.
However, Martinelli wasn’t the only big man who left his mark on the game. Although Arrinten Page’s stats don’t stand out in the box score, notching 10 points, six rebounds and four assists, his energy and activity levels were incredibly high from the moment he subbed into the game. Page played his most minutes in a game in over a month, and his effort was seen on both ends of the court. He flashed offensive prowess with fadeaway midrange jumpers and an important three with under seven minutes remaining, and helped improve the defense with his paint protection and aggressive rebounding.
The ‘Cats have been searching for more of a sparkplug off the bench this season, and Page provided that in a big way. They’ll need him to continue to bring the intensity if the Wildcats want to make any sort of run in the postseason.
Jake West is growing up in front of our eyes
Every game he plays, Jake West turns more and more into the maestro of the NU offense. While in his first games, West was often passive on both ends of the floor, he now projects confidence with every decision he makes. From running the fast break effectively and always finding the right pass to knowing when to slow the ball down and organize the offense, West is playing like an elite floor general. He logged a career-high 37 minutes on the night and had 16 points, two rebounds and one assist.
In addition to the leadership he brings to the court, West is starting to pop offensively. He made several key threes against Indiana when the offense started to get stagnant, and is shooting 63% from beyond the arc over NU’s past two games.
Yet, West’s most important contribution on the offensive end against the Hoosiers was the four clutch free throws he knocked down in the final seconds of the game. For a first-year player to calmly swish four straight free throws in a crazy road environment is nothing short of extremely impressive. While NU made some poor decisions in crunch time, leaving the door ajar for Indiana, West slammed it shut to give his team the win.
Overall, West once again showed why Coach Collins made the right decision in inserting him into the starting lineup. Beyond the stability he brings on the offensive end, West competes with intensity on the defensive end. While other NU guards have struggled to stay in front of their opposition, West has shown an ability to keep his man in front of him and force tough shots. West should only continue to get better, and that should be an exciting thought for Northwestern fans.
The ‘Cats will look to win their third straight game on Saturday at 2 p.m. CST against Oregon at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
There has been a lot of smoke around the Los Angeles Rams and Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. Some believe the Rams will take Simpson in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft to eventually replace Matthew Stafford, but NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah doesn't buy it.
The former NFL scout told ESPN's Rich Eisen recently that while the Rams might be interested in Simpson, he doesn't think Simpson offers a good enough ceiling to move from Stafford to him when the 2025 MVP retires. Jeremiah went on to compare Simpson to "a lesser version of Jared Goff," who the Rams famously traded away to acquire Stafford in 2021 after Goff failed to deliver to a Super Bowl in 2018.
"But with way I look at it is the Rams, in the past, looked at Jared Goff and said, 'you know what, he's good enough to get us to a Super Bowl. We don't feel like we can win a Super Bowl with Jared Goff. So we're going to make this move and go get Matthew Stafford.' And we've seen how Matthew Stafford throws a football as well as anybody who's ever thrown it. And then now you're gonna at the end of Matthew Stafford's era then go to Ty Simpson? I couldn't wrap my mind around that. To me, [Simpson]'s a lesser version of Jared Goff who you deemed wasn't good enough. So that one I couldn't make sense of."
It's a tough reality check for those who like Simpson as a prospect, but the sentiment has merit. The Rams understood they needed to upgrade the quarterback position for Sean McVay's offense and found a good replacement for Goff in Stafford. The theory, then, is they'd need to either find a similarly-skilled quarterback to replace Stafford, or find a prospect they can develop into someone who could turn into a Stafford-like player.
Is Simpson that player? Jeremiah doesn't think so. But maybe the Rams do.
Travel delays caused Charley Hull to miss the marquee group photo at the HSBC Women's World Championship. It's not often that the top 10 players in the world gather for a shoot, and the moment was particularly significant for No. 3 Hull, given that she's now the highest-ranked English golfer in the 20-year history of the Rolex Rankings.
"Obviously my goal since I was a little kid has always to be world No. 1," said Hull at Wednesday's pre-tournament press conference. "But yeah, it's pretty cool that obviously got to No. 3. But I'm not really one to stare at rankings and stuff because it shifts all the time. I just look at, it think it's pretty cool, carry on, and crack on play golf."
Hull comes to "Asia's major" fresh off a victory at the PIF Saudi Ladies International, where she stormed from behind by playing the last eight holes in 6 under on Sunday. Nine of the top 10 players in the world are in the elite field of 72 in Singapore, with No. 2 Nelly Korda the only one missing at Sentosa Golf Club.
Hull will tee off on Thursday alongside world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul and defending champion Lydia Ko.
Last year at this event, Hull made headlines when she vomited before her third round, ran a personal best 5K run in 26 minutes and still managed to shoot a flawless 68 to trail Lydia Ko by a shot. She ultimately tied for fourth last year in Singapore.
Hull's running obsession took a hit last year, however, when she tripped on a curb in the parking lot at the Centurion Club and wound up in a moon boot.
Now a healthy Hull heads into her 12th season on the LPGA playing some of the most consistent golf of her career. She hasn't finished outside the top 20 in her last eight starts worldwide, dating back to August. Hull has five top-5 finishes in that stretch, including two wins.
When asked if this is the year she finally wins a major, Hull said, "I always, like, really want to win a major. That's my goal. Obviously had quite a lot of second-place finishes in majors. I'll get there. Just carry on enjoying and not put too much pressure on myself. It's just a game at the end of the day."
Hull, for the record, has four runner-up finishes in three different majors.
Two weeks ago at the Saudi Ladies International, Hull took a video of the massive trophy she'd won and sent it to her carpenter. She'd already showed him a photo of Justin Rose's trophy cabinet to copy and wanted to make sure there was a spot big enough to accommodate this latest addition.
The cabinet is slated to be finished by March 18, just in time for her 30th birthday. Hull thinks of birthdays as "just another day" but said she'll likely have a party since her house renovations will be complete.
"Just having my walk-in wardrobe built at the minute," she said, "and now he's got to crack on to my trophy cabinet. It's quite heavy, so let's make sure he builds it strong enough."
At first glance, the
Ultimate Fighting Championship’s latest trip to Mexico is a
middling offering at best, but for those willing to take a deeper
look, there might be some gold in those hills.
UFC Fight Night 268, which takes place Saturday at Arena CDMX
in Mexico City, is the least of the UFC’s offerings in that country
in recent years. The six-fight main draw is built to please the
Chilango faithful, with Mexican fighters squaring off against
foreigners in every bout—and heavily favored in all of them—but
there is a sneaky amount of divisional relevance in the prelims, as
the winner of the women’s bantamweight clash between Macy
Chiasson and Ailin Perez
might actually be closer to a title shot than anyone else on the
card. Outside of that contenders’ matchup, the undercard is a mixed
bag, heavy on the
Dana White's Contender Series alumni (10 out of 14 fighters on
the prelims came to the UFC through the show) and featuring
multiple fighters returning from long layoffs due to injury or
suspension. Here is the preview for the seven-fight preliminary
card of UFC Fight Night 268, also known as UFC Mexico:
Gandra (8-1; 0-0 UFC) and Medina (11-6; 0-3 UFC) are both looking
for their first UFC win in the top prelim; the difference is that
this is Gandra’s first chance and probably Medina’s last. Gandra’s
game is about as subtle as a sledgehammer and, at least thus far,
about as effective. His performance on the Contender Series last
season, in which the 30-year-old Brazilian buried Trent
Miller in under three minutes, is a representative example.
“Problema” marched forward with purpose, swinging heavy shots with
both hands, and put Miller on his heels almost immediately. Once he
had his man stung and reeling, he poured it on, adding some hard
kicks, keeping up the pressure and closing out the fight before it
ever really got started. A look at his regional tape reveals the
consistency of that approach: Gandra has thrived thus far on being
the more active, more aggressive, harder-hitting fighter,
preferring to keep things standing until or unless his opponent
forces the issue. Aside from a misstep in his second professional
fight, the approach has served him well and should continue to do
so until he runs into a fighter with much better footwork than
himself and/or one with the requisite wrestling chops to put him on
his back without eating haymakers first.
That leads us to Medina. It feels unkind to say, but “Chicho” might
be the worst fighter in the UFC relative to the division in which
he competes, and I say that in the midst of previewing a card that
also includes Kris
Moutinho. Taking into account his loss on the Contender Series,
after which he was signed anyway, the 34-year-old Bolivian by way
of Mexico is 0-4 in Octagon-shaped fight enclosures. Beyond the raw
numbers, Medina is regressing even by the eyeball test; on DWCS and
in his first couple of UFC assignments, he presented as a tough,
high-volume brawler who might never be a contender, but could eke
out wins against a UFC middleweight or two. In his last two fights,
however, Medina’s volume has dried up, leaving a lumbering,
slow-footed puncher with decent but not great power and serious
defensive flaws. It is difficult to picture a plausible route to
victory for him against any UFC 185-pounder that doesn’t involve
his opponent making a major mistake.
That spells bad news in this matchup, as even the best version of
Medina was more or less tailor-made for a fighter like Gandra, who
favors the same kind of offense-first brawl but is quicker and
harder-hitting. Medina remains fairly durable—though that has waned
in the last year as well—and is likely to hang in there for a
while, but expect Gandra to win almost every exchange and the
damage to pile up quickly. Gandra by Round 2 TKO.
Chiasson (10-5; 8-5 UFC) will look once again to establish herself
as a title contender at 135 pounds, the latest chapter in an often
frustrating UFC run that has been plagued by losses and weight
issues at the worst possible moments. Chiasson’s 8-5 UFC mark looks
unremarkable at first glance, but it’s worth noting that the “TUF
28” featherweight winner is 6-1 at bantamweight, with the sole loss
coming in her most recent outing against Yana Santos.
At her best, the lanky Louisianan makes excellent use of her
physical tools, forcing her opponents to engage her either at
ultra-long range or up close and personal in the clinch, a bit like
a female version of Tim Means. In
the clinch, her height and strength make her a serious problem for
opponents, and he uses elbows and knees well against the cage.
While Chiasson does not initiate the ground game very often, she is
very dangerous there, using her long limbs to secure back control,
threaten with chokes and land peppering, damaging strikes from a
variety of positions. Her difficulties have been largely
self-inflicted: Chiasson has had numerous weight issues at 145 as
well as 135 pounds, and she has been oddly flat and complacent in
some fights—potentially another sign of hard weight cuts in those
fights. The loss to Santos last October was the first time Chiasson
had really been beaten at her own game at bantamweight, as Santos,
a famously powerful clinch fighter, nullified and frankly pushed
the bigger woman around for long stretches.
Perez (12-2; 5-1 UFC) is a fighter I underestimated severely upon
her arrival in the UFC three years ago. Joining the promotion out
of some very low-level South American shows, “Fiona” looked like a
prospect with some good physical tools but no particular standout
skills, who was not even close to ready for the UFC. Her debut loss
to Stephanie
Egger seemed to bear that out, but she has won five straight
fights since then and has looked sharper and more confident along
the way. Much like her bigger countrywoman Norma
Dumont, Perez presents as a striker but has quickly realized
that her build and athleticism allow her to take down just about
anyone she wants to. Perez favors kicks and punches at long range,
either waiting for her opponent to close the distance or, if the
opponent happens to land a few good shots, closing the distance
herself. Once there, she can shoot a rudimentary double-leg that
she finishes with strength rather than technique, or she is adept
at body lock takedowns as well. Perez has a heavy top game,
smothering opponents, pelting them with short punches and looking
for a chance either to take their back, or finish with a topside
choke like the one she used against Daya Zheleznyakova last
September. Perez’s loss to Egger saw her outgrappled quickly by a
veteran judoka, but her difficulties since then have mostly come
against fighters with better, quicker feet, who have exposed her
own footwork and left her chasing them.
Perez is the moderate favorite here, likely due to her positive
momentum and Chiasson’s continued inconsistency. However, I’m
leaning towards the upset here. Chiasson’s recent relocation to a
new camp, where she works alongside the likes of Kyle
Crutchmer and Jacobe
Smith, is the wild card. Chiasson must understand on some level
that her window to become a serious title contender in the UFC is
narrowing; assuming the new team is a good fit and her weight is on
point, she has the physical tools and necessary skills to punish
Perez’s tendency to crash the pocket, punish her in close quarters
and either stay upright or only go to the ground when it is to her
advantage. The pick is Chiasson by decision.
Quinonez (18-5; 1-2 UFC) returns from a two-year layoff to the
honor—and the pressure—of being the first native Mexican to make
the walk at UFC Fight Night 268. The 29-year-old Entram Gym product
has been on the shelf ever since his February 2024 loss to Raoni
Barcelos, first with injuries and then with visa issues that
caused the last-minute cancellation of a scheduled bout with
Adrian
Yanez last November in Las Vegas. Quinonez is a rangy
bantamweight who does his best work as a boxer at distance, taking
advantage of his reach and hand speed to pepper foes with jabs and
crosses. His difficulties have tended to come when he lets himself
be drawn into close-range brawls with stockier, harder hitting
foes, and when the fight hits the floor. Quinonez is actually a
skilled grappler, but his consecutive losses by rear-naked choke
show that he is not good enough to stave off better ground
fighters, especially when the sequence starts with his opponent
taking him down.
Lost in the narrative of Moutinho’s record (14-7; 0-3 UFC) is that
he is actually a skilled fighter, and an improving one. Originally
signed in 2021 as a short-notice fall guy for Sean
O'Malley—Moutinho was not even the best bantamweight in
CES at the time—he washed out of the UFC after two losses, went
back to New England and finished five straight foes to earn another
shot in the Octagon. His reward? A matchup with then-undefeated
phenom Malcolm
Wellmaker, who looked at the time like he might be the next
O’Malley. O’Malley and Wellmaker are nightmare asks for a fighter
like Moutinho, however, and depending on matchups, there are some
UFC bantamweights he could probably beat. Moutinho is a technically
sound boxer who throws in combination, usually has ample volume,
and is very dogged in the pocket, sometimes to his own detriment.
Unfortunately, Moutinho just doesn’t have the physical tools to
hang with UFC-level bantamweight strikers. He is fairly small, does
not have particularly fast hands or feet, and his power is poor.
Combined with his need to box at close range, those limitations
mean that he must weather a ton of punishment just to make rounds
competitive.
Quinonez is a whopping favorite here, and that is justified—if he
is in good competitive shape. If this were his first fight booked
after his medical layoff, it might be worth a flier on Moutinho,
but Quinonez had been all ready to go three months ago when his
visa issues kept him out of the country. This is likely to be a
very lopsided fight, with Moutinho plodding gamely forward, eating
a million punches from the longer, quicker boxer. Quinonez doesn’t
have off-the-charts power himself, and Moutinho remains fairly
durable, so the pick is Quinonez by dominant decision.
BETTING ODDS: Reyes (-240); Silva de Andrade (+190)
Silva de Andrade (29-6, 1 NC; 7-6 UFC) abandons his bantamweight
aspirations, returning to 145 pounds and welcoming Reyes to the
promotion. “D’Silva” is now 40 years old, nearly two years from his
last fight, and in the final act of a UFC run that never truly got
out of second gear. While he has been a notoriously tough out and
has lost only to very good fighters since joining the UFC 12 years
ago, he has only fought 13 times in that span and never won more
than two in a row. It’s simply impossible to make any headway in a
division as deep and competitive as featherweight fighting once a
year. Silva de Andrade is a good wrestler and skilled top-position
grappler, and in another universe, he might have become something
like a featherweight Rafael dos
Anjos, bullying bigger fighters like it was nothing. However,
in this universe he comes across more like a featherweight Joaquim
Silva, a stocky, powerful athlete who never met a brawl he
didn’t like and tends to forget his ground game. Silva de Andrade
throws some exotic techniques, including some spinning kicks and
flying attacks, but for the most part he likes to wade into the
pocket and unload hooks with both hands, trusting his power and
chin to carry the day. His left hook is particularly accurate and
damaging, and at least as recently as summer of 2024, he had enough
cardio to go three hard rounds.
Reyes (22-5; 0-0 UFC) is hard to label. “Journeyman” sounds
dismissive, but “prospect” sounds wishful, when talking about a
32-year-old featherweight with nearly 30 career fights. “Blair” has
some good wins on his slate, including Chase
Gibson, whom he defeated in
Legacy Fighting Alliance, and Justice
Torres, whom he knocked out in short order on the Contender
Series last fall. Reyes is a good-sized featherweight who works at
a steady pace and tends to build as the fight goes along. His leg
kicks and diligent body work reinforce the idea that he wants to
wear his opponent out and drag them into deeper waters, and both of
those techniques line up well with Silva de Andrade’s
vulnerabilities. While he is not a particularly adept wrestler
offensively or defensively, Reyes is a good submission grappler who
can sometimes spend too much time attacking from his back when he
might be better off trying to get back up.
Reyes is a comfortable favorite here, but maybe he shouldn’t be.
Silva de Andrade is a harder hitter and far more experienced
against top-level competition; he is easily the best fighter Reyes
has faced, while Reyes might not even crack the top 10 fighters the
Brazilian has fought. If Silva de Andrade were not 40, and coming
back from a 20-month layoff, I would be all over the upset here,
and in fact my podcast co-host Keith picked “D’Silva.” However,
given Reyes’ relative youth, his builder tendencies and the
question marks hovering over Silva de Andrade, the call here is
Reyes by decision.
Tarin (7-0; 0-0 UFC) steps in on just four days’ notice in place of
Sofia
Montenegro in a bout moved from 125 to 130 pounds. The
undefeated 21-year-old, who has been fighting in second-and
third-tier promotions since turning pro a little over two years
ago, is a promising prospect. “Kill Bill” looks a little like
Irene
Aldana and, on the feet at least, fights a bit like her as
well. Tarin is a long-framed flyweight with good reach who uses her
natural tools well, keeping her opponents at middle to long range
and piecing them up with punches and kicks. Tarin is also a willing
and capable grappler if pressed by her opponent, but thus far her
sojourns on the ground have mostly come when her foe was already
hurry and/or desperate. The component skills of a future standout
are there, and Tarin looks like an excellent prospect by the
eyeball test, but this will be an enormous step up in competition
for her, and it remains to be seen whether her kickboxing will be
as dominant against UFC flyweights.
Kareckaite (6-1-1; 1-1 UFC) is only 27 years old herself and has
only one more professional fight than Tarin, but she has already
proven she belongs in the Octagon. Since her Contender Series win
over Carly Judice—which continues to age well for her—the rangy
Lithuanian has split her two UFC bouts. While she certainly
presents as a striker, that description oversimplifies things:
Kareckaite acquitted herself very well on the ground in a decision
loss to Dione
Barbosa, a decorated grappler. She has very long reach and sets
out to use it, jabbing and low-kicking her foe, but she too often
allows shorter foes to dictate the range of engagement. She throws
good volume and is accurate on the feet, but despite her “Heavy
Handed” nickname, she lacks one-shot power. Combined with her
hittability and her tendency to let shorter fighters put her on the
back foot, Kareckaite struggles to put her stamp on close rounds
even when she is the superior technician. That, in turn, has led to
four split decision wins in her last five fights. These are habits
that can be addressed with experience, and many fighters have done
so, but for the time being, she will always be one iffy scorecard
away from a split-decision loss.
That leads directly into my prediction for this fight. While odds
have not yet been released (the fight was announced two hours ago)
Kareckaite was a -300 favorite over Montenegro, who is not a bad
prospect herself, and it’s hard to imagine she will not be
similarly favored over the newcomer. However, Tarin has a few
things going for her. One, she is an aggressive, come-forward
striker, and likely to be even more aggressive in a win-win
scenario like the one she finds herself in this weekend. That might
come into play heavily in a competitive striking battle. Two, Tarin
lives and trains in Mexico City, at altitude, which eliminates many
of the concerns about a short-notice debut at 7000-plus feet. It’s
entirely possible that despite no training camp for this fight,
Tarin ends up being the fresher fighter in Round 3. With both of
those things being true, I’m leaning towards a Tarin win by
decision in her debut.
“The King” Silva (9-3; 0-2 UFC) returns from a two-year injury
layoff, just weeks shy of his 39th birthday, looking to make a
little hay while the sun still shines on his oddball career. The
Venezuelan by way of Costa Rica grew up in his father’s martial
arts academy and has well-rounded skills, along with far more
veteran poise than one might expect of a man with only 12
professional fights. On the feet, he is an upright kickboxer with
long reach and underrated power, but he is extremely hittable, with
poor footwork and next to no head movement. He is an excellent
grappler, with strong positional awareness, quick back takes and a
venomous rear-naked choke, but his wrestling is decent at best,
meaning that at the UFC level, it has usually been up to his
opponent to dictate where the fight takes place. On top of his
advancing age, Silva fell victim to a serious knee injury the last
time we saw him in action, and it is difficult to imagine his
footwork or cardio being better at age 38 after rehabilitation from
such an injury.
Marshall (8-3; 2-3 UFC) is almost exactly 12 years younger than
Silva and still appears to be a fighter on the rise. He is better
than his 2-3 UFC mark suggests; two of his three losses have been
split decisions and most recent outing, a split-decision loss to
Mairon
Santos, was an absolute robbery, as even Santos freely
admitted. Marshall is a classic wrestle-boxer with good jiu-jitsu
who tends to get into brawls on the feet, or scramble-fests on the
ground, that play into his opponents’ strengths as much as his own,
which often leaves bouts closer than they need to be. While the
Santos fight was a strong performance against another good
prospect, marred by the judges’ failure, his split-decision win
over Dennis
Buzukja was closer and more entertaining than it needed to be
against a fighter who frankly was not UFC-level.
Marshall is the biggest favorite on the entire card, and in many
ways he rightfully should be. He is far younger than Silva, far
more active, is more skilled almost everywhere and appears to be
improving from fight to fight. However, Marshall’s tendency to let
his opponents dictate the terms of engagement makes it difficult to
feel comfortable relying on him to win fights that he should win
easily. The pick here is Marshall by early submission, and I do
favor him even if the fight goes the distance, but if I were
looking for betting value on this card, I’d give this fight a hard
pass.
It’s Dana White’s Saturday Night Contender Series in the opening
fight, as
DWCS Season 9 alums Pinas (8-1; 0-1 UFC) and Schultz (8-2; 0-0
UFC) make their promotional debuts opposite one another. Pinas is a
23-year-old from Surinam who, at this point in his development at
least, presents as a prototypical Dutch-Surinamese style kickboxer.
He is tall, with long reach and long legs, and throws a variety of
hard, accurate kicks and punches from both sides of his upright
stance. Pinas definitely has plus power, but with a few exceptions,
his knockouts have come from piling up damage with combinations
rather than a single Melvin
Manhoef-esque killshot. Pinas’ takedown defense is suspect, as
even some of his badly overmatched regional foes have managed to
get him to the canvas, but he gets back up quickly rather than play
jiu-jitsu from his back, and thus far none of his opponents have
had him in serious danger. When he ends up in top position on the
ground, he throws jackhammer punches and is not averse to grabbing
his opponent’s neck in transition.
Schultz is nearly Pinas’ opposite in terms of skills and approach.
While he has experience as a kickboxer, his striking in MMA has
been nothing to write home about, while his ground game is creative
and dangerous. Schultz works quickly to get the fight to the
ground, but rather than shooting conventional takedowns, he thrives
on creating collisions that lead to scrambles, trusting his
grappling acumen and instincts to bring him out on top. It has
served him well for the most part, but his first Contender Series
appearance two years ago showed the limitations of his approach, as
he ended up underneath a mauling wrestler in Mansur
Abdul-Malik one too many times and got his head pounded in.
This is an intriguing style matchup between two middleweights who
are far from polished products but have enough upside that both
could stick around the UFC for a while. There is certainly upset
potential here; Schultz is going to do his level best to drag Pinas
onto the ground, and if he manages to be the first to truly test
Pinas’ submission defense, we might find out that he doesn’t have
any. However, Pinas’ far superior power and accuracy on the feet,
combined with his tendency to try and get back up quickly if he’s
on the bottom on the ground or punch hard if he’s on top, mean that
all of Schultz’s best routes to victory are perilous. The pick is
Pinas by Round 1 KO.
The Savannah Bananas' Dakota Albritton pitched on stilts when the Savannah Bananas played the Firefighters at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on May 30, 2025. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)
Already well-known for selling out stadiums for baseball-themed spectacles that include choreographed dances, inventive trick plays and outlandish fan interaction, the Savannah Bananas have cemented their synergy with ESPN and Disney+ with a 25-game package in 2026.
Included in the deal will be a "Banana Ball Day" at Disneyland and a game at Angel Stadium on March 26. Every game will stream on the ESPN app and Disney+, with select games airing across ESPN networks and ABC.
The first-ever Bananas broadcast on ABC will take place in front of 54,000 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., home of the Oregon Ducks college football powerhouse. The Bananas will play the Party Animals June 27-28, and the games have been sold out since October.
The Bananas popularity is undeniable. The team played in 40 cities in 2025, including three NFL stadiums and 17 Major League Baseball stadiums. They sold out 65,000 seats at the Tampa Bay Buccanners' stadium and in April played in front of 81,000 at Clemson's Memorial Stadium.
The new agreement more than doubles last year’s 12-game offering. ESPN and Disney are natural partners, building on a collaboration that began with the ESPN+ Original series "Bananaland" in 2022.
“This expanded agreement reflects the incredible growth and fan demand surrounding Banana Ball,” Brent Colborne, Vice President of ESPN Programming Content & Strategy, said in a statement. “From iconic football stadiums to classic ballparks, these events showcase the energy and creativity fans love, delivered with the full reach and flexibility of ESPN, Disney+, and ABC.”
Another "Banana Ball Day" will take place at Disney World on May 29 including a game at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. And in July the Bananas will swing by ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Conn., before a game at Dunkin’ Park in nearby Hartford.
“We are fired up to be teaming up with ESPN with our biggest partnership to date,” Bananas owner Jesse Cole said. “Banana Ball has grown massively on the platform over the past few years. Now, as we launch the Banana Ball Championship League with six teams and sold out shows all over the country, we couldn’t imagine a better partnership to grow the game.”
As the Bananas' popularity has exploded, salaries have increased. Last year players made $20,000 to $37,000 over a 65-game season. This year the average salary is $100,000, according to Front Office Sports.
According to Forbes, the Savannah Bananas organization is valued at about $500 million, nearly half of the net worth of low-rung MLB franchises. The six-team BBCL will bring in an estimated $100 million in revenue this year, mostly in merchandising and ticket sales.
The new deal with ESPN and Disney+ should only increase that number. Disneyland's Main Street certainly should be lined with fans March 26 when — as described on the Disneyland web site — "the Savannah Bananas shimmy, shake and strut their way through an unforgettable cavalcade!"
Golf Channel continues to add legends to its broadcast team for the Florida Swing.
Some players just feel destined for the booth.
Kevin Kisner. Smylie Kaufman. Colt Knost. Guys who can break down a swing, tell a story and slip in a nugget of insider context that elevates the broadcast tenfold.
If you know anything about Jim Furyk, you know he’s cut from the same cloth.
On Wednesday, Golf Channel announced that Furyk will step in as a lead analyst for next week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational and THE PLAYERS.
The move comes just two weeks after the network revealed it would bring back Roger Maltbie for a handful of events this season. Furyk and Maltbie will both be in the mix for the next few weeks in Florida.
NEW YORK -- The Brooklyn Nets (15-42) had some unexpected travel issues affecting them with the blizzard that New York City was hit with over the weekend. Brooklyn had to fly back to the Big Apple early on Tuesday, but the Dallas Mavericks (21-36) had to do the same thing. However, the Nets just couldn't make the necessary plays to end their losing streak at home.
The Netslost to the Mavericks on Tuesday 123-114 in a matchup where Brooklyn never allowed the game to get into blowout territory, but they also couldn't put themselves in a position to tie the game. Forward Michael Porter Jr. had 26 points and three assists while forward Noah Clowney had one of his best games of the season with 22 points and five rebounds of his own.
Dallas did not have the services of Cooper Flagg or Kyrie Irving, but they had forward Marvin Bagley III going off for 22 points and five rebounds off the bench to complement forward Naji Marshall's 21 points and seven assists. The Nets have one more left left on their home stint on Thursday against the San Antonio Spurs, but for now, here are three Nets takeaways from Tuesday's loss to the Mavericks:
Michael Porter Jr. Bounces Back (Somewhat)
Porter finished Tuesday's loss with 26 points (9-of-16 shooting from the field, 2-of-6 from three-point land), but there was still a difference between his first half and second half performances. In the first half, Porter had 16 points (6-of-7 shooting from the field, 2-of-2 from deep), but in the second half, he had 10 points on just 3-of-9 shooting from the field.
Noah Clowney Shows Full Package
Clowney has had his fair share of struggles this season, but he had one of his best games of the season with 22 points and five rebounds in 33 minutes on the floor. What made this game encouraging for Clowney is he looked confident throughout the entire contest, whether it was driving to the rim, shooting the three-pointer, and even on the defensive end when he switched onto various defenders.
Terance Mann Shines In Fourth Quarter
Mann has been accepting of his bench role in recent games as head coach Jordi Fernandez has turned to rookie Nolan Traore to be one of the starting guards, but the veteran has been in this league for as long as he has because of games like what he had against the Mavericks. Mann has always been more known for his defense than anything else, but after scoring 10 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, he once again showed how he has improved the weaker parts of his game over the course of this trying season.
La Dea left themselves with a tough task to overturn the first leg loss in Dortmund, which was decided by Serhou Guirassy and Maximilian Beier goals.
As the away goals rule has been abandoned, they need to win by a two-goal margin just to force extra time.
De Roon advice for Atalanta
BERGAMO, ITALY – NOVEMBER 30: Odilon Kossounou of Atalanta BC celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Marten de Roon during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and ACF Fiorentina at Gewiss Stadium on November 30, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“We need to leave fewer spaces, we were caught out with a few long balls, and we need to close the gaps down, be more aggressive, more intense, and above all play the ball better. They have a high defensive line and we can hurt them,” De Roon told Sky Sport Italia.
Atalanta have faced Borussia Dortmund three times and never managed a victory, losing both trips to Germany and drawing 1-1 here in the Europa League in 2018.
“Dortmund are a very strong squad, I expect them to come here trying to win, not to just defend the result. We must push for 90 minutes along with our fans, hope to have a little bit of luck, but mainly courage to score some goals here,” added De Roon.
CREMONA, ITALY – OCTOBER 25: Marten de Roon of Atalanta ia during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and Atalanta BC at Stadio Giovanni Zini on October 25, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)
“We know the fans in Bergamo well, I am sure they will push us on for 90 minutes with their pride to be here playing in the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund. They will be the 12th man.”
The mood was boosted in Serie A at the weekend by a comeback win over Napoli, where they had been trailing 1-0 only to emerge 2-1 winners.
‘No chance of a new contract’ – Journalist suggests summer exit is inevitable for Liverpool star
Journalist David Lynch has claimed that there is now ‘no chance’ of one Liverpool stalwart signing a contract extension at Anfield.
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At present, the Reds are set to see Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson walk out the door on a free transfer at the end of this season, with the two defenders having just four months remaining on their current deals.
While the resurgent Frenchman has been a near-constant starter in the current campaign and Paul Gorst hinting at ‘promising’ signs over a potential renewal, the Scottish left-back has often been overlooked in favour of Milos Kerkez and has been the ongoing subject of interest from elsewhere.
CaughtOffside reported this week that Wolves, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa are all ‘monitoring developments’ regarding the 31-year-old, who Liverpool aren’t actively looking to offload but could be ‘open to reasonable offers’ for him.
Lynch can’t see Robertson signing a new contract
Speaking to Anfield Index, Lynch believes that it’s now incredibly unlikely that Robertson will pen a new deal in L4 over the next few months, with a summer exit seeming near-certain.
The journalist stated: “Robertson, for me, that’s a certainty that he will go now… there’s no chance of a new contract now and he will depart.”
(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Is Robertson’s glorious time at Liverpool coming to an end?
The fact that such a definitive statement is coming from one of the most trusted reporters on all things Liverpool heightens the sense that we could be into the final chapter of the Scotland captain’s glorious nine-year stint as a Reds player.
There’s still time for the club and Robertson to agree a new deal – Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk were in a similar situation this time last year and their extensions weren’t announced until April – but the case of our number 26 isn’t quite the same.
Whereas the other two have continued to be near-automatic starters under Arne Slot (barring a brief yet stormy spell out of the team for the Egyptian earlier in winter), the 31-year-old has had to play second fiddle to Kerkez for the most part this season.
The Scot has indicated that he wouldn’t be content to merely accept a bit-part role at Anfield, and at this phase of his career – and after being a near-constant starter for so long at Liverpool – it’d be understandable if he were to feel a desire to move on to a new challenge.
Even though Robertson is no longer a guaranteed presence in our starting XI, his importance to the current squad in terms of driving standards on a daily basis in training and on matchday can’t be overstated, and he’ll be a massive loss to LFC whenever he departs.
We live in hope that he’ll defy Lynch’s prediction and remain with the Reds for another season or two at least, but the clock is rapidly ticking towards a huge decision for the two-time Premier League winner.
Champions League line-ups: Atalanta vs. Borussia Dortmund
Atalanta hope Gianluca Scamacca and Lazar Samardzic can inspire them to overturn a 2-0 deficit with Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League play-off.
DORTMUND, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 17: Serhou Guirassy of Borussia Dortmund scores his team’s first 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)
La Dea have seen their Serie A form revitalised under coach Raffaele Palladino since he replaced Ivan Juric in November, and they had been on the verge of a top eight Champions League finish.
However, a sudden collapse saw them slide into the play-offs, losing the first leg 2-0 in Dortmund for their third consecutive Champions League defeat.
Charles De Ketelaere and January signing Giacomo Raspadori are still out of action, but Scamacca returns to the starting XI after muscular issues.
Ederson had been expected to play too, but he is clearly still not fully fit, so Mario Pasalic plays.
Nicola Zalewski and Lazar Samardzic act in support of the centre-forward after Sunday’s comeback win over Napoli in Serie A.
DORTMUND, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 17: Ederson of Atalanta clashes with Julian Ryerson 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)
Borussia Dortmund are missing Niklas Sule, Italian Filippo Mane and cup-tied Patrick Drewes, but the good news for them is that Emre Can and Nico Schlotterbeck return to the squad.
The star centre-forward is Serhou Guirassy, who scored in the opening minutes of the first leg and assisted the second from Maximilian Beier.
These teams met three times and Atalanta have never won, managing a 1-1 home draw in 2018 and two away defeats.
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)
The England midfielder has been Forest's standout performer this season as they battle relegation from the Premier League.
Anderson is preparing to face Fenerbahce in the Europa League play-off as Forest aim to reach the last 16, holding a 3-0 lead from last week's first leg in Turkey.
"I'm just focusing on my football at the moment, performing and trying to give everything for Nottingham Forest. So that's all that's on my mind," said Anderson.
The 23-year-old is contracted to the City Ground until 2029 after joining from Newcastle in 2024.
The Manchester clubs are also reportedly monitoring Forest and England team-mate Morgan Gibbs-White.
Forest's captain almost joined Tottenham last summer, with Forest threatening legal action against Spurs, before signing a new deal until 2028.
BBC Sport has been told it does include a release clause, but boss Vitor Pereira believes the 26-year-old remains committed.
"I'm not hearing this. Every day is work. I feel they are very committed to our target, which is the most important thing," he said.
"He is a top player, the captain, the top player with the true spirit. That's why I accepted the job, because I have very good players.
"We need to prove every day in the work and we need to prove on the pitch, in the games, that we don't have just the talent in the team, but we create a strong team together."
Team USA jerseys have been lacking despite America’s hockey success at the 2026 Winter Olympics, and Nike is facing major backlash.
The American men’s and women’s hockey teams found significant glory at the Milan Cortina Games this month. However, hockey fans have had major difficulty finding Team USA jerseys after dual gold medals.
A report from The Athletic has put Nike in the crosshairs after a huge Winter Olympics in Italy. The brand allegedly anticipated Canada to win the gold medal in the men’s hockey tournament, which is why Nike “failed to produce enough stock.”
America rallied around the Team USA men’s hockey team after their stunning overtime win over Canada. The game on NBC proved to be one of the highest-rated Olympic events ever for its early morning time slot.
The victory for the men’s team marked a milestone moment for the program after snapping a 46-year drought at the Olympics. Meanwhile, the Team USA women’s team won their third medal of all time, and first since 2018.
However, it’s clear that both the men and women have created more hockey fans as the NHL season prepares to resume on Wednesday.
DORTMUND, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 17: Maximilian Beier of Borussia Dortmund celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammates 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) | Getty Images
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 13: Renato Moicano of Brazil reacts to his win in a lightweight fight during the UFC 300 event at T-Mobile Arena on April 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) | Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Event: UFC Vegas 115: “Moicano vs. Duncan” Date: Sat., April 4, 2026 Location: Meta APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada Broadcast: Paramount+ Start Time: 6 p.m. ET Prelims Card | 9 p.m. ET Main Card
UFC Vegas 115 Main Card on Paramount+ (9 p.m. ET):
115 lbs.: Virna Jandiroba vs. Tabatha Ricci 185 lbs.: JunYong Park vs. Edmen Shahbazyan 135 lbs.: Hailey Cowan vs. Alice Pereira 125 lbs.: Alessandro Costa vs. Stewart Nicoll
UFC Vegas 115 Prelims Card on Paramount+ (6 p.m. ET):
185 lbs.: Azamat Bekoev vs. Tresean Gore 155 lbs.: Tommy McMillen vs. Manolo Zecchini 155 lbs.: Tofiq Musayev vs. Samuel Sanches 265 lbs.: Guilherme Pat vs. Thomas Petersen 125 lbs.: Dione Barbosa vs. Melissa Gatto 145 lbs.: Jose Delano vs. Robert Ruchala
*Fight card, bout order and amount of fights remain subject to change.*
To checkout UFC’s upcoming schedule of events click here.
Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Europa League play-off second leg against Fenerbahce at the City Ground (kick-off 20:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Pereira confirmed the squad will be the same as the one that travelled to Turkey for the first leg. Giving an update on injured players, he also confirmed goalkeeper Matz Sels will return to training on Monday, while Nicolo Savona is having tests to understand the extent of his injury and they still "need to wait" on Chris Wood.
With a 3-0 lead coming into this match, the Forest boss said the "worst mistake that we can commit" is to think Thursday will be "an easy game", adding: "We need to approach this game with the right mentality to play in front of our supporters. It is a big chance to please them because they deserve it. They helped us a lot in the last game and they deserve a win."
He said "of course" he will make changes as he wants to "see the players with the chance to play proving themselves", but cautioned: "We face a strong team and we cannot risk losing the balance."
On what he has made of the group of players he is working with: "[We are] trying to give them confidence. We have talent, we have a true spirit. They are open to listening, and this is the way to create a strong team, a strong identity. Believe in ourselves, believe in the work that we are doing. It's a short time, but I want a team that believes in themselves and this is what we are trying to create. This mentality."
On how they can bring European form into the Premier League: "This is a different competition and we have our ambition in this competition. Today is about tomorrow. We are talking about tomorrow. We start zero and we need to score goals. We need to not concede goals. What I want to see tomorrow is my team increasing their level."
Having previous experience coming to manage teams in a similar position to Forest, Pereira insisted it is "impossible in the middle of the season to come and to change a lot of things" - however, they "can give them freedom to express themselves".
He added: "We can give them tactical organisation in the way that we think is better for us - with a smile and with positive beliefs to create the true spirit."
Tight end Dawson Knox's contract has been a topic of conversation for Bills General Manager Brandon Beane in the early days of the offseason.
Knox is heading into the final year of his contract and is set to have a cap number of $17.068 million for the 2026 season. Beane called that "a tough number" while speaking to reporters from the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday and said the team has had conversations with the tight end about ways to proceed.
Releasing Knox would clear over $9.6 million in cap room, but leave $7.4 million in dead money. Beane said that there is still time to come up with other solutions that would lower Knox's cap hit while keeping him in Buffalo.
"We're not to the point where we need to do anything yet. We'll continue those," Beane said, via Sal Capaccio of WGR. "Like many decisions we have, we're down to a couple weeks to make those. So there's no answer. There's no resolution in the next 24 hours or anything like that, but the discussions have happened and they'll be done."
Knox was a 2019 third-round pick and has spent his entire career with the Bills. He had 36 catches for 417 yards and four touchdowns last season.
Imavov recently revealed that the
UFC brass originally wanted to match him against Chimaev in
December 2025. The potential timeline was later postponed to this
past February, but Chimaev was injured. Imavov says that although
matchmaker Mick Maynard recently reiterated his interest in the
matchup, nothing has been confirmed yet.
Multiple Delays
“No final news yet, no contract signed,” Imavov told
Liu won a pair of gold medals last week at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, becoming the first American woman to win Olympic figure skating gold since 2002.
She delivered a sensational free skate with a score of 150.20, bringing her total to 226.79 to edge out competitors from Japan and clinch the title.
"The Texans are widely expected to ultimately part ways with Mixon via a failed physical, per league sources, and releasing him from his three-year, $27 million contract and would save $8.5 million in the process." Wilson wrote.
Though Mixon didn't play a snap in 2025 and his health is a concern, he was one of the best running backs in football when he was last on the field in 2024, tallying 1,016 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, along with 309 yards and a score through the air.
Denver's rushing attack was lackluster in 2025 after losing JK Dobbins to a foot injury in November. Signing Mixon to a cheap contract to pair with RJ Harvey, who showed some promise during his rookie campaign, would be a savvy move from Broncos general manager George Paton.
Kansas City could also use a player like Mixon, as a running back room of Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt lacks excitement and explosiveness. If healthy, Mixon would immediately step in as a starter in the Chiefs' backfield and take some pressure off the passing game.
Jacksonville could lose Travis Etienne in free agency, and if they do, Mixon would be a solid replacement. The 29-year-old will also be much cheaper to sign than Etienne, who is one of the top players set to hit the market.
Mixon's health is a major question, but if that can be addressed, the former Cincinnati Bengal should return as a difference-maker. The Broncos, Chiefs, and Jaguars come to mind as teams that could show interest in Mixon when he enters free agency.
The Golden State Warriors have struggled to win games on the road all season long, but they will look to buck that trend when they do battle against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum.
On paper at least, it appears as though the Warriors have a prime chance of getting back in the win column. After all, Memphis is a team that's primed for a lottery pick and currently riddled by the injury bug.
Records, standing, and streaks
At present, the Warriors have a 30-28 record, which puts them in the Western Conference standings' eighth-place slot.
The Grizzlies are the owners of a 21-35 record and two-game losing streak, good enough for 11th in the Western Conference.
Memphis came up short versus the Sacramento Kings (123-114) at home.
Injuries
For Golden State, while the team has yet to release its injury report, Stephen Curry can be ruled out with a right knee injury.
For Memphis, Kyle Anderson (right knee patellar tendinitis) is questionable, Santi Aldama (right knee injury management) is out, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (right fifth finger surgery recovery) is out, Brandon Clarke (right calf strain) is out, Cedric Coward (right knee posterior capsule strain) is out, Zach Edey (left ankle stress reaction) is out and Ja Morant (left elbow UCL sprain) is out.
Sasaki is electric, no doubt, but he was wild in his MLB debut, boasting a 13.7% walk rate in 2025. He could put L.A. in an early hole, benefiting Arizona starter Zac Gallen, especially if the Dodgers go with a lineup that doesn't entirely mirror their regular-season offense.
Pick #2: Rangers vs Guardians Over 10.5
Nathan Eovaldi draws his second spring start, and the Texas Rangers will still slow-play the right-hander after he missed a ton of time to injury in 2025. Limited exposure combined with rust equals an opportunity for the Cleveland Guardians to exploit Texas' bullpen.
And even if the Guardians don't do a ton of damage, I don't have a lot of confidence in Cleveland starter Slade Cecconi escaping unscathed.
Ryan Weathers has considerable upside as a starter for New York, but he's not as proven as some of their mainstay arms.
It's risky, because Andrew Alvarez — and the Nationals bullpen behind him — could get obliterated from the jump, but I like the number on a spring game that ultimately means very little to the Yankees.
The Milan-Cortina Olympics were both memorable and a bit painful for New York Rangers star Mika Zibanejad. And now back in New York, the veteran forward is clearly still processing all the emotions from his first Olympic experience representing Sweden.
Zibanejad excelled on the biggest international stage. He led Sweden with three goals in five games and was second with six points (6), behind Lucas Raymond of the Detroit Red Wings (eight points; one goal, seven assists).
3 goals and 3 assists in 5 games for @trekronorse 🇸🇪
However, Zibanejad remains shaken by Sweden’s dramatic 2-1 overtime loss to the United States in the quarterfinals.
He, of course, scored Sweden’s final goal of the tournament, a vintage Zibanejad-style one-time blast from the left circle that tied the game against Team USA at 1 with 1:31 left in the third period. But Quinn Hughes scored the game-winning goal in overtime, helping the United States advance and ultimately win the gold medal.
“Tough ending, obviously,” Zibanejad told reporters after taking part in Rangers practice Tuesday. “{I’m] still not really over it. It was really exciting for the people watching, but it still stings.
“Tying it up late and having the chance to win it in overtime, and then going through that, it’s a tough one to swallow.”
Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad ‘proud’ to have represented Sweden at Olympics
Marton Monus/Reuters via Imagn Images
Zibanejad returned to New York shortly after Sweden was eliminated from medal contention in Milan. Tuesday was his first day back on the ice with the Rangers, though he missed practice Wednesday due to an illness. The Rangers schedule picks up again Thursday, when they host the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden.
Yet, the Olympics remain fresh in Zibanejad’s mind. The 32-year-old previously represented Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-off, the IIHF World Championship and the World Junior Championship, where he scored the Golden Goal 14 years ago.
But it was different wearing the Tre Kronor sweater in the Olympics.
“I think you can tell the games mean more,” he explained. “You really notice how important every game is.”
Sweden lost a key prelim game against archrival Finland, and that hurt their standing heading into the knockout stage. Zibanejad starred in their qualifier play-off against Latvia, scoring a goal and adding an assist in the 5-1 victory, which set up their quarterfinal match-up against the United States.
“I’m still proud to have the opportunity to play in the Olympics and be an Olympian and represent your country,” Zibanejad said. “It’s been 12 years since NHL players got a chance to do so, so [I’m] definitely not taking anything for granted and [you] never know if it’s the last chance or not.
“The more time that will pass by, I think it’ll be easier to look back at it in a different way.”
Mika Zibanejad ‘happy’ Rangers teammates won gold medal at Olympics
Marton Monus/Reuters via Imagn Images
Zibanejad said he ‘s excited for his Rangers teammates J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck, and coach Mike Sullivan, who helped the United States win its first Olympic gold medal since the Miracle on Ice in 1980.
“I’m happy for them. I’m happy they got to experience that joy and how happy they were,” Zibanejad said. “I’m a little jealous not to be there for that, but it makes it easier to lose to them in the quarters and then they go through to the finals and win the whole thing.
“At the same time, you feel like if you win that game [against the USA], you’ve got a shot.”
UCF Knights head coach Johnny Dawkins calls out to his players during the first half of the game against Utah at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.
|
Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Teams don’t usually, if ever, come into the Marriott Center and dominate BYU.
“To coach a game like that was amazing because I thought we got off to a terrific start,” UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said postgame. “I thought the guys were really dialed in, and I’m just proud of the effort that they gave for the full 40 minutes.
“This is a very, very difficult place to play in and win in, and I thought our guys held their composure and they played really well throughout most of the game.”
The Knights got off to a hot start, leading 14-4 after less than four minutes and held a 24-point advantage at halftime.
“We just want to continue to play for each other and defend. You know, that’s our calling card, we want to defend and rebound and play for each other,” Dawkins said. “I think that formula for us has been good, and I think our guys did again tonight.”
UCF buried BYU for good out of halftime, opening the second half on a 12-0 run to lead by a game-high 36 points. While the Cougars made some noise in garbage time, it wasn’t enough to topple the upstart Knights, who still won by 13 points and scored 97 points on BYU’s home floor.
“How we started the second half, I thought it was very important for our guys to be really focused and locked in,” Dawkins said. “We knew they weren’t going anywhere. I mean, they’re too good of a program, Kevin (Young)’s too good of a coach, and so we knew they were going to be there and so we had to make sure we matched that when we came out to start the second half.”
In all, UCF shot 58% from 3-point range, dished out 25 team assists and averaged 1.31 points per possession.
BYU star AJ Dybantsa did score 29 points, but the Knights made his life difficult as he started slow and only got to the free-throw line once in the first half.
“He’s a great player,” Dawkins said of Dybantsa. “I mean, you’re not going to stop a player like that. You look up at the box score, he scores 29 points, (shooting) 11 for 22 from the field. Like most teams, we’re just trying to kind of contain him, trying to make it as difficult as we possibly can for him.
“We knew they weren’t going anywhere. I mean, they’re too good of a program, Kevin (Young)’s too good of a coach, and so we knew they were going to be there and so we had to make sure we matched that when we came out to start the second half.”
UCF coach Johnny Dawkins
“But we understand that he’s going to score and he’s going to make shots because, you know, we’ve watched a lot of really good players throughout this season, and he’s one of the best players that we’ve faced. I thought our guys did a good job of identifying who he was, where he was and playing him accordingly.”
With the win, UCF is a near lock for the NCAA Tournament, which would be the Knights’ first trip to the big dance since 2019.
“Anytime in this league that you can win a game on the road, I mean, that’s a challenge,” Dawkins said. “Our guys showed the resilience that they have. They’ve shown it all season long. I think they’ve showed their competitive spirit throughout the season and they showed their togetherness.
“They’ve been a really good, together group ever since this summer, and you have to be in this league to have any type of success.”
UCF forward Jordan Burks, center, steals the ball away from BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, left, during game, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, in Provo, Utah.
|
Tyler Tate, Associated Press
The move to a nine-game SEC schedule in 2026 resulted in the end of a significant yearly conference game for Florida football.
The Florida Gators and Tennessee developed an intense rivalry in the 1990s, fueled by the excellence of both programs and the larger-than-life personalities of former UF coach Steve Spurrier and former Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer.
But after facing off for 35 straight years from 1990-2025, Florida and Tennessee won't meet on the field in 2026. The SEC chose Florida's three yearly rivals as Georgia, South Carolina and Kentucky, while Tennessee's yearly rivals are Alabama, Vanderbilt and Kentucky.
That doesn't sit well with Fulmer, who was honored with the Steve Spurrier Legendary coaching award at Spurrier's Gridiron Grille in Gainesville on Monday, Feb. 23.
"For both sides it's disappointing," Fulmer said. "It's one of those that's a classic, only a couple of teams in the league have played that long against each other, and the consequences of what the game has meant for so many years with Steve and I during the 90s and early 2000s, it was a national game every weekend."
The game between Florida and Tennessee was traditionally played on the third weekend in September, with the winner getting a leg up in the SEC East division conference race. There were great duels between UF Heisman winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel and Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning. Florida won its first national title under Spurrier in 1996, while Tennessee won a national title under Fulmer in 1998.
Fulmer said one of his most memorable moments in the rivalry was in 2001, when, in a game moved back to Dec. 1 because of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the No. 5 Vos upset No. 2 Florida 34-32 at The Swamp to reach the SEC Championship game and keep its national championship hopes alive.
"First game we played against them when I was an interim, that was a great game," Fulmer said. "Along the way there have been some classics for sure."
Florida holds 32-23 lead in the all-time series but Tennessee has won the last two, including a 31-11 win at The Swamp on Nov. 25, 2025, that snapped a 10-game losing streak at UF's home stadium.
Although Spurrier and Fulmer traded some barbs during the intense rivarly between UF and UT in the 1990s, the 75-yer-old Fulmer said the two have now developed a strong friendship.
"Our wives are great friends, and Steve and I you know all the way going back to all the conference stuff going on there, we were always on the same page.," Fulmer said. "It grew out of friendship. Obviously, a great competitor and we feel like we are too. It's good to be at this stage of life to appreciate all that you've accomplished."
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!”— a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com
With the Miami Dolphins kicking off a rebuild this offseason, there is no telling who the team could part with, either through release or trade.
However, one player the team is not expected to part ways with is running back De'Von Achane, ESPN's Dan Graziano reports.
In fact, Graziano believes it's much more likely that Achane gets extended than traded, although he does think Miami will at least listen to offers.
"My sense is that they're far more likely to extend Achane's contract than to listen to those trade offers, but in their situation, you answer the phone when it rings," he said. "So, call any Achane trade a significant long shot that would take an awfully enticing package to get done."
Achane had a phenomenal year in 2025 and was one of the very best backs in the NFL, so he would draw a ton of interest if made available.
The 24-year-old racked up over 1,800 yards from scrimmage, including 1,350 on the ground, and he scored 12 total touchdowns (eight rushing). The fact that the Dolphins back was able to thrive despite being on a bad offense only makes his production more impressive.
With the Dolphins needing draft capital in the midst of a rebuild, we wouldn't say it's totally impossible Achane gets traded if a strong enough offer comes around, but all signs continue to point to Miami keeping him.
Washington has a slew of veterans set to hit the open market and there is no sure starter on the roster with the jury still out on Jacory Croskey-Merritt.
The Vikings and Texans have clear cut candidates in Aaron Jones and Joe Mixon, and the Broncos might have to replace J.K. Dobbins, who is a pending free agent.
Achane would be a dream addition for any one of those four teams, but as of right now it doesn't look like he's going anywhere.
ESPN's Buster Olney says that Chipper Jones, a Hall of Fame third baseman who spent his entire 19-year career with the Atlanta Braves, was one of the best players to ask about opponent scouting reports.
Jones continues that trend today, evaluating baseball's best rising stars. Several names come to mind amongst outfielders, but Boston Red Sox youngster Roman Anthony sticks out.
"There is a ton of talent there," Jones told Olney via text message. "I see a .300 hitter with home run talent. With more consistent contact, you have a perennial All-Star."
The Braves legend mentioned that Anthony's 84 strikeouts in 257 at-bats were "alarming" but he knows it takes time adjusting to Major League pitching.
One of the greatest Red Sox ever?
Anthony's career is still very young, but a former MLB general manager believes his future with the Red Sox is extremely bright.
"If he stays healthy," former Toronto Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi told Olney, "he's going to go down as one of the greatest Red Sox ever."
Momentum has clearly shifted for Clemsonbasketball as February winds down, and that change is now showing up in national projections.
ESPN’s newest men’s college basketball Bubble Watch no longer places the Tigers in its safest tier of NCAA Tournament teams. Clemson has been bumped from “lock” status and is now categorized as a team that “should be in,” meaning the Tigers are still expected to make the field but no longer sit on unshakable footing.
The adjustment follows a rough stretch that has stalled what was once one of the ACC’s hottest runs. Clemson (20-8, 10-5 ACC) has dropped four straight games, falling to Virginia Tech, Duke, Wake Forest, and Florida State, including a 70-65 setback at Littlejohn Coliseum over the weekend. It is the program’s first four-game skid since the 2021-22 season.
ESPN analyst Neil Paine noted that timing is a major factor in the Tigers’ slide within the projections.
“Clemson has gotten ice-cold at the wrong time,” Paine wrote. “The Tigers had been an ACC ‘lock’ since Bubble Watch launched on Feb. 3, with a 97% or higher at-large probability in the forecast every day for the past three weeks — until Saturday. They fell below that threshold with their fourth loss in a row, this time to Quadrant 3 Florida State. They still rank in the low-to-mid 30s nationally on résumé (no worse than eighth in the ACC) and their consensus chances are still around 90% despite the slump. But they have been downgraded as a result, trending lower in the conference’s pecking order according to the odds.”
What makes the downturn more surprising is how strong Clemson looked just days earlier. Prior to the losing streak, the Tigers had won 13 of their previous 14 games and had quietly built a 14-game ACC road winning streak dating back to last season, tied for the second-longest in conference history.
There is still time for Brad Brownell’s group to stabilize and strengthen its case. Clemson returns to action on Saturday with a home matchup against Louisville at Littlejohn Coliseum (2 p.m., ESPN2).
The Detroit Lions continue to do their homework at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, and one position that clearly has their attention is linebacker.
According to combine meeting reports, the Lions have met with three linebackers in Indianapolis: Taurean York (Texas A&M), Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas), and Deontae Lawson (Alabama). While not every meeting has been officially confirmed as “formal,” the level of interaction suggests Detroit is taking a serious look at the group.
That focus makes sense when looking at the Lions’ current roster situation.
Detroit’s linebacker room could be facing change this offseason, as Alex Anzalone’s future with the team remains uncertain. The veteran defensive leader is set for free agency, and as of now, it’s unclear whether the two sides will reach a new deal. If Anzalone is not re-signed, the Lions would suddenly have a major hole in the middle of their defense, both from a leadership and production standpoint.
Even if Anzalone does return, Detroit has shown a consistent philosophy under Brad Holmes of building depth, competition, and long-term answers at premium defensive positions.
Each of the linebackers the Lions met with fits that mold.
York is known for his physicality and downhill presence at Texas A&M, while Hill Jr. brings elite athletic traits and sideline-to-sideline speed from Texas. Lawson, meanwhile, has been one of Alabama’s most productive defenders in recent seasons and reportedly spent time breaking down plays with Lions linebackers coach Shaun Dion Hamilton during the combine.
Taken together, these meetings point to a team that is clearly evaluating its future at linebacker, whether that means preparing for a potential Anzalone departure or simply upgrading the room with young, athletic talent.
With free agency looming and the draft just weeks away, linebacker is quietly shaping up to be one of the most important positions to monitor for the Lions this offseason.
Last week, former USC All-American wide receiver Robert Woods announced his retirement in the NFL. A second round pick in 2013, Woods spent 13 seasons in the league.
So what will he do next? On Monday, it was announced that Woods will be joining the Los Angeles Rams’ coaching staff. Woods will serve as the team’s assistant wide receivers coach.
Woods played for Los Angeles from 2017-2021. That stretch consisted of the most successful portion of his career in the league, including winning Super Bowl LVI following the 2021 season.
Prior to his NFL career, Woods played at USC from 2010-2012. As a sophomore in 2011, he set program records, catching 111 passes for 1,292 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was named a Consensus All-American following the season, and was also a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award.
Now, he is set to try his hand out at coaching. Who knows, if things go well, maybe he could even join USC’s staff someday down the line.
The Detroit Lions will be in search of pass rushing help this offseason. Drafting an EDGE rusher in the first two rounds would go a long ways towards filling that need. TJ Parker of Clemson is one possible option. Let's review his health concerns.
(Ages in parentheses are at start of 2026 season and are factored into the concern level. Injury info and ages based on available public information are unverified and subject to update. Games played data courtesy of sports-reference.com.)
TJ Parker, EDGE (22) - Clemson
Projected round 2 - #38 on Daniel Jeremiah board Jan 27
No details on the knee surgery but a common cause for a surgical knee issue that can be temporarily played through is minor cartilage damage - either meniscus or articular. It’s reassuring that he played 2 healthy seasons after the surgery. Any loss of cartilage has the potential to cause issues down the road though. On the positive side is his young age.
Parker was very productive in college with 41.5 TFL and 21.5 sacks in just 3 seasons. Some have him as the top player at the Senior Bowl...
Clemson's TJ Parker proved why he is the highest ranked player down at the Senior Bowl. Putting lineman on their ass! pic.twitter.com/2YlVLFW6IG
Sidney Crosby will miss at least a month after being placed on injured reserve by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday. The team's captain suffered a lower-body injury during Canada's Olympic men's quarterfinal win over Czechia last week.
The Penguins did not reveal any specifics on Crosby's injury.
As the NHL resumes play on Wednesday following the Olympic break, the Penguins do not have a game until Thursday when they host the New Jersey Devils.
Crosby, who did not play in Canada's semifinal win over Finland or the gold medal game loss to the United States, took multiple hits in the second period of the Czechia game. He eventually left the game after being seen shaking his right leg.
After undergoing an MRI, Crosby was not ruled out for the remainder of the tournament and was a game-time decision for Canada's final two games.
The 2025-26 high school sports season is moving quickly into the spring months, but football is still making headlines around the country and especially out of New England.
One of Connecticut high school football’s top programs last week announced their official 2026 slate of games for the fall as the Greenwich Cardinals became the latest to reveal who they will be playing. The Cardinals are coming off another banner year as the football program dominated Southington, 45-6, to win the CIAC Class LL state championship in 2025.
What’s apparent is Greenwich has no plans of slowing down anytime soon as the Cardinals claimed their 11th state title in program history and third since 2022. With some of the talent returning to the roster, there’s no reason that head coach Anthony Morello can’t do so.
The Cardinals will bring back Class of 2028 quarterback Phil Tarantino, who totaled nearly 2,000 all-purpose yards and 20 touchdowns in 2025. Another key player that will be back in the fold is linebacker Justin Carroll, who tallied 118 tackles and 14 for a loss last fall.
The full Greenwich 2026 football schedule can be seen below, with official dates/times to be announced.
Greenwich High School, located in Greenwich, Connecticut, is a nationally recognized public high school known for its strong academics, competitive athletics, and vibrant extracurricular scene. Serving a diverse student body, GHS fosters excellence through advanced placement programs, STEM initiatives, and arts education. The school is home to the Cardinals, proudly wearing red and white, and upholds a tradition of community involvement and student leadership.
How to Follow Connecticut High School Football
For Connecticut high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Constitution State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the Connecticut high school football excitement across the state.
The Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL's other 31 franchises typically don't construct each season's 53-man roster and practice squad with nepotism in mind. Christian McCaffrey never played for the Denver Broncos as his father Ed did, but Patrick Surtain does!
No, wait. His father, a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro, played for the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs. So, we can't include either one of those guys as an argument.
But we can mention Joey Porter Jr. and his father. Both are Pittsburgh Steelers. Asante Samuel Jr. never found his way to the City of Brotherly Love, but Jeremiah Trotter Jr. did.
Hey, did you know Junior had a younger brother, Josiah Trotter Jr? He just earned First-Team All-SEC honors this season after transferring from West Virginia, where he earned a Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year nod. You can probably already see where this is headed, right?
Josiah Trotter would love to play for the Eagles
The Eagles haven't been this stocked at the linebacker position in a while. Zack Baun is already a star. Jihaad Campbell is the future. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Smael Mondon wait in the wings.
Per Josiah Trotter, he hasn't spoken with Philadelphia, but he'd like to, as he's already spoken to the rival Dallas Cowboys. While speaking in Indianapolis, he referred to playing in the NFL as "a family business."
Another Trotter? This is Josiah, also a linebacker like Eagles’ Jeremiah Sr and Jermiah Jr. He says football is “the family business” pic.twitter.com/tZqXDhAVnq
Whether that opportunity ever materializes will depend on more than sentiment. Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has built a reputation on value, versatility, and competition over nostalgia, and this linebacker room is already proof of that philosophy.
Still, football legacies have a funny way of circling back to where they began. If Josiah Trotter continues to stack production and proves he belongs against NFL-caliber talent, the bloodlines won't get him drafted by Philadelphia, but they certainly won't hurt when the Eagles weigh culture, toughness, and fit.
Three reasons why Inter failed to overturn Bodo/Glimt in Champions League play-offs
Inter’s Champions League campaign has come to an end after a 2-1 defeat at home against Bodo/Glimt, which sealed a 5-2 aggregate scoreline in the play-off round, but why did last season’s finalists find it so difficult against the Norwegian minnows?
Inter already had their work cut out for them in the second leg of their Champions League play-off tie following their 3-1 defeat against Bodo/Glimt in Norway last week.
That result left them needing a three-goal victory to qualify for the round of 16, but in the end, Cristian Chivu’s side were only good enough for a 2-1 defeat on home soil. Jens Petter Hauge and Hakon Evjen gave Bodo a 2-0 lead in the second half on Tuesday night, before a 70th minute consolation goal from Nerazzurri centre-back Alessandro Bastoni.
Inter 1-2 Bodo/Glimt (agg. 2-5): The damage was already done
BODO, NORWAY – FEBRUARY 18: Nikita Khaikin of Bodo/Glimt catches the ball whilst under pressure from Manuel Akanji of FC Internazionale Milano during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between FK Bodo/Glimt and FC Internazionale Milano at Aspmyra Stadion on February 18, 2026 in Bodo, Norway. (Photo by Martin Ole Wold/Getty Images)
Of course, a large part of the reason why Inter failed to qualify for the Champions League round of 16 was because of their result against Bodo/Glimt in Norway last week. There were plenty of references to the artificial pitch and the sub-zero temperatures at the Aspmyra Stadion, which sits north of the arctic circle.
There were also some questions over Cristian Chivu’s team selection during the first leg when he decided to rest the likes of Marcus Thuram and Federico Dimarco in order to have them fresh for a Serie A match against Lecce, when Inter were already seven points clear at the top of the domestic table. (The Nerazzurri have since gone 10 points clear after the weekend’s league matches).
But still, Inter were expected to put Bodo/Glimt to the test when they visited the iconic San Siro on Tuesday evening, so why did the Nerazzurri fail to beat the Norwegians on the night?
1. Absences and underperforming stars
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 24: Referee Alejandro Hernandez and Nicolo Barella of FC Internazionale Milano interact after a penalty appeal for hand ball for FC Internazionale Milano during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and FK Bodo/Glimt at Stadio San Siro on February 24, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
The obvious excuse is to point to the star players that Inter did not have available. Captain and leading goalscorer Lautaro Martinez was injured during the first leg in Norway last week, Hakan Calhanoglu was not available in either fixture, and Denzel Dumfries was only fit enough for a 10-minute run out at the end of the second leg.
Other stars, particularly Nicolo Baerlla, have come under criticism for their lack of form over the last few weeks and in the Bodo/Glimt matches specifically.
La Gazzetta dello Sport have labelled Barella a ‘problem’ and point to the fact that his goal contributions appear to be diminishing year on year.
2. Failure to break down the low block
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 24: Davide Frattesi of FC Internazionale Milano heads the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and FK Bodo/Glimt at Stadio San Siro on February 24, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
In credit to Chivu, there is not much more that his Inter players could have done during the first hour of the second leg against Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday night. During the first 60 minutes, Inter registered 23 shots, had 10 corners while Bodo had zero and registered a whopping 45 attacking moves compared to Bodo’s seven.
However, what did become clear is that Inter did not find it easy attacking against a team that was content to deploy 11 players behind the ball in their own half in a low block.
Inter needed to be that bit quicker and more incisive with their passing and movement in and around the final third, because despite the fact that they registered 33 shots after the 90 minutes, only six ended up on target. For comparison, Bodo/Glimt ended up with five shots on target from seven total attempts.
3. A different pace to the game
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 24: Haakon Evjen of Bodo/Glimt is put under pressure by Alessandro Bastoni of FC Internazionale Milano during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and FK Bodo/Glimt at Stadio San Siro on February 24, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Questions have also been asked about Inter’s ability to match the pace and intensity of some of their European competitors.
As Fabio Capello recently explained to La Gazzetta dello Sport: “Italian teams play at a slow pace. When they find teams that play press-and-run, they don’t have the quality, aren’t accustomed to playing at a high pace, and make mistakes.”
Bodo/Glimt were very compact in their defensive shape, but were also rapid in transition and were regularly able to trouble Inter with their speed with the likes of Patrick Berg, Hauge and Ole Didrik Blomberg.
This is an issue that does not only affect Inter, but Italian football in general according to the experts.
“Right now, we are not accustomed to being aggressive. As soon as they increase the pace in Serie A, they are stopped because a challenge is too hard, a player’s ear is touched, and they go down. These are the results,” said Capello.
“We play at a slow pace, unfortunately, and when it happens, it’s hard to be dangerous.”
Sean O’Malley has agreed to a match with Deen The Great following a series of unusual livestreams from the latter.
It’s been an eventful few weeks for Deen, who has shifted focus from his time as a Misfits Boxing champion to building an online presence. During this transition, he was slapped by bodybuilder Larry Wheels after an incident involving his wife and later took an elbow from ex-UFC fighter Tiki Ghosn.
After Dana White posted about the altercation on Instagram, seemingly siding with Ghosn, Deen responded by challenging any UFC fighter within his 135-140lb weight range. It now looks like O’Malley is ready to accept that challenge, as the two exchanged words on a podcast.
Sean O’Malley open to crossover boxing bout with Deen The Great
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
During an appearance on the ‘One Night With Steiny’ podcast, Deen The Great claimed he could take down any UFC fighter, including world champions like Sean O’Malley and Ilia Topuria. It didn’t take long for O’Malley to join the conversation and respond directly.
O’Malley pointed out that Deen was referring to a boxing match rather than an MMA fight, but said he was open to a 140lb bout if the details could be worked out.
“You say you’re 7-0 [Deen is 7-1, having lost to Armado Vargas back in December]… I’m pretty confident I could get the job done,” O’Malley said. When asked about his own experience, he cited both his MMA record and his single pro boxing win.
When pressed on why he’d consider fighting an influencer boxer, O’Malley replied: “I love whooping a–, why would I not? I’m going to get paid some Ms to beat someone I think I’m going to beat.”
O’Malley also told Deen that he “looks like Aljo,” referencing another fighter he’s had success against. “When you say fight, MMA fighters think of a fight,” O’Malley said. “Send me the contract, go get clipped up a few more times and I’ll keep winning fights and I think it could happen.”
Michigan basketball won a share of the Big Ten regular-season conference championship on Tuesday with a 77-67 win over Minnesota, but head coach Dusty May isn't exactly cutting down the nets -- literally or figuratively.
The maize and blue still have three games left before the postseason, and given the performance against the Gophers at Crisler Center, May isn't exactly popping confetti across the arena. In fact, he's doing the opposite.
After the win over Minnesota, the Wolverines head coach said he's OK if the team does want to revel a bit in their accomplishment, but only a little. Because the team has higher aspirations than merely achieving half of a goal, and they have even higher aspirations beyond that, even.
"I'm fine with them celebrating. Yeah, I'm OK with them celebrating," May said. "Hopefully it's not after hours, and we're getting the rest. We have a quick turn, but it's hard for us as a staff. We're so process-oriented. We want to feel good about the way we competed, the way we performed, the way we executed the processes of leading up to the game. And we didn't at our best tonight. And so it's a learning lesson.
"But also, we just have such big and lofty goals in front of us. So it's tough to really celebrate this moment. And like I said earlier this year, all glory is fleeting. As soon as we start to feel good about what we've done, we're gonna get knocked down. And every game, every possession is incredibly important going forward. So we're trying to stay locked in on improving while also feeling good about doing something that's really, really difficult. And I even told Ed a minute ago that these leagues are double the size now. And when you look at how difficult it is to win a Big Ten regular-season championship, and now you factor in that they're twice as big, you're essentially winning a 2X league when you factor in the traditional conferences.
"So proud of our guys that we've been able to weather the storms to go through this marathon that we're on to get to this point. But if you get to the last five miles of a marathon and collapse and you don't stay dehydrated, then it's all for naught. So we gotta keep pushing forward and keep growing and getting better."
The Wolverines have to win one of three remaining games in order to have full control of the conference and win the championship outright. They'll play at Illinois on Saturday, before going to Iowa and returning home to face rival MSU the following week. Then, it's onto the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.
It's a new era for New York Giants football with John Harbaugh coming in as the head coach and a new power structure in place to support his vision.
The 2026 NFL draft is fast approaching, and for a team looking for a jump start, the Giants don't have a lot of ammunition to make much of a splash. Sure, they have the No. 5 overall pick in Round 1, but they only have six picks after that, with five of them coming on Day 3.
General manager Joe Schoen, who made maneuvers last year to move up for quarterback Jaxson Dart, isn't opposed to doing the opposite this time around to gain more draft capital.
Joe Schoen on the Giants trading back in the 2026 NFL Draft
"We're gonna look at all options. We're open to moving back if an opportunity is there. We're also fine staying and taking a pick" pic.twitter.com/OdEVxh2oLq
"We're going to look at all options. We're open to moving back if an opportunity is there. We're also fine staying and taking a pick," Schoen told reporters at his media session at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday.
"You have a player there, and you can't get out of five. There's always a chance in the second round if you want to move back, or if there's a good player, you can sit and take him. You can move back into the first round...so we're going to keep all of our options open."
The quarterback class isn't as enticing this year as it has been in years past. After the Las Vegas Raiders take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall, there's not really a player that teams will be willing to mortgage the farm for.
The Giants will likely end up staying put in the first round and getting a premier wide receiver, safety, offensive lineman, or, dare we say it, another pass rusher.
The Los Angeles Lakers faced a sneaky tough Orlando Magic team on Tuesday, and although the Magic were without star forward Franz Wagner, they fought back from a 12-point deficit in the third quarter to put the outcome of the game in doubt down the stretch.
Even though the Lakers got outrebounded by eight, and even though they shot 31% from 3-point range, and even though Luka Doncic shot 8-of-24 from the field, 2-of-10 from 3-point range and 4-of-9 from the free throw line, they had a chance to win the game in the final seconds. Doncic took the inbounds pass and appeared to momentarily have a good look at a trey, but he passed it up. He gave the basketball to LeBron James, who had to attempt a highly difficult fallaway 3-pointer right before the horn, which he missed.
The result was a 110-109 loss for Los Angeles. Doncic commented afterward on what happened during that ill-fated final play between him and James.
"I mean, I just saw him open and I didn’t want to lose the ball. We didn’t have timeouts. … [But] I shouldn’t have picked up the ball. I should have attacked. … That’s on me."
It was a completely botched possession for L.A., especially considering the team had 6.7 seconds to get off a shot and didn't even need a 3-pointer to win the game. Throughout the game, the Lakers displayed a lack of pace, and their overall ball and player movement was clunky and mechanical, which is a problem they have had on and off throughout this season.
They will now head out for a quick two-game road trip that will start on Thursday against the Phoenix Suns. With a 34-23 record, they have fallen back into sixth place in the Western Conference, and they're two games ahead of the Suns, who are in seventh place.
Mar 1, 2025; Port Charlotte, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Shane McClanahan (18) throws a pitch against the New York Mets in the second inning during spring training at Charlotte Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
With Shane McClanahan hopefully returning to the rotation for the first time in two seasons, the Rays will need to manage his workload carefully to ensure he’s healthy for October – both this year and beyond. The goal isn’t necessarily to restrict or limit him, but to preserve his health while also allowing him to provide value in a structured way.
The most effective way to do that while maximizing overall rotation performance may be to abandon the traditional five-man model altogether.
Optimizing Performance
Below I’ve listed wOBA-against for starting pitchers by the number of days between starts for the league across the last decade including the postseason. For instance, two days since a pitchers most recent start would mean they had one day of rest (Player A pitched on a Monday, rested on Tuesday, and then pitched again on Wednesday):
Number of Days Rest Between Starts
wOBA-against
1 Day
.338
2 Days
.325
3 Days
.326
4 Days (Traditional 5-man rotation)
.319
5 Days (Proposed 5.5-man rotation)
.316
6 Days
.321
7 Days
.318
8 Days
.321
Two points of wOBA is worth roughly one run per 600 plate appearances. Over 3,600 batters (about what a rotation faces in a season), a three-point improvement translates to roughly nine runs, or about one to two wins. Of course, with off-days, rainouts, injuries, etc. not every start in a season will be made with five days between starts, but there’s still a clear benefit to aiming for that amount of rest. A one-win edge may seem marginal, but teams routinely spend millions of dollars in free agency to gain that same advantage. While these are marginal performance gains, the primary benefit would be sustainable usage/workloads and – as a byproduct of that – possibly reduced injury risk.
A six-man rotation would also maximize the number of starts made on five days of rest. However, it can limit bullpen flexibility unless there are multiple, optionable multi-inning relievers available on the 40-man. Unlike a six-man rotation, this approach intentionally caps McClanahan’s workload per outing while maintaining five traditional starters.
What a Rays 5.5-Man Rotation Could Look like
The deepest area of the roster may be the starting pitching group. They’ve got 10 guys on the 40-man roster who could realistically start games in the majors this season:
Among this group, Rasmussen, Pepiot, and Martinez are all guys who will likely start without many limitations. The rest will have limitations in some capacity due to a variety of factors (recovery from injury, previous season’s workload, strike throwing consistency) but are still valuable in bulk and starting roles. Any shift away from the traditional five-day cycle would require buy-in from pitchers accustomed to routine.
There are also a handful of guys not on the 40-man roster who are capable of pitching in bulk and starter roles if needed: Chase Solesky, Jake Woodford (who we recently profiled), and Logan Workman.
The health of the group coming out of spring training will largely determine who is on the Opening Day roster. If the Rays were to go with a 5.5-man rotation, they would carry six pitchers from this group. The obvious counterargument is that it would shorten bullpen depth. However, if they carried a seventh pitcher capable of 3-4 inning outings in tandem with the “half” starter, they could avoid overusing their short-relief options. Those innings would be planned and assigned to designated multi-inning arms, rather than spread across high-leverage relievers. Boyle, Seymour, Englert, and Scholtens all have options, so they could easily rotate in and out of that role throughout the season to help keep the bullpen fresh.
Below is an example of what it could look like in practice.
The exact names at the back of the rotation and in the bullpen are less important than the conceptual part of how this could all fit together. The greatest area of depth (and possibly the roster’s greatest strength) on the roster is their starting pitching/bulk options, so why not leverage that in a creative way to get the most out of the pitching staff as a whole? The swingman in the bullpen would primarily be used in combination with the half-starter but could be deployed in tandem with another starter depending on the context of a game.
SP: Drew Rasmussen
SP: Ryan Pepiot
SP: Nick Martinez
SP: Yoendrys Gomez
SP: Joe Boyle
Half-starter: Shane McClanahan
Bulk/swingman: Steven Matz
RP: Griffin Jax
RP: Edwin Uceta
RP: Garrett Cleavinger
RP: Bryan Baker
RP: Hunter Bigge
RP: Steven Wilson
A 5.5-man rotation wouldn’t be a gimmick. It would be a structural hedge against injury and fatigue through workload management – and a way to ensure McClanahan is at full strength when the games matter most.
The Rays have long embraced incremental edges, even when they challenge convention. This would simply extend a philosophy that has already produced openers, bulk relievers, and fluid roles.
Tennessee is recruiting toward its 2027 football signing class.
Four-star linebacker Kaden Henderson scheduled a visit to Tennessee on March 21, according to Tom Loy of 247Sports. He will also visit Miami, Florida, Texas A&M, Florida State, Ohio State, Alabama and Notre Dame.
The 6-foot-2, 218-pound prospect is from Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida. 247Sports ranks him as the No. 3 linebacker in the class and No. 5 player in Florida.
Tennessee offered Henderson a scholarship on May 13, 2024. His visit on March 21 will mark his third to Tennessee. Henderson visited the Vols for Big Orange BBQ on May 31, 2025 and a football game versus Oklahoma on Nov. 1, 2025.
Florida State was the first school to offer him a scholarship on Jan. 23, 2024. Other Power Four schools to offer Henderson scholarships include SMU, Georgia Tech, UCF, Syracuse, Minnesota, Kansas, Oregon, Oklahoma, Penn State, Missouri, Duke, Baylor, Louisville, USC, Michigan, Auburn, LSU, West Virginia, Nebraska, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Texas, Wisconsin, Clemson, North Carolina and Pittsburgh.
UNC (22-6, 10-5 ACC) built its lead up to 16, shooting over 60 percent from the field at one point. North Carolina finished its night 54 percent overall, while its defense – despite a late near-collapse – kept the Cardinals' (20-8, 9-6 ACC) high-octane offense in check.
Just how impressive was the Tar Heels' defense? They held Louisville, which entered the game 14th nationally at 60.1% from 2-point range, to just 42.9% (12-of-28) from inside the arc.
The Cardinals, also well-known for their perimeter shooting, finished 39% overall from the field. Louisville shot even worse from deep at 36%.
Freshman star Mikel Brown Jr. scored 24 points to lead the Cardinals, while Ryan Conwell added 23 points. UNC limited the effectiveness of both Louisville stars until late, when a 16-point deficit turned into two.
Potentially overlooked stat from last night...
Louisville gets a ton of attention for their 3-point shooting, BUT they're elite from 2pt range. Came in 14th nationally at 60.1%.
UNC held the Cards to 12-28 (42.9%) from 2, essentially 17 percentage points below season average.
North Carolina's next opponent, Virginia Tech (Saturday, February 28 at 8:30 p.m.), averages a 45.3% mark from the field. The Hokies (18-10, 7-8 ACC) are in a cold stretch, winning just three times in their past eight tries, but dominated Wake Forest in a 19-point blowout last weekend.
The Tar Heels host Clemson (45.8% FG shooting) at 7 p.m. on March 3 in their home finale, then travel to Duke on March 7 for a Tobacco Road Rivalry rematch. The ACC-leading Blue Devils shoot 50% from the field, 18th-best in Division one, so UNC will be in for a tough challenge.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 19: Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers scrambles during the first quarter against the Miami Hurricanes in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the NFL Combine getting going this week in Indianapolis, the focus will be on the players at every position and how the Las Vegas Raiders can navigate the process to fill as many of their major needs as possible.
While we will be getting more information on the 2026 NFL Draft class after the combine, a recent post on X by NFL.com draft guru Daniel Jeremiah in interesting. His pre-combine tape work showed him that the drat will be deep on the defensive line and at wide receiver. However, he thinks the quarterback and running backs classes appear to be thin.
I'm working my way through all of the tape for the combine invites. This draft is excellent at DL and WR. Not a stacked QB/RB draft. FA/trade might be the way to go at those positions.
The Raiders need some help on both the defensive line and at wide receiver. They need a quarterback and should satisfy the need by taking Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza at the No. 1 pick. he seems like the only quarterback worthy of selecting early. After taking Ashton Jeanty at No. 6 last year, the Raiders don’t have a big need at running back.
So, these positional strengths and weaknesses fall in the Raiders’ way.
Cornerback was one one of the Oregon Ducks' strongest positions during the 2025 season, with much of the standouts being true or redshirt freshman such as Brandon Finney Jr. and Na'eem Offord, among others. Two talented players as part of the 2026 class, four-stars Davon Benjamin and Azel Banag, will hope to keep the trend going this coming fall.
Currently, the Ducks don't have a commit at the cornerback position in the 2027 class, with four-star edge Cameron Pritchett and three-star linebacker Sam Ngata representing the only two commits on the defensive side of the ball.
However, Dan Lanning and his staff are working hard to change that, as four-star cornerback Danny Lang has scheduled an official visit to Oregon on June 19.
Lang is the No. 12 cornerback and No. 100 player nationally, per 247 Sports Composite. He competes for Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, CA, where he's the 11th-ranked player in the state. He also has official visits with Auburn (June 5), and USC (June 12), proceeding his visit to the Ducks.
4-star CB Danny Lang has locked in official visits to Auburn, USC and Oregon, @GregBiggins reports✈️
Per 247 Sports, Rashad Wadood and Chris Hampton have been the main recruiters of Lang, who totaled 33 tackles, two interceptions and three forced fumbles in 11 games as a sophomore. Considering the all-around talent at Mater Dei, Lang contributing as an underclassmen shouldn't be understated.
What also can't be understated is the importance that Oregon reels in several talented cornerbacks as part of the 2027 class and continues their run of talented youngsters at the position.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
There are only so many ways to build a low-spin driver shaft. Make it heavier. Make it stiffer. Grab a piece of rebar and hope the player swinging it has the strength (and temperament) to handle it.
Project X has chosen to take a slightly more nuanced route with the new Titan Black.
At its core, Titan Black is a low-launch, low-spin graphite shaft designed for players with faster, more-aggressive transitions in their driver swing. That’s the headline, but the more interesting part is how it gets there.
The profile is built around a more flexible handle section that firms progressively through the mid and tip areas. That means you can feel the shaft load during the transition instead of losing it completely, but by the time you get to impact, the mid- and tip sections are stout enough to keep the head from wobbling and adding spin.
Project X also added what it calls Synex Technology, a multi-axial carbon fiber construction that reinforces the outer structure and increases hoop stiffness throughout the handle and midsection. The practical benefit is stability. When you swing hard — and Project X assumes that if you are using Titan Black, that you will — the structure is designed to resist deformation and help keep dispersion tight.
Titan Black, with a retail price of $350, comes in 60-, 70- and 80-gram models in multiple flexes, plus a Tour-Only TX versions that push torque down even further. This is not a “smooth tempo, let’s hit a little cut down the right side” profile. This is for the player who steps on it and wants the ball to launch flat and chase.
So, who is Titan Black for? High-speed players who fight excess spin, see the ball climb too much, or feel like their current shaft can’t keep up with their transition. It is definitely NOT for moderate-speed players who need help launching the ball or golfers who rely on a softer tip to add height and carry. Put Titan Black in the wrong hands and it could feel board-y and cost you distance.
In the right hands, though, it looks like a serious tool for modern speed.
The Milwaukee Brewers flamethrower got mentioned on the wildly popular trivia quiz show in the episode airing Feb. 24, name-checked during the Double Jeopardy! round.
In the category "No Time To Say The Whole Word," contestants were tasked with "asking" the full word for the abbreviated term in the answer. The answer read, "In 2025 everyone in baseball was talking about Brewers rookie pitcher Jacob Misiorwoski and his overwhelming 'velo.'"
The question, "What is velocity?" was successfully given by contestant Trey Hart, the defending champion on the episode. Knowing that "velo" often represents an inside-baseball (literally) shorthand for how fast a pitcher throws won Hart $1,600.
Other answers in the category included a painting clue that referenced the northern "Ren," for Renaissance, the "perfs" around the edges of stamps (perforations), a "psych eval" (psychiatric evaluation) and a 1922 poem that referred to "demobbed" (demobilized).
Hart wound up missing out on a third consecutive victory when he was topped by Toronto lawyer James Hirsch in a high-scoring outcome. Hirsch finished with $32,418, Hart with $24,200 and third-place finisher Christa Fidel of Florida finished with $15,600.
Misiorowski, who quickly gained notoriety for his triple-digit velo upon arrival to the big leagues last summer, was already the subject of buzz Feb. 24 when he delivered a pitch in spring training that plunked an apple off the head of prospect Cooper Pratt at home plate.
Some fans choose their team, and some fans are chosen by their team. Which was it for you? Today, we want to hear your story from you: How you became a fan of the Cincinnati Bengals.
When did you first become a fan? Were you born into it? Was there a specific game or season that pulled you in? What’s the earliest moment you remember as a fan?
“It would be a privilege” Victor Osimhen sends a message to Juve
Victor Osimhen has long been admired by Juventus, and it appears the Nigerian striker would also welcome a move to Turin. Interest between the two parties has been evident for some time.
Osimhen enjoyed a superb spell in Serie A, firing Napoli to the league title in 2023. His goalscoring exploits elevated him into the bracket of Europe’s elite forwards. Juventus attempted to sign him in the summer of 2024, hoping to add his firepower to their ranks.
Napoli Resistance and Move to Turkey
The Bianconeri pushed to reach an agreement, but Napoli were unwilling to sell to a direct rival. The Partenopei have historically resisted strengthening Juventus, and Osimhen became the latest high-profile player they refused to allow to move to the Old Lady.
Instead, he was sent to Galatasaray on loan. After an outstanding first campaign, during which he proved virtually unstoppable, the Turkish club secured him on a permanent deal this season. His impact has remained significant, further underlining his reputation as one of the world’s most dangerous strikers.
Despite past frustrations, Osimhen has not ruled out wearing the famous black and white shirt in the future.
As reported by Il Bianconero, he said, “Juventus is one of the most important clubs, they’re steeped in history and have a lot of legends who have played for them. I think when they spoke to me, I was eager to come before Galatasaray showed up. There were a few obstacles, but unfortunately the move didn’t happen. I definitely think that if opportunities arise, there are several clubs I’d love to play for; it would be a privilege to represent Juventus. I’m happy at the club I’m at now. As for the future, I don’t know what will happen; 90% of players around the world would love to play for Juventus.”
His comments suggest admiration remains strong. While he is content at Galatasaray, the possibility of a future move to Turin cannot be entirely dismissed.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 11: Jauan Jennings #15 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the field during an NFL wild card playoff football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Denver Broncos enter the offseason with four wide receivers on their roster. Longtime veteran Courtland Sutton leads the room, followed by Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, and Pat Bryant. Last season, each receiver flashed at some point in time. Alas, as a position group, they were amongst the league leaders in dropped passed.
This is one area a lot of fans across Broncos Country are hoping the Broncos’ brass make a major move at. The talent available in free agency isn’t high-end. With that in mind, Denver would ultimately have to swing a big trade in order to find a significant upgrade to the room.
Ultimately, I think it’s very unlikely the Broncos spend big in free agency at the position. I believe they will be more aggressive utilizing their resources and cap space elsewhere. Though there is one available receiver I believe would be a great fit for Head Coach Sean Payton’s offense. That is San Francisco 49ers wideout Jauan Jennings.
Only ONE #49ers player made it: WR Jauan Jennings at No. 47.
“Everyone’s favorite instigator, Jennings is a rugged receiver who can block, make contested catches and occasionally carry an offense. I want that known.” pic.twitter.com/w6PGKXflAh
Wide Receiver | Jauan Jennings | San Francisco 49ers
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 212 pounds
Age: 28 years old
Experience: 5 NFL seasons
2025 stats: 15 games played with 15 starts. 55 catches on 90 targets for 643 yards and 9 touchdowns. 36 receptions for first down. 61-percent catch rate.
Should the Broncos sign wide receiver Jauan Jennings?
There are a lot of reasons to advocate for Jennings being pursued by the Broncos. First and foremost, he works well in traffic and with route concepts targeting the middle of the field. That’s an area of the field Denver struggled to routinely attack with success in 2025.
Additionally, his penchant for moving the chains would provide a significant boost to the Broncos’ third down efficiency. Outside of Sutton, Denver didn’t really have a consistent target to routinely do that. Bryant offered some promise there, but multiple concussions impacted his ability to reach his full potential in his rookie season.
On top of that, his size and physicality as a run blocker would be beneficial for bolstering Denver’s rushing attack. As mentioned earlier, drops have been an issue in Denver as of late. Jennings has also only dropped eight passes on 203 targets the past two years. That is under four percent over the past two seasons and a much better rate than the three players who received the most targets in Denver’s offense next season.
Important fact:
Jauan Jennings didn’t suddenly become great. He’s been great for several years. He’s just been buried behind other star players who get the huge majority of targets.
If you think about all the big moments when he’s made plays with the game hanging in the… pic.twitter.com/F0plCfb1p2
Why the Broncos will not sign Jauan Jennings in free agency.
Quite simply: finances. It’s expected that Jennings will likely get a large deal on the market. Wide receivers in free agency usually come at a premium. According to Spotrac, his market value could be upwards of $22 million per season. That would put the veteran wide receiver as a Top 20 paid player at the position. I highly doubt Denver is willing to invest that much in free agency—especially when they have some other major holes that need starting caliber players.
Final Thoughts
There is no doubt that Jennings fits the mold as a big-bodied and physical receiver that Payton covets. He would be a tremendous addition to the squad. He’s tough, dependable, and reliable and would give them another chain-moving option. However, teams in desperate need of upgrading their aerial attack will definitely be willing to throw a lot of cash in his direction.
The Broncos are expected to be aggressive this offseason. Though CEO and owner Greg Penner has said they will be opportunistic while doing so. If Denver wants to upgrade their aerial attack and add a fifth receiver into the fold, I’d expect it to come at a more affordable price point. And if they want to take a big swing, there could be several other targets available via trade that make more sense.
What do you think, Broncos Country? Would you be in favor of the Broncos signing Jauan Jennings to bolster their receiving corps? Sound off in the comments section and let me know what you think.
TEMPE, AZ - NOVEMBER 15: Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (0) looks on before the college football game between the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Arizona State Sun Devils on November 15, 2025 at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
As college players prepare to stand out during the NFL Combine, the media around the Saints are curious who will be picked in the first round.
Many predictions so far have indicated the player picked would most likely be Jeremiyah Love, who would be useful on the ground up the middle since he’s hard to tackle with his height, size and acceleration.
However, it seems opinions have shifted towards drafting a wide receiver in the first round and ESPN analyst Mel Kiper changed his mock draft to suggest the wide receiver from USC, Makai Lemon, would be a better fit in the long run over Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson.
In Kiper’s latest Mock-up, he changed his mind to Lemon since he could be a serious deep threat against defenses for Tyler Shough to use in long-drive situations over Tyson’s impactful red-zone presence.
Lemon had an average of 14.6 yards per reception during the 2025 season, with a total of 79 receptions, 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Whether the Saints draft him or not, it’s a safer pick than drafting Tyson, who will miss the combine workouts due to a lingering hamstring injury that pushed him back from having a breakout season in 2025.
The news isn’t shocking for him wanting to focus on recovery, but one big takeaway is that the combine isn’t just to evaluate skill but to determine a player’s durability.
After his injury last season, Jordyn Tyson has been cautious not to make the situation worse and missed three games, finishing the season with 61 receptions for 711 yards, averaging 11.7 yards per catch and had eight touchdowns in 2025.
Although his talent is impressive, his limitations are the main factor. It’s not certain it will dampen his career, but it’s a bullet the Saints need to dodge since hamstrings are known to linger, so it’s something to keep in mind for any team.
Texas Tech defensive lineman Skyler Gill-Howard (number 0) rushes in a game | Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images
The Texas Tech Red Raiders boasted one of the fiercest defensive fronts in college football last year. Their defensive line featured three potential — or even likely — first round prospects, and was backed by the best linebacker in college football.
Defensive lineman Skyler Gill-Howard, however, has been lost in the shuffle thanks to a season-ending ankle injury. Gill-Howard is an undersized, but explosively athletic, defensive lineman who transferred from Northern Illinois to Texas Tech prior to the 2025 season.
The New York Giants have a new coaching staff with a new scheme on defense, and could also be looking for depth at defensive tackle. Could Gill-Howard’s injury make him a hidden gem for them?
Prospect: Skyler Gill-Howard (0) Games Watched: vs. Oregon State (2025), vs. Utah (2025), vs. Houston (2025) Red Flags: Ankle (2025, season-ending surgery)
(Gill-Howard is the Texas Tech defensive lineman wearing number 0.)
Projection
Skyler Gill-Howard’s projection will likely depend heavily on the eye of the beholder.
Teams that use more block-eating or two-gap defensive linemen would likely have little use for him, as he doesn’t have the size or mass to control two gaps or deal with double-teams.
Meanwhile, some teams may view him as a rotational third defensive lineman who can come on the field as an interior rusher in obvious passing situations or as a defensive end in short yardage situations.
Teams that feature athletic defensive fronts that are built to disrupt behind the line of scrimmage will likely see the most value in Gill-Howard. He has the potential to be a truly disruptive pass rusher and the kind of player who’s the sparkplug for a defense when he’s able to penetrate into the backfield – as long as he’s able to attack an individual gap.
Does he fit the Giants? Unlikely, pending scheme and value.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - JULY 22: Colorado Rockies 2025 first round draft pick, Ethan Holliday participates in his first work out at Salt River Field at Talking Stick on July 22, 2025 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Kyle Cooper/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ethan Holliday is a name that has been well-known to Rockies fans for a long time, if only from the connection to his father, Rockies great Matt — not to mention his brother, 2022 number one overall pick Jackson. Those connections made it extremely likely the Rockies would call Ethan’s name on draft day if he were available at pick number four, but the 6’4”, 19-year-old (as of this week) lefty-hitting shortstop from Oklahoma is much more than just a famous name.
Mid-season 2025 Rank: 1
High Ballot: 1 (6)
Mode Ballot: 2
Future Value: 55, above average infielder
Contract Status: 2025 First Round, Stillwater (OK) HS, Rule 5 Eligible After 2029, three options remaining
MLB ETA: 2029
Holliday was the number four pick and received a record (for a high schooler) $9 million signing bonus because he has plus raw power that should translate into games and good pitch selection while playing a premium defensive position very well. Scouts are concerned that Holliday’s size might limit his range at shortstop in the long-term as well as the swing-and-miss in Holliday’s game that accompanies his long, powerful swing.
Scouts are also concerned that Holliday wasn’t more of an elite performer in the summer showcase circuit where many highly regarded prospects travel to play each other. In high school though, Holliday was monster, hitting .611/.743/1.295, a cartoonish 2.038 OPS, with 19 homers and 64 RBI. He was named the Gatorade Oklahoma Baseball Player of the Year and Baseball America’s High School Player of the Year. In both of those awards, he beat out number one overall pick and fellow Oklahoma prep shortstop Eli Willits.
As a pro, Holliday was assigned to Low-A Fresno, where he was 3.2 years younger than league average. In 84 plate appearances (all against older pitchers), Holliday hit .239/.357/.380 with two homers and four doubles (an above average 108 wRC+) with four errors in 17 games at shortstop. It’s a small sample size, but Holliday struck out in a worrying 39% of his plate appearances, though he did also walk in 14% of them.
Holliday might have as much raw and usable power as anyone from the class of ‘25. When at his best, the 6-foot-4 left-handed hitter can get to it without a ton of effort. He already has strength, bat speed and leverage in his swing while continuing to add physicality to his frame. Worries about swing-and-miss cropped up when he was on the summer showcase circuit, and he expanded the zone too much, and there were a lot of whiffs during his brief pro debut, but he has the chance to be a solid all-around hitter with big home run totals.
A shortstop in high school like his brother, Holliday is agile for his size with average speed. His arm works from the position, and he has decent actions, but he’s unlikely going to be able to stay there because of his range. A move to third base would make the most sense, where his power-hitting profile should fit well.
Holliday was the No. 4 pick in the 2025 draft and probably the most famous name selected, thanks to his dad, his brother Jackson and years of hype around Ethan’s easy power and potential to be more of an impact hitter than Jackson. He’s a shortstop now, with really good hands and a plus arm, but he has no chance to stay there given his size and lack of lateral range, with third base the best-case scenario and right field a realistic outcome.
As a hitter, he has plenty of bat speed and the raw power is probably a 70, but last spring, he seemed to be trying too hard to launch the ball to his pull side, so his front side was flying open and he had a hole on the outer third as a result. Holliday struggled mightily in his pro debut, as the Rockies sent him to Low A and he struck out 33 times in 84 PA (39.3 percent), even having trouble against good fastballs and looking stiffer and slower in the box. While that doesn’t undo everything he did before the draft, it’s very concerning for someone picked that high, and at the very least, he’s going to need more time to develop than the typical high school hitter taken in the top few picks of any draft class. He knows the strike zone well, and even in that stint in Low A didn’t chase pitches out of the zone excessively (25 percent overall, 16 percent on pitches well out of the zone), consistent with what he showed as an amateur.
I had Holliday ranked at the top of the 2025 draft class, which was a weak one at its uppermost echelon, based on the 30-homer upside and good instincts all around, but the near-universal sentiment after his pro debut is that he’s a much higher-risk prospect than it seemed a year ago.
Holliday has absurd raw power and a long swing that has limited his ability to make consistent contact. He might need an adjustment to break out, and he has 40-homer ceiling if he does.
Holliday’s physicality stands out immediately. Four inches taller and a few dozen pounds of muscle bigger than his brother, Ethan has the strength and the build of a player in his mid-20s. He’s no stiff either, a fluid mover who should be just fine at third base given time and reps (he has played shortstop thus far but likely won’t stick there). He has a fast bat and there’s loft in the path, which feeds the immense power projection listed above. He even shows a little feel for manipulating the bat head and using the whole field.
But while Holliday hammers the ball when he does connect, it’s the lack of contact that looks most worrisome here. His numbers weren’t particularly good on the showcase circuit, and anybody who hoped that a cameo at Low-A would render that moot will have to keep waiting: Holliday’s .239/.357/.380 line in 18 games at Fresno is more than fine on its own, but 33 strikeouts in 84 plate appearances suggests that there’s a long path ahead. Speaking of long paths: Holliday’s bat travels a considerable distance from the time his hands get going. He has a long and deep load with a hand loop, and then long levers on top of that. Once he starts, there’s real venom in the swing, but right now pitchers are throwing pedestrian velo right past him.
Holliday will likely need to make an adjustment, either to the length of his path or in his load; in his current form, he just looks too vulnerable to velocity. The bet here is that Holliday finds a way to make it work. He’s so strong and talented in other ways in the box that we’re in on him as a potential star, even with red flags lurking. Consider this grade more of a reflection on his upside than our conviction in his likelihood to reach it.
Type: A polarizing player who could be an All-Star or not hit much at all
Some teams/scouts/readers didn’t look past Ethan Holliday’s solid glove, 65-grade power, pretty swing, and last name and penciled him in at No. 1 on their board. Other teams told me his profile “terrified” them and didn’t have him in the mix for their picks in the top 10.
With the amount of information we have on every top draftee and the similarity of most teams’ analytical models, this isn’t common at all. I wrote about this multiple times and more in depth, but the short version is Holliday didn’t hit well in the summer against top pitching then fixed a swing flaw but didn’t face good pitching after it. Teams don’t like having to take performance against good pitching on faith while some others are fine if the other pieces of the puzzle are present.
After signing, Holliday posted a 39% strikeout rate in 18 games, which is a small sample but also is what the analytical teams would tell you is the risk of ignoring his summer performance. If Holliday follows the path he did last year, he’ll dial in his mechanics to adjust for velocity at this new level — this is something Braves star Austin Riley once told me he had to do at each level of the minors — and hit in 2026 like he did in 2025, but the velocity he faces will be much better than high school ball in Oklahoma. As such, Holliday could either be a top-10 prospect in the sport or not in the top 200 quite easily at this time next year.
Holliday has a superstar ceiling, combining raw power, strike zone control, and defense at a premium position (he’s probably going to end up as the long-term starter at third base, but he can still play shortstop). That defensive utility is a big point in his favor vs. top PuRP Charlie Condon and was one of the reasons I ranked Holliday atop my personal list as a 55 Future Value player.
Much is expected of Holliday by fans and scouts — let’s see if he can pass the trials to come as he ascends the minor league ladder. It’s less certain than it seemed at draft time, but I’m optimistic. Holliday will likely be sent back to Fresno to begin 2026 along with fellow PuRP shortstop Ashly Andujar, where strong results could bring a bump up to High-A by the end of the season. If he’s more like his brother Jackson, Ethan could move through the system in two years, though I’m expecting a MLB debut more in late 2028 or 2029.
Photo by Emilee Chinn - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Tom Brady believes the expanded FIFA World Cup 2026 will make football bigger, more inclusive, and more globally connected than ever before.
The NFL icon has thrown his support behind the tournament’s historic expansion to 48 teams.
He sees it as a turning point for the sport, particularly with the competition being hosted across North America.
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Tom Brady backs FIFA World Cup 2026 expansion
Speaking during a FIFA World Cup 2026 discussion on YouTube, Brady highlighted the broader impact of expanding the competition across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
“Football is for everyone. It’s a chance for all of us to connect globally over something that we love,” Brady said.
Brady pointed to the significance of hosting the tournament in North America, stressing that more countries involved means greater cultural connection and visibility for players on the biggest stage.
He described the expanded format as an opportunity for athletes to showcase a lifetime of work in front of a truly global audience.
Tom Brady explains the impact of 48 teams at the FIFA World Cup 2026
Brady made clear that the increase to 48 nations is not just about numbers but about representation and competitive depth.
Brady added: “The fact that we have 48 teams in the World Cup means that 48 countries are represented in the World Cup. That’s 48 fan bases.
“That’s more competition, more games, more opportunities for people to enjoy this incredible sport.”
His comments reflect FIFA’s wider push for inclusion and growth, particularly in markets where football continues to surge in popularity.
Brady also referenced the strong appetite for the sport in America, noting the country’s long-standing success in the women’s game and the growing influence of Major League Soccer.
The message is simple. More teams mean more stories, more fans, and a broader celebration of the world’s most popular sport.
Teenager already key Chelsea player – his injury may have cost Blues Champions League place
Estevao Willian’s first season at Chelsea has been a huge success, and in fact the team has really missed him at times.
This was supposed to be a season where we worked Estevao Willian into the picture slowly at Chelsea, but in recent weeks it’s felt like he’s a key player. Our last two games have seen us fail to put away Leeds and Burnley in games where we led.
Against Leeds, Estevao started and was taken off with the Blues 2-0 up. We ended up drawing 2-2. Against Burnley on Saturday, the Brazilian wasn’t fit to start. Without him, we toiled miserably in attack for large parts of the game, and didn’t add to the early goal we scored. It was a game crying out for his skill, invention and eye for goal.
Estevao already a key player, not a super sub or development project
Estevao William frustrated by Hull. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
With Cole Palmer still struggling for solid form, Jamie Gittens injured and Alejandro Garnacho not impressing, Estevao has become our second best winger after Pedro Neto. While not as consistent or defensively reliable as the Portuguese, his individual skills make him more of the profile you’d want to get a goal when you really need one.
It was notable on Saturday that, when looking for a second goal, manager Liam Rosenior’s attacking options on the bench were Liam Delap and Alejandro Garnacho, with two league goals between them this season.
In other news…
Chelsea are proving better against teams who have more of the ball, and the stats show it pretty starkly. It’s a problem Liam Rosenior needs to fix.
Reece James has developed as a leader on and off the pitch, and Omari Kellyman has spoken about how inspired he’s been by the captain.
Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:
Aug 26, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Ji Hwan Bae (3) drives in a run on a fields choice against the Chicago Cubs during the third inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Warning: This piece discusses domestic violence and includes a link to an article that shows visual evidence of domestic violence.
In one of the earliest moves of the offseason, the Mets claimed Ji Hwan Bae off waivers from the Pirates. Bae, entering his age-27 season, appeared in 163 games in parts of four seasons with the Pirates from 2022-2025, but his on-field career is only part of his story.
In 2017, Bae was set to be the second South Korean player to sign directly out of high school with a major league team after Kwon Kwang-min signed with the Cubs in 2015. However, his contract with the Braves was voided after it was revealed that the contract was negotiated with Bae and 12 others under fraudulent terms. The KBO barred him from signing with a Korean team for two years for skipping the draft. The next season, Bae signed a $1.25 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
But the more disturbing part of Bae’s story comes from the period between his failed Braves contract and his subsequent Pirates one. An incident occurred on New Year’s Eve 2017, and Bae was accused of domestic violence against his then-girlfriend, including slapping, choking, and kicking her. He was eventually convicted for domestic abuse and was suspended by MLB for 30 games, as the verdict was handed down after he was already a member of the Pirates organization.
“Bae Ji-hwan hit me. He hit me [on New Year’s Eve]. The first time I was (physically) abused was on New Year’s Eve (in 2017). There (also) was verbal abuse. Before the actual physical abuse, I was under critical stress due to him and his family. His family and he repeatedly asked me to ‘endure’ him because he is a baseball player and he needs support.
The alleged incident happened on New Year’s Eve in 2017, when Bae was 18. According to Kim, Bae “threatened me he would die if I didn’t see him again. Also, he squeezed my throat until I (said) that I would love him again.
“Some ask why I didn’t report him right away — the intensity of his physical and verbal abuse was getting stronger,” Seul-Gi Kim wrote. “Because of fear, I just couldn’t go ahead and do it. What I want now is the end of this sickening relationship, a fair trial, and a just punishment.
“I have been pressured physically and mentally and that made me very scared. If you don’t have anyone reliable or good around you, you probably don’t have the courage to report the abuser. I decided to go to this path after a lot of dilemma and mental anguish. It’s a big (mental) scar that can never heal.”
“The Pittsburgh Pirates strongly support Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy and agree with the need for significant penalties for any violation of this policy…The Pirates are committed to a culture that respects women on all levels and across all aspects of our organization. Ji-Hwan has completed a treatment program under the MLB policy.
“We will continue to work with him to ensure that he understands and adheres to the obligations and standards that are required of a professional baseball player and a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates.”
Teams sign players with domestic abuse backgrounds just about every season, and it is always a delicate situation. On one hand, many people claim that these players deserve a shot at redemption; an oft-repeated phrase is that no one should have their life ruined because of one mistake. And while people can, and should, admit wrongdoing and change for the better, more often than not, these players speak in vague platitudes and don’t publicly take significant steps towards actually changing their behavior.
Bae’s situation is slightly unusual both due to his prospect status when the event happened and the fact that it occurred overseas. There was not a lot of reporting on the event outside of the Athletic, and very little, if any of it stateside, featured quotes from Bae himself. It is unfair to paint him as either remorseful and committed to change or petulant and unmoved because we have not heard from him on the subject. If Bae has been contrite and done the work, he has done so in private.
All of this makes the Mets’ waiver claim even stranger. Bae’s on-field career has been nothing to write home about. A career .223/.294/.293 hitter in the big leagues, he’s a weak hitter with a decent glove who has some positional versatility. If he sticks with the Mets, he has a minor league option, so he would likely wind up beginning the year in Syracuse and being called up only for injury/27th man status. Bae is a depth piece that has a place in every organization in baseball, but he’s not a superstar either in the current day or in the making.
But even if he was, does an organization really want to bring on someone with a history of domestic abuse in 2026? The Mets didn’t sign him as a free agent, and so they didn’t get to sit him down and discuss his past. He was a waiver claim; he likely found out about the move via his agent once he was back in South Korea during the offseason.
It shouldn’t be the job of fans to find out if the player their team signed is remorseful for his violent past. It is the team’s job to either assure us that he is or to admit that they really don’t care what a player does off the field or did before donning orange and blue. While there may be more to this story, from a fan’s perspective, it’s fairly clear. The Mets looked at a fringy player and decided that this is the guy for whom they were willing to sell their integrity.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 8: Denzel Clarke #1 Brett Harris #11 and Lawrence Butler #4 of the Athletics pose for a photo in the dugout before a game against the Boston Red Sox at Sutter Health Park on September 8, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the event of a miracle and my plane doesn’t crash, I will touch down in Arizona March 13th ready to conduct a few interviews on the 14th. Hopefully by then the A’s will have put a win on the board.
Many considerations go into who I sit down with. Some players might not even be around thanks to the WBC or having been cut by the time I arrive. Others could be busy getting treatment for an old or new injury or might be in too high demand for me to add to their itinerary.
That being said, I will submit a wish list of some “first choices” and some alternate “second choices”. Usually I am able to connect with at least someone on my A list and someone on my B list, usually around 3 interviews overall.
In general I tend to seek out players who aren’t interviewed as often, just because their stories have more often not been told. So I am more likely to interview a future star than a current one (past examples would include Matt Chapman, Addison Russell, and Dallas Braden, all of whose careers were just getting underway when I caught up with them.)
So while I can’t promise to interview the player(s) you identify, for a variety of reasons, I would love to hear from the community who you would like to hear from as it will definitely impact the list I submit. Also helpful is any topics/questions you would want addressed, though again no promises that an interview will touch upon every requested query.
So please use this thread to offer ideas, requests and the like and know that I will take them all into consideration — and then find out on the 14th what I can actually accomplish.
A handful of AEW stars have traded their spots in the promotion for a return to WWE, one of the most successful of them being Cody Rhodes. But his brother Dustin Rhodes isn't keen on going back to his old stomping ground.
Dustin, who famously portrayed the Goldust character in his time with WWE, has time and again dismissed suggestions of him going back to WWE. In a recent reply to a fan on social media platform X, who had asked him to don the golden paint in WWE, Dustin stated that he's happy to be a part of AEW and that he's doing the best work of his long career in the promotion. He also said he didn't get a raise in WWE, and is also not keen to be on the sidelines, which he feels could happen if he's a part of WWE.
"Nope! I never got a raise there. What, you want me sitting the bench doing nothing? That ain't me anymore. I have done the best work of my career with @AEW. I love the character Goldust, but he ran its course. I did what I was told and it got me nowhere. No thanks," he said vehemently.
Nope! I never got a raise there. What, you want me sitting the bench doing nothing? That ain't me anymore. I have done the best work of my career with @AEW . I love the character Goldust, but he ran its course. I did what I was told and it got me nowhere. No thanks. https://t.co/dh8p7ua4sW
Rhodes, in a series of replies to various fans under the original post, dismissed claims by fans that he hasn't been used much in AEW over the past year or so. He clarified that his time in WWE didn't get him anywhere "financially," but he also added that he has no regrets over his numerous runs in the promotion.
Rhodes, when announcing his new contract with AEW in 2024, said that he will end his career in Tony Khan's promotion, expressing his deep love for the promotion and the roster. The former AEW TNT Champion has been out of action since July 2025 after requiring double knee replacement surgery. He had hinted after the injury that he could return to action in AEW sometime in March.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 23: Pitcher Logan Gilbert #36 of the Seattle Mariners throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of a spring training game at Camelback Ranch on February 23, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning everyone!
In case you missed it, the Mariners played a typically wild spring training game against the White Sox yesterday, losing to those pesky Sox by a 12-10 score.
Whenever the Mariners play the White Sox, I can’t help but think of my parents’ friends Bill and Karen, who have remained diehard fans of the Sox through their absolute garbage play over the last decade. Shout out to them; I hope they enjoy Roch Cholowsky in a few years.
Do you have any special connections to non-Mariners teams through friends or family? Do you keep up with those teams any differently as a result?
In Mariners news…
Logan Gilbert spoke to Daniel Kramer about how being a new father has helped to give the ace right-hander perspective heading into a key 2026 season.
Shannon Drayer spoke to top Mariners pitching prospects Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan, who are feeling confident after some strong backfield results against M’s regulars. I really can’t wait until they take the mound in games this spring.
The Braves announced that they have extended the contract of ageless left-hander Chris Sale on a one-year, $27M deal with a $30M club option for the 2028 season.
Speaking of the Braves, the organization announced that it would stream 140 of this season’s games through the brand new BravesVision. Production, sales, marketing, and distribution of broadcasts will be fully controlled by the club.
The Florida state cabinet and governor Ron DeSantis signed off on a 22-acre plot of land in Tampa that will be used to build a new ballpark for the Rays.
MLB No. 1 overall prospect Konnor Griffin homered twice in a spring training game for the Pirates yesterday. Griffin is hoping to become the rare player to make his big league debut in his teens.
Stephen J. Nesbitt at The Athletic wrote about the booming sports town that Salt Lake City is turning into, and explained why people there believe an MLB team could be on its way sooner rather than later. (Shout out to my cousin Erin for being featured in this one!) ($)
J.J. Cooper at Baseball America outlined five key reasons why all prospects are shooting through the minor leagues faster than ever before. ($)
Ben Clemens at Fangraphs calculated the cost of a win in baseball’s 2025-2026 free agency.
There’s absolutely no way they’re actually doing this with Jacob Misiorowski, one of the most volatile command guys in the game, right?
Hoping to link your MLB.tv subscription to your ESPN account this year? Here’s a helpful walkthrough on how to make this work.
Anders’ picks…
During the Olympics, I fell down a Wikipedia rabbit hole on which countries have the most islands. Before you look at the results, I want you to try to answer this question in your head. Got one? How many islands do you think they have? Alright, now take a large sip of your coffee…
Josh Jobe may be one of the more understated members of Mike Macdonald’s Dark Side defense. He and Drake Thomas don’t do a buttload of interviews or talking, but they are both dudes who quietly get the job done and hustle to the ball on all occasions.
Jobe is a guy that competed, wire to wire. He seemed to play a lot of back side press man coverage and did that well. It’s possible that if he were a louder personality like some of the other guys on the team, he might get more love and attention. Nonetheless, he deserves it.
Of the Seattle Seahawks’ five most targeted DB’s during the regular season (Jobe, Riq Woolen, Nick Emmanwori, Devon Witherspoon, Ty Okada) Joshua racked up the lowest completion percentage of the bunch: 49.5%. The other two corners (Riq and Spoon) were sitting at 54.2% and 69.5%, respectively.
Then there was the Super Bowl, a triumphant and jubilant moment for Seattle.
Seahawks CB (and former Eagle) Josh Jobe was targeted a team-high 10 times by the Patriots and gave up just 3 catches for 11 yards with a PBU, per @NextGenStats
The former UDFA from Alabama had a big-time performance in Super Bowl LX.
Josh Jobe balled out on the biggest stage possible.
There was a play late in the first quarter where Mike Macdonald showed blitz from the MLB (Ernest Jones IV) walked right up between the four defensive linemen, then dropped that player as well as an EDGE rusher to the field side to put a roof over the short route in a stacked set. Then, on the other side, he sent a Slot and FS blitz. It forced a dump-off that was violently tackled for a loss.
Josh Jobe displaying high football IQ here to recognize the Pats going hot to the RB (who should be alone in the flat bc the blitz), peeling off the receiver early and triggering with a strong pursuit angle. Finishes with a strong tackle for a 2 yard loss. pic.twitter.com/cZ5t9Vd1bS
Jobe was the player who made that tackle, and he made it with some straight-up authority after shedding the receiver. It was such a fast and decisive action, that J.J. may have even known what the hot route is, just by New England’s tendencies. It was the 2nd of three consecutive plays that went backwards for the Pats.
Even if it is the mastermind of Coach Macdonald that can supply tips on scheme and tendencies, it still takes physical execution from his players. That is one of the reasons that Josh Jobe has such a substantial role on defense as it is.
While Riq Woolen is a gifted coverage specialist, he has struggled at times in run support. Jobe does not, and it has slowly earned him a larger and larger piece of the pie.
Mike Macdonald said this about Josh Jobe (who had an INT) after a heartbreaking loss to the San Francisco 49ers to start the season in Week 1: “Josh is ready to go. He’s always going to be a big part of the game plan. He’s competing for more snaps. And I thought he played tremendous football game: played physical played smart, played disciplined, finished his plays right. I thought he played a great game”.
Check out this beautiful (and NSFW) highlight reel of a cornerback and tell me it doesn’t get you hyped:
If I’m a coach, I don’t want to see Jobe get kicked out of the Super Bowl, but I absolutely love seeing the fire and fight in my CB2 against a celebrity WR.
With Josh Jobe acting as a shining example of a player who was able to go from UDFA to Super Bowl starter by putting his head down and working, it’s easy to see him being resigned as a program guy. He’s at least a corner who knows the scheme, will play hard, and may not get as fat of a contract as an every-down starter might get… but he could even morph into that in his third year in Coach Macdonald’s system.
If Woolen’s agent is hinting that Riq “the Freak” is out, do you want to lose two of your top three cornerbacks just as your defense is truly hitting its stride? I don’t care (yet) that the 29-year-old Marlon Humphrey is trying to sneak into the championship parade and onto a contender.
The more likely scenario seems like it would be that Jobe resigns for a two-year pay bump, and Seattle (the team with the 6th-most cap space next year) still goes out and selects another CB high in the draft. Nehemiah Pritchett has been in the incubator, Devon Witherspoon will probably get PAID soon, and Macdonald was around in Baltimore when it seemed like they took a corner every single year in the draft.
Ultimately, the open market may have a lot to say about who does and who doesn’t resign with the reigning world champion Seattle Seahawks. Especially if they don’t make Jobe a top priority before the new league year begins.
The ‘Hawks may have a good chunk of cap space, but they also have a bunch of free agents, so this offseason will be a fascinating one.
Would you rather have Jobe, sign an older and proven player like Humphrey, a reclamation project like Cordale Flott, draft a young player very high or give Pritchett a larger role? The Seahawks will be showing us what they think of different players and who to prioritize for another run very soon.
Michigan football quarterbacks coach Koy Detmer Jr, center, watches during the first half between Michigan and USC at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
This week on the “In the Trenches” podcast, Jon Jansen interviewed new quarterbacks coach Koy Detmer Jr., who outlined the “crazy” end to 2025 and making his way to Ann Arbor.
Detmer isn’t unfamiliar with the University of Michigan. His father played quarterback at the University of Colorado and shared stories with him about their games against Michigan from his playing days. He also spent some of his childhood around Jon Runyan and Jon Runyan Jr., since their fathers played with the Philadelphia Eagles at the same time. While he has some familiarity with the University of Michigan, this will be a new step in his coaching career.
Here’s what he had to say during his interview:
On his quarterback development philosophy
Detmer is “football through and through.” He’s grown up around the sport and is passionate about the game.
“These are the most important years of their life,” he said of the players. He wants to make sure his players have a chance to be themselves. While he tries to put some of his own twists on things, he wants his players to be who they are. Detmer uses that as a starting point to tweak and fix things to help them improve.
On Bryce Underwood, thoughts heading into spring practice
Detmer said that quarterback Bryce Underwood is a kid that holds himself to such a high standard. “He works his tail off,” he said. He also mentioned that Underwood shows that he wants to be the best, whether it’s watching film or in the weight room.
Moving forward, Detmer wants to focus on improving Underwood’s timing and footwork. While they have some time to work with him before and after lift sessions, they’ll have more time in the spring. Detmer said that Underwood is very talented, but also has an incredible work ethic that the coaches are thankful for.
On habits he wants to see from elite players
Detmer said it’s important to put in extra study and extra training with the people you’re going to play with, especially for the younger players. Detmer wants them to become tough mentally and physically, and he said that giving everything they’ve got every practice is important in becoming the best player they can be.
On offensive coordinator Jason Beck
Detmer has a longstanding relationship with offensive coordinator Jason Beck that started when he was a high school recruit and player at BYU. Detmer pointed out that Beck has been around a lot of great quarterbacks over his career, and that one of the biggest things he learned from Beck is to take in feedback from the players. Beck helped Detmer work on asking where players are coming from and how they’re processing plays to better coach them on ways they can improve, which helps cater that coaching to what players need to get better every day.
On head coach Kyle Whittingham
“He’s a tough son of a gun.”
Detmer said you know if you’re going to be in the building with Whittingham, you better be tough. He made sure to point out that Whittingham works out daily and even while the players are working out.
The next thing he mentioned was Whittinham’s focus on famiy. He said a lot of coaches talk family, but when you see his family walking around the building, it shows he really means it. Detmer said Whittingham is great for the other coaches because they’re able to be around their families, too.
On his handlebar mustache
In a very random and very entertaining question, Jansen asked about Detmer’s very recognizable bit of facial hair. Detmer got the idea when he was coaching at New Mexico and said it’s partially inspired by actor Sam Elliott in the movie Tombstone. He’ll continue sporting it in Ann Arbor.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 13: Les Snead of the Los Angeles Rams on the sideline before the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings at State Farm Stadium on January 13, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One of the considerations that the L.A. Rams have to make with regards to having two first round picks is just how much it affects the team’s salary cap. Despite a season in which the Rams own draft pick only falls at 29 because they reached the NFC Championship, L.A. has the 11th-most draft capital in the 2026 because they also have the Atlanta Falcons’ 13th pick.
13th overall: $24.5 million for 4 years, $4.45 million in year 1
29th overall: $17.4 million for 4 years, $3.16 million in year 1
Those contracts are fully-guaranteed and come with a fifth-year option.
As you can tell by now, the $7.6 million for L.A.’s two first round picks is basically half of all the money they must allocate for their rookie class in 2026.
It’s hard to picture why the Rams would use both picks to trade up at this point because everyone believes that the Las Vegas Raiders are going to draft Fernando Mendoza, the only quarterback who most people think is worthy of an early pick this year, but a top-5 pick would cost over $45 million total and over $8 million in year 1. That’s more than the combined value of both of the Rams first round picks.
However, if the Rams get an offer to trade their first round pick for one in 2027 like they did with the Falcons in 2025, then they’d be saving that money this year and pushing their financial commitments back again.
That might not be a bad idea. It’s just a matter of how much they love the prospects who are available and how badly another team wants to move up, similar to the surprise of the Falcons falling for James Pearce at pick 26.
A decision that they surely regret now.
It’s about value, not just pick numbers
The focus of the draft is always on “what picks do you have and who are the prospects?” but sometimes it’s just as much about “how much do those players cost?” Oftentimes those players are not going to be worth it, other times they’re extraordinary values, and that’s the question we should be more interested in than anything else.
“I think it’s game on” Didi Hamann sends title message to Arsenal
Didi Hamann believes the title race is firmly alive, with Manchester City in strong condition as they pursue Arsenal for the Premier League title. The former midfielder feels momentum could yet shift as the season approaches its decisive stages.
Arsenal view this campaign as one of their best opportunities to become champions of England. Mikel Arteta will be determined to guide his side over the line and secure the prize they have been chasing. Since the start of the term, the Gunners have displayed impressive consistency and resilience. They remain focused on maintaining that standard until the conclusion of the season.
City Close the Gap
A handful of below-par performances from Arsenal have allowed Manchester City to reduce the gap between the two sides. The Citizens will be eager to capitalise on any further slip-ups. Their experience in high-pressure situations continues to set them apart from many rivals.
Many observers believe Pep Guardiola’s team possess the quality and know-how required to win the league once again. Their squad includes players who have repeatedly demonstrated composure during decisive moments. Since Arteta became Arsenal manager, City have won the league title only twice. That record underlines their dominance and capacity to respond when challenged.
(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Hamann Says Race Is Not Over
Such history could concern Arsenal as they attempt to avoid another second-place finish. However, Hamann insists the contest remains wide open.
As reported by the Metro, he said, “I think it’s far from over, even though I don’t think City are great. It’s not the City we used to see, but they find a way of winning games and they know how to win the league.
“They know how to win titles because they’ve got some Premier League winners in the ranks. So yeah, I think it’s game on.”
Hamann’s comments reflect a belief that experience and mentality could prove decisive. With both sides still competing strongly, the battle for the title appears set to continue until the final weeks of the campaign.
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RB Salzburg: The remarkable comeback of Karim Konaté
The remarkable comeback of Karim Konaté
Karim Konaté/@Salzburg
Karim Konaté hasn't lost his killer instinct in front of goal. The Ivorian international keeps finding the back of the net in the Austrian Bundesliga since returning from a lengthy injury layoff.
Five: that's the number of goals Karim Konaté has scored in his last five Austrian league matches. He’s breached opposition defenses every 64 minutes since making his comeback.
An anterior cruciate ligament rupture in his left knee during a Champions League clash against Bayer Leverkusen in November 2024 abruptly ended the RB Salzburg striker’s season.
But he fought hard to come back even stronger. A year after his injury, Konaté returned to action and has already found the net five times, the latest coming on Sunday against LASK (5-1) in the 20th round of the Austrian Bundesliga.
The Koumassi native has played 18 times for the Elephants (scoring twice), with his last cap against Chad (4-0) just before his injury. A return to the national team is very much on the cards during the March international break.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 20, 2026: Maikel Garcia #11 of the Kansas City Royals bats during the third inning of a spring training game against the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium on February 20, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Kansas City Royals enter the 2026 season with a problem that has plagued them for the last few seasons; they are looking for a solution at leadoff hitter. The Royals have not had an above-average offensive campaign from their leadoff hitter since the COVID-shortened 2020 season. The team attempted to address this issue last season with the addition of Jonathan India, but he had a disappointing first year at Kauffman Stadium. Mike Yastrzemski ended up being a good option, at least against right-handed pitching, for the Royals last season, but Yaz is now a member of the Atlanta Braves.
Matt Quatraro has a few options, and we have seen three different choices at the top of the lineup in the first five games of the season. Let’s take a way too early look at the candidates to see what we can glean about who the Royals will end up choosing to start the season as the leadoff hitter:
The Early Leader: Maikel Garcia
Maikel Garcia appears to be in the pole position for this role, as he has hit leadoff in three of the first five Spring Training contests. Garcia is coming off his best year at the plate, posting a .286/.351/.449 slash line in 2025. The third baseman has a lot of skills that you like to see in a table setter. He rarely chases at bad pitches and is willing to draw a walk. He makes a lot of contact and is willing to shorten up and flatten out his swing with two strikes. He has some power, but you aren’t expecting him to hit 40 home runs in a season; you aren’t squandering someone who can drive in a lot of runs. He is also a good baserunner and can steal a base if you need it. If you subscribe to the theory that your best three hitters should hit in spots 1, 2, and 4 in the lineup in some order, then Garcia makes sense in the leadoff position, as he was the teams second best hitter in 2025.
There are a lot of reasons to like Garcia in the leadoff spot, but I will admit I am a bit apprehensive about Garcia in that role, and it’s more emotion-based than logic-based. The third baseman had 467 plate appearances at the top of the lineup in 2024 and had a terrible offensive year. He hit 27% below league-average out of the leadoff spot that year and generally had a miserable offensive campaign. Garcia has made a lot of progress as a hitter since 2024, and it doesn’t seem logical that putting him back in the leadoff spot will make him regress to his 2024 offensive level. He has a leadoff hitter’s approach at the plate, and there isn’t any glaring reason I can see why he would only struggle at the top of the order. If he does start the season as the primary leadoff hitter and starts to struggle, the calls to remove him will come quickly.
The Embattled Incumbent: Jonathan India
Jonathan India was brought in from the Cincinnati Reds last season in a trade for Brady Singer to accomplish one main purpose: get on base in front of Bobby Witt Jr. India’s 2025 campaign was not as disastrous as Garcia’s 2024 campaign, but it was still below league average and not acceptable from a top-of-the-order bat. There are good reasons to be optimistic about the second baseman having a bounce-back season at the plate; I wrote an article about those reasons earlier in the offseason. He still has an elite approach at the plate, doesn’t swing at bad pitches, and makes plenty of contact. The ingredients for a good leadoff hitter are still present; India and the Royals’ hitting staff just need to help him unlock it.
The Royals may be hesitant to put India right back at the top of the order after watching him struggle in his first season in Kansas City. The former Florida Gator had a lot on his plate last season: moving to a new city and team, learning a new position while hitting leadoff for a team with expectations of success. The Royals have tried to set him up better for success in 2026. The team is ending the India to the outfield experiment and is planning on him being their second baseman this year. He now has one year under his belt with the Royals, and the fences moving in should help make Kauffman Stadium a less intimidating park to hit in. India even cut his hair, and we all hope that it will have a reverse Samson effect for the infielder. India will likely get some plate appearances at the top of the order and could theoretically win the job with a monster spring, but right now it seems more likely that he will hit in the lower part of the order in order to give the Royals lineup some length.
The New Guy: Isaac Collins
Isaac Collins appeared in a Spring Training game for the first time on Tuesday, and Quatraro had the outfielder hit at the top of the batting order. Neither India nor Garcia were in the starting lineup, which left Collins as the logical choice for that slot. Collins went 0-3 with two strikeouts before being removed for Carson Roccaforte, so obviously, he’s going to be a bust, and we should just cut him now.
Collins, like India and Garcia, has the prototypical approach of a leadoff man. He is patient at the plate, sporting a .368 OBP in his first season in the big leagues. He rarely swings at pitches outside the strike zone and has an above-average contact rate. Collins is also a switch-hitter, which would help with lineup balance and give the Royals the platoon advantage to start every game. The outfielder mostly hit towards the bottom of the Milwaukee Brewers lineup last year, hitting leadoff only twice. It would be quite the vote of confidence in Collins to install the second-year player right at the top of the order. I wonder if India’s struggles moving teams last season will make the Royals want to put less pressure on Collins right away; hitting towards the bottom of the order would be a slower onboarding process. Still, it will be interesting to see if Collins keeps hitting at the top of the order even when sharing a lineup with India or Witt.
Wildcard Options
Bobby Witt Jr is a great hitter and would be a great leadoff hitter. He previously stated that his preference is not to leadoff, but told Anne Rogers that he is willing to do “whatever the team needs.” Witt has the #2 slot locked down; the No. 2 hitter is generally the best hitter on the team, and Witt is definitely the best hitter on the Royals. So I would be very surprised to see him move out of that spot.
Carter Jensen looked great as a rookie at the plate and definitely has the approach of a great leadoff hitter. He likely wouldn’t get you as many steals as Garcia would, but Kyle Schwarber was a great leadoff hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies last season, reminding us that there is more than one way to be a successful top-of-the-order bat. Jensen will have a lot on his plate as a rookie catcher, and pitchers will adjust in how they pitch to him now that he’s shown some initial success. It would be an extreme vote of confidence to put Jensen in the first slot in the order, one that feels just a little too aggressive even for those who are bullish on his future
Vinnie Pasquantino clearly adjusts his approach based on where he hits in the lineup and what he understands his role to be. Hitting leadoff might bring out the best version of the first baseman as a hitter; he would likely take more pitches and draw more walks than he would as a heart of the order bat. I highly doubt the Royals have seriously considered moving him up, and I highly doubt that Pasquantino would want to move from his middle of the lineup spot.
Are there any options that I missed? Who do you think should get the first crack at the top of the Royals order? Let us know in the comments.
DENVER, COLORADO - DECEMBER 23: Brock Nelson #11 talks to Gabriel Landeskog #92 of the Colorado Avalanche during a pause in the game against the Utah Mammoth at Ball Arena on December 23, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ashley Potts/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Olympic break is finally over!
After a three week pause for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, the Colorado Avalanche kick off the next phase of their historic 2025 – 2026 campaign for one last(?) visit to Salt Lake City to face the Utah Mammoth.
Colorado Avalanche (37-9-9)
The Opponent: Utah Mammoth (30-23-4)
Time: 7:00 P.M. MST/9:00 P.M. EST
Watch: ALT, ALT+ (Avalanche Broadcast Area), KUPX-TV (Utah Broadcast Area), ESPN+, NHL Center Ice (Outside Regional Broadcast Areas – US), SN+, NHL Centre Ice (Canadian Broadcast Areas)
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio KKSE-FM 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche won’t have the luxury of easing their way into the swing of things as the NHL schedule resumes. They play five games in seven days right out of the chute, with four of those games coming in two back-to-back contests. Tonight’s game against Utah marks the first in those pairs of back-to-back games; the Avs will face the Minnesota Wild for the first time on Ball Arena ice on Thursday evening.
The Avs were one of three teams that sent at least eight (8) players to Italy to participate in the Olympic games. Martin Nečas was selected to play for Czechia. Having previously played in the Olympics (Sochi, 2014), Gabe Landeskog made his return to the Olympic stage, now representing Sweden as its team captain. Joel Kiviranta and Artturi Lehkonen were selected to the Finland roster, capturing the bronze medal. Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews played for Canada, earning the silver medal. Brock Nelson, a third-generation Olympian, captured gold for the United States, adding the fourth Olympic gold medal to his family mantle, joining his grandfather Bill Christian and great uncle Roger Christian (Squaw Valley, 1960) and his uncle Dave Christian (Lake Placid, 1980).
While it will be a welcome sight to see a (relatively) healthy Avalanche lineup for the first time in nearly two months, there will be one notable absence on the roster. On Tuesday morning, the Avalanche announced that they had traded defenseman Sam Girard, along with their second round pick in 2028, to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Brett Kulak. Kulak, 32, was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers in the deal that sent him and goaltender Stuart Skinner to Pittsburgh. During his brief tenure with the Penguins, Kulak scored one goal and added six assists for a total of seven points in twenty-five games. He had two assists in thirty-one games played with Edmonton earlier this season. This is a considerable drop off from his previous season with Edmonton, where he set a career best in goals (7), assists (18), and points (25).
Coach Jared Bednar said this of Kulak: “You’re getting a big, solid D that can skate, and defend real well, and move the puck. He does a lot of good things, a guy that has been to back to back Stanley Cup Finals, and was an integral part of [Edmonton’s] blue line, and what they were trying to do as a team. We like the player a lot, and so, we’re excited.”
He added, “This is a big, strong guy that defends really well. He’s got a ton of experience as well. It’s just a different look for us, right? I think Kulak’s a guy, that depending on how you’re matching up in the playoffs, that he can go up and play with a guy like Cale if I want to move [Toews] against another team’s top line. […] Maybe Kulak can go up and Toews can go down and he can take care of that matchup with a guy like Manson. It gives us flexibility there that I don’t think we necessarily had with [Girard].”
Bednar noted that Kulak, along with most of the Avs roster, would arrive in Salt Lake City on Tuesday night, with some members of the team flying out this morning in order to get some extra rest.
With the NHL season paused through the Olympic break, MacKinnon will look to reclaim the NHL points lead; he trails Olympic teammate Connor McDavid (96) by three points. MacKinnon entered the Olympic break as the NHL’s goal scoring leader (40), the only player in the League to reach this milestone thus far. Nelson is one goal shy of reaching the thirty goal mark for the fourth time in his career. With Mackenzie Blackwood going 1-1 in both games before the break, expect Scott Wedgewood to start in goal this evening. Wedgewood last started on January 29, a 7-3 loss against the Montréal Canadiens at Bell Centre.
The Avs still remain the undisputed leader across the Central Division, Western Conference, and League standings. A win today would give them a seven point cushion over second place Minnesota, and although they still have two games in hand over their division rivals, every point will matter even more as teams jockey for position ahead of the postseason. The Dallas Stars, who have a game in hand on Minnesota and sit one point behind them in the division, host the Seattle Kraken tonight, so one can bet that Minnesota will be keeping a close eye on both games.
The Avs currently lead the season series against Utah, winning two of the three games played. They have yet to win at Delta Center to this point in the season, but won the most recent matchup on December 23, a 1-0 decision.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas Gabe Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin Ross Colton – Jack Drury – Victor Olofsson Joel Kiviranta – Parker Kelly – Gavin Brindley
Defense: Devon Toews – Cale Makar Josh Manson – Brent Burns Brett Kulak – Sam Malinski
Between the Pipes: Scott Wedgewood Mackenzie Wedgewood
Utah Mammoth
Utah started out 2026 with a bang, going 12-5 since the start of January. They sit in fourth place in the Central Division standings, edging out the Anaheim Ducks by one point for the first wild card spot in the Western Conference. They won two of their previous three contests prior to the start of the Olympic break, a 6-2 defeat of the Vancouver Canucks, and a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Tonight’s game is the third of a five game home stand at Delta Center, where Utah has performed considerably well: they boast a 17-8-2 record on home ice.
Occupying a wild card spot may seem a bit surprising during this sophomore campaign for Utah, but those who followed the former Arizona Coyotes are familiar with this trend. While there have been some changes to the present-day roster, the current version’s performance has echoes of its previous incarnation, being competitive just enough to find themselves on the periphery of the postseason, only to fall short time and again. Utah GM Bill Armstrong, with the backing of his new ownership group in Ryan and Ashley Smith, has infused his team’s roster with some new life, acquiring defenseman Mikhail Sergachev from the Tampa Bay Lightning prior to their inaugural season, and right wing J.J. Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres. Sergachev set a personal best in goals (15) in his first season with Utah and currently leads all defensemen in points (38). Peterka, who signed a five year, $38.5 million dollar extension as part of the trade with Buffalo, is tied with Sergachev in points, and ranks third in goal scoring (20). Armstrong may have a few more moves up his sleeve as the trade deadline approaches, so this could be the year that his squad bucks the trends of the past, which would be an incredible testament to the club’s performance since taking the ice in downtown Salt Lake for the first time last October.
Like Colorado, Utah sent multiple players to Italy to participate in the Olympics. Peterka was selected to the German Olympic roster, defenseman Olli Määttä joined Kiviranta on Finland’s roster, goaltender Karel Vejmelka joined Nečas to represent Czechia’s goaltending contingent, and captain Clayton Keller won gold with the United States alongside Nelson.
Keller leads all skaters in assists (37) and points (54). Dylan Guenther leads all skaters in goals (25), just two shy of his personal best (27). Nick Schmaltz is second in goals (23), equaling his personal best he set during the 2021-2022 season with Arizona. Vejmelka is tied for first place with Tampa’s Andrei Vasilevskiy in goaltender wins (27), a personal best since entering the League with Arizona during the 2021-2022 season.
Tonight’s game wraps up the four game series against Colorado. Utah’s previous victory came on October 21, with Guenther scoring the game winning goal for the 4-3 decision.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Clayton Keller – Nick Schmaltz – Lawson Crouse J.J. Peterka – Barrett Hayton – Kailer Yamamoto Michael Carcone – Jack McBain – Dylan Guenther Brandon Tanev – Kevin Stenlund – Liam O’Brien
Defense: Mikhail Sergachev – Sean Durzi Nate Schmidt – John Marino Ian Cole – Nick DeSimone
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 17: Trent Williams #71 of the San Francisco 49ers blocks during the second quarter of an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on January 17, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NFL Combine isn’t just about who’s got next. It’s also about who’s about to be available for NFL teams right now. And the Chicago Bears got some interesting news on both sides of the ledger as we head into Combine interviews, measurements, and workouts today and tomorrow.
On one hand, anyone who had visions of the Bears making a run at dynamic New York Jets running back Breece Hall might have to scrap those. Jets general manager Darren Mougey heavily suggested to reporters yesterday that he won’t allow his 24-year-old running back to hit the open market, saying the franchise and transition tags are options to retain the former second-round pick if they can’t agree on a long-term extension.
Hall, who has quietly been one of the NFL’s more productive backs since entering the league in 2022 despite never having reliable quarterback play, figured to be on the Bears’ radar had he hit free agency. Though it would’ve cost them a decent amount to bring him in, Ben Johnson’s love of home run-hitting running backs—see, Jahmyr Gibbs—made the connection an easy one to make.
Now, it would seem the Bears would have to give up draft capital for Hall if they really want him, which effectively removes his name from consideration.
On the other hand…
The news about the San Francisco 49ers and Trent Williams being in a contract dispute that could lead to the All-Pro tackle’s release could be incredibly intriguing for Chicago.
Williams, who continued to play at a high level in his age-37 season, enters the 2026 season with a $38.8 million cap hit and no guaranteed money left on his deal. Suffice it to say that’s not going to work for anyone. Of course, the 49ers have time to work something out with Williams before it’s too late. But it’s hard to ignore that a post-June 1 cut or trade could save San Fran $25 million in cap space (while netting just $13 million in dead cap). With quarterback Brock Purdy set to make a ton of money, the time might be now for the 49ers to move on.
If they do, the Bears should be one of the first teams on his agent’s line.
As much as we’ve talked about the Bears needing defensive line help, their need at left tackle is no less following Ozzy Trapilo’s patellar tendon injury. Chicago should treat 2026 as a complete redshirt year for Trapilo, and there’s no guarantee he’ll ever truly be back to 100%. As such, you need to look at short-term fixes (like Williams) as well as possibly longer-term ones in the draft (like Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor).
The problem: you really need to try and win before you have to start paying Caleb Williams $60 million a year and Darnell Wright possibly getting close to $20 million a season, not to mention what you’ll eventually need to pay Colston Loveland. So while drafting a cost-controlled rookie is the ideal play here, creating an unstoppable offensive line with Trent Williams for a year is awfully enticing. (Plus, that makes spending draft picks on the defensive front academic.)
Of course, there’s always that possibility that, assuming the Bears release D’Andre Swift, they’re also in the market to draft running backs. As I’ve written before, if there’s one player who gives Johnson his best imitation of Gibbs or Hall next to Williams, it would be Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price, who is creeping up draft boards as people take stock of how rough the free-agent RB market looks. As badly as the Bears need help up front, there’s an argument that signing someone like Williams at left tackle, swinging a deal or two for veteran help defensively in free agency, and taking one of the most dynamic offensive players in the draft at No. 25 is on the table. Hate it if you want, but do believe it’s possible.
(After all, don’t forget the possibility of a trade—looking at DJ Moore here—that nets the Bears a defensive player they need at either edge or tackle, allowing them to play the “best player available” game in the first round.)
Tell you this: the 2026 offseason is already getting weird, and I love it. Follow along for more updates and thoughts from the NFL Combine this week.
Khari is in Indy this week covering the NFL Combine for Windy City Gridiron and 2nd City Gridiron, so give him a follow on his socials here (Twitter) and here (Bluesky).
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 8: Jonathon Brooks #24 of the Carolina Panthers in action against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 8, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The final two entries of the Rising Stars of the Carolina Panthers series will be dedicated to the players on each side of the football who, while compelling in their own way, have not quite done enough to qualify as a ‘star’. Those who have had an eyebrow-raising game or two, but for one reason or another, their career has left a lot of unanswered questions.
Mitchell Evans and JT Sanders | Tight End
While both Evans and Sanders could have their own dedicated section, their story in the NFL so far and why they don’t qualify as a rising star are too similar not to bunch together. First and foremost, the tight end position is notoriously a difficult position for players to shine in during the first handful of years in the NFL. Both Day 3 draft picks from the previous two drafts, there is no shame in these two not already having a breakout season. Each player has had their moments where they look like they could be a long-term contributor to a productive offense, but it doesn’t look like NFL stardom is likely.
Of the two, Evans is the more steady player that looks to be where he should be when he’s expected to be there. No more, but thankfully no less. Evans doesn’t excel in anyone area, but can be fill in wherever he’s needed – even at quarterback.
Meanwhile, Sanders’ trajectory has been a bit of a roller coaster. Prior to a concussion versus the Kansas City Chiefs in his rookie year, Sanders had a stretch of making phenomenal plays, especially in contested catch situations. Since then, his production has been underwhelming. After receiving a fair bit of offseason hype, his 2025 season left many wanting more. Here’s hoping he can be a bit of a post-hype sleeper for the Panthers in 2026.
Jonathon Brooks | Running Back
After trading back in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Panthers loved Brooks enough to trade up a few spots to ensure they could secure his services – despite the young back still rehabbing a torn ACL from his final season in college. He would only get 23 snaps in his rookie year before re-tearing the same ACL and missing out on the final month of the 2024 season and his entire 2025 season.
However, those 23 snaps were really something in such a limited sample. Still only 22 years old, Brooks looked explosive and talented in his brief appearance and has done just enough to generate some cautious optimism regarding his future. Fingers crossed that nearly 21 months of rehab, recovery, and sitting in RB team meetings will have the former top 50 draft pick ready to make his mark.
Xavier Legette | Wide Receiver
Legette’s career thus far has been incredibly frustrating, and that’s putting it lightly. While being an likable personality to root for, the on-field mistakes occur far too often and are far too costly to justify continued playing time. Dropping catchable passes, awkward body catch attempts that negate the ability for YAC, near zero sideline awareness, the mistakes stand out like a sore thumb.
Yet, he sports a 6’1, 220lb frame that can hit 4.39 40 yard dash and gets open more often than he gets credit for. Legette has exemplary moments, like winning 1-on-1 against a defensive player of the year cornerback, but the low points of his game make it hard to justify playing time, especially when the likes of Jalen Coker were sitting behind him waiting for an opportunity. Legette still has the luxury of being a first round pick, so he’ll get more time than most young players to prove his worth. The clock is ticking, though.
He's definitely still raw, but there are Xavier Legette flashes. Man coverage TD vs. Surtain isn't easy. pic.twitter.com/Q6k5TwJMPH
The Wyatt Family and The Shield at WWE Elimination Chamber 2014 - WWE
The road to WWE WrestleMania 30 is remembered for many things. There's of course the whole "Yes Movement" surrounding Daniel Bryan and his, or should I say the fans', quest to see the ultimate underdog in the main event of WWE's biggest event. Behind the scenes, CM Punk deciding that he had enough of WWE and wrestling as a whole was still extremely fresh and was all some fans could talk about at that time, which naturally adjusted plans heading into WrestleMania.
Then there is rising stars of the midcard who were dangerously close to breaking through the glass ceiling into the main event scene. The three men who had been knocking their heads on that ceiling were The Shield. Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns had become the most dominant trio in modern WWE history, and had the backing of The Authority to keep them in and around the biggest names in the company. The only problem that WWE had was that The Shield had become so popular based solely on the fact that they were extremely cool, meaning that they weren't long for The Authority.
Enter The Wyatt Family. Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, and Erick Rowan arrived on the WWE main roster after ploughing their way through "WWE NXT" to become one of the most feared acts in the business. The Wyatt Family and The Shield were almost like two sides of the same coin. For all of their differences, they were similar in a lot of ways, particularly in the ring, and a showdown between the two teams had been talked about all through 2013 but there was no logical way of getting the two teams in the same ring. However, Wyatt's obsession with John Cena ended up costing Ambrose, Reigns, and Rollins spots in the Elimination Chamber match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and "The Hounds of Justice" simply couldn't let that slide, so a match between the six men was finally set.
As the 2026 Elimination Chamber event draws ever closer, we here at Wrestling Inc. have been shining a spotlight on some of the biggest matches andmoments related to this year's show and the subsequent road to WrestleMania 42. So it's only right that we turn back the clock by a dozen years and shine a spotlight on one of the best matches in the history of the Elimination Chamber event, and one of the best tag team matches in WWE history. Grab your lanterns or your riot gear, whichever side you land on, and join us as we shine a spotlight on The Shield vs. The Wyatt Family from WWE Elimination Chamber 2014.
The Wyatt Family and The Shield at WWE Elimination Chamber 2014 - WWE
WWE in the 2010s is a strange company. Despite the shift to PG at the end of the 2000s, there was still a yearning for the past with the constant need to remind people of years gone by with "Old School" episodes of "WWE Raw," the reliance on names from previous eras, and the overall vibe of an entire institution saying to its audience "Remember this? Remember when we used to be good?" But when WWE forgot all of that and decided to focus on the stars the people not only cared for, but could care for long into the future, it led to moments like this.
It's not often that a six-man tag team match has this much anticipation behind it, but my word did this match have people excited. Due to the fact that both teams were technically heels at the time, with The Shield leaning more towards being babyfaces, it gave the fans a reason to cheer for whoever they thought was cooler. The result was a white hot crowd cheering for basically everyone in the match, adding an extra layer of excitement to a match that didn't slow down for a second.
Both teams are evenly matched when it comes to their chemistry. The Shield have mastered the art of using the numbers to their advantage so that they can take complete control of the match whenever they have an opponent isolated. The Wyatts on the other hand aren't as smooth as a unit but know each other inside and out, to the point that when someone like Luke Harper wears someone down, Erick Rowan can come in and inflict even more of the same damage. This obviously builds up to a Roman Reigns hot tag, which was his specialty at the time, but again The Wyatts can wear "The Big Dog" down to force Seth Rollins to tag in. It's when Rollins gets worked over to the point where Dean Ambrose, the wild man of The Shield, says "screw it" and breaks up a pin attempt, all hell breaks loose.
There is a great sense of tension between the two teams, and when everything starts to break down, it's an absolute riot. Fireworks in human form, you don't have a moment to breathe without seeing Harper deliver a Tope Suicida, Rollins perform a Tope Con Hilo, and both Wyatt and Ambrose spilling into the crowd. The Wyatts use their own opponent's greatest weapons against them by slamming Rollins through the Spanish announce table, and with Ambrose still down in the crowd, it leaves Reigns alone with this set of behemoths that he does his best to overcome. It's in this moment where I believe WWE fully saw Reigns as the next face of the company because he was on fire when taking on The Wyatts single-handedly, but Harper provides a distraction and takes a Spear for his troubles, allowing Wyatt to hit the Sister Abigail for the hard-fought win.
NXT Actually Does Work
The Wyatt Family and The Shield on WWE Raw - WWE
If all six of these men weren't made men before WWE Elimination Chamber 2014, they were when it was all said and done. Both The Shield and The Wyatt Family were the hottest acts in WWE not named Daniel Bryan going in, and coming out of this show, and it looked as if WWE had just announced to the world that these six guys are the future of this business, which was...almost right.
Due to the way American wrestling is portrayed and structured, a tag team rivalry, especially in WWE, was never going to be a main event draw no matter what. However, it was clear that the company saw things for all six men in this match but it didn't quite work out for all of them.
For The Shield, their story has been told time and time again. Roman Reigns is a genuine international celebrity these days, and after some real teething problems as "The Big Dog" to the point where fans literally wanted anyone but him to be the top guy, he became "The Tribal Chief" and forced everyone in wrestling to acknowledge him. Once they all did that, Reigns has become one of the biggest stars in wrestling history, and his presence is sorely missed when he's not around. Seth Rollins has had his own Hall of Fame level career since turning on his Shield brothers in the summer of 2014, and has already been labeled a legend by the new crop of talent emerging from "WWE NXT." Dean Ambrose would have success in WWE, but he would reach his final form in AEW as Jon Moxley where he arguably the ace of that company, and also shows no signs of slowing down as the leader of the Death Riders.
The story of The Wyatt Family is a lot more tragic. The faction very quickly devolved from being an unstoppable main event act to just being a vehicle to get Bray Wyatt more over. Injuries would play their part in disrupting the group's momentum, but if anything, leaning more into making Wyatt his generation's version of The Undertaker made the character come off as a parody of itself at times, and outside of the odd moment as The Fiend, Wyatt wouldn't reach the heights everyone expected of him. We will never get a true Wyatt Family reunion now as we sadly lost Jon "Luke Harper" Huber at the end of 2020, and Windham "Bray Wyatt" Rotunda in 2023, two deaths that the wrestling world is still coming to terms with, and as for Erick Rowan, he is still a member of The Wyatt Sicks, a group that despite having its heart in the right place, is a far cry from the group that inspired it.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - NOVEMBER 23: Neville Gallimore #92 of the Indianapolis Colts and Laiatu Latu #97 of the Indianapolis Colts tackle Kareem Hunt #29 of the Kansas City Chiefs in the third quarter during the NFL 2025 game between Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Kansas City, United States. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) | Getty Images
An obvious area of weakness for the 2025 Kansas City Chiefs was the unreliable running game. While the Chiefs’ offense struggled to find any calling card, the lack of an explosive rushing attack was a key factor in their general ineffectiveness. There are plenty of reasons the team missed the postseason in 2025, but improving the playmaking from the backfield feels like a straightforward way to work towards a return to glory.
Most of Chiefs Kingdom can see that, and so can the team’s general manager, Brett Veach. When answering questions from reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday, he had a direct response to a question about the biggest weakness for the offense ahead of 2026, especially considering quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ recovery from injury.
“Certainly, we want to get more explosive in the running game,” Veach began. “The running game takes a lot of pressure off everybody. So, I think if we can be more explosive and effective in the running game, we can take a lot of pressure off Pat — especially coming back early in the season with the injury.”
The Chiefs employed a rushing attack of veteran backs Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt — both set to enter free agency this spring — and rookie Brashard Smith. Pacheco struggled to find his former explosiveness upon his return from a fractured fibula in 2024 and a sprained MCL, which sidelined him for three games in 2025. This forced Hunt into the featured role — rather than a complementary one for which he is best suited.
The 2026 Chiefs’ offense will (presumably) attack defenses differently. The coaching staff has been revamped with the return of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and two notable additions with running backs coach DeMarco Murray and wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea.
Kansas City has also made the most significant investment in its offensive line within the interior three. Center Creed Humphrey— along with guards Kingsley Suamataia and Trey Smith — will be relied upon heavily if the offense is to shift toward a more explosive rushing attack.
“We’ve invested in that interior,” Veach acknowledged, “with Trey Smith and Creed Humphrey — two of the best in the league. We thought Kingsley made a big step. Those are three talented interior players. We’ve talked about it — and [head coach Andy Reid] has done a great job with his staff cranking on the scheme eval — but I think being more explosive in the running game and really taking advantage of those interior three to kind of impose your will on an opposing team’s defense.”
While the run game struggled in 2025, the interior three for the Chiefs will remain the same. The running backs utilizing their services are yet to be determined, however. Without Pacheco and Hunt currently on the roster, Kansas City is likely to heavily scout running backs at the Combine — along with evaluating a strong pool of free agent backs.
Before the Chiefs’ on-field personnel can be established, Veach and Reid have already demonstrated through word and action that improving the running game is imperative for the team’s success in 2026.
The Pirates made a bit of news this offseason by… well, appearing to want to compete. They made an offer to Kyle Schwarber, which… well, it’s uncertain whether they actually thought he was going to sign, or whether this was simply an “open for business” sign.
They did wind up signing Ryan O’Hearn to what was termed the “largest position player free-agent signing in franchise history.” That’s two years, $29 million. Doesn’t seem like a lot in today’s market, but the Pirates haven’t been active at all along those lines. This was a good signing. O’Hearn is a good player.
The Pirates also spent some money signing Marcell Ozuna to a free-agent deal. Ozuna is 35 but still a productive player. What this meant, though, that Andrew McCutchen’s time in Pittsburgh came to an end, and with that, the likely end of McCutchen’s career, though he appeared to want to play one more year.
So it goes. Paul Skenes anchors the rotation and… well, that’s about it for the rotation, the rest is just okay. The bullpen could use some help, too.
The rest of the offense returns from last year, and that’s probably not good because the Pirates finished dead last in runs scored in MLB with just 583 (comparison point: the Cubs were sixth with 793). Plus, who is the real Oneil Cruz?
Key departures: Andrew McCutchen, Tommy Pham, Alexander Canario, Colin Holderman, Johan Oviedo
Key arrivals: Ryan O’Hearn, Marcell Ozuna, Jhostnyxon Garcia, Gregory Soto, Dominic Fletcher, Noah Davis, Chris Devenski, José Urquidy
At Wrigley Field: April 10-11-12 and Sept. 11-12-13
MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA - MARCH 9: Charlotte Mick of the Nebraska Cornhuskers shoots during the Division I Men's and Women's Rifle Championship at WVU Coliseum on March 9, 2024 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin Berl/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Nebraska basketball to host five-star shooting guard Ryan Hampton – Class of 2027 five-star shooting guard Ryan Hampton has scheduled a visit with the Nebraska basketball program on March 8. This was reported by On3’s Joe Tipton on Tuesday afternoon. (subscription needed).
NU Rifle Punches Ticket to NCAA Championships – The No. 2 Nebraska rifle team has qualified for the 2026 NCAA Championships, as the NCAA announced the eight-team field Monday evening.
2026 NFL mock draft: Mel Kiper’s pick predictions for Round 1 – More than 300 prospects will be in Indianapolis this week for the combine, but only 32 of them will ultimately go in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL draft on April 23. Let’s project those picks with my second mock draft for this cycle.
Sandhill Cranes Economic Impact More Than $19 Million – The Nebraska Flyway Partnership has released a new report developed in cooperation with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business Administration’s Department of Economics.
The Sporting News brings you Madrid's current injury list, as well as a look at their latest team news and a preview of how they could line up in their next match.
Below is the latest injury picture for Real Madrid, including estimated return dates for those who are sidelined.
Dean Huijsen
Injury: Calf
Expected return date: March 2 (vs. Getafe)
Defender Dean Huijsen has picked up a calf injury in the aftermath of the first leg against Benfica, and after missing out on the weekend's defeat to Osasuna, he has been ruled out of the return match at the Bernabeu. It does not seem like a serious issue, originally scheduled to be back for this second leg, but multiple reports indicate he needs some more time to recover and should be back on the weekend.
Kylian Mbappe
Injury: Knee
Expected return date: March 2 (vs. Getafe)
Kylian Mbappe has been dealing with knee soreness for months, missing time on various occasions. He sat for the early January match against Real Betis in league play, and was an unused substitute against Real Sociedad on February 14.
ESPN reported the day before the return leg against Benfica that Mbappe's knee flared up again, and they reported the morning of the game that he would miss out. The longer this lingers, the more there is a chance that Mbappe misses a longer stretch of time, but for now, it's safe to assume he will return in short order.
Rodrygo
Injury: Hamstring
Expected return date: March 2 (vs. Getafe)
After suffering a hamstring injury in mid-January, Rodrygo made a short return against Rayo Vallecano on February 1, seeing 13 minutes off the bench, but has gone back on the shelf since then. It's not expected to be a long-term issue, but it's also not a great sign when a player attempts to return from injury and then ends up out once more.
There are suggestions that he is returning to fitness and is thusly back in training, but being suspended for the return leg against Benfica in the Champions League, he will have to wait until La Liga action is back to take the field again.
Jude Bellingham
Injury: Hamstring
Expected return date: April
The England star suffered a hamstring injury against Rayo Vallecano in early February, and initially was expected to miss around four weeks. However, further reports a few days later indicated that he would be absent a bit longer than initially thought, and that he may not be available until April, leaving him out through the March international break.
Eder Militao
Injury: Hamstring
Expected return date: March
Militao, who has been fantastic since returning from his lengthy absences for multiple ACL tears, has gone down with a hamstring injury and will miss significant time.
After exiting in the 24th minute of their defeat to Celta Vigo on December 7, the club confirmed a tear to the "biceps femoris tendon" in his left hamstring, and he will miss up to four months. It is a devastating blow to the already thin Real Madrid back line.
Franco Mastantuono
Injury: Pubalgia
Expected return date: —
In late 2025, teenage midfielder Mastantuono was struck down by the same ailment that has hindered Barcelona star Lamine Yamal. Similar to what is known as a "sports hernia," the injury is one that has to be managed.
While Mastantuono is back to game fitness for Real Madrid, it is still notable to include him on the injury list as it could flare up at any time, and his minutes will likely need to be watched much more carefully than they had been at the start of the season after newly joining the team.
Real Madrid predicted lineup vs. Benfica
Formation: 4-4-2
Courtois (GK)
Carvajal, Rudiger, Asensio, Carreras
Valverde, Guler, Tchouameni, Camavinga
G. Garcia, Vinicius
Real Madrid fixture schedule: Next five games
Following their rematch with Benfica, Real Madrid will visit Osasuna in league play before two straight home fixtures which include the return leg of their Champions League playoff matchup against Jose Mourinho's side.
Real Madrid vs. Benfica | Champions League knockout playoff second leg | Wednesday, February 25
Real Madrid vs. Getafe | La Liga | Monday, March 2
Celta Vigo vs. Real Madrid | La Liga | Saturday, March 7
Real Madrid vs. Elche | La Liga | Sunday, March 15
Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid | La Liga | Sunday, March 22
After a long-awaited home win against Swansea City was followed up by a display that fell well below Derby's standards at Watford, the Rams travelled to Hull looking to bounce back and close the gap on the play-off places.
Before the game began there were a few eyebrows raised at the backline selected by John Eustace, with the head coach opting for three natural left-backs out of his four starting defenders.
Joe Ward, who has put in some impressive performances at right-back this season, and right-footed centre-back Dion Sanderson were both among the substitutes, leaving questions as to why neither of them were selected to start the game.
This decision would prove costly as Derby looked uncomfortable at the back from the off, with Hull's first two goals coming from two sloppy moments in defence.
Despite this, the Rams were starting to see that they were not the only team who possess defensive frailties, and equalised twice to bring the score level by half-time.
In the second half it was a case of who could be better in both boxes, and ultimately more clinical in front of goal. That team somehow managed to be Hull.
Despite ending the game with an expected goals of 3.27, the Rams were undone by a side who only registered 0.58 in xG.
Of course, stats do not win football matches, but on the balance of chances created, shots on target, and touches inside the opposition's box, Derby were significantly superior throughout.
With perhaps the most telling number from the match being Hull only registering three shots on target across the 90 minutes, despite scoring four goals.
The turning point, in my opinion, came in the 69th minute.
With the scores level at 2-2, Red Bull Salzburg loanee Bobby Clark, had a golden opportunity to fire the Rams into the lead. That chance was missed, and just six minutes later, Hull went 3-2 up instead.
How many times do we see that in football? One team being left to rue missed chances, with the other stealing the lead out of very little.
The overriding feeling from the whole performance was that Derby did not play badly, and Hull were not particularly excellent either.
A few individual errors in Derby's backline, paired with the Rams not being clinical enough in front of goal, left the scoreline flattering Hull.
It did feel as though changes could've been made by Derby quicker as John Eustace only decided to call upon Rhian Brewster and Carlton Morris after Hull went ahead.
For me, this was too little too late, and had the changes been made 10-15 minutes sooner, I think Derby could've nudged ahead whilst momentum was in their favour.
Looking ahead to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, it's pretty simple really - Derby must be more clinical.
That could be achieved by reintroducing joint top scorer Morris to the starting line-up, and pushing Patrick Agyemang back into a wide role, where I personally believe he looks most comfortable and confident.
The positive thing for Derby is that we now have a plethora of attacking options, of a significantly higher calibre than what we have had in previous seasons.
With the reassurance of that strength in depth, I believe the Rams' current struggles with converting chances to goals won't become a long-term problem, and I fully expect to see Derby put their back-to-back defeats behind them on Saturday.
You can often catch Amelia Warren as a guest on BBC Radio Derby.
With the national championship game being played deep into January, there has been chatter about changing the timeline to ease the burdensome calendar. Army football coach Jeff Monken has brought forward an idea to help the change.
Monken, the Army coach since 2014, told The Athletic he favors moving the historic annual matchup between Army-Navy to Thanksgiving weekend, which could CFP to start a week earlier.
“There’s not an appetite for the college football season to go all the way to the end of January,” Monken said. “There’s a real hope that we can get this thing into one semester, and have the championship game around Jan. 1, which I think would be awesome.”
The Army-Navy game has been played on the second Saturday of December since 2009, to avoid running up against conference championship games. But one of the CFP's reasons for starting the playoff two weeks after conference championship games has been the Army-Navy game.
However, prior to 2009, the matchup between the Black Knights and the Midshipmen was played on Thanksgiving weekend.
While the idea could garner some public backing, according to the Capital Gazette, Navy athletic director Michael Kelly was "surprised" by the idea and does not seem to be a fan.
“I’m always open-minded to different options, but I’m not supportive of the Thanksgiving suggestion,” Kelly said. “I think that would be really detrimental to our revenue potential in terms of viewership and sponsorship.”
Both Navy and Army play in the American Conference, which means if either qualifies for the conference championship game, they would play back-to-back weeks and then potentially in the playoffs if they were to reach.
Monken's idea is to make sure the game is preserved and not lost as a casualty to the potential growth of the CFP.
“I think Army-Navy is a huge part of the history of college football, and what it is today, even. Give us a four-hour block on Thanksgiving, or on Friday of Thanksgiving, or on Saturday of Thanksgiving, and give us a four-hour block, and just say nobody else plays during this four-hour block,” Monken said. “That’s still protecting the game.”
While Kelly agrees with Monken's premise of protecting the game, he does not agree to the idea of moving the game up a week.
“While I understand the rationale and recognize the need to be flexible, I’m just not supportive of playing the Army-Navy Game on Thanksgiving weekend. I think it’s premature to jump to that holiday, which I don’t think would work,” Kelly said. “There is a reason why large-scale, neutral site college football games aren’t held around Thanksgiving. There are other better options that can be considered and discussed moving forward.”
In addition, Davidson was named the National Freshman of the Week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. This is her fourth time earning the honor this season.
Davidson is coming off of two more strong performances for the Women of Troy. First, she put up 24 points, six assists, and five rebounds in a home victory over Wisconsin. Then, she had 32, four, and six, respectively, in a tight road loss to No. 10 Ohio State.
On the season, Davidson is averaging 18.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. Right now, she appears to be the heavy favorite to be the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Davidson will look to make it five Freshman of the Week awards in a row this week as the Trojans enter the final week of the regular season. She will have the opportunity to do so against both one of the worst teams in the league and one of the best, as USC visits a Penn State team that is 3-13 in conference play Wednesday before hosting No. 2 UCLA on Sunday.
"The Lions have four 2023 draft picks they want to extend -- LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell and Brian Branch -- and there are people around the league who wonder whether they'll be able to get all of those deals done or if they'd have to trade someone," Graziano writes. "Even if the Lions can't extend LaPorta, I think the odds of them trading him are extremely thin, as Detroit still sees itself in a win-now window."
That last sentence is the key point. The Lions don't gain enough in the present by trading away their high-end tight end.
Either way, LaPorta probably sticks around. They'd just like to see him bounce back in the right direction a little bit.
"LaPorta had back surgery this past season (489 receiving yards, three touchdowns) and hasn't looked as explosive as he did as a rookie (889 yards, 10 scores in 2023), but he remains one of the most exciting young receivers at the position," Solak writes. "Teams looking for a high-volume receiving tight end might be willing to spend a draft pick now on LaPorta, instead of risking a bidding war in free agency in 2027 should he come back to form."
That also should be an indicator for the Lions. The more teams that want LaPorta, maybe the more advisable it is to keep him. Clearly, he's still a valuable commodity.
Funeral arrangements are scheduled for the former Trinity High School football player Rondale Moore, who died Feb. 21 in New Albany, Indiana, at the age of 25.
Moore's funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. March 6 at Northside Christian Church, 4407 Charlestown Road in New Albany. A burial service at Fairview Cemetery in New Albany will follow the funeral, according to an obituary for Moore. Visitation services will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Northside Christian.
A New Albany native, Moore crossed into Louisville to play for Trinity's varsity football team, and would go on to earn a first-team All-State selection as a senior in 2017. He then played three seasons of college football at Purdue University, where he was a consensus first-team All-American and won the Paul Hornung Award as a freshman in 2018.
The Arizona Cardinals selected Moore in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Moore played for the Cardinals for three seasons and later had stints with the Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings.
After learning of his death, players and coaches from the high school, collegiate and professional ranks honored Moore in social media posts and public statements. Jeff Brohm, who coached Moore at Purdue prior to his hiring at the University of Louisville, said Moore was the "ultimate competitor" and a "complete joy to coach."
CINCINNATI, OHIO - OCTOBER 25: Dontay Corleone #2 of the Cincinnati Bearcats reacts during the fourth quarter against the Baylor Bears at Nippert Stadium on October 25, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sports Info Solutions just dropped their first big board of the 2026 draft class, which features 246 prospects. They have a bunch of interesting stats in there, which include the rate that defensive tackles actually played the nose tackle position. For Green Bay Packers fans, that data might be worth looking at.
The story of the Packers’ defense in 2025 was simple. They had arguably the best first-quarter defense in football last year. After that, their defensive line wore down, as they couldn’t get teams to stop running the ball on them. In part, this issue was caused by the team being unable to replace Kenny Clark, their projected starting 2025 nose tackle, who was involved in the Micah Parsons trade.
While the Packers made several smaller moves at the position throughout the year (talented big bodies don’t become available during the season), none of those players were able to replace the void that Clark left, even as a collective. I expect Green Bay to add a starting nose tackle, be it in free agency or the draft, this offseason, so they don’t have to rely on Colby Wooden, who came into the NFL at 273 pounds, consistently eating double teams for the second straight year. The nose tackle position should only be highlighted more if the Packers shift to a 3-4 defense (which is expected and GM Brian Gutekunst might have spilled the beans about during his combine press conference).
So, which defensive tackles in the upcoming class are actually nose tackles, the market that Green Bay should be in this offseason? Let’s take a look, using SIS’s data.
Consensus Interior Defensive Line Rankings — 2026 NFL Draft
#17: Peter Woods, Clemson (14% nose tackle rate)
#26: Caleb Banks, Florida (9%)
#29: Kayden McDonald, Ohio State (60%)
#35: Lee Hunter, Texas Tech (31% – 50% in 2025)
#47: Christen Miller, Georgia (30%)
#71: Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida State (24% – 37% in 2025)
#77: Domonique Orange, Iowa State (73%)
#97: Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati (85%)
#112: Gracen Halton, Oklahoma (24%)
#121: Tim Keenan III, Alabama (42%)
#130: Skyler Gill-Howard, Texas Tech (2%)
#132: Chris McClellan, Missouri (15%)
#134: Zane Durant, Penn State (12%)
#137: Rayshaun Benny, Michigan (4%)
#163: DeMonte Capehart, Clemson (26%)
For the most part, this is what I expected from the top defensive tackles in the class. I haven’t gotten the chance to see everyone (mostly the top guys), but this passes what I’ve seen on film (I’m surprised the giant at Florida didn’t get more looks at nose, though).
Based on the data, all-star game measurements, measurement projections and SIS’s nose tackle data, here are the top-150-ish guys who I think can credibly be called nose tackles in the 2026 draft:
#29: Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
#35: Lee Hunter, Texas Tech
#71: Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida State
#77: Domonique Orange, Iowa State
#97: Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati
#121: Tim Keenan III, Alabama
#163: DeMonte Capehart, Clemson
I don’t think that McDonald or Hunter will be available at #52, but we’ll see. Usually, top-40 guys don’t last that long unless they’re injury or off-field red flag guys. Personally, I’d consider Hunter more of a three-technique (he stunted a lot in his lone season as a true nose tackle, so it’s not like his job was taking on double-teams) than a nose tackle, but you’ll see him listed as a nose tackle for the most part.
Every single one of these players is expected to weigh in over 310 pounds in Indianapolis later this week. If you’re keeping a short list for the position, this is where I would start.
Once upon a time, draft pundits and respected voices around the Philadelphia Eagles believed Nakobe Dean could land with the Birds as a first-round pick. That was the 2022 NFL Draft in Las Vegas. Dean was even invited to attend, which is typically a signal that a player expects to hear his name early.
Instead, he slid to the third round in one of the event's biggest surprises. Almost four years later, he eyes free agency, and it's worth asking a question. Could lightning strike twice? Could Dean stay in Philadelphia for less than most thought he was capable of earning?
Dean has developed into a respected leader, defensive signal-caller, and productive off-ball linebacker when healthy. The debate surrounding his future has centered on competing realities. First, there's his on-field impact versus his injury history. Would another team outbid Philadelphia based on his upside? Or would durability concerns be enough to suppress his market enough to keep him within reach?
There's growing evidence that the latter could happen.
Nakobe Dean is named among potential underpriced NFL stars who are approaching free agency.
"The former third-round pick owns the type of athleticism and playmaking that could get him paid this offseason. In four seasons in Philly, the off-ball linebacker proved he could get after the quarterback (7.5 sacks) and patrol the middle of the field. However, an extensive injury history could curtail his payday. The defender hasn’t played a full slate since 2017, missing 21 missed regular-season games over the past three seasons alone, and was out for most of Philly’s Super Bowl run in 2024. Teams generally shy away from spending big on players with long-term durability questions, which could put Dean on a short-term prove-it path."
That said, we repeat the question. What are the chances that lightning strikes twice and the Eagles can again score Dean for a discount? Patra doesn't take a stab at a possible price, but earlier this month, Spotrac projected a four-year deal worth $31,599,724 as being fair.
That's an annual salary of $7,899,931. If the market lands near or below that number, retaining a defensive quarterback entering his prime becomes far more appealing.
Here's the reality: players with Dean's instincts, leadership traits, and scheme familiarity don't grow on trees. If the price stays reasonable, this isn't just a sentimental reunion. It's smart roster building, and if history repeats itself with another unexpected discount, Philadelphia would be wise not to overthink it.
The surgeon who operated on Lazio midfielder Nicolo Rovella offered an estimated timeline for the player’s rehabilitation period.
The Background
The 24-year-old made his first start in Serie A since recovering from a long-term groin injury that had kept him out of action for more than three months. Maurizio Sarri gave him the nod in the away fixture against Cagliari on Saturday. But, unfortunately for the Italian, his outing ended with another serious knock.
Nicolo Rovella Fractured His Collarbone
Rovella fell to the ground following a challenge from Ze Pedro, and his awkward landing caused a fractured collarbone. On Monday, the player underwent surgery in Rome, with Dr Giovanni Di Giacomo overseeing the operation.
Rovella Set for Three Months on the Sidelines
In his interview with Il Corriere dello Sport (via La Lazio Siamo Noi), Di Giacomo revealed that Rovella will likely be out for three months, but he should be able to return to training after almost 60 days.
For us, it’s a routine surgery, but in football it’s less common. He is highly motivated and eager to recover as quickly as possible, although the necessary biological timelines for this type of injury must naturally be respected.
Generally speaking, we’re looking at around three months. A return to group training is expected around the second month, while additional time will be needed before he can resume playing and engage in physical duels during matches.
Nicolo Rovella (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)
The Lazio midfielder will don a shoulder brace for around 25 days. Afterwards, his condition will be closely monitored by Lazio’s physiotherapists, who were praised by Di Giacomo.
They are very experienced professionals and we have already agreed on a specific protocol that includes gym work, pool sessions, and other progressive phases. I’ve treated many footballers, especially for shoulder dislocations. In terms of incidence, these issues are less common than more classic injuries such as cruciate ligament tears.
Football is a sport in which the knee and ankle are the most stressed joints, but as it is also a contact sport, dislocations — and more rarely, collarbone fractures — can occur. It was an unfortunate incident, and unfortunately it happened to Rovella.
Rovella Vows to Work Hard During Rehabilitation
For his part, Rovella pledged to work as hard as possible to accelerate his recovery process.
My main focus now is on making the right steps in my rehabilitation. I will work hard to be available again as soon as possible.
David Lynch slams Wayne Rooney over ‘pathetic’ Arne Slot comments
Arne Slot, Wayne Rooney and the Aura Argument That Missed the Point
There are times in football when a comment lands with all the grace of a miskicked clearance, and Wayne Rooney’s musings about Liverpool’s supposed lack of “aura” fell squarely into that category. It was the sort of take that drifts across a Sunday sofa, half-formed, half-baked, and quickly picked apart by those who spend their days studying the game rather than simply reacting to it.
As reported by journalist David Lynch on Anfield index’s Media Matters, the response to Rooney’s line of thinking was swift and sharp. Lynch did not hide his incredulity. “I just think it’s pathetic, to be honest… I’m not convinced by Rooney as a pundit at all… I just can’t believe that anyone said that and actually believes that,” he said. It was a reminder that football debate, for all its passion, still demands substance.
Liverpool, under Arne Slot, are judged on results, structure and intent. They are judged on points accumulated, matches won and trophies lifted. Aura, meanwhile, is a word that sounds better in a playground argument than in a serious football analysis.
Arne Slot’s Liverpool judged by silverware, not social media chatter
Slot has inherited a club that knows its standards. Liverpool supporters are not interested in mystique; they are interested in momentum. They have seen league titles won, European nights conquered and eras built on discipline, not adjectives.
Lynch captured it perfectly when he added: “All this talk about aura is just like what fifteen-year-olds do on Twitter… I don’t think grown adults should be engaging with that form of football chat.” There is a truth in that which cuts through the noise.
Aura does not stop a counter-attack. Aura does not mark a striker at a set-piece. Aura does not press the ball high up the pitch. Football is a craft of movement, timing and decision-making. Slot knows this. His Liverpool side are measured by their pressing triggers, their midfield rotations and their ability to control transitions.
Rooney, a great footballer in his day, understands winning better than most. Which is why his argument jarred so much with those who follow the sport closely. Liverpool’s identity has always been forged in achievement. As Lynch bluntly put it: “What more aura can you have than winning the Premier League title?”
Photo: @LFC on X
David Lynch’s critique highlights changing standards of punditry
Modern football is awash with opinion. Every post-match studio offers verdicts before the grass has even settled. But there is a difference between analysis and noise, between insight and cliché.
David Lynch’s comments reflected a frustration shared by many supporters. Punditry should illuminate tactics, explain decisions, reveal the hidden geometry of the game. Instead, too often, it leans on vague notions of character or presence.
Rooney’s remark became a case study in how discourse can drift away from reality. Liverpool under Slot are a work in progress, yes, but they are also a side rooted in principles: intensity, structure and ambition. These are tangible qualities. They can be tracked in data and seen in patterns of play.
Aura, by contrast, is a myth. It is a word used when analysis runs out.
Bigger picture for Liverpool and football commentary
There is an irony here. Rooney’s playing career was built on ferocious honesty. He chased lost causes, pressed defenders and demanded excellence. That is why Liverpool fans, and football followers more broadly, expect more from him in the studio.
Slot, meanwhile, will continue to focus on the things that matter. Training ground detail. Squad cohesion. Tactical clarity. Liverpool’s history is filled with managers who cared little for reputation and much for results.
In the end, football has its own language. It is spoken in clean sheets, title races and nights when the Kop roars loud enough to shake belief into a tired side. That is aura enough.
And if Liverpool lift silverware again under Arne Slot, as David Lynch rightly implied, there will be no debate about presence or mystique. Only about achievement.
De Ligt's continuing absence means Man Utd without 'best' defensive duo for over a year
Matthijs de Ligt is still no closer to returning to the pitch as Manchester United continue to be without what is potentially their best centre-back pairing.
The Dutch defender has been absent since the 2-1 win away to Crystal Palace (who travel to Old Trafford this Sunday) and it seems that he is not going to return any time soon.
According to journalist Tyrone Marshall of the Manchester Evening News, De Ligt has been close to a return a couple of times only for his back pain to return. Back and hip injuries in particular are difficult to put a timescale on and there is still no date for when the 26-year-old will return.
That leaves Manchester United without what could, on paper, be their best centre-back partnership for over a year.
Neither De Ligt nor Lisandro Martínez have started a game together this season and the two have only been on the pitch at the same time for just over 10 minutes when the Argentinian, who has had his own fitness issues in recent months, came on as an 82nd minute substitute at Selhurst Park.
Before that, the Dutchman had come on as a substitute for an injured Martínez in February 2025, with the Eagles winning 2-0 in Manchester that time.
That means the last time United started both Martínez and De Ligt was in the Europa League, in a 2-0 win away to Romanian side FCSB back in January 2025.
Of course, Michael Carrick is lucky that he can count on Harry Maguire as well as younger defenders Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven. But being without arguably the best defensive pairing will certainly not have helped United's fortunes in the past year.
Official – Michael Fabbri To Referee Inter Milan Vs Genoa Serie A Clash
Referee Michael Fabbri will be in charge of Saturday’s Serie A clash between Inter Milan and Genoa.
The Lega Serie A have announced the complete list of officials for the weekend, via FCInterNews. Lorenzo Maggioni will be on VAR duty for the match.
Inter Milan suffered a disappointing Champions League exit at the hands of Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday.
However, the Nerazzurri are leading the way in Serie A, boasting a ten-point lead over second-placed AC Milan.
Furthermore, Cristian Chivu has led his side to seven consecutive league wins, including a 2-0 victory at Lecce last weekend.
Meanwhile, Genoa halted a three-game winless Serie A run with a 3-0 home win over Torino, moving three points clear of the bottom three.
Michael Fabbri to Referee Inter Milan vs Genoa Serie A Clash – Maggioni On VAR
EMPOLI, ITALY – OCTOBER 6: Michael Fabbri referee looks on during the Serie A TIM match between Empoli FC and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Carlo Castellani on October 6, 2023 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Katie Taylor has confirmed she will bring the curtain down on her decorated career after a farewell fight in Dublin this summer.
The undisputed light-welterweight champion has not fought since she won her trilogy fight with Amanda Serrano in New York last July.
On Wednesday, the 39-year-old Irishwoman said she remains hopeful her swansong fight will take place at Croke Park.
"I just want to fight in Dublin to end my career," she told RTE.
"Obviously we're still hoping for Croke Park, we're hanging on to a bit of hope that it can happen. If it doesn't happen there are plenty of options there. I have obviously fought in the 3Arena a couple of times, the Aviva Stadium is also there.
The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics delivered all the high-stakes drama we expected, with Team USA bringing the heat across the snow and ice. But once the closing ceremonies wrap up and the athletes start packing their bags, the conversation inevitably shifts from national pride to regional bragging rights. It’s one thing to say America dominated the podium internationally, but it’s entirely different to look at exactly which states are breeding this level of elite winter talent. You can talk about national training facilities all you want, but the reality is that certain zip codes just produce cold-weather warriors better than others.
When you break down the final medal count geographically, a very clear hierarchy emerges. While athletes from all over the country contributed to the overall tally, there are undisputed heavyweight regions when it comes to Winter Olympic glory. From the frozen, character-building winters of the Midwest to the high-altitude, world-class slopes out West, the hardware is heading back to specific states in serious bunches. We’ve tallied up the final numbers to see exactly which states carried the heaviest load for Team USA this time around. If you’ve ever wondered where the real heart of American winter sports beats, the data paints an undeniable picture. We are bypassing the one-off winners to focus purely on the heavy hitters. Here are the top 16 U.S. states that brought home multiple Olympic medals this year, proving once again that when the temperature drops, certain parts of the country just take over.
16. Alaska
Feb 14, 2026; Milan, Italy; Jeremy Swayman of United States against Denmark in men’s ice hockey group C play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Stats: 2 total medals (1 Gold, 1 Silver) Notable Medalists: Jeremy Swayman (Gold, Men’s Hockey); Alex Hall (Silver, Freeskiing)
There is something poetic about athletes from the most extreme winter state on the map stepping onto an Olympic podium. Alaska doesn’t just experience winter; it is winter, and the athletes it produces carry that unbreakable, frontier-hardened edge everywhere they compete. When you’ve trained in conditions that would sideline most of the world, a little thing like international pressure barely registers on the meter.
Feb 19, 2026; Milan, Italy; Amber Glenn of the United States reacts after competing in the women’s free skate during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
The Lone Star State isn’t exactly a winter wonderland, which makes its placement on this list an absolute flex. Elite athleticism translates anywhere, and skaters like Amber Glenn have proved Texas can hang with natural-born cold-weather competitors on the ice. It’s a testament to raw talent thriving outside of traditional winter comfort zones.
14. Utah
Feb 20, 2026; Milan, Italy; Corinne Stoddard of the United States celebrates after winning the bronze medal in the women’s short track speed skating 1500m final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
With Salt Lake City’s enduring Olympic pedigree, Utah remains a perennial powerhouse in winter sports. The Wasatch Front remains a premium training ground, offering some of the best high-altitude access in the world. Their athletes are practically born with skis and skates on, and the results speak for themselves.
13. Wyoming
Feb 8, 2026; Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy; Breezy Johnson of the United States celebrates on the podium with her gold medal in the women’s downhill alpine skiing race during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
Stats: 3 total medals (1 Gold, 2 Silver) Notable Medalists: Breezy Johnson (Gold, Alpine Skiing)
Rugged, unrelenting, and unapologetically tough, Wyoming athletes brought that cowboy mentality to the world stage. Headlined by downhill skier Breezy Johnson capturing an emotional gold, they grind out gritty performances in the harshest conditions. When the elements get nasty, this is the exact crowd you want representing you.
12. Pennsylvania
Feb 14, 2026; Milan, Italy; Vincent Trocheck of the United States during the warm-up before the match against Denmark in men’s ice hockey group C play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Stats: 3 total medals (2 Gold, 1 Bronze) Notable Medalists: Vincent Trocheck (Gold, Men’s Hockey)
From the notoriously tough rinks of Philly and Pittsburgh to the local slopes of the Poconos, Pennsylvania brings a blue-collar edge to the Winter Games. These athletes don’t rely on flash; they put their heads down and do the heavy lifting. That working-class mentality consistently translates into clutch podium finishes.
Stats: 3 total medals (2 Gold, 1 Silver) Notable Medalists: Jordan Stolz (Gold x2, Speedskating)
Feb 14, 2026; Milan, Italy; Jordan Stolz of the United States celebrates after winning the men’s speed skating 500m during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Speed Skating Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
The Midwest chill isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a character-building tool, and Wisconsin athletes use it to forge serious mental toughness. Powered by speedskating phenom Jordan Stolz’s double-gold performance, the state showed it builds competitors who are unflappable under the brightest lights. You can never count out an athlete raised in this kind of deep freeze.
10. Missouri
Feb 12, 2026; Milan, Italy; Matthew Tkachuk of United States in action with Renars Krastenbergs of Latvia in men’s ice hockey group C play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Stats: 4 total medals (4 Gold) Notable Medalists: Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk, Clayton Keller (Gold, Men’s Hockey)
Missouri might fly under the radar as a winter sports hub, but their athletes showed up massive in Milan with a clean sweep of exclusively gold medals. Driven largely by St. Louis-area hockey royalty imposing their will on the international stage, they came into these Games quietly and left with a suitcase full of hardware.
9. Vermont
[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Feb 18, 2026; Tesero, Italy; Gus Schumacher of United States and Ben Ogden of United States celebrate with their silver medals after finishing second in the men’s cross country skiing team sprint freestyle final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kacper Pempel/Reuters via Imagn Images
Stats: 4 total medals (4 Silver) Notable Medalists: Ben Ogden (Silver, Cross-Country Skiing)
The Green Mountain State always punches way above its weight class when the snow starts falling. With a legendary local skiing culture and academy systems built for endurance and speed, they are a permanent threat on any alpine or cross-country course. Vermont produces pure racers who know exactly how to ride the edge of disaster.
8. Ohio
Jan 31, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Rangers center J.T. Miller (8) moves the puck against Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Egor Chinakhov (59) during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Stats: 4 total medals (4 Gold) Notable Medalists: J.T. Miller (Gold, Men’s Hockey)
Deep Midwest roots mean these athletes aren’t afraid of the cold, and Ohio delivered an incredibly efficient, flawless medal haul. Putting up a perfect four golds shows that their athletes bring a focused, business-like approach to their craft. They treated Italy like a business trip and completely delivered on expectations.
7. Illinois
Oct 29, 2025; New York, NY, UNITED STATES; Kendall Coyne Schofield poses for a photo during the U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit in preparation for the 2026 Milan Olympic Winter Games at Javits Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
Powered by the athletic epicenter of Chicago and its surrounding freeze, Illinois churned out consistent podium threats all tournament long. Their athletes have access to elite coaching and facilities, turning raw potential into refined, international-caliber skill. They are a volume-producing state that knows how to finish the job on the ice.
6. Massachusetts
Feb 20, 2026; Milan, Italy; Jack Eichel (9) of the United States celebrates with the bench after scoring a goal during the second period against Slovakia in a men’s ice hockey semifinal during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Stats: 5 total medals (4 Gold, 1 Silver) Notable Medalists: Jack Eichel, Noah Hanifin, Matt Boldy (Gold, Men’s Hockey)
New England grit is a very real intangible, and Boston’s sprawling sports culture clearly bleeds into its winter programs. Between the legendary college hockey hotbeds and competitive local rinks, this state produces athletes who thrive under intense pressure. They expect to win, and that swagger was obvious on the podium.
Olympic gold medalist, Chris Lillis, a Pittsford native, visited School 19 in Rochester on March 11, 2022 where his mother, Jamie Lillis, teaches and talked about his experience and showed the students his gold medal. He is joined by Olympic teammates Megan Nick, a bronze medalist, and Winter Vinecki. The three competed in aerial freestyle skiing at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing. They gave a brief talk about training and perseverance. Lillis has been visiting his mother’s school for years.
Chris Lillis Shows Gold Medal
Stats: 6 total medals (6 Gold) Notable Medalists: Charlie McAvoy (Gold, Men’s Hockey); Chris Lillis (Gold, Mixed Aerials)
From upstate mountains to Long Island ice rinks, New York’s sheer volume and sporting culture translated into serious international dominance. With a flawless sweep of six gold medals, they proved they aren’t just participating; they are dictating the pace of competition. It’s a massive state with a massive footprint on the Winter Games.
4. Colorado
Gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States celebrates during the medal ceremony for the women’s slalom during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre. Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
The thin air and legendary Rockies make Colorado the ultimate incubator for alpine events, serving as a prerequisite training ground for greatness. They don’t just host winter sports; it’s a lifestyle permanently etched into their DNA. When you train on top of the world every day, performing on the biggest stage comes naturally.
3. California
Alysa Liu of the United States celebrates with the gold medal in the women’s free skate during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena. Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
The Golden State isn’t just surfing and sunshine; its high ranking here is a wake-up call to the rest of the country. Their elite training centers down south and the peaks of Tahoe crank out world-class winter talent with alarming consistency. They have the resources, the weather diversity, and the athletes to completely dominate.
2. Michigan
Feb 13, 2026; Milan, Italy; Kirsten Simms of United States in action against Italy in a women’s ice hockey quarterfinal during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Playing a bruising, relentless brand of winter competition, the Great Lakes State is a certified factory for ice-based sports. Michigan’s deep-rooted culture of freezing-weather competition produced an absolute army of hockey gold medalists this year. They show up, do the grueling work, and bring home the metal by the bucketload.
1. Minnesota
Feb 10, 2026; Milan, Italy; Taylor Heise (27) of the United States skates with the puck against Canada in women’s ice hockey group A play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Stats: 13 total medals (8 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze) Notable Medalists: Brock Faber, Jake Oettinger, Jackson LaCombe (Gold, Men’s Hockey); Taylor Heise (Gold, Women’s Hockey); Cory Thiesse (Silver, Curling); Jessie Diggins (Bronze, Cross-Country Skiing); Paula Moltzan (Bronze, Alpine Skiing)
The State of Hockey reigns absolutely supreme, proving once again that nobody does winter quite like the folks up north. It takes a different kind of grit to grow up training in sub-zero temperatures, and Minnesota translated that toughness directly to the Olympic podium behind legendary hockey and skiing performances. When you live in the ice, you learn how to conquer it better than anyone else.
The domestic scoreboard resets
Feb 14, 2026; Milan, Italy; Jordan Stolz of the United States celebrates after winning the men’s speed skating 500m during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Speed Skating Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
The beauty of the Olympics is how it brings fifty individual states together under one unified banner, but a little internal rivalry is exactly what fuels the next generation. Minnesota gets to comfortably wear the crown for now, but you can bet the rest of the country is already taking notes and hitting the ice to close the gap. The grind for 2030 starts today, and the map is officially marked.
Feb. 25—Climbing a ladder to cut off a piece of the net with purple scissors surrounded by a sea of students chanting each of their victorious Bengals' names, another trophy finding its purple-and-gold home and a state tournament berth — all for the second year in a row.
Yeah, Lewiston could certainly get used to this.
Behind a 49-point second half, the Lewiston boys basketball team left any notion of this game — which they trailed by three at halftime — going any other way in the distant past.
Senior guard Royce Fisher tallied a career-high point total for the second straight contest and the Bengals beat the Sandpoint Bulldogs 72-54 to win the 5A Inland Empire League district tournament championship on Tuesday at Lewiston High School.
"Feels great to do it twice," said Lewiston senior center Mason Way. "We deserve it. We've been working all season, but now we're ready for State."
For the Bengals to get back to State, they needed to buy in to the program, Lewiston coach Brooks Malm said.
"This senior class won four Golden Thrones in a row. They've won two Avista Tournament titles. They just won back-to-back league titles," said Malm, wearing the remainder of the clipped net around his neck. "This senior class and the guys on this team, they've built this program. I'm so grateful. That's how I feel — so grateful and blessed."
No loss of confidence
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The Bengals began this contest quite similarly to how last week's meeting with Sandpoint and districts win over Moscow began: Fisher made some baskets.
The senior shooter found himself at the foul line following his first make for a traditional 3-point play, then made a modern 3-pointer soon after.
However, Sandpoint ensured that its two-hour drive south would not lack drama.
As the Bengals' missed shots began to add up, Sandpoint capitalized at the other end of the floor.
The Bulldogs got a few buckets to carve out an 8-0 run. Knox Williams' 3-point shot gave Sandpoint an 8-6 lead before Blaze Hepburn broke a multi-minute scoring drought for Lewiston with a 3 of his own.
The Bulldogs appeared capable of weaving through the Lewiston defense, at one point zipping the ball all over the floor until they found Logan Iverson wide open under the rim to gain a 13-11 lead.
Fisher capped the quarter with the second of his game-high five 3-pointers and Lewiston led 14-13.
Sandpoint's persistence carried over to the second quarter.
While the Bengals went into the locker room at intermission down on the scoreboard, Hepburn, who sank three of his four 3-pointers in the second half, said the Bengals had not lost their confidence.
"I know I'm a shooter. I'll never stop shooting," Hepburn said. "And I think coach Malm's helped me with that throughout my high school career, getting it in my head that 'shooters don't stop.'"
The Bengals roared back to life in the third quarter with Walker tying the game at 28 apiece with a 3 and Fisher, a Lewis-Clark State basketball commit, sinking a layup over a defender's head to give the Bengals the 30-29 lead.
Fisher finished with a career-high 35 points off of 11 made baskets and an 8-of-12 mark from the free-throw line.
Walker posted 16 points — most of which came in the second half to help make that one-point third quarter lead an 18-point advantage by the final buzzer.
Malm said that he felt like the Bengals were good in both halves, but did a much better job of making simple baskets in the second half than they did in the first.
"We had a few plays where we were pretty undisciplined, pretty unfundamentally sound, and that cost us, whether it was a possession or points going the other way," Malm said. "In the second half ... we didn't have anybody trying to do it alone. And in turn, the ball started spinning around and zipping around, and passes were connecting, hitting guys in the hands, and then from there we were able to play."
'All-American in my role'
At some point last season, Way said that his coaches told him that his defensive skills were how he was going to get onto the court.
So, he took it to heart and on Tuesday night, Way "played his absolute tail off," as Malm put it.
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"He was super disruptive. He caused chaos. He sprinted back in transition defense, which isn't a statistic, but it just saved us so many points," Malm said. "He did so much tonight. He was unbelievable."
Late in the second quarter, Fisher missed a free throw and Way hustled to grab it.
What followed was an around-the-horn clinic as Way whipped the ball outside to Fisher in the right corner, who chucked it to Jordan Walker, who passed it to Hepburn, who found Brady Rudolph in the right corner for 3 that cut Sandpoint's lead to 25-24.
"I'm just trying to be an All-American in my role," Way said. "I mean, we got guys that can score, so I just need to go out there, do my part."
Way, Malm said, is a great example of the Bengals' team culture.
"Those guys right there, that's why he does it," Malm said, gesturing to Fisher, Walker and Hepburn, who sat several rows down in the bleachers for a live radio interview with 105.1 The River broadcaster Austin Samuels. "He'll do anything for his teammates. He's a great kid. He's a guy that you want to have on your team."
Boise-bound again
The Bengals' journey back to the state tournament didn't begin in November or August.
It started in March after the Bengals dropped two straight games at State to end their season.
Player after player credited the work that the Bengals put in in the offseason as vital to the team reaching this milestone again.
"We hang out a lot and we're really close off the court, and so that really helps with our chemistry," said Walker. "And none of us miss a workout."
The Bengals learned what is demanded of them with their first state tournament appearance in eight years.
Now, the Bengals are back — and the reason why is obvious to everyone in the purple and gold.
"Everybody loves everybody in this locker room," Malm said. "There's no hidden agendas, like everybody genuinely is happy to go out there, get their minutes and play the role that they've been given."
A trip to the Boise area — Meridian for the first few rounds and Nampa for the championship of Class 5A tournament action to be specific — could be pretty enthralling.
The bright lights, the hotel, an In-N-Out just down the street.
So, what is Fisher looking forward to?
"Looking forward to winning the first game and getting to Ford Idaho Center and winning the whole thing," Fisher said. "That's what I'm looking forward to."
The rivalry between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, specifically head coaches Ben Johnson and Matt LaFleur, is not going to go away any time soon.
After their three meetings last season, where Chicago went 2-1, there were plenty of highlights and talking points, including Johnson's cold walk-off handshake with LaFleur after Chicago defeated them in the NFC wild-card playoffs and the subsequent postgame locker room chant of "F--- the Packers."
While making the media rounds on Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine, Johnson stopped by Pro Football Talk and was asked about the rivalry with the Packers, immediately firing off shots at the Bears' biggest rivals.
"Who likes the Packers?" Johnson said in response to Mike Florio. "The Bears and the Packers, they should not like each other, I think it's as simple as that. That's going to make this rivalry, this game, something that people are going to watch going forward. "
Johnson added that he hasn't heard from LaFleur, they don't speak at all, and there's no relationship between the two head coaches whatsoever. It all began when Johnson took shots at LaFleur and the Packers in his introductory press conference when he took the Bears job, and the intensity in the rivalry continuously rose throughout the regular season and playoffs.
Add the Cleveland Browns to the list of teams that Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson may be headed to in this upcoming draft.
According to Mary Kay Cabot, the Browns are interested in him and Malik Willis.
So it looks like the club has no confidence in either Shedeur Sanders or Dillion Gabriel to get the job done.
Browns general manager, Andrew Berry, made it clear where he stood on the whole starting quarterback situation with his team, according to Cabot.
“ GM Andrew Berry isn’t opposed to heading into training camp with an open quarterback competition.”
Berry also said that Sanders has to prove over the next few months that he can start from day 1.
Many felt that Sanders got the shaft from the Cleveland coaching staff last year in favor of Gabriel, but when given the opportunity, neither quarterback outshone the other.
So now the Browns are turning to the draft to look at Simpson, who is supposed to throw at the combine this week. Simpson is projected as the second quarterback coming off the board.
Right now, he is projected as a low first-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but that could change quickly if he impresses scouts this week.
Fabio Capello asks Ronaldo Nazario ‘How much do you weigh now?’ live on Italian TV
Former Real Madrid manager Fabio Capello asked iconic forward Ronaldo Nazario about his weight live on Italian TV on Tuesday night, as the two appeared as guests on Sky Sport Italia. The Brazilian has battled weight issues since his playing days.
Ronaldo and Capello crossed paths with each other in the 2006-07 season at the Bernabeu, with the Italian proving his final manager during his spell at Real Madrid. Capello was keen to move on from Ronaldo, and chastised him publicly about his fitness.
‘How much do you weigh now?’
Before Bodo/Glimt’s 2-1 victory over Inter (5-2 on aggregate), Ronaldo joined the Sky Sport Italia TV coverage from the Giuseppe Meazza, while Capello was a studio guest. Speaking to each other live on the air, Capello opened the conversation with Ronaldo asking him ‘How much do you weigh now?’, as reported by MD.
Fortunately, Ronaldo appeared to take the question in good spirit, and responded ‘Come on, mister, again?’, before the pair laughed. During Capello’s time, he weighed his players regularly, but Ronaldo famously skipped the weighing. Capello would later describe him as the best player he coached.
The end of Ronaldo’s spell at Real Madrid
Ronaldo, as a result of their disagreements over fitness, was left out of Real Madrid’s squad on 16 occasions in Real Madrid’s opening 30 games of the season, before securing a January move to AC Milan in 2007. Ronaldo played a total of 653 minutes that season under Capello, scoring four goals in 13 games.
Image via EFE
Ronaldo’s battles with his weight
During that season, Ronaldo was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, a condition that significantly slows down the metabolism, and requires medication that induces weight gain. It influenced the back half of Ronaldo’s career, as he battled the loss of his pace and mobility. He would continue playing in 2011, when he retired after three years at Corinthians back in Brazil.
Barcelona and Milan have strong interest in Dusan Vlahovic
The future of Dusan Vlahovic remains a major talking point as the summer transfer window approaches, with Barcelona and Milan emerging as the most serious suitors for the Serbian striker.
According to TuttoJuve, the forward’s agent has been incredibly active in recent months, effectively conducting a tour of Europe’s elite to gauge interest. Despite holding discussions with nearly all of the continent’s top clubs, the response has been remarkably lukewarm. To date, the agent has received a concrete opening from only two clubs: Barcelona and Milan.
The primary obstacle preventing other European heavyweights from entering the fray is the sheer cost of the operation. Potential suitors have been deterred by Vlahovic’s massive wage demands and the significant signing-on fee required to facilitate a deal.
While these financial hurdles have scared off many, both Milan and Barcelona are still carefully considering the situation, weighing the high costs against the guaranteed goal-scoring pedigree the 26-year-old provides. As Juventus prepare for a potential overhaul, the race for Vlahovic appears to be narrowing down to a two-way battle between the Rossoneri and the Catalan giants.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics had the perfect recipe for unforgettable television. We saw packed venues, prime time pressure, and moments that cut through the noise even if you did not follow winter sports all season. Some stars commanded attention with pure athletic dominance on the snow and ice. Others grabbed the spotlight through sheer style, intense personal drama, or by stepping into new, highly visible roles outside the field of play.
Popularity at the Olympics is rarely a single metric. It can come from a signature trick that goes viral, a loyal home country fanbase that creates a wall of sound, or a single performance that becomes the video clip everyone shares the next morning. When you look at the athletes who truly drove the conversation in Italy, you find a fascinating mix of competitors and cultural icons. We saw snowboarders making history on the halfpipe, speed skaters bringing mainstream buzz to the oval, and figure skaters pushing the absolute physical limits of human rotation. We even saw retired legends trend globally just because their standard of excellence remains the ultimate benchmark.
This list focuses entirely on the present. These are the athletes who felt like the center of gravity at these specific Games. They were the headline magnets, the trending topics, and the faces you simply could not avoid during the 2026 Olympic window. Here is a look at what the ten most talked-about athletes actually accomplished on the ground in Milano-Cortina.
10. Tessa Virtue
Feb 24, 2018; Gangneung, South Korea; Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir (CAN) perform in the figure skating exhibition gala during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games at Gangneung Ice Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Stats: Enduring cultural icon; viral presence during the 2026 ice dance competition.
Even years after hanging up her skates, Virtue remains an absolute force of nature whenever the Winter Games roll around. Her classic routines flooded social media timelines throughout the Milano Cortina ice dance events, serving as the ultimate measuring stick for the current field. She proves that true Olympic legends never really leave the spotlight.
9. Natalie Geisenberger
Feb 8, 2022; Yanqing, China; Natalie Geisenberger (GER) celebrates winning the gold medal in the Women’s Luge Singles during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at Yanqing Sliding Centre. Mandatory Credit: Andrew P. Scott-USA TODAY Sports
Stats: Transitioned to the broadcast booth as Eurosport’s premier luge expert for the 2026 Games.
The most decorated female luger in history traded her sled for a microphone in Italy, and fans immediately tuned in. Geisenberger brought an incredible level of technical insight to the broadcast, explaining the terrifying margins of sliding sports to millions of viewers. Watching her break down the action provided a completely fresh way to experience the luge events.
Feb 15, 2026; Livigno, Italy; Silver medalist Michela Moioli of Italy celebrates during the medal ceremony for mixed snowboard cross team during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Stats: Competed as the reigning 2025 World Champion on home snow in Livigno.
Moioli carried the massive weight of Italian expectations into the snowboard cross venue, bringing an electric atmosphere to her hometown of Livigno. Entering the Games fresh off a World Championship title, her aggressive and physical racing style drew some of the loudest crowds of the entire Olympics. She gave the local fans exactly the kind of gritty performance they came to see.
7. Marco Odermatt
[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Feb 14, 2026; Bormio, Italy; Marco Odermatt of Switzerland reacts after the second run of the men’s giant slalom during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Stelvio Ski Centre. Mandatory Credit: Gintare Karpaviciute/Reuters via Imagn Images
Stats: Won silver in the Giant Slalom and silver in the Team Combined event.
Odermatt arrived in Italy as the undisputed king of the World Cup circuit and left with two hard-fought silver medals. He skis with a level of power and precision that makes every single run feel like a masterclass in alpine racing. Even when he barely misses the gold, watching him attack the mountain remains the best show on snow.
Feb 11, 2026; Milan, Italy; Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron of France skate after receiving their medals during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Stats: Won gold in Ice Dancing with new partner Laurence Fournier Beaudry.
Cizeron was the center of the biggest figure skating storyline in Milan, returning to the Olympic stage to capture gold with a completely new partner. The pressure of living up to his historic past was immense, but he delivered a performance full of the flawless, poetic movement fans expect. He cemented his legacy as a generational talent on the ice.
5. Ilia Malinin
Feb 10, 2026; Milan, Italy; Ilia Malinin of the United States of America competes in men’s singles short program during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Stats: Secured a Team Event medal; finished 8th in Men’s Singles after a dramatic free skate.
Malinin brought unprecedented hype to the men’s figure skating competition thanks to his arsenal of historic quadruple jumps. While a stunning collapse in his individual free skate knocked him off the podium, his sheer ambition kept the entire sports world glued to their screens. He took massive risks, and that fearlessness is exactly why fans cannot look away.
4. Kaori Sakamoto
Feb 8, 2026; Milan, Italy; Kaori Sakamoto of Japan performs in the women’s free skate during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Stats: Won silver in Women’s Singles and silver in the Team Event.
Sakamoto brought incredible speed and joyous energy to the Milan ice, securing two impressive silver medals for Japan. She faced fierce competition from a new wave of skaters but held her ground with powerful, deep edges and pure athletic confidence. Her raw, emotional reactions during the kiss-and-cry made her instantly relatable and widely celebrated.
Feb 9, 2026; Milan, Italy; Jutta Leerdam of the Netherlands skates during the women’s speed skating 1000m during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Speed Skating Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Stats: Won gold in the 1000m and silver in the 500m speed skating events.
Leerdam perfectly bridged the gap between elite speed skating and global pop culture, backing up her massive social media fame with undeniable speed on the oval. Capturing gold and silver, she proved that she is far more than just a viral sensation. She skates with a terrifying mix of power and control that completely overwhelmed the field.
2. Chloe Kim
Feb 12, 2026; Livigno, Italy; Silver medalist Chloe Kim of the United States celebrates in the women’s halfpipe final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Stats: Won silver in the Halfpipe, becoming the only female snowboarder to medal in three consecutive Games.
Kim continues to be the ultimate face of snowboarding, pulling off historic gravity-defying runs while keeping an incredibly relaxed demeanor. She secured a hard-fought silver in the halfpipe, proving her remarkable longevity in a sport notorious for rapid burnout. Fans love her because she balances intense athletic pressure with a genuine love for being on the mountain.
1. Eileen Gu
Feb 16, 2026; Livigno, Italy; Silver medalist Ailing Eileen Gu of the People’s Republic of China looks on during the medal ceremony for the women’s big air final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Stats: Won gold in the Halfpipe and silver in both Slopestyle and Big Air.
Gu was the undeniable main character of the Milano Cortina Games, leaving Italy as the most decorated freeskier in Olympic history. She successfully defended her halfpipe gold while adding two more silvers, handling intense global scrutiny with total calm. Whether she was launching off a massive kicker or handling the press, she controlled the entire narrative of the Winter Olympics.
The final buzzer sounds
Feb 10, 2026; Milan, Italy; Ilia Malinin of the United States of America competes in men’s singles short program during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Medals will eventually find their way into glass display cases, but the cultural impact these athletes created in Italy will carry right into the next Olympic cycle. They brought fresh eyes to their sports and delivered dramatic storylines that kept the world completely hooked. The Games are always built on massive personalities, and this group passed the test.
January 20, 2024; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker (63) before a 2024 NFC divisional round game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
The Cleveland Browns have a lot of needs this offseason. Name a position group, and additional players are wanted to come in and fill open jobs, especially on offense. Browns GM Andrew Berry has his hands full this year with free agency and the NFL draft in April.
One of the most glaring position groups is the offensive line. The Browns’ 2026 free agent list is full of Cleveland starters and depth pieces.
RG Wyatt Teller has already said his goodbyes to the fanbase. LG Joel Bitonio could retire. RT Jack Conklin is always injured. LT Cam Robinson didn’t work out in a trade. C Ethan Pocic should have already been offered an extension just like Teller, but surprisingly was not. OG Teven Jenkins needs to be inked to a new deal.
OT Dawand Jones is the lone starter remaining, and he has been injured three times out of three years but seems a part of the team’s plan. Other offensive linemen under contract are centers Kingsley Eguakun, Kendrick Green, Justin Osborne, and Luke Wypler, guard Zak Zinter, and tackles Jeremiah Byers and KT Leveston.
Cleveland’s offensive line was ranked #31 last year. Every starter except for Bitonio was injured at one point or another. The Browns limped along with backups and practice squad guys. Both starting tackles ended up on IR.
Something has to be done for this upcoming season.
The Browns will go into the 2026 NFL season with a completely new offensive line that might be rebuilt at most positions and key backup roles.
OT Rasheed Walker
Green Bay Packers
6’-6”, 324 pounds
Age: 26
NFL draft: 2022 Round 7, pick #249 (Packers)
PFF ranking: 64.6
Accolades: Two-time Third Team All-Big 10 (2020, 2021)
40 time: 5.12
2025 season: 16 starts, 988 offensive snaps (94%)
Walker is a former defensive lineman, so he has that brute mentality. He has plenty of upside and is still a young man at age 26, so he has plenty of football left in his system. He is durable having played in every game for the past three seasons with 52 NFL games played and 48 starts.
He is quick out of his stance and has improved footwork. His agility allows him good leverage. He is able to get to the second level when adjusting to moving defenders.
He is one of those great stories. Walker was taken in Round 7 and built a reputation as a stable offensive tackle. He went from swing tackle to three-year starter. He’s consistent and experienced enough.
Who the quarterback for the Browns is going forward is still unknown. But whoever it is, they will need quality bodies up front for protection. Walker is the top offensive tackle on the free agent market this year and would become plug-and-play from Week 1.
Walker is a big-time tackle. He can cover a lot of ground. He does not get bull rushed and has the feet to adjust when he anticipates what’s coming. Elite core strength. 70.0 PFF pass blocking grade with nine penalties and five sacks allowed in 2025.
He has above-average body control but will fire off the snap. Walker has a bad habit of lunging and will give up pressures.
Walker is an impressive athlete and has all the tools for the blindside tackle position. He seems to have peaked this past season, which will allow him to find a team that needs good help.
This is a really good target for new head coach Todd Monken, who is installing a new offense. Walker made $3.4 million last year and is now in line for a good payday.
He subsequently served three months of a five-month ban, with two months suspended for 24 months, which will only be activated if a further breach of betting rules takes place.
The 21-year-old was part of the AFC Wimbledon side that won promotion at the end of last season to League One, making 10 appearances.
The Dallas Cowboys could be on the hunt to move back in the NFL draft. And while it's a ton of fun and relatively easy to do in mock draft simulators, there has to be a target another team is willing to move up for in order to make a deal. It takes two to tango, so to speak.
The Cowboys have the No. 12 and the No. 20 pick. And right behind Dallas at No. 21 sit the Pittsburgh Steelers, the latest organization to be held hostage by Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers has yet to decide if he'll return to play for new head coach Mike McCarthy. The two won a Super Bowl together in Green Bay, then had a falling out.
Which means if another team is interested, they'll feel a need to get in front of Pittsburgh. And that's where Dallas comes in. If the Cowboys are willing to trade down, they are the perfect landing spot for a team trying to move up.
The Los Angeles Rams could be in a similar situation as Pittsburgh, as they don't know how much longer Matthew Stafford will be their guy.
So of all the players who will be tested, poked and prodded this week in Indy, the Cowboys should pay special attention to the workout of Simpson. He might unlock opportunities for Dallas to recoup their Day 2 picks in this draft.
Many rookies ease their way into the NBA. They sit back and observe. It can take months — sometimes years — before their full personality blossoms.
That hasn't been the case with Memphis Grizzlies guard Cedric Coward.
From the moment he arrived at FedExForum as the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Coward carried himself differently. During his first media appearance inside the Don Poier Media Center, he walked in smiling, greeting the room with an energy that felt more like a veteran's.
That confidence hasn't wavered.
When Coward went through his first shooting slump in the preseason, he spoke as if he hadn't miss a shot. Early in the regular season, teammate Jaylen Wells had a similar slump. As Wells talked with the media, a voice emerged from the background.
“Damn right you’re going to keep shooting it," Coward said.
The self-assuredness is notable for a 22-year-old rookie. It's part of why Coward has swiftly positioned himself as more than just a promising player — he has become part of the Grizzlies' long-term vision as the franchise pivots in a new direction.
Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman has made it clear that they are leaning into a younger build. While he hasn't crowned any player as the face of the future, Coward is among the names he mentioned as key pieces in that transition.
"He's a very mature kid for his age," Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo told The Commercial Appeal. "I think that's a very valuable commodity to have."
Iisalo believes leadership shows through action more than words. Through 48 games, Coward is averaging 13.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists while shooting 46.8% from the field and 34% on 3-pointers. This production has him on pace to be a member of the NBA All-Rookie team.
A right knee injury has sidelined Coward since Feb. 9, but it hasn't stopped his involvement. He has gradually increased his on-court practice activity in recent days, and even when Coward wasn't doing much, Wells noted how he worked closely with coaches in helping facilitate drills.
"It's inspiring for him to be able to have the confidence to come into an NBA team with guys a lot older than him and be able to have the voice he has," Wells said. "He's not afraid to speak up . . . It's definitely inspiring. You can see how natural of a leader he is."
With Jackson gone and Morant's uncertain future, the Grizzlies have an opening. Coward has heard the talk about potentially being one of the options as a future franchise cornerstone.
"You take it with a grain of salt," Coward told The Commercial Appeal. "At least that's how I'm taking it. I'm just still being myself, being true to who I am."
"Honestly, whatever direction the team wants to go, you follow it and you just try to make the best of whatever situation it is," he added later. "Whether it's franchise cornerstone, whether it's a building block — no matter what it is, the title doesn't mean anything to me."
A glimpse into the future
For now, the focus remain on development.
Coward is part of a young core of Wells, Zach Edey and Cam Spencer. GG Jackson and Walter Clayton Jr. also are in the picture.
In addition, Memphis is equipped with 13 first-round picks in the next seven years, giving the front office the flexibility to draft or acquire another franchise talent.
Those assets are why Kleiman has expressed confidence that the Grizzlies' retooling phase won't stretch half a decade.
The foundation is forming. GG Jackson, Wells and Edey have earned All-Rookie honors. Memphis tied the NBA lead with three players selected for the NBA's Rising Stars events during All-Star Weekend.
A blend of emerging talent and draft capital is why the organization believes it can build another contender sooner than later.
"Obviously it shows they have a lot of trust in our young core, and that's very encouraging in the way that our development is very crucial now, but at the same time, it shows that we have been more on the uptrend in development due to the moves they just made," Coward said.
Information on the public transport strike in Dortmund – Bayern game affected
Therefore, with regard to our Bundesliga home game against FC Bayern Munich on Saturday evening (18:30 CET), we ask all ticket holders to:
Please arrive at the stadium as early as possible.
Not only arrive early, but if possible, preferably on foot or by bicycle. There are three bicycle parking areas at the stadium where you can leave your bikes.
If you still need to travel by car: car parks from which you can reach SIGNAL IDUNA PARK in 30 to 45 minutes are located at TU Dortmund University, on the Phoenix-West site, at the vocational training centre in Hacheney, and at Hörde train station. The following car parks are partially extending their opening hours and are all open until (at least) 23:00 CET: Parkhäuser Tiefgarage Theater, Tiefgarage Rathaus, Tiefgarage Westentor, Tiefgarage Hansaplatz, Garagenanlage Hauptbahnhof, Garagenanlage Am Friedensplatz and Garagenanlage Am Freistuh.
We strongly advise drivers who do not have a parking permit for car parks A to F in advance not to use these car parks. Parking permits will not be sold on match day. You can find the shops where you can purchase parking permits in advance here: DOPARK 21 and Messe Dortmund.
The university shuttle is unfortunately not available.
DSW21 also provide bus stops with their own bays for free parking. This has been agreed upon with the city of Dortmund.
If you are travelling from outside the city, please take the Deutsche Bahn (German Rail), which is not affected by the strike, to the main train station. From there, it's a 40-minute walk to SIGNAL IDUNA PARK.
For safety reasons, please do not take the regional train to SIGNAL IDUNA PARK station or the S-Bahn to Möllerbrücke station. Capacity limits will be reached quickly.
Because of the great number of people who will be leaving SIGNAL IDUNA PARK immediately after the match, and because of the thousands of fans who will be unable to use public transport as usual due to the strike, we ask you in advance:
Take your time leaving the stadium, stay calm, factor in longer waiting times, and always consider the safety of any children or teenagers accompanying you, in all your individual plans.
The aforementioned relevant institutions will do everything in their power outside the stadium to ensure the smoothest possible implementation of Saturday's match day, just as Borussia Dortmund will do inside SIGNAL IDUNA PARK.
Nevertheless, on Saturday we will all be more dependent than ever on every fan carefully considering their individual arrival/departure in advance and not only taking note of the information provided, but also taking it into account.
General information about how to get there can be found here. This message will be continuously updated.
Tom Brady has become increasingly visible in the build-up to this summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
He has recently appeared at promotional events and even assisted with the draw alongside Shaquille O’Neal.
As one of the most recognisable sporting figures in America, the NFL legend’s involvement has been seen as part of FIFA’s push to grow the tournament’s profile in the States.
Tom Brady praises FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s leadership
During a recent interview with Fox Sports, Brady discussed his relationship with FIFA’s leadership.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion did not hesitate to offer strong praise for the man at the top of world football, Infantino.
“What Gianni has done, in terms of his leadership, his inclusion, I think Gianni is a man of the people,” Brady said.
“He’s always out there celebrating the great parts of the sport. I think he’s made great contributions to the world of football.
“And getting a chance to get to know him and understanding the person he is, the values he represents, I think that really showcases itself within the broader goals of what football is all about.
“Football is for everyone, it’s a chance for all of us to connect globally over something that we love.”
Tom Brady receives backlash from football fans
Unsurprisingly, Brady’s remarks sparked an immediate reaction online.
Football fans were quick to push back against his assessment of Infantino ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
“In my lifetime, I have never seen such a big disconnect between celebrities/those in power/wealthy individuals vs regular people.
“Calling Infantino a man of the people is like pissing in my face and telling me it’s raining,” posted Tactical Manager on X.
Photo by Emilee Chinn – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
“Nothing says ‘man of the people’ like making the World Cup unaffordable for the people lol,” wrote journalist Leyla Hamed.
Sports writer Amos Murphy added: “Getting the sense that Tom Brady doesn’t quite understand what ‘man of the people’ means.”
Meanwhile, Sid Lowe responded with a laughing emoji, suggesting that he also disagrees with Brady’s comments.
“An out-of-touch rich guy praising another out-of-touch rich guy for doing the basic functions of his position. Get both of these men out of my sport,” said another fan.
“A good indication here of the brain damage suffered as a quarterback,” replied an even harsher critic.
Boxing always delivers stories about loyalty, treachery, naivety, and inevitability.
The Conor Benn story is a classic, modern tale of extremes in the boxing world: division, truth and rights, and plenty of juicy, unknown elements.
Benn has turned his back on the people who saved him, walking off to do a deal with the opposition. It looks and feels like a monstrous betrayal, but there are, obviously, degrees of separation in this boxing story.
Conor Benn has announced a shock split from promotor Eddie Hearn (Action Images/Reuters)
According to Benn, it was a deal he simply couldn’t resist. In Hearn’s version, there was a refusal by Benn to even discuss the deal, the shattering split. Boxing insiders and outsiders took sides: Benn was a dog; Hearn was naive; it’s just boxing. It is, clearly, a bit more complicated than that.
The one thing that everyone should agree on is that the move was made for cash. There is no polite way to hide that truth: Benn left because White offered more money for his next fight. Hearn wanted to have a man-to-man conversation with Benn. There is no real proof of the fee offered by White and accepted by Benn. There is just endless speculation masquerading as fact. The money boxers get paid is one of sport’s most cherished private transactions.
There are people in the boxing business who claim that Benn’s defection is normal, to be expected, and that nobody should be shocked by a boxer crossing the street for a potential increased payday. That would be, under normal operating circumstances, perfectly acceptable.
Eddie Hearn blames himself for not chasing Benn’s signature (Adam Davy/PA Wire)
However, the Benn and Hearn axis was not normal; it was all about loyalty and debt and commitment to each other. It might sound superficial and convenient, but Eddie Hearn put his own reputation and that of his family’s sporting empire on the line when he defended Benn against multiple drug charges.
Hearn was staunch in his support, and Benn publicly appreciative. Then, once Benn was clear to fight, Hearn put together the two Chris Eubank Jr fights last year. They were stunning and lucrative fights for everybody involved – and that includes the Matchroom machine.
Benn’s decision is strictly business, but it just feels morally wrong (Getty)
Hearn insists that there has not been a row, not been a private argument, between him and Benn. Hearn blames himself for not chasing Benn’s signature. It seems he trusted the fighter he had saved and felt there was no need to pursue him to renew his deal. Benn claims he switched to secure a financial future for his family; it is hard to argue against that plan.
Hearn taking his eyes off the prize is a classic example of naivety at the highest level; Benn was, instead, pursued by White and steered that way by members of his own team. It is strictly business, but it just feels morally wrong.
There will inevitably be a lot more to come and, as they once said on Fleet Street, “it’s got legs this story, son”. In the next few weeks, we might find out if the story has two or four.
As the Cleveland Browns prepare to enter another free agency period, it is important to evaluate the decisions made in previous seasons to inform and guide this offseason’s approach. At the NFL combine, GM Andrew Berry noted that the team would be more active than it was in 2025’s free agency.
There are a few signings from 2025 that did not go as planned and contributed to some of the Browns’ struggles throughout the season, including these two:
Cornelius Lucas
Cleveland fielded one of the league’s weakest offensive lines last season, and their poor selections in free agency only made matters worse. Lucas was brought in as veteran depth for the offensive line, but his performance was consistently below average. In many instances, the Browns had to look elsewhere because they could not rely on him. The team will need to make better offensive line signings this offseason to help create some stability for this group.
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
Even though Tryon-Shoyinka was on a cheap one-year contract in Cleveland, he was certainly not one of the team’s better signings in 2025. He failed to make an ongoing impact on the defensive line and was ultimately dealt at the trade deadline. Fortunately, there was a great deal of other talent on that side of the ball, so this signing didn’t massively hurt the team.
The Browns also signed the following last offseason:
OL Teven Jenkins
LB Jerome Baker
DT Maliek Collins
WR/KR DeAndre Carter
Let me know what you think in the comments – what was the Browns’ worst 2025 free agency signing?
Dec 16, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; ETSU Buccaneers head coach Brooks Savage calls the offense during the first half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images | Scott Kinser-Imagn Images
East Tennessee State is on top of the SoCon Basketball mountain for the first time since the 2019-20 season after it claimed the 2025-26 regular-season crown. The Bucs took down UNC Greensboro (12-17, 8-8 SoCon), 87-75, at Bodford Arena Saturday evening to secure at least a share of the league crown.
When Furman (18-11, 9-7 SoCon) picked up a 76-67 win over Wofford (18-11, 10-6 SoCon) later Saturday night in the I-85 rivalry clash, it meant that the Bucs won the outright SoCon title.
It’s been quite the week for ETSU basketball, as the Bucs started it with a historic win at Furman to garner a season sweep of the Paladins for the first time in 32 years. The Bucs got another strong performance from Brian Taylor II, who has strung together three really strong performances dating back to his 28-point effort in an overtime loss at Samford last weekend.
In ETSU’s win at Furman during the mid-week, Taylor posted 17 points in a huge 78-69 road win at Timmons Arena before capping the week off in style, as he finished with 25 points in helping lead the Bucs past the Spartans in a title-clinching effort.
In that win over UNCG, Taylor II sizzled shooting the basketball, and while Milton Matthews III went off against the Paladins, it was Taylor that did so against the Spartans. He finished the contest with 25 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the field, including going 3-for-5 from 3-point range.
The SIU-Edwardsville graduate transfer added two rebounds and a pair of assists and only turned it over once in the win. Three other Bucs joined Taylor in double figures in the road win, with Cam Morris III adding 15 points, while Jaylen Smith and Isaiah Sutherland added 12 and 10 points, respectively off the bench.
The other major piece of news to come out of the game was Blake Barkley’s return to the lineup for ETSU after missing the game at Furman on Wednesday night with a minor lower body injury. He just missed the double figures scoring mark, as he finished the night with nine points and five rebounds in 31 minutes of action.
UNCG was able to also place four in double figures, with KJ Younger leading the way with 20 points. The freshman guard from Matthews, N.C., connected on 7-of-13 from the field and was 5-for-9 from 3-point range.
Three other Spartans joined Younger in double figures. Justin Neely added 18 points and five rebounds, while Valentino Pinedo just missed a double-double by adding 14 points and nine rebounds. Freshman guard Noah Norgaard rounded out the UNCG players in double figures with 13 points and three assists.
After having a winning streak of four games coming into the week, the Spartans have now lost back-to-back games at Western Carolina and at home vs. ETSU on Senior Day.
As far as the game was concerned, ETSU clung to a 68-65 lead with just under six minutes remaining when the Bucs put together a 10-0 run to increase the margin to 13 points with 2:24 remaining and were never really threatened the rest of the way as they held on for the win.
Also not to be overlooked in the win was the Bucs’ overall offensive efficiency, which saw them shoot 60% (33-of-55) from the field, which was the best shooting effort of the season and best since equaling that total back on Feb. 1, 2023, in a win over Wofford.
With the No. 1 seed now secure, the Bucs have a pair of tough games remaining to close out league play, hosting Wofford on Senior Night at Freedom Hall on Wednesday at 7 p.m. before traveling to Mercer to face off against the Bears in a key regular season in a 4:30 p.m. EST contest at Hawkins Arena.
While the Bucs have already clinched the league, the remaining two games against two other teams battling for the No. 2 seed will have a big impact on just how the seeding shakes out.
East Tennessee State’s week started in Greenville, where the Bucs would make a little history with a trip to face off against SoCon road nemesis, Furman.
Two teams battled hard, but during one stretch in the middle of the second half, ETSU caught fire and knocked down seven straight shots in a 20-4 run, including going 5-for-5 from 3-point range over a roughly a five-minute stretch, as the Bucs picked up their first regular-season sweep of Furman in 32 years with a 78-69 Southern Conference road win Wednesday night before a crowd of 2,500 at Timmons Arena.
Matthews III, who had a total of 67 points scored in the 16 games he’s seen action in this season, finished the night with 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting from 3-point range, leading three Bucs in double figures off the bench, as ETSU’s bench out-scored Furman’s 34-10 in the game.
Matthews’ 18 points eclipsed his previous season high of 14 points in the season-opener against Converse. The graduate senior and former NAIA All-American saw 24 minutes of action in the win over Furman, eclipsing his previous season-high of 16:14 of court time in a 42-point win over Louisiana-Monroe.
The 6-foot-3 graduate transfer from Florida A&M averaged 14.7 PPG and shot 37.3% from three in his time with the Rattlers last season, but he fell behind on the depth chart early in the season. With Barkley missing the game due to injury, Matthews got his opportunity to shine, and he didn’t disappoint. In addition to his 18 points, Matthews added a pair of steals and two rebounds.
It also shows that ETSU is malleable in the ways it can beat an opponent, which is the sign of many championship-ready teams. For a lot of the night with Matthews out there, it allowed ETSU to properly space the floor and spread-out Furman with essentially four guards on the floor, and as a result, the Bucs were able to get a lot of good looks for Matthews, especially in scramble situations off of winning 50-50 duels for loose balls. An excellent coaching job by Brooks Savage, as the Bucs looked more like Furman, both spatially and statistically, than Furman did.
Brooks Savage is the SoCon Coach of the Year
First off, I’d be remiss if I didn’t get a tip of the cap at least to Wofford head coach Kevin Giltner, Samford’s Lennie Acuff and The Citadel’s Ed Conroy for the coaching jobs turned in by all three this season, however, as the SoCon season has transpired, it’s become apparent that Savage has done the best job of any in the league this season.
Savage took over an ETSU program that Desmond Oliver left in disarray four years ago. Now three years into his first of what figures to be several high-profile coaching stops over the course of his career, Savage has made an appearance in the SoCon title game in his first year, coached his team to a third-place finish and Quimari Peterson to the league’s Player of the Year honor last season, and in year three, has brought the first regular-season conference title back to Johnson City for the first time since the Steve Forbes era and the 2019-20 season.
Making his coaching job even more impressive was what the Bucs had to replace. I looked back at what I wrote in the preseason as a part of ETSU’s preview and I included it below. It’s been neat to see all of it start to come together for Savage this season. He’s been a lot more calmer this season, and it’s very much what I noticed about Forbes’ Bucs back in 2019-20 when he was at the helm of ETSU. In italics below is what I wrote in the preseason.
From the 2025-26 ETSU Preview I wrote back in October:
For Brooks Savage, now it’s on to the tremendous haul brought in from the transfer portal for the Bucs. A total off 11 newcomers will be a part of ETSU’s roster for the upcoming season, with 10 of the 11 being transfers, while also adding one exceptionally talented high school signee.
Savage’s third major haul from the transfer portal appears to be one that, at least on paper, looks like not only the most talented, but one that most fits the identity of what Savage is truly trying to establish, which is all about building a team that dictates the rules of engagement on both ends, picking points in the game to run but not playing fast as an identity, without compromising its “elite-ness” defensively.
Savage’s first two teams as the head coach have lived up on the defensive end of the floor, however, on the offensive end, the Bucs have shown flashes but nothing like the consistency and versatility that Savage wants, which was something he was able to get out of his teams under Forbes as the offensive coordinator at Wake Forest. This mix of players brought in by Savage and staff looks more on par with the type of team identity he wants in Johnson City and the type of identity he had in Winston-Salem as the Demon Deacons’ offensive coordinator.
In adding even another element that we really couldn’t know from a media perspective until the season got underway and the Bucs started to string together wins, was what I have noticed off the floor as a media member this season is a good culture. That’s not to say that the culture in the previous two seasons was bad by any stretch under Savage and staff, but it’s more that this one has the special ingredients usually associated with teams that have gone on to win championships in this league. I have been watching this stuff awhile, and more often than not, you can tell what teams are going to be by watching their body language.
This season, I’ve noticed Savage have a calmer demeanor with his team, as well as the other interactions between players and staff give off good vibes. This is the right mix, and when you have the right mix, it makes it a joy to coach that team.
I don’t people a lot of people realize that the toughest part of the job for a coach is not actually coaching the team, but seeing it in their respective minds as a finished product and the pieces, personalities and willingness to role acceptance all as a finished product from the outset, and long before it becomes an actual reality.
It didn’t really dawn on me until I had a conversation with Forbes. I remember speaking to him about this very thing in his last season at ETSU. It was one of those rare moments that Forbes gave you that made him so unique as a coach, and for me as a media member, a joy to cover. He didn’t dance around words or dress up cliche’s. He just gave you the raw unfiltered truth. It’s one of the reasons I developed a really good bond with him because of his genuineness.
I paraphrase a conversation that Forbes and I had in February 2020 following ETSU’s home win over Furman. The ETSU Hall-of-Fame head coach told me how much he liked coaching that 2019-20 team because it was so easy to coach and the players show up wanting to learn and have a great desire to learn and be better each day.
Forbes went on to say that sometimes there have been teams he coached in his career at all levels (JUCO included) that he said were harder to get up every day and go coach because their overall priorities and values weren’t focused on the right things, which made for a longer and more grueling season. Forbes finished up by saying that he never lost his joy to coach, but that some teams definitely made the job more fun in certain seasons than others and said that it’s a real treat to get a team like the one I have this year (2019-20) and you cherish those teams and never forget them.
I haven’t had this similar type of conversation with Savage, but it would appear from his countenance that he’s enjoying this season. They say coaches as well as people in general often wear their emotions the sleeve, and some are more emotionally plugged in than others. If you’ve watched Savage coach, you’ve noticed he is fiercely passionate. Just ask any official in the SoCon haha….My point is Savage smiles more and even without him saying he’s having fun, although I’m sure he has, he really looks like he’s having a good time.
Savage, at least in my eyes, is your SoCon Coach of the Year. To turn over a roster and find 11 unique personalities mesh with the four players that form the core of the roster of four returnees, and with personalities coming from different programs and different individual backgrounds and getting all those players in this NIL era to buy into a common goal is remarkable.
I’ll close by saying this. I think Savage’s job this season can really be summed up in two different players: Allen Strothers and Blake Barkley. Strothers is the one player that has seen ETSU’s program when the days offered an ominous picture of the future back in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
Strothers isn’t a player who’s going to wow you with his scoring ability or his anything that he does specifically, but one character trait that stands out most for me and speaks to what Savage has developed in terms of culture is Strothers’ loyalty to stay and then not only stay, but see the return of trust and loyalty given him by Savage to not only trust him on the floor in key moments, but let him be the voice above all voices as the leader of this Bucs team.
As for Barkley, he wasn’t trusted or given a fair chance at Northwestern. Maybe some of that was due to injuries or just that Northwestern simply over-recruited and wasn’t maybe as fair as it should have been up front about the reality of playing time as they should have been from the outset, but whatever the case is, Savage saw something in Barkley that Chris Collins couldn’t.
I don’t know much about coaching I’ll admit, but I can tell you which coach was right and which one was wrong. It wasn’t whether or not Barkley could flourish, it was whether or not a coach was willing to devote the time and energy to develop him to reach his potential as a player. That has shown through this season with Barkley having an all-conference season in his first season in Johnson City. ETSU will be a tough out as the No. 1 seed in Asheville. Be sure to check back next week for my preview of the 2026 SoCon Tournament.
**–I numbered the top 15 players from 1-15 in terms of what I have observed this season, and I also took into account injuries, which hurt guys like Furman’s Cooper Bowser and Asa Thomas, as well as probably put Wofford’s Kahmare Holmes down to second team rather than being a first-team pick. Other than that, these I felt were the league’s top 15 players in this order this season.
Player of the Year: Baraka Okojie (Mercer) Coach of the Year: Brooks Savage (ETSU) Newcomer of the Year: Justin Neely (UNCG) Freshman of the Year: Alex Wilkins (Furman) Defensive Player of the Year: Cam Morris III (ETSU) Ultimate Glue Guy: Allen Strothers (ETSU) Sixth Man of The Year: Jaylen Smith (ETSU) Best Shooter: Jadin Booth (Samford) Best Dunker: Cooper Bowser (Furman)
Instead, he sees the Vikings turning to Kirk Cousins.
Cousins isn't the QB he was when he previously played for the Vikings, and he's currently still under contract with the Falcons. But assuming Atlanta releases him as expected, Minnesota could be interested.
"The Vikings managed 14 wins in 2024 with a quarterback (Sam Darnold) who ranked only 14th in QBR," Walder writes. "While they won't always have a defense as dominant as that team had, I have to imagine Minnesota is hankering for palatable quarterback play. J.J. McCarthy's performance last season did not indicate he could deliver it... The Falcons are expected to release Cousins. Once they do, the Vikings might take him back."
We’ve got to give credit where credit is due; Trent Baalke’s 2023 draft class is turning out to be one of the best classes in franchise history, albeit with some help from Liam Coen. While it was clouded in uncertainty entering 2025, the emergence of Parker Washington and Antonio Johnson certainly supports the claim.
The big ticket item from this class, Anton Harrison, excelled as a rookie in pass-protection before facing a sophomore slump in 2024. But the former Oklahoma Sooner made a triumphant return in 2025, improving in both pass-protection and as a run-blocker.
In 2025, Harrison allowed just one sack with an impressive 6.1% pressure rate. As good as Cole Van Lanen was in place of Walker Little, Harrison was even better over the entirety of the season. This past season was by far Harrison’s best season in the NFL.
The Jaguars second round pick in 2023, Brenton Strange, saw his first full season as a starter. Well, it was supposed to be, but a Week 5 hip injury placed him on IR for five games. Still, Strange put up the best season of his career, amassing 540 yards and three touchdowns.
Had he played a full season, he was on pace for 765 yards. Strange’s 15% explosive play rate and 63.3% success rate both ranked tenth at the position. He moved the sticks for the Jaguars and made several big plays along the way. Expect an even bigger 2026 for him.
The Jaguars’ other day two selections of Tank Bigsby, Ventrell Miller, and Tyler Lacy are a trio of players who have been traded, relegated to special teams, or cut. Miller, the only one remaining of the three, might just become a starter this coming season as Devin Lloyd is set to hit Free Agency.
Thus far, Miller has been a special teams, depth piece for the Jaguars, who have seen time as a spot starter in times of injury. He’s proven to be a very fine linebacker in run-defense, posting a 9.9% Run-Stop % in 2024, 12th among linebackers. The Jaguars will likely find out more about just who Miller is this coming season if he does become the Jaguars’ starter alongside Foye Oluokun.
The true reason this class has quickly become one of the Jaguars’ best in recent memory is the emergence of Day three selections Antonio Johnson and Parker Washington. Johnson impressed as a rookie before really struggling during his sophomore campaign.
When injuries depleted the Jaguars’ safety room, Johnson filled in and instantly impressed. Among safeties, Johnson’s five interceptions ranked second, his -22.2 EPA in coverage ranked second, and his 33.0 NFL Rating in coverage ranked third.
Pro Football Focus actually ranked Johnson as the best safety of 2025. His emergence certainly makes the loss of Andrew Wingard to Free Agency far easier. That leaves Parker Washington as the last notable player from the 2023 draft class.
Washington’s 2025 was nothing short of miraculous. He began the season as the team’s fourth receiver and ended as the team’s No.1. Over the last month, Washington posted 26 receptions, 454 yards, and three touchdowns.
He excelled in contested catch situations and creating yards after the catch. His 17 contested catches ranked seventh among WRs, while his 106 yards after the catch over expectation ranked eighth. Not bad for a guy who only played 58% of the team’s snaps.
The Jaguars’ 2023 class was always going to rely heavily on Anton Harrison’s play at tackle, but it’s the arrival and stardom of two Day 3 selections that have taken this class over the top. If Ventrell Miller can prove to be a solid starter at linebacker, this class will boast five quality starters for the Jaguars.
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It's approaching a year since the Denver Nuggets fired Calvin Booth and Michael Malone on the same day. It was a stunning move that ended the tenures of the GM and coach who delivered the franchise its first championship just two years earlier.
The two clashed over how to build a roster after the title. Malone wanted veterans. Booth wanted to develop young players. They didn’t see eye to eye. They talked behind each other’s backs. And Nuggets president Josh Kroenke had enough of the tension consuming the organization.
“I think we both would admit a lot of stuff is overblown,” Booth said on The Kevin O’Connor Show in an illuminating conversation that shows an ex-GM still processing what happened, still proud of what he built, and still waiting on the phone to ring.
In the time since, Booth has been consulting with college basketball programs and Malone has been working as an analyst for ESPN. Neither has landed another NBA job.
“He doesn’t mind commentating games,” Booth said. “But he would probably die to coach an NBA team tomorrow. And he deserves it. He’s a championship coach.”
Booth didn’t want to conduct an "autopsy" of the day he and Malone got fired, but when I asked what he was told, it’s clear that one detail still stings: the organization told him they didn't want there to be a "winner or loser" in the situation between him and Malone.
"When you say a winner or loser, that's a reference to a game," he said, his voice shifting. "It's not a game to me. It's my life."
Booth believes four factors converged to cost him his job. First, the Nikola Jokić effect: when you have the best player in the world, everything else gets taken for granted. Second, the friction between a tenured champion coach and a first-time GM. Third, ownership. Booth believes the Kroenke family, for all its success across sports, doesn't place the same value on front-office executives that other organizations do.
"Whether it's Mark Warkentien or Tim [Connelly] or Masai [Ujiri], there's always gonna come a point where they don't value executives like that," he said of former Nuggets executives. "I'll probably disagree with their take on executives, but who am I? They've been so successful, so maybe it's the right way to operate.”
And fourth: “I think I just made it look too easy.”
He elaborated: "Anybody that's really good at something, when they make it look easy, that was really, really hard to get to. [It took] a lifetime's worth of playing basketball, coaching basketball, having conversations, scouting. For me to go in there right away, assemble a championship team, win a championship.”
In his first offseason as the lead decision-maker after Connelly left for a more lucrative job with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2022, Booth traded Will Barton and Monte Morris for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. He signed Bruce Brown. He drafted Christian Braun with the 21st pick and aggressively traded up to select Peyton Watson 30th. He traded Bones Hyland to create minutes for Braun. The result: a 16-4 playoff run and the franchise's first title.
“We won a championship. There was definitely alignment,” Booth said.
Calvin Booth speaks during the championship parade after the Denver Nuggets won the 2023 NBA Finals. (Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect / REUTERS
Then the parade ended. And the decisions that would define Booth's narrative and eventually cost him his job began. Brown signed with Indiana, and Jeff Green got a better offer in Houston. The next summer, KCP left for Orlando. Booth signed a few veterans, including Russell Westbrook, Dario Šarić, and Justin Holiday. But his primary focus was on drafting young players to someday replenish what was lost in the rotation.
"You have a headache, right?" Booth said. "You want to take a Tylenol to get rid of the headache, but it makes you drowsy. Do you want to get rid of the headache or not? Because if you want to get rid of the headache, you have to take the whole pill. You cannot separate Peyton Watson and Christian Braun from some of the other things that people weren't happy with."
To Booth, the drowsiness was worth it. Braun immediately contributed as a rookie, but the others didn’t. Watson was raw coming in and didn’t really break out until last season. And this year, with the Nuggets being ravaged by injuries to star veterans Jokić and Aaron Gordon, Watson has looked like a potential star. Executives around the NBA think Watson could sign for roughly $25 million annually or more when he hits free agency this offseason.
“The reality of the thing is if we sign Bruce Brown back, we sign KCP back, or if they leave and we sign veterans … do Christian Braun and Peyton Watson do what they're doing right now?” Booth said. “Definitely not.”
Booth had a plan to build a sustainable winner. In 2022, Booth drafted Braun and Watson. In 2023, he drafted Julian Strawther (29th), Jalen Pickett (32nd), and Hunter Tyson (37th), and signed Collin Gillespie as an undrafted free agent. In 2024, he drafted DaRon Holmes (22nd) and signed Spencer Jones to a two-way deal.
Strawther, Pickett and Jones have all played key roles in keeping Denver afloat with so many absences. In addition to Jokić and Gordon missing time, Braun and Watson have been hampered by injuries too. Meanwhile, Gillespie has turned into a starting point guard and helped change the culture of the Phoenix Suns. For a group of late firsts, seconds and undrafted choices, it’s quite a strong stretch of successful choices.
“In most situations when somebody's running a team, I don't think the expectation is to bat 1.000,” Booth said. “For some reason, I started to get the feeling that that was the expectation for me from whoever was in and around the Denver Nuggets community.”
Booth pushed back on the idea that going young was purely a philosophical choice. Denver's ownership wasn't absorbing a massive tax bill, so he needed a pipeline of cheap contracts. And in the portion of the draft where Denver was picking, the value wasn't in one-and-done talents the whole league had passed on, like Watson. It was in older players, discounted for superficial reasons. Pickett's game wasn't pretty. Gillespie was undersized and unathletic. Those were features, not bugs.
“One of the things that is slightly annoying is how everybody constantly tries to place a ceiling on different guys,” Booth said. “When Jimmy Butler goes 30th, does anybody know he's going to be Jimmy Butler? Or Fred VanVleet's undrafted, does anybody know he's gonna be Fred VanVleet? So I just think you try to get a player you think is going to be good and you just see what happens. I don't think you're ever going to know what somebody's true ceiling is.”
If Booth was graded purely on his transactions, he’d still have his job. For all the debate about roster construction, the tension that ultimately sank Booth's tenure was with Malone. Reports of friction leaked for years. When both were fired on the same day, it seemed like confirmation that the rift had become untenable.
"Never a physical altercation in front of people. Never a verbal altercation in front of people," he said. "So where's the beef?"
When I noted that it's not common for a GM and a coach to be fired on the same day, Booth acknowledged friction existed but framed it as inherent to the job, not unique to Denver. “How many teams do you think that's happened with currently?" he asked. “I don't think it's unique to our situation. I think it happens with every team at some level in the NBA.”
Calvin Booth speaks to the media about the NBA trade deadline on Thursday, February 6, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
AAron Ontiveroz via Getty Images
Booth credited Malone with developing Watson and Braun. He said the championship required alignment between them. He said Malone deserves another head coaching job. But he was also honest about the bind he was in. Former NBA GM and coach Flip Saunders, Booth said, used to talk about the difference between idealistic and realistic. Front offices are idealistic. Coaches are dealing with reality every day: the pressure, the decisions, the knowledge that a losing streak could end their career. Booth admitted he was probably too idealistic in expecting a coach under that kind of pressure to execute a long-term development plan, especially for a first-time GM without a track record.
“I have to take accountability whatever way that narrative grew legs and my part in it, I've learned from that,” Booth said. “There's such a weird paradox with NBA coaches. They're in the midst of the lion's den. They're dealing with players, some of the most formidable size-wise and ego-wise in the world, and they're managing them. Those guys buy in. And then these coaches have to report to a general manager who maybe doesn't have the gravitas they do. I just think it's a human nature thing.”
Even with that awareness, Booth doesn't think the outcome was a reflection of how he handled it. He thinks he managed it better than most would have.
"You could put 100 GMs in my position," he said. "I don't know what, three or four of them do as good as I did."
Still, understanding the problem and solving it are different things.
"When I get that title, it's not an option for me not to do my job," Booth said. "So I think one of the only outcomes where everybody thinks we're aligned is me submit, lay down, not do the job. And that's not an option for me. So some version of this was going to happen. Could have been quieter. Could have not grown legs with the media. Could have not been such a crawl in ownership's pants. Maybe there's some different things that could happen in that regard.”
Since Booth's departure, the Nuggets' new front office led by Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace traded Michael Porter Jr. for Cam Johnson, re-acquired Bruce Brown, and added Jonas Valančiūnas and Tim Hardaway Jr. When I asked Booth what he thought, he didn't flinch.
"They're great. A lot of them we talked about when I was there. We thought we were gonna get Valančiūnas at the trade deadline,” Booth said. “Obviously, they did their own unique things, but the one thing about the new CBA, there's only so many trades that can be done. It's kind of like paint-by-numbers, in that sense. So anybody sitting in that seat in Denver is going to have some kind of Michael Porter Jr. for Cam Johnson concept, because that's just one of the better deals that was out there.”
Right now, Booth is consulting with college programs, helping coaches navigate the transfer portal. But when I asked if he wanted to run an NBA team again, the measured answer couldn't quite hide the want underneath it.
"Nobody's entitled or owed an opportunity to run an NBA team. There's 30 jobs. All those guys in their own way deserve to be in that seat," he said. "I'd be foolish to say that for the right scenario I wouldn't be willing to work for somebody."
Booth built a championship team, drafted a pipeline of players now contributing across the league, and left behind a roster framework that another front office executed. Booth said not a single owner has called.
“My door wasn't knocking down with people waiting to hire me. That's where this whole thing got blown out of proportion,” Booth said. “If you look tangibly at what I did — my win percentage, what I drafted, working with a coach like Coach Malone as a first-time GM — I just don't know how my door isn't knocking."
My full conversation with Calvin Booth goes deeper into his time with the Nuggets, Jokić, his basketball philosophy, the upcoming draft, and many more subjects. Check it out on the latest episode of The Kevin O’Connor Show.
Tennessee Titans coach Robert Saleh co-signed linebacker Oluwafemi Oladejo at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday.
Saleh spoke to the media on the second day of the combine, where he addressed a variety of players both on the Titans’ roster as well as prospective additions to the team via this year’s draft. The 47-year-old Titans head coach has several top prospects to evaluate over the course of the next six days at linebacker, as well as on the defensive line, many of whom are widely projected to be top-five picks. Though Tennessee has the option to select a defender the likes of Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., or Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese with the No. 4 overall pick, Saleh’s confidence in Oladejo is not waning.
"He’s got all the talent in the world,” Saleh said. “He’s got length. He’s got speed. He’s got pass-rush ability. He plays with violence. He’s a good football player.”
Oladejo played in only six games for the Titans in 2025 after suffering a fractured leg against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6. He recorded two quarterback hits, as well as two tackles for loss on the year. Oladejo was the No. 52 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
But both defenders trained with their team-mates ahead of the London derby with Fulham.
Spurs are set to be without a number of key players again, however.
Wilson Odobert, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur, Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Bergvall, Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies all remain sidelined.
Cristian Romero, meanwhile, is still serving his suspension following his red card against Manchester United.
Adam Wharton: Real Madrid decision leaves Man United scrambling
Manchester United’s pursuit of Adam Wharton is under serious threat after Real Madrid’s decision to go all-in on the 22-year-old midfielder this summer, according to the latest report.
Midfield Rebuild
The Red Devils are searching for two new midfielders following the decision not to extend Casemiro’s stay at Old Trafford and due to the lack of improvement shown by Manuel Ugarte.
Kobbie Mainoo has been revitalised under caretaker coach Michael Carrick, having spent the first half of the season frozen out by Ruben Amorim. However, the Carrington graduate remains a 20-year-old player who is still developing, both physically and tactically.
With United certain to return to European football next season, whether it be the Champions League or the Europa League, more quality is needed in the engine room to prevent the team from stalling.
The club’s primary target is Elliot Anderson, though competition will be fierce for the 23-year-old Nottingham Forest talisman. Carlos Baleba remains high on the radar after last summer’s failed pursuit of the Brighton and Cameroon enforcer.
Wharton – the Crystal Palace midfield maestro – is the third leading contender at Old Trafford, with the England international expected to leave Selhurst Park this summer after a turbulent campaign for the Eagles. If the push for Anderson proves unsuccessful, with Manchester City considered the frontrunners, Wharton should become a more important target than Baleba, given the technical superiority he holds over the Brighton man.
If anything, the pair offer a complementary partnership as they are both strong where the other is weak. However, Wharton’s deep-lying playmaking abilities offer a rare profile in modern football, putting him on the wish list of a number of elite clubs – with Real Madrid chief among them.
Madrid prepare big-money raid
Madrid have a long-standing interest in Wharton as the Spanish giants continue to contend with the loss of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in recent years. While elite talents like Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde have taken the legendary pair’s place at the Bernabeu, these players lack the ability to dictate a game in the same way.
This led Madrid to identify Wharton as a potential solution, given the Englishman’s growing ability to control the pace of his team’s play with outstanding first-time passes forward.
However, Los Blancos were believed to consider Palace’s valuation – upwards of £100 million – to be exorbitant for a player with limited experience on football’s biggest stages. This gave United an edge as the Mancunian club would be prepared to make that investment on a Premier League-proven option in midfield.
But, according to a new report relayed by Football365, Madrid are “now willing to pay” £87m to bring him to LaLiga this summer.
“Real Madrid’s interest is not seen as just any ordinary move. In fact, it’s a player Xabi Alonso had already requested, a move the club rejected. However, now, seeing that there’s an abundance of muscle and a lack of talent in the Real Madrid midfield, those at the Bernabeu are clear that they must go all out for a playmaker like Adam Wharton, despite his high price tag.”
“Furthermore, his profile fits perfectly into one of the areas that Real Madrid continues to monitor closely: improving the quality of the midfield. The team lacks organisation, and in that respect, few players can offer what Wharton does.”
Final Thoughts
If United are to miss out on both Anderson and Wharton, it would constitute a devastating blow to the club’s summer plans.
The fact that the Red Devils have the easiest path towards signing Baleba is precisely because the Cameroon international’s level is far below that of his two Premier League competitors. Manchester City and Madrid do not spend big on players with his technical ability, or lack thereof.
INEOS cannot allow two of Europe’s elite to muscle in on deals for two midfielders who look born to wear the hallowed red shirt. They must pay up and force their rivals to shut up in the process.
América-RN, Fortaleza, Joinville and Maringá into Copa Betano third round
América-RN defeated Grêmio Sampaio-RR and advanced to the third phase of the Betano Cup of BrazilCredits: Gabriel Leite / AFC
América-RN, Fortaleza, Joinville, and Maringá-PR qualified for the third phase of the Betano Cup of Brazil 2026 on the night of this Tuesday (24). Among these four teams, only the Paraná team advanced with an away victory - over Boavista-RJ, by 3 to 2, in Saquarema (RJ). The others showed their strength in front of their fans.
At Arena Castelão, in Fortaleza, Leão do Pici was trailing 3 to 2 until the 37th minute of the second half and was flirting with elimination against Maguary-PE, a newcomer in the country's most inclusive competition. With a comeback ability, the Ceará team managed to turn the game around in the 49th minute and won 4 to 3.
Joinville defeated CSA-AL by 1 to 0, at Arena Joinville, in Joinville, while América-RN overcame Grêmio Sampaio-RR by 3 to 0, at Arena das Dunas, in Natal.
This Wednesday (25), 19 matches will excite fans across the country throughout the day.
Onana still believes in reclaiming the number 1 spot at Manchester United
Manchester United: André Onana aims high
The goalkeeper situation could soon become a hot topic again at Manchester United. Currently on loan at Trabzonspor, André Onana has not given up on his future with the Red Devils. According to The Guardian, the Cameroonian shot-stopper is considering a return to Old Trafford once his loan spell ends, with a clear ambition to fight for the number one jersey.
Lammens has made his mark at Old Trafford
The challenge, however, promises to be tough. Since the arrival of Belgian keeper Senne Lammens, signed from Royal Antwerp FC, the pecking order seems to have shifted. The young goalkeeper's solid performances have impressed the United staff, starting with head coach Michael Carrick.
"For me, a goalkeeper has to be reliable, trustworthy. Instead of creating chaos, you want him to eliminate chaos and calm things down. I think Senne does that."
The Belgian keeper’s displays have also caught the eye of opponents. After a recent clash against Everton FC, David Moyes was full of praise:
"The goalkeeper was brilliant. The save he made from Michael Keane, the way he handled the corners. We hoped to score one... just one, given the pressure we had in those situations. I thought we'd get one, but it didn't happen. For me, he was the best player on the pitch."
All signs point to a fierce battle for the United goalkeeping spot next season.
Galatasaray vice president on Hakan Calhanoglu: “We will see him play for us”
Galatasaray vice president Abdullah Kavukcu has made it clear that the Turkish side will end up signing Inter’s Hakan Calhanoglu at some point, despite having failed in their move last summer.
The midfielder heavily linked with an exit from the Nerazzurri some months ago. He appeared keen on the deal too and an offer was made. But Inter’s stance proved too strong and a deal never materialised for Galatasaray.
As the Turkish side prepare to take on Juventus in the 2nd leg of the Champions League play-off, club vice president Abdullah Kavukcu was asked about the midfielder.
He spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport, making it clear he will join someday.
“We’ve never hidden our interest. Hakan is an icon of the Turkish national team and a Galatasaray fan. I don’t know when, but I’m sure we’ll see him play for us one day.”
He revealed that Galatasaray also tried to sign Calhanoglu duriing the January transfer window but received a firm response from Inter.
“Yes, we made another attempt for Calhanoglu. We discussed the deal with Inter Milan, but we were told that Hakan wouldn’t leave during the winter transfer window.”
He clarified that executives from Galatasaray are often in Milan, saying: “Your players are perfect for Galatasaray’s style of play. Okan Buruk, our coach, played for Inter for three years, watches every Serie A game, and has very… Italian ideas. That’s why we come to Milan often.”
This is a clear sign that Gala are not going far away from Calhanoglu anytime soon. A deal will likely hinge on Inter’s stance and when they open up to a possible exit.
Middlesbrough captain Hayden Hackney says they need to be sharper and "almost force the ball in" to avoid dropping further points in their bid for automatic promotion.
Boro are without a win in their past three Championship games following the defeat at Coventry and back-to-back home draws against Oxford and Leicester, having won six on the bounce before this recent mini blip.
Tuesday night's 1-1 draw with the Foxes was the second time in four days Kim Hellberg's side have failed to beat a side in the relegation zone at the Riverside.
It means Boro now sit two points behind leaders Coventry, who visit Sheffield United on Wednesday, while third-placed Ipswich are six points behind but have two games in hand.
"Maybe [we need] something falling for us inside the box, getting that half a yard to finish. Maybe [opposition teams] are sitting off a little bit more, a little bit deeper in the low block.
"But I think it's just our sharpness and maybe what's fallen for us in the last couple of games where the run into the box would be found by the assist.
"I know it sounds easy but maybe that - and having shots and deflections maybe fall your way."
The 23-year-old midfielder does not think Middlesbrough are in a "sticky spot" and says it is "definitely not a lack of effort from the lads".
"They're all giving 100%," he added. "I think it's just touching up on those areas in the final third, which we will do. We'll look back at that and try and improve."
Besiktas and Galatasaray monitoring Bayern defender
Behind Jonathan Tah and Dayot Upamecano in Bayern Munich’s pecking order, Kim Minjae could be on the move this summer.
According to Munich-based tabloid TZ, Turkish giants Besiktas and Galatasaray are among the clubs pursuing the 29-year-old centre-back.
Bayern paid a reported €45 million to Napoli for Kim in 2023, but his market value has since dropped to €25 million, creating an opportunity for the Istanbul clubs.
Premier League side Chelsea and Serie A club AC Milan are also said to have the South Korea international on their radar.
Kim remains under contract with Bayern until the summer of 2028.
The Baltimore Ravens have long prided themselves on balancing loyalty with logic, and for good reason. They're one of the NFL's most balanced and best-run franchises. It's one of the reasons that they've remained competitive for decades.
Much is already expected in 2026, but this offseason presents a delicate test. Roster construction will be key. It doesn't matter how good this reconstructed coaching staff is. Without the right mix of talent, they'll fail. That brings us to one of their better, more expensive veterans on defense: Marlon Humphrey.
A homegrown four-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro presents a conundrum. He's been as good as they come, but the most recent NFL campaign was an off year by his standards.
Still, while speaking to the press at the NFL Combine, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta made it clear he'd like Humphrey to remain in Baltimore this coming season. This comes after some buzz that he'd provide adequate trade bait.
It's safe to say the NFL landscape isn't always as sensitive to fans' or executives' concerns as it is to players'.
Humphrey turns 30 in July and carries a hefty $26.3 million cap hit in 2026. That's significant for any player, let alone a cornerback approaching the age when decline can come quickly.
That's real flexibility for a roster that may need reinforcements elsewhere.
This isn't about dismissing Humphrey's contributions. It's about properly valuing them moving forward. The Ravens have historically avoided paying for past performance. They have instead chosen to project future value, and doing so again might be the best move in this case.
If Baltimore believes Humphrey can still perform at a Pro Bowl level, keeping him makes sense. If there's doubt, overcommitting financially could limit their ability to evolve.
DeCosta has never been afraid to make tough calls in the name of long-term stability. He seems to have already made his mind up, but it's still February. We'll see what happens. The smartest teams, including the Ravens, know when to hold on and when to pivot.
The Class of 2027 is loaded across the nation in high school girls basketball.
Current juniors lead the way for many of the top teams in the country. And many of the top 2027 stars are tearing it up on teams that aren't nationally prominent but are having huge years at the statewide and/or local level.
We've assembled a watchlist of the top Player of the Year candidates in the junior class based primarily on players' stats and team success for the 2025-26 season. Now, we want to know what you – the fans – think. Choose from the candidates on the watchlist based on who you think has been the nation's top junior this season, and vote through 11:59 p.m. PT on Thursday, Mar. 5. The results will be announced in the following days.
Voting is intended for fan engagement only. Results are not scientific and may not reflect the views of the Sporting News. While voting activity is monitored periodically, irregularities or technical anomalies (including automated or repeated voting) may occasionally occur. The Sporting News reserves the right to modify, suspend, or withdraw voting at any time. Final selections are made at the discretion of the Sporting News editorial team.
Do we invest in a high pick? Or do we wait it out and pray we get lucky? For the purposes of this article, I am going to focus on the guys projected to get the most saves in 2026. Players currently with a path to saves will be ranked higher than some higher-skilled options who are clearly sitting behind an incumbent closer. My formula is pretty simple: I focus on a combination of who has the skills, currently has the job, who has the least competition behind him, and which players are on teams in a position to win the most games. Let’s take a look at our top relief pitcher options for fantasy baseball in 2026.
Oct 1, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Mason Miller (22) delivers during the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs during game two of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Somebody has to be #1, so it might as well be the guy who has been drafted the highest so far this season. You can’t argue with a guy who features a 100 mph fastball and has piled up 100+ Ks for two straight years. He’s going to be the Padres full time closer this year and should finally break the 30-save threshold in 2026. He’s going to cost you a late second-round pick if you want his services. It’s a bit too rich for my blood.
2) Edwin Diaz, Dodgers
Diaz is going right after Miller in drafts, with an ADP of around 37 right now in NFBC drafts. He was one of the prizes that the Dodgers came away with in the “Rich get Richer” sweepstakes this offseason. He should pick right up where he left off in New York and dance his way out to “Timmy Trumpet” 30+ times while leading the Dodgers pen in saves.
3) Andres Munoz, Mariners
The closer run continues in the early 4th-round and Munoz has been the next arm off the board. He may be the best of the bunch and makes a great pick to anchor your saves category if you can jump on board once the closer run starts. His 38 saves represented almost 90% of Seattle’s team total, making Munoz the second-highest ranking “solo closer” in the league last year.
He makes for a great target at the end of the 4th round, as part of that same early draft closer run. He very well may be the best of the bunch after posting two straight years with 100+ Ks, albeit pitching primarily as a set-up man for Cleveland. As the primary closer, he likely won’t pitch over 70 innings again, so don’t bank on quite the same K total. Cleveland also seems like the type of team that can just make closers out of thin air, so don’t be shocked if he gets moved in-season if the Guardians aren’t in the playoff hunt.
5) Jhoan Duran, Philles
Acquired to anchor the Philly shaky pen last year, Duran came over from Minnesota and gave manager Rob Thompson something he hadn’t had since Craig Kimbrel in 2023, and an actual closer. He should remain their primary option, when available, in the 9th this season and give the Phillies their first 30+ save closer since the immortal Jeanmar Gomez saved 37 games back in 2016. He’s been going in the mid-4th round in drafts, so you have to hop on that closer train if you want to roster him.
6) David Bednar, Yankees
Here is my most likely first closer target. Bednar has been going a little later in drafts than the above-listed group, as his ADP sits in the mid 60’s right now. Spending an early 6th round pick on the guy projected to hold down the 9th for one of the better teams in baseball feels a lot better than reaching earlier. When Bednar got to NY from Pittsburgh last year, he eventually earned Aaron Boone’s trust in the 9th and piled up an impressive 35 Ks in 24.2 IP. He will enter the season as the Yanks’ closer and should be amongst the league leaders in saves as long as he is able to hold the job. Handcuff him with Camilo Doval in the later rounds if you can.
7) Aroldis Chapman, Red Sox
Sep 30, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; Boston Red Sox catcher Carlos Narvaez (75) and relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (44) celebrate after defeating the New York Yankees in game one of the Wildcard round of the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
He’s going right around where Bednar is going, and it’s not based on what he did last year. If we are basing our picks on last year’s stats, he was one of the best closers in the game with 32 saves in 34 tries, with an era of 1.17 and a sub-1 WHIP. He wasn’t even the closer when the season began last year, as Boston was actually holding out hope for Liam Hendricks to bounce back and lead their pen. His price tag is softened due to his age (38) and the fact that we’ve seen him fall apart after 30 save seasons before. He’s not without risk, but I don’t mind grabbing him in the 6th round, and then I’ll handcuff him with Garrett Whitlock later.
8) Carlos Estevez, Royals
Estevez led the league by notching 42 saves and also by closing out 89.4% of the Royals team save total. He isn’t being drafted as highly as the previous save options, so I do have some interest in him as my top closer in the 8th-9th round or so. The Royals are an improving team, and he doesn’t have too much competition in guys like lefty Matt Strahm and set-up man Lucas Erceg (who had some issues of his own last year). One word of caution on Estevez is that his fly ball rate was high, and he benefited from the spacious dimensions of Kaufman Stadium. He allowed 4 of his 5 home runs on the road last year, and this year, the walls in the Royals’ home park will be moved in between 9 and 10 feet. If you take Estevez, back him up with Erceg.
9) Devin Williams, Mets
What seemed like a disastrous season in the Bronx was actually more of a result of some bad luck than anything else. His rate stats were as dominant as ever, and he will get a clean start in Flushing as the Mets closer this season. I’m buying in based on the 90 Ks in 62 innings couple with the fact that the Mets saw enough to give him a 3-year deal. Being back in the NL, where he once dominated, doesn’t hurt either. The rest of the field has also been buying in this draft season, so you’ll have to pull the trigger in around the 7th round if you want him.
10) Daniel Palencia, Cubs
Now we’re getting to the aisle I like to shop in when I have to go closer shopping. Palencia has an ADP of around 144 but has gone as high as the late 6th round in early NFBC drafts. If I can get him around the 10th round, I’ll be thrilled. Craig Counsell has already named him as the team’s closer, and I project the Cubs to be well over .500 this year. Behind Palencia right now are guys like Phil Maton and Hunter Harvey, so he checks all of my boxes for a closer target. Last year, he had a shoulder issue that sidelined him in September, but that’s supposedly behind him coming into this season. Since he’s a flame thrower whose fastball sits north of 99 mph, we will just have to make sure that he hasn’t lost any velo when we watch him this spring. He makes for a fine RP1 at his current cost.
11) Pete Fairbanks, Marlins
Last year, he managed to stay healthy for the entire season and piled up a career high 60+ innings pitched for the Rays. His 27 saves were also a career best, and he parlayed his 2025 into a free agent deal with Miami. The Marlins aren’t exactly the first team you think of when you think of big free agent signings, so his 1 year $13mil deal was a bit surprising. It’s very possible that he will be moved at the trade deadline by Miami as they continue to rebuild, but while he is in South Beach, he will remain their closer. Getting a guaranteed closer for 4 months at this point is about as good as you’re going to get, as every reliever is going to come with risk. There is a chance that he may assume the closer duties for his new team, and even an off-shoot chance he stays in Miami all year if they manage to compete for a wild card spot. He’s currently going in the 10th round on average.
12) Josh Hader, Astros
Aug 8, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; Houston Astros relief pitcher Josh Hader (71) delivers a pitch during the ninth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
He should be higher, but I don’t trust that he’s healthy. I have zero interest in him at his current draft price in the 6th round and would much rather take Bryan Abreu later on. His 2025 ended due to a shoulder strain, and he’s currently nursing a sore left biceps. My mind immediately goes to impending elbow issues, as he may have been compensating for the shoulder last year. If he falls late into the draft and he somehow manages to avoid a long-term injury, then I’ll come back to the table, but for now, he’s a pass for me.
13) Raisel Iglesias, Braves
It was an up-and-down season for Iglesias last year, but it ended on an up note, so we’re back in for 2026. Sort of. His current draft price has him going in the 8th round, and his handcuff isn’t exactly obvious, as it could be Robert Suarez or Dylan Lee. It’s a little tough to pull the trigger on him as high as the 8th round, but if he falls to me just a round later, I’ll take the shot on him. He’s no Spring Chicken at 36 years old, but he knows how to close games as he’s topped 30 saves over 5 times in his career and was able to lock down 29 last year. Iglesias is Spanish for “church”, which is perfect since I’ll be praying for the best if I take him as my top closer.
14) Ryan Helsley, Orioles
He was amazing in 2024, then not quite so great for the Cardinals in 2025. Then he was traded to the Mets, and he out-and-out stunk. He signed with Baltimore this offseason to assume their closer role while Felix Bautista recovers from shoulder surgery. Apparently, he was tipping his pitches last season and has worked to fix the problem this Winter. His current draft price has him going in the 9th round in 12-team leagues, so it seems that fantasy owners are buying in on the fix and are hoping they are scoring the 2024 version of this guy at a discount. It still feels a little too rich for me, so I’ll let him go, and if he happens to fall into the 12th round or so, I’ll take a swing. There isn’t much behind him aside from veteran Andrew Kittridge, until Bautista returns next season.
15) Emilio Pagan, Reds
He had a great season last year, posting a career best 32 saves at the age of 34. The Reds rode him hard down the stretch as they made a push for the postseason, so they will bring him along slowly this Spring. He should slide right back into his role as the Cincy closer, and his current draft position has him going at a very palatable 134. If I can double-tap the position in this area of the draft, I’ll be very happy to walk away with a combo of Palencia and Pagan in the 10-11th rounds.
16) Jeff Hoffman, Blue Jays
He received the ever-so heartwarming “vote of confidence” this Spring from manager John Schneider, so he’s penciled in as Toronto’s closer, at least to start this season. Last year was a wild ride for Hoffman as he pitched to a 4.37 era which included 3 full months with a mark above 4.50 and 3 full months under 2.00. In the months of April, June, and September, he pitched to a 7-1 record with 16 saves and a 1.25 era. In May, July, and August, he combined for a 3-6 record and a 7.87 era, with 17 saves. Part of the reason he retained the job all season long was a lack of other options, as Yimi Garcia and Chad Green were both injured for various parts of 2025. The team brought in Louis Varland at the trade deadline last year and Tyler Rogers this offseason to help bolster the pen, along with a potentially healthy Garcia to give Schneider other options if Hoffman struggles again this year. At this point, all of these closers are going to take a leap of faith. He’s not a bad pick after the 10th round.
17) Trevor Megill, Brewers
He had a very nice season, but he wore down at the end. He relied less on his fastball and more on his knuckle curve enroute to compiling 30 saves for the Brew Crew in 2025. Abner Uribe is looming as a higher-skilled and higher upside option behind him, and both players have been going in around the same range in drafts between the 11th-13th round on average. This feels like a potential committee, and I would likely take the one that falls further in the draft. I wouldn’t be shocked if Uribe started going before Megill as we get closer to the season.
18) Abner Uribe, Brewers
Jul 18, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Abner Uribe (45) reacts following the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
He fits the profile of the kind of talent you want to draft, and in SOLDS leagues, his value is even higher. He’ll begin the season behind Megill for saves in Milwaukee, but it won’t take much for skipper Pat Murphy to hand the role to Uribe if his incumbent falters. Uribe has a lot of buzz around him this draft season after coming off his 2025 that saw him pile up 38 holds over 75 appearances with 90 Ks in 75.1 innings. You’ll have to pay for him like he’s already a closer, but he’s worth it based on his rate skills and K ability.
19) Ryan Walker, Giants
He was a hot pick last year after an amazing 2024 that saw him pile up 99 Ks in 80 innings while working primarily as the set-up man for Camilo Doval. He entered last year as the Giants closer, and after a couple of rough months, he ceded the job back to Doval. Then the Giants flipped Camilo to the Yankees and reinserted Walker in the closer role, where he struggled again to finish out the season. There’s some question if maybe Walker suffers from “Rob Dibble Disease” and can only dominate the 7th and 8th innings while struggling to get the last 3 outs of the game. It seems like the Giants will give him another chance in 2026 after he worked on his mechanics this offseason, and his current draft cost north of pick #200 has made me interested in taking a chance.
20) Dennis Santana, Pirates
He’s currently the Pirates closer after finishing the 2025 season with 16 saves, including 10 of the team’s final 12. With David Bednar now closing in New York, Santana seems poised to lead the team again as his only competition is fellow journeymen Gregory Soto and Isaac Mattson. His current draft price is reasonable enough (#165), and he makes for a solid #2 closer. He doesn’t miss a lot of bats, but as long as he can get those final three outs, Pittsburgh wins, he has value.
21) Kenley Jansen, Tigers
The Tigers have brought him in to lead their late-inning bullpen, but they haven’t quite committed to him as their closer as of yet. When asked, AJ Hinch said that all of the bullpen arms would be in the mix for saves, adding, “I think we can pretty much guess how it’s gonna go given that one of them has a historic number of saves.” Jansen will be first in line and will get the bulk of the save chances, with Will Vest, Kyle Finnegan, and Taylor Holton all there to assist when he needs a break. At his current ADP of pick 137, which puts him in the 12th round, he’s a reasonable choice as your #2 closer.
22) Griffin Jax, Rays
He should be the head of what will likely be a committee in Tampa that also features Garrett Cleavenger and Edwin Uceta. Jax has never gotten more than 10 saves in a season, but he is coming off back-to-back 90+ K seasons and profiles as the best set of skills of the Tampa bullpen arms. All three players are going well after pick #200, so it’s possible to pick up Jax in around the 17th-18th round and then back him up with one of the other two at the end of your draft. If he gets you 20 saves this year, along with his Ks and a solid ERA and whip, he will be a fantasy asset as your #2 closer.
23) Riley O’Brien, Cardinals
He’s first in line for saves after closing out 4 of the Cardinals final 5 save opportunities last season. He’s not a young pitcher, as he began last year in the minors with just 10 innings of major league experience at the age of 30. He throws a hard 98 mph sinker that he was able to use in the minors to get 32 Ks over 19 innings before getting the call to St. Louis. He wasn’t able to maintain the same K rate in the majors, but he did keep his era and WHIP to respectable levels. While he’s the highest draft Cardinal pitcher, he’s going well after the 200th pick on average right now. He’s a low-risk, late-round pick that you can grab as your 2nd closer.
24) Seranthony Dominguez, White Sox
The White Sox have brought him in to be their closer this offseason, which I find a bit curious, as he hasn’t really been a closer since his rookie season for the Phillies back in 2018, and that wasn’t even for the full season. Chicago’s front office is confident he will be able to handle the role, especially after he added a split-finger to his repertoire, which helped him set a career high with 11.35 k/9 last year. He was signed for two years, and for big money by the White Sox’s current standards, so he should be safe to remain in the role unless he completely chokes on it. As of right now, his price in drafts has been more than reasonable as he’s been going near the end of most 12-team drafts.
25) Kirby Yates, Angels
Now we are officially into the range of “on a wing and a prayer,” as none of these guys will be guaranteed anything. Yates joined the Angels this offseason and is reunited with former pitching coach Mike Maddux, with whom he had his best season in 2024 for the Rangers. He’s no Spring Chicken, now at 38 years old, but he will get the first crack at closing out games for the Halos. Thus far in draft season, drafters have been split between Yates and Robert Stephenson, but both players have been available at the very end of drafts with an ADP north of 400.
26) Bryan Abreu, Astros
He’s first in line if Josh Hader goes down, and right now that line doesn’t seem to have a very long wait. If Hader does end up being shelved for any length of time, Abreu’s draft price will skyrocket from his current average slot around pick #280. Based on skills alone, Abreu makes for an excellent pick as he has topped 100 Ks in three straight years, while appearing in at least 70 contests in each season. He’s going to go much higher in SOLDS leagues, so make sure you know your league scoring system when drafting.
27) Cole Sands, Twins
He will likely split saves with Taylor Rogers and Justin Topa in the Minnesota pen this season. None of the trio is being drafted at all in most 12-team leagues right now, but I’ll take a shot on Sands over the other two. When there’s a committee of 3, I will focus on whichever two of the pitchers that throw from the same side. In this case, Sand and Topa are the righties, while Rogers is a lefty. The manager is going to use all three in high-leverage spots, and more times than not, he is going to end up burning the lefty before the 9th, which will leave one of the other two pitchers for the final frame. It’s not exactly scientific, but it’s my process. Sands is the youngest of the three and does have an elite season as a reliever under his belt for these Twins back in 2024, so he’s the most attractive to me as a speculative pick.
28) Robert Garcia, Rangers
The Rangers will most likely employ a bullpen by committee, and right now, Garcia looks to be the highest-drafted member of said unit. Generally speaking, I tend to hold being left-handed against a guy when he’s the lone southpaw in a committee, as he will likely be used when the need arises rather than being saved for the final three outs. Alexis Diaz and Chris Martin will be there as the right-handed complements to Garcia in the Texas pen, and all will likely get saves this year. Garcia will cost you a late-round pick (ADP #300+) if you want to take a stab at him.
29) Chris Martin, Rangers
He’s going much later than his teammate, Garcia, and he’s also going a little later than Alexis Diaz thus far in drafts, but I think Martin may end up leading the Rangers in saves. Skip Schumaker specifically mentioned Martin and Garcia as the favorites for saves when asked who would be his closer when camp began this year. If it’s going to be a committee, give me Martin here, as I feel this situation is very similar to the Twins. When the need for the lefty arises before the 9th, Garcia will be used. The Rangers have fellow righty, Alexis Diaz, that they can use in tight spots in the 7th or 8th, which allows Martin to be available for the 9th. His current draft price is basically free. (ADP #695)
30) Kevin Ginkel, Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Kevin Ginkel throws to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the ninth inning at Chase Field in Phoenix, on May 8, 2025.
We’ve come to the “dart throw” portion of our exercise. One of Kevin Ginkel, Paul Sewald, or Ryan Thompson will likely begin this season as the Arizona “closer,” as Tory Lovullo has stated he would like to have defined roles in the pen this year. The best arms for the job are probably AJ Puk and Justin Martinez, but both will be on the shelf for at least a couple of months as they work their way back from Tommy John surgery. I put Ginkel at the top of this heap based on who he was before an injury-riddled 2025. He posted back-to-back years with 60+ innings out of the D-back pen with solid rate stats and a K-rate over 9.
31) Paul Sewald, Diamondbacks
Same story as Ginkel. Sewald has the most closing experience of the trio that is competing for saves in the desert for Tory Lovullo. His 86 career saves are a plus, but his age (36) and declining K rate over the last 3 seasons give us some reason for pause. He is only being drafted in the deepest of leagues right now with an ADP north of 700. Consider him solely if he wins the competition this Spring for most formats; he’s worth a speculative buck in NL-only auctions.
32) Taylor Rogers, Twins
He’s in the mix for saves in Minnesota, but I feel like he will most likely be used in high-leverage spots before the end of the game, which will limit his total. Rogers has been around for quite some time, so we know what we’re getting. He’s worth a roster spot in AL-only leagues as he will likely notch about 10 saves while chipping in with decent numbers across the board.
33) Garrett Cleavenger, Rays
Tampa looks like yet another committee, and Cleavenger will be the left-handed side of the squad, complementing Griffin Jax, and Edwin Uceta. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I’m fading the lefty here again. He’ll get 8-12 saves as part of the committee and makes a solid addition in AL-only leagues. Uceta may be dealing with a shoulder impingement this Spring, so keep an eye on the situation as camp continues.
34) Justin Sterner, A’s
Somebody is going to lead the Athletics in saves. The suspect list looks messy, as there are literally 5 different guys who can be called upon by Mark Kotsay when the A’s actually have a late lead. None of them is Mason Miller, so it’s very likely we’re going to be dealing with the dreaded “hot hand” approach. Sterner is going the highest by current ADP, but he’s still an afterthought in most 12-team leagues with an ADP of about 600. Sterner is a 29-year-old career minor leaguer who relies heavily on his sweeper to get outs. He may project as the best skills guy of the bunch, but that might be simply by default.
35) Scott Barlow, A’s
Barlow is the next name to know in the Athletics’ bullpen. His skills have been fading for a few years now, but he has the most career saves of this lot, and that very well may influence Mark Kotsay’s decision when it comes to awarding the first save opportunity. Possession is 9/10ths the law, so if Barlow is getting saves/finishing games in camp, then he very well may be the guy who leads this team in saves in 2026. He’s a $1 flier in any auction and a last-round dart throw in drafts.
The Cleveland Browns continue to wander through the quarterback wilderness.
And if Shedeur Sanders isn't the answer, that wandering will continue. ESPN's Seth Walder predicts that the Browns will indeed replace Sanders, and that they'll do it with a former No. 1 overall pick.
In a new article on Wednesday, Walder writes that the Browns' Week 1 starting QB in 2026 will be Kyler Murray.
Murray, who has had many highlight-reel moments with the Cardinals, has fallen a bit out of favor in Arizona. His contract is big, making his trade value murky, but he's been the subject of plenty of moving-on rumors this offseason.
"Cleveland's eternal search for a quarterback could lead it to Murray, especially with the draft lacking top-flight QB prospects beyond Fernando Mendoza," Walder writes. "Murray is due $42.5 million in cash, which hovers around fair value for one season, especially since he'd be under contract for non-guaranteed years at similar prices in 2027 and 2028. Cleveland is tight on cap space (due in large part to quarterback Deshaun Watson's contract), so I would expect the Cardinals to eat some of Murray's 2026 money in exchange for a Browns draft pick."
Sanders and fellow draft classmate Dillon Gabriel are both still under contract with the Browns, so if Cleveland doesn't make any QB move this offseason, they'd battle it out for the job in 2026.
That doesn't have much upside to it, though, and so Cleveland wouldn't be wrong to look elsewhere.
"Some might clamor to give Shedeur Sanders more development time, but I think that would be a mistake," Walder writes. "A fifth-round pick whose 18.9 QBR would have been by far the worst in the league had he played enough to qualify ought to be considered the longest of shots, so the Browns should be pursuing other quarterback options."
The aforementioned Deshaun Watson could also factor in for the 2026 starting gig, but that doesn't have long-term positivity to it, either.
Murray would be a big name, and maybe a change of scenery would do him well.
Photo by Jack Thomas - WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images
Roland Sallai’s father has now said that Liverpool have already made contact about a move for his son.
The Reds may need to strengthen their right-back department during the 2026 summer transfer window.
Conor Bradley could be out until 2027, while there has been a suggestion that Joe Gomez could leave before next season gets underway.
That would leave Jeremie Frimpong as the only fit senior right-back available to the Merseyside outfit ahead of next term.
Roland Sallai’s father speaks on Liverpool transfer links
Photo by Oliver Hardt/Getty Images
Liverpool appear to be laying the groundwork to reinforce their full-back options in the next window.
Recent reports have linked the club with interest in Roland Sallai.
Sallai, a mainstay for Hungary, was also praised by Dominik Szoboszlai earlier this season.
Speaking to Blikk, he said: “From here he can only sign for a team that is truly one of the top teams in the world. Liverpool could be such a destination, and I admit, I wouldn’t be surprised if this club change happened now, in the winter.”
The 28-year-old joined Galatasaray two years ago from Freiburg and has become a regular fixture for them. This season, he’s made 33 appearances across various roles on the right side of the pitch.
Antoine Griezmann ‘intends to leave’ for Orlando City as he debates Atletico Madrid future
Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann looks likely to depart the club this year, but the question will be when. The French veteran signed a new deal last season to keep him at Atletico until 2027, but now seems ready to make the long-touted move to Major League Soccer.
This week it emerged that Orlando City are involved in advanced talks with Griezmann, and are hoping to bring him in before the 27th of March, which is the transfer deadline for MLS. They have not yet opened negotiations with Atletico.
Griezmann debating Atletico Madrid departure
Image via Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images
Contacts between Griezmann and Orlando started last summer, according to Cadena SER, and he is now weighing up his future. They say that his intention is and was to leave for Orlando City, but his situation at Atletico is giving him second thoughts. The prospect of a Champions League run and a Copa del Rey trophy could keep him at Atletico until the end of the season, as he looks to go out on a high note.
Griezmann was not expecting to play as much or as well as he had this season, hence he had it in his mind he would leave for the United States. Diego Simeone is again using Griezmann regularly though, and he has become a key player again, after falling out of the team late last season.
Diego Simeone’s take on Griezmann exit
Speaking after Atletico’s win over Club Brugge, Simeone seemed willing to allow Griezmann to make the call as he saw fit.
“I’m not going to speak for him. I love him very much, we’ve talked about many things, and I told him what I think. I hope he chooses what he considers best and what he wants because he deserves what he wants,” he told Diario AS.
Benfica boss Jose Mourinho will not be on the touchline after being sent off in the previous game between the two, while Gianluca Prestianni is also suspended while an investigation is held after his alleged use of racist language towards Vinicius Junior.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the second-leg clash…
Real suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Osasuna on Saturday, ending a run of four straight wins in all competitions which included that victory over Benfica in the first leg.
Benfica’s only defeat in the last seven games came against Real Madrid, winning five of those seven games.
What’s been said?
Real Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa: “Vini Jr. has always shown great courage and character. Anyone in his situation, I don’t know how they would react. He has always done so bravely, showing tremendous personality. That has always been his response, and it always will be because he is a fighter. Tomorrow he will come out to fight and play a great match, showing that he is one of the best players on the planet.”
Benfica boss Jose Mourinho chose not to speak to the media ahead of the game.
‘Atletico would be favourites to beat Liverpool in UCL’ – Craig Burley
Liverpool’s possible Champions League last-16 meeting with Atletico Madrid is already being debated after predictions were made about how Arne Slot’s side would fare.
The Spanish club progressed with a 7-4 aggregate victory over Club Brugge on Tuesday night and is now one of two potential opponents we could face when the draw takes place on Friday morning.
The other candidate will come from Juventus or Galatasaray, but discussion has quickly focused on the prospect of facing Diego Simeone’s team again.
Pundits make Atletico Madrid prediction about Liverpool
On ESPN UK, Craig Burley suggested the La Liga side would actually start the tie as favourites despite our progression to the knockout stage.
“Liverpool… they’ve not been good and Atleti on their day this season have been better than Liverpool.”
The same segment referenced Atletico’s big performances in Spain this season and their attacking threats
“I think at this moment in time I would have to say a fully fit Atleti side… if Alexander Sørloth continues this sort of form and Julian Alvarez picks up again… Atleti for me would be the favourites.”
That claim is striking considering Liverpool defeated the Madrid side 3-2 earlier in the competition at Anfield through Virgil van Dijk’s added-time winner.
A look at the table in Spain shows a more nuanced picture.
Atletico have won 14, drawn 6 and lost 5 league games, leaving them outside the title race and almost a dozen points behind Barcelona.
Liverpool’s own domestic campaign has also been inconsistent, recording 13 wins, 6 draws and 8 defeats, which partly explains the external doubts.
Our recent 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest highlighted both sides of the team, with a difficult first half followed by a resilient second-half response culminating in Alexis Mac Allister’s stoppage-time goal.
Slot’s men have also already shown we can hurt Atletico, racing into a two-goal lead inside six minutes in the earlier meeting before ultimately winning late.
The contrast is why calling the Spanish side clear favourites feels premature, particularly given Atletico’s fluctuating form and the fact they have struggled against English teams in recent Champions League campaigns.
Liverpool will discover the final opponent at Friday’s draw, but the early narrative is already clear – many observers doubt us, even though recent history between the two clubs suggests a far closer contest than predicted.
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Diego Simeone reveals stinging question he asked Atletico Madrid players at half-time in Brugge win
Atletico Madrid sealed progression to the Round of 16 in the Champions League with a 4-1 win over Club Brugge on Tuesday night, a result that perhaps is a little deceptive regarding the overall feel of the tie. However Diego Simeone was enormously satisfied with his side after the match, looking relieved on the touchline afterwards.
Simeone was delighted that his side progressed to the next round, calling it important for the growth of the club, with President Enrique Cerezo stating before the match that they were obligated to win. Diario AS note that the victory is worth €12m in Champions League prize money to Atletico. Speaking after the match, Simeone explained his emotional reaction.
“I’m very happy. There’s a tremendous amount of work behind these results, which are starting to be more positive than negative. We had a lot of new players last season and many more this season. Reinventing ourselves is never easy, and when you see the willingness and conviction of the substitutes when they come on, it really moves me.”
Image via ESPN
“I’m a football man, and when I see that commitment to the idea, to what we’re aiming for, I feel a strong connection. I’m grateful for the team’s work. In the first half, we faced an opponent that plays very well, I’m not exaggerating. They pressured us, they took time away from us. In the second half, we played a far superior game in every way.”
Simeone reveals stinging half-time question to players
While Atletico opened the scoring at the Metropolitano through Alexander Sorloth, Club Brugge could justifiably have claimed to be the better side going into the break. Simeone revealed that he had questioned his side during the half-time team talk.
“The feeling that I perceived. They were attacking to win, and we, I don’t know why we were attacking, were just there to be there beside them. That’s what we talked about: we had to increase the intensity of our pressing, be more decisive in our attacking positioning. After Johnny’s goal, which opened the door for us, and with the substitutions… It wasn’t easy to leave Lookman and Griezmann out. Julian had been playing well lately. You have to make decisions, and it excites me to see that those who come on do so in a way that supports the team’s philosophy. It was difficult; it’s not an easy decision.”
Simeone on Sorloth hat-trick
The star of the show was Sorloth, who scored a hat-trick, Atletico’s first in the competition for a number of years. The Norwegian was handed a start over Ademola Lookman.
“I felt he was in form, that the other day against Club Brugge he came on and gave the team what it needed, because he’s different from the rest. When you have a strong player who brings the ball out from the back and stretches the team when we can’t find a passing lane. He did very well in Bruges, also against Espanyol, and today he did it again.”
Image via Thomas Coex / AFP
The other side of the coin is Julian Alvarez, who was withdrawn before the hour-mark after another discreet performance.
“The same thing happened with Griezmann last season. I kept playing him, but he couldn’t deliver. These are decisions I accept, and I believe in players like him. Both Griezmann and Julian today… Alex has something no one else has, and when he’s on form, when he’s present and involved, like he was in the first leg for those 20 minutes, he’s back to the level we need. He’s very important for us.”
Atletico Madrid will face Real Oviedo on Saturday night in Asturias, before traveling to face Barcelona in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final against Barcelona. Undoubtedly the biggest game on their remaining calendar this season, Los Colchoneros are heavy favourites to progress after a 4-0 win in the first leg.
Date & Kickoff Time For Milan Derby Revealed After Inter Milan Suffer Champions League Elimination
The iconic Milan Derby now has an official date and kickoff time following Inter Milan’s Champions League elimination.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport via FCInterNews, the Lega Serie A will make the official announcement on Friday.
Indeed, the league will soon confirm the schedule for the highly anticipated clash between Inter and AC Milan.
Cristian Chivu failed to navigate the Nerazzurri past Bodo/Glimt, who emerged as 5-2 aggregate winners in their knockout playoff tie.
Meanwhile, the outcome of that clash will affect Inter’s domestic calendar.
Date & Kickoff Time for Milan Derby Confirmed
MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 23: General view outside the stadium prior to the coppa Italia Semi Final match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 23, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
With Inter out of Europe’s most prestigious competition, they’ll face Massimiliano Allegri’s side on Sunday, March 8.
Furthermore, one of the most exciting fixtures in European football will kick off at 20.45 CET at San Siro.
Had the Nerazzurri overcome the Norwegian champions, the game would have taken place on Saturday, March 7.
However, there’s no longer any need for schedule adjustments, as Inter’s European commitments have come to an end.
On the other hand, Chivu’s men boast a ten-point lead over their bitter rivals at the top of the Serie A table.
How much Inter earned from UCL campaign and how costly was Bodo/Glimt loss
Inter have earned in excess of €70m from their 2025-26 Champions League campaign, but the Nerazzurri earned over €60m less than they did last season following Tuesday evening’s elimination by Bodo/Glimt in the play-off round. Here’s the full breakdown of Inter’s earnings from this season’s competition.
Inter were beaten 2-1 by Bodo/Glimt in San Siro on Tuesday evening in the second leg of their Champions League play-off round tie. They also lost 3-1 in Norway last week, which meant an eventual 5-2 aggregate scoreline.
This is the first time in five seasons, dating back to the 2020-21 campaign, that Inter have failed to qualify for the Champions League round of 16.
How much did Inter earn from 2025-26 Champions League?
MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 11: The UEFA Champions League trophy is cleaned as it is displayed on a plinth at the side of the pitch prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and Feyenoord at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 11, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
All told, Inter earned just over €71m from Champions League participation fees and prize money. The breakdown of those earnings is as follows:
Participation fees: €18.62m
Value pillar: €23.37m European share, €8.65m non-European share
League phase bonus: €8.13m
Bonuses for victories and draws: €10.5m
9th-16th place bonus: €1m
Play-off round bonus: €1m
This is, however, around €65m less than Inter earned in 2024-25 when they went all the way to the final, where they lost 5-0 to Paris Saint-Germain. Last season’s Champions League earnings came to a total of €136m.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 24: Davide Frattesi heads the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match against FK Bodo/Glimt at Stadio San Siro on February 24, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Beating Bodo/Glimt over two legs of the play-off round would have been worth an additional €11m to Inter this season.
On top of the €71m that they did earn in 2025-26, here is how much the Nerazzurri would have earned from each following round of the competition had they beaten Bodo/Glimt in the play-offs:
The worrying graph which shows Chelsea may already have blown Champions League chances
The Athletic have run the numbers looking at Chelsea’s fixtures for the remainder of the season, and it doesn’t look good.
The Blues dropped 4 points from winning positions against Leeds and Burnley in their last two games, and it’s looking ominously like those points could cost them a Champions League place.
There are still a lot of games to go, and a lot of scope to change things. But the crucial information is that the Blues have the hardest remaining fixtures of anyone in the league.
OPTA rankings show Chelsea have hardest fixtures in the league to come
OPTA’s remaining fixture difficulty as published in the Athletic.
According to the OPTA “power rankings” of teams we’ve got to face, we have a mean opponent difficulty of 94. Our rivals Man U have 92.9, Liverpool 92.1, Aston Villa 91.8.
We face all three of them in the eleven remaining games. So our future is very much in our hands. But our soft run is over, and there are no easy points left to win. After facing table topping Arsenal on Sunday, we travel to face Villa away. After that come Newcastle, Everton, Man City, Man U, Brighton, relegation battling Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, Spurs and finally Sunderland to close the season out.
The most hopeful thing we can take from all that is that Sunderland are not in relegation trouble, and will hopefully be on the beach on the final day. We’ve just got to make sure we stay in the fight until then…
In other news…
John Terry was frustrated he wasn’t considered as a caretaker option for Chelsea when Enzo Maresca left his job earlier this year.
What Graham Potter said about Alexander Isak injury hints at potential Liverpool return date
Sweden head coach Graham Potter has indirectly given Liverpool fans an indication as to when Alexander Isak could potentially return from injury.
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The Reds’ record signing hasn’t played since breaking his leg in the 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur just before Christmas, having already endured a disrupted first half-season at Anfield following his protracted transfer from Newcastle last summer.
The Times’ Paul Joyce reported a few days ago that the 26-year-old is targeting a return for the end of March, tallying with an update given by Arne Slot, and the striker’s international boss has also hinted at a return to action in approximately one month’s time for our number 9.
Potter hopeful of Isak return for late March
Potter is currently sweating on the fitness of several key players for Sweden’s World Cup play-off against Ukraine on 26 March, with Isak and Spurs duo Lucas Bergvall and Dejan Kulusevski all currently sidelined.
While the latter seems certain to miss next month’s fixtures, the former Chelsea boss hasn’t given up hope of the other two players featuring for their country as they aim to secure a ticket to North America in June.
The 50-year-old told Sportbladet: “Right now we’re just keeping our fingers crossed and hopefully we can get some of those guys back. If not, we have to find a solution with the guys that are available.”
(Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images)
Liverpool could have Isak back for the run-in to the season
With Potter holding out hope that Isak will be fit in time for the World Cup play-offs, we can expect the Liverpool striker to be back in action for the Reds once the run-in to the club season commences at the start of April.
Of course, it isn’t guaranteed that he’ll be cleared to play by then, and Slot has preached caution around the amount of work that the striker still needs to undertake before he can return, but there’s an increasing indication that he’s approximately a month away from a comeback.
If the 26-year-old is deemed fit enough to play for Sweden against Ukraine, it could see him get some minutes under his belt before he’s back for his club, although the injury problems he’s had in recent months will likely see him being handled with considerable care rather than rushed into action.
Isak hasn’t had a prolonged chance to establish himself at Liverpool – he’s yet to play a full match and has surpassed 70 minutes just four times (Transfermarkt) – but hopefully when the spring international break ends, he’ll be primed to make an impact in the run-in to the Reds’ season.
Even if it might take him a few games to fully get up to speed, having our record signing available for the business end of the campaign could make all the difference in the pursuit of Champions League qualification, and would reduce the burden on Hugo Ekitike to maintain fitness and form.
Fingers crossed that we’ll have the Swedish marksman back for the start of April and that he can contribute decisively in the final weeks of the season.
The defender plays for Palmeiras, and his recent performances have elevated his standing within the squad. Over the last few weeks, he has emerged as one of their most important players. His composure and consistency have drawn increasing attention.
Palmeiras have carefully managed his development so far. The Brazilian club has protected him to ensure he continues to progress at the right pace. However, their stance now appears to have shifted. They are reportedly prepared to allow him to leave.
Arsenal Monitoring the Situation
Arsenal is among the clubs that have tracked Benedetti for an extended period. The Gunners believe they are well placed to win the race for his signature. Strengthening with elite young prospects remains a clear part of their recruitment strategy.
Several leading European clubs have made contact regarding his availability in recent weeks. That level of interest highlights the growing recognition of his ability. It will be intriguing to see which club ultimately secures his services.
For Arsenal, the encouraging development is Palmeiras’ apparent willingness to sanction a move. This could open the door for formal negotiations in the near future.
Transfer Window Decision Expected
A report on Sports Witness claims that Palmeiras consider his future to be an issue that should be resolved in the next European transfer window. The club is actively assessing offers for his signature. They intend to ensure he secures a new destination once the current season concludes.
With that in mind, Arsenal are expected to act decisively. They will be aware of the competition and the risk of losing him to a rival side. If they wish to secure Benedetti, timing could prove crucial. The next transfer window may therefore represent a defining moment in determining where one of Brazil’s brightest prospects continues his career.
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Inter Milan 1-2 Bodo/Glimt – German Defender Believes Divine Intervention Helped Norwegians: “Football Gods Said Not Today”
Inter Milan defender Yann Bisseck blamed bad luck for last night’s heartbreaking Champions League defeat to Bodo/Glimt.
Speaking to CBS Sports Golazo via FCInterNews, the German star insisted that the ‘football Gods’ turned against the Nerazzurri yesterday.
Bodo/Glimt headed into proceedings confident of progressing following a 3-1 first-leg victory on home turf.
However, preserving that lead at San Siro was never going to be a simple task.
Indeed, Kjetil Knutsen’s side had to endure a siege, with Inter throwing everything that had at goalkeeper Nikita Haikin.
Unfortunately, just one of Inter’s 30 shots found its way in, while the visitors took two of their three chances to clinch another stunning win.
As a result, Cristian Chivu can now focus on getting the job done in Serie A, where the Nerazzurri sit comfortably ten points clear at the summit.
Still, Bodo/Glimt gave the runaway Serie A leaders a bitter pill to swallow.
Yann Bisseck Blames Divine Intervention for Inter Milan 1-2 Bodo/Glimt Loss
VERONA, ITALY – NOVEMBER 02: Yann Bisseck of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and FC Internazionale at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on November 02, 2025 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Bisseck is still unable to accept the outcome, insisting that luck wasn’t on Inter’s side.
“I don’t agree with those who talk about ‘losing to a club like Bodo/Glimt,’ that’s not accurate,” Bisseck said. “Bodo had a solid plan, they executed it well, and they were well-prepared. I give them my best compliments. We expected more, but sometimes the gods of football say, ‘not today.’
“It’s one of those days when the ball just won’t go in. We created a lot, but the goalkeeper and defenders were always in the right places,” the German added. “I can’t blame any of my teammates – the ball just didn’t want to go in.
“We can still be proud of our effort because to stay under pressure and keep trying until the end deserves recognition, but it didn’t work out, and we’ll try again next year.
“It’s a tough blow; of course, you never want to lose, especially at a club where you expect to go as far as possible in a tournament. However, all big clubs face early exits sometimes, and this year it happened to us.
“I believe that in the long run, we’ll learn from this match and come back stronger.”
I played for Real Madrid, scouted for Liverpool and now work alongside Carrick at United
Liverpool supporters preparing for West Ham United’s visit to Anfield may not expect a link to Old Trafford, yet a newly appointed Manchester United coach has a surprising past connection with us.
The man is Jonathan Woodgate, the former England international defender whose career has quietly taken him across one of football’s fiercest divides.
Woodgate’s unusual Liverpool connection
(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
According to manutd.com, the 45-year-old Englishman has joined Michael Carrick’s coaching staff after working with him at Middlesbrough.
The official club profile explains: “Many fans will be familiar with the former England defender, who was part of Carrick’s coaching team at Middlesbrough, his first professional club as a schoolboy.”
Woodgate’s playing journey stretched from Leeds United to Newcastle United and even Spanish giants Real Madrid, before spells at Middlesbrough, Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City.
The same Manchester United biography adds: “After a switch to Tottenham Hotspur, he scored the winner for the north Londoners in the 2008 League Cup final, against Chelsea, and won eight senior caps for England.”
He was tasked with monitoring talent in Spain and Portugal and even pushed the club to sign Theo Hernandez before the defender eventually joined Real Madrid and later AC Milan.
Crossing the Liverpool-Manchester United line is rare, with only a handful of players in history doing so, and even fewer coaches.
Woodgate’s career numbers underline how experienced he was despite injury problems limiting his peak years.
After his scouting role with us, the former Real Madrid defender moved into coaching at Middlesbrough, eventually becoming manager in 2019 and later caretaker boss at Bournemouth, taking the club into the Championship play-offs.
Now working alongside Carrick at United, Woodgate’s path shows how unusual football careers can be.
It’s a reminder that this unexpected overlap from Woodgate features in a rivalry where shared history is normally almost non-existent.
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Celtic chasing signatures of two Plymouth Argyle attackers
Celtic are reportedly leading the race to secure the signatures of Plymouth Argyle forwards Lorent Tolaj and Bim Pepple ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window…
Lorent Tolaj of Plymouth Argyle celebrates with team-mate Malachi Boateng after scoring his team’s third goal during the Vertu Trophy match between Bristol Rovers and Plymouth Argyle at Memorial Stadium on January 13, 2026. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
Celtic reportedly shopping for strikers in EFL League One
The attacking pair have impressed in EFL League One this campaign, combining for 29 goals so far, with Tolaj responsible for 18 of that tally. The 24-year-old joined Plymouth from Port Vale in a £1.2 million deal last summer, while Pepple arrived from Luton Town for an initial fee of £250,000.
Both players also have previous experience in Scotland, with Pepple spending time on loan at Inverness Caledonian Thistle in 2024 and Tolaj having a loan spell at Dundee in 2023.
According to the Daily Mail, their performances have attracted interest from several English sides, as well as Celtic, who believe they could land the duo for a relatively modest fee.
Burton Albion v Plymouth Argyle, Burton, UK – 27 Sep 2025 Bim Pepple of Plymouth Argyle during the Sky Bet League 1 Match between Burton Albion and Plymouth Argyle at the Pirelli Stadium, Burton on 27 Sep 2025 Burton On Trent Pirelli Stadium Staffordshire GBR Photo George Wass IMAGO/PPAUK
Pepple is also drawing attention from clubs abroad, including Turkish outfit Goztepe and MLS sides Minnesota United and CF Montreal. The 23-year-old has been in outstanding form, netting eight goals in his last nine appearances and his displays have reportedly caught the eye of Jesse Marsch in the Canadian national team setup.
Both strikers were on target twice in Argyle’s emphatic 5-2 victory over League One promotion hopefuls Cardiff City at the weekend, a result that has strengthened Tom Cleverley’s side’s push for a play-off place.
Excitement growing for Glasgow Derby double header at Ibrox
Meanwhile, next weekend’s Scottish Cup Glasgow Derby showdown is expected to generate more than £2.5 million in ticket sales. It has now been confirmed that Celtic supporters will be housed in the entire Free Broomloan Stand, restoring a full allocation for the first time in eight years.
The Ibrox club have released ticket pricing details, with adult tickets set at £53 and concession tickets priced at £43. According to Scotland Coefficent on X, overall match-day revenue is projected to exceed the £2.5 million mark.
Under Scottish Cup regulations, the visiting side is entitled to 37 per cent of the gate. As a result, Celtic are expected to receive more than £925,000 from the fixture.
Conor Spence
Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr. Click on image to order
‘I was watching Love Island on a flight!’ – Poppy Pattinson on how she received first England call-up
London City Lionesses full-back Poppy Pattinson has revealed she found out about her first England Women’s call-up while she was on a flight watching Love Island.
Pattinson has had a good season for the London-based WSL team, and has also been through the England set-up all the way since the under-17’s.
Asked how she found out about the call-up, Pattinson said: “I was actually on a flight. I feel like everyone has a story when it comes to this, but I was actually on a flight, so I missed the call. When I landed, I saw the missed call and a message from Sarina (Wiegman) asking me to call her back.
“So, obviously, you can imagine the people next to me probably thinking I was just chilling watching Love Island on the flight. And then when I landed I’m just like ‘oh my God.’ It was tense, obviously, waiting for everyone to get off the plane.
“I’m thinking ‘please, come on, get your stuff.’ But then I got into the airport, called her back, and I’m just super proud. She was congratulating me and inviting me into the camp.”
Pattinson has made nine appearances for the London City Lionesses this season and has consistently impressed.
England currently have a lack of left-back options and there is a real opportunity for Pattinson to make the position her own.
Asked if she thinks she can do that, the 25-year-old said: “Yeah, look, of course, I’m fully aware there’s some great players in this team. But I want to bring my strength to the team.
“I want to add what I can. I think I’ve had some good performances at club level, and I just want to keep adding to that, take the opportunities that I can, and just be myself on the pitch.”
It was manager Sarina Wiegman who called Pattinson to invite her to the England camp, and the full-back said her new manager had some kind words to say.
“She was just positive about the performances I’ve had with my club and just congratulating me, inviting me to come in and express myself here on an international level.
“Obviously, this is the first step, getting the call-up, but I don’t want it to be the last. I want to learn a lot. There are some big players and talented players in the group. (I want to) learn from the leaders around me, and enjoy it, most importantly. And express my strengths on the pitch.”
Way back on February 5th, the Devils lost at home to the New York Islanders 3-1. The game was scoreless after the 1st period before the Devils and Islanders traded goals in the 2nd period. Nico Hischier (who is the captain of the team, in case Bryce Salvador never told you before) had the lone goal for the Devils, his 19th of the year. The Islanders sealed the game with 2 late goals in the 3rd period (one of them an empty net goal). On the bright side, as Tim said in his recap of this game, at least the Devils made progress in this game, only losing 3-1, as opposed to the 9-0 nuke that the Islanders dropped on the Devils back on January 6th. Jake Allen started in net for the Devils and while he did let up 3 goals, it’s hard to win when the team in front of you only scores 1 goal.
The game was their 3rd loss in a row, and also their 5th loss in their last 6 games. During their 3 game losing streak, the Devils have only scored 2 goals, while letting up 10 goals. 10 goals against in 3 games, is actually not horrible. Scoring 2 goals in 3 games though is atrocious. The lack of offense though has been a problem for a while now with the Devils. As of this article, the Devils have scored 146 goals this season. That’s good for dead last in the entire Eastern Conference, including 5 goals behind the Rangers. Their goal output is “good” for 31st, in the league, only 4 more than the Calgary Flames. The Devils have suffered many problems this season, not just one or two specific problems. Right now though, it doesn’t matter what your goalies do, or what your defense does, if you can’t put the puck in the net.
Last Sabres Game
Like the Devils, The Sabres also played their last game on February 5th, losing 5-2 at home to the Penguins. The Sabres jumped out to an early lead, less than 2 minutes into the game, on Jason Zucker’s 15th goal of the season. The Penguins would score 2 goals before the end of the 1st, to make it 2-1 and they added another goal in the 2nd to start the 3rd period up 3-1. Tage Thompson scored less than 2 minutes into the 3rd period on the PP, his 30th of the season, to bring the Sabres within 1 goal at 3-2. However, the Penguins added 2 late goals, including an empty net goal, to put the game away 5-2.
The loss was their 2nd in a row, and 3rd in their last 4 games. However, prior to that, the Sabres had a 5 game win streak from 1/20 – 1/29. Overall the Sabres are playing pretty well this season. They currently have 32 wins, which is tied for 4th place in the Eastern Conference. Alex Lyon has been the go to man in net for the Sabres, having started 25 games already this season. He started 4 out of the last 5 games for the Sabres before the break, however, with the time off, I would expect him to get the start tonight.
Injuries, Roster for Tonight, Yada, Yada, Yada.
The Devils held a practice on Tuesday afternoon, and Amanda Stein posted the lines on X. Keep in mind that Timo Meier and Jonas Siegenthaler were traveling back to NJ on Tuesday. Per Stein, “both will be back for the morning skate ahead of facing Buffalo.” As of this article, it looks like Jack’s arrival time in New Jersey is still to be determined.
Here's how the #NJDevils are lining up today at practice… so, take this for what it is… of course, they are still missing some key components.
Grimace has been feeling good so far this week from watching the Jack Hughes goal over and over on YouTube. To be frank, I had to politely ask him to turn if off after the 115th time. I think he’s just overconfident at this point, but he has predicted a Devils win for tonight.
Grimace’s 2025-2026 Season Prediction record currently stands at 12-11-0.
Your Take
I know there are a large number of Devils fans that are still riding the high of seeing Jack Hughes score the golden goal for USA in the olympics. That was awesome to see, and great for his confidence and the sport in general. With that being said, the Olympics are over and this is the NHL, not Team USA. Will the high from that game and the confidence from the win carry over to the Devils? Hopefully, the answer is yes. At the same time, nothing would surprise me with this team this year. Feel free to leave your thoughts and comments below and thanks for reading!
In a shameless bit of non hockey related self promotion (approved by Chris – thanks Chris), I wanted to plug my brand new podcast on here, if any of you are interested in listening. We have a light hearted, fun discussion about any movies, music or video games mostly from the 1980s and 1990s. Please feel free to listen to us on any of the formats below and any feedback is welcome (positive and negative). Also, please follow us and subscribe, even if you think we stink. 🙂
Journalist and broadcaster Tom Clarkson believes the level of innovation Ferrari were showing during pre-season testing suggests that a ‘culture of fear’ within the team has now disappeared.
The Monegasque driver was over eight-tenths faster than the next best time set by Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, with his Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton more than a second further back.
There’s only so much you can take from headline lap times in pre-season, but one thing Fred Vasseur will have liked seeing is how willing his team seemed to push new ideas compared to others up and down the grid.
The real eye-catcher was the Ferrari’s new rear wing, which first appeared on Hamilton’s car on day two, grabbing plenty of attention for its bold design. It quickly earned a nickname too, with social media fans calling it the ‘Macarena’ wing due to its distinctive shape.
Fred Vasseur has removed the ‘culture of fear’ from Ferrari
Tom Clarkson, speaking to Jolyon Palmer about Ferrari on the F1 Nation Podcast, said: “I love the innovations that we saw on the Ferrari as well. Whether it’s the rotating rear wing, whether it’s the aero vein by the exhaust.
“This is Loic Serra’s first car as technical director, and for a team that is such a pressure cooker environment, to be introducing these innovations suggests that it’s a very healthy, happy environment there.
“Otherwise, if there was a culture of fear and getting something wrong, you wouldn’t be doing that.
“So I think Fred Vasseur [the] team principal has obviously done a brilliant job in encouraging people to do what they do and not be afraid to come up with new stuff.”
Palmer responded: “I felt like everyone in the paddock was kind of playing down this rear wing, but I mean it was flipped upside down on the main straight! I’ve never seen anything like it in my life!
“When you look at it surely it is reducing drag. You’re getting a bigger hole through the air by flipping the wing upside down and I believe that aspect will give them an advantage.
“But then you have to wonder what are the costs of that? Number one weight might be a factor when you need maybe reinforce certain parts and add weight to reinforce parts and add weight to rear wing and other thing is how quickly does it shut?
“I really hope that they run it for one race at least at the start of the year and we can see because for me would go down as one of great innovations.”
Hamilton’s race engineer absence still a challenge for Ferrari
Ferrari have looked promising in pre-season before, but turning that into sustained success has often been a different story.
The Scuderia haven’t lifted a championship trophy since 2008, and despite high hopes in recent years, the results have rarely matched the optimism.
Leclerc seems to be adapting well to the new regulations. With the 28-year-old calling this season a “now or never” moment for himself and Ferrari, Vasseur will be hoping he can deliver more consistently than last year.
But Hamilton is rarely an easy competitor to outpace. Vasseur knows from his Mercedes days that when Hamilton is dialled in, few can match him over a season.
Hamilton’s situation isn’t helped by not having a permanent race engineer yet. Riccardo Adami has moved to another role within Ferrari, and no replacement has been confirmed ahead of the new campaign.
The communication between driver and engineer is expected to be crucial this year because of how strategies will shift with battery deployment and energy recovery systems coming into play under the updated rules.
This missing link could prove costly early on for Hamilton as he heads into Melbourne without that critical partnership fully established.
POTTSVILLE — The Williams Valley and Schuylkill Haven girls’ basketball teams cruised to District 11 tournament semifinal wins, Tuesday, at Martz Hall.
The Vikings (17-6) started out the playoff action with a 31-19 win over Shenandoah Valley (11-12) before Schuylkill Haven (19-4, 13-1) ran past Pine Grove (13-10, 6-7) in the second half for a 42-26 semifinal win.
“Our girls responded well, it’s a new season now and everyone is 0-0,” Williams Valley coach Shane Zellers said. “Tip your hat to Shenandoah Valley, they had us on our toes the last few weeks.”
Williams Valley advances to the Class 2A championship game against Marian Catholic (14-9) and Schuylkill Haven will match up with Executive Education (14-6) in the Class 3A title game, both on Friday.
“We’ve grown as a team throughout the season and we like to get up and down the floor and we did a good job of that tonight,” Schuylkill Haven coach Tony Sanders said.
Williams Valley 31, Shenandoah Valley 19
The Vikings went on a 15-0 scoring run around halftime which was capped by a pair of Presley Shomper baskets for the 19-6 lead with a few minutes left in the third quarter.
“We knew we had to come out and hit some shots and we had to play defense and the girls followed the gameplan, responded and they played their tails off,” Zellers said.
Williams Valley hit four three-pointers, including three in the first half from Quin Smeltz, Ireland Kasper and Shomper for the 13-6 halftime lead.
Shomper led the Vikings with 11 points and Kasper had eight points. Ella Kobularik brought in 13 rebounds to lead the way on the boards.
“Early on we weren’t finishing possessions and weren’t limiting them to one shot and once we cleaned that up it was tough for them to score,” Zellers said. “We tried to take away the three-point line.”
Kasper and Smeltz each knocked down three’s for the 13-6 lead at the end of the first half.
Shomper posted five points and hit a three for the 19-6 lead before Mallory Miller and Kasper each posted layups for the 23-9 lead at the end of the third quarter.
“She’s (Shomper) a sophomore now and she’s played in some big time games,” Zellers said. “We challenged her offensively and defensively and when she hits shots we win games.”
Williams Valley’s third quarter was highlighted by a 10-3 scoring run, led by Shomper’s four points for the 23-9 lead.
Gianna Donovan hit a pair of three’s for Shenandoah Valley before Kasper knocked down a three to give Williams Valley the 31-19 win.
Gianna Donovan led Shenandoah Valley with 11 points and Joceyln Chagolla scored six points.
The Hurricanes roared after halftime when they dashed to a 19-6 scoring run for the 36-19 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Audrey Hutchinson and McKenna Runkle teamed up to score 10 points in the third quarter on the way to the lopsided second half win.
“The girls played really hard in the second half,” Sanders said. “We’ve grown as a team throughout the season and we played well in transition tonight.”
The Hurricanes jumped out to an 11-4 lead after a pair of three’s from Runkle and Hutchinson by the end of the first quarter.
Lainey Fidler hit a three to bring Pine Grove within a 15-11 difference before the Cardinals brought the deficit within 17-13 at halftime.
Schuylkill Haven made noise after halftime when Hutchinson scored six points and Siket hit a three and added five points for the 36-19 lead at the end of the third.
Hutchinson posted a pair of layups in the fourth quarter for the 42-26 win.
Callee Leffler and Kam Heming each scored six points to lead Pine Grove. Hollyn Sampson had 11 rebounds to lead the Cardinals on the boards.
Perhaps of interest to the Jacksonville Jaguars, a two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle could be available via trade.
According to Jordan Schultz, the Minnesota Vikings have had trade talks with teams about Javon Hargrave.
Defensive tackle is one of the bigger positions of need that the Jaguars have this offseason, but as ESPN's Ben Solak detailed recently, between free agency and the draft, options may be limited.
So perhaps that creates a trade opportunity for James Gladstone, who has been very willing to make deals. It's also important to note that the Jaguars have 11 picks in this year's draft.
Sources: The #Vikings have had trade talks with teams regarding 2x Pro Bowl DT Javon Hargrave.
Hargrave started 15 games last year and had 3.5 sacks in his first season with Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/72siZt5Ul1
Hargrave was a third-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2016. In his 10 NFL seasons, he has played in 146 games, which includes making 130 starts.
The 2021-2023 seasons were Hargrave's most productive, with him eclipsing the 60-pressure mark each year. This past season, he recorded 31 pressures with four sacks, and he ranked 17th among all defensive tackles in PFF's pass rush win rate metric, illustrating that he can win his matchups consistently.
Hargrave is under contract for the 2026 season, but a potentially big hurdle to overcome is that he has a base salary of $14.2 million. The Jaguars would have to do some salary cap maneuvering to make this trade work.
This isn't a move that would reshape the entire defensive tackle position for the Jaguars, but adding Hargrave could help raise the floor of this unit.
ORWIGSBURG — The Marian Catholic Fillies will have an opportunity to add another district championship to their rich history later this week.
On Tuesday evening at Blue Mountain High SchooL, the Fillies defeated Allentown-based Lincoln Leadership Academy 59-30 to move on to the District 11 Class 2A championship game. With the win, the Fillies not only punched their ticket to the championship game but also secured themselves a spot in the state tournament.
A rematch of a February 10 matchup that saw the Fillies win 52-35, Lincoln Leadership came out with their best shot in the game, playing strong defense and taking a 5-0 lead in the opening minutes. The fast start, however, wouldn’t last as a Lions’ timeout slowed down their own momentum, and allowed the Fillies to find their composure.
“We knew they were going to come out with a lot of energy,” Marian coach Jeff Onushco said after the win. “They played us about two weeks ago at our place; it was a five-point game going in fourth. So we knew they were going to come in with confidence. It was just a matter of settling down.”
“They came out strong,” he continued to say about the slow start. “We missed some stuff early. But defense is our calling card. So we held it. They got a fight enough to lean. I think they had seven points the rest of the half. So once we locked in defensively and rebounded, got out in transition a little bit, hit some shots, we played really well for a couple quarters.”
Onushco’s message would get through to his squad as they dominated the remainder of the first half, scoring 28 of the final 33 points, taking a 28-12 lead into halftime.
Marian in the first half was led by DeAnna Pugh with nine points and eight points from Addy Marek.
As they did all season, the duo led the Fillies to victory with Marek scoring 21 and Pugh finishing with 18 points.
Coming out of halftime, it looked as though Marian was going to run away with the game, quickly growing their lead to a 41-15 lead within the first three minutes of the half. The run was sparked by Fillies’ junior Brooke Hannis-Miskar, who hit a pair of three-pointers in the process.
Despite the fast start to the second half, the Fillies had to scrap their way through the remainder of the second half.
Lincoln Leadership, despite a 20-point deficit for most of the half, played an aggressive defensive style of basketball, often looking to double-team and not being afraid to go after the ball even if it meant taking fouls in the process. The play to the Lions’ credit flustered the Fillies, causing multiple Marian turnovers and uncharacteristic miscues in the process.
After scoring just 15 points in the first 19 minutes of the game, the Lions were able to double their total in the third quarter with 14 points, with six different players scoring in the process.
But despite the effort, Lincoln Leadership was unable to fully slow down the Fillies and was never truly able to narrow the deficit, leaving Marian with a comfortable margin despite the frustration and errors.
While Onuscho was happy his team moved on, it was the second half that left the coach visibly frustrated with his team, forcing him to take multiple timeouts in the process.
“At the end of the third and fourth, I’m not happy with our ball handling,” Onushco said. “But we did enough to build that lead, and then we still ended up winning by 29.
“They tried to take away our point guard because she’s really good, and we struggled a little bit, not passing the ball, taking some quick shots, making some bad passes,” he continued to explain about his team’s second-half struggles. “But good teams find a way to overcome that and build a lead back up to 29. So we did that.”
But the second half will also serve as a learning experience for the Fillies as they move into this District Class 2A championship game against Williams Valley.
“As we move on in states, there will be teams that pressure the ball,” Onushco said about the learning experience. “We’re just happy to move on.”
Entering the season, most didn’t expect this year’s Marian squad to be this strong. The Fillies, after a slow start and a coaching change, however, found their groove as the season progressed and are playing with full confidence.
“Our kids have done a great job of buying in and just keep working and working,” he said about his team’s development. We got some really good players. Our freshmen stepped up. Brooke, our junior today, hit some big threes for us in that third quarter. It’s a team effort, and everybody chipped in.”
The Fillies know the Vikings well; the Schuylkill League Division II rivals faced each other twice in the regular season. In early January, Williams Valley defeated the Fillies in Hometown, 48-28. Then on January 29, the Fillies returned the favor with a 39-31 win in Tower City.
“It’s a rubber match,” Onushco said about the rematch. “They beat us by 20 at our place. We beat them by eight at their place. We’re just happy we get a chance to play for a district championship. If we play like we did the last time, we’ll give ourselves a great chance.”
POTTSVILLE — Selinsgrove Area ran the floor and hit 12 three-pointers to run Blue Mountain out of the building for a 64-50 District 11 5A semifinal win at Martz Hall on Tuesday.
The Seals (16-7, 9-1) advance to the District 11 5A Championship to take on Southern Lehigh (11-7, 9-5) on Saturday at a site and time TBA.
“It’s not a number we expect to have but we knew we could get a lot of open looks,” Selinsgrove coach Justin Keiser said of his team hitting 12 three-pointers. “We knew we would have shot opportunities going in.”
Xaivier Jackson ignited Selinsgrove’s offense all around the floor and finished the game with 31 points, 16 in the second half while hitting a trio of three-pointers.
Selinsgrove never trailed and went on a 14-8 scoring run in the first quarter before taking a 28-22 halftime lead. Jackson hit a trio of three’s and scored 15 points in the first half.
“He’s (Jackson) averaged right around 20 points and he can score at all three levels, makes plays for others and he’s dominant on the defensive end,” Keiser said. “He’s an all-around great player and he’s matured a lot.”
Jackson led Selinsgrove with 31 points, DeFazio scored 14 points and Griffin Parker scored eight points. Jackson brought in six rebounds to lead the Seals up front.
DeFazio hit two of his four three-pointers in the second half while Jack Piecuch and Parker also hit three’s to send Selinsgrove over the top for the double-digit win.
DeFazio and Jackson each hit three’s for the early 6-4 lead before DeFazio picked up a steal and passed it to Jackson who flushed it for the 11-6 lead near the end of the first.
Julian Torres hit a three and Selinsgrove Area took a 14-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.
“For those guys to knock down shots we’re able to find ways to win games without making shots but when we make shots we can hang with anyone,” Keiser said.
Tyeirre Meade started the second quarter strong when he hit a three and scored five points to bring it within a 17-13 difference. Jackson then hit a three to put Selinsgrove ahead, 20-15.
Jackson rolled in a layup and Blue Mountain’s Evan Setlock hit a three to bring it within a 23-18 deficit for the Eagles. Sean Gaddy picked up a steal and closed it out at the other end with a layup for the 28-22 halftime deficit.
“We were really happy to keep them from getting to the paint as long as we did and the defense started to break down in the fourth quarter,” Keiser said. “They’re tough to stop and we responded with a run of our own.”
Jackson got to the basket and hit a three while scoring nine points in the third quarter to lead the Seals on a 15-9 scoring run in the third quarter for the 43-31 lead at the end of the third.
DeFazio and Jackson combined for 12 points in the fourth quarter while the Seals hit a trio of three’s for the 64-50 win.
Cohen Werner and Setlock each led Blue Mountain with 10 points and Cohen Kirby scored eight points and nine rebounds.
Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf spoke to the media at the 2026 NFL combine on Tuesday. Among the many talking points that Wolf addressed, including Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez’s potential contract extension, as well as New England being open to trading their first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, was the direction that the Patriots might take with the No. 31 overall pick.
According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, the depth at edge rusher in the 2026 draft class aligns well with the Patriots’ potential need at the end of the first round.
The top prospects in 2026 at edge rusher include Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr., as well as Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese — a player who regularly lined up in several spots on the defense in 2025.
Though they are among the edge rushers projected to go in the top 10, other players at the position forecasted to be taken at the end of the first round include Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker, in addition to Missouri edge rusher Zion Young — a player who NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah has the Patriots taking with their first-round pick in his 2026 mock draft 2.0.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper has the Patriots taking Oklahoma’s R Mason Thomas at No. 31 on draft day.
England face Spain, Ukraine and Iceland in their qualifying group [Getty Images]
The Lionesses will become the first England team to play at Everton's new stadium when they host Ukraine in a Women's World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, 9 June.
Hill Dickinson Stadium, which opened last summer, is one of the host venues for Euro 2028 and is on the shortlist of the UK bid for the 2035 Women's World Cup.
Scotland are also facing the Ivory Coast at the stadium on 31 March to prepare for this summer's men's World Cup.
Sarina Wiegman's two-time European champions are bidding for a place at the 2027 Women's World Cup and are in a qualifying group with Spain, Ukraine and Iceland.
They take on Ukraine in Turkey on Tuesday, 3 March (17:00), before welcoming Iceland to the City Ground on Saturday, 7 March (12:30).
Their first meeting with defending champions Spain - who they beat in the Euro 2025 final - is on 14 April at Wembley Stadium.
"It is very exciting for us to be playing for the first time at Everton's new stadium," said Wiegman.
"We have always said that taking this team around the country is so important and we're really looking forward to playing in front of fans in the north-west.
"The city of Liverpool has a rich football history with many connections to the Lionesses over the years, so it will be a very special evening."
Tennessee Titans coach Robert Saleh has taken notice of quarterback Cam Ward’s work ethic this offseason.
Ward was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The 23-year-old proved himself to be a quarterback capable of making a variety of throws last season, though his timing in the pocket, as well as his field awareness showed his weaknesses as a rookie. The Titans’ new coaching staff, headlined by coach Saleh, have spoken highly of Ward in their initial assessments of the Texas native as a player both on and off the field.
"A man who is built the way he is, who is wired the way he is, who works the way he does…it's very rare that those people don't find success,” Saleh said.
Ward has the 2026 season to improve upon the 3,169 yards he threw for at a 59.8 percent completion rate last season. He will be under the direction of coach Saleh, as well as the Titans’ new offensive coordinator, Brian Daboll, next season.
ESPN’s Turron Davenport stated that Saleh as well as Daboll are on one accord with Ward’s personal QB coach to refine his footwork this offseason.
Robert Saleh said he and Brian Daboll have been in touch with Cam Ward's personal QB coach. The footwork will be the focus with a goal of getting it in sync with the specific offense they'll run.
Ward has had the support of his coaching staff throughout the offseason. Tennessee’s plan of action for their franchise quarterback is in effect with months to go before training camp.
Before every Ohio State men’s basketball game, Connor Lemons gets you ready for that day’s action with key stats, players to know, and prevalent storylines for that day’s game on the “Good Hoops Morning” podcast.
Ohio State Buckeyesat Iowa Hawkeyes (-6.5)| KenPom predicts: Iowa by 4
Game Date/Time: Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 9:00 p.m. ET Location: Iowa City, Iowa TV: Big Ten Network Radio: 97.1 FM/ 971thefan.com
The Ohio State men’s basketball team (17-10, 9-7) is sitting just on the outside of the NCAA Tournament field according to the Bracket Matrix, but after several fellow bubble-dwellers took losses on Tuesday evening, Ohio State has an opportunity to get some clarity and get back on the right side of things with a win in Iowa City.
The Hawkeyes (19-8, 9-7) rattled off six straight wins starting in mid-January but have since lost three of their last four games, including a seven-point loss at Maryland. Ben McCollum’s team isn’t in danger of missing out on the NCAA Tournament just yet — they probably need to win one of their final four games to stamp a ticket.
Iowa is elite at forcing turnover, but Bruce Thornton played all 40 minutes against Michigan State on Sunday without committing a single turnover. The senior guard is now 60 points away from becoming Ohio State’s all-time scoring leader.
Thornton and Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz are the Big Ten’s leaders in minutes per game, with Stirtz at the top averaging 36.9 and Thornton just behind at 36.3.
Photo by Rich Storry/TGL/TGL Golf via Getty Images
Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods’ indoor simulator league, TGL, recently announced it would introduce a women’s league, WTGL.
Some of the biggest names in women’s golf, like Charley Hull, Lydia Ko, Lexi Thompson, and Michelle Wie West, will be playing in the new league, which will mirror the men’s equivalent.
But there has been increasing momentum for men to play alongside women more often, following the successes of the Grant Thornton invitational, an event which paired PGA Tour and LPGA Tour stars.
TGL presents a priceless opportunity to do just that. The league has failed to capture the imagination of mainstream golf fans in its second season, so this could be exactly what it needs to secure its place in the sport.
The ever-controversial US Open winner Wyndham Clark weighed in on this, and said that he’d be open to playing alongside LPGA players on TGL.
Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images
Wyndham Clark says it would be ‘fun’ to play alongside women’s players on TGL
Clark played alongside Thompson at the Grant Thornton Invitational and enjoyed the experience. So speaking after a TGL match, he said he’d like to compete with LPGA players more often.
When asked if he’d like to play alongside women’s players, Clark said, “Yeah, I don’t see why not. The Grant Thornton was a blast. I got to play with Lexi. It’s really fun seeing their game, how good they are in certain parts of their game, that maybe they excel more than guys, and vice versa.
“Yeah, it’s fun to compete with someone else that you’re not used to competing with. At TGL, I think that would be a blast. I think it would be good for the fans. So who knows. I know right now it’s just girls versus girls, but yeah, that would be kind of fun. Maybe there’s a Bay women’s team, and we do some cool stuff. I think that would be great.”
It’s a great opportunity to bridge the gap between the PGA Tour and the increasingly popular LPGA Tour in an interesting format!
Nelly Korda says TGL missed big opportunity with women’s league
For now, TGL has no plans to combine its men’s and women’s leagues, which two-time major winner Nelly Korda has mixed feelings about.
When the news was announced, she lamented a missed opportunity for golf: “I have mixed feelings on it if I’m being very honest, and I’m surprised no other girls have, or no one’s really spoken out about it. I think it’s a huge and unbelievable miss that we’re not playing alongside the men.
“There’s no greater way to grow the game, and it would have been revolutionary. It would have been the first time, I think, that men and women are on the same playing field, playing for the same exact amount of money. But I also think it’s great that we are getting this opportunity, so that’s my mixed feelings.”
While this isn’t on the cards for now, it’s hard to imagine that TGL doesn’t combine the men’s and women’s leagues in the near future after these comments from Korda and Clark.
Barcelona eye Sevilla clash as target to welcome 62,000 fans to Camp Nou
Barcelona’s push to increase Spotify Camp Nou’s capacity before the crucial Copa del Rey semi-final second leg has suffered a setback.
According to a report from Mundo Deportivo, it has come to light that the club will not receive the First Occupancy Licence (phase 1C) in time for the clash against Atletico Madrid.
The highly anticipated encounter, scheduled for Tuesday, will therefore take place without the hoped-for expansion to 62,000 spectators.
Barcelona had been working closely with the City Council to secure approval for the North Stand under phase 1C of the stadium redevelopment.
As a result of this development, the capacity for the match will remain capped at 45,401 supporters.
Notably, that limitation comes at a delicate moment, as Barça are attempting to overturn a heavy 4-0 deficit from the first leg at the Metropolitano, making the home atmosphere even more important.
Barcelona will host Atletico Madrid without additional fans. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Now, the new objective is to have the licence approved before the La Liga fixture against Sevilla, scheduled for mid-March.
Depending on UEFA scheduling for the Champions League round of 16 second leg, the Sevilla match could be played either on Saturday or Sunday.
Barcelona are hopeful that by then, capacity can be expanded to 62,000, providing a stronger matchday environment as the team competes on multiple fronts.
The report also mentions that, beyond the licence issue, Barcelona are also working on enhancing the stadium atmosphere.
While approval for the Grada d’Animacio in the lower section of the South Stand is being processed separately, the club has been in discussions with organised fan groups.
The goal is to position them in a way that maximises vocal support within the stadium during the comeback attempt.
CAN 2026 - Algeria: the Greens enter training camp
CAN 2026 - Algeria: the Greens kick off preparations
CAN 2026 - Algeria: the Greens enter training camp
The Algeria women's national football team's preparations for the 2026 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations have entered a new phase. Since February 24, the players have gathered at the Sidi Moussa National Technical Center to begin a training camp aimed at laying the foundations for their continental campaign.
On the first day of the camp, the coaching staff reunited with most of the called-up squad. In the evening, the Algerian internationals held their first training session in a calm atmosphere, marking the start of a progressive training program.
As part of this camp, two friendly matches are scheduled in Cairo against the Egypt women's national football team. Head coach Farid Benstiti will use these encounters to fine-tune tactics and assess the squad’s form ahead of the CAN.
Maryland baseball’s Tuesday matchup with Delaware was moved from the Blue Hens’ home field to Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium at the last minute due to inclement weather. Those who took advantage of the sudden free admission were in for a show.
The Terps battled to a nail-biting 15-14 win after an early onslaught by both teams and a near-disastrous ninth inning.
Junior southpaw Landon Edwards got the start for Maryland. He struggled with command, walking six batters and allowing four earned runs despite only one hit across his two innings. Brayden Ryan didn’t fare much better in relief, allowing three more Delaware runs in two more innings on the mound.
But Maryland still led, 12-7, after four innings due to production from up and down the lineup. Six Terps drove in mutliple RBIs, and two — Brayden Martin and Bud Coombs — scored three times. Coombs and Paul Jones II both homered in the fourth inning, each their first of the year — and the first of the freshman Coombs’ collegiate career.
But disaster struck in the top of the ninth. Junior right-hander Andrew Koshy stayed in the game looking to seal up a three-out save. Two plunked batters, a double and a walk set up sophomore Noah Burroughs with the bases loaded in a three-run game. He sent one over the left-field fence to give Delaware a shocking 14-13 lead.
But an RBI single from redshirt freshman Ryan Costello drove in Coombs to tie it in the bottom of the frame. And two batters later, Jones drove in Martin on the game-winning RBI single.
Maryland now gears up for a three-game homestand against Wagner this weekend.
In other news
No. 14 Maryland women’s basketball looks to extend its win streak to six games Wednesday, on the road at Northwestern. Max Schaeffer had the preview.
Maryland men’s basketball travels to Omaha for a brutal road test agaisnt No. 12 Nebraska Wednesday. Matt Germack previewed the action.
Maryland football officially signed Old Dominion transfer wide receiver Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding, who committed in January.
Former Ajax youngster Kaj Sierhuis enjoying injury comeback with Fortuna Sittard
Kaj Sierhuis had a torrid 2024/2025 season. The former Ajax youngster suffered an injury that restricted him to just 11 games and one goal. It was a blow for a forward who had really enjoy himself during his first season at Fortuna Sittard. Back in the Eredivisie, Sierhuis had scored 15 goals in 35 games, a welcome return after he struggled to find success in French football with Reims.
Yet, in the past few weeks, Sierhuis is looking back to the player he was two seasons ago. At the weekend he grabbed his 10th goal of the season as Fortuna Sittard beat Excelsior to grab their eighth win of the campaign. With plenty of time left in the current season, Sierhuis could certainly grab six more goals to ensure that 2025/2026 is the best season of his career.
The striker was part of that crop of quality young Ajax players who moved on to some of the biggest clubs in Europe. Sierhuis wasn’t quite at that level, playing just three games for Ajax before leaving to join Reims. In 30 games for Reims, he only scored once. The 27-year-old has certainly found a home with Fortuna Sittard, but this goal scoring run has come with his contract running out in the summer. Fortuna Sittard will be desperate to keep Sierhuis, but he will certainly be gathering interest from other clubs. The striker, in an interview with ESPN, is not ruling out a move in the summer.
Aug 23, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) walks onto the field before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images | Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
The new NFL year is approaching quickly. The NFL Scouting Combine has kicked off in Indianapolis, and every team’s front office is all in one place, so news and rumors are exploding.
The Bengals will draft a player in the defensive secondary with their first-round pick.The Bengals want the coaching staff to develop the talent up front, and in the meantime, will aid the pass rush by bolstering the secondary. Either Caleb Downs or Mansoor Delane will wind up in stripes.
This fits what many fans are hoping for, especially with Downs being an OSU alumnus and a great talent.
The reality is there isn’t likely to be a player at No. 10 on the defensive line worth that selection. But either of those defensive backs falling to Cincinnati would be a great value for the team.
As for Trey Hendrickson, he was part of another team’s bold prediction. One that — if you’ve been paying attention — also doesn’t seem too bold:
The Colts will sign Trey Hendrickson.In a move that will help bolster a team that was middle of the road in both run defense and quarterback pressure percentage, relocating Hendrickson just an hour west and bringing him back together with Lou Anarumo is a critical piece of Indianapolis’s sweeping offseason strategy.
Reuniting Anarumo and Hendrickson is just too easy a move not to make. The real bold take here would be the Bengals using the franchise or transition tag to make a trade like this possible.
If Hendrickson had his choice of a team to go to, it would probably be the Colts, as it is still relatively close, and he has a ton of respect for Anarumo.
The Tartan Army have been given the green light to wear sporrans with their kilts at World Cup matches this summer, the Scottish Football Association (SFA) has confirmed.
Thousands of supporters are expected to travel to the US to cheer on Steve Clarke's side after the men's national team qualified for the first time since 1998.
The World Cup stadium code of conduct states ticket holders are only permitted to bring certain types of bags into stadiums.
Sporrans initially failed to meet the strict security criteria but, following talks between world football's governing body Fifa and the SFA, it has now been agreed fans will be able to wear them.
Scotland fans in full national dress march to a match during Euro 2024 in Germany [PA Media]
Scotland are set to face Haiti and Morocco in Boston and Brazil in Miami after qualifying for the finals with a thrilling 4-2 Hampden victory over Denmark in November.
The 2026 edition will feature 48 teams and be played from 11 June to 19 July in 16 cities across the US, Canada and Mexico.
Under current rules at the two stadiums, the only large bags allowed into the grounds must be made from clear plastic and not exceed 30cm x 30cm x 15cm.
Any small bags that are not see-through must measure no more than 11cm x 16.5cm – almost half the size of many sporrans.
Without the agreement Scotland fans would have had to leave their sporrans in lockers outside or discard them altogether.
A SFA spokesperson said: "FIFA have confirmed that sporrans will be permitted into the stadiums following the standard search and inspection procedures and will continue to work together with the Scottish FA to educate their matchday staff as they prepare to welcome fans to Boston and Miami.
"The ticketing and membership team at the Scottish FA are in continued dialogue with the tournament hosts to ensure that the Scotland fans will be welcomed to venues in the way they have been across the world."
NEW DELHI: India’s crushing defeat to South Africa may have dented their semi-finals hopes, but former head coach Ravi Shastri believes the setback could be the “shake-up” the title favourites desperately needed — provided they respond immediately.
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Speaking ahead of the must-win Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe, Shastri warned that another slip could push India to the brink of elimination.
“You win 12 matches on the trot, there's bound to be an off day. And I'm glad it has come early. It might just be the shakeup India needed,” Shastri said. “It might also make them rethink their strategy as to the composition of the side going ahead.”
India’s 76-run loss ended a dominant run and left them with no margin for error. Shastri made it clear that the team must quickly learn and adapt.
“They would have learned from that last experience that they're not going to take things for granted because in this Super Eight if you lose one more match, then you're really putting yourself under serious pressure,” he cautioned.
Shastri stressed that India must urgently strengthen their bowling options, calling for the immediate return of vice-captain Axar Patel.
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“They have to bring him back. You need that experience. I would say play both,” he said, referring to Axar and Washington Sundar. “Give yourself that extra option. Because on a given day, you're bound to have one bowler who's going to have an off day.”
He also dismissed concerns about batting depth if Axar returns.
“If eight batters can't do the job in T20 cricket, then something's wrong, especially with that kind of firepower,” Shastri said. “Where you're missing out is you're not giving yourself that extra option of a bowler, which I think is important.”
For India, the equation is simple now. The warning signs have arrived. The shake-up has happened. Their semi-final fate will depend on how quickly they respond.
The NFL offseason is officially here, and all eyes will turn toward the 2026 NFL draft. The first day will feature only the first round, the second day will feature the second and third rounds, and the draft will conclude with the final four rounds on the third day.
This year, the NFL Draft Main Theater and Main Stage will be located just outside Acrisure Stadium on Pittsburgh's North Shore, placing the Draft at the heart of one of the country's most recognizable sports districts.
With the Scouting Combine underway, we're looking at nine underrated Big 10 prospects to watch with the NFL draft fast approaching.
QB Drew Allar, Penn State
Allar has prototypical size and arm strength, starting 35 games and playing 45 overall during his career at Penn State. Allar increased his completion percentage from 59.9% in 2023 to 66.5% in 2024. Once a potential first-round pick, Allar suffered a broken left ankle in the Northwestern game and was sidelined for the season. Prior to the injury, Allar had 1,100 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions.
WR Denzel Boston, Washington
The second coming of Alshon Jeffery, Boston could be a player to watch if the Eagles trade Brown for a first-round pick. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Boston hauled in 76.9% of his contested targets at Washington last year.
WR Ja'Kobi Lane, USC
The 6'4", 201-pound wide receiver is an athlete who does a great job of using his frame to box out defenders when the ball arrives. Lane finished his three-year USC career with 99 receptions for 1,363 yards and 18 touchdowns. In 11 games this season, Lane had 49 receptions for 745 yards and four scores.
TE Marlin Klein, Michigan
During his final year at Michigan, Klein appeared in 11 games, with six starts at tight end, catching 24 passes for 248 yards and one touchdown.
OL Evan Beerntsen, Northwestern
Beerntsen, a transfer from South Dakota State, received All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors. He started all 13 games of the season and impressively allowed zero sacks or quarterback hits throughout the entire year. His 80.2 PFF grade ranks 11th in the country for guards and fourth among Big Ten guards. Additionally, his 79.4 PFF Run Blocking Grade ranks seventh nationally for guards and fourth among Big Ten guards. He was also named to PFF's National Team of the Week following the Wildcats' game against USC on November 7.
OL Gennings Dunker, Iowa
Dunker is a 6'5", 315-pound offensive line prospect who is rugged, physical at the point of attack, and started 11 games in 2024 at right tackle, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors. He started 11 games at right tackle during the '23 season and one in '22 at right guard.
DL Jaishawn Barham, Michigan
In his final season at Michigan, Barham played in 12 games and started in 11 of them—four as a linebacker and seven as an edge rusher. He recorded a total of 32 tackles, with 10 tackles for loss, and achieved 4 sacks. Additionally, he forced one fumble and broke up three passes, which earned him Honorable Mention All-Big 10 honors.
DT Caden Curry, Ohio State
Curry led Ohio State in sacks, tackles for loss, and pressures last season.
DL Mason Reiger, Wisconsin
Reiger, the Defensive MVP of the 2026 Shrine Bowl, played in all 12 games and made 11 starts at outside linebacker during his only season with the Badgers. He finished the season with 33 tackles, 5.0 sacks, and 6.0 tackles for loss (TFLs). Reiger recorded tackles in every game and had notable performances, including three tackles and a sack against Miami (OH) on August 28, and four tackles against MTSU on September 6.
LB Bryce Boettcher, Oregon
Boettcher, a Major League Baseball (MLB) prospect who was selected in the 13th round, recorded impressive statistics in his college football career. He accumulated 94 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception, and four passes defended, earning him Second-Team All-Big Ten honors and the Burlsworth Trophy. This season, Boettcher chose to postpone his professional baseball career and recorded 104 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, and 4 passes defended, earning another selection as a Second-Team All-Big Ten player.
LB Aiden Fisher, Indiana
Fisher appeared in a total of 50 career games, starting in 38 of them. Over two seasons at James Madison (2022-23), he played in 23 games with 11 starts. In 2024, he made history by becoming Indiana's first-ever first-team All-America linebacker, earning recognition from the FWAA and Phil Steele. He is also the first Hoosier defender to receive multiple first-team All-America honors and the first to achieve back-to-back selections since offensive lineman Dan Feeney in 2015-16. Fisher started 14 games during his time and missed one game due to injury (against Maryland).
LB Eric Gentry, USC
A Philadelphia native, the potential hybrid linebacker could flourish in a big safety role for the Ravens. In his four-year career (1 season at Arizona State and 3 seasons at USC), Gentry logged 195 tackles, including 19.5 for loss (with 6 sacks), 10 PBUs, 3 QB hurries, 3 forced fumbles, 2 INTs, and 1 blocked kick while appearing in 39 games with 17 starts.
Last season, Gentry was a candidate for the 2025 Butkus Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy.
DB Jadon Canady, Oregon
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Ole Miss transfer is considered undersized, but logged 39 tackles and two interceptions, broke up six passes, and forced a fumble.
DB Tacario Davis, Washington
A lengthy cornerback, Davis had 95 tackles (63 solo), three interceptions, and 25 passes defended during his collegiate career.
DB Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa
A physical safety, Nwankpa logged 69 total tackles and could transition to a speedy linebacker in the NFL.
The NFL offseason is officially here, and all eyes will turn toward the 2026 NFL draft. The first day will feature only the first round, the second day will feature the second and third rounds, and the draft will conclude with the final four rounds on the third day.
This year, the NFL Draft Main Theater and Main Stage will be located just outside Acrisure Stadium on Pittsburgh's North Shore, placing the Draft at the heart of one of the country's most recognizable sports districts.
With the Scouting Combine underway, we're looking at nine underrated Big 10 prospects to watch with the NFL draft fast approaching.
QB Drew Allar, Penn State
Allar has prototypical size and arm strength, starting 35 games and playing 45 overall during his career at Penn State. Allar increased his completion percentage from 59.9% in 2023 to 66.5% in 2024. Once a potential first-round pick, Allar suffered a broken left ankle in the Northwestern game and was sidelined for the season. Prior to the injury, Allar had 1,100 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions.
WR Denzel Boston, Washington
The second coming of Alshon Jeffery, Boston could be a player to watch if the Eagles trade Brown for a first-round pick. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Boston hauled in 76.9% of his contested targets at Washington last year.
WR Ja'Kobi Lane, USC
The 6'4", 201-pound wide receiver is an athlete who does a great job of using his frame to box out defenders when the ball arrives. Lane finished his three-year USC career with 99 receptions for 1,363 yards and 18 touchdowns. In 11 games this season, Lane had 49 receptions for 745 yards and four scores.
TE Marlin Klein, Michigan
During his final year at Michigan, Klein appeared in 11 games, with six starts at tight end, catching 24 passes for 248 yards and one touchdown.
OL Evan Beerntsen, Northwestern
Beerntsen, a transfer from South Dakota State, received All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors. He started all 13 games of the season and impressively allowed zero sacks or quarterback hits throughout the entire year. His 80.2 PFF grade ranks 11th in the country for guards and fourth among Big Ten guards. Additionally, his 79.4 PFF Run Blocking Grade ranks seventh nationally for guards and fourth among Big Ten guards. He was also named to PFF's National Team of the Week following the Wildcats' game against USC on November 7.
OL Gennings Dunker, Iowa
Dunker is a 6'5", 315-pound offensive line prospect who is rugged, physical at the point of attack, and started 11 games in 2024 at right tackle, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors. He started 11 games at right tackle during the '23 season and one in '22 at right guard.
DL Jaishawn Barham, Michigan
In his final season at Michigan, Barham played in 12 games and started in 11 of them—four as a linebacker and seven as an edge rusher. He recorded a total of 32 tackles, with 10 tackles for loss, and achieved 4 sacks. Additionally, he forced one fumble and broke up three passes, which earned him Honorable Mention All-Big 10 honors.
DT Caden Curry, Ohio State
Curry led Ohio State in sacks, tackles for loss, and pressures last season.
DL Mason Reiger, Wisconsin
Reiger, the Defensive MVP of the 2026 Shrine Bowl, played in all 12 games and made 11 starts at outside linebacker during his only season with the Badgers. He finished the season with 33 tackles, 5.0 sacks, and 6.0 tackles for loss (TFLs). Reiger recorded tackles in every game and had notable performances, including three tackles and a sack against Miami (OH) on August 28, and four tackles against MTSU on September 6.
LB Bryce Boettcher, Oregon
Boettcher, a Major League Baseball (MLB) prospect who was selected in the 13th round, recorded impressive statistics in his college football career. He accumulated 94 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception, and four passes defended, earning him Second-Team All-Big Ten honors and the Burlsworth Trophy. This season, Boettcher chose to postpone his professional baseball career and recorded 104 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, and 4 passes defended, earning another selection as a Second-Team All-Big Ten player.
LB Aiden Fisher, Indiana
Fisher appeared in a total of 50 career games, starting in 38 of them. Over two seasons at James Madison (2022-23), he played in 23 games with 11 starts. In 2024, he made history by becoming Indiana's first-ever first-team All-America linebacker, earning recognition from the FWAA and Phil Steele. He is also the first Hoosier defender to receive multiple first-team All-America honors and the first to achieve back-to-back selections since offensive lineman Dan Feeney in 2015-16. Fisher started 14 games during his time and missed one game due to injury (against Maryland).
LB Eric Gentry, USC
A Philadelphia native, the potential hybrid linebacker could flourish in a big safety role for the Ravens. In his four-year career (1 season at Arizona State and 3 seasons at USC), Gentry logged 195 tackles, including 19.5 for loss (with 6 sacks), 10 PBUs, 3 QB hurries, 3 forced fumbles, 2 INTs, and 1 blocked kick while appearing in 39 games with 17 starts.
Last season, Gentry was a candidate for the 2025 Butkus Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy.
DB Jadon Canady, Oregon
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Ole Miss transfer is considered undersized, but logged 39 tackles and two interceptions, broke up six passes, and forced a fumble.
DB Tacario Davis, Washington
A lengthy cornerback, Davis had 95 tackles (63 solo), three interceptions, and 25 passes defended during his collegiate career.
DB Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa
A physical safety, Nwankpa logged 69 total tackles and could transition to a speedy linebacker in the NFL.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Simon Rolfes on who he wants to play in the Champions League round of 16: “It would be great if we were drawn against Arsenal.”
Following Bayer Leverkusen’s progression to the Champions League round of 16, director of sport Simon Rolfes revealed who he would like to play in the next round.
In the next round, die Werkself will either play fellow Bundesliga side Bayern Munich or Arsenal. On who he would like to play in the round of 16, Rolfes said to Bild:
“It would be great if we were drawn against Arsenal. Then we could finally say goodbye to Kai Havertz at our stadium – almost six years after his departure. I was recently in contact with Kai. He would also be happy to see us again. He was keeping his fingers crossed for us to advance.”
Havertz has not played for Leverkusen since 2020 and has not had the chance to return to the BayArena.
Leverkusen head coach Kasper Hjulmand would also like to play the Premier League side:
“They are two of the best teams in Europe, they play at the same level. That’s great. We want to play against the best. We’re looking forward to this big challenge. Four games in one month against Bayern? With Arsenal, there might be a bit of variety.”
Leverkusen could face Bayern four times:
If Leverkusen end up drawing their Bundesliga rivals in the next round, it would mean they would face Bayern four times in a matter of weeks.
The first leg will take place on the 10-11th of March, Leverkusen will then host Bayern in the Bundesliga on the 14th, and then the second leg will be on the 17/18 of March. The pair will then play against each other in the DFB Pokal on the 21st of April.
Delgado, who has won nine caps for his country, scored his first Harlequins try against Bayonne in the Champions Cup in December.
"Pedro is a powerful operator who has made a strong start to life here at Harlequins," senior coach Jason Gilmore told the club website.
"He works hard at the set-piece to give us a solid platform to play from and continues to develop his scrummaging through close work with [scrum coach] Adam Jones.
"Pedro also has the ability to make an impact in the loose on both sides of the ball, which is essential for a top-level tighthead.
"Pedro is a great person and a popular figure within the squad, and we're delighted he has committed his future to the club."
Harlequins have not disclosed the length of Delgado's new deal.
The Nick Woltemade midfield gamble: Newcastle United’s next Joelinton or a risk too far?
Dropping Nick Woltemade into midfield is a tactical gamble Newcastle United fans have seen pay dividends before, as in the case of Joelinton.
Much like the Brazilian—who arrived as a misfiring striker before being reinvented as a midfield powerhouse—the 6ft 6in German is now being repurposed to maximise a physical profile that often felt wasted up front.
After a blistering start at St. James’ Park, Woltemade has since endured a frustrating 14-game goal drought, prompting Eddie Howe to deploy him in a deeper position.
The blueprint is clear: use his imposing frame to shield the ball and draw pressure, opening up space for direct threats like Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga.
In Newcastle’s 3-1 FA Cup victory over Villa, Woltemade thrived in his new role, driving into pockets of space and linking midfield to attack in a manner not seen since Bruno Guimaraes’ injury. He also capped his fine performance with a goal.
However, while Woltemade brings the technical finesse that Joelinton sometimes lacked, his defensive contributions remain a concern.
Woltemade’s positional inexperience was exposed in the Magpies’ 3-1 Premier League defeat to Manchester City, where he won just three of 10 duels and failed to record a single tackle or interception.
Critics like Wayne Rooney have argued that the 24-year-old looks like a “fish out of water” when tasked with tracking runners during defensive transitions.
Despite the criticism, the numbers suggest Woltemade’s presence improves Newcastle’s ball progression.
As Newcastle enter the final stretch of the 2026 season, the Woltemade experiment remains a polarising project on Tyneside.
Transfer market: Sadio Mané set for a new deal with Al Nassr
Sadio Mané expected to extend his stay with Al Nassr
Sadio Mané/@Al Nassr
Senegalese international Sadio Mané is expected to extend his contract with his Saudi club Al Nassr, according to multiple reliable sources.
Signed in 2023 from Bayern Munich, the Bambaly native's current deal with the Saudi football giants is set to expire on June 30.
According to several Saudi sources, "Al Alamy," as the team is affectionately called by its fans, is set to offer a new contract to the Senegalese international.
It's a well-deserved reward for the former Liverpool striker, who has dazzled throughout the 2025-2026 season.
To recap, Sadio Mané has contributed to 15 goals (8 scored, 7 assists) in the current season across 23 matches in all competitions.
At 33 years old, the former Génération Foot academy graduate is expected to finish his career in Saudi Arabia.
Edin Džeko on joining Schalke 04: ‘It was never about money.’
Edin Džeko has established himself as one of Europe’s leading goalscorers with 375 goals scored over a career that’s spanned over two decades. Now leading the charge as Schalke 04 look to secure a return to Bundesliga football, the 39-year-old looks back on his return to Germany.
Speaking exclusively to Sport Bild, wanting to leave Fiorentina after just 236 Serie A minutes, the former Wolfsburg, Manchester City and AS Roma star discussed his move to Gelsenkirchen.
“After lunch, I sat alone in the room and thought: ‘What do I want? What do I need?’ I came to the answer: ‘An emotional stadium with loud fans. A club that will thrill me again,’ said Džeko. “Suddenly, Schalke came to mind. At that moment, I immediately picked up my phone and texted Nikola [Katic].”
The 39-year-old asked his Bosnia compatriot whether or not the Royal Blues needed a striker, which resulted in a phone call. “He called me and asked if he should put me in touch with the coach. I said ‘Yes, gladly.’ And then everything started falling into place.”
The 2009 Bundesliga winner with Wolfsburg then spoke with Schalke head coach Miron Muslic, when “everything started falling into place.”
For Džeko, it was never about money. “I had other offers that were significantly more lucrative,” he added. “But that wasn’t what it was about for me at all.”
With four goals and three assists in five appearances, the Bosnian forward has fired Schalke back to the 2. Bundesliga summit. “Schalke has always been a great club that, in my opinion, belongs in the Bundesliga.”
Ligue 1 Mobilis: after their win over MCA, MC Oran sanctioned by the LFP
Ligue 1 Mobilis: MC Oran sanctioned by the LFP
Ligue 1 Mobilis: after their win over MCA, MC Oran sanctioned by the LFP
The disciplinary committee of the Algerian Professional Football League has delivered its verdict following the incidents that occurred during the match between MC Oran and MC Alger, played as part of the 20th round of Ligue 1 Mobilis. The El Hamri club will be forced to play one match behind closed doors after new disturbances were observed in the stands.
According to the disciplinary body, this decision comes in response to the repeated use of flares by Oran supporters, an infraction that has already been noted several times since the start of the season. In addition to the closed-door sanction, the club will also have to pay various fines (1,150,000 dinars) related to these incidents as well as to the intrusion of unauthorized persons onto the pitch.
Official: Real Madrid squad list to face SL Benfica – Mbappe out
Real Madrid will square off against SL Benfica in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout playoffs later tonight at the Santiago Bernabeu, riding on a 1-0 lead from the first leg.
Ahead of the game, manager Alvaro Arbeloa has announced the squad list of players available at his disposal for selection.
And, as expected, Kylian Mbappe has been ruled out of the game due to ongoing knee issues, which could further sideline him for the next couple of matches as well.
Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham, Eder Militao, Rodrygo Goes, Dean Huijsen, and Dani Ceballos are also unavailable due to injuries.
Arbeloa has decided to call up several young players from Castilla to the squad for tonight’s game with Jorge Cestero, Manuel Angel, Cesar Palacios, and Thiago Pitarch all featuring, along with young shot-stopper Fran Gonzalez.
Raul Asencio, who missed the reverse fixture due to suspension, is back in the squad and is expected to feature from the get-go alongside Antonio Rudiger.
Vinicius Jr., Aurelien Tchouameni, and Alvaro Carreras are all one book away from being suspended for the first leg of the Round of 16, in case Real Madrid do qualify.
Much of the criticism last night was evident even before a ball was kicked.
David Moyes shuffled his pack – too much for some – against a Manchester United side, that although in form, are hardly setting the world alight.
With Jarrad Branthwaite and James Garner moved to either full-back position and Harrison Armstrong preferred to Tyrique George on the left-hand side of midfield, there was a disjointed feeling from the off.
Given our relative security this season, there is a sense that we are still playing with the handbrake well and truly on, instead of imposing ourselves on our opponents – especially at home.
Our second-half showing drifted towards a more expansive approach, without being spectacular. A huge opportunity missed by Armstrong proved to be a sliding doors moment.
The difference between the two sides was simply more quality in attack.
The clinical nature of United's winner highlighted how decisive that extra bit of quality can be.
The introduction of both George and Beto proved to be too late, but the former certainly did enough to show he should be starting on Saturday at Newcastle.
George's pace and directness brought excitement and asked questions of the United defence.
The square peg, round hole approach simply needs to stop going forward. Players need to play in their natural positions.
The effort of the players can't be faulted – the reception from the home fans at full-time was testament to that.
That effort will certainly win favour and it was refreshing to witness a positive reaction from those in the stands. Add in a less risk-averse approach and maybe we can get back on track at Hill Dickinson.
⚠️ Inter out ❌ Chivu or players to blame, Thuram now a problem 😱
Inter exits the Champions League and does so in the worst possible way. At San Siro, the Nerazzurri fans dreamed of a night of remuntada but ended up witnessing a historic defeat.
Forget about "salmonari," as many have called them: Bodø/Glimt - semifinalists of the last Europa League - played two great matches, fully deserving to advance. If the synthetic pitch was an excuse in the first leg, last night at the Meazza, the playing field should have helped Chivu's team, which instead ended up paying for technical errors and less physical freshness.
This latter detail was inevitable: since the beginning of 2026, Bodø has played just four matches, all in the Champions League and all against great teams, achieving a streak of victories: 3-1 against Guardiola's City, 2-1 at Atletico's home, and the double victory against Inter. The Norwegian league break, in short, had a significant impact.
🤔 Chivu's Faults
However, the physical form is an excuse that holds but is not enough to explain the two defeats suffered by Inter. The Nerazzurri are cruising towards their 21st Scudetto in the league and have recently shown overwhelming superiority, with 13 wins and one draw in the last 14 Serie A outings. So, what went wrong?
Well, first of all, the approach to this playoff. The first leg in Norway was not underestimated - at least that's what Chivu and the players have repeatedly emphasized - but the decision to leave out Dimarco and Zielinski suggests otherwise.
Moreover, the management of Frattesi. From the 12th man in the year of the second star to a player with just 855 minutes in these first eight months under Chivu. Then, surprisingly, starting again twice in 3 days, the second in a return leg that was worth the round of 16. Okay, Inter had an attacking game in mind, and the former Sassuolo player's insertions could have been useful, but the Romanian coach's choice is at least perplexing.
And Bonny? The Frenchman, very positive at the start of the year, has seen less and less of the field, despite showing he deserved more chances. Even last night, in a game where Bodø wasn't giving away spaces, the 2003 class player's moves would have been needed much earlier than the 62nd minute when Chivu brought him on (also at 0-1). And if Thuram is like this...
😰 Thuram, Where Have You Gone?
So, Thuram. Here perhaps lies the great dilemma of Inter's season. Where has that wonderful striker gone who led the Nerazzurri to the second star and then to the Champions League final last year?
The Frenchman is increasingly a distant relative of the Marcus he once was and now truly risks being overtaken by Pio Esposito in the role of Lautaro Martinez's regular partner. From January 7 to today, his score reads just two assists and one goal (in the 5-0 against Sassuolo) in all competitions. Numbers don't tell the whole story, of course, but when you're a striker, it's normal for you to be judged primarily by them.
From the SkySport studios, in the post-match, Paolo Condò analyzed the words of president Giuseppe Marotta, who before the match - speaking of a possible elimination - assured that Inter would somehow balance the books.
Condò also speculated that one way to do so would be through a significant sale, perhaps even Thuram's. Having arrived in Milan on a free transfer, he would represent a considerable capital gain. A scenario that seemed far-fetched just a few months ago, but today - after Marcus's recent performances and Pio's emergence - seems the most viable path. First, however, there's a Scudetto to win. It would still be a nice way to say goodbye.
Stuart Findlay has started every league game for Hearts at centre-back [SNS]
Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts will be without key defender Stuart Findlay for six weeks while record signing Eduardo Ageu will miss the rest of the season.
Head coach Derek McInnes also confirmed goalkeeper Craig Gordon's shoulder injury could keep him out of Scotland's March friendlies against Japan and Ivory Coast.
Findlay, 30, has been a pivotal figure for the league leaders having started all 28 Premiership matches in the middle of defence, but was forced off in the win over Falkirk with a hamstring injury.
Brazilian midfielder Ageu made the first start of an injury-hit debut season against Rangers at Ibrox, but was taken off and will now be sidelined until next season because he needs thigh surgery.
Gordon has also played limited minutes for Hearts this term, but is one of Scotland's key players as they prepare for a first World Cup finals since 1998.
Beni Baningime, Oisin McEntee and Sabah Kerjota also have knocks but still have a chance of playing against Aberdeen on Saturday.
McInnes says he hopes Findlay and captain Lawrence Shankland, who has been missing since 17 January with a hamstring injury, will be back for the final pre-split game against Motherwell on 11 April.
Another key figure, midfielder Cammy Devlin, is due back in "two or three weeks" according to McInnes, as is defender Stephen Kingsley.
Hearts are four points clear of Rangers at the top of the Premiership.
"As it stands we had 11 players unavailable to train today, but we've still got enough to train and put a strong team out and a strong squad out on Saturday," McInnes said.
"So my focus is the ones that are available, and just trying to get one or two who are in the 50-50 category available for the weekend.
"It's easy to feel sorry for yourself, easy to think: 'why us? why me?' But it's unrealistic to go through a full campaign [without injuries].
"It's a league for as reason, you have to go through these different tests and challenges.
"There's no doubt we're getting challenged at the minute. Once we get through the next four games we will ideally be a bit stronger going into the final run in.
"It will almost feel like a transfer window opening up in April. So you've got to take the good with the bad."
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 24: Travis Bazzana #72 of the Cleveland Guardians gets ready in the batters box against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch on February 24, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Former Brighton defender Warren Aspinall says fans were "astonished" by Fabian Hurzeler's team selection in Saturday's win over Brentford, but the players he picked "performed really well".
"The manager put his head on the block with the team he picked," Aspinall told the Albion Unlimited podcast.
"He knew if it backfired he would take the blame and the fans were ready to pounce on him.
"Even the fans on our phone-in said they were astonished when they heard the team news so he was under pressure straight away. But, he put out lads that he could trust and they performed really well.
"The people on the bench are on there for a reason. He played a left back at right wing and kept two players who can play right wing and cost £80m combined on the bench. Is that a wake up call about the two lads in [Yankuba] Minteh and [Georginio] Rutter?
"I asked for a bit of bite and a bit more running, working a bit harder, and I got that. As a fan that's all you can ask for.
"If we're going to beat teams we have to run more and if we can do that and outrun them by 10% it's like we're playing with an extra player.
"We controlled the game in the first-half especially. Playing [James] Milner and [Pascal] Gross, two aging midfielders, worked. [Karou] Mitoma showed a bit more bite and did well defensively.
"Week in and week out [Lewis] Dunk and [Jean Paul] Van Hecke perform to the highest level and kept Igor Thiago quiet."
The Washington Commanders made a bold move after the conclusion of a disappointing 2025 season. Washington moved on from successful offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, replacing him with assistant quarterbacks coach David Blough only days later.
Blough was viewed as a rising star as soon as the Commanders hired him in 2024. He served as a quarterback for Kingsbury with the Arizona Cardinals in 2022 and head coach Dan Quinn took a special interest in developing Blough as a coach because he saw the potential.
Philosophical differences led Washington to move away from Kingsbury. The Commanders wanted a more traditional offense for quarterback Jayden Daniels, where he'd be under center more and marry the run game with the passing game. Blough, who also played for Bears head coach Ben Johnson when he was the Lions' offensive coordinator, and also for Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell, is expected to run something similar to Johnson's offense with the Commanders.
While there's no doubt that Washington was bullish on Blough's future almost immediately after hiring him, the Detroit Lions may have helped push along his promotion to offensive coordinator.
The Lions, where Blough spent three seasons, needed a new offensive coordinator after moving on from John Morton. Morton replaced Johnson, who left to become Chicago's head coach in 2025. While in Detroit, Blough also worked for head coach Dan Campbell. Campbell, like Quinn, saw big things in Blough and was looking to interview him for Detroit's offensive coordinator position in 2026.
He admitted as much on Tuesday at the NFL combine in Indianapolis.
"I love Blough," Campbell said. "I mean, he was one of the guys that I wanted to bring in, and, you know, Coach Quinn and those guys went ahead and named him OC, which is smart by them. I think Blough is a young rising coach in this league. I've been around him firsthand and, he's another one that he's sharp. He understands football and quarterback play. He knows the run game. And he's a detailed guy, and he's competitive. He's very competitive, so I think he's going to do a great job."
Dan Campbell says the Lions wanted David Blough and it was smart of Dan Quinn to move fast and make him offensive coordinator pic.twitter.com/9Ou1qTqSXy
Campbell joins Johnson in giving Blough the stamp of approval. While it remains to be seen how things will work out for Blough in Washington, the Commanders were smart to promote him because if they didn't, he wouldn't have been around long.
Detroit eventually hired Drew Petzing as its new offensive coordinator.
But roughly 20 minutes after he had been crumpled on the white maple of Eddie Sutton Court, Fallah knew this might be his last chance to speak directly to the OSU fanbase through the media in attendance.
And he had something to say.
“I’m really, really grateful for this year that I had here,” he said, beginning to choke up with emotion. “Oklahoma State was the best year I had in my college career and the fans — I just hope they know how much I really care about them and what a great experience. I wanted to say, ‘Thank you,’ to every one of you. All the fans out there.”
The 6-foot-10 senior center, who emigrated from Imol, Iran, just over four years ago, has faced more challenges in his young life than most people who watch him shoot a basketball could ever fathom.
Yet as he sat next to Steve Lutz, who has been his coach for less than a calendar year, Fallah got emotional once again.
“This man here, I believe he is one of the best coaches in the country,” Fallah said. “I’ve never seen a man work as hard as him. This is your guy and he will take you guys far. I really mean every word I’m saying. He changed my life. I’m really grateful for him. He made me a better man, a better person and a better player.
“I’m not sure what’s gonna go on with me. I don’t want to really talk about it. But I would just say, thank you God, thank you Jesus Christ. Good or bad, I always try to be grateful and appreciate God for what he gave me.”
Fallah injured his knee when it bent awkwardly as he landed after a dunk with 5.5 seconds left. The one-handed slam gave him a team-high 18 points in a meaningful win that almost immediately became an afterthought.
Point guards Kanye Clary and Jaylen Curry each made 3-pointers at clutch moments. Anthony Roy had some critical defensive performances, particularly in overtime. And Andrija Vukovic had a career-high 12 points.
But even an accomplishment like that wasn’t enough to lift Vukovic’s spirits when he sat at the podium answering questions about the game.
“It’s very tough to talk about the game after this,” said Vukovic, who is from Serbia. “I was open, I scored the ball, and that’s it.
“I don’t need to talk about it.”
Roughly 20 minutes earlier, he had seen his closest friend on the team screaming in pain.
“It’s tough,” Vukovic said. “Nobody deserves that, especially him. He is such a good leader on this team, on the court and off the court. Such a good person. He helped me a lot. I wish him a speedy recovery. All of my prayers go to him.”
Mere seconds after Vukovic finished speaking, Fallah hobbled into the media room on crutches. Vukovic gave him a cautious one-armed hug and they briefly spoke to each other before Fallah made his way to the microphone.
“He has had a rough time here because of his movement to a new country and a new culture, so it was hard for him,” Fallah said. “He needed someone to be there for him. The staff did a great job last year and this year being with him. But sometimes, you need a close friend, like a teammate, to be there for you. It was hard for me, so I tried to be the person for him that I wanted my freshman year.
“He had a really great game. He was playing mature. He was playing hard. And I’m really proud of him.”
The Cowboys have three regular-season games remaining, then the Big 12 Tournament. While their NCAA Tournament hopes took a severe hit with the five-game losing streak, Fallah wanted to remind fans not to give up on the Cowboys.
“We have a great team and the season isn’t over,” he said. “I think fans need to keep supporting this team. Oklahoma State’s got a great staff, great people and they will take you far.”
Watching Fallah interact with his coaches and teammates all season, it has been clear how much he has meant to them as a force on the court and an emotional tent pole, especially during difficult times.
“Parsa is an unbelievable human being,” Lutz said. “He’s an unbelievable person, he’s an unbelievable teammate. And good things happen to good people. So I’ve got to believe something great is going to come out of this from this young man.”
March Madness is almost upon us, and so are bracket projections. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has Nebraska men’s basketball as a No. 3 seed in the South region. The Huskers are slated to face the Navy Midshipmen in the first round of the NCAA tournament. UConn, Houston, and Texas Tech are ranked as the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 4 seeds in that region.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers have a complicated history with the NCAA tournament. They have made eight appearances in school history and hold a 0-8 record. The Huskers are the only power-conference school to have never won a tournament game.
The Huskers have had postseason success. They have appeared in 19 National Invitation Tournaments and hold a 24-18 record, including the 1996 NIT Championship.
This is uncharted territory for a Nebraska basketball program that has had a tremendous season. The Huskers sit at 23-4 with only a few games remaining in the season. That particular region would be challenging, but nothing comes easy in March.
Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.
Former FIFA President Joseph Blatter gestures during an interview in Moscow. Federico Gambarini/dpa
Former FIFA president Joseph Blatter has criticized current federation boss Gianni Infantino, calling him autocratic and submissive.
"What is FIFA today? It consists only of its president, Infantino. FIFA is a dictatorship! The FIFA Council, with almost 40 members, has no say," Blatter told the Sport Bild weekly in an interview published on Wednesday.
"He rules like a Sun King (reference to Louis XIV of France). I've heard from FIFA that he doesn't want to be greeted when he shows up at the FIFA headquarters," he said.
Infantino is "totally isolating himself, but football will survive Infantino," Blatter added.
In recent times, Blatter has constantly criticized his successor.
In the interview to Bild, he lashed out at Infantino for how he has been serving as an "accomplice" of United States President Donald Trump ahead of this year's World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico.
"Of course Trump will put on a show, he's already doing that! To do so, he needs his new friend, FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Although the term 'accomplice' is more appropriate than 'friend,'" Blatter said.
He perceives Infantino as submissive to Trump.
"The Peace Prize for Trump is an incomprehensible matter. Infantino is currying favor with Trump because he needs him."
Blatter's long reign at FIFA ended in 2015 when he first announced his resignation amid a corruption affair and was then banned from football activities.
But he still wants to receive an "honourable farewell" at the FIFA Congress.
"I never resigned or was voted out of office, but rather made my office available in 2015. An honourable farewell would mark the definitive end of the Blatter era at FIFA," he said.
Asencio, Gonzalo start in a 4-4-2 – How Real Madrid can line up against Benfica
Real Madrid return to the Santiago Bernabeu against Benfica, knowing that nothing about this Champions League tie feels simple.
The Spanish giants hold a narrow advantage, but the story goes beyond the scoreline.
Los Blancos secured a 1-0 victory in Lisbon last week, and it was their Brazilian star who made the difference.
Vinicius Jr. found the net in the second half, giving Madrid a slender edge heading into the decisive second leg.
On paper, it looks like a professional away performance. In reality, it was anything but routine.
The match quickly became overshadowed by controversy. Shortly after breaking the deadlock, Vinicius made serious allegations against Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni.
The Brazilian forward claimed he was racially abused, an accusation that forced the game to be halted for 10 minutes. UEFA opened an investigation, and the issue has continued to dominate headlines ever since.
The fallout has added serious tension to what was already a high-pressure European night.
Head coach Alvaro Arbeloa now faces one crucial question — whether Vinicius is mentally ready to start.
The expectation is that he will feature from the beginning, but the decision will not be taken lightly.
If he does start, he will carry the responsibility of leading Madrid’s attack and closing out the tie.
Defence
Antonio Rudiger will return to the starting XI. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
There is no debate in goal. Thibaut Courtois remains the undisputed number one.
The Belgian goalkeeper continues to be one of the most reliable figures in this Real Madrid side, especially on big European nights.
In central defence, Antonio Rudiger is set to return to the starting line-up. He will partner with Raul Asensio, who faced criticism following the defeat to Osasuna in La Liga.
Arbeloa is expected to trust the pairing to deliver composure and aggression at the back.
On the right flank, Trent Alexander-Arnold is likely to get the nod ahead of Dani Carvajal. His presence could offer Madrid more attacking width and crossing ability.
On the left, Alvaro Carreras is expected to start, although he walks a disciplinary tightrope, sitting one booking away from suspension.
Midfield
Valverde will be key to Real Madrid’s push. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
With Alexander-Arnold operating at right-back, Federico Valverde moves back into his preferred midfield role. His energy and work rate will be vital in controlling transitions.
Jude Bellingham remains unavailable, and Dani Ceballos is not in contention either. That leaves a midfield trio that almost picks itself.
Arda Guler, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Eduardo Camavinga are expected to complete the unit.
Together, they provide balance – creativity from Guler, defensive control from Tchouameni, and dynamism from Camavinga.
Gonzalo Garcia could replace the injured Mbappe. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
The French superstar is dealing with a minor injury to the lateral collateral ligament in his knee.
He attempted to test himself in training but could not complete the session. With the World Cup on the horizon, he is unwilling to take unnecessary risks.
That injury reshapes Madrid’s attacking plans. Vinicius remains the obvious starter, assuming he is cleared mentally and physically.
Alongside him, Gonzalo Garcia is expected to step into the other attacking role.
Without Mbappe’s pace and clinical finishing, the responsibility will fall more heavily on Vinicius to deliver once again.
The Bernabeu crowd will back him loudly, especially given the events of the first leg.
Real Madrid host Benfica in the return leg of the Champions League’s Round of 32 with a 1-0 lead on aggregate. Los Blancos lost all momentum they had gather with a dispirited loss in Pamplona against Osasuna this weekend, so now they will have to bounce back and take care of business once again. This will surely be a physical and intense game, so don’t miss it!
PREDICTED LINEUPS
Real Madrid predicted XI: Courtois; Trent, Rüdiger, Asencio, Carreras; Tchouaméni, Valverde, Camavinga, Güler; Vinicius, Gonzalo.
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Promise David may miss World Cup as Canadian striker suffers potentially season ending injury
As we reported earlier in the week, Promise David appeared to have avoided a major injury at the weekend after leaving the pitch on a stretcher following a clash with Antwerp’s Daam Foulon. Union St Gilloise had hoped that the initial assessment proved David would be able to return before the end of the season, but now it appears that this will not be the case. David has been ruled out for the rest of the Pro League campaign, a major blow for Union who are suffering a number of injuries up front. David was crucial to helping Union win the title last season and will be sorely missed this year.
Worse for David is that it now puts his participation in the 2026 World Cup at risk. With Canada hosting, the tournament was a unique chance for David to play for the host country as they look to go further than they have ever done so in their history. David has risen from Estonian football to the top of the Belgian game and scoring goals at Champions League level. Without the injury he was due a big move this summer. The World Cup would have given David an even greater chance of earning a top move.
Sadly, the move is now likely to be in jeopardy as interested teams wait to see how he can recover. Hopefully David can recover quicker than expected and return to help Canada at the upcoming World Cup.
Georgia Bulldogsdefensive tackle Jordan Davis cemented his status as a first-round pick lock in the 2022 NFL draft thanks to an incredible performance at the 2022 NFL combine. Davis' 40-yard dash is one of the most memorable moments in combine history.
The 6-foot-6, 340-pound defensive tackle ran a 4.78 official time in the 40-yard dash. Only Georgia teammate Devonte Wyatt (4.77) ran a faster 40-yard dash among defensive tackles at the 2022 combine. Davis' 40-yard dash time ranks sixth all-time (tied) among NFL combine defensive tackles entering the 2026 NFL combine. Of course, no defensive tackle that's run a faster time than Davis outweighs the former Georgia fan favorite.
Jordan Davis showed his impressive speed throughout his career at Georgia. Davis is excellent in pursuit and is a great run defender. He won a national championship at Georgia and was a key piece of several elite defenses. Men that size should simply not be able to run that fast. Davis' 40-yard dash time is faster than countless NFL greats including quarterbacks Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes.
During the 2025 NFL regular season, Davis put his speed on display in a blocked kick return for a touchdown to cap off an epic win over the Los Angeles Rams. The spectacular play was Davis' first career NFL touchdown.
After his unbelievable NFL combine performance, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Davis No. 13 in the 2022 NFL draft. Davis has appeared in two Super Bowls during his time with the Eagles and won Super Bowl 59.
Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom has claimed “the smell of weed” in the tunnel made his players clock on to the presence of Snoop Dogg as Swansea gave their celebrity co-owner a rapturous welcome.
Swansea’s second-tier clash with Preston garnered international attention on Tuesday night with fans packing the stands to welcome the hip-hop icon to south Wales.
Snoop Dogg was greeted with twirling towels – a staple action for supporters in American sports – and a guard of honour during a seven-minute lap of honour ahead of kick-off.
There was more drama in the match that ensued, with Swansea snatching a 95th-minute equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw and rob promotion-chasing Preston of two valuable points.
Heckingbottom insisted the atmosphere was not a factor in the result but did admit there was one notable difference from his other trips to the Swansea.com Stadium.
"I think just the smell of weed in the tunnel is the only thing where we realised something was different,” he said, but only after asserting: "It was quiet. We kept them quiet.
‘That's how we played. Our fans were the loudest. We only let them have their occasion at the very end by conceding. So that's the frustrating thing.
"I can't tell. It's only different for people who are here every week, isn't it? It's not different for us. We don't play at Swans every week, so it's no different for us.”
Snoop Dogg attended his first Swansea match as they drew to Preston (PA)
Snoop Dogg became a minority owner of the Welsh club – whose board also includes American television host Martha Stewart and Croatia international Luka Modric – in July and his first visit to Swansea attracted a record crowd to a stadium opened in 2005.
Preston had taken a first-half lead through Daniel Jebbison as they looked to keep up the pace in the play-off race, with the striker ending an 11-game goal drought.
But Cullen headed home in the fifth and final minute of added time, sparking wild scenes which included celebrations by the American rapper.
Preston are five points off the final play-off places, while Swansea are three points further back after extending their unbeaten home run to nine games.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 24: General manager Howie Roseman of the Philadelphia Eagles speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Eagles Question of the Day:
Which 2026 NFL Draft prospects are you most interested to monitor at the Scouting Combine? Anyone you’re keeping an eye on? Head over to The Feed and weigh in with your answer and explanation!
Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles news and links …
Eagles likely to play the compensatory pick game again this offseason – PhillyVoice Howie Roseman sounds like a general manager who is prepared to get raided. “I think from a big picture perspective, we want to build a team that every year has a chance to compete for championships, that drafts really well and signs their own players and just sporadically goes into free agency,” Roseman said. “That’s what we’re trying to do. […] “And I think last year, I said to you guys, over a two-year period, it’s going to be hard for us, unless we make major moves to subtract, to really make some sort of splash move that costs money because we like the players we have drafted and want them as a big part of our next few years as well.” Expect the Eagles to target players who either don’t cost enough to count toward the comp pick formula, or who have been released by their previous team (and thus won’t count toward the formula either).
Howie Roseman addresses Jaelan Phillips, Brandon Graham and other potential free agents ahead of the combine – Inquirer On safety Reed Blankenship and linebacker Nakobe Dean: “Really proud of Reed, undrafted free agent, and played in two Super Bowls, four years, four playoff appearances. Was a captain this year for our team, tremendous player, tremendous person.” Roseman wasn’t asked directly about linebacker Nakobe Dean, but when the topic of 2025 first rounder Jihaad Campbell stepping back into a starting role was brought up, he brought up Dean. “Obviously, we have a free agent at that position, a guy that we drafted, a guy that we think is a really good player, and unbelievable character,” Roseman said. “And so, all those decisions here [will be] made in the next couple of weeks.” Still, it seems unlikely that Dean will be back. Blankenship’s future in Philly seems more dependent upon his leaguewide value or whether the Eagles can afford Phillips or not.
NFL Trade Rumors: Tanner McKee linked to the Jets – BGN The Eagles obviously don’t HAVE to trade McKee if they don’t want to do so. There’s value in him being the backup to Hurts for at least one more season. But if the Birds do hang onto McKee, he’ll likely leave Philly as a free agent after the 2026 season in search of an NFL home where he has a better path to playing time. So, it’s feasible that the Eagles and Jets could make a deal. Former Eagles executive Daniel Jeremiah, who knows Howie Roseman well, also recently suggested as much.
A.J. Brown trade: 4 potential destinations after Nick Sirianni’s surprising comments – SB Nation Los Angeles Chargers: The Chargers passing game limped along on a hope and a prayer in 2025 with Ladd McConkey being the only real bright spot. The team has indicated a desire to bring back veteran Keenan Allen, and they have a lot of receivers in the room — but having a lot of guys, and having quality guys are mutually exclusive in this case. If we look at the Chargers’ offense there’s a lot of work to be done, even with Jim Harbaugh’s run-first proclivities. Teams were able to stack the box because they didn’t respect the deep ball enough, which is where Brown could open everything up. It’s also becoming apparent that Quentin Johnson is likely never going to be more than a 2nd or 3rd option on the team, which is something the Chargers need to just accept and move on. With a metric ton of cap space and an obvious need, Brown would be a great fit on the Chargers.
2026 NFL free agency: Four free agent fits and two trades that should happen – NFL.com A.J. BROWN to the BUFFALO BILLS. If you’re tired of hearing about the annual drama involving Brown and the Eagles, just imagine how Philadelphia might feel. Is trading Brown a smart move? Absolutely not. GM Howie Roseman said it best after the trade deadline passed in November: “You don’t get rid of guys like that.” But this relationship sure feels like it’s headed toward a divorce, even after the Eagles fired offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo. If so, the Eagles won’t have a hard time finding interested trade partners. They might be able to extract the most value from a team like the Bills, who have desperately needed a top receiver ever since they sent Stefon Diggs to Houston. Brown would give Josh Allen the star target he’s lacked in recent years and might welcome a fresh start with another title contender. It should cost the Bills a significant amount, but if ever there were a time for Buffalo to push all of its chips to the center of the table, it’s now.
How Eagles landed on Sean Mannion after exhaustive OC search – NBCSP The Eagles didn’t rush. They cast a wide net and took their time. After moving on from Kevin Patullo following a disappointing 2025 season, the Eagles launched a lengthy search for their next offensive coordinator that ultimately landed on 33-year-old Sean Mannion. “You just could tell right away how sharp he was and then we get him here to the building, it was very obvious,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said ahead of the NFL Combine. “When you do that and when you cast a wide net and you go through the process like that, it reveals itself to you of who the right one is.” The Eagles hope they nailed their pick. Because there’s no doubt that hiring a 33-year-old coordinator with two years of coaching experience is a big swing. But the Eagles seem very excited about the direction of the offense under Mannion. According to Sirianni, the Eagles interviewed 17 different candidates and Mannion was one of seven who got a second interview. The Eagles went through the full process.
Unpopular ex-Eagles coach wows new boss who thinks he is being underestimated: ‘I was blown away’ – NJ.com Next season, Patullo will receive another shot as the Dolphins’ pass-game coordinator, and new Miami head coach Jeff Hafley is excited to have him on staff. “When I interviewed him, I was blown away — the knowledge that he has, the football experience that he has, what he did for that entire organization,” Hafley said Tuesday at the NFL Combine. “Don’t forget: He won a Super Bowl and behind the scenes, what he did with that offense and with that whole team, listening to him talk and his football knowledge, not just about offense, but about game management, about situational football.”
2026 NFL mock draft: Mel Kiper’s pick predictions for Round 1 – ESPN 23) Philadelphia Eagles. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon. If Philadelphia doesn’t bring back free agent Dallas Goedert, it would be smart to draft a top-end replacement. Quarterback Jalen Hurts found Goedert for a team-high 11 receiving touchdowns last season, and he was the third-most-targeted pass catcher on the roster. In other words, Hurts likes throwing to his TE1. Sadiq had eight touchdown receptions last season, and he’s explosive and does a lot of damage after the catch. NFC defenses would have a tough time matching up with him because of his speed and 6-foot-3, 245-pound size.
Bowen: Hype the A.J. Brown trade buzz all you want, just know that the Eagles will be worse for it – PHLY For me, Jeff Stoutland’s departure was a “Yikes!” moment. Yes, I want to see more play-action, more under-center work, maybe some outside zone running. If Stout really wasn’t comfortable with those things, then maybe there was no way to keep him. It sure seemed, though, that Stoutland felt disrespected by some things Sirianni did during the season. I’d like to know the details there. From a distance, I don’t like that one darned bit. If there was a way to salvage this, and Nick didn’t, well, I think if things go bad this year we will look back on Stoutland’s departure as an inflection point. Sirianni wasn’t talking about Stoutland when he said this Tuesday, but you could certainly ponder the implications in a Stoutland context: “You’re a product of the people that you have around you, both players and coaches, as a head coach.” Come to think of it, you could look at Brown in that context, as well.
The Way-Too-Early 2026 NFL Power Rankings 11) Yes, I’m ranking the Eagles outside the top 10, but I’d be remiss not to acknowledge that this team is just one year removed from winning a Super Bowl and that the key pieces from that 2025 postseason run are still on the roster. It’s entirely possible that one of the league’s best rosters will overwhelm its opponents en route to a deep run next season, because we’ve seen it happen multiple times. But Philadelphia has some question marks, starting with receiver A.J. Brown’s status. Is he part of this team’s long-term offensive plan?
Sean Payton: Last year’s tush push opposition wasn’t about health and safety – PFT Broncos coach Sean Payton is back on the Competition Committee. And he’s not afraid to share his opinions about league rules. During his Tuesday press conference at the Scouting Combine, Payton was asked about last year’s opposition to the tush push, which came within two votes of ending it. “I don’t think the push sneak — I think if that ever goes away, it’s not a health and safety thing,” Payton told reporters. “We discussed that last year for two hours and we just adopted a thousand more kick returns. Which play do you think is more of a health risk? A thousand more kick returns. So I think if we choose to ever move on from that, it won’t be because of health and safety. It will just be like, ‘We don’t like it.’ Which is OK.”
Report: Cowboys have offer that would make Brandon Aubrey highest-paid kicker in NFL – Blogging The Boys DLLS’ Clarence Hill Jr. reported the news on Tuesday afternoon from the NFL combine where rumors and reports are swirling. There are no details associated with the report so many are left to guess as to what “highest-paid” actually means. Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker is currently the top paid kicker in the league. He signed a four-year extension with Kansas City shortly ahead of the 2024 season. It was worth over $25M and had almost $18M fully guaranteed. [BLG Note: Aubrey is reportedly asking for $10 million per year … which is significantly more than Butker’s league-leading $6.4 million per year.]
Zach Ertz wants to play another season; should Washington re-sign him? – Hogs Haven Washington had the oldest team in the league last year, and Adam Peters will look to get away from that distinction, while still filling a roster that has over 30 pending free agents. Some people are still holding out hope for Sinnott to step into a bigger role, but his production didn’t rise significantly with Ertz out. The Commanders have plenty of cap space heading into free agency if they want to replace Ertz with a younger TE like the Ravens’ Isaiah Likely. They also have six picks in April’s draft, with the potential to add more through trades. If Ertz is ready to go by Week 1(ish), should Washington bring back one of Jayden Daniels’ most reliable receiving options. Or is it time to move on, especially with a player coming back from a major injury?
5 NY Giants Combine takeaways: John Harbaugh, Joe Schoen learning to ‘agree to agree’ – Big Blue View One of those changes was hiring Dawn Aponte as Senior Vice President of Football Operations and Strategy, and having Aponte report to Harbaugh rather than Schoen. Harbaugh having greater control over more areas of the organization than any other Giants’ coach, and the reality that Aponte reports to Harbaugh, give the impression that Schoen’s role has been marginalized and that he is no longer the final decision-maker. Schoen bristled on Tuesday at the notion that certain areas of responsibility, like contracts, were perhaps no longer his. “I’m still the general manager of the team and my role has not changed,” Schoen said. “I’m still tasked with leading the entire football operation. And we’re going to work in collaboration like most good teams do. “And it’s going to be collaborative. Everybody’s going to have their role, but there’s constant communication between Dawn, Coach Harbaugh, myself in terms of how we’re going to build the football operation. And then how we’re going to execute the draft, trades, free agency, contract signings, coaching staff, whatever it may be. We’re going to work in collaboration together. We’re aligned in that, and it’s been going really good so far.”
The Baltimore Ravens can no longer afford to put off addressing the talent in their trenches. Recently, early draft capital has been used on talent in the secondary. Kyle Hamilton, Nate Wiggins, and Malaki Starks were all first-round selections. So was Tyler Linderbaum, but there is danger that he might travel elsewhere in free agency.
Baltimore has built its identity for decades around physical dominance in the trenches, but even the most stable foundations require maintenance. Defensive tackle isn't an urgent crisis today (yet), but the long-term picture carries enough uncertainty to justify serious draft attention.
There are questions surrounding the future of Nnamdi Madubuike. Travis Jones and John Jenkins have signed extensions through 2028 and 2026, respectively. That's three key interior pieces tied to near-term financial decisions. Smart front offices don't wait for those moments to arrive. They prepare for them.
This defensive tackle class offers several prospects who fit Baltimore's preferred mold. They're powerful, disruptive, and capable of playing multiple alignments on the front line. Might Eric DeCosta and company invest early draft capital in one of the following? The organization might strike gold if it decides to do so.
Peter Woods is the type of interior disruptor every defense covets. He's explosive off the snap with positional versatility.
He could eventually replace high-end production if contract decisions or early retirement force roster turnover. His ceiling makes him an obvious first-round conversation after being named First-team All-ACC.
Caleb Banks brings length and power with SEC battle testing. Baltimore values linemen who can occupy blockers and collapse pockets. Banks checks both boxes and would fit naturally in a rotational role early.
Kayden McDonald is a disruptive force who defends the run well and rushes the passer. He tallied 65 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles, and a pass breakup for the Buckeyes this past season.
His massive frame, anchor, and run-stopping reliability make him the kind of player who keeps linebackers clean. As you're well aware. That's a trait that Baltimore has often fallen for.
Lee Hunter offers intriguing upside as a gap-filler. 41 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble were the results of his efforts in 2025. He played very well in the Red Raiders' playoff loss to the Oregon Ducks.
with heavy hands and motor. He's a developmental prospect with the physical tools. That should help him thrive in Baltimore's coaching environment and team atmosphere.
Six-foot-five L.T. Overton is one of the taller prospects on this list. Only Florida's Caleb Banks is taller, but he's also one of the lightest. The former Crimson Tide star weighs in at 283 pounds.
So, he isn't necessarily a nose tackle. That's okay. He finds the ball carrier and picks up sacks. Give him credit for 40 tackles and four sacks this past season.
Also six-foot-five, Darrell Jackson Jr. is someone to watch. He had a great week at the Senior Bowl. That helped his cause, and an impressive NFL Combine would do the same.
He is built for AFC North football. Can we slot him as an early-down force with pass-rush upside? Players with that profile rarely last long on draft weekend if scouting teams and coaches agree.
Food for thought:
The Ravens don't have to draft for panic. They only have to draft for sustainability. Whether Madubuike stays long term or financial realities force tough choices, Baltimore understands championships are won when depth becomes strength, not weakness.
If the past can be used as a guide, the next cornerstone defensive lineman in purple might already be on this list. If he is, he's one step closer to the moment when preparation meets opportunity.
As the next training camp for the Algeria national football team approaches, Vladimir Petkovic has decided to reopen a sensitive file: the pecking order among the goalkeepers. The upcoming camp in Italy, featuring two friendly matches against the Guatemala national football team and the Uruguay national football team, will serve as a testing ground just months before the FIFA World Cup 2026.
While Luca Zidane seemed to have pulled ahead after the last AFCON, the number one spot is far from locked in. The head coach wants to create an open competition to assess all available options and secure as many guarantees as possible at this crucial position.
In this context, several candidates are emerging in the coaching staff’s deliberations, notably Abdellah El Aïdani and Melvin Fayçal Mastil, two keepers playing in Europe. Behind them, names like Anthony Mandrea, Alexandre Oukidja, and Alexis Guendouz remain in contention. With the World Cup looming, Petkovic is now searching for the perfect balance between healthy competition and squad stability.
Howe bullish as Newcastle surge into Champions League last 16 clash with Chelsea or Barcelona
Eddie Howe is confident that Newcastle United can compete with anyone in Europe after sealing progress to the Champions League's Round of 16.
Newcastle beat Qarabag 3-2 on Tuesday night to confirm comfortable progression (aggregate score 9-3) to the last 16 of the competition.
After a 6-1 success in the first leg, Howe made changes to his team but Newcastle raced into an early two-goal lead through Sandro Tonali and Joelinton.
Qarabag admirably continued to battle on the night and found the scoresheet at St James' Park through Camilo Duran and Elvin Cafarguliyev, either side of Sven Botman's third for the home side.
Newcastle, however, were never in genuine danger with the damage done during the first meeting in Azerbaijan.
This season marks the first time that Newcastle have progressed into the knockout rounds of theChampions League. The Magpies are set for a huge tie in the Round of 16, with either Chelsea or Barcelona awaiting Howe's side in Friday's draw.
Despite an inconsistentPremier League campaign, Howe has sent a bullish message to Newcastle's potential opponents. He insisted his side have the belief to compete with any team in the competition.
"We have to believe in ourselves," he said post-game.
"We have seen the best of ourselves when we have gone into cup games and one-off games, where we have been able to rise to whatever challenge we have had in front of us.
"We will have to go in with that mindset again, whoever we get in the next round."
Moroccan starlet Ismaël Baouf is set to be one of the hottest prospects in the upcoming transfer window.
The 20-year-old defender is making waves with his club, SC Cambuur Leeuwarden, competing in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie (Dutch second division).
According to Transfermarkt, the Atlas Cubs defender is on the radar of two French clubs: AS Saint-Etienne and LOSC Lille.
Under contract with his club until 2028, the Charleroi native has seen his market value soar, having played a key role in Morocco's U20 World Cup triumph.
In 19 matches across all competitions during the 2025-2026 season, Ismaël Baouf has netted 6 goals and provided a single assist.
Developed at Belgian clubs Olympic Charleroi (-2016), RSC Charleroi (2016-2022), and RSC Anderlecht (2022-2023), Ismaël Baouf made the move to the Dutch side during the summer 2025 transfer window.
Champions League: Atalanta vs. Borussia Dortmund – probable line-ups, where to watch on TV
Gianluca Scamacca is expected to lead the Atalanta attack against Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of the Champions League knockout play-off.
It kicks off at 18:45 CET (17:45 GMT) at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo. Borussia beat La Dea 2-0 in the first leg played in Germany last week.
DORTMUND, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 17: Gianluca Scamacca of Atalanta looks dejected after conceding the 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 Pau Barrena/Getty Images)
Charles De Ketelaere and Giacomo Raspadori are unavailable for the Nerazzurri, so Lazar Samardzic and Nicola Zalewski will start as attacking midfielders behind the sole striker, Scamacca.
According to Gazzetta and Sky Sport Italia, Atalanta coach Raffaele Palladino will confirm the defence that beat Napoli last weekend with Giorgio Scalvini, Isak Hien and Sead Kolasinac starting in a three-man backline.
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)
Davide Zappacosta and Lorenzo Bernasconi will start on the flanks with Marten De Roon and Ederson in the middle of the park.
Following their 2-0 loss in Germany last week, Atalanta will need a win by two goals to send the game to extra time.
Atalanta vs. Borussia Dortmund – where to watch on TV
The match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 3 in the UK and Ireland and on Paramount+ in the USA. Football Italia will provide live updates via a liveblog.
Atalanta vs. Borussia Dortmund – probable line-ups
Lewandowski talks Flick, Pedri, Yamal, Ferran, Barcelona future – ‘Not yet time to make decisions’
Barcelona’s forward trio have a massive few days ahead, especially with a comeback against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey, depending massively on their form.
Lamine Yamal and Raphinha are set to be protagonists on the night, but the third place in attack will go to either Robert Lewandowski or Ferran Torres.
The striker question has been alive all season, with Hansi Flick handing both players their chances and regularly rotating between the duo. Both have delivered results, but Lewandowski was the one benched in the first leg earlier this month.
Lewandowski’s interview
Speaking to the media in a recent interview, the Barcelona striker reminisced about last season and how injuries spoiled his end to the campaign.
“[It was] an intense and sometimes turbulent year.”
“The injuries came precisely at the moments when I felt I could give the team even more.”
He then revealed how he felt helpless at the time for being unavailable to help the team.
“Seeing everything from the bench was probably the most difficult thing; it hurt me even more. I felt that the team was very close to the final, but I couldn’t help as I wanted to.”
On the competition with Ferran Torres
The Polish striker was then asked about his competition with Ferran Torres for minutes this season, with Hansi Flick handing them both equal shares of prominence.
“In reality, there are not so many training sessions between matches for everything to be decided there. I wouldn’t say it’s a direct competition in training.”
“The coach Hansi Flick has his own vision and concept, he adheres to a specific plan. [It’s based on] who has played recently and how much, and who we will face influences.”
The veteran star then opened up on how rotations were necessary in today’s day and age of the game.
Competing for the starting spot. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
“With so many games, the rotation in the striker position is natural, and I think Ferran and I can benefit in the current situation.”
“On the one hand, all players want to play as much as possible because the pace of the game is crucial. On the other hand, the current situation gives me more freshness and energy, both physically and mentally.”
Elaborating on how the distribution of minutes has actually helped him, Lewandowski said,
“When you play 90 minutes every three days, your whole life revolves around recovery.”
“Now the balance is a little better. I’m tired, but I’m not exhausted. And that’s the fundamental difference,” he added.
On his fitness
The striker was then asked how he felt on the field in terms of his physical fitness, especially given how there is made of his age.
“Many people see my game mainly through the prism of age, but it is often a deceptive perspective.”
“[I feel] at a very high level. [I don’t feel] a decrease in my motor skills,” he added.
He then spoke on how he felt he still could compete with the youngsters in terms of his contributions.
“I don’t feel like I’m falling behind the younger players, neither physically nor in terms of football.”
“I know that if I had to return to the rhythm of playing 90 minutes every three days, I would be prepared,” he added.
On Barcelona this season
One aspect of Barcelona’s game that stands out is how the team do not depend on any single individual to pull them through at any point.
“People continue to be our most important asset; they are the ones who make the difference in the end,” Lewandowski said, acknowledging the same.
“[The team has found] a better balance. Everyone on the field can support the load,” he added.
Lewandowski’s contract expires in June. (Photo by Gabriel Kuchta/Getty Images)
He then confirmed the change in Barcelona’s approach in recent games.
“We no longer play so high on the field. We have become more flexible defensively and we do not always take risks as in the first season.”
The veteran star also heaped praise on Pedri and Lamine Yamal, speaking on how both were very special players.
“He is an extraordinary player. He has enormous potential, technically he is fantastic and the way he moves the ball and sees the game is impressive,” he said of Pedri.
“Small fluctuations are completely natural for such a young player. [Even when he is not at his best], he brings a lot of positive energy to the team and makes the difference,” he said on the debate around Yamal’s mild inconsistencies.
On his next step
Finally, Lewandowski was asked about his future and whether he had made any decisions about his participation beyond this season.
“Definitely, it is not yet time to make decisions.”
“I have no idea what will happen with the Champions League. Winning it is so far away that it makes no sense to wonder what happens if,” he added on his objective to win one more UCL.
“Culminating my club career with a second victory in the Champions League with a second club would be fantastic,” he added.
Finally, he was asked if he was happy with his stint at Barcelona overall, to which he said,
“If someone had told me that I would score as many goals and win as many trophies as I did, I would have accepted it blindly.”
The New York Giants, holding the No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, appear poised to prioritize elite talent over strict positional need.
Head coach John Harbaugh recently emphasized this approach on the Mike Francesa Podcast.
"It’s not a need pick. It's a best player pick, because you’re going for the guy that's going to be that kind of a player — you're talking about a guy that you would like to see one day wearing a gold jacket," he said.
Charlie Campbell of Walter Football reports that the Giants are particularly high on a trio of top prospects for the selection: Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
A similar approach could play out this year for New York, with them taking one of the best talents in the draft rather than reaching for need. In speaking with sources, the prospects the Giants currently like the most for the fifth-overall pick are Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. That trio is among the top talents in the 2026 NFL Draft regardless of position.
Love stands out as a superstar and can't-miss prospect, widely regarded as the top running back in the class and a potential top-10 overall talent.
The 6-foot, 214-pound junior boasts elite production, with 2,497 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns over his last two seasons at Notre Dame, plus strong receiving skills as a three-phase back. Analysts praise his big-play speed, urgent tempo, reacceleration, and versatility, drawing comparisons to Jahmyr Gibbs and projecting him as a scheme-independent game-changer capable of stressing defenses and scoring efficiently.
Despite this intrigue, the Giants boast a solid backfield with Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Cam Skattebo—both of whom the team loves and who combined for 1,150 rushing yards in 2025.
Selecting Love would represent a pure best-player-available move, aligning with Harbaugh's vision for a future Hall of Fame caliber addition rather than addressing a pressing need.
Isaiah Stewart remains suspended for the Detroit Pistons for fighting.
The Pistons host the reigning NBA champion and Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night on national TV (7:30 p.m., ESPN, FanDuel Sports Network Detroit), but won't have Stewart, who is serving the fifth game of a seven-game suspension for his role in the Pistons' fight Feb. 9 with Charlotte Hornets players.
Four players – Stewart, Jalen Duren, Moussa Diabate and Miles Bridges – were tossed for fighting in the third quarter at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, and all four were eventually suspended by the NBA.
Stewart, a repeat offender, received the worst punishment after he sprinted off the bench and fought Bridges. Duren got two games and the Hornets players each were banned four games.
Stewart will also miss the Pistons' game Friday against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Sunday at the Orlando Magic.
When can Isaiah Stewart return from suspension?
Stewart will be eligible to play Tuesday, March 3, in Cleveland. The Pistons then visit San Antonio on March 5.
Isaiah Stewart suspensions in NBA
The suspension of Stewart – a first-round pick out of the University of Washington in 2020 (at No. 16 overall) – was his fifth over his six seasons in the NBA. Here's Stewart's suspension history:
February 2026: Hornets – 7 games
Stewart left the Pistons' bench to join the fracas when Duren was threatened by Bridges with 7:09 remaining in the quarter and the Pistons leading by eight. He didn't land a punch on Bridges, but leaving the bench carries heavy penalties in the NBA. He can return on March 3, when the Pistons visit Cleveland.
Moussa Diabaté LOST it 😳 Swung on Jalen Duren after the face shove bodies flying, whistles screaming, 4 EJECTIONS. Pure chaos. Pure hoops. pic.twitter.com/OKWeI1SI5V
He was involved in an on-court brawl late in the 2024-25 season, along with Ron Holland and Marcus Sasser, against the Timberwolves in Minnesota. Holland and Sasser were suspended for a game, while Stewart received a two-game ban from the league.
January 2025: Pacers – 1 game
That followed a one-game suspension in January 2025, in which Stewart was whistled for a flagrant-2 foul early in the second quarter, after a hard shove to the chest of Indiana Pacers big Thomas Bryant in an attempt to box out for a defensive rebound, sending Bryant to the floor. Following his ejection, Stewart made gestures toward the crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and toward the Pacers' end of the floor. Because Stewart was at four Flagrant Foul points, his flagrant-2 triggered an automatic one-game suspension.
February 2024: Suns – 3 games
In February 2024, Stewart was suspended three games for punching Phoenix Suns big Drew Eubanks near the loading docks at Footprint Center in Phoenix, hours before the Pistons suffered a blowout loss. According to Phoenix police, the two players were engaged in an argument before Stewart delivered the punch, and were then separated by security. Stewart was arrested, issued a citation and released. Eubanks said before the game the two were chest-to-chest before Stewart struck. The charges against Stewart were later dismissed.
November 2021: Lakers – 2 games
Stewart was also involved in a tussle against the LA Lakers in November 2021 that brought an ejection at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. In that game, LA's LeBron James struck Stewart in the face while battling for a rebound and drew blood. Stewart had to be restrained following his ejection and received a two-game suspension.
Does Isaiah Stewart get paid while suspended?
No, Isaiah Stewart will not be paid during his seven-game suspension by the NBA. Players suspended for 19 games or less are docked 1/145th of their salaries per game, per the NBA's collective bargaining agreement. (Suspensions of 20 games or more carry a penalty of 1/110th of a salary, per game.)
How much money did Isaiah Stewart lose for suspension?
Isaiah Stewart signed a four-year, $60 million contact extension that began with the 2024-25 season; he is in the second season of the deal that runs through the 2027-28 season, with an annual salary of $15 million.
At 1/145th of his salary per game ($103,448.28), Stewart will lose $724,137.96 over the length of his seven-game suspension.
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How many of us have imagined standing at the free-throw line shooting two to win the NBA championship?
Or in a softball game at the plate with two outs and the winning run on third, envisioning a Game 7 scenario in the World Series?
Or maybe standing over a 10-foot putt with a chance to win the U.S. Open?
Anyone who has played sports — and is not even close to the professional level — has "Walter Mitty" adventurous daydreams like that, as a kid and even as an adult.
I decided to come as close as possible to fulfilling that fantasy by putting myself to the ultimate test: playing the championship tees — or the "tips" as they say in golf — from PGA National's Champion course in Palm Beach Gardens, home of the Cognizant Classic on the PGA Tour.
It's where the best of the best tee it up and I always wondered, how would I do? I'm a 12-handicap so my scores generally range from 83 to 95. But could I break 100 on a par-71, 7,081-yard track? I set out to try.
I had a few things going for me on that August day. According to Paul Gallo, director of tournament operations, the course isn't exactly set up the way it is in February for the pros.
For one, the green speeds are significantly faster for the pros during the February tournament. The USGA Stimpmeter, used to measure speeds, generally has the PGA Champ course at a lightning-fast 12.5 (Oakmont was 14.5 for the U.S. Open). On this day, it was a 10.5, still moving quickly compared to the municipal courses I play, but not insanely fast.
Also, beginning in November, the rough is overseeded with rye grass, which thickens it and "completely changes the playability of the golf course anytime you are not in the fairway," Gallo said. So while the summertime Bermuda rough is about 2 inches long, the pros are looking at 3.5 inches of overseed.
The pin placements I had were standard and generally in the center of the green. But during tournament week, they are more tucked into corners and not as accessible, he said.
Finally, I had a gallery of one — my playing partner who doubled as a videographer and photographer. So I didn't have a gazillion eyeballs and pressure on every shot like the pros do.
Still, do you know how absurd it is for someone like me to try and tackle the course from the tips? Those yardage markers aren't even on the regular scorecard. You have to request a separate one reserved for the pro tees.
Biggest challenges on PGA National Champion course are length, water
Only three par-4s were less than 400 yards, including No. 1, so I figured if I could at least bogey one of them and steal a par or two that would give me some confidence.
Of course I pulled my first drive left and into the water (I attribute that to nerves), but I salvaged a double bogey out of it.
From there, though, I settled down and got into a steady rhythm, playing bogey-golf (trust me, that's good for amateurs like me) the rest of the front nine for an 11-over-par 47. That included a birdie putt on the 225-yard par-3 7th hole that I left short by just an inch.
One of the biggest mental roadblocks was the sheer length of some of the holes. My playing partner was sometimes 100 or 150 yards in front of me on tee shots. We'd drive up to the general set of tees and the back tees would be out of shouting distance.
Still, I was in a decent groove and really striking the ball well, particularly my tee shots, which are often my nemesis.
All I had to do to break 100 then would be to shoot a 52 or better on the back nine.
How difficult is it to play PGA National Champion course?
The back nine, however, was a different ball game. In short, it mercilessly punishes the greedy.
I parred the par-5 10th hole and was starting to almost get a Tiger Woods-like adrenaline of swagger in my step.
On the 449-yard par-4 11th hole, I smashed a drive about 245 yards down the middle of the fairway. That left me with 204 yards over water to the green and the existential question I asked myself — lay up or go for it?
"Oh, you gotta go for it," my playing partner Jay Rose urged. "You're playing so well. You can do this!"
"Yes, I can do this," I thought. "I can carry a 3-wood 200-plus yards into the wind. I did it on the par-3 7th. Why not here? Yes, I'll go for it. Hell, you only live once!"
Two balls ended up in the water and I walked off the green embarrassed and daunted with a quintuple-bogey 9.
It didn't get much better as my confidence took a major punch to the gut.
My ultimate demise, though, was the Bear Trap, the notoriously torturous three-hole stretch (15th, 16th and 17th).
The 15th was a 178-yard par-3 into the wind and over water. Looking back, I should have just hit two 7-irons and gone around the water. But wow, how unmanly would that have been? No, on principle alone, I had to go for it. Of course, I overswung and dropped another into the water. I took my medicine along with a double bogey.
The 16th was similar in that I had a 200-yard-plus second shot over water on the 444-yard par-4. This time, I decided to play it safe and aim to the left, away from water and trouble. At worst, I'd end up in the left rough by the green.
Good thought, except I pulled my 5-wood into the water on the other side of the fairway. I staggered out of there with a triple bogey.
By the time I got to the 568-yard par-5 18th, I was reeling. I felt like a boxer getting relentlessly punched against the ropes while trying to hang on, praying for the bell to ring.
I hit another two into the water but managed to get out of the trap and two-putt for a triple-bogey 8, which gave me a 51 on the back nine and a 27-over-par 98 for the round.
Takeaways from playing the Champion course at PGA National
During my decompressing time at the 19th hole with a beverage, I made some observations:
I had four pars, eight bogeys, two double bogeys, two triple bogeys and a quintuple bogey. And I hit seven fairways along with 34 putts. I also lost eight balls.
The back nine was tough and, in a sense, vindictive. It's a reminder that at any given moment, the chair can be pulled out from under you by the golf gods.
The rough was not "PGA Tour" rough, but it was still tall for me and the greens are way slicker than anything I was used to.
The greens are also a lot firmer than municipal tracks and because a lot of my irons and woods were coming in from long range, it was very difficult for me to stick the landing. The ball often hit the surface, only to roll off the back. And because I haven't mastered the art of "spinning the ball," I was only able to hit two greens in regulation.
Course management is absolutely critical for the amateur out there, especially with the unrelenting wind. You really have to swallow your pride and go around lakes — not over them — even if you are striking the ball well. I lost about six to eight strokes from testosterone-filled decisions, which came back to haunt me and my score.
I played by PGA Tour rules from start to finish, which meant no putts were "given" and I missed one or two that under more casual conditions, someone would have likely said, "that's good."
So should I feel good about a 98?
"I would say a 12 handicap playing from the tips in the offseason would have a tough time breaking 100," Gallo said. "During tournament week, that number would probably be closer to 120. The overseeded rye rough is brutal, and many 12 handicaps would find themselves being unable to advance some shots more than a few yards."
So I guess I have that going for me... which is nice.
I broke 100, but I suffered. It was the ultimate reminder that even though I parred a few holes out there, there's no way I could consistently play with these guys, especially on a beast of a layout like PGA National's Champion course.
Pro tip: Don't play the pro tees.
James Coleman is a journalist for the USA TODAY NETWORK FLORIDA. You can reach him at JColeman@USATodayco.com and follow him on social media platform X at @jimcoleman11.
Jul 25, 2025; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith participates in drills at training camp at Saint Vincent College. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images | Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
Throughout the year, we will be asking and answering questions about various Ohio State teams, the players, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
Believe it or not, but we are now less than two weeks away from the start of Ohio State’s 2026 spring practice. The Buckeyes will be back on the practice field on Tuesday, March 10, meaning that it is time to transition out of our offseason mindset into football mode again.
But, before we do that, we wanted to run through the results of a recent fan survey that looked at what Buckeye Nation was feeling about how things had gone for OSU following their College Football Playoff elimination. So, check out the two questions and results below, and if you want to share your thoughts, please feel free to do so in the comments at the bottom of the page.
Question 1: What is your top thought on Ohio State hiring Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator?
When Ohio State announced that former Atlanta Falcons head coach and Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith would be the Buckeyes’ new OC, saying that it wasn’t exactly a home run with fans would be generous. Unlike his defensive counterpart in Matt Patricia — who also had a fairly rocky NFL head coaching tenure — Smith doesn’t come with a Super Bowl pedigree.
However, his 17 years of coaching in the NFL are seemingly enough for a majority of Ohio State fans to be on board. While there were some who were not a fan based on what they’ve seen in the league, just the idea of having two former NFL head coaches as your coordinators seems to be exciting for Buckeye Nation.
Personally, if you really want to get me fired up for Arthur Smith’s tenure in Columbus, have him start funneling some of the father’s billions into the team’s NIL efforts.
Question 2: How would you grade Ohio State’s Hot Stove performance in terms of roster retention, transfer additions, coaching staff hires?
Despite the reputation that Buckeye fans have for being overly emotional and illogical, I think this is a very fair approach to what OSU has done during the offseason. While both recruiting and the transfer portal appeared rocky at times, the Buckeyes finished with the No. 2 class in the 2026 cycle’s overall team rankings, so that’s good. They were able to hang onto some important pieces on both offense and defense, and they brought in coaches with experience at both the college and pro levels of football.
Now, personally, I would have still liked to see OSU be more aggressive in the portal along both lines of scrimmage, and maybe for a skill position player or two, but it is hard to argue with the results in terms of roster building. I am still a little apprehensive about some of the coaching staff additions, including Smith and new wide receiver coach Cortez Hankton. I will happily be wrong about both of them (just as I was about Patricia), but my apprehension still keeps me from giving the program an A.
So, like 67% of the fan base, I am giving the team a solid B, which stands for Buckeyes, my friends.
Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Today in Boston Celtics history, Francis H. "Mo" Mahoney made his debut for the team in an 87-80 victory over the (then) Philadelphia (now Golden State) Warriors at the old Boston Garden in 1953.
Mahoney was selected from Rhode Island's Brown University by the Celtics in the 1950 NBA Draft. He spent the following two years serving in the U.S. armed forces during the Korean War before playing his first game for the team that drafted him, three years later. The Brooklyn native scored just one point and committed as many fouls as points he scored in his debut with the Celtics.
He went on to average 2 points and 1.2 rebounds per game over 6 games with the franchise.
Birthdays
It is also the birthday of former Celtic guard E'Twaun Donte Moore, born this day in 1989 in East Chicago, Indiana. Taken by the Celtics with the 55th overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft, Moore played just 38 games for Boston. He was traded to the Houston Rockets as part of a three-team deal that sent Courtney Lee to the Celtics. The former Boilermaker averaged 2.9 points per game while with Boston.
Finally, it is also the birthday of ex-Boston point guard James Blackwell, who came into this world in 1968 in Mount Kisco, New York. Blackwell went undrafted out of Dartmouth College, and after stints with the Charlotte Hornets on 10-day contracts, would sign a pair with the Celtics. He played just 9 games with Boston, over which he averaged 1.6 points per contest.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 24: Head coach Jeff Hafley of the Miami Dolphins speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The new brain trust of the Miami Dolphins met with the media at the NFL Scouting Combine yesterday. General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan was kind enough to provide some updates on players, including quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. He stated that everything was on the table including a trade, which seems highly unlikely with Tua’s contract and the common knowledge that he’ll be cheaper once he is released by the team. Sullivan also said they have discussed Malik Willis and other quarterback options amongst themselves.
Head coach Jeff Hafley also got a few words in to the media. He said he’d like to focus on the edge rusher room as they are pretty slim at that position at the moment. Thankfully this upcoming draft class may have some answers for the Dolphins pass rush solution.
You can check out that story here, and the rest of the day’s round-up below.
Second leg play-off: probable line-ups for PSG vs AS Monaco showdown
Probable starting XIs for PSG vs AS Monaco in the Champions League
Second leg play-off: probable line-ups for PSG vs AS Monaco showdown
This Wednesday night, AS Monaco travels to the Parc des Princes for the second leg of the Champions League play-off. Here’s what to expect from the starting line-ups.
After a 2-3 defeat at Louis-II, AS Monaco heads to Paris this Wednesday for the return leg of the Champions League play-off against PSG. For this crucial clash, Luis Enrique will be without Fabian Ruiz, Mayulu, Ndjantou, and Dembélé, all sidelined due to injury. On the other side, Sébastien Pocognoli makes the trip without Hradecky, Salisu, Dier, Cabral, Diatta, Ouattara, Pogba, and Minamino, who are all injured, while Golovin is suspended.
Jan 21, 1992; Minneapolis, MN, USA; FILE PHOTO; Washington Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs is interviewed at media day prior to Super Bowl XXVI at the Metrodome. The Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills 37-24. Mandatory Credit: Imagn Images
We’re beyond the Super Bowl but not quite to the start of the new league year so it’s a somewhat quiet time in the NFL. Let’s pass the time by talking about the Commanders.
Where’s the most random place you’ve run into a Commanders (or any version of the Washington team) player or coach, and who was it?
You could always tell us about any experience you’ve had meeting a Washington player (or multiple players if it’s happened more than once) in real life.
Scroll down to the comment section below to weigh in with your experiences.
Joan Garcia, the most effective keeper in La Liga – FC Barcelona In La Liga the difference is in the detail and Joan Garcia’s performances in goal this season for FC Barcelona is one of them. In his first season as a Blaugrana, the goalkeeper is having an excellent campaign as the statistics prove him to be the most effective in his position in the league.
Aitana one step closer to recovery – FC Barcelona Aitana Bonmatí is taking things step by step. The FC Barcelona star has reached another milestone in her recovery, training on the pitch at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. After completing gym-based work, the three-time Ballon d’Or winner remains fully focused on putting behind her surgery for a transsyndesmotic fracture of the fibula in her left ankle.
Barça’s plan to sign João Cancelo – SPORT The Blaugrana club agreed with the full-back in January that, if he performed well on the field, he would continue if certain conditions were met.
Not only that, but the SEC's elimination of divisions also will stop some rivalries from occurring annually. Both inside and outside of the SEC, games that were once part of the fabric of college football are no longer played every year.
On this edition of "SEC Football Unfiltered," a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams highlight eight rivalry games they'd wish to save or restore on an annual basis. These are games that have either already gone away, or a series that will be interrupted in the near future.
Several of the rivalries have ties to current SEC schools, but the hosts also dip into Big Ten and Big 12 terrain to restore some lost rivalries.
We're saving/restoring eight college football rivalries
∎ Nebraska vs. Oklahoma: The 1971 matchup of these teams, pitting No. 1 versus No. 2, ranks among the greatest games ever played. Neither program is what it used to be, but anyone who respects college football's tradition knows this game has a place on the annual calendar. — Adams
∎ Nebraska vs. Colorado: After the Big 12 formed in the mid-1990s, Colorado replaced Oklahoma as Nebraska's Thanksgiving week opponent, and this rivalry rose to the billing. Those who grew up on college football in the '90s remember this as must-watch fare, alongside some Thanksgiving leftovers. — Toppmeyer
∎ Southern Cal vs. Notre Dame: This storied rivalry that gave us the "Bush Push" will undergo interruption. These teams are not scheduled to play each other for at least the next few years. So, let's get this straight: Notre Dame will play SMU this season and USC will play Rutgers, but Notre Dame-USC will not occur. What a farce. — Adams
∎ Michigan vs. Notre Dame: Notre Dame used to play USC, Michigan, Penn State and Miami, all in the same season. Come 2027, the Irish are scheduled to play none of those teams. Mercy. Golden Domes vs. Maize and Blue was once appointment viewing, and it would be again if the teams had the nerve to schedule each other. — Toppmeyer
∎ Alabama vs. LSU: This game defined the SEC West for so many years. In some seasons, it defined the college football season, period. Both teams have other rivals, sure, but few games consistently match the stakes of this one, and there's no love lost between these two. That's good for any rivalry. — Adams
∎ Florida vs. Tennessee: At the rivalry's heyday in the 1990s and early 2000s, few games were better or more important. Steve Spurrier called East Tennessee home before he turned Gator. He brought so much juice to this series. Just because something isn't what it once was doesn't mean it can't still be really good. That applies here. — Toppmeyer
∎ Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State: Start with the name, Bedlam. Few rivalries have a better name. In-state rivalries like this one are part of college football's backbone. This here is a classic case of realignment interfering with a good rivalry. OU owns the series, but Oklahoma State scored some signature wins, including in the last installment in 2023. — Adams
∎ Kansas vs. Missouri: There ought to be a rule: If "War" is in the rivalry's name, it must be played annually. Such is the case here. The Border War rivalry predates football, deriving its name from the bloody years of fighting between pro- and anti-slavery factions along the Kansas-Missouri border leading up to the Civil War. Missouri's Big 12 exit interrupted the series until it renewed last year. After 2026, there'll be another hiatus. Ah, realignment. — Toppmeyer
Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is heading into the last year of his contract, but General Manager Jason Licht indicated on PFT Live that an extension could be coming soon.
Asked if Mayfield and the Bucs will work out a long-term contract extension, Licht answered, "Everything's on the table right now."
"I don't have a timeline for that but our plans revolve around Baker in the future, so I don't think anybody wants to see Baker leave the organization," Licht said. "We know everything we need to know about Baker, being with him for three years, and everything is positive. He's tough as hell, great leader. No timeline, but all plans revolve around Baker."
The Bucs are currently projected to have about $23 million in cap space when the 2026 league year starts, and Licht said the team's contracts are structured in such a way that they always have flexibility to extend the players they want to extend and bring in free agents the Bucs think can help them win.
"We always like to pride ourselves in having flexibility for things that might come up," Licht said.
Licht said having Mayfield on the team is a draw to free agents, comparing his presence to having Tom Brady.
"It was like when we had Tom," Licht said. "A lot of players love the thought of playing with Baker, on both sides of the ball."
And the Bucs would like to be able to tell free agents that Tampa has Mayfield locked in for a few more years.
As they get closer to the season, the Atlanta Braves organization has made some noteworthy transactions lately.
They signed ace pitcher Chris Sale to a contract extension to keep him in Atlanta through 2027. But there’s another deal within the past week that has gotten fans’ attention.
The Braves signed Peyton Glavine, the son of Baseball Hall of Famer Tom Glavine, to a minor-league deal, according to the team’s website.
Like his dad, Peyton Glavine is also a lefty pitcher. He played college ball at Auburn University and spent his minor-league career within the Washington Nationals organization. Glavine has posted a 3.42 ERA in his professional career so far.
The Braves have assigned Glavine to start the season with the Columbus Clingstones, the organization’s Double-A affiliate.
Report: Arsenal ready to pay £45m to complete summer signing
Arsenal Ready to Seal £45m Piero Hincapie Deal After Impressive Loan
Arsenal are poised to turn Piero Hincapie’s loan move into a permanent £45m transfer, with TeamTalk reporting that Mikel Arteta has been seriously impressed by the Ecuador international’s impact at Emirates Stadium.
Photo IMAGO
The 24 year old arrived from Bayer Leverkusen on 1 September in a deal that, at the time, felt opportunistic and calculated in equal measure. A €6m loan fee secured his services for the season, with a €52m option to buy fixed for the summer. In a market where flexibility often proves decisive, this structure now looks astute.
Officially, Arsenal maintain that no final decision has been made. Privately, there is little doubt about the direction of travel.
A well placed source told TeamTalk: “Piero has settled so well into the squad and the club as a whole. The staff are very happy with him, and he has just been getting better and better.”
Those words reflect a broader sentiment within the club. After a groin injury delayed his first start until October, Hincapie has grown in authority and assurance. Fifteen starts have followed, and with them a sense that Arsenal have quietly secured one of the more versatile defenders in European football.
Versatility Key to Arteta’s Plans
Hincapie’s appeal lies not only in his defensive instincts but in his adaptability. Comfortable at centre back and capable at left back, he offers Arteta the tactical elasticity that has underpinned Arsenal’s recent evolution.
His selection at left back for the derby against Tottenham, ahead of Ricardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis Skelly, was instructive. It spoke of trust. In high pressure fixtures, managers rarely gamble. Arteta did not hesitate.
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Standing 6ft tall and aggressive in the duel, Hincapie blends physicality with composure in possession. Arsenal’s build up play demands defenders who can step into midfield, shift angles and resist the press. In that context, his Bundesliga grounding has served him well.
The £45m fee now appears less a risk and more a reflection of market reality. For a 24 year old entering his prime, with Champions League and title winning pedigree, the numbers are consistent with the current landscape.
Long Term Vision Taking Shape
A five year contract was agreed as part of the original loan terms, signalling that this was never intended as a short term fix. Bayer Leverkusen will retain a 10 percent sell on clause, an arrangement that protects their long term interests while enabling Arsenal to plan with clarity.
Arteta has not disguised his admiration. Earlier this season he said: “He’s a warrior. He’s going to bring such intensity, physicality, and emotion to the team as well. He’s quality on the ball – he’s a player who is super keen.
Photo IMAGO
“He can play inside, he can play in wide positions, he’s done it, as you said, in different ways, and now we need to get him up to speed because the moment that physically he’s at his best, he’s going to raise the level.”
The language was revealing. Warrior, intensity, emotion. These are attributes that resonate in a dressing room pursuing major honours.
If Arsenal formalise the deal early in the window, it will send a message of continuity and conviction. Rather than chasing headlines, they are rewarding performance and securing depth in a position that has become central to their ambitions.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
This feels like smart, proactive business. Too often in the past Arsenal hesitated, allowed loan deals to drift, or overpaid in panic. This situation is different.
Hincapie has shown he can handle the pace and intensity of the Premier League. His display in the north London derby, trusted in a high stakes fixture, demonstrated character as much as quality. Fans value that resilience.
At £45m, some will raise eyebrows, but context matters. Elite defenders in their mid twenties with versatility and title experience rarely come cheap. The fact that Arteta sees him as a “warrior” suggests he fits the culture being built.
Supporters will also appreciate the clarity. With a five year deal ready and the option defined, there is no saga. It is decisive and aligned with a manager who knows precisely what he wants.
Transfer rumour roundup: Manchester United return for McTominay? Juventus eye Alisson
Today's gossip columns are packed full of transfer speculation. Here's the best of the Wednesday whispers.
Scott McTominay has built quite the reputation for himself since leaving Old Trafford. Occasionally maligned in Manchester, McTominay has become idolised in Naples and helped himself to the Scudetto - and Serie A MVP award - last season.
The Scot has impressed so much that his former employers are reportedly ready to admit their mistake. According toTEAMtalk, there have been internal discussions at Manchester United over a potential move to re-sign the midfielder.
Also on Manchester United's ever-expanding midfield shortlist isFelix Nmecha, though the ex-Manchester City academy product will cost a pretty penny. Dortmund's demands for Nmecha are €70m (£61m), according to BILD, to ward off English interest from United and Chelsea.
Staying in theBundesliga, few players are more in demand than Yan Diomande. The RB Leipzig wünderkind's performances have started a serious scramble for his services.
However,The Telegraph tell us that Premier League pursuits are complicated by an ongoing dispute over who represents the Ivorian. Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester United are among those seeking clarity.
Having shambolically shipped five goals at Galatasaray last week,Juventus want a new goalkeeper in the summer. Gazzetta's gossip columns say that, in addition to interest in Spurs shot-stopper Guglielmo Vicario, the Serie A side are also eyeing Alisson as an upgrade on Michele Di Gregorio. The Old Lady like the Liverpool number one, who will enter the final 12 months of his deal this summer.
Maybe Liverpool offer Alisson in a Turin trade forAndrea Cambiaso? CaughtOffside claim the Reds are ready to rivals Manchester City and Real Madrid for the full-back, in a bid to end the club's right-back roulette this season.
Finally,Football Insider say that Celtic will consider selling midfielder Benjamin Nygren if they receive a “big offer”. There's understood to be growing Premier League interest in Nygren, who's scored 18 goals since joining from FC Nordsjælland last summer.
In Infantino, the game felt it had found a safe pair of hands.
"I will work tirelessly to bring football back to Fifa, and Fifa back to football," Infantino said.
Ten years on, there can be no doubt the governing body is in rude health. It expects to report record revenues of $13bn (£9.6bn) for the three-year cycle through to the end of this year.
But those figures only tell part of the story.
They are boosted by the controversial Club World Cup, and the biggest-ever World Cup with its high ticket prices.
Infantino has clashed with players' unions and European football, but he remains in an impregnable position at the top of the world game.
This is the story of his presidency and his legacy.
'A new day, a new dawn'
Infantino was the man who made the Champions League draw before taking the game's top job [Getty Images]
It is easy to forget Blatter's successor as Fifa president was supposed to be Michel Platini.
In the first round of votes, Infantino led Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa - president of the Asian confederation - by 88 votes to 85.
Infantino only moved clear when the 34 votes originally cast for Jordan's Prince Ali bin al-Hussein and French executive Jerome Champagne were reallocated.
The final score was 115 votes to 88.
"This is a new day, a new dawn," said then Football Association chairman Greg Dyke, welcoming Infantino's win. "He is not a politician and he is not an ego."
Infantino, meanwhile, declared he would "restore the image of Fifa".
"It's your money, not the money of the Fifa president," Infantino told delegates. "The money of Fifa has to be used to develop football."
Infantino was true to his word. But to make more money, Fifa had to be creative.
Infantino takes centre stage over Qatar
Infantino made headlines with his speech before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar [Getty Images]
The controversial World Cups of 2018 in Russia and 2022 in Qatar were waiting in Infantino's in-tray.
Voting for the tournaments had been shrouded in controversy with claims of collusion and deals, but the deeds were already done.
In his early years as president, Infantino kept a fairly low profile. It was only when the World Cup rolled into Qatar that he started to become a more public figure.
He first called out "hypocrisy" and "racism" about Qatar in the European media, then made his infamous speech about discrimination.
"Today I feel Qatari," he said. "Today I feel Arabic. Today I feel African. Today I feel gay. Today I feel disabled. Today I feel like a migrant worker."
At every game he attended, TV cameras appeared to pick him out in the crowd.
After the Qatar World Cup, Infantino made many more headlines - from hosting plans and new tournaments to disparaging remarks about the behaviour of England fans.
Infantino had promised an expanded, summer Club World Cup shortly after his election in 2016.
The plan hit several delays but - two days before the 2022 World Cup final - Fifa eventually announced it would go ahead in 2025, hosted by the United States.
It placed a large-scale tournament in a summer which was usually reserved for player recovery.
Fifa rejected claims players' union' Fifpro and the World Leagues' Association were not consulted.
Then came the unique allocation of the 2030 and 2034 World Cup finals.
It was decided the 2030 edition would be staged across three continents - Africa, Europe and South America. That meant the 2034 event had to go to Asia or Oceania.
Norway's football federation abstained from the process and argued the bidding process undermined "Fifa's reforms for good governance" and challenged "trust in Fifa".
In November 2024, with the new-look Club World Cup drawing closer, Fifa unveiled the trophy - engraved with a personal tribute.
"Inspired by the Fifa president Gianni Infantino," it read.
Infantino grows closer to Trump
Infantino and Donald Trump have become closely linked, and the US president was awarded the inaugural Fifa Peace Prize [Getty Images]
It came to a head in May 2025. Infantino had been on a diplomatic tour of the Middle East with Trump and turned up two hours late for the Fifa Congress.
Uefa accused Infantino of prioritising "private political interests" and staged a walk-out.
Infantino insisted all the money would go back into the game, saying "without Fifa there would be no football in 150 countries".
He still had one more media mis-step to go before reaching his 10-year anniversary.
Earlier this month he had to apologise after saying it was "really special" no British nationals were arrested during the 2022 World Cup.
Why Infantino's position remains impregnable
Despite the controversies, one fact remains: there is no meaningful opposition to Infantino.
While the 55-year-old may face criticism in Europe, for the rest of the world he has made a clear difference. Yes, it is about money. But money for football.
He has enriched some of the poorest and smallest footballing nations, proving funding through infrastructure and development.
Infantino has been true to his word that Fifa would be transparent - publishing the salaries of all top executives and keeping funds within football.
The Swiss delivered on his initial promise of an extra $5m (£3.7m) for every national association over the first four years, and $40m (£29.7m) for each confederation.
Across the first two cycles of the Fifa Forward project through to 2022, $2.8bn (£2.08bn) was made available for investment across the 211 member associations on more than 1,600 projects.
Fifa Forward 3.0 - covering the years 2023 through to 2026 - has produced a 30% increase in funding.
Infantino has provided a further $5m (£3.7m) for every member association, with another $60m (£44.48m) paid to each confederation for their own projects.
After being re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023, he is approaching another election year in 2027.
Infantino will be able to stand again, even though Fifa statues limit the president to a maximum of three terms.
In 2022 the governance, audit and compliance committee ruled his first term did not count, as it was only for three years.
With the way Infantino has improved the financial situation of so many associations, it is hard to see how anyone could realistically challenge him in 2027.
Almost half of the 2011 votes are held by Asia and Africa - two regions that have benefited from the hugely increased finances.
Infantino may be criticised for the way he has expanded the Club World Cup, and the World Cup, and the increased ticket prices.
But he sees it as a vehicle to increase investment in the game around the world.
NFL franchises have descended on Indianapolis for the annual NFL Scouting Combine to evaluate and interview top prospects from across college football.
For the Tennessee Titans, this will be a valuable tool for breaking down the direction they will take in both free agency and the NFL draft. With holes across the roster, they could go in many different directions. NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks believes the team will bolster their defense in his pre-combine mock draft.
Robert Saleh cannot resist the opportunity to take a chance on building a defense around an explosive athlete with natural playmaking skills as an off-ball linebacker and edge rusher. Reese's overall development could take some time, especially given that he served only one season as a full-time starter at Ohio State, but the Titans' defensive-minded head coach could unlock his enticing potential.
After multiple weeks where Reuben Bain and David Bailey were the names most associated with the Titans, Reese has become the hot name heading into the combine. A dynamic playmaker, Reese is a bit of a projection at this point in the pre-draft process. While he has the athleticism and traits to make an impact in the league, questions about his position fit and inexperience must be answered, and this week will give teams a chance to find out.
Rockford will host the World Baseball Softball Confederation Women's Baseball World Cup Finals in July 2027, according to a community announcement.
The event will take place July 19-25 at Rivets Stadium in Loves Park.
Rockford also will host the Women’s Baseball World Cup Group Stage in July 2026, marking the first time the event will be held in Illinois.
The World Cup is a two-stage championship featuring the world’s best women’s baseball players. Japan has won the last seven World Cups, while Team USA won the first two titles in 2004 and 2006.
“The IWBC is excited to welcome the 2027 WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals,” said Kat Williams, CEO of the International Women's Baseball Center. “It is an honor to host the best of women’s baseball in Rockford during the summer of 2026 for the Group Stage and in 2027, when the world champions of women’s baseball will be crowned here, the Cradle of Women’s Baseball!”
Tickets will be available soon
The World Baseball Softball Confederation Women’s Baseball World Cup schedule and ticket packages will be announced soon, according to the announcement.
The International Women's Baseball Center has been working to bring the World Cup Finals to the area.
“We are thrilled to award the 2027 WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Finals to Rockford and to continue our partnership with the International Women's Baseball Center,” said Riccardo Fraccari, president of the World Baseball Softball Confederation. “Rockford has consistently demonstrated an outstanding commitment to women's baseball, and following the Group Stage in 2026, returning for the Finals in 2027 is a testament to the city's world-class facilities, welcoming community, and deep baseball heritage."
Rockford is making improvements
The announcement comes as the International Women's Baseball Center is working on a multi-phase project to renovate Beyer Stadium at Maybelle Park in Rockford. The first phase of the project is expected to be complete next summer and will include a professional-grade natural grass playing surface and other new amenities.
“Rockford has a reputation as one of the nation’s most dynamic sports destinations, and hosting the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals in 2027 is a powerful affirmation of that strength," said John Groh, president and CEO of GoRockford. "Our community continues to deliver world-class facilities, exceptional hospitality, and an unwavering commitment to athletes at every level. Welcoming the world’s best to compete here in the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup showcases not only our deep baseball heritage, but also the momentum and ambition that define Rockford today.”
This story was created by reporter Nida Tazeen, NTazeen@usatodayco.com , with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
Liverpool star named the greatest in Premier League history by former player
Salah Legacy Sparks Debate as Merson Makes Bold GOAT Claim
Numbers Behind Merson’s Verdict
When Paul Merson talks football, he rarely whispers. His latest proclamation, first reported by Rousing The Kop, was delivered with typical certainty: Mohamed Salah is the greatest winger the game has seen. Not among the best. Not of his era. Ever.
Salah’s haul since arriving at Anfield is remarkable for its relentlessness. Goals, assists, trophies, decisive moments in Champions League nights and title races. Week after week, season after season, he has delivered with mechanical precision and theatrical flair. Consistency is often undervalued in debates about greatness, yet it is precisely what separates Salah from many who burned brighter but shorter.
Consider how Liverpool’s spine has been built around enduring excellence. Virgil van Dijk at centre-half, Alisson between the posts, Trent Alexander-Arnold redefining the full-back role, and Salah slicing defences from the right. That quartet once gave Liverpool an aura bordering on inevitability.
Photo: IMAGO
Comparisons With Modern Wide Players
Merson’s present-day pick was more cautious. Asked to name the best winger currently, he replied: “Probably Saka, for being robust and everything.” It was a nod to Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, whose durability and productivity have driven his club’s recent title pushes.
Yet comparisons with Salah inevitably surface. Both are talismans, both shoulder the attacking burden of their teams, but Salah’s body of work remains larger, heavier, more decorated. He has done it in title-winning seasons, in Champions League triumphs, and against the fiercest defensive units Europe could muster.
There are other names in the modern conversation – Vinicius Jr, Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia – players of pace and imagination. But few have blended longevity, output and big-match temperament quite like Salah.
And still, critics linger. They point to recent dips, a quiet spell in front of goal, Liverpool’s uneven form. Football is impatient. It measures greatness week to week, not decade to decade.
Liverpool Context Shapes Legacy
Salah’s case is inseparable from Liverpool’s wider story. During Jurgen Klopp’s peak years, Van Dijk marshalled the back line with imperial calm, Salah carried the attack, and the team played with a ferocity that bent rivals to its will. When Liverpool were at their best, they were irresistible.
This season, the edges have dulled. Injuries, tactical tweaks, fatigue, perhaps simply the natural cycle of elite sport. Suddenly, Liverpool no longer boast the best player in multiple positions. Van Dijk remains commanding, Salah remains dangerous, but rivals have closed ground.
That is where Merson’s claim becomes provocative. Greatness is often judged in hindsight. It demands perspective, context, and the willingness to weigh eras fairly. Hazard, Bale, Neymar – all dazzled. None sustained their peak as Salah has done in England’s unforgiving theatre.
Debate That Defines Greatness
Merson’s words will echo because football thrives on argument. Was George Best greater? What of Cristiano Ronaldo in his early Manchester United days? Where does Lionel Messi fit when he drifted wide from Barcelona’s right? These are questions without tidy answers.
Yet Salah’s case grows stronger each year. He is Liverpool’s modern icon, their relentless scorer, their emblem of ambition. He has rewritten record books while carrying the expectations of a global fanbase. He has been decisive when silverware was on the line.
And as long as Van Dijk stands tall behind him and Liverpool chase honours, Salah’s legend will keep expanding. Merson may be prone to bold claims, but sometimes boldness simply recognises what the numbers – and the memories – already show.
Football debates endure because they matter. They remind us of greatness, of eras defined by extraordinary individuals. Salah belongs in that company, and perhaps, just perhaps, he belongs at the very top.
Benfica XI vs Real Madrid – Predicted lineup and team news
Benfica make the trip to Real Madrid tonight looking to overturn their Champions League play-off tie.
The Portuguese side lost 1-0 in a narrow first-leg defeat, a fixture that was overshadowed by alleged racist abuse directed at Real Madrid goalscorer Vinicius Junior.
The teams meet again at the Santiago Bernabeu this evening, with Benfica boss, and former Real Madrid manager, Jose Mourinho hoping to mastermind an upset.
Benfica team news
The headline news is the absence of Gianluca Prestianni, who has been handed a one‑match suspension by UEFA and will miss the second leg. The Argentine winger is under investigation following the allegations of racist abuse aimed Vinícius Júnior in the first leg.
Both Benfica and the player have denied any wrongdoing. However, UEFA have imposed a provisional ban. Elsewhere, Joao Veloso is also sidelined with a shoulder injury.
Atalanta vs Borussia Dortmund – Match preview and team news
Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta face off in the UEFA Champions League playoffs second leg on Wednesday, with the Italians needing a big performance to overturn a first-leg deficit and keep their European dream alive.
Atalanta vs Borussia Dortmund – Match preview and team news
Date: Wednesday, 25th February.
Kick-off: 5:45pm BST
Venue: New Balance Arena, Bergamo.
Atalanta team news
Raffaele Palladino faces a significant challenge as his side must overturn a two-goal deficit without key attacker Charles De Ketelaere, who remains sidelined with a meniscus injury sustained earlier this month.
January signing Giacomo Raspadori is also unavailable due to a muscle strain, with a projected return date in early March.
Palladino should otherwise have a full complement of players to select from, with Ederson and Gianluca Scamacca expected to return to the starting lineup after being rested at the weekend. However, Scamacca was used as a substitute.
Borussia Dortmund news
Niko Kovac travels to Bergamo with defensive concerns but boosted by the potential return of Nico Schlotterbeck. The centre-back trained on Tuesday and has been included in the travelling squad after missing the first leg.
However, Emre Can and Niklas Sule remain unavailable. Can is sidelined with adductor pain, while Sule continues his recovery. Filippo Mane is also out with a thigh injury.
The attacking partnership of Serhou Guirassy and Maximilian Beier, who scored Dortmund’s goals in the first leg, is expected to continue, along with Julian Brandt.
Julian Ryerson has been in exceptional form, registering nine assists in nine competitive games in 2026, including four in the 4-0 Bundesliga victory over Mainz.
Form
Atalanta
The Bergamo side currently sits seventh in Serie A with 45 points from 26 matches, having collected 12 wins, nine draws and five losses.
They are unbeaten in their last nine Serie A games that includes victories over elite opposition such as Juventus (3-0), Lazio (2-0), and Napoli (2-1).
Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund remain firmly in the Bundesliga title race, sitting second and just six points behind Bayern Munich with a crucial Der Klassiker clash looming this Saturday.
Kovac’s side have won six consecutive Bundesliga matches before their 2-2 draw at RB Leipzig last weekend.
Borussia Dortmund XI vs Atalanta – Predicted lineup and team news
Borussia Dortmund make the trip to Bergamo on Wednesday to face Atalanta in the second leg of their Champions League knockout play-off at the New Balance Arena.
Dortmund bring a 2-0 lead from the first leg, meaning Atalanta need a big turnaround if they are to stay in the competition.
Dortmund are currently unbeaten in the Bundesliga for 16 matches, their best run since 2023.
Borussia Dortmund team news
Niko Kovac’s side arrive with some issues at the back, but there is good news in the shape of Nico Schlotterbeck’s possible return. The defender trained on Tuesday and has been named in the squad after missing the first game.
Even so, Emre Can and Niklas Sule are still ruled out. Can is dealing with adductor problems, while Sule is still working his way back to full fitness. Filippo Mane is also unavailable because of a thigh injury.
Up front, Dortmund are expected to stick with Serhou Guirassy and Maximilian Beier, the duo who found the net in the first leg, with Julian Brandt again supporting them.
Julian Ryerson comes into the tie in outstanding form, having produced nine assists in nine competitive matches in 2026, including four in a 4-0 Bundesliga win over Mainz.
Galatasaray XI vs Juventus – Predicted lineup and team news
Galatasaray head to Juventus this evening aiming to secure their place in the Champions League’s Round of 16. The Turkish champions boast a healthy advantage, having thrashed Juventus 5-2 in the first leg.
Galatasaray have not reached the last 16 of the Champions League in over a decade, last achieving the feat in 2013-14.
Galatasaray team news
Victor Osimhen is a doubt for Galatasaray having missed the league defeat to Konyaspor at the weekend due to knee discomfort.
Osimhen’s absence had raised doubts over his availability for the trip to Turin, despite travelling with the squad. However, the Nigerian has attempted to ease concerns about his condition.
Speaking to Sky Sports Italia, he said: “My knee is fine, thank you. I have a little pain in my knee, that is the reason why I didn’t play the last league game, but thanks to the medical team, I am back with the squad and looking forward to facing Juve.”
Former Juventus midfielder Mario Lemina, who missed the first leg through suspension after accumulating three yellow cards in the league phase, returns to the matchday squad. Elsewhere, Metehhan Baltaci remains suspended.
Juventus vs Galatasaray – Match preview and team news
Juventus face an uphill task on Wednesday evening as they attempt to overturn a three-goal deficit against Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League playoff second leg at the Allianz Stadium.
Juventus vs Galatasaray – Match preview and team news
Date: Wednesday, 25th February.
Kick-off: 8pm BST.
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Torino.
Juventus team news
Juventus head into the decisive second leg severely depleted across multiple positions. Defender Juan Cabal remains suspended following his red card in Istanbul, while Andrea Cambiaso must serve a one-match ban after accumulating three yellow cards in the Champions League campaign.
Full-back Emil Holm is ruled out with a foot injury sustained during the Derby d’Italia against Inter.
Dusan Vlahovic remains sidelined after undergoing surgery. Arkadiusz Milik continues his lengthy absence, having not played competitively since May 2024.
The one positive note concerns Gleison Bremer. After being substituted in the first leg due to a right thigh issue, scans at J Medical revealed no serious injury, with the centre-back being evaluated day-to-day.
Jonathan David, who missed the first leg with groin discomfort, has recovered and is expected to lead the line.
Galatasaray team news
Galatasaray approach the second leg with their own concerns, particularly regarding star striker Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian missed Galatasaray’s league defeat to Konyaspor at the weekend due to knee discomfort, raising doubts about his availability for the Turin trip.
However, Osimhen has traveled with the squad and confirmed his fitness, telling Sky Sport Italia: “My knee is fine, thank you. I have a little pain in my knee, that is the reason why I didn’t play the last league game, but thanks to the medical team, I am back with the squad and looking forward to facing Juve.”
Mario Lemina, who missed the first leg through suspension after accumulating three yellow cards in the league phase, returns to the matchday squad and should partner Gabriel Sara in midfield. Metehhan Baltaci is also suspended.
Form
Juventus
Luciano Spalletti’s side enters the second leg in alarming form, having lost four of their last five competitive fixtures. Most recently, they suffered a damaging 2-0 home defeat to Como, a result that intensified the pressure on Spalletti and his squad.
Before that, the Bianconeri lost 3-2 to Inter in a controversial Derby d’Italia, drew 2-2 with Lazio at home, and were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Atalanta.
Galatasaray
They produced a stunning 5-2 victory over Juventus in the first leg, with Gabriel Sara opening the scoring before Noa Lang’s second-half brace and goals from Davinson Sánchez and Sacha Boey sealed the emphatic win.
Before that triumph, they demolished Eyüpspor 5-1 at home and secured a 3-0 away win at Rizespor. However, their momentum was disrupted by a shock 2-0 defeat to Konyaspor last weekend.
CHENNAI: There was a lot happening in the India nets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday, from Rinku Singh’s absence — he has returned home to be with his ailing father — to Suryakumar Yadav’s two-hour, range-hitting session.
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That wasn’t all, however. As Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan went in to bat at two adjacent nets, Abhishek Sharma — India’s shining light of the top-order — chose to bowl left-arm spin.
Batters came and went but Abhishek stood there beside the nets, talking to the spinners, trying to understand the turn that could be on offer from the black-soil pitch that will be used for the match against Zimbabwe on Thursday.
Finally, after almost 100 minutes of practice was over, Abhishek took up the bat. He didn’t play any of the Team India spinners or pacers, it was only the practice bowlers.
Abhishek has been in wretched batting form after getting three ducks to start off. In the 12-ball 15 that he scored in Ahmedabad, there were seven false shots.
Given the situation the team is in at the moment, it is highly unlikely that he will be dropped. Probably what the team management was trying to do was to allow him to play some not-so-good bowling, so that Abhishek could connect his shots and get some form and confidence back. As the nets were folding up, Abhishek batted for half-an-hour and did connect, coming up with the kind of the crisp shots he is known for.
A few landed in the Chepauk stands as well as he tried to work on his game against off-spin, something that has been bothering him of late.
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Rinku unlikely, maybe it’s Sanju time? Sundar likely to sit out
As Rinku’s absence was noticed and news filtered in that he had headed back home to be with his father, who is battling cancer, the left-hander’s possible alternatives came into focus.
Axar Patel should walk into the squad given his versatility with bat and ball. In that case, if Sanju has to play, the only player that can miss out is Washington Sundar. Washington was picked for the South Africa game but didn’t exactly shine with the ball or bat. Sanju’s inclusion could also mean that Ishan Kishan comes in at No. 3, a position which isn’t exactly unfamiliar to him. That could force the likes of Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav to come down by a slot.
Surya works on his range-hitting
Surya’s strike-rate hasn’t exactly been spectacular. Against South Africa he scored a 22-ball 18 that pushed India back. Tuesday’s session suggested that he was trying to get his hitting range right. He was dismissed quite a few times by India’s front-line spinners at the nets, but that was not stopping him from going for his shots. ‘SKY’, quite clearly, is trying to come out of his shell and the Zimbabwe bowling on a batting friendly pitch may provide him with the opportunity.
Washington head coach Dan Quinn decided to talk about something much more important than merely football.
At the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, the Commanders' head coach spoke with the media on Tuesday, briefly addressing another NFL tragedy: Vikings receiver Rondale Moore's death this past weekend.
"Yeah, it's a big deal and I think first off, it's heartbreaking to hear about Rondale (Moore). But I am hopeful we get to a point that we're not talking about mental health just when a tragedy hits, but that we're talking about it on a regular basis. Then we know we're making real strides in that "
In the wake of the tragic passing of Rondale Moore, Dan Quinn hopes the NFL gets to a point soon where mental health is an every-day focus. pic.twitter.com/LQrubQ2Vfm
"One of the things from the NFL standpoint, the advancement we've made is in player engagement, and knowing that each team has a full team there, ready to help and support, putting those resources into effect. But that would be my hope that we are talking about it way more than just tragedy takes place."
Moore played in 14, 8 and 17 regular season games in his first three NFL seasons (2021-23). However, injuries kept Moore from playing in the regular season in both 2024 and 2025. Police have stated the former Purdue and Arizona Cardinals receiver died of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was tragically found in the garage of a property in his New Albany, Indiana hometown. Police are investigating his death.
Quinn later also talked of how it can be such a mental setback when a NFL player experiences a major injury. He talked of making sure how the ball player's doing, and more importantly, how's the man doing?
"You do feel isolated and separated from the team in those spaces."
I can't speak for everyone else, but from my own spot, I want to check on them first, to see how they are dealing with the injury, dealing with the surgery, because on the upswing, when things (seasons) are getting closer, that's easier because there is something close to back to returning to play. When it's the initial part of it, knowing I am staring at 6 weeks, at 8 weeks, the entire season...those are harder conversations. You just want to make sure they are checking in."
Quinn talked about he likes when the injured players are doing their workouts at the Ashburn facility, "I like it selfishly, because I get to see them and check in and see how they are doing. Everybody has their process in how to do that, but yes, it is very important." Quinn is right, those in trouble will tend to isolate.
Anxiety and depression are real, real emotions. Sadly they often lie to us, not telling us the full truth of our life, our circumstances, our opportunities, the people who care about us, the people who love us, the people who need us. NFL players in that sense are like the rest of us, in the sense that none of us can absolutely trust our feelings. We need others outside of ourselves speaking truth to us, listening to them as they try taking our hands and leading us from our darkness into the light.
The station will air every weekend Spring Training matchup and provide full pregame and postgame coverage throughout the season, according to a community announcement.
“We are so excited to add St. Louis Cardinals baseball to 102.1 The Won,” director of content Mike “The Intern” Holmes said. “The Cardinals have an incredible following here in the Ozarks, and St. Louis Cardinals radio broadcasts are the best in Major League Baseball.”
This story was co-authored by Dave DeMille, ddemille@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
For those of a certain generation, the idea of the Zimbabwe cricket team succeeding on a global stage is entirely plausible.
Reaching the second stage of a World Cup, as they have in this T20 tournament, once seemed a possible and even expected achievement.
The late 1990s saw Test series wins against India and Pakistan.
At the 1999 World Cup, a side clad in a loud red uniform finished an admirable fifth in the Super Six stage, narrowly missing out on the semi-finals.
With stars like future England coach Andy Flower, and bowlers Heath Streak and Henry Olonga, they proved a relatively small country could provide some of the world's finest players.
The future looked bright. But then - wilderness.
This is how Zimbabwe battled back to impress again on the biggest stage.
The wilderness years
Henry Olonga wore a black armband at the 2003 Cricket World Cup to protest against the Robert Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe [Getty Images]
At the 2003 World Cup - hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya - Flower and Olonga wore black armbands in response to the 'death of democracy' under the country's leader Robert Mugabe. Both men subsequently fled the country.
A year later, 14 senior players resigned in protest at political interference and selection quotas. By 2006, massive defeats and off-field struggles led to Zimbabwe voluntarily suspending its own Test status.
For 15 years, the side languished with only occasional moments to remind dejected supporters of previous successes. A return to Test cricket in 2011 saw a win over Bangladesh, but national governing body Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) accumulated debts reportedly as high as $27m (£20m at current conversion rate).
Speaking to the BBC in 2023, former all-rounder Sean Williams reflected on the darker days.
"There were more office members employed than players," he said. "It was a nightmare.
"People knew how much money Zimbabwe Cricket was getting paid but nothing was happening. It looked like it was dying at that time - if not dead."
The nadir arguably came in 2019, when the International Cricket Council (ICC) suspended ZC and barred them from qualifying for the 2021 T20 World Cup.
However, under the stewardship of chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani, finances were tackled to become almost debt-free, the board operating on a shoestring budget to right a ship that had not so much been listing as sitting at the bottom of Lake Kariba.
Huge sacrifices were made by staff, careful planning required to give a once-proud side the chance of recovery.
Former captain Tatenda Taibu told BBC Sport hope was never lost.
He said: "Even when things seem to be going southward, there is a certain statement that's often said in Zimbabwe: 'I will make a plan'.
"There have been a lot of ups and downs from the 2000s, but anyone who knows Zimbabweans, you know Zimbabwe will bounce back."
As well as the work behind the scenes, the cricket approach became unusually old-school, with a focus on developing players in the red-ball game.
"When the new board took over, they made a conscious decision to say, 'Let's go back and play Tests - this is the only way our team's going to improve,'" ZC managing director Givemore Makoni told the BBC last year.
"And since we started, we've seen some huge progress in terms of how the team is performing."
The appointment of Justin Sammons as head coach in 2024 was pivotal to a regular shift towards on-field success.
Sammons focused on fitness and embraced a culture of ensuring opportunities for young players, like opener Brian Bennett and fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani.
Both have starred in this T20 World Cup, helping the Chevrons finish top of Group B thanks to stunning wins over former champions Australia and Sri Lanka.
"The players must get the credit as they take to the field and execute all the various plans formulated," said former fast bowler and commentator Pommie Mbangwa.
"Management and coaching too should be recognised for their consistency, but there is never any doubt with regard to how hard all involved need to work in order to give themselves a chance of doing well."
An experienced leader
T20 captain Sikandar Raza was player of the match in Zimbabwe's win over tournament co-hosts Sri Lanka [Getty Images]
Perhaps the most significant on-field figure has been all-rounder and T20 captain Sikandar Raza.
After moving from Pakistan to join his family in Zimbabwe in 2002, Raza put aside the disappointment of an eye condition ruining his hopes of becoming a fighter pilot and sought a career as a cricketer.
Three player-of-the-match performances at the 2022 T20 World Cup, smashing 133 off 43 deliveries as his side hit a T20 international world record 344-4 against Gambia in 2024 and smacking a 54-ball hundred - Zimbabwe's fastest one-day international century - against the Netherlands in 2023 are just a few examples of his exploits.
"This is probably the first time in a long time where the fans have travelled to support," said Raza.
"That is because of the way we have played cricket over the last year. We have given them hope that this team is onto something and we can achieve something if we all are together.
"And that's just not the cricketers, or the changing room, or the technical staff. It is our fans. It is our media. It is the citizens of our country."
Now approaching his 40th birthday, Raza continues to lead from the front.
When sub-par performances meant a qualifying tournament in Kenya was required to reach this T20 World Cup, Raza's message was clear.
"I sat down with the squad and said either we feel sorry for ourselves and be ashamed or actually understand the reality," he said. "It's because of us we are in this mess and it's only us who can get out of it."
And he knows how proud those at home will be.
"Let's just be together and actually enjoy this because it's a huge achievement for the country," he added.
For those that saw the dark days, like Taibu, a moment like reaching the Super 8 stage must be treasured.
"In World Cups, Zimbabwe will always be an underdog. I'm very proud," he said.
Mbangwa added: "It is wonderful to see the team do well on the world stage. It breeds positivity and gives so many people joy."
And the future is bright, with a core of talented players, strong leadership and the prospect of an ICC event on home soil.
The men's 50-over World Cup in 2027 will be co-hosted by Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia, with matches played at a new, 10,000-seat stadium near Victoria Falls.
As to that vision of success in years to come, Mbangwa wants the country to cherish the now.
"What's important is to enjoy the present and keep doing what they're doing," he said.
After coming through Group B unbeaten - a win over Oman and a washout against Ireland alongside those remarkables victories against Australia and Sri Lanka - Zimbabwe suffered a crushing 107-run defeat by West Indies in their Super 8 Group 1 opener.
They next face defending champions and co-hosts India - smarting from defeat by South Africa and in need of victory - in Chennai on Thursday.
But while the Chevrons are not favourites to progress to the semi-finals, nothing can be ruled out.
As Taibu says: "Possibilities? They are always there where Zimbabwe is concerned."
Sixteen teams will discover their opponents in the Champions League knockout draw on Friday at 11:00 GMT.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur were already in the hat, with Newcastle joining them in the last 16 after a 9-3 aggregate win over Qarabag in the play-off round.
The eight winners of the two-legged knockout phase play-offs join the top eight sides from the league-phase table in the draw.
Friday's draw will also allocate a side of the bracket for all teams, meaning they will know who they could potentially meet in the quarter-final, semi-final and final.
Last-16 first legs will take place on either 10 or 11 March, with the reverse fixture scheduled for 17-18 March.
The Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary will host the 2025-26 final on 30 May.
How does the last-16 draw work?
The eight winners of the play-offs will meet the top-eight finishers from the league phase.
From this point onward the competition adopts a knockout format, with each fixture other than the final contested over two legs.
As with the play-offs, teams' final ranking in the league phase will influence seeding in the last 16, with seeded sides - those that finished in the top eight of the league - being given the advantage of playing second legs at home.
This is the first season that the position in which teams have placed in the league phase will also influence seeding for the quarter-final and semi-finals.
Teams finishing first to fourth at the end of the league phase will be seeded for the quarter-finals, and therefore given the home advantage in their quarter-final tie second legs.
The two sides who finish top and runner-up in the league will also be seeded for the semi-finals, earning them the benefit of playing the second leg of their semis at home should they reach that stage.
If a seeded team does not progress to the quarter or semi-finals, the team that knocks them out will inherit their seeding position.
Clubs already know who the opponents they could face in the Champions League last 16.
Top seeds Arsenal will be drawn against one of Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta.
Liverpool and Tottenham, who finished third and fourth respectively in the league phase, will meet either Atletico Madrid, Galatasaray or Juventus.
Manchester City will be drawn against one of Bodo/Glimt, Real Madrid or Benfica.
Chelsea will take on either Newcastle, Monaco or Paris St-Germain.
And Newcastle will face either Chelsea or Barcelona.
Will Premier League fixtures be moved?
The Premier League pencilled in West Ham's fixture against Manchester City (Saturday, 14 March 12:30 GMT) and Arsenal's game against Everton (Sunday, 15 March 14:00 GMT) on 21 January, however both are now subject to change.
The Premier League advised Uefa that clubs scheduled to play on Sunday, 15 March would not be available to play Champions League fixtures on Tuesday, 17 March.
But Uefa said it has not been able to provide any scheduling guarantees ahead of Friday's draw and also confirmed that matches cannot take place on Thursday, 19 March, meaning both fixtures could be changed.
The Premier League aims to confirm broadcast selections six weeks before fixtures take place, but that has been hampered by Uefa and the complication of having six English clubs in the competition.
Can teams from same country face each other?
Yes, teams from the same nation can face each other in the knockout phase.
Clubs can also face sides who they have already met in the league phase.
Can January signings play?
Players signed in the January transfer window are eligible to feature in the Champions League knockout phase.
It means Manchester City will have both Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo available and Tottenham can call upon new addition Conor Gallagher.
Mamadou Sarr is also eligible to feature for Chelsea following his loan recall from Strasbourg.
Clubs had to register the players in their Champions League 'A list' before the knockout play-offs in order for them to participate.
Knockout phase draw and fixture dates
The dates for the knockout phase are as follows:
Last 16: 10-11 and 17-18 March
Quarter-finals: 7-8 and 14-15 April
Semi-finals: 28-29 April and 5-6 May
Final: 30 May
This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.
In addition, the 49ers don’t have a replacement on the roster after not drafting an offensive tackle since 2021. Their top option is Austen Pleasants, 28, who has been waived eight times since he went undrafted in 2020.
It’s possible the 49ers haven’t made heir-apparent plans because they have confidence that Williams can reach his oft-stated longevity goal. Williams wants to join a select group of by playing in 2028 when he’s 40. Only six offensive linemen have played into their 40s since 1925: Andrew Whitworth, Jason Peters, Jackie Slater, Bruce Matthews, Jeff Van Note and Ray Brown.”
49ers select ‘most natural left tackle prospect’ in Bucky Brooks’ latest mock draft “The most natural left tackle prospect in the draft could give the 49ers an enviable long-term plan at the crucial position,” Brooks wrote. “Lomu’s nimble feet and quick hands would make him the perfect eventual replacement for Trent Williams on the blind side.”
The War Room: It’s Combine Week (paywall) “Kaytron Allen, RB, Penn State: This is one of the sharpest running backs I’ve watched. He has an elite tempo to his runs. He handles small spaces in flow, and follows his blockers with outrageous patience and intelligence. He might not have the top-tier measurables, but I think he’s quick enough. On early watch, this is a guy who can start Day 1.
Chris Brazzell III, WR, Tennessee: He’s WR2 for me right now, and that’s from someone who is typically lower on big receivers. He has no business moving the way he does at 6’5” and while he’s not a wide-framed player, he blocks his tail off. His deceleration is astonishing. His route distribution at Tennessee didn’t allow him to show off his full tree, but I see the route craft and movement skills. He also Mosses people. The only thing I really dislike is his inability to toe tap. He’s lazy/inconsistent dragging his feet along the sidelines a la Brian Thomas Jr. last year.”
49ers add developmental prospect in Mel Kiper’s latest 2026 mock draft “From an analytics standpoint, Proctor closed his collegiate career on a strong note. According to Pro Football Focus, he posted career-best marks in 2025 with an 86.1 overall offensive grade, an 81.1 run-blocking grade, and an 84.2 pass-blocking grade. He surrendered 21 pressures and two sacks across 611 pass-blocking snaps.
At 6-foot-7 and 366 pounds, Proctor possesses rare size, so the upside is apparent.
“So, Proctor could develop in Year 1 while kicking inside to guard and/or playing a swing tackle role before perhaps taking over for Williams in 2027,” Kiper added. “He has 40 career starts — all at left tackle — and is reliable in pass protection. This would be an upside pick for GM John Lynch.”
Will QB Mac Jones be on the 49ers’ roster next season? “Among those who could be in need of a quarterback, Jones would make the most sense in Minnesota, Miami and Arizona, all of whom employ head coaches or offensive coordinators with a background running at least a version of Shanahan’s offensive scheme.
While Jones won’t have full say in a potential trade, his relationship with the Niners is strong enough that if multiple offers were on the table, he’d get some say in where he lands. And it’s a safe bet that his preference would be to land in a place that most closely resembles what he’s had in San Francisco both culturally and in terms of offensive system.”
BOTTOM LINE: UNC Greensboro visits Chattanooga after KJ Younger scored 20 points in UNC Greensboro's 87-75 loss to the East Tennessee State Buccaneers.
The Mocs are 6-7 on their home court. Chattanooga is third in the SoCon in team defense, giving up 74.3 points while holding opponents to 42.2% shooting.
The Spartans are 8-8 in conference play. UNC Greensboro has a 4-12 record against teams over .500.
Chattanooga is shooting 45.7% from the field this season, 0.7 percentage points lower than the 46.4% UNC Greensboro allows to opponents. UNC Greensboro averages 8.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.3 more makes per game than Chattanooga allows.
The teams square off for the second time in conference play this season. UNC Greensboro won the last meeting 77-72 on Jan. 1. Younger scored 24 points to help lead the Spartans to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Tate Darner is averaging 9.9 points for the Mocs. Jordan Frison is averaging 15.7 points over the last 10 games.
Justin Neely is shooting 53.7% and averaging 18.2 points for the Spartans. Younger is averaging 2.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Mocs: 3-7, averaging 72.9 points, 30.0 rebounds, 13.9 assists, 4.7 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 46.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 76.7 points per game.
Spartans: 5-5, averaging 78.5 points, 29.9 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 5.8 steals and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 81.3 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The 2026 MotoGP season is just around the corner, and it could be historic.
Once again, Marc Marquez is the center of attention. After his comeback and 2025 world title, the Spanish superstar is the clear favourite to lift the trophy again and, beyond the world championship, he has several major records in his sights.
Here's a look at some records Marquez could break or extend in 2026, and why this season could be memorable.
Thanks to his success so far, Marquez is already one of the most influential figures in MotoGP. With his switch to a competitive Ducati machine – first at Gresini and then with the factory team – his starting position has improved even further.
If the season unfolds normally, not only is another title realistic, but so too is a significant rise in the all-time rankings of motorcycle racing. An additional championship would further strengthen his legacy and widen the gap to many champions of the younger generation.
The next world title and the all-time standings
It is particularly interesting to look at the all-time championship rankings. Giacomo Agostini still leads the list of riders with the most titles across all categories, followed by Angel Nieto. Just behind them is a group of multiple world champions.
With his ninth world title last season, Marc Marquez equaled his arch-rival Valentino Rossi, among others. Every additional title for the Spaniard would further reshape this ranking and reignite the ever-present (and perhaps futile) debate over who the greatest riders of all time are.
Riders with the most world championships (all classes):
Giacomo Agostini (15)
Angel Nieto (13)
Marc Marquez (9)
Valentino Rossi (9)
Mike Hailwood (9)
Carlo Ubbiali (9)
Chance to break the premier-class record (MotoGP/500cc)
The title rankings in the sport’s top class carry particular prestige. In the combined statistics for 500cc and MotoGP titles, Marquez is tied with Rossi on seven championships each. Agostini leads the way with eight.
Another MotoGP world title would increase the pressure on that historic record. For many fans, this list is the ultimate benchmark, as it only considers the premier class – where competition, technical standards and public expectations are at their highest.
Chasing the all-time grand prix wins record (all classes)
The record hunt is also ongoing when it comes to grand prix wins across all categories. Marquez is already one of the most successful riders in world championship history. However, if he enjoys a particularly dominant spell in 2026, he could further close the gap to the current all-time wins leader.
The increased number of races per season opens up more mathematical possibilities, but at the same time the grid is more competitive than in previous decades. That makes any major leap in the number of victories statistically even more significant.
To catch Rossi, Marquez would need 16 grand prix wins – although to do so in the premier class alone, he would need just three. Winning 16 races in a single season, however, has never been achieved. Agostini’s overall record will likely remain out of reach this year.
Giacomo Agostini (122)
Valentino Rossi (115)
Marc Marquez (99)
MotoGP wins: The all-time standings are shaking
For many observers, pure win statistics in the premier class are even more meaningful. Here, Marquez already ranks among the very best. A strong season with numerous victories could bring him even closer to the current record.
However, as with total wins across all classes, Marquez would need 16 Sunday race victories to equal Rossi at the top (counting Rossi's wins in both 500cc and MotoGP).
Most wins in the premier class (500cc and MotoGP combined):
Valentino Rossi (89)
Marc Marquez (73)
Giacomo Agostini (68)
Most wins in MotoGP era (500cc excluded):
Valentino Rossi (76)
Marc Marquez (73)
Jorge Lorenzo (47)
Chasing the single-season wins record
Another point of interest is the record for the most wins in a single season. Marquez holds one of the most impressive records of the modern era.
If he stays fit, he could once again attempt to surpass that mark. In 2025, he came close to matching his own record, but injury slowed him down. A run of that magnitude would not only deliver new records, but also secure the title early once again.
Most wins in a single motorcycle world championship season:
Western Illinois Leathernecks (5-24, 1-17 OVC) at SIU-Edwardsville Cougars (17-12, 10-8 OVC)
Edwardsville, Illinois; Thursday, 8:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: SIU-Edwardsville enters the matchup with Western Illinois after losing three straight games.
The Cougars are 8-5 on their home court. SIU-Edwardsville has a 1-3 record in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Leathernecks are 1-17 against OVC opponents. Western Illinois averages 10.7 turnovers per game and is 5-5 when winning the turnover battle.
SIU-Edwardsville scores 70.9 points per game, 5.8 fewer points than the 76.7 Western Illinois gives up. Western Illinois has shot at a 40.7% rate from the field this season, 1.2 percentage points above the 39.5% shooting opponents of SIU-Edwardsville have averaged.
The teams square off for the second time this season in OVC play. SIU-Edwardsville won the last matchup 66-61 on Dec. 22. Ring Malith scored 24 points points to help lead the Cougars to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Tyler King is averaging 9.1 points for the Cougars. Darrion Baker is averaging 1.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Lucas Lorenzen is scoring 15.3 points per game with 4.2 rebounds and 0.9 assists for the Leathernecks. Francis Okwuosah is averaging 9.3 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 51.5% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Cougars: 6-4, averaging 66.3 points, 31.4 rebounds, 12.1 assists, 6.3 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 44.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 64.9 points per game.
Leathernecks: 1-9, averaging 64.2 points, 25.0 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 4.5 steals and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 40.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 81.4 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (19-7, 11-5 Big West) at UC Davis Aggies (17-11, 10-7 Big West)
Davis, California; Thursday, 9 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: UC Davis hosts Hawaii after Connor Sevilla scored 22 points in UC Davis' 78-73 victory over the UC Riverside Highlanders.
The Aggies are 12-3 in home games. UC Davis scores 78.4 points while outscoring opponents by 3.5 points per game.
The Rainbow Warriors are 11-5 against conference opponents. Hawaii averages 79.5 points while outscoring opponents by 10.7 points per game.
UC Davis scores 78.4 points, 9.6 more per game than the 68.8 Hawaii gives up. Hawaii averages 7.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.3 fewer makes per game than UC Davis gives up.
The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. Hawaii won the last matchup 75-69 on Dec. 5. Quandre Bullock scored 15 points to help lead the Rainbow Warriors to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Sevilla is scoring 13.9 points per game and averaging 1.7 rebounds for the Aggies. Marcus Wilson is averaging 12.5 points and 3.2 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Hunter Erickson averages 1.2 made 3-pointers per game for the Rainbow Warriors, scoring 8.3 points while shooting 35.2% from beyond the arc. Bullock is shooting 38.9% and averaging 14.9 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Aggies: 6-4, averaging 75.0 points, 28.1 rebounds, 15.7 assists, 7.7 steals and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 42.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.3 points per game.
Rainbow Warriors: 6-4, averaging 78.8 points, 35.9 rebounds, 11.1 assists, 5.7 steals and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 43.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 77.1 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Wichita State Shockers (18-10, 10-5 AAC) at Memphis Tigers (12-15, 7-7 AAC)
Memphis, Tennessee; Thursday, 9 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Wichita State visits Memphis after Kenyon Giles scored 27 points in Wichita State's 69-57 win over the Temple Owls.
The Tigers are 10-4 on their home court. Memphis ranks seventh in the AAC in rebounding averaging 33.0 rebounds. Julius Thedford leads the Tigers with 5.2 boards.
The Shockers are 10-5 against AAC opponents. Wichita State leads the AAC with 12.7 offensive rebounds per game led by Will Berg averaging 3.5.
Memphis scores 74.2 points per game, 3.9 more points than the 70.3 Wichita State allows. Wichita State averages 7.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.4 fewer makes per game than Memphis allows.
The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. Wichita State won the last meeting 74-59 on Jan. 24. Karon Boyd scored 14 points to help lead the Shockers to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Dug McDaniel is scoring 12.8 points per game with 3.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the Tigers. Sincere Parker is averaging 14.3 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 44.3% over the past 10 games.
Giles is scoring 19.1 points per game and averaging 2.5 rebounds for the Shockers. Boyd is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Tigers: 3-7, averaging 73.7 points, 32.6 rebounds, 11.8 assists, 7.7 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 42.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 77.4 points per game.
Shockers: 8-2, averaging 76.9 points, 37.3 rebounds, 11.8 assists, 7.0 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 43.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 71.1 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Winthrop Eagles (20-9, 12-2 Big South) at Charleston Southern Buccaneers (13-16, 4-10 Big South)
North Charleston, South Carolina; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Charleston Southern hosts Winthrop after A'lahn Sumler scored 29 points in Charleston Southern's 107-96 overtime loss to the Longwood Lancers.
The Buccaneers are 9-4 on their home court. Charleston Southern is third in the Big South with 10.2 offensive rebounds per game led by Jesse Hafemeister averaging 1.8.
The Eagles are 12-2 against conference opponents. Winthrop averages 84.5 points while outscoring opponents by 9.8 points per game.
Charleston Southern averages 11.9 made 3-pointers per game, 3.7 more made shots than the 8.2 per game Winthrop gives up. Winthrop averages 84.5 points per game, 4.6 more than the 79.9 Charleston Southern gives up.
The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. Winthrop won the last meeting 81-77 on Jan. 7. Logan Duncomb scored 26 points to help lead the Eagles to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Sumler is scoring 19.0 points per game and averaging 4.6 rebounds for the Buccaneers. Hafemeister is averaging 13.0 points and 6.2 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Duncomb is scoring 19.0 points per game with 9.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists for the Eagles. Kody Clouet is averaging 16.9 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 52.4% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Buccaneers: 2-8, averaging 80.2 points, 34.5 rebounds, 15.2 assists, 5.2 steals and 5.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 84.8 points per game.
Eagles: 9-1, averaging 82.0 points, 33.9 rebounds, 15.8 assists, 6.9 steals and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 75.0 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
South Dakota State Jackrabbits (13-16, 6-8 Summit League) at UMKC Roos (4-24, 1-13 Summit League)
Kansas City, Missouri; Thursday, 8 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: South Dakota State visits UMKC after Joe Sayler scored 23 points in South Dakota State's 91-83 win over the North Dakota Fightin' Hawks.
The Roos have gone 3-9 in home games. UMKC allows 83.9 points to opponents and has been outscored by 14.0 points per game.
The Jackrabbits are 6-8 in Summit League play. South Dakota State is the Summit League leader with 24.8 defensive rebounds per game led by Damon Wilkinson averaging 4.2.
UMKC averages 69.9 points per game, 3.1 fewer points than the 73.0 South Dakota State gives up. South Dakota State averages 8.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.7 fewer makes per game than UMKC allows.
The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. South Dakota State won the last meeting 90-62 on Jan. 17. Sayler scored 22 points to help lead the Jackrabbits to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jerome Palm is averaging eight points and 6.3 rebounds for the Roos. Kasheem Grady II is averaging 11.2 points over the last 10 games.
Kalen Garry is averaging 11 points and 3.3 assists for the Jackrabbits. Sayler is averaging 16.9 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Roos: 0-10, averaging 65.8 points, 29.2 rebounds, 11.3 assists, 5.8 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 39.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 86.9 points per game.
Jackrabbits: 4-6, averaging 75.9 points, 32.8 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 6.0 steals and 2.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.8 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Jackson State Tigers (9-18, 8-6 SWAC) at Prairie View A&M Panthers (11-17, 6-9 SWAC)
Prairie View, Texas; Thursday, 9:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Prairie View A&M hosts Jackson State after Dontae Horne scored 32 points in Prairie View A&M's 84-82 loss to the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions.
The Panthers have gone 8-3 in home games. Prairie View A&M is the leader in the SWAC with 17.2 fast break points.
The Tigers are 8-6 in conference matchups. Jackson State allows 85.4 points to opponents and has been outscored by 15.4 points per game.
Prairie View A&M is shooting 44.6% from the field this season, 2.0 percentage points lower than the 46.6% Jackson State allows to opponents. Jackson State averages 70.0 points per game, 9.7 fewer points than the 79.7 Prairie View A&M allows to opponents.
The teams play for the second time this season in SWAC play. Jackson State won the last matchup 82-78 on Jan. 17. Daeshun Ruffin scored 23 points to help lead the Tigers to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Lance Williams is averaging 9.4 points for the Panthers. Horne is averaging 27.5 points over the last 10 games.
Ruffin is averaging 23.5 points, 5.6 assists and 1.6 steals for the Tigers. Dorian McMillian is averaging 2.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Panthers: 3-7, averaging 77.6 points, 29.0 rebounds, 10.3 assists, 6.7 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 43.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.7 points per game.
Tigers: 5-5, averaging 76.1 points, 33.8 rebounds, 11.2 assists, 5.1 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 41.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 79.8 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Tennessee State Tigers (19-9, 13-5 OVC) at Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (18-11, 13-5 OVC)
Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Thursday, 8:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Tennessee State plays Southeast Missouri State after Aaron Nkrumah scored 26 points in Tennessee State's 80-53 win over the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars.
The Redhawks have gone 9-4 in home games. Southeast Missouri State has a 7-8 record against teams over .500.
The Tigers are 13-5 in OVC play. Tennessee State ranks fifth in the OVC with 13.4 assists per game led by Dante Harris averaging 4.6.
Southeast Missouri State is shooting 45.4% from the field this season, 0.1 percentage points lower than the 45.5% Tennessee State allows to opponents. Tennessee State averages 6.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.1 fewer makes per game than Southeast Missouri State gives up.
The teams square off for the second time in conference play this season. Southeast Missouri State won the last meeting 91-82 on Dec. 20. Marqueas Bell scored 22 points points to help lead the Redhawks to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Luke Almodovar is shooting 42.8% and averaging 14.1 points for the Redhawks. Brendan Terry is averaging 12.9 points over the last 10 games.
Jalen Pitre is averaging 6.8 points and 6.7 rebounds for the Tigers. Travis Harper II is averaging 2.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Redhawks: 9-1, averaging 71.8 points, 34.1 rebounds, 11.9 assists, 6.3 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 63.6 points per game.
Tigers: 7-3, averaging 80.5 points, 32.1 rebounds, 12.2 assists, 8.2 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.5 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
North Carolina A&T Aggies (11-15, 4-11 CAA) at UNC Wilmington Seahawks (24-4, 13-2 CAA)
Wilmington, North Carolina; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: N.C. A&T visits UNC Wilmington after Trent Middleton scored 24 points in N.C. A&T's 102-82 win over the Elon Phoenix.
The Seahawks are 14-2 on their home court. UNC Wilmington scores 77.0 points and has outscored opponents by 9.9 points per game.
The Aggies have gone 4-11 against CAA opponents. N.C. A&T has a 4-7 record in games decided by 10 or more points.
UNC Wilmington is shooting 44.5% from the field this season, the same percentage N.C. A&T allows to opponents. N.C. A&T has shot at a 45.6% rate from the field this season, 5.1 percentage points greater than the 40.5% shooting opponents of UNC Wilmington have averaged.
The teams meet for the second time in conference play this season. UNC Wilmington won 87-78 in the last matchup on Dec. 30. Nolan Hodge led UNC Wilmington with 24 points, and Lewis Walker led N.C. A&T with 23 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Hodge is shooting 40.8% and averaging 14.9 points for the Seahawks. Patrick Wessler is averaging 15.1 points over the last 10 games.
Walker is averaging 19.2 points and 5.3 rebounds for the Aggies. Middleton is averaging 13.6 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Seahawks: 8-2, averaging 74.6 points, 33.3 rebounds, 12.3 assists, 5.0 steals and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting 43.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.8 points per game.
Aggies: 4-6, averaging 72.8 points, 31.0 rebounds, 10.3 assists, 5.3 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 76.0 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Northern Colorado Bears (18-10, 8-7 Big Sky) at Eastern Washington Eagles (11-17, 9-6 Big Sky)
Cheney, Washington; Thursday, 9 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Northern Colorado visits Eastern Washington after Brock Wisne scored 38 points in Northern Colorado's 78-77 victory against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks.
The Eagles have gone 6-3 in home games. Eastern Washington is ninth in the Big Sky in team defense, allowing 79.7 points while holding opponents to 47.8% shooting.
The Bears are 8-7 in Big Sky play. Northern Colorado is 7-2 when it turns the ball over less than its opponents and averages 11.0 turnovers per game.
Eastern Washington averages 7.5 made 3-pointers per game, 1.0 more made shot than the 6.5 per game Northern Colorado gives up. Northern Colorado averages 9.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.0 more made shots on average than the 7.8 per game Eastern Washington gives up.
The teams meet for the second time in conference play this season. Northern Colorado won 74-71 in the last matchup on Jan. 31. Ring Nyeri led Northern Colorado with 23 points, and Alton Hamilton IV led Eastern Washington with 17 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Isaiah Moses averages 2.1 made 3-pointers per game for the Eagles, scoring 17.8 points while shooting 43.5% from beyond the arc. Kiree Huie is averaging 13.1 points and 5.2 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Quinn Denker is scoring 18.4 points per game with 5.2 rebounds and 7.2 assists for the Bears. Wisne is averaging 17.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Eagles: 7-3, averaging 78.8 points, 30.4 rebounds, 14.1 assists, 5.2 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 49.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.3 points per game.
Bears: 7-3, averaging 80.6 points, 35.2 rebounds, 16.4 assists, 3.4 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 49.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 75.7 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Southern takes on Florida A&M after AJ Barnes scored 22 points in Southern's 87-73 win over the Grambling Tigers.
The Jaguars have gone 8-2 at home. Southern leads the SWAC averaging 80.6 points and is shooting 45.7%.
The Rattlers are 8-7 in conference games. Florida A&M is 3-9 in games decided by at least 10 points.
Southern's average of 6.9 made 3-pointers per game this season is the same per game average that Florida A&M gives up. Florida A&M averages 69.8 points per game, 8.5 fewer points than the 78.3 Southern allows.
The teams square off for the second time in conference play this season. Florida A&M won the last meeting 67-59 on Jan. 10. Tyler Shirley scored 17 points to help lead the Rattlers to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Fazl Oshodi is shooting 34.7% from beyond the arc with 1.9 made 3-pointers per game for the Jaguars, while averaging 9.1 points. Michael Jacobs is averaging 13.9 points, seven assists and 1.6 steals over the last 10 games.
Jaquan Sanders is averaging 11.6 points and 3.6 assists for the Rattlers. Shirley is averaging 12.1 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Jaguars: 7-3, averaging 79.1 points, 32.5 rebounds, 15.8 assists, 8.9 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 46.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.1 points per game.
Rattlers: 4-6, averaging 70.2 points, 31.8 rebounds, 12.8 assists, 7.6 steals and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting 43.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 71.7 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Liberty Flames (23-4, 15-1 CUSA) at Kennesaw State Owls (16-11, 8-8 CUSA)
Kennesaw, Georgia; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Liberty faces Kennesaw State after Colin Porter scored 20 points in Liberty's 94-73 loss to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.
The Owls are 11-3 in home games. Kennesaw State leads the CUSA with 84.3 points and is shooting 44.7%.
The Flames are 15-1 in conference matchups. Liberty is 6-1 in one-possession games.
Kennesaw State averages 9.9 made 3-pointers per game, 1.9 more made shots than the 8.0 per game Liberty allows. Liberty averages 10.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.8 more made shots on average than the 7.6 per game Kennesaw State gives up.
The teams square off for the second time this season in CUSA play. Liberty won the last meeting 81-73 on Jan. 3. Zach Cleveland scored 20 points to help lead the Flames to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: RJ Johnson is averaging 14.1 points and 3.5 assists for the Owls. Braedan Lue is averaging 12.3 points over the last 10 games.
Brett Decker Jr. is shooting 50.8% and averaging 16.6 points for the Flames. Kaden Metheny is averaging 13.3 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Owls: 5-5, averaging 76.5 points, 31.0 rebounds, 13.5 assists, 6.4 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 42.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 75.4 points per game.
Flames: 9-1, averaging 77.1 points, 23.9 rebounds, 16.7 assists, 6.9 steals and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 51.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 72.1 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Grambling hosts Bethune-Cookman after Antonio Munoz scored 21 points in Grambling's 83-62 victory against the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils.
The Tigers are 7-3 on their home court. Grambling is 4-8 against opponents with a winning record.
The Wildcats are 12-3 in SWAC play. Bethune-Cookman ranks third in the SWAC with 9.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Ariel Bland averaging 2.0.
Grambling is shooting 44.1% from the field this season, 0.2 percentage points higher than the 43.9% Bethune-Cookman allows to opponents. Bethune-Cookman averages 6.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.4 fewer makes per game than Grambling gives up.
The teams square off for the second time this season in SWAC play. Bethune-Cookman won the last matchup 74-65 on Jan. 10. Daniel Rouzan scored 15 points to help lead the Wildcats to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Rickey Ballard averages 1.7 made 3-pointers per game for the Tigers, scoring 7.8 points while shooting 41.1% from beyond the arc. Munoz is averaging 13 points over the last 10 games.
Tyler Andrews averages 1.7 made 3-pointers per game for the Wildcats, scoring 7.6 points while shooting 43.8% from beyond the arc. Jakobi Heady is shooting 55.2% and averaging 19.7 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Tigers: 4-6, averaging 67.3 points, 33.5 rebounds, 12.0 assists, 6.9 steals and 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 41.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 66.6 points per game.
Wildcats: 8-2, averaging 78.5 points, 37.0 rebounds, 14.5 assists, 6.0 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 67.7 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Morehead State Eagles (18-12, 14-5 OVC) at Little Rock Trojans (11-18, 8-10 OVC)
Little Rock, Arkansas; Thursday, 8 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Morehead State visits Little Rock after George Marshall scored 22 points in Morehead State's 64-63 win against the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles.
The Trojans are 6-5 on their home court. Little Rock allows 74.3 points and has been outscored by 4.1 points per game.
The Eagles are 14-5 in conference matchups. Morehead State is third in the OVC with 13.8 assists per game led by Josiah LeGree averaging 3.4.
Little Rock is shooting 44.6% from the field this season, 0.9 percentage points higher than the 43.7% Morehead State allows to opponents. Morehead State averages 6.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.7 fewer made shots on average than the 8.7 per game Little Rock gives up.
The teams meet for the second time in conference play this season. Morehead State won 78-64 in the last matchup on Dec. 17. Marshall led Morehead State with 17 points, and Tuongthach Gatkek led Little Rock with 17 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Johnathan Lawson is averaging 16.2 points, four assists and 1.7 steals for the Trojans. Kachi Nzeh is averaging 1.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Marshall is scoring 13.1 points per game with 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists for the Eagles. Jon Carroll is averaging 12.8 points and 6.7 rebounds while shooting 64.4% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Trojans: 2-8, averaging 67.3 points, 31.0 rebounds, 12.1 assists, 7.2 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 41.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 70.3 points per game.
Eagles: 8-2, averaging 73.4 points, 30.6 rebounds, 11.8 assists, 5.8 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.3 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Charleston (SC) seeks to prolong its three-game win streak with a victory over Hampton.
The Pirates are 9-1 on their home court. Hampton is sixth in the CAA with 10.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Xzavier Long averaging 2.9.
The Cougars have gone 12-4 against CAA opponents. Charleston (SC) is the CAA leader with 25.4 defensive rebounds per game led by Christian Reeves averaging 5.1.
Hampton is shooting 41.4% from the field this season, 0.2 percentage points lower than the 41.6% Charleston (SC) allows to opponents. Charleston (SC) has shot at a 44.5% rate from the field this season, 0.2 percentage points less than the 44.7% shooting opponents of Hampton have averaged.
The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. Charleston (SC) won the last matchup 74-70 on Jan. 10. Colby Duggan scored 22 points to help lead the Cougars to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Daniel Johnson averages 1.1 made 3-pointers per game for the Pirates, scoring 9.4 points while shooting 31.3% from beyond the arc. Michael Eley is averaging 12.9 points over the last 10 games.
Jlynn Counter is averaging 15.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.5 steals for the Cougars. Reeves is averaging 16.8 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pirates: 4-6, averaging 66.4 points, 29.8 rebounds, 12.3 assists, 5.7 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 38.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 72.1 points per game.
Cougars: 8-2, averaging 73.6 points, 33.4 rebounds, 14.5 assists, 5.9 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 68.6 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
UNC Asheville Bulldogs (13-15, 7-7 Big South) at Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs (3-26, 1-13 Big South)
Boiling Springs, North Carolina; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: UNC Asheville visits Gardner-Webb after Toyaz Solomon scored 23 points in UNC Asheville's 74-73 overtime win over the Radford Highlanders.
The Runnin' Bulldogs have gone 3-9 at home. Gardner-Webb ranks ninth in the Big South in rebounding with 27.3 rebounds. Jacob Hogarth paces the Runnin' Bulldogs with 6.9 boards.
The Bulldogs are 7-7 in conference matchups. UNC Asheville has an 8-7 record in games decided by 10 points or more.
Gardner-Webb is shooting 43.0% from the field this season, 0.9 percentage points lower than the 43.9% UNC Asheville allows to opponents. UNC Asheville's 45.4% shooting percentage from the field this season is 4.5 percentage points lower than Gardner-Webb has given up to its opponents (49.9%).
The teams play for the second time this season in Big South play. UNC Asheville won the last matchup 69-50 on Jan. 29. Justin Wright scored 16 points to help lead the Bulldogs to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Hogarth is averaging 11.1 points and 6.9 rebounds for the Runnin' Bulldogs. Jacob Hudson is averaging 9.9 points over the last 10 games.
Solomon is averaging 15.9 points and 7.4 rebounds for the Bulldogs. Daren Patrick is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Runnin' Bulldogs: 1-9, averaging 66.4 points, 25.5 rebounds, 10.0 assists, 6.5 steals and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 84.3 points per game.
Bulldogs: 5-5, averaging 69.4 points, 30.4 rebounds, 10.6 assists, 5.8 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 43.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 68.9 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Northeastern Huskies (6-20, 2-13 CAA) at William & Mary Tribe (16-11, 7-8 CAA)
Williamsburg, Virginia; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: William & Mary hosts Northeastern after Reese Miller scored 26 points in William & Mary's 84-83 loss to the Campbell Fighting Camels.
The Tribe have gone 9-2 in home games. William & Mary averages 18.3 assists per game to lead the CAA, paced by Chase Lowe with 4.0.
The Huskies are 2-13 against CAA opponents. Northeastern has a 5-13 record against teams over .500.
William & Mary averages 8.7 made 3-pointers per game, 1.2 more made shots than the 7.5 per game Northeastern gives up. Northeastern has shot at a 45.7% rate from the field this season, 2.8 percentage points higher than the 42.9% shooting opponents of William & Mary have averaged.
The teams square off for the second time this season in CAA play. William & Mary won the last meeting 94-67 on Feb. 13. Cade Haskins scored 17 points points to help lead the Tribe to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Miller is shooting 45.6% and averaging 12.3 points for the Tribe. Haskins is averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
William Kermoury is averaging 13.5 points for the Huskies. Xavier Abreu is averaging 15.2 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Tribe: 5-5, averaging 84.9 points, 30.6 rebounds, 18.3 assists, 5.8 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 49.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 81.1 points per game.
Huskies: 1-9, averaging 70.9 points, 30.0 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 6.9 steals and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 43.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 82.1 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners (8-20, 2-14 Big West) at UCSD Tritons (19-9, 9-7 Big West)
San Diego; Thursday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: CSU Bakersfield takes on UCSD after Dailin Smith scored 21 points in CSU Bakersfield's 88-80 loss to the CSU Fullerton Titans.
The Tritons have gone 8-5 at home. UCSD has a 3-3 record in one-possession games.
The Roadrunners are 2-14 in conference games. CSU Bakersfield ranks third in the Big West with 9.9 offensive rebounds per game led by Pierre Geneste Jr. averaging 2.5.
UCSD is shooting 45.8% from the field this season, 0.1 percentage points lower than the 45.9% CSU Bakersfield allows to opponents. CSU Bakersfield has shot at a 41.5% clip from the field this season, 0.1 percentage points greater than the 41.4% shooting opponents of UCSD have averaged.
The teams play for the second time this season in Big West play. UCSD won the last meeting 83-62 on Jan. 17. Leo Beath scored 20 points points to help lead the Tritons to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Beath is averaging 12.9 points for the Tritons. Hudson Mayes is averaging 12.9 points and 7.1 rebounds over the past 10 games.
Kadar Waller is averaging 3.2 points for the Roadrunners. Smith is averaging 17.8 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Tritons: 6-4, averaging 68.9 points, 35.0 rebounds, 14.3 assists, 7.9 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 42.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 67.2 points per game.
Roadrunners: 0-10, averaging 70.0 points, 30.4 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 6.0 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 40.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 87.0 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: Samford plays VMI after Dylan Faulkner scored 27 points in Samford's 89-86 loss to the Mercer Bears.
The Bulldogs are 9-3 on their home court. Samford is ninth in the SoCon with 7.4 offensive rebounds per game led by Faulkner averaging 2.5.
The Keydets are 1-15 in SoCon play. VMI is 5-11 when it has fewer turnovers than its opponents and averages 9.6 turnovers per game.
Samford is shooting 44.9% from the field this season, 1.1 percentage points lower than the 46.0% VMI allows to opponents. VMI averages 10.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.2 more made shots on average than the 7.6 per game Samford allows.
The teams meet for the second time in conference play this season. Samford won 78-58 in the last matchup on Jan. 1. Faulkner led Samford with 25 points, and TJ Johnson led VMI with 17 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jadin Booth is scoring 20.9 points per game with 3.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists for the Bulldogs. Faulkner is averaging 18.4 points and 10.6 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Johnson averages 3.5 made 3-pointers per game for the Keydets, scoring 18.5 points while shooting 35.6% from beyond the arc. Tan Yildizoglu is averaging 12.2 points, 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Bulldogs: 7-3, averaging 80.4 points, 32.7 rebounds, 14.2 assists, 4.8 steals and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.3 points per game.
Keydets: 0-10, averaging 69.1 points, 25.8 rebounds, 12.3 assists, 6.1 steals and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 40.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 86.1 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (9-18, 5-11 CUSA) at Jacksonville State Gamecocks (13-14, 8-8 CUSA)
Jacksonville, Alabama; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Jacksonville State hosts Delaware after Mostapha El Moutaouakkil scored 38 points in Jacksonville State's 82-78 loss to the Sam Houston Bearkats.
The Gamecocks have gone 9-6 at home. Jacksonville State ranks second in the CUSA in team defense, giving up 67.8 points while holding opponents to 40.6% shooting.
The Fightin' Blue Hens are 5-11 in CUSA play. Delaware is 5-14 against opponents over .500.
Jacksonville State's average of 7.9 made 3-pointers per game this season is just 0.7 fewer made shots on average than the 8.6 per game Delaware allows. Delaware averages 67.6 points per game, 0.2 fewer than the 67.8 Jacksonville State allows to opponents.
The teams square off for the second time this season in CUSA play. Jacksonville State won the last meeting 67-64 on Jan. 3. El Moutaouakkil scored 22 points points to help lead the Gamecocks to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: El Moutaouakkil is scoring 19.0 points per game and averaging 7.0 rebounds for the Gamecocks. Anthony Bryant is averaging 2.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Christian Bliss averages 2.1 made 3-pointers per game for the Fightin' Blue Hens, scoring 16.3 points while shooting 39.4% from beyond the arc. Justyn Fernandez is shooting 43.4% and averaging 18.3 points over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Gamecocks: 5-5, averaging 71.5 points, 30.4 rebounds, 10.8 assists, 6.1 steals and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 43.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.7 points per game.
Fightin' Blue Hens: 4-6, averaging 70.2 points, 26.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 5.2 steals and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 76.0 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (14-15, 8-8 ASUN) at North Florida Ospreys (6-23, 4-12 ASUN)
Jacksonville, Florida; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: FGCU faces North Florida after Jordan Ellerbee scored 23 points in FGCU's 75-71 overtime victory against the Central Arkansas Bears.
The Ospreys are 4-7 in home games. North Florida is eighth in the ASUN with 21.3 defensive rebounds per game led by Mason Lee averaging 4.1.
The Eagles are 8-8 against conference opponents. FGCU has a 2-4 record in games decided by less than 4 points.
North Florida averages 11.4 made 3-pointers per game, 2.1 more made shots than the 9.3 per game FGCU gives up. FGCU averages 8.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.8 fewer makes per game than North Florida gives up.
The teams meet for the second time in conference play this season. FGCU won 90-81 in the last matchup on Feb. 12. Ellerbee led FGCU with 22 points, and Kent Jackson led North Florida with 24 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Kamrin Oriol is averaging 20.5 points and 4.3 assists for the Ospreys. Jackson is averaging 18.3 points over the last 10 games.
J.R. Konieczny is scoring 14.9 points per game with 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Eagles. Ellerbee is averaging 16.0 points and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 50.9% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Ospreys: 3-7, averaging 81.2 points, 31.3 rebounds, 14.1 assists, 3.8 steals and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 85.3 points per game.
Eagles: 6-4, averaging 74.1 points, 31.1 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 75.1 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Sri Lanka’s Super 8 campaign is teetering on the brink. Unless their batting rediscovers conviction, things could unravel very fast against a resolute and skilled New Zealand in Colombo on Wednesday.
Slow bowling and sluggish tracks have been Sri Lanka’s bugbears for a while now, factors exemplified by their failure to chase a modest 147 against England in Pallekele two nights ago. Sri Lanka batted as though intent alone could overpower the surface. Instead, the innings dissolved into a series of soft dismissals.
The challenge will be no kinder in Colombo. The R Premadasa Stadium’s bigger boundaries and surface demands smart cricket. Yet, too often, Sri Lanka appear caught between forcing the pace and freezing against it. Sri Lanka batting coach Vikram Rathour acknowledged the miscalculations against England. “It’s a T20 game, so obviously you come into a game looking to score as many runs as you can. So when the ball is not coming on to the bat, it’s easier said than done,” Rathour said, adding, “Are there better options for us? Yes, definitely. A couple of our wickets were lost because guys were pushing for a single. I don’t think that was a great option in these conditions.”
There were some positives. Opener Pathum Nissanka has offered composure at the top. Dunith Wellalage’s left-arm spin has provided control. The seamers have competed. But these fragments mean little if their batters fail shine.
New Zealand, meanwhile, arrive equipped to exploit Sri Lanka’s weaknesses. Mitchell Santner’s team have been in Colombo for a week after finishing their group stage in India. “I guess that’s the challenge when you play a tournament in two countries. We played in Chennai and Ahmedabad on flat pitches and here we have to play a bit differently,” Santner said. A washout against Pakistan has stalled their rhythm, with both teams earning a solitary point from that rained-off game. Tim Seifert has balanced proactive intent with calculated strokeplay while Rachin Ravindra’s half-century against Canada has bolstered their batting. With rain unlikely to intervene, this contest will hinge on execution. For Sri Lanka, the equation is simple: adapt or exit.
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If you watched the Washington Commanders in 2025, you probably think they need to add to the defense this offseason.
Luckily, the team holds the No. 7 pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. This class is considered deep in defensive playmakers, so the Commanders could have their pick of several solid defenders. Some mock drafts have had the team taking a safety or edge rusher, but ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has the team going a different route.
In Kiper's latest mock draft, he has the Commanders selecting linebacker Sonny Styles. Styles is a former safety who played off-ball linebacker for the Ohio State Buckeyes and absolutely dominated in 2025.
Fellow draft expert Field Yates appeared with Kiper to talk about the latest mock, and Yates was very complimentary of Styles.
"Ohio State LB Sonny Styles has exceptional range, size, and athleticism," Yates said. "And he was charged with just 2 missed tackles in 2025."
Styles ended the season with 82 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and one interception. The defender put up even bigger numbers in 2024, when he ended with 100 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and six sacks. However, as Yates mentioned, Styles was charged with 17 missed tackles in 2024 and only two in 2025.
"(Styles) was the third best in tackle percentage number," Yates said of Styles in 2025. "He has the skills, he has the length, he has the power, he put it all together this past season."
Ohio State LB Sonny Styles has exceptional range, size and athleticism.
And he was charged with just 2 missed tackles in 2025.
The Commanders could certainly use a dominant middle linebacker like Styles. Bobby Wagner looked like he had lost a step in the 2025 season, and he's headed for free agency anyway. The Commanders need to get younger and faster on defense, and Styles accomplishes both goals.
There are several directions the Commanders could go with this pick, but it may be hard to pass up on Styles. For example, there could be some solid pass-rushers available later in the draft, but there may not be as many options at inside linebacker.
Kon Knueppel scored his 200th three-pointer in only his 58th NBA game [Getty Images]
Rookie Kon Knueppel became the fastest player to reach 200 three-pointers in NBA history as the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Chicago Bulls 131-99.
The 20-year-old American scored 21 points, including three three-pointers, while Brandon Miller added 23 as the visiting Hornets condemned the Bulls to a 10th consecutive defeat for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
Knueppel needed only 58 games to tally up his 200th three-pointer - 11 less than previous record holder Duncan Robinson - and is also just the second rookie to reach the milestone.
With a league-leading 201 three-pointers, Knueppel only needs six more to break Keegan Murray's record of 206 in 2022-23 for the Sacramento Kings for the most threes made by a rookie in their first season.
Having played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils, Knueppel was drafted as a fourth overall pick by the Hornets in the 2025 draft.
"It is exciting and refreshing [to coach Knueppel]," said head coach Charles Lee after the Hornets' eighth straight win on the road.
"It elevates our whole culture when you have a guy who is that good but that humble and has no ego, and it becomes contagious throughout the whole organisation."
Meanwhile, new signing James Harden scored 20 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers returned to winning ways with a 109-94 victory over the New York Knicks.
The result helped them draw level on 37 wins and 22 losses with the Knicks, who are third in the Eastern Conference.
Harden, who left the Los Angeles Clippers this month, is an 11-time NBA All-Star and regarded as one of the greatest guards in history, but the 36-year-old has never won an NBA title.
"We're working to build something special, and each game is an opportunity to get better," said Harden. "Tonight was a good step for us."
The Boston Celtics consolidated second place with a 97-81 win over the Phoenix Suns while the Philadelphia 76ers posted a 135-114 win against the Indiana Pacers, who are bottom of the Eastern Conference after reaching the NBA Finals last year.
Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City Thunder overcame the Toronto Raptors 116-107 while sixth-placed Los Angeles Lakers were edged by Orlando Magic 110-109 and the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 124-121.
The Newcastle United winger had just been asked whether he wanted Barcelona or Chelsea in the last 16 of the Champions League.
"Anyone," he immediately responded on Amazon Prime after his side beat Qarabag 3-2 to secure a dominant 9-3 win on aggregate.
"Honestly, with this group of players, we will take anyone on. Especially with knockout football, we back ourselves. Bring on whoever's to come."
It was a mindset shared by his manager.
Newcastle have achieved their initial target of reaching the next round, but head coach Eddie Howe does not want his side's journey to end yet.
He believes his team can "raise our game and compete with anybody".
"We have to believe in ourselves," he said. "We have seen the best of ourselves when we have gone into cup games and one-off games, where we have been able to rise to whatever challenge we have had in front of us.
"We will have to go in with that mindset again, whoever we get in the next round."
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ST. PAUL, Minn. — Players from the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team said Wednesday that they felt love and support from the men’s team throughout their road to a gold medal in Milan, and that’s what they’ll remember — not the laugh some players had when U.S. President Donald Trump joked that he’d be impeached if he didn’t invite the women’s team to the White House.
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Kevin McGonigle 
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Jose Fernandez (SP)
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