The Miami Dolphins lost tight end Julian Hill to the New England Patriots on Wednesday, and with Darren Waller still on the market, they needed to make an addition to the room.

According to the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Dolphins are signing tight end Ben Sims to help fill out the position group.

More to come...

More Dolphins: Dolphins 2026 free agency tracker: Latest news, rumors and signings

This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: NFL free agency: Dolphins sign former Packers TE Ben Sims

Even though the transfer window won't be open for a few months yet, Liverpool are still being linked with a new player almost every day.

The Reds are in dire need of reinforcement and, if they don't manage to drastically improve their ranks next season, they could end up even worse off than they are now.

The Champions League is the only thing that the Anfield outfit have going for them at the moment and, since they were beaten 1-0 by Galatasaray on Tuesday evening, it's unclear whether they'll even get to the quarter-finals.

If they don't manage to beat the Turkish Super Lig outfit, some serious questions will need to be asked and some major changes will need to be made in both the staff and player departments.

As mentioned, the transfer window isn't even open yet but that hasn't stopped Liverpool from entering a few bidding wars to try and bolster their ranks.

Liverpool in 'close contact' for Moussa Diaby as bidding war looms

A fresh update from TEAMtalk has outlined that former Aston Villa ace Moussa Diaby is on the Reds' list of potential targets to replace Mohamed Salah with the club giving 'serious thought' to signing the Frenchman.

Diaby is now 'keen' on a return to Europe after his underwhelming stint in Saudi Arabia.

Al-Ittihad currently value the attacker at around £35 million with the Saudi club 'open' to a loan with an option to buy if it comes to that point.

Liverpool are said to be in 'close contact' with Diaby's representatives, however, since other clubs such as Tottenham, Chelsea and Newcastle United are also interested in the former Villa man, an 'intense bidding war' could commence for the attacker.

This would be a far from ideal situation for Liverpool, especially since they won't want to spend any more than £35 million on the attacker due to his poor goal returns this term.

Moussa Diaby would be a massive transfer risk for Liverpool

When Diaby played for Aston Villa, there were times when his best qualities shone through.

However, as his time with the Villans went on, it was clear that the best thing he brought to the table was his pace.

And, as useful as that is, it's not something that often works in the Premier League and, since his final third form isn't the best, it feels like the Frenchman would be a rather risky signing.

In the 33 games he's played for Al-Ittihad this season, the attacker has played 33 games across all competitions and has only sored three goals.

He has made 13 assists for his teammates but, since the Saudi Pro League is a fair few levels below the Premier League, it's unclear whether those numbers would translate.

Diaby can be used on either wing if needed but, the fact that he'd be 27 by the time he joined Liverpool would also need to be taken into consideration, especially since he's expected to be the Reds' long-term Salah replacement.

There are a lot of moving parts in football and things can change in a heartbeat but, even though Arne Slot is in contact with Diaby's representatives at the moment, it feels like a rather dodgy deal for the club to pursue.

ESPN analyst puts the pressure on the Angels' young flamethrower to perform originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Angels are an interesting team coming into the 2026 season. They have a new manager in Kurt Suzuki, who replaced Ron Washington. 

Suzuki and the front office got right to work, filling holes as they saw them. They were aggressive this offseason, which should spark some hope for the fans. 

While they didn't make some of the big splashes that other teams made, the front office had a clear goal and either signed, re-signed, or traded for some interesting pieces. 

MORE: Meet Manny Ramirez's 20-year old son, who took Jacob deGrom deep in WBC tune-up game

ESPN analyst puts the pressure on the Angels' young flamethrower to perform

Two of the biggest stories early this spring are how Grayson Rodriguez and Alek Manoah will look. Rodriguez was brought in during an early winter trade with the Baltimore Orioles, while Manoah signed a one-year deal. 

Rodriguez has had trouble staying on the field, while Manoah went from an All-Star pitcher to someone who looked like he lost all of his magic. 

While much of the attention will be on these two and how they come out to start the season, fans will also want to pay attention to George Klassen. The young flamethrower is making a case to be in the starting rotation. 

ESPN's Kiley McDaniel is high on him, listing him as the No. 3 prospect on his preseason top-10 list, and tags him as a potential breakout candidate for the Halos. 

"The No. 3 prospect on my preseason team top-10 list, the 24-year-old Klassen should be a solid rotation option by midseason, bringing plus, power stuff to a staff in need of upgrades."

Klassen may not be in the starting rotation during Opening Day, but he could certainly be there by the midway point of the season, if not sooner. 

He could be a great option if Rodriguez or Manoah struggles, or if a pitcher goes down with an injury at any point, and should provide a major boost to the rotation.

More MLB news:

• Pirates' projected breakout player for 2026 could surprise fans
• Rangers' Rule 5 pick is making a case as the steal of the offseason
• ESPN analyst has huge expectations for the Tigers' top prospect
• Royals' former first-round pick could be the difference-maker this season
• ESPN analyst spotlights the White Sox young flamethrower as one to watch

NFL insider reveals major details about Maxx Crosby's nixed Ravens trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It’s no secret that the Baltimore Ravens’ trade for superstar DE Maxx Crosby is a thing of the past.

Due to health concerns, the Ravens backed out of the trade (the Baltimore Ravens would have sent two first-round picks to the Las Vegas Raiders for Crosby) on Tuesday night, leaving the NFL world stunned.

On Wednesday, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer revealed major details about the failed trade that should pique the interest of franchises hoping to pursue the five-time Pro Bowler this offseason.

“My understanding is that the Ravens were not comfortable with the condition of Crosby’s knee—in which he had a meniscus repair—after Tuesday’s physical,” Breer reported. “A football player failing his physical generally isn’t a black-and-white thing. Players are given a score from the doctor, and that score is adjusted based on the level of investment the team must make to acquire the player.”

“Were Crosby coming in, for argument’s sake, for a seventh-round pick, he’d likely have passed the physical, because there would have been less risk than there was with the Ravens giving up two first-rounders to acquire him. So that’s a moving target, and the Ravens didn’t like what they saw Tuesday.

Essentially, it sounds like the Ravens felt it was far too risky to follow through with their blockbuster trade for Crosby after learning more about his current health status. When red flags present themselves, organizations shouldn’t hesitate to make decisions that’ll benefit them in the long run.

Fortunately for Baltimore, it didn’t take them long to locate a replacement for Crosby, as they signed highly coveted former Cincinnati Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million contract on Wednesday. Hendrickson finished the 2025-26 season with 11 solo tackles, four sacks, and one forced fumble with the Bengals last season. 

Simply put, it all worked out for the Ravens in the end.

More NFL: Eagles get bad news on Maxx Crosby blockbuster trade after failed deal with Ravens

Why Cowboys, 49ers pulled off trade involving Osa Odighizuwa originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers pulled off a trade on Wednesday involving defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa.

According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Dallas is trading Odighizuwa to San Francisco.

"BREAKING: The Cowboys are trading DT Osa Odighizuwa to the 49ers, multiple sources tell me," Schultz wrote.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport adds that the Cowboys are getting a third-round pick from the 49ers for Odighizuwa.

Why Cowboys, 49ers pulled off trade involving Osa Odighizuwa

The Cowboys' defensive tackle room is stacked, as Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams are the starters, leaving Odighizuwa as the odd man out.

Dallas has been receiving calls on Odighizuwa's availability over the last day, and the 49ers now swoop in and acquire the 27-year-old defensive tackle.

San Francisco has a glaring need at defensive tackle, and Odighizuwa will patch that hole. The UCLA product has played all 17 games for four straight seasons and is a terrific pass rusher from the interior. Odighizuwa has posted 112 quarterback pressures over the last two seasons.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers are bringing back tight end Jake Tonges following a breakthrough season when he emerged as a viable second option behind George Kittle.

Tonges agreed on Wednesday to a two-year, $8 million deal with $5.5 million guaranteed instead of becoming a restricted free agent, according to his agent Steve Caric.

Tonges had played only 50 offensive snaps with no catches since joining the NFL as an undrafted free agent in Chicago before last season when he stepped up when Kittle was sidelined.

Tonges caught the game-winning TD pass in a Week 1 win against Seattle and finished the season with 34 catches for 293 yards and five TDs. Locking up Tonges was important for San Francisco with Kittle working his way back from an Achilles tendon injury.

The 49ers also brought back running back Patrick Taylor after he missed all of last season with a shoulder injury, according to his agency, Equity Sports. Taylor had 39 carries for 183 yards and one TD for the Niners in 2024, while also playing extensively on special teams.

The Niners tendered a one-year, $3.5 million contract to restricted free agent defensive lineman Sam Okuayinonu, giving the team the right to match any contract offer. The 49ers did not tender deals to defensive end Robert Beal, defensive tackle Kalia Davis, defensive lineman Tarron Jackson and defensive back Chase Lucas, allowing them to hit the open market.

San Francisco agreed to a one-year deal to bring back linebacker Garret Wallow and agreed to a one-year deal with offensive lineman Brett Toth, according to two people familiar with the deals who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deals haven’t been announced.

Wallow joined San Francisco late last season and played mostly on special teams in the final four games of the regular season before starting both playoff games.

Toth spent last season in Philadelphia and could be in the mix to compete for the open starting left guard spot, as well as provide depth as a backup center.

___

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

"You do it too, eh?".

Those were the words from Arsenal's set-piece coach Nicolas Jover to Bayer Leverkusen manager Kasper Hjulmand after the German side took the lead from a corner in the Champions League last-16 first-leg tie between the two sides.

They struck having almost scored seconds earlier from an excellently-worked routine from the kick-off to start the second half, with David Raya tipping Martin Terrier's header over.

From Alex Grimaldo's set-piece, captain Robert Andrich was left free to nod in at the back post.

It was the first time the Gunners had been behind in this season's Champions League.

German forward Kai Havertz, who spent 10 years at Leverkusen before being sold to Chelsea for £71m in 2020, came off the bench to slot in the 89th-minute equaliser after Noni Madueke was brought down in the box.

Jover's comment to Hjulmand was also sparked by some from the Leverkusen head coach about how Arsenal use their physicality at corners to gain an advantage.

"I think there was a little bit of misunderstanding of my press conference yesterday and I was challenging the way things Arsenal are doing offensive blocks," said Hjulmand.

"We do it also. We do offensive blocks and we do it to make space. I was just questioning whether it is in the rules to body check and take a player out to make space.

"He [Jover] just said, 'You do it too, eh?'. It's the same for all teams, we are all doing it."

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was disappointed to concede from a set-piece, not only because of Arsenal's own prowess from corners but because he showed his team "three clips" of Leverkusen's well-worked routines from kick-offs.

Before the tie at the BayArena, Arsenal had conceded only 11 goals from set-pieces in all competitions, level with Manchester City. Only Wolves (10) and Everton (9) had conceded fewer.

"There's always two sides to that," added Arteta. "One is the element of the opponent that they picked that weakness, and that lack of attention or urgency in both situations.

"And the other one is us, because we knew. We showed them three clips from last weekend in three different ways, and we weren't ready for it, and we got caught."

• Havertz rescues Arsenal draw at old club Leverkusen

'Confident we will get the job done in London'

Havertz' late penalty against his former club put a different perspective on what was a disappointing performance from the one Arsenal would have hoped for.

Arteta felt the game had "different phases" and his side were "very dominant" in the first half, but did not take the early chance they had when Gabriel Martinelli's powerful shot hit the crossbar.

He also unusually took off key player and captain Bukayo Saka after a below-par display, but his replacement Noni Madueke won the penalty that saw Arsenal avoid defeat in the competition for the first time this season.

Leverkusen were not happy with the penalty award as Malik Tillman's torso seemed to make contact with Madueke's foot as he dribbled into the box.

But Havertz kept his cool to ensure Arsenal remain favourites in next Tuesday's return at Emirates Stadium.

"We are confident we will get the job done in London. The manager said just go on and try and change the game," said Madueke.

"I don't really know what happened [for the penalty] I just know I felt contact, went down and penalty.

"Kai Havertz has been scoring high-pressure penalties all his career, top composure to step up. Really pleased, not just for him but the team as well.

"When you come on and your team is losing it gives you that extra impetuous to try and change it."

Arteta was "not surprised" with Madueke's impact as it was his "biggest quality."

"He's very brave at doing that and Noni is a real threat. To have a player with that ability when you need him and to step in in the manner that he did, big credit to him," added the Spaniard.

Arsenal have avoided defeat in the first leg in four of their last five knockout games in the Champions League (W2 D2 L1), going on to progress in two of the previous three ties.

But in their previous 16 matches at this stage of the competition, they have lost nine and progressed seven times.

Arsenal are still competing for trophies in four competitions and aiming to claim their first silverware since an FA Cup triumph in 2020.

Arteta was pleased his side remained composed when going behind to leave Leverkusen with a draw.

"Yes, that's why I said emotionally it becomes a very different game because that is a team that is very, very good in transition, and you have more hurry and more rush to create danger and to go and draw the game, and you can get caught while doing that," he said.

"I liked that emotionally, we understood what we had to do.

"The level of execution obviously has to be better and it will be better in the second leg. We'll adapt a few things and yes, we'll move on."

• Latest Arsenal news, analysis and fan views
• Ask about Arsenal - what do you want to know?

Cooper Neill via Getty Images

The San Francisco 49ers are bolstering their defensive line. 

The 49ers struck a deal to trade for defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa on Wednesday afternoon, according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini. In exchange, the 49ers are sending a 2026 third-round draft pick back to the Dallas Cowboys.

Odighizuwa had 44 total tackles and 3.5 sacks last season, his fifth in the league. The 27-year-old has been incredibly consistent on the defensive front for the Cowboys since they selected him in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of UCLA, too. He's had at least three sacks and 40 tackles per season since his second campaign in the league. The Cowboys signed Odighizuwa to a four-year, $80 million extension last year.

The deal is the second significant one the Cowboys have made with their defensive front this offseason. They traded for Green Bay Packers edge rusher Rashan Gary last week, a deal that was made official on Wednesday at the start of the new league year. The 28-year-old had 45 total tackles and 7.5 sacks last season in Green Bay.

Wednesday's trade with the 49ers now gives Dallas an extra pick inside the top 100 in the NFL Draft later this spring. They already had the No. 12 and No. 20 picks in hand, but were without a second- or third-round selection previously due to trades for George Pickens and Quinnen Williams. 

This post will be updated with more information shortly.

Federico Valverde's superb first-half hat-trick helped Real Madrid demolish Manchester City 3-0 in a surprise Champions League last 16 first leg rout on Wednesday.

Los Blancos were missing several key players including Kylian Mbappe but Uruguayan midfielder Valverde's stunning treble, netted inside a 22-minute spell, crushed Pep Guardiola's team at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Vinicius Junior missed a penalty in the second half as Madrid could have built further on their significant lead ahead of the second leg in Manchester next Tuesday.

Even though Madrid are the record 15-time winners, their sketchy form offered little reason to believe they would pull off such a dominant result in what has become a modern Champions League classic.

City, who won the competition for the first and only time in 2023, even beat Madrid in the league phase and have strengthened since then.

However the Spanish giants produced their most convincing display of the season just when it mattered most to leave the Premier League visitors stunned.

"(It was) incredible, you dream of nights like this," Valverde told Movistar.

"It's been a long time since I enjoyed a game like this. I'm really happy but above all because the team won."

Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa, shorn of injured stars Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo Goes among several others, started 18-year-old midfielder Thiago Pitarch after some recent bright displays.

Arbeloa said he was expecting a surprise or two from former Barca coach Guardiola, and the Catalan selected a particularly attacking line-up, seeking to capitalise on the frailties Madrid have exhibited this season.

Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi made their Champions League debuts and for an all-too-brief period City seemed to be settling in at the Bernabeu, before they unravelled.

"Now it feels really bad, now it feels really dark," City midfielder Bernardo Silva told TNT Sports.

"Tomorrow is another day and for sure next week we will go to the game thinking we have a chance."

Madrid took the lead against the run of play when Courtois thumped a long ball down the pitch in Valverde's direction.

Nico O'Reilly misjudged it and the Madrid midfielder blazed through on goal. City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma came out to try and stop him but Valverde nipped around him and rolled home in the 20th minute.

Seven minutes later Madrid's captain struck again. Vinicius Junior fed the midfielder who coolly drilled past Donnarumma to double the hosts' lead.

- Best for last -

After a difficult first half of the season, consigned to playing at right-back mostly under Xabi Alonso, Arbeloa's arrival in January has unleashed Valverde.

The 27-year-old snatched a last-gasp winner at Celta Vigo in La Liga on Friday and said that victory was one which had raised the team's morale.

It appeared he was grasping for optimism ahead of the City clash in which most imagined Madrid to be underdogs, but Los Blancos played like a side who had found belief again.

Valverde completed a first career hat-trick before half-time with the best of his three strikes.

Valverde neatly flicked Brahim Diaz's pass over the helpless Guehi and then volleyed home with aplomb as the Bernabeu crowd roared in delight. Finally they saw a Madrid they recognised, dynamic and, above all, competitive.

Diaz nearly netted a fourth soon after half-time but Donnarumma denied him, with City continuing to struggle after the interval.

Vinicius should have, after the Italian goalkeeper brought him down in the box, but Donnarumma read the Brazilian's intentions and saved his low penalty.

Man City's top scorer Haaland was kept quiet all night by Madrid centre-backs Antonio Rudiger and Dean Huijsen, with Guardiola replacing him even while chasing a goal.

Instead City's best chance to pull one back fell to O'Reilly as Pitarch's focus waned, but Courtois made a stunning reaction save with his leg to deny him and secure a precious clean sheet.

"The feelings we were getting from outside were not of much confidence in this team, (but) we showed we're Real Madrid and you can never count us out," a proud Arbeloa told Movistar.

rbs/jc

Real Madrid thrashed Manchester City 3-0 in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg at the Bernabeu on Wednesday evening.

Man City dominated possession early on, but it was Madrid who took the lead in the 21st minute.

Thibaut Courtois’ long pass found Federico Valverde, and the midfielder took advantage of Gianluigi Donnarumma’s poor positioning to open the scoring.

Valverde made it 2-0 after the half-hour mark, picking out the far corner after Vinicius Junior’s pass deflected into his path inside the area.

The Uruguayan completed his hat-trick before half-time with a moment of brilliance, controlling Brahim Diaz’s pass before evading a challenge and finishing clinically.

Just after the restart, Donnarumma made a brilliant save to deny Diaz as Madrid looked to pick up where they left off before the break.

At the other end, Thibaut Courtois kept out Antoine Semenyo’s effort after playing a lovely one-two with Bernardo Silva.

Madrid were handed a penalty in the 56th minute after Vinicius was brought down inside the box, but the Brazilian’s effort was saved by Donnarumma.

Courtois later produced a brilliant stop to preserve Madrid’s three-goal cushion, sticking out a leg to keep out Nico O’Reilly’s close range strike.

The defeat handed manager Pep Guardiola his joint-heaviest defeat in the first leg of a Champions League knockout tie. It matched defeats against Barcelona in the 2014/15 semi-finals and Liverpool in 2017/18 quarter-finals.

A tie that had looked enthrallingly unpredictable, only for the first leg to be set by perhaps the most predictable development possible.

Liam Rosenior had replaced Robert Sanchez with Filip Jorgenson specifically for his footwork, and of course it was a bad goalkeeper pass that set up Vitinha for a decisive goal.

After that, Paris Saint-Germain took a step up – and then another two – and Chelsea didn’t go with them.

The ending ensured this match continued some themes of this Champions League week: erratic goalkeeping displays and Premier League defeats, as Paris Saint-Germain beat Chelsea 5-2.

What will further anger Rosenior was that the scale of the scoreline didn’t really reflect the game. Chelsea’s actual performance hadn’t been in the same sphere as those by Liverpool, Manchester City or Tottenham Hotspur – despite the same actual outcome as the last one.

Chelsea had largely given as good as they got in a game of almost the highest European quality… had it just ended in the 74th minute.

Maybe that is fatigue from the Premier League, which is obviously going to be a discussion over the next week.

Chelsea really have to raise it, though.

A 3-2 reverse was eminently salvageable but 5-2? Kvicha Kvaratshkelia is quite an option to bring off the bench, and he duly maximised that extra space to score another trademark exquisitely curling strike.

The most remarkable thing is that it may not have even been the pick of the goals. All of them involved exceptional class, even if they came from errors and fallibility that actually elevated the game in terms of drama.

That was most visible with maybe the best of them, Ousmane Dembele’s brilliant breakaway. Jorgenson could do little about that or Kvaratshkelia’s first, but the third and fifth?

They might decide the tie.

That might haunt Rosenior, especially to make a call so big – and so conspicuous given Antoni Kinsky – this early in his Chelsea career.

There is of course another story to this game.

The European champions may have finally started to play again. They looked like the best team in Europe again.

There is now always a sense of two sides with this PSG. It should never be forgotten they are ultimately a sportswashing project, who have still assembled one of the most expensive sides in history without “stars”.

And yet, in a purely football sense, they are refreshing.

In a Premier League that has become dominated by high-definition tactical positioning, so many of their players are willing to take someone and have a shot from anywhere.

They go for it.

That isn’t to say that Luis Enrique isn’t highly tactical himself. What he has essentially done is enhance the Spanish positional game for the first time in 15 years, adding dribbling and intensity to a system that is almost supposed to be the antithesis of that. That comes from a lot of hard thinking and hard work, if an admittedly easy schedule to facilitate it.

The end product is nevertheless something that looks so free… if occasionally too free.

PSG have some clumsy moments themselves.

They are far from perfect, and that included last season.

And Chelsea, for their part, did initially prey on that and force more errors.

The back-and-forth of the goals were cases in point.

After Bradley Barcola had displayed precisely this willingness to just let go with the opening goal – a blockbusting strike in off the bar, albeit with considerable space – there was a spell when it looked like they could just overwhelm Chelsea with their live-wire attacking.

If Rosenior will face a lot of questions about the Jorgensen decision, though, he does deserve credit for many of his in-game calls. It is clearly one of his best qualities.

Chelsea duly recalibrated around Enzo Fernandez, who had one of his finest games for the club.

Everything went through him, including the two goals.

It was his pass that put Malo Gusto into space for Chelsea’s equaliser. The finish was strong but it still went through Matvey Safonov.

A theme of the European champions’ more underwhelming 2025-26 campaign has been whether they are missing Gigi Donnarumma. It was hard not to think he’d have saved that… but the Italian wasn’t exactly having the best night for City.

Chelsea began to really press PSG in from there, only for Luis Enrique’s side to exploit their own weakness.

This, typically, was done in the most direct way possible: pure pace. After Cole Palmer had a shot well saved by Safonov – no questions that time – Desire Doue showed quick thinking to immediately get the ball to Dembele.

He exhilaratingly surged up the pitch, although Wesley Fofana initially did well to stay with him. Just when it seemed like Dembele might have been pushed wide, he turned in, then went out – and in the process turned Fofana inside out – to finish supremely.

It was the type of move that was so impressive it produced one of those deafening sounds from the crowd, but it wasn’t definitive.

Chelsea again responded. PSG again showed their own fallibility. Pedro Neto displayed his own directness down the left, before squaring for Fernandez to finish emphatically.

It was another supreme goal, and should have been the set-up for a grand crescendo, an operatic back and forth.

Only one team stayed at the level, though, as Jorgensen – and Rosenior – endured a dismal low.

That may well be it for the tie. PSG do not look the kind of team to give up a three-goal lead now they’re European champions.

And they finally look like they can be that again.

Chelsea and Rosenior, by contrast, look like they still have a bit to learn.

UNLV built a commanding first-half lead, survived a furious second-half comeback from Wyoming, and closed out the game at the free-throw line to secure a 73-70 victory over the Cowboys to move on in the Mountain West Tournament.

The Rebels started aggressively on both ends. Howie Fleming Jr. sparked the offense with a spin-move finish inside, and Kimani Hamilton knocked down a straightaway three to give the Rebels an early lead. Hamilton led the Rebels with 23 points. 

UNLV also showed off on defense and turned it into offense. Tyrin Jones delivered one of the early highlights by blocking Damarion Dennis, and then he finished on a finger roll on the other end. Jones finished the game with six blocks. 

Head Coach Josh Pastner praised Jones’ defense. “Tyrin Jones led the conference in shot blocking,” Pastner said. “It was the first time a guy in UNLV has led the league in the Mountain West Conference in shots blocked since the 14-15 season.” 

The game was all in UNLV’s control, including a stretch where UNLV made eight consecutive field goals that helped push the lead to double digits. Gibbs-Lawhorn led that charge by scoring 15 in the half. The Rebels carried that momentum into halftime with a 44-31 lead, but the second half brought a challenge.

Wyoming opened the half with a burst of energy, which was highlighted by a lob from Dennis to Gavin Gores that ignited the Cowboys fans in attendance and served as a shift in momentum. 

The Cowboys were doing an excellent job of drawing contact to get to the free-throw line. Five minutes in the half, Wyoming was already in the bonus. Naz Meyer led that charge and repeatedly drew contact, which led to a Cowboy run. 

With the momentum on Wyoming’s side, Dennis knocked down a three on a second chance that trimmed the deficit to just one point. The Cowboys went on a 20-5 run to make the game tight.

UNLV gained some breathing room when Hamilton converted on an and-one sky hook, and Isaac Williamson knocked down a corner three. However, Wyoming continued to fight.

Dennis scored on a second-chance bucket to give the Cowboys their first lead since the opening minutes, and a layup by Gores capped off a 10-0 run by Wyoming. 

Wyoming was also doing a good job of stopping Gibbs-Lawhorn in the second half, holding him scoreless. “They played a great defense on me in the second half,” Gibbs-Lawhorn said. “I even told the coach after the game, great defensive plan. That’s the kind of gravity I draw.”

With the offense slowing down and Wyoming taking the lead back after being down 16 points, the Rebels leaned on the three-point ball from Walter Brown. He knocked down a three to reclaim the lead for UNLV, and then moments later, he hit another corner three while being fouled, giving UNLV a big momentum boost. Brown finished with nine points and ten rebounds. 

Wyoming refused to back down as Uriyah Rojas knocked down a jumper to tie the game at 66 with just over two minutes left.

Hamilton answered with a powerful dunk to put the Rebels back on top, but Gores responded on the other end for the Cowboys with a powerful slam of his own. Then, with 34 seconds left, Gores put his body on the line and made a tough layup to give the Cowboys a 70-68 lead.

The stage was set for Hamilton as he drew a foul on a mid-range jumper that fell, and he converted the free throw to put the Rebels ahead 71-70. 

With one possession left, Wyoming unraveled as Meyer airballed, and Dennis picked up the rebound and put up a floater that Jones rejected for his sixth block of the game. This got UNLV a 73-70 victory. 

This game was significant for UNLV because it was the first win in the Mountain West Tournament against a team that wasn’t named Air Force in ten years, and Pastner recognized that.

”If you’re fortunate enough to win the game, you break the streak of not beating anyone in this tournament other than Air Force over the last decade,” Pastner said. “So that was big for our guys.

UNLV will play Utah State on Thursday in the quarterfinal round.

Birmingham City head coach Chris Davies hailed a "very pleasing night" for his side as they moved back into play-off contention with a 1-0 win over QPR.

Blues had lost three in a row before Wednesday evening, but Patrick Roberts' first-half goal earned them a deserved win in a match they dominated.

Davies told BBC Radio WM: "I just said to the players the only thing you could say is we could have got more goals - three or four probably.

"We had 21 shots at goal, first half in particular there was a lot there for us. Even towards the end there were some big chances.

"We should have probably scored more than just one goal.

"I was really pleased with how we played. We have had a few punches in the face in recent weeks and we had to show a certain amount of character tonight.

"I really liked how they did, we had a real intent to our attacking play, our defending was aggressive. [It was] a very pleasing night."

Birmingham, who are now five points off Wrexham in sixth, host Sheffield United on Saturday.

The Jacksonville Jaguars announced that they have signed running back Chris Rodriguez Jr.

According to Tom Pelissero, this is a two-year deal for Rodriguez that is worth $10 million and includes $6.2 million guaranteed. Rodriguez can earn up to $12 million with incentives.

This is the first outside signing made by the Jaguars during this free agency period.

Here are three things to know about the newest Jaguars' running back.

Chris Rodriguez's 2025 season

Rodriguez was a sixth-round pick by Washington in 2023. After having relatively small roles in 2023 and 2024, his role expanded in 2025, which included Rodriguez calling the ball 112 times.

He averaged 4.5 yards per carry last season, with six touchdowns, per PFF. Rodriguez proved tough to bring down as well, ranking eighth among all back ins average yards after contact.

Rodriguez has very little pass-catching experience at the NFL level, with only six receptions over three seasons.

Familiarity with Liam Coen

Rodriguez played his college ball at Kentucky, which partially overlapped with Liam Coen's tenure with the team when he was the offensive coordinator. As noted on the Jaguars' team site, Rodriguez's most productive college season came with Coen calling the plays.

What will Chris Rodriguez's role be with the Jaguars?

At that contract amount, he is likely going to factor into the offense in some capacity. In what is a young Jaguars' running back room led by Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen, Rodriguez's presence can provide some experience to that position group.

What I'll be curious to see is his role in the passing game. The ability to contribute in that phase of the game is important to the Coen offense. Otherwise, perhaps Rodriguez shares the early down role with Tuten, while Allen continues to shoulder the passing game responsibilities at the running back position.

This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: NFL free agency: 3 observations from Jaguars signing Chris Rodriguez

The Houston Texans have their next tight end and running mate with Dalton Schultz.

According to reports, they've agreed to a contract with New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau. The details of the deal have yet to be finalized as of this time.

Last season, the 28-year-old tight end played in 11 games after starting the season on the physically unable to perform list following a season-ending knee injury suffered in 2024. He caught seven passes for 59 yards last season and missed the final two games because of an ankle issue.

A former fourth-round pick out of LSU, Moreau has spent the last three seasons in New Orleans after signing with them as a free agent in 2023 following a four-year stint with the Las Vegas Raiders. In 2023, he briefly stepped away from football after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in the spring. Before the start of the regular season, Moreau announced that he was in full remission and was cleared to return to drills.

The #Texans are signing former #Saints TE Foster Moreau, source said, adding depth to the TE room. He leaves New Orleans after three seasons. pic.twitter.com/2f7dA6nB2C

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2026

A blocker first with tight end No. 2 potential, Moreau has played in 104 career games and has caught 151 passes for 1,722 yards and 18 touchdowns.

He should compete for second-team reps with veterans Brevin Jordan and Cade Stover.

This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans: Saints TE Foster Moreau inks deal with Houston

Charlton manager Nathan Jones was proud of his players as they climbed further clear of danger with a huge win at Middlesbrough.

Conor Coady's first goal for the club was enough for three points and a dogged rearguard display pleased Jones.

He told BBC London: "It is all about the result for us at this point. To come to one of the best teams in the division and put in that level of performance, I'm pleased. Every time we had the ball we gave it away so we were better off without it.

"They have wonderful players, they will get promoted I am sure but my players did me proud. You saw a group wanting to defend and doing the basics well. It's such an important part of the season to get back-to-back wins. It is a monster of a league."

• Latest Charlton Athletic news, analysis and fan views
• Listen to Charlton Athletic content on BBC Sounds

How much did Jake Bobo want to play with his Seahawks in the Super Bowl?

He broke his hand in the NFC championship game against the Los Angeles Rams Jan. 25. The next morning, he flew to Los Angeles to have surgery. Hand specialist Dr. Steven Shin put a metal pin to stabilize Bobo’s metacarpal in the wide receiver’s right hand.

He didn’t miss a practice. He played in Super Bowl 60. He helped the Seahawks dominate the New England Patriots Feb. 8 for Seattle’s second NFL championship.

“I’m in a unique situation where I can’t really miss any practice, because I want to...,” Bobo said, “because I wanted to play in this game.”

He was holding a beer in his repaired hand. The celebration in the locker room in Santa Clara, California, was all around him immediately following the Super Bowl last month. He got interrupted by teammates pounding him on the back.

“But, yeah man, there were a few catches this week that kind of took my breath away,” Bobo said.

“But I mean, for this moment? All worth it.”

Bobo is worth $3.52 million to the Seahawks to keep.

That’s what they committed to him Wednesday. Minutes before he would have become an unrestricted free agent available to sign with any team, Bobo got a tender offer for 2026 as Seattle’s last restricted free agent.

Bobo can still negotiate with other teams. But Seahawks have a right-of-first refusal tender, thus the right to match any offer sheet from another team. Seattle would not get a draft pick back if the team that signed him as an undrafted rookie and gave him his NFL chance in 2023 did not match another team’s offer. The Seahawks would lose Bobo only in that situation. General manager John Schneider likely made the move to tender Bobo minutes before the league year began at 1 p.m. and he would have become an unrestricted free agent because the Seahawks sensed another team would have signed him away.

Signs are this is the latest in Schneider’s and coach Mike Macdonald’s moves to run it back next season with most of the core players from the Super Bowl-champion team.

More Seahawks moves

As of mid-afternoon Wednesday there had been 428 transactions this week in the NFL at the start of free agency and the new league year, per spotrac.com.

Seattle, Denver and Jacksonville are the only NFL teams which have not signed an outside free agent this week. All three were division champions and won at least 13 games last season.

On Wednesday, Pro Bowl kick returner and wide receiver Rashid Shaheed signed his three-year contract worth $51 million to come back to the Seahawks instead of test free agency.

Just as he said he would in early November when he arrived from New Orleans in a midseason trade.

“I was confident just because of the chance that Seattle took to get me here,” Shaheed told the Seahawks’ website Wednesday. “And now that I’m here, signing a contract after a Super Bowl, it means a lot for me to stay. My whole family is excited. I’m excited. And this is everything I prayed for.”

Also Wednesday, the Seahawks re-signed swing, backup offensive tackle Josh Jones to a one-year contract and long snapper Chris Stoll on a two-year deal. Jones, who turns 29 in June, was excellent replacing injured left tackle Charles Cross for three starts in key games late this past season. Stoll, 27, was the trigger man for Seattle’s best-in-the-league kicking game. He finished his third season after Seattle signed him as an undrafted rookie from Penn State in the spring of 2023.

The Seahawks also signed back starting cornerback Josh Jobe (three years, $24 million) and starting inside linebacker Drake Thomas (two seasons, $8 million, $1.5 million signing bonus)

The Seahawks have lost in free agency this week Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker (three years, $43.05 million to the Kansas City Chiefs), safety Coby Bryant (to the Chicago Bears for $40 million over three years), outside linebacker Boye Mafe ($20 million per year from the Cincinnnati Bengals) and cornerback Riq Woolen (one year, $12 million to the Philadelphia Eagles). Those four departures could net the Seahawks four compensatory draft choices in 2027, one in the fourth round and three at the end of the fifth round. That is, if the Seahawks don’t sign outside free agents that would qualify for the league-comp pick formula and offset the exits.

Jake Bobo’s value

When you look at Bobo’s statistics from this past season, you may wonder why the Seahawks just committed over $3 million to keep him for 2026.

He had two catches, 20 yards in 11 games playing 17% of the offensive snaps. He played 45% of all special-teams snaps in the 2025 regular season.

Yet Macdonald sees him as a true Seahawk, the epitome of selflessness and brotherhood that is the basis of the coach’s culture that just won the Super Bowl.

Last spring the Seahawks drafted speedy wide receiver Tory Horton. He was the star of training camp on offense. Horton took away many of the reps Bobo had gotten as a fourth wide receiver the previous two years. Then coaches realized Cody White, a practice squad player most of the previous two seasons, didn’t deserve to get cut out of the preseason. White kept making every play in the limited chances he got. He made his first NFL roster out of a preseason. That further diminished Bobo’s opportunities.

Then Bobo got concussed in late August when he own player ran into him as he was trying to catch a punt in Seattle’s final preseason game at Green Bay.

Many #Seahawks down on a knee, coach Mike Macdonald on the field hoping teammates Jake Bobo, Tyler Hall OK. down on Lambeau Field after they collided while Bobo was catching a punt.

Bobo walked then jogged straight to the locker room. Hall needed help limping off, right leg pic.twitter.com/sb13X4jmFS

— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) August 23, 2025

That caused him to be inactive for the season opener, Sept. 7 against San Francisco at Lumen Field. It was the first game Bobo didn’t play in his three-year NFL career.

In early October, Horton had a team-record 95-yard touchdown on a punt return. That sparked a runaway first half of Seattle’s win over New Orleans. In early November, Horton injured his shin coming out of a two-touchdown-catch game at Washington. Seahawks general manager then traded two third-day draft choices to New Orleans for Shaheed, the Saints’ 2023 All-Pro kick returner.

With Shaheed in town, Bobo became a healthy scratch. He was inactive on the sideline in team sweats watching five games.

When he was active to play, for 11 of 17 games, Bobo was primarily on special teams. He did not play more than 17 snaps on offense in a game after Shaheed arrived. Bobo played 16 with the broken, repaired hand in the Super Bowl.

The play that teammates and coaches raved about Bobo through the Seahawks’ Super Bowl victory parade through downtown Seattle last month was in week 18, at San Francisco. Needing a win over the rival 49ers to clinch the NFC West title and top seed in the conference playoffs, the Seahawks were backed up to a third and 17 in their own end leading only 10-3 late in the third quarter.

Blocking as a receiver outside right, Bobo took out three 49ers defenders as Kenneth Walker ran past him for a startling first down. That extended Seattle’s drive to Jason Myers’ field goal early in the fourth quarter, sealing a 13-3 win and home-field advantage in the playoffs to the Super Bowl.

“That was a huge one,” Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp said of Bobo’s triple block.

Jake Bobo took out three 49ers defenders--"not on purpose," he said---blocking outside right on Kenneth Walker's key 19-yard run 3rd & 17, 3Q of #Seahawks' NFC West title-game win at San Francisco.

"I'll take it," Bobo told me. "Just get a piece of who you're supposed to get." pic.twitter.com/vtG5EKWWjD

— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) January 9, 2026

“Yeah, he’s incredible,” Kupp said at the beginning of the playoffs. “I love Jake. The guys in here love him. And he’s been a big deal, big part of our thing this year.”

Macdonald had made Bobo the special-teams captain for that week-18 game at San Francisco.

“Jake’s been great....I can tell you what the coaching staff thinks of him and the job that he’s done,” Macdonald said after that game.

“Jake’s a great competitor too, and he’s a great teammate. He’s supporting the guys. But he’s also competing for that role, as well.

“That’s exactly the way that you want it where the guys are sharpening each other all the time.”

Rory McIlroy has a chance at more golf history this week at The Players Championship if he's able to tee it up at TPC Sawgrass. But there's still some question as to whether the defending tournament champion will be able to play the PGA Tour event many call golf's "fifth major."

McIlroy couldn't finish the Arnold Palmer Invitational last weekend, withdrawing due to a back injury. He has since endured complications as he attempts to recover in time to compete in The Players Championship, beginning with first-round action on Thursday, March 12.

McIlroy could join Jack Nicklaus as the only golfers in history to win the event three times. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler can achieve the same feat after back-to-back wins at The Players prior to McIlroy's 2025 victory.

Here's the latest update on McIlroy's back injury and his status ahead of the start of the 2026 Players Championship:

PGA TOUR: New CEO proposes drastic changes for future schedule, playoffs

Is Rory McIlroy still in 2026 Players Championship?

Yes, McIlroy is still listed as in the field at The Players Championship, as of 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 11. He was spotted at TPC Sawgrass for the first time this week on Wednesday afternoon, less than 24 hours before he's scheduled to tee off in the first round of the 2026 Players Championship.

The defending champion has arrived. pic.twitter.com/NGY1uNp0gO

— Adam Schupak (@AdamSchupak) March 11, 2026

"It's better than it was. I hit up until a 6-iron on the range there and it felt OK," McIlroy told reporters after his practice session on Wednesday when asked about the condition of his back and whether he's still planning to play in The Players Championship.

"We'll see. I'm taking it sort of hour-by-hour, but it feels better. That's all I can say. I couldn't stand to address the ball on Saturday morning at Bay Hill and it's obviously better than that. Probably a game-time decision, but all indications are pointing in the right direction."

Rory McIlroy injury update

McIlroy withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational prior to the third round on March 7, citing back spasms that occurred after feeling a "twinge" during warmups. After initially sounding optimistic about returning in time for The Players, McIlroy told The Golf Channel that he was delaying his arrival at TPC Sawgrass from Monday to Wednesday.

“The back is being a bit more stubborn than we thought, so I’m staying at home ... to continue treatment in South Florida with the hope to travel to Ponte Vedra on Wednesday at some point,” McIlroy said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rory McIlroy back injury update for The Players Championship 2026

JACKSONVILLE — Whether it was state final-four jitters or just a bad day, the Gateway girls did not come out looking like a team that had lost only three games on the season Wednesday in the Class 5A girls state basketball semifinal against Miami Booker T. Washington.

As the final seconds ticked down, Gateway point guard and the coach’s daughter Alyssa Marino walked the ball up the floor and watched the clock. When it approached zero, the senior stepped up and drilled a 3-pointer to end the game, Gateway on the losing end 54-41, and Marino finishing her high school career.

It was about the only thing that went right for Marino and Gateway on Wednesday. Things the Panthers usually do right, seemed to all go wrong and they never could gain control. Shots didn’t fall from the field and it was even worse at the free-throw line.

Gateway girls basketball father-daughter combo rolls into FHSAA region final

Gateway, a nearly 50%-shooting team all year, struggled, hitting just 15-of-42 shots (36%) and at the free-throw line it was even worse, 5-of-19 (26%).

“Free throws were our Achilles. Free throws killed us. You can’t win a game shooting 5-of-19 from the free-throw line,” Gateway Coach Justin Marino said.

But it wasn’t just the free throws. Gateway never really got going and it was a particularly bad day for leading scorer Ashlynn Day. The sophomore came in averaging 22 points, but Booker T. held (23-3) her to just 11 points and she had only four points in the first three quarters.

Day, who is fierce on the dribble-drive and usually finishes well at the rim, missed several layups that she would normally convert. Day made only 4-of-15 shots and was only 3-of-9 from the free-throw line.

“Well, it’s kind of hard when you have two athletes face-guarding your two best players wherever they go,” Marino said of Day and his point guard daughter Alyssa. “When that happens, the other ones gotta step up a little bit. Even being face-guarded, my two best players scored the most points for me, so they did all they could, really.’

The uncharacteristic misses, especially for Day, were surprising for a team that has played together for the past two seasons, and several players are veteran AAU summer circuit players.

“Not her best game,” Marino said of Day. “I don’t want to say the pressure got to her because she’s played in some big games and she plays on the Under Armour circuit and she’s played in front of some big-time coaches. So I don’t think the pressure got to her … maybe just frustration.

“She definitely had some misses she doesn’t usually have on a normal basis.”

Still, Gateway was hanging tight, within 6 to 8 points for most of the game.

“We stayed within like seven points almost the whole game … We never got to tie or grab the lead the whole game,” Alyssa Marino said. “Until the very end, our defense was still pretty good. We are usually a transition team and me and Ashlynn are always pushing the ball, have the ball in our hands, give-and-go, but it was definitely a lot harder and a lot different because most of the game me and her were both face-guarded.”

The Panthers appeared to have things turn in their favor when they got big Booker T. center Chamia Francis to commit her fourth foul with 3:59 left in the third quarter. Gateway trailed 36-26 at that point, and a Marino 3-pointer right after the foul seemed to stroke some momentum.

“I thought we played hard enough to win. I thought we played the big girl well enough to win. She’s a Power 4, Division I player at 6-3. I thought our 5-8 [Evana Rivera] battled her about as tough as you can play somebody,” Marino said of Francis, who had 11 points and 7 rebounds. “Held her to, I think, single digit points maybe.”

But Gateway did not take full advantage and thanks to the shooting of Nylah Brooks (3 3-pointers and 15 points) and Kalyn Thomas (3 3-pointers and 16 points), the Wildcats never really missed Francis, who played just 18 minutes.

“I think they were up 8 when [Francis] got her fourth, and then I look up at the end of the quarter and they’re up 7, so we definitely did not take advantage the way we should have with her out.”

It started poorly and never got better. Gateway (26-4) couldn’t find the basket in the first half, especially at the free-throw line, where the Panthers, a 72% free-throw shooting team, hit just 3-of-13 foul shots (23%). Day was particularly frigid. A 72% free-throw shooter on the season, the sophomore hit just 2-of-7 charities in the first half, as well as only 2-of-7 field goals. Gateway was just 7-of-21 (33%) from the field in the first half and trailed 22-14.

Rivera did step up her game, playing admirably on offense and solid on defense when she had to post-up with Francis. She also showed her ball-handling skills are adept for a forward. Rivera scored 7 points and had 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocked shots.

“She did, she stepped up. She’s tough. At 5-8 having to guard the biggest girl every time like that, she’s a fighter, a competitor,” Marino said.

A sad ended for Marino and his daughter, who is now headed to Embry Riddle to begin her college career. Marino led Gateway with 16 points, hitting 6-of-9 shots including 3-of-4 3-pointers.

“She was getting frustrated because [the refs] were letting the physicality go a little too far, the pushing and the grabbing,” Marino said. “When you are not making basketball plays and they’re pushing and grabbing like that, frustration is definitely going to set in.

“With all of that, she still had a game-high 16, so I thought she played well. It was definitely emotional. I’ve coached since she was in kindergarten … I did all I could do and now I just gotta be a dad, I guess.”

Hitting the 3-pointer at the buzzer gave Marino something to feel good about, but the end was not the way she wanted it.

“It was pretty frustrating because I feel like we definitely could have beaten them,” Marino said. “It’s really hard. That was the last time getting coached by [dad]. I’ve been coached by him almost my whole life other than maybe one of two years, so it’s definitely a hard moment.

“[The final 3-pointer] was definitely nice, my last seconds and my last shot was really ,” Marino said, as she finally was able to laugh a little.

Chris Hays can be found on X.com@OS_ChrisHays.

Roma is preparing to take to the field at the Dall’Ara Stadium for the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie.

While Gian Piero Gasperini is fine-tuning his strategies to compensate for the absences, Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano analyzed the Giallorossi’s potential in a press conference.

The coach began by commenting on Bologna’s current form: “We’re coming into this match after putting the defeat against Verona behind us.”

“We’ll face a Roma side that we’ll have to study carefully, trying to highlight some of their weaknesses. As I said, I was hoping for a different draw, because together we could have gone a long way; instead, one of the two teams will have to go. We’re stuttering a bit at home, but we hope to bounce back tomorrow.”

On the potential disadvantage of playing the second leg at the Stadio Olimpico: “I’m not thinking about the second leg. After tomorrow’s match, we’ll focus on the league again; there’ll be time to think about it. You know what kind of atmosphere we’ll find at the Olimpico, and it won’t be easy.”

Time: 9:30 PM Wednesday, March 11th, 2026

Location: Charlotte, NC | Spectrum Center, 19,444 capacity

TV: ESPN2

Streaming: ESPN App

Radio: Wake Forest Learfield Sports Network, Demon Deacons App (IOS | Android)

Live Stats: Stat Broadcast

Twitter: @WakeMBB | @BloggerSoDear | @EssexThayer7 | @Les_Johns | @ConorONeill_DI

Instagram: @WakeBasketball

Spread: Wake +5.5

Over/Under: 141.5

Wake’s Rating: KenPom: 72 | NET: 63

Opponent’s Rating: KenPom: 38 | NET: 36

Quad: 1

Kenpom Prediction: Clemson wins 74-69

Opponent’s Best Win: Louisville (18)

Opponent’s Worst Loss: Georgetown (85)

Previous Matchup: Wake 85—Clemson 77 (2026)

Head-to-Head All Time: 88-62

ESPN Matchup Predictor: 30% chance to win

Wake won their first matchup in the ACC Tournament, but if they want to keep the hope of making the NCAA Tournament alive, they will have to beat a top 20 defensive team in the Clemson Tigers today. Clemson finished the regular season losing 5 of their final 7 games, including a loss to Wake Forest less than a month ago. To beat the Tigers, the Deacs are probably going to need more from star player Juke Harris—I doubt Wake will be able to overcome another 10 point performance on 16% shooting from the floor.

Go Deacs!

Chelsea have ended up on the losing side of a 5-2 game against PSG that they could easily have won. Major goalkeeping errors were crucial.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CHELSEA NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON THE APP STORE

Chelsea were at 2-2 and looking really dangerous on the break. They just needed to avoid doing something stupid. Well, you can guess what happened next. They did something really, really stupid.

It was the moment to take no risks – we were happy with 2-2, and would have great chances on counter attacks. But goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen took a ridiculous risk in possession, passed it to a PSG player, and the Blues were suddenly behind.

Enzo Fernandez was raging at his goalkeeper, and a camera caught his furious reaction. We can understand why – this was not the time or place for a pass into midfield.

You can see the moment in the clip embedded here:

[Footage from TNT Sport]

Jorgensen blows his audition on the biggest stage

It’s a dark day for Jorgensen especially.

We said before the game that it was probably an unnecessary risk from Liam Rosenior. We’re not sure why he dropped Robert Sanchez after a bad game against Arsenal. The myth that Jorgensen is better with his feet is nonsense – he just has the confidence to do stupid things.

Honestly this tie could be over all thanks to that one stupid moment, and one bad decision from Rosenior to put him in.

In other news…

Chelsea’s second goal was a superb counter from Pedro Neto, who burst forward then stayed alert to pick out Enzo Fernandez’s run.

The opening Chelsea goal was a really nice one, with Malo Gusto finding space down the right to dash forwards into.

Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:

The Dominican Republic and Venezuela face off in a blockbuster World Baseball Classic matchup that will decide the group winner and quarterfinal seeding. Both teams have gone 3–0 in pool play and shown potent offense and pitching, setting up a high‑stakes clash in Miami that could shape their paths deeper into the tournament.

MORE: Official USA World Baseball Classic 2026 gear: WBC jerseys, hats and more

How to Watch Venezuela vs Dominican Republic

• Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2026
• Time: 8:00 AM ET
• TV Channel: FOX Sports 1, FOX Deportes
• Live Stream: Fubo (try for free)

Venezuela and the Dominican Republic clash in a high-stakes World Baseball Classic Pool D matchup, with both teams undefeated in group play and jockeying for the top spot.

Venezuela has leaned on a mix of veteran leadership and young talent, featuring strong pitching depth and an offense capable of producing runs in bursts. Their ability to get timely hits and limit mistakes on the basepaths has made them one of the toughest teams to beat in the pool, and a win here would likely secure a favorable path to the quarterfinals.

– Watch Venezuela vs Dominican Republic on Fubo –

The Dominican Republic, meanwhile, enters with one of the most potent lineups in the tournament, blending power hitters with dynamic speed on the bases. Their pitching staff has also been dominant, capable of suppressing opponents’ scoring early and late in games.

With both teams matching up in every facet, offense, defense, and bullpen depth, this matchup could be decisive in determining which squad advances as the top seed from Pool D, setting the tone for the knockout stage.

Live stream Venezuela vs Dominican Republic with Fubo: Start your free trial now!

You can catch all of the 2026 WBC with a subscription to Fubo. All games will be broadcast live across FOX, FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2, and FOX Deportes throughout the tournament. The best part is that you can test out the services today for free.

Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

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

NFL: 5 most overrated NFL free agents hitting the market in 2026

MLB: What drug did Jurickson Profar take? MLB announces PED use

SPORTS MEDIA: Stephen A. Smith bashes underwhelming NBA star as ‘food addict’

VIRAL: NBC delivers epic nostalgia with ‘Throwback Tuesday’ NBA broadcast

WORLD CUP: Will Iran compete in the 2026 World Cup? Donald Trump weighs in

WNBA: Players, union leaders divided, claims letter from 2-time MVP and 4-time All-Star

as changed his mind about his WBC plans

The post How to live stream Venezuela vs Dominican Republic: WBC 2026, TV channel appeared first on The Big Lead.

Roma has ended its long search for a main sponsor for its jersey.

The club announced a press conference to present Eurobet.live, its new Giallorossi partner, on Friday, March 13th at 12:00 PM at the “Salone delle Colonne” in Piazza Guglielmo Marconi.

The agreement with the new sponsor will guarantee Roma revenue of €16 million per season for a total term of three years and four months, securing the partnership until June 2029.

This agreement closes a troubled chapter for Roma’s marketing under Friedkin.

In recent years, Roma has had to navigate several transitions: after the failed deal with Digitalbits in 2023, the team briefly played under the acronym SPQR, before temporarily tying itself to Riyadh Season.

Once the relationship with the Arab partner ended, the management waited before finding a replacement who could guarantee stability and a salary in line with the club’s demands.

Arsenal Hold Bayer Leverkusen with Late Havertz Penalty in Champions League

Arsenal left Germany with their Champions League ambitions firmly intact after a dramatic late equaliser secured a 1-1 draw against Bayer Leverkusen at the BayArena. Kai Havertz, returning to familiar surroundings, converted a penalty in the 89th minute to cancel out Robert Andrich’s second half opener and ensure the tie remains finely balanced ahead of the return leg in London.

For long stretches Bayer Leverkusen looked poised to inflict Arsenal’s first defeat of the competition this season. Yet Mikel Arteta’s side demonstrated composure in adversity, finding a crucial goal that shifts the psychological momentum before next week’s decisive encounter.

Early Pressure from Arsenal

Arsenal began with purpose, circulating the ball quickly and attempting to impose their rhythm on Bayer Leverkusen. Mikel Arteta rotated heavily after the FA Cup victory over Mansfield, making ten changes to the side, yet the visitors initially looked sharp.

Gabriel Martinelli came closest to breaking the deadlock. The Brazilian, who has been prolific in Europe this season, was picked out by Viktor Gyokeres and unleashed a fierce effort that rattled the crossbar.

Despite that early warning, Bayer Leverkusen remained composed defensively. The midfield partnership of Aleix Garcia and Exequiel Palacios managed possession intelligently and disrupted Arsenal’s attacking structure whenever the visitors threatened to build sustained pressure.

Leverkusen Strike After Half Time

The game turned within moments of the restart. Bayer Leverkusen emerged from the interval with renewed energy and quickly forced Arsenal onto the back foot.

A well crafted attacking move from the kick off almost produced an immediate breakthrough, Martin Terrier’s header requiring a sharp save from David Raya. Arsenal could not escape the pressure that followed.

From the resulting Alex Grimaldo corner, Robert Andrich was left unmarked at the far post and powered a header into the net. It marked the first time Arsenal had conceded in this season’s Champions League campaign and lifted the BayArena crowd.

Leverkusen grew in confidence after taking the lead. Christian Kofane proved a persistent problem for Gabriel at centre back, while Arsenal struggled to generate clear opportunities.

Havertz Delivers Late Equaliser

Arteta responded by introducing Noni Madueke and Kai Havertz from the bench, a decision that ultimately shaped the closing stages.

Madueke’s direct running injected urgency into Arsenal’s attack. In the 89th minute he surged into the Bayer Leverkusen penalty area before being brought down by Malik Tillman, prompting the referee to point to the spot despite protests from the home supporters.

Havertz stepped forward and calmly placed the penalty beyond Janis Blaswich. The German forward, who spent a decade developing at Bayer Leverkusen before his move to Chelsea in 2020, kept his celebration subdued after scoring against his former club.

The 1-1 result means Arsenal lose their perfect record in the Champions League this season. Yet they return to the Emirates Stadium in a strong position.

History also offers encouragement. When Arsenal last faced Bayer Leverkusen in the competition during the 2001-02 group stage, a 1-1 draw in Germany preceded a commanding 4-1 victory in London.

With four trophies still within reach this season, the pressure on Arsenal continues to grow. On this evidence, their capacity to respond under pressure may yet prove decisive.

The Texas Longhorns are in Nashville for the SEC Tournament as the No. 10 seed facing off in the first round against the No. 15 seed Ole Miss Rebels at Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday.

Tip is at 6 p.m. Central on SEC Network and this is your gamethread.

Real Madrid star Federico Valverde was afforded a perfect 10/10 match rating for his performance against Manchester City on Wednesday.

This comes after the Uruguayan conjured up a display for the ages.

Real Madrid were of course back in action a short time ago, welcoming Pep Guardiola’s Man City to Spain’s capital for a Champions League showdown.

The aforementioned Fede Valverde was afforded a starting berth for the evening, in an injury-hit hosts XI.

And en route to an eventual 3-0 triumph, the midfielder proved himself the absolute, undisputed star of the show.

Incredibly, Valverde was responsible for all three of Real Madrid’s goals, through a range of brilliant finishes.

On top of his decisiveness in the final third, the 27-year-old was also close to flawless in all other aspects of the game, defending stoutly, holding possession with class and control, and playing a true captain’s role across the 90 minutes.

In turn, it should come as little surprise to learn of Valverde being handed a 10/10 Man of the Match rating by statisticians Sofascore post-match.

Conor Laird – GSFN

The Miami Dolphins already added Lonnie Johnson and Darrell Baker to their cornerback room and re-signed A.J. Green III on Thursday afternoon, but that's not stopping them from bringing in more veterans.

According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Dolphins are signing cornerback Alex Austin away from the New England Patriots.

More to come...

More Dolphins: Dolphins 2026 free agency tracker: Latest news, rumors and signings

This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: NFL free agency: Dolphins sign CB Alex Austin away from Patriots

Team Italy’s hopes of advancing out of Pool B at the World Baseball Classic are still alive.

For utility player Miles Mastrobuoni, he’ll have to root for Italy from afar.

MORE:Red Sox catcher suddenly joins Team Italy in WBC after Kyle Teel injury

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Mastrobuoni will leave Team Italy on March 11 after it was reported he suffered a calf injury in Italy’s stunning 8-6 upset of Team USA on March 10. He’ll head back to the Seattle Mariners’ spring training camp after Italy plays Mexico in their final pool play game.

Mastrobuoni, 30, is competing in his second WBC for Team Italy. He’s 2 for 3 with an RBI through his first four plate appearances of the tournament.

More to come on this story.

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

NFL: 2026 NFL Free Agency’s biggest Day 1 winners

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: Randy Arozarena slams Cal Raleigh after he refuses to shake hands at WBC

MARCH MADNESS: 5 potential bracket-busting March Madness 2026 Cinderella teams

NBA: Adam Silver sends message after cancelling Hawks’ ‘Magic Monday’ promotion

PARALYMPICS: 2026 Winter Paralympics medal count standings entering March 10

VIRAL: Wasserman Agency reveals new name, cancelling disgraced founder

The post Mariners utility player to leave Team Italy after stunning WBC upset appeared first on The Big Lead.

The second round of the men’s ACC basketball tournament is underway at the Spectrum Center in Uptown.

With the Hornets in the middle of a West Coast trip, the Spectrum Center is still buzzing with action.

North Carolina State survived an upset bid in the early window on Wednesday by beating Pittsburgh by a score of 98-88.

ALSO READ: Free agency tracker: Panthers make immediate splash

It’s the second year in a row that the Queen City has hosted the tournament. IN 2025, 80,000 fans attended and generated nearly $34 million in economic impact.

It’s also a homecoming for players like NC State sophomore guard Paul McNeil Jr., who is from Rockingham.

“Actually, my first time here it was big time for me, you know, I feel like it’s just like Lenovo.. big arena, and we had our fans here too, so it just felt like it was home,” McNeil said.

This week also gives the chance for college hoops fans to check out the renovations at Spectrum Center for the first time.

“So many more food venues, upscale food venues, it feels more like a relaxed concierge experience as opposed to a basic coliseum experience,” Duke fan Catherine Betor said.

Charlotte will host the tournament again in 2028 after a one-year stop in Greensboro next year.

The tournament will run through Saturday with the championship game set for 8:30 p.m.

(WATCH BELOW: Free agency tracker: Panthers make immediate splash)

Real Madrid stunned European rivals Manchester City with a rampant 3-0 victory at the Bernabéu on Wednesday night as Fede Valverde scored a stunning hat-trick in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League last 16 encounter. This, the fifth consecutive season in which these two sides have met in the knock-out rounds, saw Valverde strike as he broke past Donnarumma on the counter, adding a second on his left foot from the edge of the box moments later and then saving best till last with a classy volley from close range to make it 3-0 and take home the match ball.

Three answers

1. Would Álvaro Arbeloa opt for experience?

Álvaro Arbeloa cannot be criticised since his arrival for not giving chances to youngsters. The likes of Thiago Pitarch, Jorge Cestero, Manuel Ángel, and others have become regulars in squad lists since Arbeloa stepped up from Castilla, and even in the starting line-up in the case of Thiago Pitarch, who started the two previous games. However, he now had Eduardo Camavinga back available, and had already shown some signs of opting for the big-ego and big-experience players by opting for Brahim Díaz over Gonzalo García in Vigo last weekend. Many expected Camavinga to walk straight back into the team after overcoming a dental issue, but Pitarch continued in his role. He still looked a little out of place, one costly error of judgement almost allowing a point-blanc goal for Manchester City as he hesitated in his own box, but was generally composed and tidy, registering 94% pass completion and not being dispossessed at all. Arbeloa was willing to stick with his principles, even if that did open him up for major criticism if his gamble hadn’t paid off.

2. Without Mbappé, could the scoring streak at the Bernabéu reach 40 games in a row in the Champions League?

Real Madrid have scored in every knock-out Champions League game at home dating back to 2011, a 15-year streak which tonight became 40 games in a row. Without top scorer Kylian Mbappé and with Arbeloa again testing the false nine system which struggled against Celta Vigo in La Liga on Friday night, there were plenty of reasons for some in the stands to be feeling the pressure of such a stat. Fede Valverde ensured that it still worked out, and Real Madrid can extend this impressive run which stands them in good stead and feeds the optimism around the club heading into each and every knock-out game at the stadium. If Real Madrid do go through, they could face Bayern Munich in the next round, a side who have a strong defensive record but are not unbreakable. Keeping this record going, as they did against the odds against Manchester City, could be the key to unlocking a place in the fight for the Champions League crown this season.

3. Are Real Madrid favourites?

Much of the debate pre-match surrounded who the favourites were in this tie. Given Real Madrid’s heritage, there were plenty who pointed to Los Blancos, including Arbeloa himself in his pre-match press conference. “We shouldn’t feel inferior to anyone,” he said, adding that, “we know how difficult this tie is going to be, but we’re going to face it with great enthusiasm, looking them in the eye”. That’s exactly what Real Madrid, with no sign of nerves or feeling second best, even against a Manchester City side who beat them at this same stadium as recently as December. In that game, Real Madrid were praised for not sitting back on their laurels, but this time around, the side was set up far more aggressively and with more of an optimistic outset of looking to gamble on loose balls and opportunities, pressing high and effectively. This was much more of a team performance, and it showed with a side who came out with the knife between their teeth.

Three questions

1. Has Fede Valverde ever scored a hat-trick before?

Forget whether Fede Valverde had ever scored three in the same game before, he’d only scored two in the same match once before. Two goals in the FIFA Club World Cup final in 2023 against Al Hilal was the only previous time that the Uruguayan had scored more than a single goal in a game. Deployed in a more advanced role, Valverde matched his goal return from the last 40 games combined in just one night. Scoring with all three of his efforts on goal, he possessed an incredible amount of energy and stamina to continually burst down the right flank and lead the charge, both in and out of possession. His goals reflected that, rather than his usual trademark thunderbolt strikes from distance, they were rooted in perseverance and his never-say-die attitude which saw him continually chase every loose ball and gamble on it paying off. Tonight, it did. This may be Fede’s greatest individual night as a Real Madrid player, and it came precisely when his team was looking for a leader to step up.

2. Do Real Madrid have one foot in the quarter-final?

Even the most optimistic of Madridistas wouldn’t have seen a 3-0 scoreline coming from the first leg. Heading to Manchester with a three goal advantage is a massive boost, but does not mean the tie is done and dusted just yet. This season alone, Manchester City have beaten both Manchester United and Liverpool by a 3-0 scoreline at the Etihad, among others, and that would be enough to take the game to extra-time. This kind of dominance is one that even the greatest of Real Madrid sides rarely encountered, this being only the fourth time in history that Real Madrid have scored three goals in the first half of a UEFA Champions League knockout match, the first since April 2014 against Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, and now Real Madrid have to see it out. Inviting them to close out the game in a hostile opposition stadium adds pressure to a fragile defence, and while this is a dream result for Real Madrid, there can be no room for complacency.

3.Should Vinícius Júnior still be taking penalties?

If there was a chance for Real Madrid to edge close to killing off this game, it was with Vinícius Júnior’s second-half penalty which was low and tame at the perfect height for Gianluigi Donnarumma to save. It was Vini’s second penalty miss this season, from five taken, adding to two misses from six penalties in 2024/25. While Kylian Mbappé‘s record is impecable, with only one miss from 13 penalties this season, Real Madrid need a back-up spot-kick taker who can step up when needed. On the night, there were few alternatives. Fede Valverde has only ever taken one penalty in match action for Real Madrid, at the Club World Cup against Al Hilal last summer, and missed. The usual alternatives, such as Jude Bellingham or Rodrygo, were also absent due to injuries. Vini should be the man to step up, but his record leaves enough question marks to open a debate.

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith and legendary starter Clayton Kershaw are in danger of WBC elimination with Team USA.

Team USA’s fate is out of their hands following an 8-6 loss to Team Italy on Wednesday — a game in which Kershaw did not feature. Kershaw warmed up in the bullpen during the loss, but manager Mark DeRosa opted to field All-Star reliever Mason Miller in his stead. The southpaw is still yet to feature for the team in the tournament.

Smith started the game, going 2-for-4 with a double. It was his second start of the tournament, having played against Team Great Britain in the third game of the WBC.

USA finished their pool play games with the loss, and have a 3-1 record. Teams Italy and Mexico have 3-0 and 2-1 records, respectively, and can both qualify for the next round while eliminating Team USA.

After record, there are five tiebreakers to determine who advances over who in the WBC. The first is head-to-head record, but if the three finish on 3-1 they will all have the same 1-1 record against each other. The next tiebreaker is runs allowed per defensive outs against the tied teams, followed by earned runs allowed per defensive outs in games among the tied teams.

Should those end in ties as well, which is nearly impossible in this scenario, the final tiebreaker is batting average in games between tied teams. If teams remain tied after that, they will draw lots.

How Does Team USA Avoid Elimination?

While the WBC’s tiebreaker rules are rather unorthodox and confusing, the situation is much simpler than it appears.

If Team Italy wins and secures a perfect 4-0 record in group play, Team Mexico will be eliminated and Team USA will advance into the quarterfinals from second place.

Should Team Mexico win, the United States needs them to score five or more runs in order to advance along with them. If they score fewer than five runs, though, Team USA will be eliminated and Mexico and Italy will advance to the next round.

Team Canada finished first in Pool A after a win over Team Cuba on Wednesday afternoon, and will face whichever of the three teams finishes second. Team Puerto Rico finished second, meaning they will play the winners of the group.

What is your preferred outcome for Team USA?

The Buffalo Bills made one of their quieter but important offseason housekeeping moves by tendering restricted free agent offensive lineman Ryan Van Demark with the original-round tender, locking in his 2026 salary at $3.52 million.

For Buffalo, this is a practical roster protection move. The original-round tender, often described as right of first refusal, allows another team to sign Van Demark to an offer sheet, but the Bills retain the right to match it. Because Van Demark entered the league as an undrafted free agent, there is no draft compensation attached if Buffalo declines to match an outside offer. In other words, the Bills maintain control of the situation.

The tender amount rises annually alongside the NFL salary cap, which is why this year’s number lands at $3,520,000. For a team constantly working through cap decisions, it remains a reasonable number for an offensive tackle with starting experience and familiarity in the system.

Van Demark has quietly become one of Buffalo’s more reliable depth pieces along the offensive line. He started four games last season and has now appeared in more than 40 games across the last three seasons, giving the Bills valuable insurance in the trenches.

He may not generate major headlines, but these are the types of moves that matter in the offseason. Buffalo knows exactly what it has in Van Demark, a dependable backup who has already shown he can step in to provide meaningful snaps when needed.

France flanker Oscar Jegou will miss the Six Nations meeting with England on Saturday after being given a four-week suspension for gouging an opponent's eye.

An independent disciplinary committee found that Jegou, 22, made "reckless contact with the eye(s)" of Scotland hooker Ewan Ashman during France's 50-40 defeat at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Jegou escaped punishment during the match, but the committee decided the action warranted a red card.

The sanction was reduced from six weeks to four because of his prior good conduct and disciplinary record.

The loss to Scotland ended France's Grand Slam hopes and means both sides go into the final round tied on 16 points in the table, vying for the title with third-placed Ireland.

Jegou will miss the match against England in Paris (20:10 GMT) and will be unavailable for club games for La Rochelle against Pau, Bayonne and Newcastle Falcons.

Scotland, whose points difference is inferior to France's, face Ireland in Dublin on Saturday (14:10 GMT).

• Permutations as France, Scotland and Ireland chase title
• Pressure of representing England has shown - Borthwick
• Scotland's 'flex', Irish selection and a 'Triple Crown final'

Real Madrid crushed Manchester City, 3-0, with a stellar performance from captain Federico Valverde.

With the Blancos heavily depleted, it was up to number 8 to score all three goals for Real, aside from the drubbing given to Pep & Co.

On social media, fans went wild with the Uruguayan's brilliance!

Check out the main reactions below!

Featured photo: Reproduction/X

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

Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar addressed the media on the eve of the Europa League clash against Bologna.

When asked about Roma conceding more goals recently, Svilar said, “We always hope we’ll score many goals and concede the fewest goals possible. In the past few weeks, it didn’t go our way, but we’ll do better in the future.”

“I am extremely motivated. Nobody needs to try to motivate me because I’m a very ambitious person. There’s always room for improvement. But every match is different. We review our games with the coach and there is always something we can improve. That’s the nice thing about this sport: you can improve throughout your entire career.”

“Our goal is always to win. European nights are special and it should go without saying that we’ll do our best to advance to the next round, and then we’ll see what happens.”

Sheffield United dropped all three points on Wednesday evening when Norwich City came from behind to beat the Blades 2-1 in the final minutes at Carrow Road.

It was the visitors who got the scoring underway from an unlikely source. After some hard work from Tom Cannon, Callum O’Hare tee’d up Jairo Riedewald just inside the box with the midfielder dispatching smartly at the near post. Norwich equalised from a corner via Jack Stacey in the second half, and after a wave of pressure Amankwah Forson proved to be super sub when he curled the ball beyond Adam Davies with just minutes to spare.

Lineups

Norwich: Kovacevic, Stacey, Darling, Slimane (Wright 61), Ahmed (Forson 81), McLean, Field (Mattson 60), Kvistgaarden (Mundle-Smith 61), Córdoba, Fisher, Springett (Maghoma HT).

Unused: Moulden, Medić, Gibbs, Chrisene.

Blades: A. Davies, Tanganga, Bindon, Cannon, O’Hare (Ings 88), Brooks (Ogbene 88), Burrows, Campbell (Chong 64), Seriki (Hoever 88), Peck, Riedewald (Rothwell 64).

Unused: Faxon, Arblaster, Hjelde, McGuinness.

First Half

Femi Seriki’s first involvement nearly produced an opener. The right-back delivered a dangerous cross from the flank that took a touch off a Norwich defender and spun narrowly wide of the far post.

The opening stages were closely contested, with both sides battling for control in midfield. Norwich threatened next when former Blade Anis Slimane rose highest in the box but guided his header over the crossbar.

Sheffield United responded with a sharp attacking move involving Callum O’Hare and Tyrese Campbell. Their quick interplay opened space behind the defence, allowing Tom Cannon to race through, though his effort from a tight angle drifted wide of the target.

Cannon remained heavily involved and soon created another opportunity through sheer determination. Pressuring Kenny McLean into a mistake, he stole possession before slipping a pass into O’Hare, who drove forward into the penalty area as United began to grow in confidence.

The visitors’ pressure paid off in the 20th minute. Jairo Riedewald met O’Hare’s lay-off with a well-struck volley that flew past the goalkeeper to give Sheffield United the lead.

However, after going ahead, the Blades gradually retreated deeper into their own half as Norwich began to dominate possession. The hosts nearly equalised on 31 minutes when Harry Darling saw his effort deflect wide after striking Tyler Bindon.

Norwich continued to push forward and came close again when Kasper Kvistgaarden powered a header towards goal, only for Japhet Tanganga to block heroically just in front of the line.

Second Half

Norwich’s pressure eventually told in the 68th minute. From a corner delivered by Jacob Wright, Jack Stacey climbed above the crowd in the box to head home the equaliser.

United nearly regained the lead shortly afterwards when Cannon connected with a corner from Harrison Burrows, but his header drifted just wide of the post.

With the momentum firmly on their side, Norwich completed the turnaround in the closing stages. The hosts edged in front in the 84th minute when Amankwah Forson finished first time after a surging run and cross from Paris Maghoma during a swift counter-attack.

Mar. 11—Tuscola baseball has spent the last few seasons near the top of the Mountain 7 and making deep playoff runs.

The team looks a lot different than last year, having lost some key graduating players, but the Mountaineers are keeping the motto the same.

"The last couple of years, our biggest thing was the nameless opponent. We try to take that mindset into each year. This season's different. We got eight new starters due to injuries, graduation, and kids leaving, but the expectations stayed the same. We have the same goals that we've had the last couple of years," said Tuscola Coach Zack Shepherd. "We're not coaching them any differently. We have the same mindset."

Despite losing almost the entire starting lineup from last season, Tuscola has had plenty of guys who played a lot last season as utility players or just entirely fresh faces step up.

"Because these kids have played their whole life, they naturally start filling roles. These kids haven't missed a beat," Shepherd said.

New look offense

The coach said the defense and pitching are going to be Tuscola's strengths this season.

On the other side of things, Tuscola has already seen some success. Over the course of the Mountaineers' 2-2 start to the season, Tuscola is averaging 10 runs per game. But Shepherd isn't sold on the offense yet.

"It's going to be a work in progress. We're going to have to play small ball in some games. We don't have a guy that's going to hit five home runs. We don't have a guy that's going to hit 11 doubles right now. Now that might happen, but it's just a different mindset right now," Shepherd said.

Tuscola is going to change up its offensive mindset this year in response to the changes to the team's makeup.

"Last year, we would come out flat a little bit, then all of a sudden, we'd score six runs in an inning. This year, we're really trying to start fast, where we don't have to score big in one inning," Shepherd said.

While they're missing most of last season's starters, the Mountaineers are bringing back a lot of talent and experience. Tuscola will have eight seniors on the roster this season.

"I feel great. We've got a good squad out here, and my teammates push me every day to make me better," said senior Mason Harrell. "I'm expecting to come out here and do good, hopefully better than I was last year, and just come out here and make the team better."

For senior Ian Amsler, the season is going to be all about getting better every day and helping the team. He's excited for one last run with the teammates he's grown up with.

"It's pretty fun. I've played with most of these boys all my life. It's nice to do it for one last time. Hopefully, we go out with a bang," Amsler said.

Staying loose

During practice last week, Tuscola was staying loose. Players were laughing and joking around, even roping the coach into the antics at times.

According to the coach, it's critical to keep that mood in the locker room.

"Baseball is a long season. They've been working since August, so you've got to keep it fun," the coach said.

And the Mountaineers will need to stay loose this season. They're facing some tough challenges in a great Mountain 8 conference this season.

"It's gonna be a battle every night, but I think these kids are up for it," Shepherd said. "In baseball, you're playing the ball really. It doesn't matter who the other team is. You have to execute."

PARIS (AP) — Chelsea's Pedro Neto shoved a ball boy late in his team's 5-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 match on Wednesday.

The ball had just gone out of play down the right in stoppage time when the Portugal winger tried to get it quickly and shoved the ball boy in the chest as he appeared to be trying to hold onto the ball.

The ball boy tumbled backward into an advertising board.

He got back up and appeared unharmed. He was comforted by some PSG players as others indulged in some pushing and shoving, while other PSG players scolded Neto.

Neto was not punished by the referee over the incident.

___

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

The Miami Dolphins announced the release of linebacker Bradley Chubb earlier in the offseason, but the move became official on Wednesday, giving him a chance to sign with another team right away.

Not long after the official release, Chubb agreed to a three-year, $43.5 million deal with the Buffalo Bills, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Chubb, 29, entered the league as a first-round pick with the Denver Broncos in 2018 after a college career at NC State. Denver traded him to the Dolphins in 2022. Over the last four years with Miami, he appeared in 49 games (missing all of 2024 with a torn ACL) and recorded 133 tackles, 54 quarterback hits, 22 sacks, nine forced fumbles, three fumbles recovered and two passes defensed.

Miami will now face Chubb twice a year, and Malik Willis will have to make sure to get rid of the ball quickly when going against Buffalo's defense.

More Dolphins: Dolphins 2026 free agency tracker: Latest news, rumors and signings

This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: NFL free agency: Released Dolphins LB Bradley Chubb signs with Bills

2026 Big East Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Basics

Format

Traditional bracket.

Site

Madison Square Garden continues as home of both the old and new versions of the Big East Tournament—an uninterrupted run that began in 1983.

Participants

All 11 teams will get at least one game above Penn Station.

Schedule

Downloadable PDF Bracket

First Round (Wed. 3/11)

Peacock ($) will stream and NBCSN will air all three games.

Gm. 1: (9) Providence 91, (8) Butler (16-16, 7-13) 81
Gm. 2: (10) Xavier (14-17, 6-14) vs. (7) Marquette (12-19, 7-13), 6:30*
Home split: Golden Eagles 66-65 on 1/7 and Musketeers 96-88 on 2/14.
Gm. 3: (11) Georgetown (14-17, 6-14) vs. (6) DePaul (16-15, 8-12), 9*
Home split: Blue Demons 56-50 on 1/6 and Hoyas 70-61 on 1/28.

Quarterfinals (Thurs. 3/12)

Gm. 4: (9) Providence (15-17, 7-13) vs. (1) St. John’s (25-6, 18-2), 12 (Peacock ($)/NBCSN)
Road split: Friars 77-71 on 1/3 and Red Storm 79-69 on 2/14.
Gm. 5: (5) Creighton (15-16, 9-11) vs. (4) Seton Hall (20-11, 10-10), 2:30* (Peacock ($)/NBCSN)
Home split: Pirates 56-54 on 1/4 and Bluejays 69-68 on 2/7.
Gm. 6: Gm. 2 winner vs. (2) UConn (27-4, 17-3), 7 (FS1)
Gm. 7: Gm. 3 winner vs. (3) Villanova (24-7, 15-5), 9:30* (FS1)

Semifinals (Fri. 3/13)

Fox will air both games.

Gm. 8: Gm. 4 winner vs. Gm. 5 winner, 5:30
Gm. 9: Gm. 6 winner vs. Gm. 7 winner, 8*

Championship (Sat. 3/14)

Gm. 10: Semifinal winners, 6:30 (Fox)

Mayhem Potential

Data originally posted by Bob Vetrone Jr. on Twitterin 2020 with my own additions for the seasons beyond.

Over its last 14 editions, the No. 1 seed has won just a half-dozen Big East Tournament titles, with all of those victories coming since 2015, including the last two. Note that the No. 7 and No. 9 seeds’ titles came in the conference’s earlier, super-sized configuration. Georgetown won the COVID-impacted 2021 edition as an 8 seed.

• 1 seed (6): 2015, 2017, 2019, 2023, 2024, 2025
• 2 seed (3): 2013, 2018, 2022
• 3 seed (1): 2016
• 4 seed (1); 2014
• 7 seed (1): 2012
• 8 seed (1): 2021
• 9 seed (1): 2011

NCAA Bid Totals In The 68-Team Era

• 11 bids (1): 2011 (13-10 record, UConn national champion, 16 teams)
• 9 bids (1); 2012 (14-9 record, 16 teams)
• 8 bids (1): 2013 (13-7 record, Louisville national champion (vacated), 15 teams)
• 7 bids (1): 2017 (6-7 record, 10 teams)
• 6 bids (3): 2022 (7-6 record, 11 teams),2018 (9-5 record, Villanova national champion, 10 teams),2015 (5-6 record, 10 teams)
• 5 bids (3): 2025 (4-5 record, 11 teams), 2023 (12-4 record, UConn national champion, 11 teams), 2016 (9-4 record, Villanova national champion, 10 teams)
• 4 bids (2): 2021 (4-4, 11 teams),2019 (1-4 record, 10 teams), 2014 (2-4 record, 10 teams)
• 3 bids (1): 2024 (10-2, UConn national champion, 11 teams)

The most likely way the conference places more than three teams in the 2026 field is if there is a surprise winner. Seton Hall will have a chance with a win over Creighton and some help from other bubble teams.

Last Conference Tournament Titles

St. John’s: 2025 (1 seed)
UConn: 2024 (1 seed)
Marquette: 2023 (1 seed)
Villanova: 2022 (2 seed)
Georgetown: 2021 (8 seed)
Seton Hall: 2016 (3 seed)
Providence: 2014 (4 seed)
Creighton: 2013 (1 seed, MVC)
Butler: 2011 (2 seed, Horizon League)
Xavier: 2006 (10 seed, Atlantic 10)

Butler, Creighton, DePaul, and Xavier have yet to win the Big East Tournament; however, the Blue Demons are the only current conference member without any kind of league tournament title at all.

Mar. 11—2026 Southeast District

Boys Basketball Tournament Scores/Schedule

Monday, March 2

DIVISION V SEMIFINALS

at Ohio University Convocation Center

(1) Chesapeake 65, (8) Wellston 43

(4) Eastern Brown 43, (5) Zane Trace 39

DIVISION VI SEMIFINALS

at Waverly Downtown Arena

(1) Peebles 69, (8) Waterford 58

(5) Pike Eastern 52, (4) Huntington 45

DIVISION VII SEMIFINALS

at Southeastern High School

(1) Southern 63, (8) Whiteoak 34

(4) Notre Dame 59, (5) Western 49, OT

Tuesday, March 3

DIVISION V SEMIFINALS

at Ohio University Convocation Center

(2) Ironton 49, (7) Portsmouth 46

(3) Wheelersburg 60, (6) Fairland 52

DIVISION VI SEMIFINALS

at Waverly Downtown Arena

(2) Valley 57, (7) Adena 47

(3) West 54, (6) North Adams 39

DIVISION VII SEMIFINALS

at Southeastern High School

(2) South Webster 77, (7) Manchester 49

(3) Fairfield 55, (11) South Gallia 19

Wednesday, March 4

DIVISION III SOUTHEAST-EAST FINALS

at Ohio University Convocation Center

Marietta 53, New Philadelphia 36

Steubenville 64, Chillicothe 47

Thursday, March 5

DIVISION IV FINALS

at Ohio University Convocation Center

(1) Circleville 51, (4) Waverly 42

(2) Unioto 60, (3) Washington Court House 46

Saturday, March 7

DIVISION V FINALS

at Ohio University Convocation Center

(4) Eastern Brown 49, (1) Chesapeake 40

(2) Ironton 63, (3) Wheelersburg 47

Sunday, March 8

DIVISION VI FINALS

at Ohio University Convocation Center

(1) Peebles 56, (5) Pike Eastern 54

(3) West 56, (2) Valley 27

DIVISION VI FINALS

at Ohio University Convocation Center

(1) Southern 45, (4) Notre Dame 37

(3) Fairfield 60, (2) South Webster 51

Tuesday, March 10

DIVISION III REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

at Ohio University Convocation Center

Columbus Watterson 52, Marietta 42

Steubenville 74, Columbus Hartley 72, OT

Wednesday, March 11

DIVISION IV REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

at Ohio University Convocation Center

John Glenn vs. Maysville, 5 p.m.

Unioto vs. Circleville, 6:30 p.m.

DIVISION V REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

Saint Clairsville vs. West Muskingum, 7 p.m. (at Zanesville High School)

Eastern Brown vs. Ironton, 8 p.m. (at Ohio University Convocation Center)

Thursday, March 12

DIVISION VI REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

at Ohio University Convocation Center

Hiland vs. Grandview Heights, 6 p.m.

West vs. Peebles, 8 p.m.

DIVISION VII REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

at Ohio Dominican University

Malvern vs. Southern, 6 p.m.

Fairfield vs. Shekinah Christian, 8 p.m.

Saturday, March 14

at Ohio University Convocation Center

DIVISION III REGIONAL FINAL

Steubenville vs. Columbus Watterson, 12 p.m.

DIVISION IV REGIONAL FINAL, 2:30 p.m.

DIVISION V REGIONAL FINAL, 5 p.m.

DIVISION VI REGIONAL FINAL, 7:30 p.m.

at Ohio Dominican University

DIVISION VII REGIONAL FINAL, 5 p.m.

Canada advanced past the first round of the World Baseball Classic for the first time, beating Cuba 7-2 Wednesday in a winner-take-all game at San Juan, Puerto Rico, behind Abraham Toro's homer and Otto Lopez's two-run single.

Brothers Bo Naylor and Josh Naylor drove in runs, Owen Caissie had two RBIs and reliever James Paxton struck out six over 2 2/3 scoreless innings for Canada (3-1), which eliminated the Cubans (2-2) and won Group A over Puerto Rico (3-1). Cuba was knocked out in the first round for the first time.

Canada and Puerto Rico will play quarterfinals in Houston this weekend.

Cuba finished with three errors, and left fielder Ariel Martinez allowed Toro’s catchable fly starting the seventh to fall for a double. The Canadians broke open the game with a three-run sixth inning that included a dropped popup, a foul pop that fell, a wild pickoff throw and a catcher's interference call on Andrys Perez, whose passed ball led to Canada's first run.

Later Wednesday, Mexico and Italy were to play at Houston in a Group B game that will determine whether the U.S. advances.

Cuba escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first when Matt Davidson hit an inning-ending popout off loser Livan Moinelo, but Canada went ahead in the third on Caissie's sacrifice fly. Toro homered in the fifth on a splitter from Yariel Rodríguez, a 420-foot drive to right.

Cuba scored in the bottom half on Yoelkis Guibert's run-scoring groundout off winner Cal Quantrill, who allowed an unearned run and two hits over five innings.

Canada opened a 3-1 lead in the sixth on Bo Naylor's RBI double.

Martinez drove in a run in the bottom half with his third hit and Josh Naylor had an RBI single in the seventh on a soft fly to left that popped up of the glove of Martinez, who tried for a sliding catch.

Cuba went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position. Adam Macko escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth when Yiddi Cappe swung over a curveball and James Paxton struck out Moncada in the seventh to leave runners at the corners.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

ESPN makes stunning J.J. McCarthy Vikings future prediction in free agency originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Minnesota Vikings quarterback position has been one of the most talked-about positions in football over the past couple of weeks.

That is because the Vikings reportedly aren't sold on J.J. McCarthy being "the" guy, especially after last year's inconsistent performances.

Having been linked with several veteran quarterbacks, now it is being reported that the Vikings are leading the race to sign Kyler Murray, who was released by the Arizona Cardinals.

And for ESPN's Louis Reddick, he thinks if the Vikings sign Murray, it's over for McCarthy in Minnesota.

"It's over, it's over for J.J.," Reddick said. "They sign him, it's over. You bring Kyler Murray in there, it's a new system for him, he has to get reps. Given what happened to them before with Sam [Darnold], if he winds up winning the job and plays well, they just aren't going to let him go then.

"For J.J. McCarthy, I know you [Vikings] moved up to 10 to pick him, it's going to be time to move on from him."

More:Buccaneers make shrewd $3.5 million free agency signing

McCarthy's future already in doubt

Reddick is right. 

The Vikings aren't going to sign Murray to be the backup. He needs reps, and you could make the case that if it is a QB battle, Kyler wins it.

If he does, then what for McCarthy?

Given his age, the Vikings aren't likely to be too keen to keep him as a backup, and moving on, while early in his contract, could be an option.

The Vikings continue to be burned for their decision to move on from Sam Darnold in favor of J.J., and now it looks like McCarthy's future in Minnesota is on wafer-thin ice.

More NFL news:

• Ravens lift the lid on incredible Maxx Crosby trade walk back
• Jets oddly named huge free agency winners after 1 move
• Insider drops huge $15 million Chiefs update on Travis Kelce
• Chiefs lose Super Bowl champion to NFC powerhouse
• Ravens urged to sign 5-time Pro Bowl RB for Lamar Jackson
• Packers sign 2-time Super Bowl champion WR 
• Colts dealt harsh reality over Alec Pierce contract

After being named the Opening Day starter this morning, Cade Cavalli took the ball for the Nats in their Grapefruit League showdown with the Cardinals. He only went three innings in this one, but he looked impressive. Cavalli did not allow a hit and struck out two Cardinals, setting the tone for a strong afternoon for Nats pitchers.

Following his start, I actually got the chance to talk to Cade in the clubhouse. Cavalli said he was “Super honored” to be named the Opening Day starter. After missing two seasons due to injury, this was clearly a big moment for the 27 year old right hander. He told Jessica Camerato of MLB.com that the first person he called was his wife, before quickly texting the rest of his family.

Finding out he was the Opening Day starter was probably the highlight of Cavalli’s day, but he still had to go out and execute in the game. A big part of the success he had today was the sweeper, which he used 25% of the time, and half the time against right handed hitters. 

Cavalli told me that he thinks the pitch will be “really good to righties and we can sprinkle it in to lefties to show them a different shape off of the curveball”. Last season, right handed hitters batted over .380 against Cavalli, and he is looking to change that. He said that, “Most hitters know I have a north to south curveball. If I can show something horizontal to them, I think it can help”.

Overall, it was a great day for Cavalli, who has faced a lot of trials and tribulations over the past few years. Now he is on the other side of that, and ready to be the high end starting pitcher the Nats envisioned when they drafted him in the first round.

Another pitcher who threw the ball well today was Brad Lord. He went three innings, allowing only one run. Lord was getting a ton of ground balls with his sinker. His changeup also looked great against left handed pitchers. Yesterday, he mentioned that he tweaked his grip on that pitch, and it looked nasty, particularly against Nolan Gorman, who swung through two of them.

Despite the solid outing, Lord was still not satisfied with himself. Manager Blake Butera said Lord was “Frustrated because in that last inning he has two outs with nobody on, and then he walks a guy who ends up scoring”. Lord is typically an even-keeled guy, who Butera described as quiet, but he could tell that the end to his outing bothered him.

On the offensive side of things, the Nats did not light up the score board, but did enough to win. One guy who is starting to heat up is Daylen Lile. At the beginning of the spring, he looked a bit rusty, but he has been finding his swing over the past week.

Butera figured this is what would happen, adding that “sometimes we get too caught up in stats during Spring Training”. Given the fact that the games do not count, and the whole point of this process is to get ready for the season, this is a take I agree with, though I can be guilty of falling into that trap at times. One thing that Butera does value is hitters finding their timing. He told me that, “sometimes it takes hitters a couple weeks to get their timing down. I think Daylen is just getting going now and he looks like Daylen”.

I think his point about timing is something to really consider. These guys can train as much as they want in the offseason, but there is no substitute for in-game reps. Sometimes pure hitters like Lile just need time to find that perfect swing. It seems like Lile has found it, and that is great for the Nats. He was such a spark for them in the second half.

The Nats got a lot of production from their first basemen as well in this game. Andres Chaparro got a hit, and hit the ball hard a couple times. Also, Abimelec Ortiz ripped a 110 MPH RBI double to give the Nats the lead. Ortiz started the spring slowly, but looks like he may be finding his footing.

Manager Blake Butera admitted the club has not settled on a starter at first base. He said that “At first base in general, we are pretty open minded on how this is going to work”. It also sounds like the Nats will experiment with a few different options throughout the season. He made sure to emphasize that the situation will be fluid and just because a guy starts the season at first base, it does not mean he will be the guy for all 162.

Overall, it was a nice and clean performance for the Nats. It has also been awesome to get all this access and get thoughts from the players and coaches. The Nats have been winning a lot this spring, but as we know, these games do not count. However, it seems like there is a good vibe to this group and we are seeing that manifest on the field.

UCLA offensive lineman Garrett DiGiorgio is one of the rarest sights in college football these days: a five-year player, with all five years coming at the same school.

He’s been too busy to spend much time looking back on that period in his life yet, having been focused on preparing for the NFL draft. Wednesday’s Pro Day on campus, and the leadup to it, was perhaps his first and best chance to do so.

“It’s been a long last two and a half months in terms of training, so I haven’t really had time to reflect too much,” he said. “But being able to come back into Westwood last Monday? Man, it was like a breath of fresh air just being able to be back in my home territory.”

The Pro Day marked not only DiGiorgio’s return to campus but also an opportunity to reunite with a number of his teammates, all of whom have the same goal of making the NFL.

“We put blood, sweat, tears in together,” he said. “It was cool to be able to come out here and try to test out and get to that next level all together too.”

DiGiorgio was one of several Bruins who used the Pro Day as an opportunity to consider their time at UCLA. Many of the other participants transferred in after playing for other schools, but still took lessons and value away from their experience.

“I had an injury [while at UCLA], and being able to come back from that, I feel like I can come and do anything,” said defensive lineman Gary Smith III, a Duke transfer who missed the entire 2024 season with said injury. “Like, now, from anything out, I can do something big.”

Smith also credited UCLA with helping him become a more prepared player, a mindset he described as “Staying ready so I don’t have to get ready.”

The chances of any UCLA player being drafted this year are not great. The draft will be 257 picks long, and zero Bruins are listed in the top 257 of the NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus big board. DiGiorgio is the highest at No. 301, though he tried to remain optimistic.

“I feel like I tested very well,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in April.”

“I just gotta be able to put each step in front of each other and just prep myself for stepping into that next big stage as an NFL football player.”

But regardless of where any of their professional hopes might fall, and even after a difficult 2025 season, the Pro Day was marked by a clear sense of gratitude for a journey that’s taken them this close to an NFL career. For all of them, UCLA is obviously a part of that.

“I’ll forever love UCLA,” running back Anthony Frias II said. “I’ll be back [as an alumnus], coming to games, things like that. All the brotherhood and the friendships, and even the coaches, the relationships that I’ve built with them, it’s deeper than blood, really.”

A California native who transferred from Kansas State, Frias brought his journey full-circle by returning to his home state to conclude his college career, making it easier for his family to attend games. The next time they watch him could be at the highest level, and if he does reach that point, perhaps he’ll be able to point to a successful pro day in Westwood as part of the reason he made the NFL.

“I love Kansas State, and I have nothing bad about Kansas State,” he said. “But I just love UCLA, and I’m a Bruin forever.”

The U.S. Women’s National Team won its eighth title at the SheBelieves Cup, presented by Visa, after opening the tournament with a 2-0 win over Argentina in Nashville, Tenn. followed by two 1-0 victories, against Canada in Columbus, Ohio, and Colombia in Harrison, New Jersey, respectively.

“Winning major things requires different approaches in every game,” U.S. head coach Emma Hayes said. “We showed all those sides in all three games. We've shown how to win when we're not at our best. We'veshown versatility, depth, maturity. As a coach, I'm happy about those things.”

The USWNT has won all five of its matches this year, with each game featuring a different starting lineup. Player development has been at the forefront of Hayes’ mind going into World Cup qualifying later this year, and the 2026 SheBelieves Cup gave fans an idea of what to expect from the team come November.

Developing connections

The 2026 SheBelieves Cup roster marked the return of many veterans who were absent from the January matches against Paraguay and Chile, including captain Lindsey Heaps and eight-time SBC champion Emily Sonnett. Hayes highlighted the importance of their returns as she looks to develop different pairings across the pitch.

Heaps’ familiarity with OL Lyonnes teammate Lily Yohannes showed in the midfield, especially against Argentina. The second and third matches allowed another look at the midfield trio of Rose Lavelle, Claire Hutton and Sam Coffey, which last started together in the 3-0 win over Canada in July 2025 when all three had goal contributions.

“I remember times we didn’t have enough midfield options,” Hayes said. “We have plenty of options (now). We’ve got some really good, strong foundations to build on. Now, I have to keep putting together the different combinations, so they develop relationships.”

Defensively, Hayes said before the tournament that Sonnett and Naomi Girma were her preferred center back pairing, but she was interested to see how other defenders filled in behind them.

“I think Tara (Rudd) was a big difference,” Hayes said after Rudd replaced Girma at halftime against Colombia. “She came in with physicality, and she sped up our play when she was driving into the midfield.”

The center back player pool could soon also feature 2024 Olympic starter Tierna Davidson, who was just removed from Gotham FC’s Season-Ending Injury List following an ACL tear just over a year ago.

Dominant defense

The entire defensive unit looked organized and tough to beat throughout the competition. The USA was the only team to not concede a goal and faced just three shots on target all tournament – one in each match. Even in the last match with Las Cafeteras rifling off eight shots before halftime, most were low-quality chances from distance.

The USWNT has now kept a clean sheet in its last eight matches, the longest streak since 2022 when the team recorded nine consecutive shutouts. The squad is averaging just one shot on target faced per game over this stretch.

“I think it’s a testament to our backline, as well as Claudia’s (Dickey) performance,” said goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce. “We've really gotten our principles together, and then anything that comes our way, we just address it because our backline is really good at communicating. We're starting to get that chemistry now.”

Tullis-Joyce earned her first two caps of the year against Canada and Colombia while Dickey got the nod against Argentina. Dickey has recorded five of the clean sheets during this run with Mandy McGlynn earning the other one against Paraguay.

All three of the goalkeepers have fewer than 10 caps each. Even during these matches where they were rarely called to action, Tullis-Joyce explained the goalkeeping group is still very involved and used these matches as learning opportunities.

“Mentality-wise, when it’s a bit quiet, that can be the most stressful time,” she said. “That’s when I’m really communicating with my backline, with myself, as well, making sure that I’m present each and every moment.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Manchester United Women (@manutdwomen)

Finding a way

All four goals for the USWNT in the SheBelieves Cup came from different scorers and at different clutch moments in each game. Three goals were from around the edge of the box, something Hayes mentioned the team adjusted to since their opponents were closing down space in the penalty area.

The veteran Heaps set the tone early with a bender from the top of the box 19 minutes into the opener. Forwards Emma Sears and Jameese Joseph set up the goal by breaking through Argentina’s pressure. The captain also assisted Jaedyn Shaw’s goal in the second half from a recycled corner kick for the 2-0 win.

A corner from Lavelle in the 55th minute of the second match resulted in the USA’s game-winner against Canada.  It gave their North American neighbor a taste of its own medicine after Canada had scored off two set pieces in its first match of the tournament against Colombia. Forward Ally Sentnor, who had missed a close-range chance just before halftime, settled the ball in tight space inside the box and blasted her shot past Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan. The goal was all the USA needed to secure the 1-0 victory.

“[Ally] was menacing all evening,” Hayes said. “She made it really difficult for them to settle on the ball. I could tell she was disappointed by the opportunity she missed, but she’s so resilient.”

There was no greater show of resilience than the 1-0 win against Colombia to cap the tournament. The last time the USWNT had not scored by the 80th minute was 20 matches ago in the scoreless draw against England on Nov. 30, 2024. The 2026 SheBelieves Cup MVP Alyssa Thompson persevered and found the late breakthrough off a stunner into the upper left corner.

“It’s been a tremendous year for Alyssa for both club and country,” Hayes said. “The consistency in her play is the standout for me, in terms of being able to do things over 90 minutes and do it game after game, including a clutch moment like today. It was a wonderful finish from her.”

Tournament experience

It was the first SheBelieves Cup for both goalkeepers, forwards Joseph and Maddie Dahlien and defenders Kennedy Wesley, Lilly Reale and Avery Patterson. Being in a tournament environment was invaluable for that group, along with other young players like Sentnor and midfielder Olivia Moultrie.

Hayes applauded her squad on their maturity and emotional control during the three matches, a powerful tool to take with them into larger-scale tournaments.

“Provocation is going to happen with different types of opponents,” Hayes said. “Imagine that’s a World Cup. In a split second, we lose it, down to 10 players. I'm here to develop a whole squad to be ready for these situations, and I'm delighted that I'm putting the team in an uncomfortable position.”

The tournament also allowed Hayes to rotate through lineups during a three-game window. The substitution during the Colombia match that brought on Heaps, Moultrie, Shaw and Sears switched the team to another gear. Hayes said she has more trust in the players she brings off the bench because of this experience they’re getting now.

“The difference in the place I’m in now (versus the 2024 Olympics) is bringing Emma Sears on is going to add value to the game,” Hayes said. “Same as Olivia Moultrie, Jaedyn Shaw, Lindsey Heaps, Avery Patterson, Gisele Thompson. If people understand their roles, their responsibilities, there's clarity that it should not matter who comes in.”

The build to World Cup qualifying continues and the foundation is being set, proving why a tournament like the annual SheBelieves Cup is so important. The three matches against Japan in April will be further tests for veterans and younger players alike to show Hayes and her staff they are worthy of a coveted roster spot for the Concacaf W Championship this fall.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by U.S. Soccer WNT (@uswnt)

Mick Cronin and the UCLA Bruins have a big week ahead of them, as they’re set to begin Big Ten Conference tournament action on Thursday but during Cronin’s media availability on Tuesday, he discussed the reality of modern recruiting.

“When we start to talk about recruiting, it’s how much? Let’s just be honest,” Cronin said. “You get 15 scholarships, if you can afford to have 15 guys. I’d love to be able to develop players. I just believe in it.”

UCLA has three freshmen on their roster this year, Eric Freeny, Markell Alston and Christian Horry, with two more sophomores in Trent Perry and Brandon Williams. Under Cronin, UCLA hasn’t seen too many success stories of young players coming to the Bruins and leaving ready to head to the NBA. 

Peyton Watson and Jaime Jaquez Jr. have been the only two UCLA players taken in the first round of the NBA Draft since Cronin was hired by the Bruins. 

“There are certain teams you look at, Michigan State but Purdue is about to graduate a lot of them guys,” Cronin said. “I would love to be able to have guys for 4-5 years. We’re not going to stop trying to do that.”

Cronin has pressure to compete in the Big Ten. UCLA is 21-10 this year and sixth in the conference and it’s been a disappointing season. That pressure forces Cronin to look for immediate-impact players rather than focus on developing young players over multiple years.

We’ll see if Cronin brings a new strategy into recruiting this offseason.

This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Mick Cronin knows the reality of modern-day college recruiting

The CBF published on the afternoon of this Wednesday (11) the technical documents for the CBF Transforma Women's U-14 Development League, a competition to promote women's youth soccer that will have 100% coverage by CBF TV.

The competition will start on March 23 and will extend until the 29th of the same month. The games will be held in Balneário Camboriú, and the last two in Itajaí, Santa Catarina. The champion team will secure a spot in the 2026 CONMEBOL Evolution Festival.

The tournament features eight clubs, divided into two groups with four participants each: in group A, there are São Paulo, Centro Olímpico-SP, Grêmio, and Criciúma; in group B, there are Corinthians, Ferroviária, Internacional, and Avaí-Kindermann.

The matches will have a total duration of 50 minutes, with 25 minutes for each half and a 10-minute break.

In the first phase, the teams in each group will face each other in a single round. In the semifinals, the leader of one group will face the runner-up of the other and vice versa. The winners of these matches will compete in the final. There will also be a match between the teams that do not advance to the final to determine third and fourth places.

In the same format, the third-placed team of one group will face the fourth-placed team of the other and vice versa. The winners will face each other in the battle for fifth and sixth places. There will also be a match to decide seventh and eighth places.

In all knockout stages, if there is a tie at the end of regular time, the tiebreaker for classification will be decided by a penalty shootout.

Check the attached documents:

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

CBF released technical documents for the CBF Transforma U-13 Boys’ Development LeagueCredits: Maxi Franzoi / CBF

On the afternoon of Wednesday (11), CBF published the technical documents for the CBF Transforma U-13 Boys’ Development League, a competition aimed at promoting youth boys’ football, which will have 100% coverage by CBF TV.

The next edition will take place from March 23 to 29, at the Barra FC Training Center in Itajaí (SC), and its champion will secure a spot at the 2026 CONMEBOL Evolución Festival.

The tournament features eight clubs, divided into two groups of four teams each: in Group A are Palmeiras, Atlético-MG, Athletico-PR, and Vasco; in Group B are Flamengo, Fluminense, Grêmio, and Red Bull Bragantino. Matches will last a total of 50 minutes, with 25 minutes per half.

In the first stage, teams in each group play each other once. In the semifinals, the leader of one group will face the runner-up of the other, and vice versa. The winners of these matches will play in the final. There will also be a match between the teams that do not advance to the final to determine third and fourth place.

In the same format, the third-placed team from one group will face the fourth-placed team from the other, and vice versa. The winners will go head-to-head for fifth and sixth place. There will also be a match to decide seventh and eighth place.

Throughout the knockout stage, if a match ends in a draw after regular time, the tiebreaker for qualification will be a penalty shootout.

Check out the attached documents:

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

The Los Angeles Rams weren't quiet to kick off the 2026 offseason. General manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay made some huge moves this week, including trading for and extending cornerback Trent McDuffie, extending safety Kam Curl and signing cornerback Jaylen Watson.

While the team was already considered one of the best in the NFL heading into the 2026 offseason, a new stat shows that the Rams are also one of the most-improved teams after the first big wave of free agency. Per Kevin Cole of Unexpected Points, L.A. ranked fourth on the 2026 Improvement Index, which is a points-based scale that shows NFL plus/minus movement based on roster moves and draft capital.

Per Cole, "the model behind the Improvement Index projects the numbers of snaps and per-play efficiency for each player in every facet of offensive and defensive play: passing, rushing, receiving, blocking, pass rush, run defense and coverage. These models were trained on years of historical data, going back to 2006."

Only the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and Tennessee Titans ranked higher through March 11.

2026 NFL Offseason Improvement Index is up and running @Unexpected_Pts

Compares end-of-season roster point-differential projections to those reflecting offseason changes, including draft capital effects.

It doesn't project this well *every* offseason, but 2025 results were… pic.twitter.com/DLMpebXGCi

— Kevin Cole (@KevinCole___) March 11, 2026

This isn't a huge surprise given the Rams added some big pieces and didn't really lose anyone that important, either. The additions of McDuffie and Watson mean that the team's own free agents like Cobie Durant, Akhello Witherspoon and Roger McCreary are likely to leave, but this index shows that the new duo are actually better than the trio that might not return.

Snead essentially telegraphed this idea before free agency began, and now he's living up to his word to go all-in on another Matthew Stafford and address the weakest position on the team — secondary. While the Rams did have to give up some draft capital to get McDuffie, the trade package only included the No. 29 pick and two Day 3 picks in 2026 (the other was a 2027 third-rounder).

The Rams will still likely make some more moves before April's draft, but this is shaping up to be another winning offseason for Snead and McVay already.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Free agency: Rams ranked among top-5 most-improved teams this spring

Wisconsin basketball will open its 2026 Big Ten Tournament against the No. 12-seed Washington Huskies.

Washington defeated No. 13-seed USC on Wednesday afternoon. The Badgers, who are the bracket's No. 5 seed, will look to repeat their performance from their recent road win over the Huskies and advance to face No. 4-seed Illinois in the quarterfinal.

Wisconsin enters the conference tournament playing some of its best basketball of the season. After late-season road losses to Ohio State and Oregon, the team won its final three games, two of which it won decisively. The first was that road win over Washington (90-73), the second came at home vs. Maryland (78-45), and the third, most notably, came on the road at No. 15 Purdue (97-93). That stretch cemented Wisconsin's NCAA Tournament position, opening the door for further improvement if the team makes a run in the Big Ten Tournament.

Wisconsin and Washington will tip off at approximately 2:30 p.m. ET, 1:30 p.m. CT on Thursday afternoon. The game will follow the conclusion of Iowa vs. Ohio State, which is set to tip off at noon ET, 11:00 a.m. CT.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion

This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin basketball Big Ten Tournament schedule matchup Washington

The Bears are signing former Browns offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. to a one-year deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Wednesday.

Wills, who turns 27 in May, was a first-round pick out of Alabama in 2020. He spent the 2025 season out of football recovering from a knee injury. In his five seasons with the Browns, he played in 58 games, starting 57 of them.

Availability was an issue for the talented Wills, as he missed a combined 21 games from 2023 to 2024. However, he showed enough before the injuries to get his fifth-year option picked up by the Browns heading into the 2023 season. During his last season eligible for grading in 2023, Wills was the No. 35 offensive tackle in the NFL in PFSN’s OL Impact Scoring at 74.9, making him out as an average starting tackle. He finished at No. 27 at his position in 2022.

Over the course of his time in the NFL, Wills has taken all of his snaps as a left tackle. However, he spent time as a right tackle in college for the Crimson Tide, so he projects as having swing tackle potential.

Chicago will be without incumbent starting left tackle Ozzy Trapilo for much of 2026 due to a torn Patellar tendon he suffered in the team’s Wild Card game against the Packers. The Bears re-signed Braxton Jones to a one-year deal, and they still have Theo Benedet and Kiran Amegadjie on the roster. Bringing Wills into the mix on a one-year deal gives them a low-risk, high-reward signing to compete for a starting job coming off an injury.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Reinier de Ridder (@deriddermma)

NEW YORK (AP) — Much has changed since Micah McFadden last played for the New York Giants.

They lost 13 of 17 games including the season opener, during which he got hurt 11 snaps in, and overhauled their entire staff, with John Harbaugh taking over as coach and Dennard Wilson running the defense. Plenty more additions are coming, but McFadden on Wednesday signed a one-year deal worth up to $5.75 million to return, eager to show what he can do after recovering from a Lisfranc injury to his right foot.

“I had spoke with the coaching staff and some people in the building over the weekend, and I knew that there was a possibility that they wanted me back, and I was excited to hear that from them,” McFadden said on a video call with reporters. “I’m excited to be back. I’m excited to play with everybody that’s been here and the guys that we’ve already brought in this offseason and continue to bring in.”

McFadden, 26, is among the holdovers, a homegrown prospect who has been with the team since getting drafted in the fifth round in 2022. The newcomers on defense include fellow linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and defensive backs Greg Newsome and Ar'Darius Washington.

Along with tight end Isaiah Likely and fullback Patrick Ricard on offense and All-Pro punter Jordan Stout on special teams, Washington also is following Harbaugh to the Giants from Baltimore.

Edge rushers Brian Burns and Abdul Carter are not going anywhere, but the inside linebacker position is getting a makeover. Team captain Bobby Okereke was released in a move that saves salary cap space, and Edmunds signed a three-year, $36 million contract as part of filling the void.

"Bringing in Tremaine I think was a great addition," McFadden said. “He’s a great player, great athlete, and I’m excited to get out on the field with him — just learn from him and learn this defense with him and kind of put this thing together.”

New York ranked 28th out of 32 teams on defense in 2025, though there was some improvement down the stretch after interim coach Mike Kafka fired coordinator Shane Bowen and promoted Charlie Bullen for the remainder of the season.

McFadden hopes to fit into Wilson's scheme. He has not played in it before but has some familiarity with it from assistants who have worked under Harbaugh. He does not expect to have any restrictions or limitations on his injured foot when spring workouts begin next month.

"Doing great — I’ve improved a lot," McFadden said. “I'm going to go out there, compete and go and try and win a starting job, go put my best foot forward during this offseason and into training camp and we’ll see where it falls after that.”

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Happy opening day of free agency one and all.

The Arizona Cardinals heading into the 2026 Free Agency period have the following that should become official today when allowed:

• OT Matt Pryor one-year deal
• QB Gardner Minshew one-year deal
• WR Kendrick Bourne two-year deal
• G Isaac Seumalo three-year deal
• RB Tyler Allgeier two-year deal
• DL Roy Lopez two-year deal

Along with the moves that we know are official because they were re-signings for the team:

• DT L.J. Collier one-year deal
• P Blake Gillikin one-year deal
• K Chad Ryland one-year deal

All of that and we are looking at the Cardinals still needing help at linebacker, offensive line, defensive line and probably the quarterback position.

However, the last one will probably not be addressed until 2027, which is fun to know that the team is looking at another tank job, the third in four seasons with Monti Ossenfort at the helm.

Let’s hope for some exciting movement today.

• Arizona Cardinals bring back Bam Knight on one-year deal

The Arizona Cardinals will have a new long snapper as they have signed former Giants long snapper Casey Kreiter.

ESPN analyst has huge expectations for the Tigers' top prospect originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Kevin McGonigle quickly made a name for himself as a high school baseball player. As a freshman, he was committed to playing college baseball at Auburn University.

Getting any type of verbal offer as a freshman in high school is tough, let alone it being from an SEC school. That conference is considered the "big leagues" of college baseball. 

After winning the Delaware County Player of the Year as a junior, he was named the Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year during his senior year. 

MORE: Tigers projected to select 'boom-or-bust' high school slugger in 2026 MLB Draft

ESPN analyst has huge expectations for the Tigers' top prospect

In the summer of 2023, Kevin McGonigle was one of the top draft prospects. He was selected 37th overall by the Detroit Tigers and signed with them instead of going the college route. 

And since he has signed, he has done nothing but turn heads. He quickly rose to being the Tigers' top prospect, and coming into the 2026 season, he is currently listed as the second-best prospect in all of baseball. 

ESPN's Kiley McDaniel loves this young slugger. He tags him as a breakout candidate for Detroit this season, while also a potential Rookie of the Year winner. 

"Though the buzz for No. 1 overall prospect Konnor Griffin gets the most attention, McGonigle has a better shot to break camp as his team's every-day shortstop en route to winning Rookie of the Year. He's so polished and so good at the plate that his position doesn't really matter; get on board while you can."

What makes McGonigle stand out more than some other prospects is that he seems to be the complete package. He has an excellent hit tool and is one tough batter to strike out. 

He has also worked tremendously on his power, which is a big reason for his jump in the prospect rankings. 

McGonigle could be in store for quite the season.

More MLB news:

• Royals' former first-round pick could be the difference-maker this season
• ESPN analyst spotlights the White Sox young flamethrower as one to watch
• Cubs linked to Texas A&M shortstop as potential first-round pick
• Padres expected to grab another high-ceiling prep arm with their first-round pick
• Orioles projected to select Coastal Carolina's ace in 2026 MLB Draft

The 2026 NFL league year has begun and the free agency moves are coming fast. Just after the 4 p.m. Eastern start of the new year for the league, the Miami Dolphins made official the trade of safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the New York Jets. They then followed that by announcing the release of linebacker Bradley Chubb, a move that was reported a week ago but was made official, with a post-June 1 designation, on Wednesday.

Immediately after the Chubb announcement, the Dolphins announced they had re-signed cornerback A.J. Green III. Green joined the Dolphins in the middle of the 2025 season when the team signed him off the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad. In a five-year career, Green has played for the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings, along with the Rams and the Dolphins. He has appeared in 39 games, recording 41 tackles, two interceptions, seven passes defensed, and two fumble recoveries. He did not make an appearance in 2024.

As the Dolphins were announcing the Green signing, more Chubb news also broke. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the former Dolphins edge rusher will be joining their AFC East rivals, the Buffalo Bills. The deal with Buffalo is a three-year contract for $43.5 million with $29 million guaranteed, according to Schefter. The contract includes bonuses that could make the deal worth up to $52.5 million.

Free agency is firing off right now. You can keep up with all of the Dolphins free agency news and rumors right here.

Bears make fascinating addition of ex-Browns OT after one year away from NFL originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Chicago Bears have a major issue at left tackle this upcoming season. Normally, they should be in great shape. But, with Ozzy Trapilo dealing with a serious injury, one that could keep him out for most, if not all, of the year, the Bears need a new tackle.

They addressed this need partially by bringing back Braxton Jones, but they could still use some more competition for the left tackle job in 2026. And that's where this very interesting addition comes in.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Bears are in agreement on a one-year deal with Jedrick Wills Jr. He retired for one year, not playing at all in 2025 as he recovered from an injury. But now, he's back, and joining the Bears on a one-year deal.

Bears to sign Jedrick Wills after one-year retirement

"Former Browns first-round pick, OT Jedrick Wills Jr., is signing a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears, per source," Schefter reports.

There are plenty of interesting offensive tackle options the Bears could've pursued this offseason. Trent Williams, in a blockbuster trade with the San Francisco 49ers, is one such option.

But, Wills might be the most fascinating option they could've gone with. Wills didn't play at all in 2025. But the former 10th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft has proven to be a solid tackle in his career.

More: Tyson Bagent trade rumors might pick up steam after Case Keenum re-signing with Bears

For the Cleveland Browns, Wills made 57 starts over five years, including just four starts in five games in 2024 before missing all of 2025 as he recovered from a knee injury.

The Bears have a hole at left tackle, and while Wills might not be the answer, he's a good dart-throw for the Bears to take that could turn out to be an incredible addition.

This is a very fascinating reclamation project for the Bears to take on as they try to fill the left tackle hole with Trapilo's torn patellar tendon injury.

More Bears news:

• Drew Dalman surprisingly retires at 27 years old after Pro Bowl season
• DJ Moore trade to Bills isn't expected to be all Bears do in trade market
• Bears can trade for Maxx Crosby after Ravens back out of Raiders deal
• Bears to sign WR and returner Kalif Raymond to $5.5 million contract News
• Bears to sign Devin Bush to $30 million contract
• Coby Bryant to sign with Bears on $40 million contract
• D’Marco Jackson to re-sign with Bears on $7.5 million deal

The NFL schedule might seem like a strange one to the outside world. Tell anyone somewhat interested in the NFL that NFL free agency just opened officially on Wednesday afternoon, and they’d tell you that you were two days late to the party. The legal tampering period that opened on Monday gave us a lot of news and some Maxx Crosby-related drama, before most of the moves could become official on Wednesday.

The Cleveland Browns made the re-signing of OL Teven Jenkins official on Tuesday as teams were allowed to sign their own players to contracts at any time.

With the start of the league year, the Browns officially tendered S Ronnie Hickman, without providing certainty to what level (previously reported as second round), which officially means that the following are unrestricted free agents, with Cleveland not tendering them as restricted:

• LB Mohamoud Diabate
• TE Blake Whiteheart
• DL Sam Kamara

Diabate is among the most surprising, given his performance on special teams and in rotation on defense. Whiteheart and Kamara have had marginal roles during their time with the team.

With the start of the league year, and no official news, OL Joel Bitonio also becomes an unrestricted free agent as his contract has been officially voided while he ponders his next decision. With the Browns adding two new interior offensive linemen and retaining Jenkins, Bitonio’s time in Cleveland seems over. Whether Bitonio will retire or seek one chance at competing for a Super Bowl is still to be determined.

Bitonio will count over $23 million against the salary cap this year for the Browns, even if he decides to play elsewhere.

NEED TO KNOW

• Mirra Andreeva voiced her frustrations after losing to Katerina Siniakova at the Indian Wells Open
• The Russian tennis pro had a meltdown on the court, smashing her racket and cursing at fans as she walked away
• She was the defending champion of the tournament before her loss

Mirra Andreeva let her frustrations be heard.

The Russian professional tennis player, 18, stormed off the court while blurting expletives after her 4-6, 6-7(5), 6-3 loss to unseeded Katerina Siniakova in the third round of the Indian Wells Open on Monday, March 9.

Andreeva, who is the Indian Wells defending champion, left the court exchanging words with the booing crowd. Earlier in the match, she chucked her racket after losing the second-set tiebreaker and then picked it up and smashed it, resulting in a code violation.

The pro threw her racket again following match point and then, after shaking hands at the net with Siniakova, left the court gesturing and yelling at the crowd.

"F--k you all," she repeatedly cursed at the crowd, some of whom booed her as she walked off the court.

Andreeva opened up about the way she reacted after her upsetting loss.

"I'm not really proud of how I managed it. I'm not really proud of how I handled it in the end," she said in a press conference, per The Athletic. "Those are the things that I really need to work on soon. I don't know. Not in the future, but whenever I get the chance."

Andreeva is currently the No. 8 player in the world. She has two WTA 1000 titles under her belt, coming out victorious at Indian Wells and Dubai last year.

Take PEOPLE with you! Subscribe to PEOPLE magazine to get the latest details on celebrity news, exclusive royal updates, how-it-happened true crime stories and more — right to your mailbox.

Siniakova, who is currently ranked No. 44, spoke with Tennis Channel about the "pressure" that was on the reigning champion to maintain her title.

"I knew the pressure was on her. I was trying to enjoy it, because finally I was on the other side when I have nothing to lose,” she said in a post-match interview. "She’s an amazing player. You need to play long rallies, you need to do it on your own."

Next, Siniakova takes on Ukrainian pro Elina Svitolina at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11.

Read the original article on People

Former Michigan football assistant Chris Partridge is suing the University of Michigan for wrongful termination and the “devastation” of his reputation after the university used a “false narrative” to fire him.

Partridge filed the suit Wednesday in US District Court Eastern District of Michigan, because he wants the “truth be told." He fired by Michigan Nov. 17, 2023 stemming from and NCAA investigation into an illegal scouting scheme and currently is on staff with the Seattle Seahawks.

Michigan informed Partridge in a letter he was terminated by athletic director Warde Manuel, because the university said it received evidence he failed to "abide by the University directive not to discuss an ongoing NCAA investigation with anyone associated with the Michigan Football Program".

Partridge was fired the day Michigan left for a game at Maryland in 2023. He was asked Wednesday if he felt like a scapegoat during the NCAA investigation.

“Yes, 100%,” Partridge told The Detroit News. “I mean, I don't feel like it. I know it. We have some pretty strong knowledge of what happened in the conversations and things that happened. So, yeah. I know I was a scapegoat.”

The lawsuit details Partridge’s coaching career, which included two stops at Michigan. He was hired in 2015 as director of player personnel, then became linebackers coach and special teams coordinator 2016-2017 and then coaches safeties from 2018-2019 while still working with special teams. He returned to Michigan in 2023 as linebackers coach.

“However, despite Partridge’s unwavering commitment and success, the University of Michigan unjustly terminated Partridge’s employment and spread false and damaging information regarding his professional conduct, tarnishing Partridge’s hard-earned reputation and inflicting irreparable harm on to his career and personal well-being,” the lawsuit reads. “In addition to damages, this lawsuit seeks to clear Partridge’s name and restore his otherwise stellar reputation.”

Partridge, who said he wanted to wait until after the NFL season concluded to file, went before the NCAA Committee on Infractions during a two-day hearing in June 2025 and defended himself and shared his story.

“I wasn't even able to talk,” Partridge said. “(Manuel) did what he did and then didn't let me even tell my side of anything. It was like, ‘You're gone. See ya. Here's the door.’ And then the reports that have been out there for two years have been from the Michigan side. My voice has not been heard at all, so, yeah, I just don't think that's right.”

In the lengthy NCAA report highlighting several penalties against Michigan last August, Partridge was exonerated. Michigan was given a fine of approximately $30 million and placed on probation resulting from the investigation into the illegal scouting scheme.

Partridge’s lawyers said in the suit that “contrary to misinformation communicated by the University Athletics Department and at least one member of the Board of Regents," that Partridge was not fired for destroying evidence or interfering with the NCAA’s “sign-stealing” investigation. The suit also said Partridge was not fired for telling a player to be dishonest in an NCAA interview.

There were “unwritten instructions” given to the Michigan football coaching staff, the suit says, “not to communicate with a student-athlete during an investigation. Partridge does not dispute he told the player that he should “get an attorney.” The suit alleges there was never a directive given to the staff to “not to communicate with a student-athlete during an investigation”, and if that had happened, the program would have come to a “screeching halt” if the coaches couldn’t communicate with players until the investigation concluded.

The directive to not discuss the issue with the players was not given, the suit said, was given during a meeting Nov. 13, 2023, three weeks later after the investigation began in mid-October 2023.

“Partridge was a scapegoat who was wrongly fired simply because he told a player he had the right to have counsel — something the University should have told the players themselves if it had been protecting their interests instead of trying to curry favor with the NCAA,” the lawsuit reads.

According to the Partridge’s suit, he was called to a meeting Nov. 17, 2023, with Manuel and Manuel informed Partridge he had been told Partridge advised a certain player to not be forthright with information regarding the investigation. Patridge denied this

“Partridge asked Manuel how his termination would be portrayed to the media and said he did not want to be linked with the “sign-stealing” scheme,” the suit reads. “Manuel stated that there was no evidence that Partridge was involved with the scheme and falsely stated that the University would not be releasing a statement related to Partridge’s termination.”

Now, Partridge is part of the Seattle Seahawks, which recently won the Super Bowl. But clearing his name after being fired by Michigan is now his focus.

“I never in a million years thought that something like this would ever happen, but just the way that I've personally been treated by the university leadership -- it's just so wrong,” Patridge said. “And I just feel like after putting everything I had into that place to be lied to and used like that for their own personal gains, I just think it’s the right thing to do.

“It's like anyone in my position would fight. I'm a fighter, and just the right thing. I just want the truth to come out, and I want my name to be cleared. I feel like this is probably the only way to truly get to the bottom of what really happened. And, shoot, the Michigan fans deserve it too.”

achengelis@detroitnews.com

@chengelis

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Ex-Michigan assistant football coach Chris Partridge sues university

Right as the new league year was set to officially begin, the Las Vegas Raiders first full time free agent starter get signed. Dylan Parham, who had started at guard since day one as a rookie four years ago, is signing with the New York Jets on a two-year deal worth up to $20 million.

The #Jets work toward bolstering their offensive line, agreeing to terms with former #Raiders G Dylan Parham, per The Insiders.

He gets a 2-year deal worth up to $20M negotiated by Sean Kiernan and Travis Allen of @AthletesFirst. pic.twitter.com/LWLucnvPuS

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2026

Parham was selected by the Raiders in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He was a starter from day one and remained a starter for all four seasons in Las Vegas.

Early on, Parham showed great promise, but his play leveled off in recent seasons and was deemed replacement level at his position. The team drafted Caleb Rogers in the third round of last year's draft and with the addition of center Tyler Linderbaum, the plan would be for former center Jackson Powers-Johnson to move to guard permanently. Making Parham not a priority.

The Raiders had one of the worst offensive lines in football last season, though much of that can be put on coaching. Particularly offensive line coach Brenden Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. The Jets will be hoping Parham's play will improve with a change in scenery.

This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Raiders longtime starting guard signs free agent deal with Jets

The start of the new NFL league year is upon us, and the Tennessee Titans watched another one of their former players find a new home. 

In what is a homecoming of sorts, the Washington Commanders agreed to terms on a reported three-year, $30 million contract with tight end Chig Okonkwo. The athletic tight end made an impact with Maryland before joining the Titans as a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. 

Gettin’ Chiggy with it: The #Commanders have agreed to terms on a three-year deal with TE Chig Okonkwo, per The Insiders.

The deal for the former #Titans was confirmed by his agents Jason Chayut and Jared Fox. pic.twitter.com/c5E5iTY4pN

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 11, 2026

Okonkwo has been a solid tight end for the Titans over his four seasons with the organization, but he never really took the leap many expected. Known as an explosive receiving threat, Okonkwo broke out in flashes, but never developed into a consistent threat. He finishes his career with Tennessee with 194 receptions for 2,017 yards and eight touchdowns. 

Okonkwo’s loss does not come as a surprise. The Titans agreed to terms with veteran tight end Daniel Bellinger on Monday, reuniting him with offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. 

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans lose TE Chig Okonkwo to Washington Commanders

Phillies predicted to cut ties with $7.5 million 32 SV superstar closer due to Jesus Luzardo extension originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Philadelphia Phillies made a big move by extending Jesus Luzardo to a five-year, $135 million extension. However, this move could have unforeseen consequences. 

One of those consequences is losing a key player in superstar closer Jhoan Duran. While he still has two seasons of control, FanSided’s Christopher Kline believes that once he hits free agency, the Phillies won’t have the money to retain him.

MORE: Proposed Reds trade sees Cincinnati deal for $4.4 million 3.18 ERA veteran starting pitcher as emergency response to Hunter Greene injury

“Philadelphia has another year of arbitration with Jhoan Durán before he becomes a free agent after the 2027 season. This is not necessarily something Phillies fans should panic about; there is extreme external pressure for the front office to hammer out a long-term deal here. But the reliever market continues to explode year over year. With so much money tied up elsewhere, is Philadelphia going to spring for the $20 million-plus annually it will require to lock up Durán? It's a fair question…If the Phillies get 2.5 years of an elite closer and push deep into October once again, it will be hard to complain about this trade. But if Durán ultimately walks and the Phillies don't capitalize on this abbreviated window, you know the fan base will express its anger,” Kline wrote. 

Duran posted a 2.06 ERA, 80 Ks, a WHIP of 1.100, and 32 saves in 72 games of the 2025 season. He was traded at the deadline to Philly, where he posted a 2.16 ERA, 27 Ks, a WHIP of 0.919, and 16 saves in 23 of those 72 games. 

MORE: Red Sox receive concerning prediction regarding possible third base platoon of Caleb Durbin, Marcelo Mayer

Duran has been elite for the Phillies, and could be for the foreseeable future. With the loss of Ranger Suarez, and getting duped by Bo Bichette, the Phillies need to retain their talent no matter what. 

Hopefully, Philadelphia realizes this, and makes sure they ink an extension with their closer.

MORE MLB NEWS

How the Boston Red Sox' superstars are dominating in the 2026 World Baseball Classic

Mariners predicted to trade for $90 million WBC breakout star to complete outfield trio with Randy Arozarena, Julio Rodriguez

Mets predicted to trade for $90 million WBC superstar, would be upgrade from Brett Baty

They did it again!

According to 9NEWS Denver’s Mike Klis, the Denver Broncos are re-signing tight end Lucas Krull to a one-year deal. He entered the offseason as a restricted free agent, but the Broncos did not tender him, and he became a free agent at the start of the new league year. Now, he returns to the Broncos.

As of this moment, the Broncos have the same exact tight end room that they had last season. Evan Engram is your ‘Joker’, Adam Trautman is your starter, Nate Adkins is your blocking specialist, Krull adds depth as a pass catcher, and Lohner is the developmental prospect.

I had hoped the Broncos would revamp and improve their tight end room this offseason, but they decided to run it back despite their struggles last season. Now, they can still make some changes, and they have the draft, but as of now, this is the same room they had last season.

Krull is a big, athletic tight end who provides depth as a pass catcher; however, he has not produced much since joining the team in 2023. Through three seasons with the Broncos, he has 29 catches for 262 yards and 1 touchdown. This past year, he played in just 3 games and had 2 receptions for 15 yards.

This, unfortunately, likely takes the Broncos out of the veteran tight end market, but they still could address the position via the draft. I would imagine we see them draft a tight end with one of their picks in the first four rounds of the draft. Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq will likely be off the board by the time the Broncos pick in the first round but could Payton be interested in Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers or look for a more traditional in-line tight end?

Patriots free agency tracker: Live rumors, news, updates on signings to help Mike Vrabel, Drake Maye originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New England Patriots have already been active in free agency.

And it's just Monday of the opening week, with the negotiating window having opened at 12 noon. Signings can't become official until Wednesday.

The Patriots entered the day with more than $45 million in available cap space, and they're putting that to good use.

It's a crucial offseason for New England after they arrived ahead of schedule a year ago.

MORE: Check out our full NFL free agency tracker here

The Pats got a huge lift from first-year head coach Mike Vrabel, and Drake Maye took a huge step forward in his second season as New England QB.

That led them to an AFC East title and all the way to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Seattle Seahawks.

Now looking at a tougher schedule for the season ahead, the Patriots would love to prove that there were no flukes.

That starts with free agency.

This is a tracker of what the Pats are up to.

MORE: Travis Kelce reveals why he didn't retire and signed back with Chiefs

Patriots free agency rumors, news, live updates

Refresh for the latest. Times all in ET.

WEDNESDAY

4:30 p.m.: Of note to the AFC East -- Bradley Chubb has left the Dolphins and signed with the Bills to bolster Buffalo's pass rush.

3:10 p.m.: The Patriots lose safety Jaylinn Hawkins in a deal to the Baltimore Ravens, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

2:40 p.m.: A big deal as the Patriots sign three-time Pro Bowl safety Kevin Byard to a one-year contract for $9 million, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

1:20 p.m.: A good reminder on X from NFL analyst Kevin Massare: "Apparently another reminder needed on NFL Free Agency. It doesn't END at 4pm. It STARTS then. There's a large list of players who are currently unsigned that will greatly help good football teams this year."

12:45 p.m.: Remember Jacoby Brissett? Well, he's primed to be a starting NFL QB for the 2026 season.

12:20 p.m.: The Patriots have signed a linebacker from the division rival Dolphins -- it's a one-year deal for KJ Britt, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

9:30 a.m.: The Patriots are releasing Anfernee Jennings, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

9 a.m.: The Washington Commanders have signed former Patriots edge rusher K'Lavon Chaisson, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It's for one year and $12 million.

8:40 a.m.: The Patriots aren't expected to be in on Maxx Crosby, but the continued saga of him moving or not moving around the AFC could eventually impact the playoff picture and the Pats.

8 a.m.: The Romeo Doubs signing was brilliant in part because of how it impacts A.J. Brown trade talks. You can read more about that at this link.

6:45 a.m.: It's a big day in the NFL free agent process. No deals are actually official yet. At 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT) on Wednesday, contracts can become official and players can fully join their new teams. That's when teams will start making lots of announcements on social media. This is also the day many releases can become official across the league, which could create the potential for more deals.

TUESDAY

11 p.m.: One thing worth noting is that the Patriots could have more moves coming soon because certain releases don't actually process until the league year begins on Wednesday. That'll impact available players and cap room.

5:20 p.m.: If any team wanted to get weird with a running back addition, Devonta Freeman wants to make an NFL comeback. But he's 34, so that would be quite the thing.

4:40 p.m.: Bengals free agent Trey Hendrickson is lingering and apparently getting inquiries from all over. Could a sleeper team emerge? Stay tuned.

2:25 p.m.: You can read more about the Romeo Doubs signing impact at this link.

2:15 p.m.: The Patriots have their new WR1: Romeo Doubs signs in free agency from the Packers, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

1:55 p.m.: There's reason to believe the Patriots could trade for A.J. Brown from the Eagles. You can read more about that at this link.

10:45 a.m.: Something to note as the free agency tampering window continues into a second day: Things will definitely be slower today. Guys that weren't signed immediately usually weren't signed immediately for a reason. Either they really are taking their time intentionally, or they don't have the interest they want. Plenty more deals will come, but they could be stretched out over the next handful of days.

8:37 a.m.: The Patriots might need a No. 2 TE, which is a subtle but intriguing position to watch on Tuesday after Austin Hooper's departure.

7:45 a.m.: ESPN's Mike Reiss reports that new signing Alijah Vera-Tucker is projected to start at left guard.

6:45 a.m.: A couple key things to note as Tuesday gets underway. Free agency operates much the same way today as it did Monday. It's still the "legal tampering" period. Deals can't be made official until Wednesday. There are still a good chunk of free agents on the board, so more news should emerge throughout the day.

MONDAY

Midnight: The Patriots have signed Alijah Vera-Tucker to a three-year, $42 million deal, getting the offensive lineman away from the New York Jets. Reporting by multiple, including Dianna Russini of The Athletic.

11:30 p.m.: One other note to wrap up the day: Earlier, Austin Hooper signed with the Falcons, leaving the Patriots with Hunter Henry but potentially a TE2 opening.

10 p.m.: By the evening, Jones and Gilliam remained the Patriots' only signings.

4:27 p.m.: The Patriots were active early and will now look to just build around the edges.

4:17 p.m.: A loss for the Patriots as offensive tackle Vederian Lowe is going to the 49ers on a two-year contract, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

2:20 p.m.: News that Mike Evans is leaving the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to sign with the San Francisco 49ers is shocking. It also officially removes New England from possibly ending up with Evans.

2:10 p.m.: Khyiris Tonga, a DT, has left for the Chiefs, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.

1:15 p.m.: The Pats strike a blow to division rival Buffalo by signing their reliable fullback, Reggie Gilliam, to a reported three-year, $12 million contract.

12:15 p.m.: The Patriots strike early, landing Dre'Mont Jones on a three-year, $39.5 million contract after he ended last season with the Ravens.

Patriots free agent signings

• Another big move: Kevin Byard is coming to New England's secondary from the Bears.
• A big one: Romeo Doubs joins the Patriots from the Packers to be the Pats' new top receiver.
• The Patriots add to the offensive line with Alijah Vera-Tucker from the Jets.
• The Patriots got Dre'Mont Jones, a pass rusher, on a three-year, $39.5 million deal.
• The Pats swiped fullback Reggie Gilliam from the Bills for three years and $12 million.

Patriots free agent losses

• The Patriots, before free agency arrived, released RB Antonio Gibson.
• The Patriots have lost DT Khyiris Tonga in a signing to the Chiefs.
• Vederian Lowe, an offensive tackle, leaves for the 49ers.
• The Patriots lost TE Austin Hooper to the Falcons.
• K'Lavon Chaisson left for a one-year contract with the Commanders.
• The Pats are releasing Anfernee Jennings from the defense.
• Jaylinn Hawkins is leaving to play safety for the Ravens.

More NFL news:

• Cowboys shunned by Eagles' free agent for AFC West
• Panthers shell out $165 million for 2 free agent stars
• This is why the Cowboys failed in trading for Maxx Crosby
• Ravens' former 1st-round pick retires after 8 NFL seasons
• Jets trade rumor would mean major WR upgrade
• Ravens have a $38 million last-gasp Lamar Jackson solution to contract problem

Joe Hart explained Gianluigi Donnarumma’s bizarre mistake which saw Real Madrid take the lead against Manchester City in their Champions League last-16 first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Federico Valverde put Madrid in front when he got on the end of a sensational launched kick by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and raced through on goal.

Donnarumma sprinted out of his goal to meet Valverde and slid to make a challenge, but Valverde skipped past the City keeper and rolled the ball into an empty net.

Replays showed that Donnarumma pulled his hand away from the ball as Valverde went past him when the giant Italian could have put out an arm to make a tackle. But, Hart explained, Donnarumma’s judgement may have been clouded by just how close he was to the edge of the penalty area when he made the challenge.

“It’s an incredible first touch from Valverde,” said Hart, speaking on TNT Sports. “So what I’m seeing there from this angle – and look, everyone in hindsight will say, ‘Well, his hands are still in the box’ – but because Donnarumma is committed, he’s coming out at pace, he’s thinking ‘slide tackle out the box’. And then as [the ball] goes past him, because he sees himself coming out of the box, he makes a calculated decision to think, ‘you know what, I don’t need to be giving a penalty away or a potential red card here, I’m going to sacrifice the goal’.

“When he sees it back, he knows he can use his hands, but with the way he was attacking that ball, he’s thinking ‘tackle, tackle, tackle out the box, and then he’s not realised that his hands are actually inside the box.”

Valverde went on to complete a first-half hat-trick to make matters much worse for Manchester City and give Pep Guardiola’s side a mountain to climb.

• Follow Real Madrid v Manchester City – live!

Tonight's 1-1 first-leg draw with Arsenal left Bayer Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand with a lot to ponder but largely sensed the positives.

“I have mixed emotions. We played well and didn't concede many chances. We were active and played well with the ball.

"It was a top performance against a top team. Of course, it's very frustrating that we only drew 1-1, but travelling to London with high hopes.

“Arsenal are under a lot of pressure [as favourites]. We're looking forward to this game and want to cause an upset,” Hjulmand said after the game. 

Although not directly involved tonight's goal, 19-year-old Christian Kofane impressed and feels the Rhineland club have cause for optimism. 

“Anything is possible in football – we saw that today. We played against one of the best teams in the world.

“We had them on the brink of defeat. That must give us hope for next week's match, but it certainly won't be easy,” Kofane explained. 

Malo Gusto was bound to play an important role tonight, and against all odds he’s got the Blues’ first goal in the game after a nice attack.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CHELSEA NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON THE APP STORE

Chelsea have done it! The Blues have got level against PSG.

An early goal to the hosts had the stadium rocking, but Liam Rosenior’s team were fearless in getting back into this.

You can see the goal in the clips embedded here:

Blues need to keep up positive momentum

What was really impressive here was how Chelsea reacted to going a goal behind. They were fearless and they need to keep that up now. There are more goals in this for them, but they need to keep their composure.

In other news…

Liam Rosenior spoke before this game about the team he’s selected, with controversial calls in goal and midfield.

Rosenior also spoke about how he wanted to give his players more confidence and convince them to not be afraid against a beatable PSG team.

One person who won’t be delighted right now is Andrey Santos, who has lost his place in Liam Rosenior’s first team for now.

Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma found himself in a split-second quandary for Manchester City against Real Madrid, seemingly preferring to give up the goal.

The shot-stopper started tonight’s Champions League Round of 16 tie at the Bernabeu, but was caught out by the opener scored by Federico Valverde.

It was very route one football, as Thibaut Courtois punted a long ball forward, controlled brilliantly by Valverde to go clear on goal.

Donnarumma behaviour explained

MADRID, SPAIN – MARCH 11: Federico Valverde of Real Madrid scores his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 11, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

As Donnarumma came rushing out to narrow the angle, he seemed to pull his arm away at the last second, so Valverde went around him and managed to steer it into the net from a tricky position.

Former Torino goalkeeper Joe Hart on TNT Sport confirmed the suspicion many had that Donnarumma thought he wasn’t going to get there in time, and that he may well be sliding his way out of the penalty area in the process.

That and the fear of giving away a penalty, along with the narrowing angle making it a tough finish, prompted the Italian to withdraw his arm and let Valverde through.

It is also not entirely a surprise, considering this was the second assist Courtois has registered in the Champions League this season for Real Madrid.

Thibaut Courtois assist ‼️ The Belgian keeper plays a lovely ball out to Fede Valverde who gives Real Madrid the lead 🔥 pic.twitter.com/EX93BvXlk9

Everton have maintained a close watch on Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt ahead of a potential summer move, according to a report from Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider. The Toffees are now seriously considering a summer approach for the 29-year-old, who has officially agreed to depart Dortmund when his contract expires at the end of the current campaign.

Sources strongly linked Moyes’ side with Brandt earlier this season, and those conversations have regained momentum following confirmation that he will become a free agent. Everton‘s recruitment team views Brandt as a genuine upgrade to their attacking output, though they are braced for fierce competition across Europe given the player’s track record and adaptability across multiple positions.

The former Bayer Leverkusen man has accumulated nine goal involvements from just 20 Bundesliga appearances in 2025-26, building on a 15-involvement campaign last season. His 48 senior caps for Germany further underline his pedigree, even though his international career has not been without turbulence. Brandt was part of the squad that exited the Group Stages at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Crucially, the midfielder has spent his entire senior career in the Bundesliga, so a move to Goodison would represent completely new ground for him.

Can Julian Brandt Finally Give Everton The Creative Spark They Have Needed For Years?

DORTMUND, GERMANY – NOVEMBER 25: Julian Brandt of Borussia Dortmund runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Borussia Dortmund and Villarreal CF at BVB Stadion Dortmund on November 25, 2025 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)

Everton’s season under Moyes in 2025-26 has been a familiar story of defensive solidity paired with creative limitations in the final third, a problem that has persisted for several years. Brandt, at 29, sits in the most productive window of his career, offering exactly the profile Everton currently lacks: a technically fluent central midfielder who reads space cleverly, progresses the ball with purpose, and contributes directly to goals.

His strengths are clear. His ability to operate in central midfield, attacking midfield, and on either flank gives Moyes genuine tactical flexibility, something Everton rarely enjoy in their options going forward. He presses intelligently, combines efficiently in tight spaces, and consistently registers double-figure goal involvements; a standard very few players across Europe maintain at his level over consecutive seasons.

Brandt’s weakness, however, is consistency when the pressure intensifies in high-stakes matches. Brandt has occasionally gone quiet for Dortmund on big European nights, showing a tendency to fade when physicality dominates proceedings. Premier League football will test that aspect of his character sharply, and adapting to English football’s pace after a career in Germany presents a genuine unknown.

On balance, the free transfer element makes this a low-risk, high-upside opportunity for Everton. Moyes could deploy Brandt in a number 10 role or as a left-of-centre eight in a 4-2-3-1, freeing him to link play and arrive late into goalscoring positions. This summer, expect several Premier League and Bundesliga clubs to table offers, but if Everton move decisively and early, Brandt represents arguably the most cost-effective attacking upgrade available to them.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are one of just three NFL teams, joining Seattle and Denver, to not add an outside player during the legal negotiating window.

Now that the new league year has begun and free agency has officially started, the Jags shouldn’t be inactive for much longer.

Bookmark this page for roster updates throughout the offseason!

Last update: March 11 at 4:30pm | Contract details and comp pick projections via OverTheCap.com

Newly Signed Players

• Coming soon…?

Re-Signed Players

• 15 practice squad candidates (signed to reserve/future contracts).
• RB DeeJay Dallas (one-year, $1.3 million).
• DT Matt Dickerson (one-year, $1.5 million).
• CB Keith Taylor (one-year, $1.2 million).
• CB Christian Braswell (one-year, $1.1 million).
• TE Quintin Morris (one-year, $2 million deal). Read more on Morris’ re-signing here.
• CB Montaric Brown (three-year, $31.8 million deal). Read more on Brown’s re-signing here.
• OLB Dennis Gardeck (two-year, $6.5 million deal). Read more on Gardeck’s re-signing here.

Departed Players

• RB Travis Etienne signed with the New Orleans Saints (four-year, $48 million deal). Jacksonville is projected to receive a fifth-round compensatory pick. Read more on Etienne’s departure here.
• LB Devin Lloyd signed with the Carolina Panthers (three-year, $45 million deal). Jacksonville is projected to receive a fourth/fifth-round compensatory pick. Read more on Lloyd’s departure here.
• CB Greg Newsome II signed with the New York Giants (one-year, $8 million deal). Jacksonville is projected to receive a late-round compensatory pick.

Unsigned Players

• WR Dyami Brown
• WR Tim Patrick
• WR Josh Cephus (exclusive rights free agent)
• DE Dawuane Smoot
• DE Emmanuel Ogbah
• DT Austin Johnson
• S Andrew Wingard

Released Players

• TE Johnny Mundt ($2.7 million in savings)

Restructured Players

• OL Patrick Mekari (saved $7.4 million in 2026, per Spotrac)
• S Eric Murray (saved $3.4 million in 2026, per Spotrac)
• CB Jourdan Lewis (saved $6.1 million in 2026, per Spotrac)
• OL Robert Hainsey (saved $4 million in 2026, per Spotrac)

Current Resources

As of the start of the new league year at 4 p.m. ET on March 11, the Jaguars rank 29th in salary cap space and hold 11 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.

• Round 2: #56
• Round 3: #81, #88, #100
• Round 4: #124
• Round 5: #164, #166
• Round 6: #203
• Round 7: #233, #240, #245

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Real Madrid are firmly in charge of their Champions League round of 16 tie against Manchester City courtesy of a first-half hat-trick from Federico Valverde.

He opened the scoring at the Bernabéu after 20 minutes after he latched on to a long ball from Thibaut Courtois and beat both the defender and the goalkeeper before finishing from a tight angle.

Seven minutes later, he was in for his second of the night after being found by a through ball from Vinícius Júnior.

Before the break, he completed his hat-trick by beating Gianluigi Donnarumma from close range to round off another solid move from the home side.

Tonight's goals mean Valverde has not only scored scored his first-ever Champions League hat-trick on his 76th appearance in the competition, but also his first in a Real Madrid shirt.

Even more impressive is that the Uruguayan has stepped up in the absence of Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé - who have so often been Real Madrid's standouts on the European stage.

He also joins Lionel Messi as one of two players in Champions League history to score a first-half hat-trick against an English opponent.

Can Man City muster up a response, or will Real Madrid cruise through these two legs and into the quarter-finals?

Buccaneers sign new QB with starting experience to help Baker Mayfield originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered this offseason seeking a new backup quarterback.

And on Wednesday, they got their new QB2.

Jake Browning is signing with the Bucs, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. He's a quality backup who has starting experience with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Browning was originally an undrafted player out of the University of Washington, but he grew into Joe Burrow's backup for the Bengals.

In the last three seasons, he started 10 games. He went 4-3 in 2023 while starting but just 0-3 in his three starts in 2025.

All told, Browning has completed 68.5% of his passes in the NFL for 2,707 yards with 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

MORE: Why the Raiders are no longer trading Maxx Crosby to the Ravens

In 2025, the Bengals eventually brought in Joe Flacco to be Browning's backup replacement, but Cincinnati could never really get its season back on track.

This might mean the Bengals look to land Flacco as their backup again, but that doesn't impact the Bucs.

Tampa Bay is taking a chance on Browning, who will turn 30 years old on April 11.

The Bucs obviously need Mayfield to stay healthy, but quarterback is the most important position in sports. You need a good backup.

Browning has proven he can win football games as a starter. That has to count for something, and the Bucs are hoping it does -- although they're also hoping they never have to play him.

More NFL news:

• Cowboys shunned by Eagles' free agent for AFC West
• Panthers shell out $165 million for 2 free agent stars
• Travis Kelce reveals why he didn't retire and signed back with Chiefs
• Ravens' former 1st-round pick retires after 8 NFL seasons
• This list of Jets QBs since Geno Smith is wildly depressing
• It'd be hard for the Falcons' QB moves to be funnier

The Carolina Panthers may be reuniting quarterback Bryce Young with his one of his top pass catchers from college.

According to ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Panthers have reached terms on an agreement with wide receiver John Metchie. Per Schefter, the deal is a one-year pact.

Metchie was teammates with Young during their time at the University of Alabama. He served as a go-to target for the Crimson Tide during Young's Heisman Trophy-winning campaign in 2021, where he reeled in a team-leading 96 receptions for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns.

After being named a second-team All-SEC member that year, Metchie was selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans. He's also picked up stops with the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Jets, and has amassed 73 catches for 686 yards and three scores over three pro seasons.

Follow our free agency tracker for all the latest moves.

Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.

This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: NFL free agency: Panthers reportedly agree to deal with WR John Metchie

Heading into the offseason, finding a pass-rusher was one of the Buffalo Bills‘ goals for 2026. They’d been linked to elite solutions such as a Maxx Crosby trade or a Trey Hendrickson signing. Neither one came to fruition, but that didn’t stifle Bills president Brandon Beane’s plans.

On Wednesday, the Bills came to an agreement with two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Bradley Chubb, who had been playing for Buffalo’s AFC East rivals in Miami. Chubb is signing a three-year, $43.5 million contract in Buffalo. He’s also getting $29 million guaranteed, and the deal could push up to $52 million if certain performance thresholds are met.

Chubb, 29, arrived in the league as the fifth overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft with the Broncos. He’s coming off a season where he started all 17 games and tallied 8.5 sacks in Miami. Now he’ll join a talented bunch in Buffalo that always has Super Bowl expectations, and Chubb hopes to help them reach their goal.

Chubb has topped the 10-sack barrier twice. Once in his rookie season and again in 2023, before he missed all of 2024 with a torn ACL.

Yet, Chubb has already shown he can produce at a high level again after the major knee surgery, so he should hit the ground running in Buffalo too. After generating just 36 sacks as a team last season, Chubb should provide a big boost to Buffalo’s pass-rush.

Related: NFL Insider Updates Raiders’ Maxx Crosby Trade Price After Failed Physical

Related Headlines

• Philadelphia Eagles ‘In Contact’ About Trade for Pro Bowl Pass-Rusher
• Minnesota Vikings Surprisingly Release Potential Future Hall of Famer
• Brandon Aiyuk Hits Free Agency: 5 Likely Landing Spots, Including the Raiders

Casey Kreiter, the New York Giants' long snapper for the past six seasons, is moving on.

On Wednesday, Kreister reportedly agreed to terms on a deal with the Arizona Cardinals.

In long snapper news: The #AZCardinals are signing former #Giants long snapper Casey Kreiter, as the 35-year old leaves NYG after five seasons, per me and @MikeGarafolo. pic.twitter.com/KWZK04d88o

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2026

Kreiter's departure was imminent, given all the changes the Giants have been making since the arrival of John Harbaugh as head coach and Chris Horton as special teams coordinator.

The Giants have a new kicker in Jason Sanders and a new punter in Justin Stout, who replaces Jamie Gillan, who was released this week. Gillan was also the holder on field goals and extra points, so the Giants will have a new holder as well.

Kreiter was signed by the Giants as a free agent in 2020 after four seasons with the Denver Broncos. He played in 101 of 102 possible games over his six seasons with the Giants.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants LS Casey Kreiter signing with Arizona Cardinals

At the start of the new league year on Wednesday afternoon, the Green Bay Packers officially announced the trade sending edge rusher Rashan Gary to the Dallas Cowboys. As previously reported, the compensation coming back to the Packers is a fourth-round pick in the 2027 draft.

There was some marginal concern regarding the trade in the aftermath of the Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas canceling a trade sending Maxx Crosby to the Ravens, given the Cowboys' interest in Crosby, but the Gary trade was processed and both the Packers and Cowboys announced the trade within the first hour of the new league year.

The Packers thanked Gary, a 2019 first-round pick, for his seven seasons in Green Bay.

From general manager Brian Gutekunst: "We want to thank Rashan for his commitment and hard work during his seven seasons with the Packers. His impact was felt both on the field and in the locker room and was key to the success of the six playoff teams that he was a part of in Green Bay. He worked incredibly hard to return from a significant knee injury sustained in 2022 and continued to be an impactful player for us once he was back on the field. We're appreciative for all that he gave to our team, and we wish Rashan nothing but the best in the future."

Over seven seasons in Green Bay, Gary produced 46.5 sacks and 111 quarterback hits while playing in 106 games. He was a Pro Bowler in 2024.

The trade cleared $11 million off the Packers' salary cap in 2026. Gary will join former Packers defensive lineman Kenny Clark in Dallas.

Officially a Cowboy ✍️#DallasCowboys | @blockchainpic.twitter.com/1Ocb9ZwyV4

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) March 11, 2026

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers officially announce trade sending Rashan Gary to Cowboys

In 2025, Fernandina Beach football took a giant stride forward, finishing with a 7-6 record.

It’s the first time since 2008 that the Pirates finished a season with a winning record. With some momentum in-hand, the Florida high school program will look to take another step in 2026.

The Pirates finished last season as the No. 275 team in the Sunshine State, according to the Rivals Composite Rankings. They got off to a 5-0 start, then promptly dropped five in a row before winning two of their last three. The Fernandina Beach offense averaged over 29 points per game.

During the Pirates’ five-game streak to kick off last season, they found multiple ways to win. They bookended the streak with one-score wins, then eclipsed the 40-point mark in each of the three in-between matchups.

On Wednesday afternoon, Fernandina Beach revealed its upcoming schedule. It’ll once again play an even five games at home and five on the road. The season-opener is set for Aug. 14 at Keystone Heights.

Three of the first four games of the season will be away from home. Game two of the year, an Aug. 21 battle vs. Leon, will be the home-opener. Highlights on the schedule include an early-September road trip to Yulee and an early-October trip to Jacksonville’s Andrew Jackson.

The complete Fernandina Beach schedule for the upcoming season can be seen below:

Fernandina Beach Pirates 2026 schedule

Aug. 14 — at Keystone Heights
Aug. 21 — vs. Leon
Aug. 28 — at NFEI
Sept. 4 — at Yulee
Sept. 18 — vs. Clay
Sept. 25 — vs. West Nassau
Oct. 2 — at Andrew Jackson
Oct. 9 — vs. Union County
Oct. 16 — vs. Providence
Oct. 23 — Episcopal

How to Follow Florida High School Football

For Florida 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 Sunshine 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 high school football excitement across the state of Florida.

A world record holding adventurer has added another first to her name after circumnavigating the globe in a 19ft (5.8m) plywood yacht.

Jasmine Harrison took 381 days to travel 26,000 nautical miles to and from Falmouth Harbour in Antigua.

The 26-year-old, from Thirsk, sailed across four oceans as part of the Mini Globe Race and stopped in 15 different countries, including Panama, Tahiti, South Africa and Brazil.

After completing her epic adventure - the first time a British woman has sailed solo around the world in a vessel of that size - she said: "I'm relieved to have finished, but also sad that's it's over. It's been an incredible journey."

The swimming teacher, lifeguard and adventurer was one of 15 sailors competitors taking part in the world solo sailing race, with only 11 sailors completing the feat.

"I took one stage at a time, never really absorbing the totality of the journey until now. To think that I've sailed solo around the world, across four oceans is surreal" she said.

As part of the trip, Jasmine came into contact with many different marine animals including dolphins, whales and sharks.

"The wildlife has been an absolute highlight and the sunsets are always incredible," she added.

During a seven-day break in St Helena she also became the first woman to swim around the island in the South Atlantic - completing the grueling 30-mile swim in 18.5 hours.

'Changed a lot'

Jasmine said the trip was full of challenges, with every aspect a long way from "normal life".

"Just living on a boat, not having proper fresh food, not having a comfy bed, barely sleeping," she said.

"The headwinds and counter-currents made it really difficult navigating a lot of the time."

Jasmine already holds a number of records, including having been the youngest female to row solo across the Atlantic when she completed it in 2021 aged 21.

Looking back she said that feat was "so much more straightforward" than her most recent exploits.

"You just move your arms, bend your legs and you're moving the boat, whereas the sail, you've got to be a lot more skillful to get the boat to move rather than just have physical grit and determination."

In 2022, Jasmine also swam from Land's End to John o' Groats and became the first female and only third person to achieve the feat.

"It shows that if you really want to do a challenge then anything is possible, and it's only by trying that you can succeed" she said.

Now due to head back to Yorkshire, she said she was "so ready to get home".

"I don't know what life is going to be like because I've changed a lot as a person.

"I'm going to have to get a job again and resettle in, but I'm so looking forward to seeing my friends and my dogs."

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.

More on this story

• 'I've done the really tricky bits - I'll try not to mess it up'
• From sharks to salt mouth: My record-breaking UK swim
• Teacher is youngest woman to row Atlantic solo

As, expected, the Las Vegas Raiders will have a new starting guard in 2026.

Free agent Dylan Parham has reportedly agreed to terms with the New York Jets on a two-year, $20 million contract. While Parham could have returned to Las Vegas, it’s not a surprise both sides are mutually parting ways.

Parham, a third-round pick in 2022, was a primary starter during his entire Raiders’ career. He made 63 starts in four seasons and started all 15 games he played in 2025.

Now, 2025 third-round pick Caleb Rogers is poised to get a chance to start in 2026 unless the Raiders add a veteran in free agency.

Parham is the fifth of the Raiders’ 18 unrescricted free agent to agree elsewhere. The others are: Linebacker Jamal Adams (Jets), quarterback Kenny Pickett (Panthers), Stone Forsythe (Panthers) and defensive back Lonnie Johnson (Dolphins).

The team has re-signed cornerback Eric Stokes and pass-rusher Malcolm Koonce.

Could the Houston Texans target another tight end to add before free agency? One report indicates that they might already have him locked up before the end of Thursday's free agency period.

According to Nick Underhill of New Orleans Football Network, Saints tight end Foster Moreau has been in talks with the Texans and is expected to leave the Saints this offseason. Houston might be one of several teams looking to sign him, but its certainly looking like a potential dream fit.

Current expectation is that Foster Moreau will be signing with another team. He's been in talks with the Houston Texans, per source.

— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) March 11, 2026

Moreau, who played his college ball at LSU, is coming off a down season that limited him to 11 games. Mostly used as a secondary target and frontline blocker, the 6-foot-4 option could be a nice pairing with Dalton Schultz, who recently signed a one-year extension, thus keeping him around through the 2027 season.

For his career, Moreau has caught 151 passes for 1,772 and 18 touchdowns while averaging 11.8 yards per catch. During his time with the Las Vegas Raiders, Moreau worked with new Texans QB coach Jerry Schuplinski, who was a senior offensive assistant under then-coach Josh McDaniels.

The Texans plan on targeting a tight end in free agency before it comes to a close.

This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans: Houston to target Saints TE Foster Moreau in free agency

The Chicago Bears are signing former Cleveland Browns first-round offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. to a one-year contract, according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter.

More to come.

Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears sign former first-round OT Jedrick Wills Jr.

Gian Piero Gasperini insists Roma are not prioritising Serie A ahead of the Europa League clash with Bologna, despite an injury crisis in attack. ‘Donyell Malen’s situation is very rare.’

It kicks off at the Stadio Dall’Ara on Thursday at 17.45 GMT (18.45 CET).

ROME, ITALY – AUGUST 23: Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma, looks on prior to the Serie A match between AS Roma and Bologna FC 1909 at Stadio Olimpico on August 23, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

The second leg will be at the Stadio Olimpico next week, as we know only one Italian team will make it to the quarter-finals of the tournament.

It is confirmed that the Giallorossi will be without suspended Gianluca Mancini, plus injured Matias Soulé, Paulo Dybala, Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson, but Mario Hermoso is included in the list.

Gasperini has reduced Roma options

GENOA, ITALY – MARCH 8: Gian Piero Gasperini, head coach of Roma, looks on prior to kick-off in the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and AS Roma at Luigi Ferraris Stadium on March 8, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Getty Images)

“We’ll see tomorrow, at the moment Hermoso is available and could play, but he’s been out for a while, so we’ll see if it’s from the start or off the bench,” explained Gasperini in his press conference.

“At least one Italian team will get through for sure. It’s true the trend for Italian teams in Europe has not been good this season, even worse if we add in the Nazionale struggles, so evidently it’s not a coincidence.

“We all need to dig deep and explain what the problem is, the coaches, clubs, and probably the media too. It’s not about a tactical issue, there’s something deeper that probably stems from the youth academies and the way teams are built.”

ROME, ITALY – DECEMBER 15: Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma, hugs Cesc Fabregas, Head Coach of Como 1907, prior to the Serie A match between AS Roma and Como 1907 at Stadio Olimpico on December 15, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Considering he has won the Europa League with Atalanta, but also that Roma have a Serie A battle with Como this weekend for fourth place, which is the priority for them?

“Every game is important, we cannot make calculations, but take them one at a time trying to give our best in each one,” replied the coach.

“The priority is both competitions, perhaps a few weeks ago we also had the Coppa Italia and therefore saw Serie A as the priority, but we never thought about just letting anything go.

“I don’t see any way of giving less in a match situation. It’s possible we won’t play as well in some games as others, but it won’t be by choice.”

The January signings have made a big impact, most notably striker Malen, who will finally get to play in the Europa League with Roma after he was cup-tied for the league phase due to his time with Aston Villa.

“We are scoring more goals, the trend is positive thanks also to the arrival of Malen, who has made us more dangerous in attack,” confirmed Gasperini.

“We have certainly lost several important players in attack, but Malen has given us something extra. Bryan Zaragoza needs time to adapt, he’s only been here for a month, so the situations like Malen who hit the ground running in a new team are very rare.

“With both Dybala and Soulé out, we have had to rotate players in those support roles. Lorenzo Pellegrini has played there most consistently, but Lorenzo Venturino, Robinio Vaz and Stephan El Shaarawy can all play there.”

Has Gasperini spoken to Pellegrini about his future, with the contract running down?

“No, this is not something we need to discuss now, as it’s a fundamental stage of the season, and we need to focus on the pitch.”

Could Malen and Vaz even start together tomorrow?

“Anything is possible,” smiled the coach.

Take another potential free agent off this summer's list.

Utah Mammoth forward Nick Schmaltz signed an eight-year contract extension on Wednesday, March 11 with a cap hit of $8 million. That will make him the team's third-highest player behind Logan Cooley ($10 million cap hit next season) and Mikhail Sergachev ($8.5 million).

Schmaltz, 30, ranks second on the team in goals (24), assists (35), and points (59) in 62 games. He already has passed his career best in goals and is on pace to shatter his top season in points (63 last season).

He had been No. 2 on USA TODAY Sports' most recent list of top potential free agents and is the latest player to come off what had been an impressive class. 

Kirill Kaprizov signed a record extension and has been joined by Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Kyle Connor, Martin Necas, Artemi Panarin, Adrian Kempe, Kiefer Sherwood and Schmaltz.

Here are some of the top remaining pending unrestricted free agents:

Top remaining free agents

10. Anthony Mantha, Pittsburgh Penguins

He has rebounded in his first year in Pittsburgh with 24 goals and 48 points. Current cap hit: $2.5 million.

9. Charlie Coyle, Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets held onto their free agents at the deadline because the team has turned things around since Rick Bowness was named coach. With 51 points, he's on pace to set a personal best. Current cap hit: $5.25 million.

8. Anders Lee, New York Islanders

He has been the Islanders' captain since 2018 and is good for 20-plus goals. He had 29 last season. Current cap hit: $7 million.

7. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

The NHL's all-time leading goal scorer is 40. He'll either re-sign with Washington or retire. He hasn't indicated his plans. Current cap hit: $9 million.

6. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers

The goalie has won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles and two Vezina Trophies. He'll be 38 next season. Current cap hit: $10 million.

5. Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins

The 39-year-old has expressed an interest in playing more and he recently said the Penguins would wait until after the season to negotiate. He's averaging a point a game but has dealt with an injury and had an ill-timed five-game suspension. Current cap hit: $6.1 million.

4. John Carlson, Anaheim Ducks

Carlson, the Capitals' all-time leader in scoring among defensemen, was traded to the Ducks in a shocker. He ha 46 points in 55 games. Current cap hit: $8 million.

3. Rasmus Andersson, Vegas Golden Knights

The defenseman was traded to the Golden Knights this season by the Flames. He can provide offense with a 50- and a 49-point season. He's at 36 points this season. Current cap hit: $4.55 million.

2. Darren Raddysh, Tampa Bay Lightning

The defenseman is having a breakout season with 17 goals and 58 points and filled in well while Victor Hedman was out twice with injuries. Current cap hit: $975,000.

1. Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabres

The forward can score (two 36-goal seasons) and also kills penalties. He's at 28 goals this season for the surging Sabres. He wants to stay in Buffalo and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen wants to keep him. Current cap hit: $4.75 million.

Which 2026 free agents have signed extensions recently?

• Minnesota's Kirill Kaprizov, eight years, $136 million, a record for its total amount and $17 million cap hit
• Edmonton's Connor McDavid, two years, $25 million. The $12.5 million cap hit equals his current one and places him second on the team behind Leon Draisaitl.
• Edmonton's Jake Walman, seven years, $49 million
• Winnipeg's Kyle Connor, eight years, $96 million, richest contract in team history
• Edmonton's Mattias Ekholm, three years, $12 million
• Vegas' Jack Eichel, eight years, $108 million
• Colorado's Martin Necas, eight years, $92 million
• New Jersey's Jacob Markstrom, two years, $12 million
• Colorado's Scott Wedgewood, one year, $2.5 million
• Los Angeles' Adrian Kempe, eight years, $85 million
• Montreal's Mike Matheson, five years, $30 million
• Tampa Bay's Ryan McDonagh, three years, $12.1 million
• Los Angeles' Artemi Panarin, two years, $22 million
• San Jose's Kiefer Sherwood, five years, $28.75 million
• Seattle's Jordan Eberle, two years, $11 million
• Utah's Nick Schmaltz, eight years, $64 million

What is the NHL salary cap for 2025-26 and beyond?

The 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons could have minor adjustments up or down based on revenues:

2025-26

• Upper limit: $95.5 million
• Lower limit: $70.6 million

2026-27

• Upper limit: $104 million
• Lower limit: $76.9 million

2027-28

• Upper limit: $113.5 million
• Lower limit: $83.9 million

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Utah's NIck Schmaltz re-signs; top remaining NHL free agents

With less than two hours to go before the official start of NFL free agency, the New England Patriots have added another veteran to their roster. Kevin Byard, a former Tennessee Titans third-round draft pick who was voted first-team All-Pro with the Chicago Bears in 2025, will join the team on a reported one-year, $9 million contract.

Let’s put a grade on the signing based on everything we know so far.

Instant grades: Patriots sign S Kevin Byard

Bernd Buchmasser: The 32-year-old Byard is a bit on the older side, but he has not shown any signs of slowing down. He remains a ballhawking presence in the secondary, is capable of playing the deep field exceptionally well, and was a respected locker room presence in both Tennessee and Chicago. Add the connection to Mike Vrabel and a solid price tag and you get a very good pickup capable of making a major impact. | Grade: A

Pat Lane: The Patriots were in need of more playmakers on defense, and they certainly got one with Byard. He was a first team All-Pro last season, and led the league in interceptions, but he also turns 33 before the season starts. I love the pickup for this season, but I still want them to bring back Jaylinn Hawkins, or draft another safety, to set them up for the future. | Grade: B+

Andrew Guindon: Signing Byard is great for immediate production in the secondary. He’s coming off an AP first-team All-Pro season in 2025 in his tenth season, and that’s the third time in his career Byard’s been elected an All-Pro. The veteran brings substantial experience and can help Craig Woodson blossom. 2026 will be Byard’s age-33 season, so it’s still important to draft a safety or retain Jaylinn Hawkins. | Grade: A-

Matt St. Jean: Safety is an incredibly important position in New England’s defense, and Byard is a perfect fit next to Craig Woodson. Byard has four seasons with five or more interceptions, bringing a playmaking ability to the defensive backfield that is needed. I’m curious what the long-term plan is for the position with Byard on the older side and only signing a one-year deal, but this is a clear improvement over Jaylinn Hawkins in the short term. | Grade: A

What do you think about the Patriots signing Kevin Byard? Do you like the move? Do you not? And how would you grade it? Please head down to the comment section to discuss.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Vikings fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Yes, it’s that time again, ladies and gentlemen. . .time for an SB Nation Reacts survey about our Minnesota Vikings!

Sort of.

Given that the Vikings really haven’t done a whole lot here in the early stages of free agency, one of our two questions for this week has to do with our division rivals instead. We want to know which of our three NFC North rivals you think has had the best free agency period so far. I mean, after all, so far. . .with the start of the new league year less than an hour away as I write this. . .the only new addition the Vikings have made is former Steelers’ cornerback James Pierre. The other three teams in the division have made quite a few moves between them, so we want to know who you think has done the best so far.

We do have a question about our team, though. The Vikings did have two fairly significant losses in the “legal tampering” period in punter Ryan Wright and wide receiver Jalen Nailor. We’re curious to see which one you folks think is the bigger loss to the team. It may seem like a strange question on its face, but given that the Vikings have depth at the wide receiver spot and Wright was pretty solid last year (and he was very good at his holding duties), perhaps there are more things to consider.

As always, we invite you to get involved by casting your vote in our survey and by sounding off in the comments section.

Have at it, folks! We’ll have the results of our survey for you sometime over the weekend.

Where does Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla rank among pro sport coaches in New England? The Celtics head coach has some competition among his peers in other sports and leagues. From Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora in Major League Baseball and New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel in the National Football League to Boston Bruins head coach Marco Sturm in the National Hockey League, Mazzulla has some serious competition in any popularity contest among New England Sports Fans.

Charisma of course plays a role, but so does success in the recent term, with the Celtics coach perhaps enjoying something of an advantage there over some of his peers.

The folks behind the "98.5 The Sports Hub" YouTube channel put together a clip from their "Zolak and Bertrand" show that saw the hosts talk it over. Check it out below!

Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:

Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKp

iTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47

YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3

This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Where does Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla rank among pro sport coaches in New England?

The Arizona Cardinals agreed to terms with tackle/guard Matt Pryor on a one-year, veteran qualifying contract for the league minimum.

Qualifying contracts result in only a portion of the base salary counting against the salary cap. Pryor’s minimum base salary is $1.3 million, but only $1.075 million (the league minimum for players with two credited seasons) is charged to the cap.

The maximum allowed for a signing bonus is $187,500. That’s what Pryor will receive and it is added to the cap charge.

That makes the total value of his contract $1,487,500 with $1,262,500 counting against the cap.

It’s important to realize that with the contracts and cap hits known for Pryor, wide receiver Kendrick Bourne ($4.78 million), running back Tyler Allgeier ($4.35 million) and defensive lineman Roy Lopez ($4.39 million), four cap charges of $1.005 million, $1.017 million, $1.039 million and $1.048 million were pushed out of the top 51, which is what counts against the cap until the beginning of the regular season.

So, while the total cap charges for the four new players is $14.783 million, the net addition to the cap is $10.674 million because of the players exiting the top 51.

Contracts not yet official are restructures for running back James Conner and cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting that will lower their cap figures from $9.83 and $9.245 million respectively, plus new deals for guard Isaac Seumalo, punter Blake Gillikin and quarterback Gardner Minshew.

Overthecap.com currently has the Cardinals' cap space at $36.678 million, but with effective space of $25.154 million projecting the team’s rookie pool for draft choices.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: OL Matt Pryor salary, contract details, salary cap hit

Tottenham Hotspur owner Enic does not plan to take the decision on Igor Tudor's future out of the hands of the club's executive team despite the manager's poor start.

Tudor finds himself under major pressure having lost all four of his games in charge, conceding 14 goals in the process.

Chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange were both at the forefront of the decision to appoint the 47-year-old following the sacking of Thomas Frank last month.

Tottenham, who face Liverpool on Sunday, can fall into the Premier League relegation zone at the weekend and face an uphill battle to qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals following the 5-2 defeat by Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

Relegation would represent a disastrous scenario for Spurs, and Tudor has failed to halt the team's slide towards the bottom three.

In addition to concerns over results, sources are indicating that there is a growing disconnect between members of the squad and Tudor, with a number of players left unconvinced that the coach can lead the team to safety.

Tudor's decision not to approach goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky to offer his support after he was substituted 17 minutes into the loss at Atletico has also not gone down well with members of the squad.

• 'Wrong person at wrong time' - but if not Tudor then who?
• 'Doomsday scenario' for Spurs after 'blows' - Van de Ven
• How Kinsky's horror night unfolded before 17th-minute substitution

Sources have indicated to BBC Sport that the club's owners are not, and have never been, involved in the day to day running of the club, even during Daniel Levy's era, allowing those on the ground to make decisions, and will leave any call about Tudor to the Spurs executives.

It is understood that the decision to sack Frank in February was taken by Venkatesham and Lange before being ratified by the ownership.

Of course, it remains to be seen whether Enic decides to take matters into its own hands if Tottenham's relegation fears worsen in the coming weeks.

The make-up of Tottenham's internal structures have changed dramatically in recent months.

Venkatesham's arrival in the summer of 2025 was followed by Levy's shock departure as executive chairman after 25 years at the club in September.

Since Levy's exit, the Lewis family - who effectively own Tottenham - have been far more visible than in previous years while also ratifying the appointments of Fabio Paratici - who has since left for Fiorentina - as co-sporting director and Rafi Moersen from Manchester City as director of football operations.

Family figurehead Joe Lewis is understood to have taken more of a peripheral role in recent months with younger generations of the family including Lewis' children Vivienne and Charlie becoming more prominent.

Nick Beucher - the grandson-in-law of Joe Lewis - has also taken a greater involvement.

Following Levy's exit, Peter Charrington, the club's non-executive chairman, said: "This is a new era of leadership for the club, on and off the pitch.

"I do recognise there has been a lot of change in recent months as we put in place new foundations for the future.

"We are now fully focused on stability and empowering our talented people across the club, led by Vinai and his executive team."

• Latest Tottenham news, analysis and fan views
• Ask about Tottenham - what do you want to know?

Regression is a busy word during any fantasy draft season. Shrewd managers are trying to figure out what performances are real from the previous season and putting in legwork to see where regression will occur. Mind you, regression doesn’t have to be a negative word — players can positively regress to their means, too. But usually, when the R-word is dropped into a fantasy discussion, we’re talking about a player who’s likely to come down from an unexpected level of production.

But sometimes a fantasy pick can give back some stats in the new season and yet still be worth the fantasy slot. Let’s have a discussion about some guys I like to call “Regress and Win” players.

[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for the 2026 MLB season]

Everyone listed in this article is coming off a strong year that’s become distrusted in the fresh market. With that, all of these players could play worse than last year and yet still potentially return a fantasy profit because their ADPs are so reasonable.

SS Geraldo Perdomo, Diamondbacks

2025 finish: SS3/Overall Hitter 11

2026 ADP: SS8/Overall Hitter 45

Perdomo was probably the most improved player in the National League last year. He clouted 20 homers — more than tripling his career high — and posted an excellent .290/.389/.462 slash. He finished fourth in the MVP vote and won a Silver Slugger Award, too.

But while the pop was a shocker, Perdomo’s season was also built with skills he already owned. His 27 steals were merely a result of more aggressive running — he was 16-for-20 on swipes back in 2023. He’s always had a keen batting eye and excellent contact skills; they merely improved in 2025.

The Diamondbacks might have seen Perdomo’s breakout coming, signing him to a four-year, $45 million extension before the year, despite the presence of respected SS prospect Jordan Lawlar. Arizona now sees Lawlar as a potential outfielder; shortstop belongs to Perdomo.

Most of the projection systems see Perdomo giving some pop back this year, but I’d be shocked if he didn’t hit for a plus average, and he’s a good baserunner in his mid-20s. Perdomo is a switch-hitter and will open the year as Arizona’s leadoff man, good for stat collecting. I will always love those rare hitters who walk more than they strike out. Perdomo's Yahoo ADP in the low 60s presents a buying opportunity.

OF Byron Buxton, Twins

2025 finish: OF9/Overall Hitter 20

2026 ADP: OF25/Overall Hitter 60

Buxton was baseball’s No. 1 prospect back in 2014, and we’ve been dreaming of his potential ever since. Injuries have mostly robbed him of his upside; after logging 140 games in the 2017 season, Buxton didn’t get past 92 appearances in any of the next six years. Heartbreak became a yearly appointment.

So it’s been fun to see Buxton back in the game the last couple of years. His 102 games in 2024 felt somewhat fortunate, and he backed that up with 126 games — and a career-best 488 at-bats — last summer. Buxton was a whirlwind on the field in 2025, slashing .264/.327/.551, ripping 35 home runs, stealing 24 bases in 24 attempts. The pedigree was always there — this was the payoff.

The power and speed will be there, it’s just a matter of how many games you’re getting for 2026. Would four dynamic months of Buxton — and two months of a fill-in — justify his current ADP? Is it possible Buxton has finally learned how to handle the rigors of a long season, or finally stopped being comically unlucky with injuries? I’m not going to aggressively attack Buxton at his market cost, but I’d like to secure at least one share — just to make sure I’m covered for any possible FOMO. When he’s able to play, he’s a show.

OF Christian Yelich, Brewers

2025 finish: OF10/Overall Hitter 24

2026 ADP: OF30/Overall Hitter 69

Check your league rules with respect to Yelich’s position eligibility. He played 19 games in the outfield last year (18 starts), which keeps him OF-eligible in the Yahoo game. Flexibility for the win.

Yelich’s counting stats last summer (88 runs, 29 homers, 103 RBI, 16 steals) were a little snappier than his slash line, which slipped to .264/.343/.452 last year. His OPS+ dropped 31 points last year, from 152 (elite) to 121 (solid, if unspectacular). We often talk about how player development isn’t always linear but player decline often is. Maybe the next OPS+ for Yelich will be somewhere in the 100-115 range.

But the Brewers will handle Yelich carefully, letting him DH more often than not. And while Yelich missed more than half of the 2024 season, he’s otherwise been fairly durable; he landed between 550 and 575 at-bats in the 2025, 2023 and 2022 seasons. I recognize he’s entering his age-34 campaign, but this looks like one of those boring-value veterans we love to target on draft day. I like the depth of the Milwaukee lineup and I expect Yelich to be productive as the team’s cleanup man.

Other possible Regress and Win hitters: Trevor Story, Brice Turang, Maikel Garcia

SP Andrew Abbott, Reds

2025 finish: SP25

2026 ADP: SP51

Abbott has been a useful starter for three years in Cincinnati, and in a different era, we would probably accept those results at face value. He’s had a playable ERA every season, moving from 3.87 to 3.72 to 2.87. His WHIP last year was a tidy 1.15, and he struck out 149 batters in 166.1 innings. When Hunter Greene hit the shelf a few days ago, it wasn’t a surprise when Abbott grabbed the Opening Day assignment for the Reds.

Alas, we play fantasy baseball in the Age of Enlightenment, where we have access to secondary stats and nuanced data — which often has us questioning a breakout. Abbott critics will note that he’s beaten his FIP every year, which is another way to suggest he’s been lucky. Abbott has also succeeded despite a high fly-ball rate and a fastball that sits just under 93 mph.

But let’s recognize that even if Abbott pitched to last year’s 3.66 FIP (or 3.56 xERA), he’d still be providing fantasy value. And an extreme fly-ball rate doesn’t have to be a negative; when a pitcher has an extreme slant to his batted-ball profile in any direction, it shows he’s exerting control over his outcomes. I think it’s prudent to focus on Abbott’s career ratios of 3.42 and 1.24 as starting points this year, and given his inexpensive ADP, he’s well-slotted to be a useful fantasy rotation piece.

Other possible Regress and Win pitchers: Nick Pivetta, Matthew Boyd

The Big East announced the last of the 2025-26 men’s basketball awards on Wednesday afternoon in advance of the start of the conference tournament, and we got a bit of good or at the very least somewhat unexpected news out of New York. Marquette guard Nigel James has been named Big East Freshman of the Year by vote of the head coaches in the league!

Let’s go to the Big East press release on the topic:

James finished his inaugural collegiate campaign as the second-leading scorer in the BIG EAST, at 19.3 points per game.  It is the highest scoring average by a freshman in league play since the 2002-03 season, when Syracuse’s Carmelo Anthony averaged 21.4 points per outing. The Huntington, N.Y. guard reached double figures in 19 of 20 conference games. 

A five-time BIG EAST Freshman of the Week award recipient, James ranks among the conference’s leaders in five different statistical categories – overall and BIG EAST only.  James is one of only two freshmen nationally to average at least 19.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game in league play.  He scored 20 or more points on eight occasions, including three games with at least 30 points.  James is one of only four freshman in the country to have at least three 30-point performances in league play. 

And let’s go over to the Marquette press release:

Guard Nigel James Jr. of the Marquette University men’s basketball team has been named the BIG EAST Conference Freshman of the Year, the league office announced Wednesday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.

The Huntington, N.Y. native is the third Marquette player (Dominic James – 2005-06, Henry Ellenson – 2015-16) to earn the accolade since the program joined the BIG EAST in 2005-06.

Earlier this week, James Jr. was named All-BIG EAST Third Team and earned a spot on the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team as well.  He reached double figures in scoring in 19-of-20 league outings and ranked among the conference’s top-10 in five different categories (season long and BIG EAST only).

And they made a list of accomplishments, too:

James Jr. was also one of just two freshmen (Darius Acuff Jr. – Arkansas) in the nation to contribute at least 19.0 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds per outing in conference matchups.

First BIG EAST freshman since Troy Murphy of Notre Dame in 1998-99 to have at least three 30+ point games in league regular season play.

First MU true freshman to have three games of 30-or-more points in a season.

Only BIG EAST player with three games of 30-or-more points in 2025-26.

Fourth among BIG EAST players with 10 outings of 20-or-more points (eight in league play).

Tied for 21st (top BIG EAST newcomer) in the country among freshman in scoring (16.4 ppg.), sixth in assists (4.8 apg.) and eighth in steals (1.9 spg.) through March 10.

Had first 30-point, 12-assist BIG EAST game (at Xavier) since Chris Thomas of Notre Dame against Miami on Feb. 23, 2002 (only two occurrences since 1996).

In a regulation game, James Jr. is the fourth freshman in the country with 30 points and 12 assists since 2001-02 (twice by Trae Young, Corey Sanders and Chris Thomas).

Scored 38 points vs. Providence on Jan. 19, the most by a Marquette true freshman.

On pace to finish in top-10 of nine different freshman season categories at MU.

No word on exactly what the voting was, but the press release says that the other award winners here — Zuby Ejiofor from St. John’s is Player and Student-Athlete of the Year, Seton Hall’s Shaheen Holloway is Coach of the Year — are unanimous picks for their trophies. By omission, that means James is not a unanimous pick, but that tracks with both 1) My pick of Villanova’s Acaden Lewis as FOY, and 2) Acaden Lewis getting a Second Team spot in the All-Big East awards and James ending up as Third Team. If there’s even one coach that’s not Marquette’s Shaka Smart voting for Lewis (coaches can’t vote for their own players) then that’s enough to make it not a unanimous pick.

Oh, and one more thing? Ben Steele made sure he clarified a comment from James at the press event for the awards: Nigel James will be back in a Marquette uniform next season.

Marquette returns to action later tonight when they face Xavier in the first round of the Big East tournament. The winner of that game will advance to the quarterfinals on Thursday, where #2 seed UConn awaits them.

Follow Anonymous Eagle on social media

Facebook: AnonymousEagle
Instagram: AnonymousEagleSBN
Bluesky: AnonymousEagle

We’re traveling back to 1994 for the latest edition of our bi-weekly offseason series over on our YouTube channel (please subscribe, you haven’t already done so), as we cover arguably the greatest comeback in program history where Penn State rallied from a 21-0 deficit at Illinois to clinch a Rose Bowl berth and preserve their undefeated season. One of us may have even gotten a little carried away when it came to dressing up as a mid-90’s PSU student.

Once again, here’s a reminder of the categories we’ll be covering:

State of The Program Going Into The Game: What was Penn State as a program at this time? What were the vibes like? Fans happy? Hopeful? Set the stage for the game as diehards who lived it.

Most Rewatchable Play: Talk about a few different plays that stick out. These are “impressive” plays not necessarily the most “pivotal” — which is its own category.

Mandela Effect: Is there a specific moment or play from that game that on the rewatch provides context to a moment we maybe misremember?

Biggest Gaffe: Clock management at some point? A bad decision on third down? Stupid throw? THE BIASED BIG TEN REFS?!

The Yaacov Yisrael “Hey, Remember That Guy”: Who was a random Penn Stater in the game you haven’t thought about in a long time?

Man, It’d Be Nice To Have This Guy: Player in the game who would be most helpful on the current Penn State team?

Pivotal Moment: Plays that swung the game or decided it, specifically later in the game.

Apex Mountain Performance: Was there anyone who had a ball out performance? Maybe the game was the “peak” performance for the team as a whole? Or a coach for the entire tenure? Or the program for the decade? Think big picture with this, though this can always come back to who had the best game.

Rewatchability Ranking: Scale of 1-10, 1 being abhorrent and 5 being fun, how fun is this game as a rewatch?

What We Wish We Knew Then: Basically, what was the impact of this end result? If your current self could travel back in time and explain the fall out of this game, what would you say? Think of it as a sliding doors moment, too.

Also, here’s the video we used as our main reference if you want to watch beforehand:

Rangers have made two significant boardroom departures as the club move to satisfy UEFA’s multi-club ownership regulations, with the Ibrox side and fellow 49ers Enterprises-owned Leeds United both holding realistic Europa League qualification prospects for next season.

The development, reported exclusively by Football Insider, has attracted sharp commentary from Keith Wyness, the Scottish football administrator who spent four years as Aberdeen’s chief executive between 2000 and 2004, before leading Everton and Aston Villa in substantial executive tenures and who now runs a consultancy advising elite clubs. Wyness, currently in his mid-sixties, knows boardroom politics inside out, and his reading of this situation deserves attention.

Rangers Board Shake-Up Puts UEFA’s Multi-Club Ownership Rules Under the Microscope

UEFA imposed a March 1st compliance deadline requiring clubs sharing ownership structures to demonstrate clear separation, and Rangers responded by removing board members with direct ties to Leeds. It was a step that protects their European football interests ahead of a potentially significant campaign.

49ers Enterprises, the investment vehicle connected to the San Francisco 49ers NFL franchise, holds stakes in both clubs, creating an obvious conflict the moment either secured European qualification. Speaking on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness acknowledged Rangers’ action shows willingness but was careful not to overstate what it actually changes.

With 49ers Enterprises Growing Across Global Football, Are Rangers Quietly Trading Boardroom Influence For Short-Term Compliance?

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – MARCH 01: Youssef Chermiti of Rangers celebrates scoring is team’s opening goal during the William Hill Premiership match between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox Stadium on March 01, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Wyness made clear that the board departures tick the right boxes on paper, yet the deeper structural tension between multi-club ownership and competitive integrity is far from resolved. He pointed out that roughly 70 multi-club groups now operate across European football, making a blanket ban practically and financially unworkable. These networks pour considerable money into the sport, and UEFA finds itself torn between protecting sporting fairness and looking after its own commercial interests at the same time.

“I don’t think it really makes that much of a difference, but it sort of shows they’re doing something. “And they’ve got to come to grips with this as a bigger problem. Whether they ban them overall at some stage, I think it would be very hard because there are now about 70 different multi-club groups.

“So it would be very hard to ban them. But there may be some strict laws coming in, and I’m sure they’re thinking about it going forward. But also, on the other hand it’s bringing a lot of money into the game.

“So they’re probably conflicted in what they’re thinking about the whole multi-club ownership issue. But it’s one to watch, and we’ll certainly be watching it in the days ahead.”

For Rangers specifically in March 2026, this tension carries particular significance. The club maintain competitive Scottish Premiership ambitions and hold genuine Europa League prospects, with 49ers’ financial backing providing a stability that supporters recognise as essential in the modern game. Losing boardroom voices directly connected to that ownership group, however, procedurally necessary, risks thinning the internal communication channel between club leadership and the parent entity at a pivotal moment in the season.

The reality is that UEFA’s current framework offers surface-level fixes rather than structural ones. Rangers have done precisely what regulations require, but the relationship between Ibrox and Elland Road remains intact. Whether that proximity eventually shapes loan arrangements, transfer priorities, or squad-building strategy is the question supporters actually want answered, and neither UEFA nor either club have come close to addressing it yet. Nor do we expect it to be addressed frankly.

Florida State men’s basketball (17-14, 10-8) begins its ACC tournament against Cal (21-10, 9-9) in the Spectrum Center in Charlotte tonight, starting the daunting task of winning four games in four days in search of the program’s second-ever conference tournament title.

The Seminoles defeated the Golden Bears earlier in the season, 63-61, in a late-January matchup that helped spark FSU’s dominant six weeks down the stretch. Chauncey Wiggins led the way with 18 points on 7-9 shooting from the floor while Florida State held Cal to 34% from the field. However, the Golden Bears were short-handed in that game and will have forward Lee Dort back for tonight’s contest.

Florida State is playing some of its best basketball of the season and finished the year on a three-game winning streak, including a double-digit win on Senior Day against SMU last Saturday. If Luke Loucks’ team defeats Cal, the Seminoles would face Duke tomorrow night in the ACC tournament quarterfinal.

Over the weekend, the Seminoles collected some hardware and broke a few records. Guard Robert McCray V was named All-ACC third-team and Loucks finished fourth in ACC Coach of the Year voting. Florida State men’s basketball also broke the program record for most threes made and the highest offensive efficiency in a season.

Florida State is listed as a 3.5-point favorite over Cal according to FanDuel, with the over/under set at 152.5

Florida State Seminoles vs. Cal Golden Bears: How to watch, stream, odds

Date

• Wednesday, March 11th

Time

• 7 p.m. ET

Watch/Stream

• Channel: ESPNU
• Stream: WatchESPN/ESPN App

Listen

• Seminoles Radio Network
• FSU Broadcast: Ch. 371/SXM App

Spread

• -3.5, Florida State

Over/Under

• 152.5 points

Notes to know:

• Tonight’s game should boil down to winning the margins on two things: three-point shots and rebounding. Cal finished dead last in the ACC in offensive rebounds per game and third to last in opponent rebounds per game. However, the Golden Bears finished in the top four in the conference in three-point percentage and opponent three-point percentage. On the flip side, the Noles finished towards the bottom of the ACC in those two three-point statistics, but rank sixth in the conference in offensive rebounds per game. If this game turns into a shootout, FSU will be in trouble, but if the Noles can run Cal off the line and make them go one-and-done, they have a great chance to win.
• Cal is two different teams when they play at home and when they go on the road. The Golden Bears went 16-4 at home this season but only 4-7 away from home. Luckily for them, they played Saturday against Wake Forest and did not have to play across the country before the tournament, but it is always difficult for the West Coast teams on the East Coast.

Players to know:

• G Dai Dai Ames: Ames, also named to the All-ACC third-team, led Cal in almost all major categories, including points per game (16.9), minutes (31.9), and free-throw percentage (87%). However, in the previous matchup between the sides, FSU held Ames to only 11 points on 5-15 shooting without a trip to the free-throw line. The junior should get his, but making him work for it and rendering him inefficient should be the goal for the Noles.
• G Justin Pippen: The son of NBA great Scottie Pippen, Justin torched the Seminoles for 19 points on 4-9 shooting from three as he willed the Golden Bears back into the game earlier this season. However, even though Pippen is second on the team in scoring (14.2), he has struggled in his last three games, including being held scoreless against Georgia Tech.

AS Roma defender Evan Ndicka is shaping up to be one of the most sought-after defenders in the upcoming summer transfer market.

The 26-year-old Ivory Coast international has attracted interest from several major European clubs after establishing himself as one of the defensive pillars of the Italian side.

His performances in Serie A and in European competitions have not gone unnoticed, and his name has already appeared on the agendas of several giants, including FC Barcelona.

€50 million for Ndicka

Now, according to reports from Italy (h/t Fichajes), Roma have no intention of letting one of their most important players leave easily. As such, the Italian capital club have set Ndicka’s price at around €50 million.

This is a significant figure that complicates any attempt by Barcelona to finalise his signing. After all, the club’s financial situation forces the Blaugrana to carefully evaluate any major investment.

Ndicka on Barcelona’s radar. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

The Catalans are looking to strengthen their defence ahead of next season and are particularly interested in signing a left-footed centre-back. And Ndicka possesses several of the qualities valued by Barça’s sporting department.

He is a powerful defender, comfortable in building play from the back and experienced at the highest level. In addition, he is currently in the prime years of his football career, making him a player capable of delivering immediate performances.

Manchester United also keen

In addition to his €50 million price tag, what could complicate matters further for Barcelona is the interest from Manchester United in Ndicka.

The Premier League giants are also looking to reinforce their defence and see the Ivorian as an attractive opportunity to improve the squad.

Unlike Barcelona, Manchester United do not appear to be deterred by the price demanded by Roma. So, it remains to be seen who comes out on top in this transfer battle.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Otega Oweh scored 23 points, including a key jumper with 1:12 remaining, and Brandon Garrison added 17 points off the bench as No. 9 seed Kentucky beat 16th-seeded LSU 87-82 on Wednesday in the opening game of the SEC Tournament.

Kentucky (20-12) advances to play No. 8 seed Missouri in the second round on Thursday. The Wildcats had not played on a Wednesday at this tournament since the SEC brought the event back in 1979.

Garrison, who entered with just two made 3-pointers on the season, made back-to-back 3-pointers during an 8-0 run that gave Kentucky a 73-64 lead with 9:32 remaining.

Oweh grabbed his own miss and brought it out to the 3-point arc before sinking a jumper from the free-throw line for an 83-76 lead. After an LSU layup at 49.6, Denzel Aberdeen made two free throws for a seven-point lead.

Aberdeen finished with 16 points for Kentucky. Kam Williams, who played in a game for the first time since Jan. 21 due to a broken foot, had three points in 17 minutes.

Max Mackinnon scored 18 of his 28 points in the second half for LSU (15-17). Mike Nwoko had 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Marquel Sutton and Jalen Reece each scored 11.

Mackinnon made a 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer, off a nice drive and pass from Reece, to pull LSU within 46-43 at the break.

Reece’s steal and fast-break layup pulled the Tigers within 79-74 with 2:53 remaining following a 6-0 run, but that's as close as they got as Oweh made a driving layup at the other end for a seven-point lead.

Up next

The Wildcats lost to Missouri 73-68 at Rupp Arena on Jan. 7.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Why Patriots Should Trade For One Of These Two Former First-Round WRs Over A.J. Brown originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New England Patriotshave agreed to terms with free agent wide receiver Romeo Doubs from the Green Bay Packers on a four-year deal worth up to $80 million, as announced on Tuesday.

With Doubs now on board to replace Stefon Diggs, the Patriots still need to add another veteran to their receiving corps. New England may also consider trading for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown, but doing so could require a significant draft pick, and the Patriots might be hesitant to give up a high pick after securing Doubs.

New England could take a different route in finding a veteran wide receiver, and here are two names the Patriots should consider trading for.

Los Angeles Chargers, WR, Quentin Johnston

The Chargers selected Johnston in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but his career hasn't unfolded as many expected. After 46 career games, he has recorded 144 receptions, totaling 1,877 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Johnston stands tall at 6-foot-2, which would make him a valuable target in the red zone for Drake Maye. Johnston is due a $4.5 million cap hit this season, and New England would have the opportunity to pick up his fifth-year option this offseason for the 2027 season, which would carry a $16 million cap hit.

The Chargers could be a team that trades for Brown, which might make them willing to part ways with Johnston. The Patriots could snag Johnston for a mid-round pick, and they should be all over it if Los Angeles makes him available.

Jordan Addison, WR, Minnesota Vikings

Similar to Johnston, Addison was a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and his career has been quite a rollercoaster during his first three seasons. In his initial two seasons, he recorded 1,786 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns over 32 games. However, last season was challenging as he appeared in only 14 games due to a three-game suspension from the NFL for violating the league's Substance Abuse Policy following a DUI charge in 2024. He recorded only 610 receiving yards and scored three times this past season.

Addison is slated to earn $4.3 million this season, and he has a fifth-year option for 2027 worth $18 million. For New England to acquire him, it will likely need to package a Day 2 pick at the outset. Yet, if the Patriots can tap into the potential he showed during his first two seasons, they could end up getting a real bargain.

More NFL: Dave Portnoy Urges Tom Brady To 'Do The Right Thing' With Raiders Superstar

The Atlanta Falcons are signing former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Chris Williams to a one-year, $2 million contract in NFL free agency, according to a report from ESPN insider Adam Schefter. Williams will help the team replace veteran David Onyemata, who signed with the New York Jets on Day 1 of free agency.

A former undrafted free agent, Williams has appeared in 44 games, recording 43 tackles (26 solo), 10 QB hits and four sacks. The 27-year-old spent his first two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, playing in just 13 games as a rotational defensive lineman.

"Former Bears DL Chris Williams reached agreement today on a one-year, $2 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons, per his agents Alan Herman and Jamie Mullen," Schefter reported on Wednesday.

In 2024, Williams signed with the Bears and recorded a career-high three sacks. He spent the last two years in Chicago, appearing in 31 games. Last season, he recorded 14 tackles (six solo), and one sack. Williams is a solid depth addition for a Falcons team that is short on cap space.

The 2026 NFL free agency period officially begins at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday afternoon. Make sure to follow along with each Falcons transaction using our 2026 NFL free agency tracker!

This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons to sign Bears DL Chris Williams as free agent

After multiple setbacks over the past few years resulting from injuries, Köln's former captain and current midfielder Florian Kainz has announced his retirement.

At only 33-years-old, this retirement may come as a shock to those who have not watched Köln this season.

However, he has struggled massively for game time for the reason that he has been riddled with injuries this season and also the emergence of Said El Mala which has prevented him from playing in his native left wing position.

He has played 11 games this season in the Bundesliga this season but only has one start which was in November with a stunning free kick against Köln's opponents this Saturday, Hamburg.

After a lengthy injury recovery, Kainz finally made a comeback for a single minute when he came on against Stuttgart and unfortunately gave away the ball for the 3-1 goal from Deniz Undav.

He also has failed to appear for Austria since 2024 but was instrumental in Köln's promotion last season towards the final games under Friedhelm Funkel where he scored twice against Nurnberg on the penultimate matchday. 

Subscribe to The Big Number

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

On this episode of The Big Number, Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine marvel at Bam Adebayo's big night as he passed Kobe Bryant for 2nd most points in a game in NBA History with 83.

To round out the show, Tom and Dan take a look into the Lakers' success with Austin Reaves and Luca Doncic on the floor without LeBron James.

All this and more on this week's episode of The Big Number!

1:10 Big number: 83 - Bam Adebayo’s points vs. Washington
27:10 Little numbers: 6 - players in play-by-play era w/30 pt quarters
31:05 Little numbers 26: number of personal fouls Adebayo drew
36:25 Little numbers: 22 - number of Adebayo 3pt attempts
40:10 Most unlikely sports record ever?
42:24 Lakers 10-2 without LeBron

AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

🖥️ Watch this full episode on the Yahoo Sports NBA YouTube channel

Check out all episodes of The Big Number and the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

2026 Southeastern Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Basics

Format

It’s a traditional four games per day 16-team bracket, with the top four teams earning byes to the quarterfinals and teams five through eight entering the fray in Thursday’s second round.

Site

Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville has established itself as the SEC Tournament’s usual home, as it is slated to host right through 2030.

Schedule

Downloadable PDF Bracket

First Round (Wed. 3/11)

SEC Network will air all four games.

Gm. 1: (16) LSU (15-17, 3-15) 82, (9) Kentucky 87
Gm. 2: (13) Mississippi State (13-18, 5-13) vs. (12) Auburn (16-15, 7-11), 3*
The Tigers won 91-85 in Starkville on 2/18.
Gm. 3: (15) Mississippi (12-19, 4-14) vs. (10) Texas (18-13, 9-9), 7
The Longhorns won 79-68 in Austin on 2/7.
Gm. 4: (14) South Carolina (13-18, 4-14) vs. (11) Oklahoma (17-14, 7-11), 9:30*
The Gamecocks won 85-76 in Norman on 1/20.

Second Round (Thurs. 3/12)

SEC Network will air all four games.

Gm. 5: (9) Kentucky (20-12, 10-8) vs. (8) Missouri (20-11, 10-8), 12:30
The Tigers won 73-68 in Lexington on 1/7.
Gm. 6: Gm. 2 winner vs. (5) Tennessee (21-10, 11-7), 3*
Gm. 7: Gm. 3 winner vs. (7) Georgia (22-9, 10-8), 7
Gm. 8: Gm. 4 winner vs. (6) Texas A&M (21-10, 11-7), 9:30*

Quarterfinals (Fri. 3/13)

Gm. 9: Gm. 5 winner vs. (1) Florida (25-6, 16-2), 12:30 (ESPN)
Gm. 10: Gm. 6 winner vs. (4) Vanderbilt (24-7, 11-7), 3* (ESPN)
Gm. 11: Gm. 7 winner vs. (2) Alabama (23-8, 13-5), 7 (SECN)
Gm. 12: Gm. 8 winner vs. (3) Arkansas (23-8, 13-5), 9:30* (SECN)

Semifinals (Sat. 3/14)

ESPN will air both games.

Gm. 13: Gm. 9 winner vs. Gm. 10 winner, 1
Gm. 14: Gm. 11 winner vs. Gm. 12 winner, 3:30*

Championship (Sun. 3/15)

Gm. 15: Semifinal winners, 1 (ESPN)

Mayhem Potential

Data originally posted by Bob Vetrone Jr. on Twitterin 2020 with my own additions for the seasons beyond.

Since 2011, the No. 1 seed has won five of the 14 SEC Tournament titles that were up for grabs, with Florida’s 2025 title boosting the No. 2 seed’s total to four. No team seeded lower than fifth has won the crown since the conference scrapped divisions for the 2011-12 season.

• 1 seed (5): 2014, 2015, 2017, 2021, 2023
• 2 seed (4): 2011 (East), 2016, 2022k, 2025
• 3 seed (2); 2012, 2013
• 4 seed (2): 2018, 2024
• 5 seed (1): 2019

NCAA Bid Totals In The 68-Team Era

• 14 bids (1): 2025 (24-13, Florida national champion, 16 teams)
• 8 bids (3): 2018 (8-8 record, 14 teams), 2023 (9-8, 14), 2024 (8-8, 14)
• 7 bids (1): 2019 (12-7 record, 14 teams)
• 6 bids (2): 2021 (7-6 record, 14 teams), 2022 (5-6, 14)
• 5 bids (3): 2011 (7-5 record, 12 teams), 2015 (6-5, 14),2017 (11-5, 14 )
• 4 bids (1): 2012 (10-3 record, Kentucky national champion, 12 teams)
• 3 bids (3): 2013 (4-3 record, 14 teams), 2014 (12-3, 14),2016 (3-3, 14)

The SEC smashed the 2011 Big East’s record of 11 bids last season, but that lower total is the max the conference can expect in 2026. Plus, Florida is the only No. 1 seed threat, unlike the four last year.

Last Conference Tournament Titles

Florida: 2025 (2 seed)
Auburn: 2024 (4 seed)
Alabama: 2023 (1 seed)
Texas: 2023 (2 seed, Big 12)
Tennessee: 2022 (2 seed)
Kentucky: 2018 (4 seed)
Ole Miss: 2013 (3 seed)
Missouri: 2012 (2 seed, Big 12)
Vanderbilt: 2012 (3 seed)
Mississippi State: 2009 (West 3 seed)
Georgia: 2008 (East 6 seed)
Oklahoma: 2003 (3 seed, Big 12)
Arkansas: 2000 (West 3 seed)
Texas A&M: 1987 (8 seed, SWC)
LSU: 1980 (2 seed)
South Carolina: 1971 (2 seed, ACC)

Missouri, South Carolina, and Texas A&M have yet to win the SEC Tournament title, though all three have won championships in previous conferences.

The Mariners take on the Rockies and their ace Chase Dollander today. Luis Castillo will take the ball for the Mariners.

Also scheduled to pitch for the Mariners: Casey Lawrence, José Ferrer, Matt Brash, Carlos Vargas, Yosver Zulueta

Injury news:

Bryce Miller will throw a 25-pitch bullpen today as he continues to work his way back from oblique soreness. The Mariners won’t say whether or not he’ll be ready to start the season but it doesn’t feel likely at this point; Cooper Criswell seems like a lock to make the roster at this point, and maybe both him and Emerson Hancock.

Roster moves:

Yesterday the Mariners re-assigned RHP Nick Davila to minor league camp; today they made several more cuts, optioning Blas Castaño and Domingo Gonzalez to Triple-A Tacoma and re-assigning OF Lazaro Montes, RHP Tyler Cleveland, RHP Michael Morales, OF Spencer Packard and C Nick Raposo to minor-league camp.

Game information:

Game time: 1:10 PT

TV: no

Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, Seattle Sports app, Gameday, Mariners.com

This morning, the media—and everyone at PGA TOUR HQ—experienced the clear-eyed, well-considered vision of an outsider who is unburdened by the compromises and controversies of his predecessor.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla.— To understand Brian Rolapp’s quiet confidence during Wednesday morning’s PGA Tour state of the union press conference, it is instructive to hear the gently dismissive musings of one of Rolapp’s former wingmen at the National Football League: “What passes for a crisis in golf—at the NFL, we call that Tuesday.”

Last summer, Rolapp left his plum post as the commissioner-in-waiting at the NFL to take the Tour’s newly created CEO position because a recognized rare opportunity: to reshape an entire sport. Rolapp is not a golfer and that gives him a clarity that is rare in the cloistered world of Tour politics. Should the Players Championship be considered the fifth major? Rolapp never thought about that until six months ago and has no emotion invested in the issue; he does, however, recognize that the debate is good for ginning up interest in the event, and that’s enough for him.

The Tour commissioner has traditionally met the media on Wednesday of Players week in the cozy confines of the press room. These gatherings revealed much about the big boss’s personality and leadership style. Tim Finchem was pugnacious, obfuscating, awkward… but somehow coldly effective at pressing his agenda. Jay Monahan, a people-pleaser to his core, just wanted everyone to get along, so he never said anything edgy…until LIV Golf activated the competitive streak in the former college hockey defenseman. Rolapp’s presser was moved to the Tour’s sleek $75 million headquarters, creating a crackling atmosphere. With staffers lining every inch of the three-story atrium, the gathering felt a little like Mad Max’s Thunderdome, if all the inhabitants were dressed for a Young Republicans mixer. Despite the glitzy setup, Rolapp avoided hubris.. “I'm a big believer in transparency and feedback,” he said. “I'm also a big believer in making sure you know what you don't know. Humility and knowing what you don't know is a completely underrated leadership attribute in my view. I don't come from the golf world; there's a lot I need to learn.” And so the first half-year of his tenure had been a long listening tour during which got an earful from edgy players, self-interested sponsors and calculating TV execs.

Related: Read Brian Rolapp's Presser Transcript In Full

The consensus that Rolapp has forged was unveiled on Wednesday. Or, the contours were. Emphasizing that details were still being worked out and unlikely to be finalized before June, Rolapp presented his vision for a reshaped PGA Tour with fewer tournaments but more big-time events, bigger fields that are also more top-heavy with stars, splashier venues in major markets instead of the quaint mom-and-pop tourneys that currently crowd the schedule. It is the clear-eyed, well-considered vision of an outsider who is unburdened by the compromises and controversies of his predecessor. Rolapp doesn’t care about getting into Seminole; the key takeaway from his tenure at the NFL is that the product is king, and he is laser-focused on improving the Tour’s offerings. Small-market tournaments with few stars? They’re a goner. Sponsor’s exemptions are likely to disappear, because the Tour wants a meritocratic structure that identifies and rewards the best players, not relies on the random whims of an insurance company CEO. Match play in the FedEx Cup playoffs? Hell, yeah! As Rolapp pointed out, it’s supposed to be win-or-go-home.

View on Instagram

Details will continue to evolve; the takeaway from Wednesday morning was Rolapp’s soothing competence. Under heavy duress from LIV Golf’s arrival four years ago, the PGA Tour was forced to reinvent itself on the fly. It was a messy, chaotic process. Some of the missteps and miscalculations had continued to hover over Ponte Vedra Beach like a stinkcloud. The Rolapp era promises reinvention and renewal. No wonder his first big public press conference was held at Tour HQ: it’s a glass box, and on Wednesday morning all you could see were blue skies.

Atlanta’s already diving headfirst into signing depth pieces. Earlier they grabbed special teamer and linebacker Channing Tindall, and now they’re scooping up ex-Bears defensive lineman Chris Williams.

This is another rotational member of the defensive front, joining ex-Brown Cameron Thomas. Where Thomas is likely to primarily play end and come off the edge, Williams will help replace some of the beef the Falcons lost with the departures of Kentavius Street and David Onyemata. The former undrafted free agent has not been a plus run defender in his career to this point, but he has been able to generate pressure, with PFF crediting him with 25 pressures and four sacks as a part-time player with the Bears in 2024 and 2025.

For an attacking front that likes to rotate and aggressively attack opposing quarterbacks, Williams should be a good fit on passing downs, and he’s had at least limited playing time lining up on both the interior and at end. Early downs and clear run situations are where he’ll need to improve, as he’s had a high missed tackle rate in his career and has graded out poorly against the run in every year except 2025. The Falcons, who had a shaky run defense last year, have to keep adding plus early down defenders to this group, but they may have viewed some improvement from Williams as a good sign for his ability to be well-rounded in Atlanta. Certainly Ian Cunningham would be familiar enough with Williams to endorse him.

We’ll see what his role looks like, but give him a warm welcome to Atlanta!

Instant Analysis To Patriots Making Major Upgrade At Safety With Kevin Byard originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New England Patriots have plenty of positions to address during free agency and only so much time to do it...

If the club intends on putting itself in a position to regularly contend, it will have to put together another near-flawless offseason as it brings aboard pass-rushers, wide receivers, offensive linemen, linebackers, and tight ends -- a group that reportedly now includes safety Kevin Byard.

Let's take a look at the newest tenant at One Patriot Place!

Bio:

Kevin Byard
Position: S
Height: 5’ 11"
Weight: 218lbs
2026 Age: 27 (June 4, 1999)
2025: 19 G, 7 INT, 8 PBU, 93 TKL

The Patriots signed Kevin Byard because:

... it wouldn't be this front office without bringing in someone they already have a relationship with.

New England kicked off its offseason with the additions of defensive lineman Dre'Mont Jones, fullback Reggie Gilliam, offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker, wide receiver Romeo Doubs, and linebacker K.J. Britt -- none of which had any significant overlap with members of the coaching staff or front-office.

Byard does, as he spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Tennessee Titans, where he overlapped with new head coach Mike Vrabel, senior defensive assistant Terrell Williams, defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr, safeties coach Scott Booker, cornerbacks coach Justin Hamilton, and defensive line coach Clint McMillan from 2018-2023.

Byard isn't just a familiar face, either -- he is the NFL's interception leader (36) since he entered the league as a third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, and his presence alone turns his new club's secondary into one of the league's best alongside Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, Marcus Jones, and Craig Woodson.

If you were looking for a game-changing addition, this very well could be it.

The Patriots' next move should be:

... add some pieces to the front-seven!

New England has curiously eaten away at its own depth throughout the first few days of free agency, so it's time to turn things back in the other direction and keep adding players to the front-seven -- though the options are dwindling with Wednesday's reported signings of Trey Hendrickson (Baltimore Ravens) and K'Lavon Chaisson (Washington Commanders).

Cam Jordan, Joey Bosa, Bradley Chubb, AJ Epenesa, Arnold Ebiketie, Al-Quadin Muhammad, and Kyle Van Noy are still available on the open market. Maxx Crosby and Jonathan Greenard have been reported to be available via trade. It's time to get moving if they want to improve on the edge, because thus far, that unit has gotten worse.

If you're looking for answers about the secondary, the unit looks pretty set in stone for next season. The Patriots might want to consider drafting the veteran's replacement sooner rather than later, however, as he reportedly was only brought in on a one-year deal.

More NFL: Patriots Offseason Preview: Everything Team Must Address In 2026

The Jacksonville Jaguars scored a touchdown with the signing of Liam Coen as head coach, who quickly revitalized the team from one with a 4-13 losing season to the 13-4 divisional champions. He did so well that, despite the Jaguars not making it far in the playoffs, he was a strong contender for the NFL Coach of the Year.

Under Coen's leadership, quarterback Trevor Lawrence finally unleashed his full potential, and ended the season with an eight-game winning streak. In a new interview with the Jon Gordon Podcast, he explained what helped him build a winning culture in Jacksonville.

He first mentioned growing up in a family of football coaches; his grandfather coached, and his father was a Division III head football coach and high school coach. This gave him an example to build from at a young age.

"I was very fortunate to have an example of what leadership looks like at a very young age, at what communication looks like, at what collaboration really looks like and how important the relationships truly are on any team," Coen said. "Whether it's a classroom of students as a team, whether it's a football team at every level, how important the true 'team' word is.”

That connection with his father continues today with Coen's time coaching the Jaguars.

My dad has a locker here in our offices, in our facility. He comes almost every day to practice and will sometimes sit in and listen to some of the film sessions. He doesn't get involved, but he's just, he loves it. I mean, it's our connection. I grew up on his sidelines and his locker rooms and his meeting rooms. And now we've got an opportunity to do it on the other side, right? And so much of the values and foundation of teaching and coaching comes from him. And so when it comes to toughness, mental and physical toughness, grit, integrity, the things that we're trying to ultimately teach these guys and this generation comes from my dad. And so a lot of, shoot, my post-game celebration with our team comes from my dad. And so many of the things that I find myself saying to our players currently are things that at some point along the line, he either said to me personally or to the teams that he was coaching.

In a clip shared on social media, Coen talked about shunning social media and putting his attention on himself, his family, and his team.

"I remember sitting on my couch and I was scrolling. I thought to myself, I'm like, what am I doing? Let's be honest, right? When your name is out there and it's all good stuff, that feels good. And when it's not good, it hurts," he said, adding, "Wait, so I'm going to let somebody else's words in the metaverse impact and affect my life, my work, my joy. It's not happening. I got off all social media, put my head down and work my tail off. I want to pour into people. I want to pour into my family. I want to pour into what I'm passionate about, which is this work that I'm doing here."

“Put my head down and work my tail off.”

Coach Coen on pouring into his players, family, and passions.

(via @JonGordon11)pic.twitter.com/TVMkqZf5m3

— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) March 11, 2026

Judging by the improvements in the Jaguars' NFLPA report card, Coen has done a good job fostering the team environment and winning culture he set out to create. And part of that is undoubtedly the rebirth of the Jaguars into a gritty, resilient team that takes negative perspectives or league disrespect and turns it into fuel.

"Who grows from, hey man, you're doing awesome, it's great, no problems, we're good?" Coen asked. "We don't get better from that and that's not what we're trying to do, right. We want to see our players ultimately trying to win a world championship," he continued, adding, "Hard moments, hard times is when we grow."

The team culture he ultimately built is what he calls CLEATS, which stands for commitment, love, energy, authenticity, toughness and being situationally smart.

"That's really the that's what you want the people to be," he said. "And you want to also portray and live. That's the culture that you live. That's every day."

This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars HC Liam Coen discusses culture-building philosophy

NEED TO KNOW

• Jamie Erdahl of Good Morning Football said she's away from the show due to the "tragic health situation" of a family member in a post on X on Wednesday, March 11
• Edrahl said she'll return to the show on Monday, March 16 and thanked her "leaders at the NFL for allowing me this time at home"
• Colleagues and fans offered "prayers" and support in the replies of Erdahl's post

Good Morning Football host Jamie Erdahl shared that she's been away from the show because of a family member's "tragic health situation."

Erdahl, 37, said, "Since curiosity is mounting," she has decided to "share what I feel comfortable with" about her absence in a post on X on Wednesday, March 11. "I have been away from @GMFB due to an extremely personal + tragic health situation of an immediate family member," she revealed.

Erdahl, who has been on the NFL Network morning show since July 2022, thanked "my leaders at the NFL for allowing me this time at home" before sharing that she'll return to her desk on Monday, March 16.

Her post on Wednesday garnered support from fans and colleagues, including NBC Sports columnist Matthew Berry who replied with "prayers & love" to Erdahl and her family.

Since curiosity is mounting I’ll share what I feel comfortable with: I have been away from @GMFB due to an extremely personal + tragic health situation of an immediate family member. I want to thank my leaders at the NFL for allowing me this time at home. I’ll be back on Monday.

— Jamie Erdahl (@JamieErdahl) March 11, 2026

Just a few weeks earlier, on Feb. 22, Erdahl shared additional sad news when she revealed the death of her dog, Toby, in a post on Instagram.

Alongside photos of her late dog, Erdahl wrote, "We let Toby go today. Bone cancer took him from us too soon. My heart hurts. It’s throbbing from the vast joy this dog brought into our lives for almost 9 years."

Referencing her three daughters, Erdahl continued: "You helped us bring these 3 baby girls into the world and showed them how kindness, love, and gentle soul can make every day better. I’ll love you until the end of time. And I’ll always be waiting for your paw to come across my arm as we drive down the road."

View this post on Instagram

Before joining Good Morning Football in 2022, Erdahl served as a CBS Sports sideline reporter since 2014.

She and her husband Sam Buckman, a former NFL agent, share three children: Brooke Marie, 6, Avery, 4, and Nora James, who will celebrate her second birthday on March 30.

Read the original article on People

The FBI has enlisted the UFC to run an upcoming training seminar.

Several current and former UFC fighters will host the seminar March 14 and 15 at FBI Special Agent Academy in Quantico, Va. The sessions will be exclusive for academy students and senior FBI staff.

“I’m thrilled to announce this historic seminar between the FBI and the UFC at Quantico,” FBI director Kash Patel said in a statement. “This is a tremendous opportunity for our FBI agents to learn and train with some of the greatest athletes on earth - helping the world’s premier law enforcement agency be even better prepared to protect the American people. Dana White has changed the game in the mixed martial arts industry and we’re extremely honored to be partnered with him, the professionals, and the UFC. We are grateful for their shared love of our nation, so that we can better defend her.”

Current UFC stars Justin Gaethje, Michael Chandler and Manel Kape will join promotional alumni Jorge Masvidal, Claudia Gadelha, Chris Weidman, and Renzo Gracie, as well as UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard, in teaching the seminar.

"I have tremendous respect for the FBI and the work they do every day to protect this country,” UFCCEO Dana White said. “Our UFC fighters are some of the baddest men and women on the planet, and they areheading to Quantico to train the best FBI agents in mixed martial arts. It’s an incredible opportunity for ourathletes to experience, and we’re proud to support the FBI in strengthening their defense techniques."

A partnership between the UFC and FBI has been rumored since Patel assumed office as FBI director in February 2025. Patel has attended various UFC events before and during his tenure.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC, FBI announce partnership involving fighters

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida — Rory McIlroy has arrived.

The reigning champion of The Players Championship has officially made it to the PGA Tour's flagship event during the afternoon of March 11.

The defending champion has arrived. pic.twitter.com/NGY1uNp0gO

— Adam Schupak (@AdamSchupak) March 11, 2026

McIlroy was spotted by Golfweek's Adam Schupak arriving at The Players Stadium Course, fewer than 24 hours before his scheduled first competitive round. He was heading into the clubhouse.

He withdrew from the Arnold Palmer due to a bad back, marking only the second WD in his PGA Tour career.

McIlroy is set to tee off at 1:42 p.m. ET Thursday off the first, playing alongside Xander Schauffele and Hideki Matsuyama. It's hard to imagine McIlroy not giving it a go this week, but if his back doesn't cooperate, he may not be able to defend his title.

McIlroy, winner of The Players in 2019 and 2025, and No. 2 behind only Scottie Scheffler in the Official World Golf Ranking, had not appeared at the tournament yet this week.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Rory McIlroy arrives at Players Championship

The Indianapolis Colts announced Wednesday that they have offered quarterback Daniel Jones a new deal worth $88 million.

Jones will get $50 million in 2026, fully guaranteed at signing, and is scheduled to make $37 million in 2027 with bonuses for each game played.

Jones will also receive $100,000 in bonuses for each game the team wins with him playing at least 50 percent of snaps — and up to a total of $6 million in incentives.

He also has $60 million in injury guarantees. Not bad for a guy whom the New York Giants gave up on.

It seems the story of the past few years in the NFL has been the rebirth of quarterbacks in new cities

First, it started with Sam Darnold, who moved from a starter in Minnesota to starting as a Super Bowl-winning quarterback with the Seattle Seahawks.

Before he was injured, Jones was having an MVP-type season for the Colts and almost led them back to the playoffs. 

Sometimes, a new start is what some quarterbacks need. It may revive their careers, at least that’s what Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa are hoping.

Tua has already moved on with the Atlanta Falcons, and Murray is expected to sign with the Minnesota Vikings. 

We will see next season if the same magic that worked for Daniel Jones in Indy rubs off on them. 

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Daniel Jones story gives hope to other free agent quarterbacks

Hours before the start of the league new year, the New England Patriots continued to add to their roster as they agreed to terms with linebacker K.J. Britt on a one-year contract.

Let’s break down what the moves mean for the team from a big-picture perspective.

Linebacker depth

The top of the Patriots linebacker room is set with Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss remaining under contract. The depth behind them, however, is a question mark as restricted free agent Jack Gibbens remains without a tender while the team released Jahlani Tavai on Monday.

After starting a career-high 11 games in Tampa Bay in 2024, Britt saw his role decrease with the Dolphins as he played just 14% of Miami’s defensive snaps across 17 games. Still, he brings 76 games on experience to the depth chart at 26 years old. Britt is known best for his work in the run game.

Special teams boost

Britt’s biggest contribution will be on special teams, where he has been a core player throughout his career. During his career, Britt has regularly appeared across five units — kick coverage, kick return, punt coverage, punt return, and field goal block. In his lone season in Miami, he logged 77% of their special teams snaps and posted a career-high 10 special teams tackles.

Britt will likely assume the role Tavai held, as the former Patriot linebacker appeared on the same five units last season while playing 71% of their special teams snaps.

Room for youth

Britt joins fellow 26-year-old Marte Mapu as the youngest players in the Patriots’ linebacker room. Even if the team brings back Gibbens, it should be expected they continue to get younger (and perhaps more athletic) at the position. The NFL Draft would be the likely place to start.

“I think we’d like to maybe address that in the draft. It looks like a good year at linebacker as well,” Executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said at the Combine last month.

Rob Gronkowski has turned up the heat on Logan Paul by warning him what can happen when trash talk carries onto a football field.

The former New England Patriots tight end was responding after Paul dragged his name into the growing NFL boxing feud.

Now Gronkowski wants the issue settled in person when both men appear at the Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Los Angeles.

Rob Gronkowski warns Logan Paul ahead of March 21 flag football game

The Up & Adams Show carried Gronkowski’s response after Logan Paul kept talking about current and former NFL players.

“If Logan Paul wants a piece of me, we’re both playing in the flag football game on March 21 in LA. And I can tell you this, the last time players talked trash to me on a football field, I threw someone out of the club.

“I broke necks, I laid out defensive ends, I pummeled safeties,” Gronkowski reminded Paul.

The timing matters because this is no longer just online back and forth.

Gronkowski and Paul are both expected to be at the same event, which gives the feud a real stage after days of escalating shots from both sides.

For Gronkowski, the point was simple. If Paul wants to talk like that, then he can deal with him face to face on the field.

Rob Gronkowski’s response came after Logan Paul’s $1m NFL challenge

That reaction did not come out of nowhere. Paul recently claimed no current or former NFL player could beat him in a boxing match, then attached a $1 million price tag to the challenge.

Le’Veon Bell quickly took him up on it, but the fight then fell apart after Paul said WWE would not let him risk getting hurt in an exhibition bout.

“No one can tackle me. So if Logan Paul wants a piece of me, I’m down to throw it down on the field and even throw my fist and just go at it, an all-out brawl on the flag football field. I don’t care.

“It’s flag football, and it’s a family event. I will fight him on the field if he wants to fight me right there and then in the flag football. No problem,” Gronkowski concluded.

That is why Gronkowski sounded so irritated. From his point of view, Paul was happy to call out football players when it suited him, but far less eager once one of them actually accepted.

Now Gronkowski has offered a different kind of test, one that would put the two of them in the same place with a lot of eyes watching.

Read more:

All games on Peacock + NBCSN

Game 1: No. 8 Butler Bulldogs 16-15 (7-13) vs No. 9 Providence Friars 14-17 (7-13) at 4:00 PM

Betting Line: Providence -1.5 (subject to change)

Winner faces No. 1 St. John’s Red Storm 25-6 (18-2)

Game 2: No. 7 Marquette Golden Eagles 12-19 (7-13) vs No. 10 Xavier Musketeers 14-17 (6-14) at 6:30 PM

Betting Line: Marquette -3.5 (subject to change)

Winner faces No. 2 Connecticut Huskies 27-4 (17-3)

Game 3: No. 6 DePaul Blue Demons 16-15 (8-12) vs No. 11 Georgetown Hoyas 14-17 (6-14) at 9:00 PM

Betting Line: DePaul -1.5 (subject to change)

Winner faces No. 3 Villanova Wildcats 24-7 (15-5)

Two more fighters have been removed from the UFC roster after its latest event in Mexico City with Erik Silva and Kris Moutinho joining Felipe Bunes and Jose Medina, MMA Fighting has confirmed the news with sources close to the situation.

Venezuela’s Silva (9-4) lost via first-round submission to Francis Marshall on the Feb. 28 show, dropping to 0-3 under the UFC banner.

The 38-year-old featherweight was stopped in every UFC appearance after a Contender Series victory over Anvar Boynazarov in 2022, suffering a leg injury against Muhammad Naimov in between submission losses to TJ Brown and Marshall.

Moutinho (14-8) earned another chance in the UFC three years after his first 0-2 stint in the organization, and once again was let go after back-to-back defeats against Malcolm Wellmaker and now Cristian Quinonez.

Moutinho’s first UFC run between 2021 and 2022 had knockout losses to Sean O’Malley, which earned him a Fight of the Night bonus for his efforts, and Guido Cannetti.

Eagles free agency tracker: Live rumors, news, updates on A.J. Brown's future, Philadelphia's potential signings originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

After winning a second Super Bowl in the 2024 season, the Philadelphia Eagles had an up-and-down 2025 campaign.

Despite one of the league's best defenses and plenty of star talent on the offensive side of the ball, the Eagles made a much quicker playoff exit than they anticipated, which has already led to significant changes. While Nick Sirianni remains head coach, he brought in a new offensive coordinator in Sean Mannion, with more changes expected.

From A.J. Brown's uncertain future, to needs for a tight end, pass rusher and more, Philadelphia figures to have a busy offseason as it looked to retool for 2026.

The Sporting News is tracking all the Eagles' latest moves as free agency gets under way, from official signings and trades, to rumors and rumblings. Here's how Philadelphia's offseason is shaping up.

MORE NFL FREE AGENCY: Live tracker | Team-by-team grades | Best players available

Eagles free agency rumors, news, updates

Dallas Goedert's void date pushed back, could be extended 

• Date: March 11
• Source: Zach Berman

Tight end Dallas Goedert was not listed as a free agent by the NFL on Wednesday, per Berman, as his void date was pushed to Friday.

The move could give the Eagles and Goedert a chance to work on an extension.

Eagles continue to 'inquire' on Greenard

• Date: March 11
• Source: Dianna Russini

According to Russini, the Eagles continue to inquire on Greenard from the Vikings, also talking to his agent about what a potential extension would look like after a trade. 

With Bradley Chubb heading to the Bills, another pass rusher is off the free-agent market for Philadelphia.

Jonathan Greenard a name to watch for Eagles, Jalen Carter was 'never shopped'

• Date: March 11
• Source: Adam Schefter

With the Eagles needing an impact pass rusher, after also reportedly showing interest in now-Raven Trey Hendrickson, one name to watch will be the Vikings' Jonathan Greenard, per Schefter. Greenard is known to be available on the trade market.

Additionally, while there was some buzz about Jalen Carter being on the trade block this offseason, Schefter reports that Carter was never made available and "never shopped."

Eagles sign CB Riq Woolen

• Date: March 10
• Source: Adam Schefter

Philadelphia's first external potential starter of the offseason will be a cornerback, as Schefter reports the team has agreed to a one-year, $15 million deal with former Seahawks DB Riq Woolen. 

He's set to start opposite of Quinyon Mitchell in 2026, also meaning Cooper DeJean won't have to become a full-time corner.

Philadelphia bringing in pair of TEs, but Goedert remains on open market

• Date: March 10
• Source: Adam Schefter

Philadelphia is bringing back tight end Grant Calcaterra on a one-year deal, per Schefter, and also reportedly agreed to a contract with former Jaguars veteran Johnny Mundt. Neither are expected to become starting options, but Calcaterra will be a backup, while Mundt is known for his run-blocking.

S Reed Blankenship signs with Texans

• Date: March 9
• Source: Mike Garafolo

Former Eagles safety Reed Blankenship agreed to a three-year deal with Houston, ending his run as a starter in Philadelphia.

LB Nakobe Dean heading to Raiders

• Date: March 9
• Source: Jordan Schultz

Yet another former Eagle is heading elsewhere, with linebacker Nakobe Dean signing a three-year, $36 million deal with the Raiders, per Schultz.

Dean joins Jaelan Phillips and Jahan Dotson as names to depart Philly before the Eagles have signed an external free agent. 

WR Jahan Dotson heading to Falcons

• Date: March 9
• Source: Jordan Schultz

Former Eagles receiver Jahan Dotson is departing for the Falcons on a two-year deal, per Schultz.

Michael Carter II signs renegotiated deal with Eagles

• Date: March 9
• Source: Zach Berman

Defensive back Michael Carter II has signed a renegotiated contract with Philadelphia, per Berman, after the team acquired him last season. Carter was set to count more than $10 million against the cap.

Bradley Chubb a name to watch in replacing Phillips

• Date: March 9
• Source: Zach Berman

The Athletic's Zach Berman reports that with Phillips gone, the Eagles could eye another former Miami Dolphin in Bradley Chubb, who has experience with DC Vic Fangio.

'No momentum' on an A.J. Brown deal yet

• Date: March 9
• Source: Ian Rapoport

Ian Rapoport reports that the Eagles haven't found "any momentum" in an A.J. Brown trade yet, and once free agency is "off and running" it could be off the table.

Philadelphia in need of pass rushers following Jaelan Phillips-Panthers deal

• Date: March 9
• Source: Adam Schefter

Jaelan Phillips, the former Dolphins EDGE who the Eagles acquired at last season's trade deadline, has left Philadelphia to sign a four-year, $120 million deal with the Panthers, per Schefter.

Phillips had been heavily connected to an extension with the Eagles, but he lands a massive deal to go to Carolina. Immediately, star-level pass rushing becomes a big need for Philadelphia; Phillips was considered their best pass rusher in 2025, and he leaves a void the team will need to fill.

The Eagles had a "walkaway number" for Phillips, per Zach Berman, which came to fruition.

Eagles extend DT Jordan Davis

• Date: March 8
• Source: Eagles

The first major domino of Philadelphia's free agency was extending DT Jordan Davis, who had a breakout 2025 and became one of the best players in the league at his position.

Davis received a three-year extension worth $78 million, per Zach Berman. He becomes the highest paid NT in NFL history.

MORE: All the latest A.J. Brown trade rumors

Eagles free agency signings

• CB Riq Woolen (1 yr, $15M)
• TE Johnny Mundt (1 yr)

Eagles completed trades

This section will be updated if the Eagles complete a trade.

The life of a baseball prospect is defined primarily in small moments. Over the course of long seasons across multiple years it’s rare to feel that any stand out, or that any stretch of play is particularly pivotal in a player’s progression. However, every year there are some you can point to and see as interesting and immediate headliners for the season.

Stretches of bad play, injuries, or competition from the system around them can put the future of certain players in more immediate question. Others may simply be in a position to have a true breakthrough and put their name in the organizations headlines.

Today, we look at five players who have the most to define this season. Whether it be their roles, their projections, or their national profile, these prospects will be among the most-watched in the Atlanta Braves system this upcoming season and their stories will help shape the way the Braves approach the future.

Isaiah Drake

After a dreadful season in 2024 the sentiment towards Isaiah Drake swung rapidly red, and even following an impressive 2025 his national reputation is still trying to recover. Drake was awful in 2024, but with the combination of his age and the injuries that riddled that season it was not a huge surprise that he bounced back in 2025. He cut down his strikeout rate by nearly a third while hitting for more power throughout the middle of the season, and although he didn’t bring much pop when promoted to High-A his swing and batted ball profile still improved drastically. Drake is heading into this upcoming season at age 20 and has all of the time in the world to tap into his explosive athleticism. While the upcoming players on this list are in more of a time crunch to improve, Drake really just needs to prove that 2025 wasn’t a fluke and to earn respect similar to other players in the system that he performed on-par with or better than last season. Drake’s biggest hole is still his ability to tap into his raw power, but he’s no longer the slappy player that struggled to produce extra base hits in 2024. His ceiling on top prospect lists will be limited until he can grow into at least double-digit home run power, but the 2026 season will be Drake’s opportunity to prove wrong the people who bailed on him a year ago.

Luis Guanipa

Guanipa built up a boatload of hype in the rookie leagues, but since his full-season debut late in 2024 he has looked overmatched against Single-A pitching. That is, when he is even able to play. Guanipa has battled injuries throughout his young career, and in 2025 that limited him to just 29 games with Augusta and another 6 rehabbing down in the complex league. Guanipa made some improvements from 2024 to 2025, most notably with his contact rates, but the questions around his approach and his ability to produce have popped up consistently. Guanipa produces plus bat speed and is strong for someone with his frame, but that simply is not translating to in-game pop at this moment in time. Guanipa struggles to lift the ball with any authority and produced well-below average power numbers last season, and though he has cut down on his strikeouts he hasn’t shown much discipline at the plate. He can get his bat to the ball throughout the zone, but without a major turnaround and a healthy season he may not be seen as a top prospect after this season. It’s not totally dire, as Guanipa is only 20 and the physical traits are still largely there, but without major improvement in 2026 in a third go at A-ball it’s going to be hard to project Guanipa to the upper levels.

Herick Hernandez

Hernandez was impossible in two starts following the draft in 2024, and a large reaction followed with some seeing him as a potential draft steal from the fourth round. Hernandez never really repeated the highs of those two starts in 2025, though he did still flash the potential with his plus slider. The improvement Hernandez showed with his splitter has salvaged his ability to project to a starting role in the future, but that outcome seems to grow narrower with each passing start as his consistency and command did not take any steps forward in 2025. He struggled to locate any of his four pitches, and while he will likely get another shot to start in the upcoming season the Braves are not exactly a patient team when it comes to pitchers. He needs to show significant improvement with his command and quickly in order to remain as a starter, with the likely outcome being a fairly swift move to the bullpen. Hernandez has plenty of room to grow into a major league arm even if that came to pass, but it would not be a surprise if 2026 is his last chance to prove himself even given how little professional experience has. 

Lucas Braun

Lucas Braun is coming off of a great season, but he’s now reached the trap that so many pitchers before him did. He’s going to get his first full crack of Triple-A and may even get the chance to pitch in Atlanta this season, but this is the level that the starting room suddenly starts to get crowded. The Braves have a constant rotation of pitchers competing for those spots, and even if it was only a three-game sample Braun didn’t do a whole lot to separate himself in his brief Triple-A stint. His command of all of his pitches and the depth of his arsenal were still on display, but he struggled to miss bats and relied on weak contact to get through his starts. Braun diversifying his arsenal, especially using a sinker more often, helps him in this regard, but we’ve seen multiple guys with his below-average velocity profile hit a wall at Triple-A. Opportunities come and go quickly in baseball, and Braun needs to seize his chance this season and force himself into the conversations when rotation spots open up. Otherwise, more pitchers are going to keep getting healthy and advancing through the system and the window might shut surprisingly quickly. 

Hayden Harris

Hayden Harris has performed well in spring training, which is the first step for him actually locking down a major league role this season. His first taste of Triple-A in 2024 proved that even his elite fastball wouldn’t be enough to survive high-level hitters, and he and the Braves made their necessary fixes headed into 2025. With a new sweeper and fledgling splitter Harris made mincemeat of minor league hitters last season, with an absurd 0.52 ERA and 2.07 FIP. His major league debut wasn’t all that impressive, however, and showed the next step in his progression. Harris needs to prove once and for all that his command, which fluctuates between solid and below average, can stay consistently around average or better. He especially needs to make sure he’s keeping his fastball above the hands of hitters, as the only time he really struggles is when his fastball leaks down in the zone. 2026 is his big chance to lock down a major league role and put a stamp on one of the best paths to the bigs in recent memory. 

Much has been made of Michigan Basketball’s transfer portal haul this past offseason with the additions of Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr, Elliot Cadeau and Aday Mara. Rightfully so, as this group of transfers led the Wolverines to a Big Ten regular-season championship.

However, with the regular season wrapped up, we decided to take a look at how the season went for each of Michigan’s outgoing transfers that are still playing college hoops.

Tre Donaldson, Miami

The former Michigan point guard put together an excellent senior season with the Hurricanes. He played more than 85 percent of Miami’s minutes and scored a career-high 16.8 points per game. He also dished the ball out much better as a senior than he had as a junior, as his assists per game jumped from 4.1 to 5.9. He will be one of the leaders on a tournament-bound Miami team.

Justin Pippen, Cal

Pippen transferred from Michigan to Cal in hopes of getting more playing time. His gamble certainly paid off, as he started all 29 games and played more than 31 minutes per game. He shot a respectable 36 percent from the field and 33 percent from deep while pouring in 14.2 points per game. He also led Cal in assists and steals. Cal won’t be making the NCAA Tournament, but he was undoubtedly one of the best players at Cal this season.

Sam Walters, SMU

Like Pippen, Walters also transferred out in the hopes of seeing more minutes. Unfortunately, Walters wasn’t as successful. He played just nine minutes per game for the Mustangs and scored just 2.5 points per game. For context, that’s less minutes and less scoring than he had in his one season at Michigan. He has been dealing with an undisclosed injury that held him out of the last few games of the season.

Phat Phat Brooks, Central Michigan

Brooks stayed in the state of Michigan to play for the Chippewas, where he was one of their primary scorers. He tallied 11 points, 3.9 assists, and 2.9 rebounds per game. I’m sure he relished getting 28 minutes per game compared to the 3.2 minutes he was seeing in Ann Arbor.

Jace Howard, Fordham

Howard transferred to Fordham this past offseason to play for the Rams. Unfortunately after just two games, he was forced to medically retire after suffering several concussions.

Terrance Williams III, USC

After playing four seasons in Ann Arbor, Williams transferred to USC prior to the 2024-2025 season. Last year, he suffered several injuries that allowed him to play in just seven contests. He was healthy this year and appeared in 30 games. However, he wasn’t able to replicate any of the success he had at Michigan, as he notched 2.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game, a stark contrast to the 12.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game he had in his last season at Michigan.

Tarris Reed Jr., UConn

Reed had his coming-out party of sorts in his second year at UConn, as he was arguably the best player on a team fighting for a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament. He started 26 games for the Huskies and averaged 13.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. He has legitimately blossomed into one of the best rebounders and shot blockers in the country despite still being a hideous free throw shooter (55.9 percent).

Dug McDaniel, Kansas State to Memphis

After spending just one year at Kansas State, McDaniel moved on to Memphis and was instantly the Tigers’ best player. This season, he led Memphis in scoring (14.0 points per game), assists (4.7) and steals (2.0) while playing far more minutes than anyone else on the roster. However, the Tigers did not have a great season and are nowhere near the NCAA Tournament bubble.

George Washington III, Richmond to Florida Gulf Coast

Sadly, Washington’s career has still yet to really take off. After one season at Michigan, he transferred to Richmond and remained stashed deep on the bench. He searched for greener pastures this offseason and ended up at Florida Gulf Coast, where he continued to be a benchwarmer. Je played in just 14 games, averaging 8.9 minutes and 3.1 points per game.

Isaiah Barnes, Tulsa to Valpo

Barnes spent two years at Tulsa and started nearly every game. For his graduate year, he transferred to Valpo, where he appeared in 29 games but started in just 13. He was used mainly as a role player off the bench. In his one season at Valpo, he averaged 3.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.

Frankie Collins, Arizona State to TCU to Vanderbilt

Collins continued his world tour of college basketball this year by transferring to Vanderbilt. In nine games for the Commodores, he came off the bench and had some success, scoring 7.8 points, grabbing 4.2 rebounds and dishing out 4.7 assists per game. Sadly, he tore his meniscus in December, sidelining him the rest of the year. A few weeks ago, Vanderbilt announced he was no longer with the program.

Atlético Madrid star Julián Alvarez has provided a fresh update on his future with the club.

This of course comes fresh off another stellar performance on the part of the Argentine in the colours of the Rojiblancos.

Atlético were back in action on the continent on Tuesday night, welcoming Tottenham Hotspur to Spain’s capital for a Champions League clash.

And en route to a 5-2 romp, the aforementioned Alvarez proved himself the star of the show.

The former Manchester City man was responsible for two goals and an assist, to take his tally for the campaign to 23 direct goal contributions.

Post-match at the Metropolitano, Alvarez was therefore pulled in for an interview with the media.

And during as much, amid the ongoing speculation surrounding his future, the attacker provided the following update on his plans beyond the summer:

“I don’t know. Maybe yes, maybe no (will I be at Atlético next season). I have nothing to say other than I’m happy. On social media, a lot of things get talked about, but it’s nothing. We’re very happy competing in all competitions, so everything is going very well.”

Conor Laird – GSFN

Atalanta head coach Raffaele Palladino sounds like a man whose team just got runover by Bayern Munich, but he is looking for ways to bounce back and learn from the 6-1 defeat.

“Congratulations to Bayern Munich. They’re a very strong team, truly unplayable at times. It’s not the result we wanted, even though we knew we were facing arguably the best team in the world. I’ve never seen players with this quality and control, they really impressed me. If you sit deep, they still hurt you. If you press them, they always play the ball in the right place and with the right pace. We were never able to counterattack, they had a counter-pressing that won the ball back immediately. I told my players to keep their heads up because we played against an extraordinary team that is destined to go all the way. In life, you either win or you learn, and we’ll learn from this defeat,” Palladino said (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).

Atalanta already pulled off one Champions League miracle this season…does it have another in the aura chamber?

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

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

• New, improved notifications system!
• Fewer ads
• Create community posts
• Comment on articles, community posts
• Rec comments, community posts

The 2025 NFL league year was a successful one for the Patriots. On Wednesday afternoon, it will officially come to an end.

While the season runs from September to early February, the league year extends beyond those dates and traditionally starts in mid-March. Today is that day: the calendars are being flipped to 2026.

The new league year will officially begin at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 11. At that point, free agency and the trading window begin while teams need to be under the salary cap.

What does all of that mean for the New England Patriots, though? Let’s find out.

Where can I find Patriots news and rumors?

Our 2026 Patriots free agency tracker will be updated regularly and can be seen as your hub for all things New England free agency. Not only do we have all the latest news and rumors in there, but also links to dozens of follow-up articles dissecting every move, player, and contract.

In addition, we also encourage you to visit our up-to-date Patriots roster for an updated look at New England’s depth chart as well as the team’s list of free agents.

What is free agency?

Explained in the most basic of terms, free agency is the signing period for players who are without an NFL contract. There are several categories of free agents depending on their previous experience in the league and the deals they last signed, but basically speaking there is a distinction between unrestricted, restricted, and exclusive rights free agents.

Theoretically, all of them remain under contract until the clock strikes 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday. However, the UFAs were already allowed to speak to teams during the so-called legal tampering period that opened on Monday at noon. That said, they are not allowed to officially sign anything until the official start of free agency.

Not every free agency necessarily has to make it to free agency, though. Between contract extensions, restricted and exclusive rights tenders or the franchise and transition tags, organizations have tools at their disposal to prevent their talent from entering the market.

As far as the RFAs and ERFAs are concerned, they were not subject to legal tampering. Any of them who have not received appropriate tenders by their previous clubs at 4 p.m. on Wednesday will also be free to negotiate and sign with any club.

Which Patriots are free agents?

The Patriots entered the offseason with 14 players headed for free agency. After a series of transactions both internally and externally, that number is now down to five:

• RB Deneric Prince (ERFA): Profile
• OT Thayer Munford Jr. (UFA): Profile
• DT Jaquelin Roy (RFA): Profile
• LB Jack Gibbens (RFA): Profile
• S Jaylinn Hawkins (UFA): Profile

As soon as the clock strikes 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, all of them will be on the market and free to sign (or re-sign) with any of the teams in the league.

What are compensatory picks?

While there are a few exceptions each year, a vast majority of unrestricted free agents is also eligible to factor into the NFL’s compensatory formula. In basic terms, if a team loses more and higher-value free agents than it signs it is entitled to draft pick compensation. Only 32 such selections are handed out each year, however, and no club can get awarded more than four in a single year.

The Patriots have received no such extra picks in each of the last three seasons, and it also seems unlikely they will get any for 2027.

The period for players to qualify for compensation runs through the Monday after the NFL draft, which is April 27 this year. From that point on, signings will no longer be factored into the NFL’s calculations.

Players who have been released by their respective teams or are entering free agency as restricted or exclusive rights free agents cannot become CFAs.

What is the salary cap?

The salary cap was first introduced in the mid-90s and stipulates how much money a team can spend in any given season. The number changes each year and is dependent on league revenue.

For the 2026 season, the salary cap has been set at $301.2 million per team, up from $279.2 million a year ago. The Patriots are currently projected to have between $30 and $50 million available, depending on two contracts that have not yet been factored into the calculations (WR Romeo Doubs, LB K.J. Britt).

What is the Top 51 rule?

Teams are allowed to carry up to 90 players non-exempt players on their active rosters, but not every one of their contract is directly counted against the salary cap. In fact, only the 51 biggest cap hits are; if a player from the top 51 gets removed either through release or trade, another moves up to take his place.

This Top 51 rule will remain in place until after roster cutdown day and shortly before the start of the 2026 regular season in September. At that point, all 53 active players plus additional expenses will hit the cap.

What is the NFL trading window?

Teams can talk and agree to trading players throughout the offseason, but those moves can not be made official until the start of the new league year. The Patriots have already been taking advantage of that, facilitating one trade earlier this month:

• C Garrett Bradbury: Traded to Bears

The Patriots will reportedly get a fifth-round draft pick in 2027 back for the veteran center. The terms of the trade will not become official until after the new league year has begun, though.

Mainz refuse to see the Conference League as a burden but rather want to draw confidence from it in their fight against Bundesliga relegation.

The Germans have reached the knock-out stages in Europe for the first time and visit Czech Cup winners Sigma Olomouc on Thursday for the first leg of their last 16 tie. The return leg is next week.

"We want to advance as far as possible. I don't think that worsens our chances in the league," sporting director Niko Bungert said, adding that they "will find a good mix to be successful in Europe and still not to lower our chances in the Bundesliga."

Mainz qualified directly for the knock-outs in seventh place while Olomouc just made the play-offs where they eliminated Swiss side Lausanne-Sport.

In the Bundesliga, Mainz are just above the danger zone in 15th, ahead of St Pauli only on goal difference before Sunday's visit to fellow strugglers Werder Bremen who are one point ahead of them.

Mainz moved out of the bottom three with three straight victories a few weeks ago but have since not won in four matches of which thery drew the last three.

"If we perform well in Europe that also gives us a boost for the league. You can get confidence there. That's what we want to do," forward Paul Nebel said.

Nebel has overcome a modest first part of the season and is back in the starting 11, but partly because influential Nadiem Amiri remains sidelined with injury.

Amiri and Sheraldo Becker will miss the match at Olomouc and coach Urs Fischer stressed his team is not the favourite in the tie.

"We're playing an away game against a strong team and need simply to focus on ourselves. Sigma Olomouc are efficient, dangerous, they will be a hard piece of work," he said in a news conference ahead of the match.

"We want to do well and are looking forward to this task."

Three new teams appear in the latest USA TODAY Sports/AVCA boys volleyball Super 25 rankings, while a new No. 1 moves into the spotlight.

More: 2026 USA TODAY Sports/AVCA boys volleyball regional rankings, Week 1

1. Mira Costa High School (Manhattan Beach, CA)

Region: West | Record: 17-1 | PR: 2

2. Corona Del Mar High School (CA)

Region: West | Record: 15-2 | PR: 3

3. Loyola High School (Los Angeles, Calif.)

Region: West | Record: 9-1 | PR: 1

4. Roncalli (Indianapolis, IN)

Region: Midwest | Record: 0-0 | PR: 4

5. Huntington Beach High School (CA)

Region: West | Record: 8-2 | PR: 5

6. Redondo Union High School (Redondo Beach, CA)

Region: West | Record: 8-2 | PR: 6

7. The Bishop's School (San Diego, CA)

Region: West | Record: 10-0 | PR: 7

8. Oak Park River Forest High School (Oak Park, IL)

Region: Midwest | Record: 0-0 | PR: 8

9. O'Fallon High School (IL)

Region: Midwest | Record: 0-0 | PR: 9

10. Marist High School (Chicago, IL)

Region: Midwest | Record: 0-0 | PR: 10

11. St. Ignatius High School (Cleveland, OH)

Region: Midwest | Record: 0-0 | PR: 11

12. Newport High School (CA)

Region: West | Record: 18-4 | PR: 13

13. Torrey Pines High School (CA)

Region: West | Record: 15-5 | PR: 12

14. Perry High School (Gilbert, AZ)

Region: West | Record: 3-1 | PR: 14

15. Cumberland Valley High School (Mechanicsburg, PA)

Region: Northeast | Record: 0-0 | PR: 16

16. Western High School (Davie, FL)

Region: South | Record: 10-0 | PR: NR

17. Freedom High School (Orlando, FL)

Region: South | Record: 9-0 | PR: 17

18. Manheim Central High School (PA)

Region: Northeast | Record: 0-0 | PR: 18

19. Meadville High School (PA)

Region: Northeast | Record: 0-0 | PR: 19

20. Glenbard West High School (Glen Ellyn, Ill.)

Region: Midwest | Record: 0-0 | PR: 20

21. St. Xavier High School (Cincinnati, OH)

Region: Midwest | Record: 0-0 | PR: 21

22. Punahou High School (Honolulu, HI)

Region: West | Record: 3-1 | PR: 24

23. Horizon High School (Winter Garden, FL)

Region: South | Record: 2-0 | PR: 25

24. Old Bridge High School (NJ)

Region: Northeast | Record: 0-0 | PR: NR

25. Grand Haven High School (MI)

Region: Midwest | Record: 0-0 | PR: NR

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY High School Sports Wire: A new team takes top spot in the Super 25 boys volleyball rankings

Here are the USA TODAY Sports/AVCAregional volleyball rankings after Week 1 of the 2026 season.

From these four regions, the best of the best will represent the Super 25 national rankings.

National scoreboard from ScoreStream: Live in-game results around the nation as they happen

West Region

(Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming)

1. Mira Costa High School (Manhattan Beach, CA)

Record: 17-1

2. Corona Del Mar High School (CA)

Record: 15-2

3. Loyola High School (Los Angeles, CA)

Record: 9-1

4. Huntington Beach High School (CA)

Record: 8-2

5. Redondo Union (CA)

Record: 8-2

6. The Bishop's School (San Diego, CA)

Record: 10-0

7. Newport Harbor (CA)

Record: 18-4

8. Torrey Pines High School (CA)

Record: 15-5

9. Perry High School (Gilbert, AZ)

Record: 3-1

10. Punahou High School (Honolulu, HI)

Record: 3-1

11. Francis Parker High School (San Diego, CA)

Record: 8-5

12. La Costa Canyon (San Diego, CA)

Record: 8-6

13. Gilbert North High School (AZ)

Record: 10-1

14. Palo Verde High School (Henderson, NV)

Record: 7-1

15. Bingham High School (South Jordan, UT)

Record: 5-0

Midwest Region

(Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, West Virginia, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota)

1. Roncalli (Indianapolis, IN)

Record: 0-0

2. Oak Park River Forest High School (Oak Park, IL)

Record: 0-0

3. O'Fallon High School (IL)

Record: 0-0

4. Marist High School (Chicago, IL)

Record: 0-0

5. St. Ignatius High School (Cleveland, OH)

Record: 0-0

6. Glenbard West High School (Glen Ellyn, IL)

Record: 0-0

7. St. Xavier High School (Cincinnati, OH)

Record: 0-0

8. Grand Haven High School (MI)

Record: 0-0

9. Libertyville High School (IL)

Record: 0-0

10. Barrington High School (IL)

Record: 0-0

11. Wheaton Warrenville South (Wheaton, IL)

Record: 0-0

12. Cathedral High School (Indianapolis, IN)

Record: 0-0

13. Saint Xavier High School (Louisville, KY)

Record: 0-0

14. Fishers High School (IN)

Record: 0-0

15. Jackson High School (Massillon, OH)

Record: 0-0

Northeast Region

(Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia)

1. Cumberland Valley High School (Mechanicsburg, PA)

Record: 0-0

2. Manheim Central High School (PA)

Record: 0-0

3. Meadville High School (PA)

Record: 0-0

4. Old Bridge High School (NJ)

Record: 0-0

5. North Allegheny High School (Wexford, PA)

Record: 0-0

6. Central York High School (York, PA)

Record: 0-0

7. Seneca Valley High School (PA)

Record: 0-0

8. Southern Regional High School (Stafford, NJ)

Record: 0-0

9. Brookline High School (MA)

Record: 0-0

10. Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School (NJ)

Record: 0-0

South Region

(Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas)

1. Western High School (Davie, FL)

Record: 10-0

2. Freedom High School (Orlando, FL)

Record: 9-0

3. Horizon High School (Winter Garden, FL)

Record: 9-0

4. Varela High School (Miami, FL)

Record: 5-0

5. Columbus High School (Miami, FL)

Record: 6-2

6. Lake Brantley High School (Altamonte Springs, FL)

Record: 8-1

7. Southwest Miami High School (FL)

Record: 5-1

8. Cardinal Gibbons High School (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

Record: 5-2

9. West Forsyth High School (Clemmons, NC)

Record: 2-0

10. Smyra High School (TN)

Record: 4-2

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY High School Sports Wire: See which teams landed in Week 1 of boys volleyball regional rankings

You want to see desperation in the NFL marketplace?

Just look at the Baltimore Ravens and their pivot from Maxx Crosby to Trey Hendrickson with the NFL poised to ring the bell on a new league year on Wednesday.

The Ravens, trying to revive an inept pass rush, were desperate enough last weekend to trade two first-round picks to the Las Vegas Raiders to land Crosby, despite knowing the premier edge rusher is in full rehab mode after his January surgery to fix a torn meniscus in his left knee.

Then, after flunking Crosby on his physical on Tuesday – fueling the perception they merely had buyer’s remorse because they already knew the knee isn’t good to go at this point – the Ravens turned right around and agreed to sign Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million free agent contract.

That’s assuming, of course, that Hendrickson, 31, passes his physical.

Hendrickson, the former Cincinnati Bengal rated among the top free agents on the market, is coming off surgery, too.

The Ravens were desperate enough to quickly reverse course. Remember, after leading the NFL with 17 ½ sacks in 2024, Hendrickson’s 2025 campaign was cut short halfway through by a hip injury that led to core muscle surgery. Yet the Ravens are apparently good enough with that to pay him $28 million per year.

Yeah, this start to the NFL’s offseason marketplace – fueled by a record salary cap of $301.2 million – is just wild.

Granted, the Ravens had every right to pull out of the trade for Crosby that was struck before the start of NFL’s new league year at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday. It’s a stunning reminder that nothing is official, including the bevy of free agent deals agreed to during the (supposed) two-day “legal tampering” window, until the ball drops on the new calendar.

But man does it stink, leaving the Raiders to pick up the pieces without those two first-round picks – one in April, another in 2027 – that they thought were coming from Baltimore. And suddenly, the hefty price that Raiders GM John Spytek had working on the market for a Crosby deal has gone up in smoke.

Of course, it’s rather standard for any trade – and especially one involving so much premium draft capital – to be contingent on a player passing a physical.

It’s just that one team’s flunking grade doesn’t cover all 32. Remember the time when Drew Brees, coming off shoulder surgery in 2006, was flunked on a physical by the Miami Dolphins? Instead, the New Orleans Saints signed Brees. And later this year, Brees, No. 2 all-time for passing yards and TDs, will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

I’m guessing that Ravens GM Eric DeCosta surely knows that history. Pressed to juice his defense, DeCosta conceivably entered into the Crosby sweepstakes with his eyes wide open when considering the risk. Crosby finished the 2025 season on injured reserve, shut down by the Raiders because of the knee injury – which left him hopping mad while Las Vegas, without its best player for the final two games, hurtled toward clinching the No. 1 pick overall in April that undoubtedly will be used to select quarterback Fernando Mendoza – and all of the potential trade partners knew the rehab is in midstream.

More: 2026 NFL mock draft: Nixed Maxx Crosby trade, free agency shake up first round

As of mid-day Wednesday, the Ravens had not publicly commented on why they pulled out. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Ravens consulted multiple team doctors – including Jonathan Cooper of the Dallas Cowboys – who reviewed Crosby’s MRI scans.

Interestingly, the Cowboys – whose team owner, Jerry Jones, recently declared that he wasn’t interested in pursuing “medical redshirts” this year in the draft and free agency, despite a history for waiting on players rebounding from injury – were not seriously in the mix to make a play for Crosby nor Hendrickson.

In any event, if the Ravens had second thoughts about giving up those first-round picks – and with the upcoming draft purportedly deep in edge rushers – they certainly had some cover and incentive.

The incentive might have been the market for Hendrickson, who didn’t attract offers that would have put him in Crosby’s range ($35.5 million per year). With a $28 million average, Hendrickson ranks 11^th in average pay for edge rushers, according to Spotrac.com, with the $46.5 million for Micah Parsons topping that scale.

So, as it turns out, the Ravens can keep their picks and hope Hendrickson brings enough of the heat they envisioned getting from Crosby. That’s a theory gaining steam in NFL circles.

Then there’s the cover. The risk assessment for Crosby, 28, involved projecting how well his knee will hold up in future years.

Take stock of what Crosby’s surgeon, Neal ElAttrache, told ESPN:

“We respect the work of the Ravens staff with Maxx regarding the contract physical exam. We also understand the challenge the staff faces when tasked to provide a future risk assessment based on an evaluation early in the recovery process. The timing of this assessment is unfortunate because the apparent risk will lessen as his recovery progresses and his return to performance over the next few months becomes clear.”

Why didn’t the Ravens wait before offering such an enticing package to land Crosby? Had they held off until closer to the draft in late April, Crosby would have been further along with his rehab, as ElAttrache alluded to. By then, however, some other team might have swung a deal.

That’s where the desperation seemingly inspired their actions. Desperate to land a premier defender, the Ravens were willing…until a less-risky option emerged with Hendrickson.

Whether that ultimately proves to be the right decision will be revealed in time.

Contact Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on X: @JarrettBell

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ravens' NFL free agency pivot from Crosby to Hendrickson shows desperation

No. 9 seed Kentucky Basketball opened SEC Tournament play Wednesday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville with a tightly contested matchup against No. 16 seed LSU. In a game that featured several momentum swings, Kentucky leaned on senior guard Otega Oweh to pull away late and secure a much-needed 87-82 victory over the Tigers.

The Wildcats and Tigers battled back and forth for much of the afternoon, with neither team able to build a comfortable lead. LSU kept pressure on Kentucky with timely scoring and defensive stops, but Oweh stepped up when the Wildcats needed him most. The guard made key plays down the stretch, helping Kentucky maintain control and hold off LSU’s late push.

For Kentucky, simply playing on Wednesday in the first round of the SEC Tournament was a rare sight. Historically, the Wildcats have finished high enough in the conference standings to earn at least a single bye, and often a double bye, allowing them to avoid the opening day of the tournament. This season’s ninth-place finish forced Kentucky into an earlier start than usual.

Despite playing on Wednesday, Kentucky managed to survive and advance, winning by five against LSU.

With the win, Kentucky moves on to the second round of the SEC Tournament, where it will face No. 8 seed Missouri on Thursday at 12:30 PM ET. Kentucky will have to win and play five straight days if they want to win the SEC Tournament this year.

Here are four things to know from day one of the SEC Tournament

Otega Oweh continues to star for Kentucky

Otega Oweh continues to be the star for Kentucky. In Wednesday’s SEC Tournament opener against LSU, Oweh delivered exactly what the Wildcats needed, dominating both halves and showing why he has become a cornerstone of the program since transferring from Oklahoma.

In the first half, Oweh scored 13 of Kentucky’s 46 points, added five rebounds, two assists, and a steal while playing 19 of 20 minutes. His presence on both ends of the floor kept the Wildcats in a back-and-forth contest and helped set the tone for the second half.

Oweh carried that dominance into the second half, continuing to score, rebound, and facilitate as Kentucky pulled away to secure the win. His ability to elevate his game in high-pressure situations has made him a very important piece for Kentucky and a reliable force for the team’s postseason ambitions.

Mark Pope and Kentucky will need Oweh to maintain this level of intensity as they advance deeper into the SEC Tournament and prepare for the NCAA Tournament. While the rest of the roster will need to complement his efforts, there’s no question that Kentucky’s success heavily depends on Oweh performing at this elite level. His consistency and leadership make him the driving force behind Kentucky’s hopes for a strong postseason run.

Kam Williams makes his return from injury

Kentucky fans got a welcome sight on Wednesday as Kam Williams made his return to the court in the first round of the SEC Tournament against LSU. Williams had been sidelined since breaking his foot against Texas on January 21st, but less than two months later, he was back and ready to contribute for the Wildcats.

Many expected Williams to be on a strict minutes restriction, but the forward played 12 of 20 minutes in the first half, showing no signs of rust. In the first half, he went 1-for-2 from the field and drilled one 3-pointer, although Williams did not score a lot. He helped to grab multiple rebounds, played tough defense, and helped space the floor, allowing teammates like Otega Oweh and Denzel Aberdeen to attack the rim more effectively. His presence also opened opportunities for big men Brandon Garrison and Andrija Jelavic to get easier baskets inside.

Williams being off the availability report meant Kentucky could count on him in a crucial first-round matchup, and he didn’t disappoint. His energy and floor spacing helped the Wildcats secure a victory against LSU, giving Kentucky momentum heading into the next round. Fans can take comfort knowing that Williams is back in action and ready to make a difference as Kentucky continues its SEC Tournament run.

Collin Chandler has to find his confidence again

After a standout performance against Vanderbilt in Rupp Arena, where Collin Chandler scored 23 points on 7-of-10 shooting and 6-of-8 from three-point range, expectations were high.

Chandler scored just 3 points against Texas A&M and 2 points against Florida, showing his confidence wasn’t there. In Kentucky’s first-round SEC Tournament matchup against LSU, Chandler did put up 7 points in the first half, but it was clear he was still trying to find his rhythm. He started the game settling for long-distance shots, missing two early threes, and struggled defensively as LSU repeatedly attacked him off the ball.

Kentucky will need Chandler to regain confidence and consistency as Kentucky looks to make a deeper run in both the SEC and NCAA Tournaments. With the team relying on multiple players to contribute, Chandler will have to start scoring again, but also improve his defense.

Chandler’s talent is there, but to help Kentucky advance, he must translate the potential that he has into production. The Wildcats will rely on him and the rest of the roster to step up in the coming rounds.

Brandon Garrison steps up in a big way

When Kentucky needed a steady presence in the paint against LSU, Brandon Garrison answered the call with one of his best performances of the season. With freshman starting big man Malachi Moreno battling foul trouble and struggling to find consistency in the game, Garrison stepped off the bench and delivered a huge boost for the Wildcats.

Moreno had a tough game. The freshman not only dealt with foul issues but also took a hit to the face while attempting to contest a poster dunk. That opened the door for Garrison to take on a bigger role, and the junior made the most of it.

In the first half, Garrison quietly produced solid numbers with 6 points on 3-of-4 shooting, while also contributing two blocks, three rebounds, and an assist. His defensive presence helped Kentucky stay competitive in a tightly contested matchup.

The second half, however, is when Garrison truly took over. The veteran forward scored double digits after halftime, knocked down multiple three-pointers, and came up with several steals. His energy and versatility gave the Wildcats a spark when they needed it most.

Many Kentucky fans expected a breakout season from Garrison in his second year under Pope, but until now, they had only seen flashes, including a strong showing earlier in the season against Oklahoma. Against LSU in the SEC Tournament opener, Garrison finally delivered the type of performance the BBN had been waiting for.

Now, time to celebrate win No. 1 in this year’s SEC Tournament!

Patriots Make Major Splash, Sign 3x All-Pro Safety originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New England Patriots have reached an agreement with three-time All-Pro safety Kevin Byard, Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday afternoon.

To call this a splash would be an understatement.

The Patriots did end up patching together an effective safety room during last season’s Super Bowl run. Newcomers Craig Woodson and Jaylinn Hawkins teamed up to play a total of more than 1,200 and 1,100 snaps, respectively. 

Kyle Dugger started the season in the mix before being traded away in Week 8. This left Dell Pettus as the only true safety on the roster.

Hawkins’ 71 tackles and four interceptions were more than enough to make his one-year, $2.3 million contract worth it. But it was nothing compared to Byard’s season with the Chicago Bears that earned him first-team All-Pro honors.

Byard had 93 tackles in 17 starts. He made four tackles for loss, defended eight passes, and led the league in interceptions with seven on the season.

Byar has quietly been one of the best safeties this century. He has made 155 starts, recorded 36 interceptions, and has 972 career tackles. 

He also had some of the best years of his career under head coach Mike Vrabel for the Tennessee Titans.

Byard is an instant upgrade for nearly any secondary in the NFL and should be set up to have another career year in Foxboro.

The San Francisco 49ers have been looking for a trade partner for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk for the last two months, but it doesn't appear that they've had much luck in their search.

Now, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner, San Francisco could release Aiyuk as early as Wednesday.

Aiyuk, 27, had a strong start with the 49ers, catching 269 passes for 3,931 yards and 25 touchdowns through his first four seasons. After signing a massive extension in 2024, he recorded just 25 receptions for 374 yards before tearing his ACL in Week 7.

The wide receiver apparently cut off communication with the team in the offseason and has his guarantees voided. While he was still seen around the building from time to time, he was just rehabbing, and even that eventually stopped.

Many believe that Aiyuk will reunite with his college quarterback, Jayden Daniels, with the Washington Commanders on a one-year deal when the release is made official.

More 49ers: 49ers 2026 free agency tracker: Latest news, rumors and signings

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: NFL free agency: 49ers could release Brandon Aiyuk Wednesday

Francis Ngannou has revived talks of a would-be dream fight against Jon Jones in light of two-weight champion's falling out with UFC. 

Jones retired and vacated the Heavyweight Championship in 2025, thus seeing Tom Aspinall, the Interim Champion, promoted to Heavyweight Champion. But for a while prior to that, Aspinall had been dismissed by Jones as an opponent in favor of a bout against Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira. 

Jones had since said he was in negotiations with the UFC to return on the White House card, which will feature Pereira fighting Jones' second-to-last opponent Ciryl Gane for the Interim title. But no Jones, as Dana White would continue to dismiss any talks with Jones about the event as "bulls***." 

That prompted Jones to once more reiterate talks were underway, saying the UFC had "lowballed" him in negotiations. 

Ngannou responded to Jones following the address, having also left UFC as Heavyweight Champion following a pay dispute. 

"Watching this story unfold yesterday was very interesting. I have lots to say, but for now, Jonny boy, if you manage to get your freedom, then let me know," he wrote. "You deserve that $30M+ after everything you've done for the sport, and they should be rolling out the RED CARPET for you."

Watching this story unfold yesterday was very interesting. I have lots to say, but for now, Jonny boy, if you manage to get your freedom, then let me know. You deserve that $30M+ after everything you've done for the sport, and they should be rolling out the RED CARPET for you. https://t.co/K0WdvlURUs

— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) March 10, 2026

Many would and have said that Jones waited for Ngannou to leave before making his move on the Heavyweight title, having spent much of his career at Light Heavyweight as a two-time champion. There was always hope from fans and talks of a fight between them, but it never materialized. 

Ngannou recently left PFL after fighting one bout and becoming PFL Super Fights Heavyweight Champion, but will be fighting Philipe Lins on the Ronda Rousey-Gina Carano MVP card in May. 

Read more: Wrestlers Who Underwent Drastic Transformations After Dropping Steroids

Don't miss any of the major wrestling headlines. Sign up to our free newsletter for the biggest stories, sent straight to your inbox. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google.

Read the original article on Wrestling Inc.

MK Dons thrashed Gillingham 5-1 in League Two last night to become just the second club in the top four tiers to score more than 70 goals this season.

Championship leaders Coventry City were the first team to hit the 70-goal mark when Jack Rudoni levelled the scoring for the Sky Blues in the 2-1 win away to Sheffield United last month. Frank Lampard's team are now up to 74 league goals for the season.

Last night, the Dons' big victory put their total up to 72 goals, with Marvin Ekpiteta bagging what turned out to be goal number 70 before Ben Wiles and latter Liam Kelly added to that tally.

Paul Warne's side are by some margin the fourth tier's top scorers with top-of-the-league Bromley and Swindon Town the only other teams that come close having both netted 59 times each.

Elsewhere in the EFL, League One Cardiff City look most likely to be the third team to hit 70 league goals this season with the Bluebirds sitting on 69 goals this season ahead of their game away to Exeter City.

Other teams close to that number are Lincoln City (66) and Ipswich Town (64) but they're still some way off the free-scoring Dons.

The Buckinghamshire side will be hoping to add to their tally when they face a tricky tie away to Swindon Town in the Dons' bid to return to League One.

After an intense run of away fixtures, Celtic have been able to enjoy a rare midweek with no matches ahead of this Saturday's clash against Motherwell at Celtic Park.

That free midweek has given the Hoops more time to rest, recover and prepare in the build-up to Saturday afternoon’s match and it has given Martin O’Neill a chance to reflect on the Hoops’ recent exertions and on his own admiration for the efforts that the players have put in to secure positive results.

Speaking to Celtic TV ahead of the weekend’s match, the Celtic manager said: “I couldn’t be more proud of the team.

“They’ve shown great resilience, great character, all the words that you normally associate with sides who come through a period like this.

“It was really tough I must admit. I had a look at it particularly when the rearranged game against Aberdeen fell in there.

‘You’re travelling away to Stuttgart, Ibrox and then Aberdeen on the Wednesday, that was three games in six days.’

“And then the fourth game we had in a 10 day period was Ibrox again in the cup.

“But to come through in the manner that the team did, it was a nice sign that they are prepared to battle and compete.”

Martin O'Neill's full interview is available on Celtic TV

The Hoops go in to Saturday’s match against Motherwell in second place in the Scottish Premiership table, with an opportunity to cut the deficit to Hearts to two points before the Edinburgh side take on Kilmarnock later on Saturday night.

Three points will be hard to come by for Celtic, however, with Motherwell, who have been in good form this season, still reeling from their defeat at the hands of Dundee last weekend and Martin O’Neill says that he expects a tough test when the Steelmen come to Glasgow’s East End on Saturday afternoon.

“It will be a major test for us.” The Celtic manager said. “We can go in to the game with some confidence because of the recent results.

“Myself, Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham went to Dens Park last weekend to see them against Dundee and that result was a setback for them but they’ll come here with loads of confidence.

“They could easily be the best footballing side at this minute so they’ll come and play without fear, so it’s up to us be up to the test.”

MARTIN O'NEILL'S FULL INTERVIEW

• Character of the team
• Dealing with the tough fixture schedule
• New players settling in to life at Celtic
• Viljami Sinisalo's performances
• Callum McGregor and Kieran Tierney update

You can watch the full interview on Celtic TV

Fixtures

Celtic Vs. Motherwell - Sat, Mar 14th 2026, 15:00

Ceddanne Rafaela Lands In Top 10 Of Bleacher Report's Center Fielder Rankings originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Boston Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela landed at No. 10 on a new outfielder ranking published by Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter.

Rafaela won his first Gold Glove last season for the Red Sox, and while he offers defensive versatility, Alex Cora has said this offseason that the plan is for Ceddanne to be the full-time center fielder in 2026.

"Rafaela has a strong case for the title of best defensive center fielder, and his 20 DRS trailed only Steven Kwan (22) among all players in 2025," Reuter wrote on Wednesday. "His on-base skills are lacking, but his 4.8 percent walk rate actually represented an improvement from the 2.6 percent mark he logged as a rookie. With his glove, a 90 OPS+ with 40 extra-base hits and 20 steals will consistently make him a 4-WAR player."

Here's what the rest of the top 10 looked like on Reuter's list:

9. Mike Trout
8. Trent Grisham
7. Michael Harris II
6. Steven Kwan
5. Daulton Varsho
4. Jackson Merrill
3. Byron Buxton
2. Pete Crow-Armstrong
1. Julio Rodríguez

Rafaela slashed .249/.295/.414 last season with 54 extra-base hits, 16 home runs, and 20 stolen bases.

More MLB: Meet the New Red Sox: What's Changed — and Why It Matters in 2026

As Duke awaits its first game in the 2026 ACC Tournament on Thursday night, other teams are fighting for the chance to advance, and maybe, pull off a miracle run to earn an NCAA Tournament berth by winning the conference title. 

The top-ranked Blue Devils will face the winner of Wednesday evening’s game between Florida State and Cal, who are the No. 8 and No. 9 seeds, respectively.

On Tuesday, Pitt took care of business against Stanford and is currently battling NC State in the opening game of the day in Charlotte. SMU ousted Syracuse, ending the Adrian Autry era in charge of the Orange. The Mustangs take on Louisville on Wednesday afternoon.

Wake Forest outlasted Virginia Tech on Tuesday and will now face Clemson in Wednesday’s nightcap for the right to play UNC. 

Here is the updated bracket as Day 2 of the tournament rolls on. 

4 days left 'til we crown an ACC Champion 🏆

🔗 https://t.co/fzDFT8TCwupic.twitter.com/bgo1dgaQKN

— ACC Men's Basketball (@accmbb) March 11, 2026

This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: 2026 ACC Tournament Bracket (Wednesday Update)

Steven Pressley is seeking to lead Dundee to back-to-back wins over fierce rivals United - but admits he doesn't "enjoy" derby fixtures.

The Dark Blues, who won 1-0 at Tannadice in January, can replace United in seventh place with a home victory on Sunday.

"I don't enjoy it, to be perfectly honest," Pressley said.

"I think if you asked any manager, unless they lie to you, there's a lot of relief at the end of it.

"It's not a game or a period you particularly enjoy. It's okay if you get the right outcome, as we did at Tannadice, but it's not an enjoyable game.

"It goes without saying that the derby games carry that extra pressure, that extra burden. We're not hiding from that fact."

Opposite number Jim Goodwin is under pressure with inconsistent United set to miss out on the top six, but Pressley is braced for a "difficult challenge".

"That's what goes with the territory when you play at a club where you do play a derby that there's such fierce rivalry around," he added.

"Whether it's Tannadice or whether it's Dens, the importance doesn't change. Your own supporters expect you to get a result, so that doesn't change.

"That's for both sides at the weekend. Dundee United supporters will turn up expecting their team to win, as will Dundee fans, and ultimately that brings a degree of pressure."

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed forward Andersson Garcia to a 10-day contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released. Garcia (6-7, 220, Texas A&M) has appeared in 35 games (12 starts) for the Mexico City Capitanes of the NBA G League this season, averaging 10.9 points on 55.6 percent shooting from the field, 9.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.3 steals in 25.3 minutes per game. He has recorded 12 double-doubles, including two games with 20-plus rebounds, and three contests with 20 or more points.

NBA.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Jazz sign forward Andersson Garcia to 10-day contract

Jaylen Brown on him and Jayson Tatum: We’ve accomplished a lot. We’ve won a lot and we one of the bigger profiles in the game, and it’s the Boston Celtics. So, anytime if one of us scratch our a** like it’s going to be on the news, right? You know what I mean, So, we are aware and we’re both on the same page. We had a good talk today about what we want the most. We both, you know, talk to the team as well, which is important. So, because I feel like the team kind goes off, we’ll go off what our energy is.

YouTube

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: So, we are aware and we’re both on the same page. We …

Benjamin Royer: South Bay plays today: The Los Angeles Lakers have assigned guards Bronny James Jr. and Dalton Knecht along with forward Adou Thiero to the South Bay Lakers.

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The Los Angeles Lakers have assigned guards Bronny …

Jason Beede: #Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain injury management) is doing some on-court work but no physical contact yet.

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: #Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said Franz Wagner (left …

Jason Beede: Right after #Magic coach Jamahl Mosley told us Jonathan Isaac (left knee strain) and Jase Richardson (low back strain) both went through shootaround this morning, the team announces both players are AVAILABLE play tonight against Cleveland.

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Right after #Magic coach Jamahl Mosley told us …

Lamar Odom is getting back to work after checking out of rehab -- and getting back to his basketball roots, TMZ has learned. Sources close to the former NBA star tell us, Lamar has been traveling recently and sat down with several college basketball programs to discuss potential coaching opportunities.

TMZ.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Lamar Odom is getting back to work after checking out …

The two-time NBA champ has had conversations with athletic departments and basketball staff about joining them to help develop the next generation of players. Sources told TMZ ... Lamar is pitching schools on bringing back elements of the legendary Triangle Offense, the system he mastered while playing for then-Lakers head coach Phil Jackson. We’re told Lamar believes young basketball players can benefit from the strategy ... and he's eager to land a job where he can start training a new batch of basketball stars.

TMZ.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Sources told TMZ ... Lamar is pitching schools on …

In a battle between two lefty starters, the Milwaukee Brewers are set to take on the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday afternoon, as Robert Gasser starts opposite Andrew Abbott.

The Brewers dropped their last game on Monday to the Dodgers, as the bullpen faltered late in that one. They had the day off yesterday but are back in action in Goodyear today.

After Gasser, the Brewers are also expected to deploy several relievers in the form of Grant Anderson, Craig Yoho, Trevor Megill, and Jared Koenig.

Sal Frelick leads off for the Crew, followed by Andrew Vaughn and Gary Sánchez. Luis Rengifo, Brandon Lockridge, and David Hamilton make up the middle of the order, with Reese McGuire, Luis Lara, and Jesús Made to round things out.

Also of note: Today is Jackson Chourio’s 22nd birthday, which means you’ll hear “he’s only 22?!” for the next 365 days.

First pitch is set for 3:05 p.m. CT and will be available via a radio broadcast from the Brewers website.

Reinier de Ridder is moving on up.

Four days after his UFC 326 loss, de Ridder (21-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC) announced Wednesday that he has his sights set on a new division: light heavyweight.

"I came up a little short," de Ridder said in an Instagram post. "I think it could've gone either way, but I'm happy I got my body back most importantly and was able to go three hard rounds. I think I've got a lot more to show. ... I'm coming at 205, baby."

View this post on Instagram

De Ridder, 35, started off red-hot in the UFC after a successful tenure with ONE Championship. De Ridder held titles there at middleweight and light heavyweight.

De Ridder won his first four UFC fights against Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland, Bo Nickal, and Robert Whittaker. However, his momentum came to a screeching halt when he retired on the stool vs. Anthony Hernandez.

This past Saturday, de Ridder lost a unanimous decision to Caio Borralho.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Reinier de Ridder announces big change after UFC 326 loss

After Bayern Munich’s vague release on the injury status of Alphonso Davies, Jamal Musiala, and Jonas Urbig, there were bound to be leaks.

Sure enough we have timelines from Bild (as captured by @iMiaSanMia):

The time-off according to @BILD:

Jonas Urbig: 8-10 days

Alphonso Davies: around 3 weeks

Jamal Musiala: a few days

Sky Germany’s Kerry Hau also had information on Musiala, which states the attacking midfielder will miss this weekend’s match against Bayer Leverkusen at a minimum:

Jamal Musiala will sit out at least the match against Bayer Leverkusen. The scan on Wednesday was fine: It’s not a new injury, but rather a stress reaction in his ankle joint, which was also affected by his fibula fracture in July 2025. The discomfort in the ankle joint had minimally occurred more frequently in recent weeks, and a bit more toward the end of the Atalanta game. Hence the break now – and continued dosed appearances in the coming weeks.

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

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

• New, improved notifications system!
• Fewer ads
• Create community posts
• Comment on articles, community posts
• Rec comments, community posts

One of the top talents from Benfica’s vaunted academy, we speak to Ricardo Neto about winning multiple major titles with Portugal’s youth national team and the sacrifices he’s made as a young footballer on the rise. 

Take a trip across Europe’s most glamorous metropolises, and you’re bound to find a number of Benfica academy products who are suiting up for the biggest clubs in the continent. Start in Istanbul, where you’ll find new arrivals Ederson and Nélson Semedo shoring up Fenerbahçe’s defense and helping them challenge Galatasaray for domestic supremacy. Then, head to Rome, where you’ll see Nuno Tavares bombing up and down Lazio’s left flank.

Head northwest to Paris, where you’ll see Gonçalo Ramos and João Neves, who, fresh off leading Paris Saint-Germain to a maiden Champions League title, have them on course for a fifth straight Ligue 1 championship as well as another deep continental run. From there, you can hitch a ride across the English Channel to find Bernardo Silva and Rúben Dias, who have helped Manchester City achieve a historic dynasty in the Premier League. Over in Barcelona, you’ll find their ex-teammate João Cancelo helping the Blaugranas push for silverware on all fronts.

To end your journey, it’s only fitting to head to where it all began: Lisbon. Specifically, the Estádio da Luz. Here, you’ll find two homegrown prospects in António Silva and Tomás Araújo challenging each other for a starting spot in central defense alongside Nicolás Otamendi. You’ll also find a number of teenage prospects like Anísio Cabral, José Neto, and Daniel Banjaqui, who, fresh off leading their country to international glory, are now making their presence known at Benfica.

If he plays his cards right, Ricardo Jorge Gomes da Costa Neto might very well be the next Seixal product to become a first-team regular under José Mourinho.

Born on August 26, 2008, Neto was mainly raised in the Casal da Boba housing complex in Amadora, but switched back and forth between living with his mother and father after their divorce. After joining Benfica’s academy in 2018, Neto started off playing for the Águias’ U-11 side twice a week before eventually playing on a more regular basis and ascending the ranks. By the time he made it to the U-15 level, when he started playing for Portugal’s youth teams, Neto had no doubts whatsoever that this was what he wanted to dedicate his life to.

After an impressive 2022-23 season that saw him win the U-15 national championship, Neto would establish himself as one of the most promising center backs in Portuguese football after winning the U-17 Second Division National Championship in 2023-24 before claiming the National Championship with the ‘Juvenis’ the following season. And shortly after this domestic success, Neto got his very first taste of international glory.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by FIFA World Cup (@fifaworldcup)

Having played 26 times for Portugal’s youth teams thus far, Neto wrote himself into the history books last season when he helped Portugal win their seventh UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Albania. Six months later, Neto was called up for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, where he helped lead Seleção das Quinas to victory for the first time.

Since then, Neto has kept his head down and continued work hard in school while also making inroads for both Benfica and Portugal, debuting in the UEFA Youth League as well as making his maiden appearance for Benfica B in the Premier League International Cup. If he can continue progressing at this rate, it will seemingly only be a matter of time before he makes his first team debut under Mourinho.

We caught up with the promising 17-year-old in a Q&A session.

Urban Pitch: You were part of the national teams that won the U-17 European Championship and the U-17 World Cup, and nine of the players from those squads are also with you at Benfica. What is it like growing up in that kind of environment, surrounded by players who have already achieved so much together? How does it influence the level of training and competition on a daily basis?

Ricardo Neto: I think it helps a lot that we’ve all been together for a while, that we all know each other. We already know what each one is going to do on the pitch, we already know how to deal with certain emotions shared by a colleague of ours. And I’m not just talking about Benfica, but the entire national team: I think it was good for us to not change the team so often. That’s what made us win the World Cup and the European Championship: being a family, always being together, that helped a lot in the games. It didn’t come so much at an individual level, but more from the collective.

At Benfica, even at older youth levels and especially when players are younger, teams often take part in anywhere from five to 20 international tournaments. Beyond the experience of traveling and playing football at such a young age, do you think these tournaments help your development? In what ways do they make a difference to a player’s career?

They contribute not only to me, but to all the athletes who develop at Benfica. It helps them to understand the style of football played by other teams from other countries, not just being familiar with Portuguese football, not just being comfortable with one type of league. Perhaps it encourages us to strive harder for bigger things, to explore different places, and not remain in the same place forever.

Benfica gathers its most promising young players from regional academies of the club across the country, bringing them together in Seixal at the U-13 level. For example, you came from the Lisbon area, but Tomás Soares came from Benfica’s Academy in Braga. When you first met all the group as they were entering their teenage years, who stood out the most as the best player?

I think it was Tomás Soares. I already knew him previously after facing him in a U-11 tournament, but when I saw him at the U-14 level, he was different, he was more mature, he imposed himself more in the game, and he was one of the key players in winning the championship that year.

You obviously haven’t had a normal adolescence, you’ve had to let go of some things in order to become a professional footballer. Has it been difficult to make these sacrifices and give up normal childhood experiences?

I think these sacrifices are necessary because in the end, it will pay off. It’s difficult to give up so many things in order to achieve my objectives. I don’t live the life of a normal teenager: I have a very different regime, a more rigid routine, I haven’t been able to go out with friends at any point. My life has been very focused on football.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ricardo Neto (@ricardoneto.3)

What has it been like entering this season after winning the U-17 EUROs and having to keep your feet on the ground after this triumph?

I think, in a way, the fact that I was champion points many eyes at me, just like everyone else who was playing in the World Cup. But I think that shouldn’t affect our performance level, because football never stops. As much as we’ve won the EUROs and World Cup, that’s not what makes us professional players. It’s what we do in the present. We need to have a winning mindset and keep working, not stop there, we need to always want more.

It seems that Seixal not only knows how to produce great players, but also great men with a lot of maturity. Why do you think that is?

I think Benfica has helped all the athletes a lot with this. The Benfica coaches help athletes not only on a sporting level, but also personally, by helping them grow as people. Whether they like it or not, this affects athletic performance and mentality. I think it’s important for a player to have a good mentality, otherwise, their performance will not be the same.

You may not be a full-fledged professional yet, but reaching a level like the U-17 World Cup takes a lot of sacrifice and effort. Is there a moment of adversity where you had to grow and get back up?

I think it was during the transition from U-14 to U-15. As we were already facing teams with more name recognition, I saw that things were becoming more serious and that I couldn’t continue to have the same behaviors that I had before, I couldn’t have the same routines, it had to be different. I had to do things another way if I was to reach the level that I wanted to reach.

Lastly, what’s the message that you’d like to leave for all of the Benfiquistas around the world?

I’ll be here at this club for a while, trying to help them win a lot of titles, and helping them out in games in a certain manner.

Roony Bardghji was one of Barcelona’s only signings last summer, with the forward joining from Copenhagen for just €2 million.

It was a smart investment for the Catalans, as Bardghji was regarded as one of the most exciting young players coming out of Sweden in recent years.

So far this season, Bardghji has been a bit-part player for Barcelona. But he is excited about the road ahead, notably lauding the club in a recent interview with SPORT.

Bardghji on Messi, Barcelona and more

Born into a Syrian family in Kuwait, Bardghji revealed that his love for Barcelona came from his father, who was a big fan of Lionel Messi.

“I think it’s because of my father. Years before I was born, he started following Barcelona, ​​and when Messi arrived, he fell in love with him. And when I was born, he always made me watch Messi and Barcelona’s matches,” he said.

Although he was born in Kuwait City, Bardghji’s family moved to Sweden soon after, but the road wasn’t easy.

“Starting over with two children, ages six and two, and without a network of contacts wasn’t easy,” his mother, Rola, said.

However, Bardghji added that his parents never stopped believing in him and supporting him in every way they could.

Can Bardghji make a breakthrough at Barcelona? (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

“My father always dreamed that my brother and I would play football, and there are more opportunities in Europe than in the Middle East. That was another reason why we moved as well,” he said.

During his youth career, Bardghji has played for youth teams of Copenhagen, Malmo and Rodeby, before he eventually joined Barcelona last summer.

Talking about his love for Barça, the young winger said, “Playing for Barça has been a dream of mine since I was little. When I was a child, I watched Barça matches with my father. We’ve always been fans of the team.”

“I’m very proud to be here. I worked very hard to get here and I’ve achieved it, but this is just the beginning. My dream is to win every title with Barça: Champions League, La Liga,” he concluded.

Bardghji’s comments come in the midst of reports that suggest Barcelona could be willing to offload the player in the coming summer, for nearly ten times his transfer fee.

With just over 500 minutes of action this season, the Swede hasn’t yet made a telling impact at Barcelona.

Former Manchester City captain Kyle Walker has revealed how a meal with Pep Guardiola saw him rebuff interest from Bayern Munich and sign a new deal at the Etihad Stadium.

Walker had agreed a two-year contract with Bayern Munich in 2023 and looked set to join forces with now England manager Thomas Tuchel in the twilight of his career, having helped Manchester City win their premier UEFA Champions League title en route to a historic treble.

Manchester City also saw treble-winning captain Ilkay Gundogan join Barcelona on a free transfer upon the expiration of his contract amid a major exodus at the Etihad Stadium at the end of the 2022-23 campaign – that also witnessed Aymeric Laporte, Riyad Mahrez and Cole Palmer leave.

However, Walker rebutted interest from Bayern Munich and put pen to paper and signed a fresh deal at Manchester City as he was voted club captain upon Gundogan’s departure, going on to spearhead the Blues to a historic fourth successive Premier League title in 2024.