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Celebrating the Lady Luck HQ & Friends Birthday Triathlon Weekend at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa will be a memory for all of time. The event was a massive success for the gaming influencers in attendance and the community overall. It made the Tampa Hard Rock Event Center a part of gaming history.
The event celebrated Lady Luck HQ (Francine Maric), NG Slot (Narek Gharibyan), Vegas Matt (Stephen Morrow), and The Big Jackpot (Scott Richter), and welcomed their following gaming influencers an entire gaming weekend and inspired crazy competitive entertainment.
Three Days of Gaming
With a sold-out crowd of 1,350 on its first day, the event captured the demands of merging gaming with social media influencer marketing. The gaming community has clearly been waiting for an event of this scale, and influencers hosted the three-day event and engaged their audience with live, high-stakes gaming and personal social interactions.
As part of the celebration, guests were excited to watch gaming influencers engage in some fun challenges, including the Slot Pull Spinoff Challenge, and the evening’s Gold & Celebration Drawing, where the gaming action outcome had everyone buzzing.
Slot Tournament Highlights the Weekend
Perhaps the most exciting part of the event was the two-day, high-stakes $400,000 Champions of the Reals Slot Tournament, which drew some very good tournament players, including a defining championship portion of the qualifying rounds. Participants competed in a thrilling tournament attractive to players looking to win high-value player prizes.
The tournament also showed why the competitive nature of the slot games remains one of the most popular at the casino. Excited fans were all over the place in support of their favorite local players and gaming influencers.
Celebrity Meet & Greet Sessions
We were excited to host our very first Meet & Greet Sessions with gaming influencers and YouTubers! Attendees lined up to take photos and chat with influencers to help solidify that emotional connection influencers have with their followers. The warmth and connection gaming influencers have with their audience was remarkable and gave fans and casino visitors a rewarding experience.
We had the pleasure of having Dale Hansen, an Elvis impersonator, perform and sing Happy Birthday to Lady Luck HQ (Francine Maric) during the opening event. It was a wonderful and enjoyable way to celebrate!
Influencer Marketing in Gaming
The Lady Luck HQ & Friends Birthday Triathlon Weekend Event has shown how important influencer marketing in gaming has become. The event owners greatly benefited from the 15 million combined followers of the event’s influencers on social media marketing platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. However, the influencers of the event do not only have a following on social media. They have an authentic connection with their followers and create a community outside of promotional content.
The innovative strategies used by the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa regarding the events have received praise from other attendees and industry experts. The attendees of the events have noted an understanding of the use of social media and influencer marketing to improve their experience. The personal connection made with the event influencers has improved the positioning of the casino’s brand and has brought people back to the events.
Dedication to the Customer Experience and Innovation in Gaming
Weekend events showed how committed the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is to making guests’ experiences memorable. The impressive game and tournament collection, customer interaction through social media, and engagement with influencers are how they stand out.
How game experiences change is what keeps Seminole Hard Rock Tampa at the top of the casino entertainment industry.
Travis Lunn (President of Seminole Hard Rock Tampa) said the event was exciting, but it also created real connections between guests, influencers, and employees. He said that the ability of the resort to change and develop with the times is what differentiates the place. It ensures that guests receive real, personalized experiences.
If you’re searching for gaming and entertainment in central Florida, your top destination has to be Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa. It has over 5,200 slot machines and live table games for you to try your luck. It is located within 10 minutes of downtown Tampa, and on top of gaming has loads of entertainment, including a 60,000-square-foot pool deck, a full-service spa, and various dining options and live shows.
The world-class resort and casino has 800 guest rooms and includes high-class gaming options, including poker in the exclusive Draper Room. It has become a premier gaming and entertainment destination for people from all over the world.
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa makes a name for itself in hospitality and entertainment by providing amazing guest engagement, top-of-the-line entertainment experiences, and leading gaming options.
Final Thoughts
Over the last weekend, the Lady Luck HQ & Friends: Birthday Triathlon event at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa was proof of the power of influencer marketing as well as social media marketing in the casino entertainment field. Since the Hard Rock Casino in Tampa is the first to host this type of event, it is safe to predict that they will host many more and continue to raise the standard of event marketing for all casinos to follow. By combining top influencers with a dedicated gaming community and high-stakes events, we highlighted yet another opportunity created by social media and influencer marketing.
The post Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Becomes Gaming Destination For Influencers And Fans Alike appeared first on Travel And Tour World.Ponant, the prestigious luxury cruise line, is offering a one-of-a-kind educational voyage that brings global geopolitics into sharp focus. The company has announced that Nina Khrushcheva, a renowned foreign affairs expert, and Admiral James Stavridis, a retired U.S. It was announced that a Naval Officer would join the “A World Affairs Voyage” as one of the featured speakers. The 10-night journey, scheduled for August 2026, was set to depart aboard Ponant’s luxurious Le Champlain from Copenhagen, Denmark, and conclude in London, United Kingdom.
This immersive journey offers travelers a unique opportunity to engage with two highly respected experts in international relations. Nina Khrushcheva, a professor of International Affairs at The New School and the great-granddaughter of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, will provide insightful commentary on the evolving political landscape. Her expertise in global affairs will guide discussions on current geopolitical challenges, ranging from security threats to international cooperation. Khrushcheva’s academic rigor combined with her personal connection to the Soviet era will offer guests a comprehensive understanding of the forces shaping global politics today.
Admiral James Stavridis, a retired four-star U.S. Navy Admiral and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, will also be sharing his insights. Stavridis, who served as the Commander of U.S. Southern Command and led military operations in regions including Afghanistan, Libya, and Latin America, brings a wealth of experience in military strategy, diplomacy, and international security. His perspective as a former military leader and current global affairs partner at The Carlyle Group will help guests understand the intersection of geopolitics, military strategy, and international relations.
Beyond the insightful lectures and discussions onboard, the World Affairs Voyage offers an enriching experience by visiting historically and politically significant destinations. Guests will visit The Hague, Netherlands, home to the International Court of Justice, where they will learn about the role of international law in global diplomacy. The voyage also includes a visit to Brussels, Belgium, where guests will have the opportunity to explore the European Parliament and the Royal Military Museum, deepening their understanding of European governance and military history.
Another highlight of the journey is the inclusion of World War II-related destinations. The cruise will visit the Dutch Resistance Museum and the Atlantic Wall, where guests will learn about the brave resistance efforts against Nazi occupation. The ship will also stop at Dunkirk, France, a city made famous for its role in the evacuation of Allied troops during World War II. These visits will offer travelers a deeper appreciation of twentieth-century conflict and the impact it has had on the world’s geopolitical landscape.
Throughout the cruise, Khrushcheva and Stavridis will lead lectures and informal discussions with guests, covering a range of topics from historical context to contemporary global issues. By integrating both intellectual and cultural exploration, the voyage aims to create a well-rounded experience that combines education with immersive travel.
The speakers’ backgrounds offer a fascinating blend of historical, military, and political expertise. Nina Khrushcheva’s writings have appeared in major international publications, and her experience as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations will allow her to share in-depth perspectives on global diplomacy. Her connection to the Soviet era provides a unique historical lens through which guests can better understand the complexities of modern international relations.
Admiral James Stavridis, meanwhile, is no stranger to international crisis management. His leadership at NATO and his role in overseeing military operations across Europe, Asia, and Latin America give him a rare and nuanced understanding of the global security environment. As the Dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and a highly sought-after speaker, Admiral Stavridis is uniquely positioned to offer guests firsthand insights into the complex interplay of politics, military strategy, and global security.
The World Affairs Voyage is not just an academic experience but a cultural one as well. Guests will have the chance to explore the vibrant cities of Northern Europe and gain a firsthand look at how international institutions function. The educational programming onboard will be complemented by immersive excursions that make history come alive, from exploring the corridors of power in Brussels to walking in the footsteps of those who fought for freedom during World War II in Dunkirk.
Ponant’s attention to detail ensures that guests will not only gain an intellectual understanding of global issues but will also connect with the history and cultures of the places they visit. The Le Champlain, one of Ponant’s elegant yachts, provides a luxurious setting for this enlightening journey, with a focus on comfort and refined service, ensuring that guests can relax and reflect on the experience in style.
Ponant’s World Affairs Voyage is a unique opportunity to dive deep into global politics while also taking in the stunning landscapes and rich history of Northern Europe. With the expertise of renowned figures like Nina Khrushcheva and Admiral James Stavridis, this journey is more than just a cruise — it’s an eye-opening adventure for anyone eager to better understand today’s complex world. As the ship sails from Copenhagen to London, guests will explore new destinations and, at the same time, gain a greater appreciation for the forces shaping our global community. It’s a trip that blends education, culture, and exploration into one unforgettable experience.
The post Copenhagen, Denmark – February 24, 2026 – Ponant’s World Affairs Voyage Sets Sail with Expert Speakers on Board appeared first on Travel And Tour World.Deicorp, a leading Australian property developer, has revealed a landmark partnership with Trilogy Hotels and Marriott International to launch Sydney’s very first AC Hotel by Marriott. The hotel will be situated within Deicorp’s prestigious Hyde Metropolitan development, strategically located in the heart of Sydney’s Central Business District (CBD). This new collaboration promises to set a fresh standard for luxury design-led hotel accommodations in the city.
The AC Hotel by Marriott will occupy the lower levels of the Hyde Metropolitan tower, an architectural marvel designed by the renowned Candalepas Associates. The hotel will feature 104 sophisticated rooms and will introduce a fresh blend of contemporary design, seamless service, and understated luxury to one of Sydney’s most iconic precincts.
Hyde Metropolitan will not only offer a hotel but will also house 169 exclusive high-end residential apartments above, combining a unique mix of hospitality, lifestyle, and luxury living in one iconic structure. The development aims to create a space that truly embodies the elegance and modernity of Sydney’s evolving cityscape.
The interiors of the AC Hotel by Marriott will align with the brand’s signature European sensibility and contemporary aesthetic. Thoughtfully designed spaces will feature warm materials and carefully curated details that appeal to those with a keen appreciation for design and elegance. This hotel is tailored for those seeking a refined, modern experience in the heart of Sydney.
The AC Hotel will provide guests with several premium amenities, including a ground-floor signature restaurant offering a unique dining experience, as well as a Skybar on the sixth floor, giving visitors a chance to unwind while enjoying breathtaking views of the city.
Fouad Deiri OAM, Founder and Chairman of Deicorp, expressed excitement about the project that Hyde Metropolitan will bring together homes, hospitality, and lifestyle in one of Sydney’s most connected locations. Partnering with Trilogy Hotels and Marriott International for Sydney’s first AC Hotel aligns perfectly with their vision for this development and the broader ambition for Sydney itself.
The opening of AC Hotel by Marriott in Sydney marks an exciting milestone for the brand, which is one of the fastest-growing segments within Marriott’s portfolio. Known for its European-inspired design, contemporary vibe, and vibrant social spaces that transition seamlessly from day to night, AC Hotels by Marriott has rapidly expanded, with over 250 hotels worldwide and an additional 180 hotels in development. The AC Hotel in Sydney will serve as a flagship for the brand in the Australian market.
Tristan Cooper, Director of Hotel Development for Marriott International in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific, highlighted the significance of this collaboration. Expanding Marriott International’s footprint in the competitive Sydney market is always a significant achievement. This new hotel will provide a sophisticated, lifestyle-driven experience for both business and leisure travelers..
The hotel will also benefit from Marriott’s Bonvoy loyalty program, providing members access to exclusive rewards and experiences at nearly 271 million global members. This will be an added draw for frequent travelers seeking modern luxury combined with exceptional service.
Trilogy Hotels, an independent hotel management company, will handle the operations of the AC Hotel by Marriott – Sydney Hyde Metropolitan. The company has a strong reputation in managing investment-grade hotels across Australia, and CEO Scott Boyes shared enthusiasm for their role in the project.
The Hyde Metropolitan project is located on Liverpool Street, adjacent to Hyde Park and just a short walk from Museum Station and the newly opened Gadigal Metro station. This prime location offers unparalleled access to Sydney’s transport network, luxury retail precincts, cultural institutions, and renowned dining options, making it an ideal choice for both business and leisure visitors.
Construction of the Hyde Metropolitan development is currently underway, with the hotel set to open in late 2027. Once completed, it will stand as a modern symbol of sophistication and design in Sydney’s skyline, enhancing the city’s vibrant hospitality scene.
The arrival of the AC Hotel by Marriott at Hyde Metropolitan will usher in a new era of luxury accommodations in Sydney, offering a perfect blend of elegant design, premium service, and world-class amenities. Deicorp’s partnership with Marriott and Trilogy Hotels reflects a shared commitment to delivering an unparalleled hospitality experience in one of the world’s most exciting cities. As Sydney’s CBD continues to evolve, the Hyde Metropolitan development will undoubtedly play a key role in shaping the city’s future as a global hub for luxury living and hospitality.
For visitors seeking a refined, stylish experience in the heart of Sydney, the AC Hotel by Marriott at Hyde Metropolitan will offer an unforgettable stay, combining the best of design, service, and location in one remarkable package.
IHG Hotels & Resorts, a global hotel company, has entered into a management agreement with Chentoor Hotels Pvt Ltd to manage the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Madurai, which is scheduled to open in early 2029. This is a major milestone in IHG’s expansion in South India, reflecting the company’s focus on supporting the development of the hospitality industry in secondary cities with a contemporary, streamlined hospitality offering tailored to the changing needs of business and leisure travelers alike.
The new hotel, situated close to Madurai International Airport, will offer 150 rooms, including 30 suites, which will be strategically located to cater to the diverse visitor base of Madurai. With more than 27 million visitors in 2024, Madurai, a major pilgrimage site and an emerging commercial center, underlines the rising need for quality accommodations. The Holiday Inn Express Madurai will serve business travelers attending corporate events and conferences, as well as leisure travelers who come to visit the famous Meenakshi Amman Temple and other attractions in the region.
Madurai, a city that continues to see commercial expansion, is witnessing rapid growth in both its tourism infrastructure and business sectors. The development of the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Madurai is a direct response to this growth, positioning the hotel as a key player in Madurai’s hospitality growth. As the city becomes an increasingly important destination for business, governmental, and pilgrimage tourism, the new property will help meet the rising demand for modern, affordable luxury accommodations.
With India’s hospitality sector evolving rapidly, IHG’s presence in Madurai strengthens the city’s appeal for international and domestic travelers, contributing to the growth of South India’s tourism economy. By expanding its footprint into secondary markets, IHG not only enhances the region’s hotel offerings but also supports the overall growth of the hospitality sector in India, providing high-quality services in emerging destinations beyond traditional metropolitan areas.
The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Madurai is ideally situated near Madurai International Airport, offering convenience to both business professionals attending meetings or conferences and tourists exploring the city’s rich heritage. With 150 rooms, including 30 suites, the hotel is designed to cater to both short-term business stays and longer leisure visits.
The location’s proximity to key government, corporate, and pilgrimage districts allows the hotel to capitalize on both corporate and leisure travel demand, playing a crucial role in the city’s hospitality growth. As Madurai’s commercial landscape continues to expand with IT hubs, industrial projects, and increased international connectivity, the hotel will offer a convenient base for corporate executives, government representatives, and pilgrims, all while supporting the city’s growing tourism economy.
The development of Holiday Inn Express Madurai reflects IHG’s commitment to supporting hospitality growth across South India, a region experiencing rapid economic and infrastructural development. With over 3,200 hotels globally, Holiday Inn Express is one of IHG’s largest and fastest-growing brands, offering a consistent and efficient hospitality experience. The hotel’s Generation 5 design, which prioritizes smart, flexible spaces and consistent comfort, makes it an ideal choice for cities like Madurai that serve both business and leisure travelers.
The expansion of IHG in secondary markets like Madurai helps diversify the Indian hospitality landscape. With a focus on business tourism, corporate travel, and leisure stays, this new property will offer guests modern amenities that align with the growing need for affordable, high-quality accommodations. This development is a key part of IHG’s strategy to support regional hospitality growth by providing high-end services in emerging urban destinations across India.
As Madurai continues to experience an influx of corporate, governmental, and tourism-related visitors, the Holiday Inn Express Madurai will help fulfill the city’s increasing demand for high-quality, modern accommodations. The city’s role as the gateway to significant regional attractions like Rameswaram and Kanyakumari, combined with its expanding IT/ITES and industrial sectors, makes it a vital location for both business and leisure travel.
Holiday Inn Express Madurai will not only meet the needs of visitors seeking convenient, efficient lodging but will also provide an additional boost to the city’s hospitality growth by elevating the standard of service and accommodations in the region. As a fast-growing destination for both pilgrimage and business travel, the city will benefit from the introduction of this modern hotel that caters to the evolving needs of global visitors.
The signing of Holiday Inn Express Madurai is part of IHG’s broader strategy to support hospitality growth across India. As demand for both business and leisure travel increases, the company continues to expand its global footprint by developing properties in key secondary markets, such as Madurai, where there is growing demand for modern accommodations and business services. This new addition contributes not only to Madurai’s tourism growth but also to the development of India’s hospitality sector as a whole.
As India’s hospitality industry continues to expand in response to economic growth, urbanization, and increased foreign investment, Holiday Inn Express Madurai represents a strategic investment in one of the country’s emerging destinations. By offering modern amenities and affordable luxury, the hotel will cater to the needs of both business executives and tourists, supporting the continued growth of the hospitality sector in South India.
The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Madurai, set to open in 2029, will be a major addition to the developing hospitality scene in Madurai, India. With its prime location, contemporary facilities, and commitment to serving both business and leisure guests, the hotel is destined to be a foundation stone in the development of the hospitality industry in Madurai. This new hotel project reflects IHG’s continued efforts to support the development of the tourism and hospitality industry in South India and provide quality accommodations to cater to the growing demand for ‘affordable luxury’ in the region.
As Madurai continues to emerge as a major business and tourist destination, the Holiday Inn Express Madurai will further boost the economic development of the city, adding to the development of the hospitality industry in India as a whole by providing efficient and contemporary services to international visitors. This new hotel opening is a major milestone not only for IHG but also for Madurai as it continues to emerge as a major tourist destination for both business and leisure travelers.
Image Source: IHG
The post IHG to Open Holiday Inn Express and Suites Madurai in Early 2029, Expanding Presence in South India to Meet Rising Demand for Business and Leisure Travel Growth appeared first on Travel And Tour World.Jeju Island visa rules sound simple. Many tourists think they can just arrive and enjoy. But this is not true. Jeju Island in South Korea advertises visa‑free travel for many nationalities. Yet, travellers have faced surprises at the airport. Jeju Island visa rules require more than just a plane ticket. Some visitors with valid tourism plans were denied entry because they did not know the hidden conditions. This shocking reality has made global travellers nervous. Indeed, Jeju Island visa rules have become a must‑read before booking flights. Jeju is beautiful, but ignorance of rules can ruin a dream holiday.
One of the biggest points in Jeju Island visa rules is that visitors must enter directly to Jeju. If you fly first to Seoul or Busan, the visa‑free policy does not apply. You will then need a full Korean visa. Travellers have been turned back simply because they landed first in Seoul and then took a domestic flight to Jeju. Official Korean travel authorities make this clear in their guidance on special travel zones and visas. This direct‑arrival requirement is part of Jeju Island visa rules that many tourists miss. Airlines also check before boarding. They may refuse to let you fly if you do not meet Jeju Island visa rules. So always check your flight itinerary before booking. Always fly direct to Jeju if you plan visa‑free arrival.
Not everyone gets visa‑free entry to Jeju Island. Jeju Island visa rules list specific nationalities that can enter without a visa. But some countries are not covered. Depending on your passport, Jeju Island visa rules might still require you to apply for a South Korea visa before travel. Government travel lists show which citizens are exempt and which are not. These rules change sometimes, so checking the latest list is crucial. Tourists from many Western, Asian and Middle Eastern countries enjoy Jeju Island visa rules. But others must prepare a full visa. Travellers must confirm eligibility well before departure to avoid last‑minute trouble.
Even if you meet Jeju Island visa rules, airport officials can still question you. Immigration officers are trained to protect national borders. They can refuse entry if they feel your travel plans are unclear. This means you must carry strong travel documents. For example, return flight tickets, hotel reservations and proof of funds. Airlines might ask for these documents before boarding under Jeju Island visa rules. Without them, you could be denied boarding or entry. Many tourists wrongly assume that visa‑free means no questions. It does not. Jeju Island visa rules grant eligibility, but final entry decisions lie with immigration officers.
A surprising part of Jeju Island visa rules is the need to show you can support your trip. Officials may ask for proof of funds. This means cash, card statements or bank letters. Some travellers have faced issues because they carried too little money. Jeju Island visa rules do not clearly state exact amounts. But they do empower immigration officers to question your planned stay. Tourists with vague itineraries or no bookings risk refusal. Being prepared with a complete planner, day‑by‑day schedule and budget helps. This satisfies the inspection under Jeju Island visa rules. It also shows officials your intention is pure tourism.
Jeju Island is one of the most visited spots in South Korea. Tourists from across the world dream of its beaches, hikes and volcanic scenery. But Jeju Island visa rules are not a suggestion — they are mandatory. Missing one rule can lead to flight refusal, detention or immediate return. Travel bloggers and influencers have shared real stories of tourists learning this the hard way. Understanding Jeju Island visa rules should be the first step after choosing this destination. It protects your plans and your money. Travel agencies now include this in pre‑departure checklists. Ignorance is no longer an excuse.
Before you fly, prepare for Jeju Island visa rules like a pro. Check if your passport qualifies for visa‑free entry. Book a direct international flight to Jeju first. Prepare return tickets, hotel confirmation and travel funds proof. Write a simple travel plan that shows your daily activities. Keep travel insurance ready. If in doubt, apply for a Korean visa in advance. This bypasses most risks under Jeju Island visa rules. Agencies also recommend arriving a day early if connecting to Jeju. Always allow buffer time for travel checks. Being travel‑ready makes your Jeju Island holiday joyful, not stressful.
Jeju Island remains one of Asia’s most breathtaking travel destinations. Its beaches, waterfalls, volcanic peaks and food culture attract millions. But sensational sights require sensible preparation. Respecting Jeju Island visa rules ensures your trip stays magical from departure to return. Make these rules your best travel companion. Read them early. Follow them closely. And set out for a journey that becomes a lifelong memory, not a travel warning story. Jeju Island visa rules are your guide to holiday success.
The post Ultimate Jeju Island Travel Guide: How to Navigate Visa Rules, Avoid Entry Refusals, and Enjoy South Korea Without Surprises appeared first on Travel And Tour World.Klook, the largest experiences platform across Asia Pacific, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau (OCTB) to promote travel and tourism in places beyond the Osaka city center and to encourage the first region-wide sustainable tourism in Osaka Prefecture.
The partnership aims to combine Klook’s technology and data with OCTB’s local knowledge and resources to achieve several key objectives, including the creation of new and interesting travel experiences, improved travel flow and connectivity in Osaka, and balanced, sustainable tourism in the Osaka region municipalities.
Rethinking Regional Travel and Sustainable Tourism
The collaboration changes the way tourism in Osaka Prefecture has been marketed and implemented because, instead of emphasizing the main attractions in the core city, less explored and promoted attractions and activities throughout the entire Prefecture will be marketed. Klook’s platform will be able to promote attractions and activities beyond the city of Osaka and encourage travel throughout the entire Osaka Prefecture. It will also help reduce congestion in the heavily visited areas and distribute tourism demand more sustainably.
The MoU states that both parties will collaborate on several joint initiatives, including developing digital content and joint marketing, facilitating reciprocal data exchange, and applying Klook technology to enhance visitor engagement. This will also involve applying modern visitor engagement tools, such as audio guides and digital content, to enhance visitor experiences in a region and provide more engaging experiences.
Boosting Digital Transformation and Visitor Ease
The partnership between Klook and OCTB exemplifies how digital tools can transform the tourism sector. The use of sophisticated technology and data analysis will be used to meet the new demands of travelers, who tend to prefer multiple destinations and effortless travel. With Klook’s platform, tourism facilitators in Osaka will be able to improve visitor ease by offering essential travel services, including transportation, local activities, and pre-planned itineraries to explore regional attractions.
In this partnership, Klook will contribute beyond just technology, as Klook’s customer base will allow for data insights that are extremely valuable. This partnership will focus on understanding the behaviors surrounding inbound travel and the marketing strategies surrounding customers wanting to travel to the wider Osaka area. Klook’s marketing strategies will also assist the local businesses in coping with fast-changing demands, as they will focus on international travelers.
Regional Connectivity and Data-Driven Insights
Klook’s Travel Pulse 2026 report outlines the potential that Growing Osaka presents as a center for travel in Japan. The report indicates that close to 50% of travelers who are planning a trip to Japan in 2026 intend to travel to Osaka. This is particularly true for Millennials, who are the most dominant customers and investors in the tourism industry. This is especially true as travelers are starting to move away from the trend of visiting one city and are starting to travel to multiple places, providing a positive outlook for growing Osaka. The rise of travel involving multiple travel destinations shows just how crucial regional interconnections are becoming. Klook partnering with OCTB is in line with this new travel pattern and focuses on new ways to ease travel-related services and promote regional transport, such as the purchase of the JR Kansai travel passes, Shinkansen, and car rentals. This regional travel focus will allow Osaka and its border travel to be very easy, and travel to the many unexplored places.
Encouraging Sustainable Growth and Disseminating Visitor Concentration
Klook and OCTB are aiming to encourage sustainable tourism growth as Osaka continues to attract many international tourists. It is important to distribute tourists in the region to prevent over-tourism in certain locations. Klook and OCTB are looking to use technology to stimulate more evenly dispersed visitor circulation and tourism throughout the Osaka region, more evenly supporting the non-tourist hotspots’ local businesses.
The partnership seeks to enhance sustainable travel practices to ensure the expansion of Osaka’s tourism industry is in harmony with the environmental goals of the city’s tourism strategy. The partnership cultivates a financially viable and sustainable model of tourism by using digital technologies to control visitor flow and optimize user engagement in the tourism ecosystem. The partnership encourages visitors to travel to the surrounding areas in order to benefit local communities and mitigate the concerns associated with overtourism.
Transforming Tourism with Collaborative Strategies
The collaboration between Klook and the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau is a model for the future of tourism. The collaboration is expected to enhance visitor experience in Osaka by using Klook’s digital technology and the tourism data from the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau. The collaboration also exemplifies the growing need for collaboration between digital companies and local tourism stakeholders in the tourism ecosystem for the purpose of improving the sustainability of tourism and visitor experiences.
The collaboration exemplifies what the future of the management of tourism destinations should look like by harmonizing data, technology, and local knowledge to develop personalized travel solutions. By creating a focus on the entire Osaka Prefecture, the collaboration helps address the need for a shift in the tourism destination marketing ecosystem in order to provide a sustainable, diverse, and adaptable system to changing travel demand.
Conclusion
The collaboration with Klook and the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau is going to impact the region’s tourist sector. Using digital ground-breaking innovations, data-driven, and regional connectivity, Osaka is set to diversify to offer sustainable and economically positive tourism to the whole Osaka prefecture. With Klook and the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau collaboration, it offers innovation and tradition at the same time by giving travelers a sufficient, easy, and enjoyable tourism experience, and making it more accessible. Osaka is ready to thrive as a travel destination.
The post Explore Osaka’s Exciting New Partnership With Klook To Boost Regional Tourism And Sustainable Growth appeared first on Travel And Tour World.The hotel portfolio of Classic Vacations reaches 2600 properties worldwide, which enables advisors to provide customers with high-end lodging options. The advisors generate revenue by providing additional options that cover North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, which they developed based on feedback from their partner network. Travel professionals create complex travel packages that include luxury accommodations with full commission benefits at destinations throughout the world.
Classic Vacations accelerates growth by prioritising high-demand markets, enabling seamless itinerary builds via intuitive platforms. The portfolio integrates urban legends, island retreats, and wilderness lodges, all backed by dedicated support teams. This evolution equips trade networks to meet client cravings for bespoke opulence.
Classic Vacations enhances US dominance alongside Mexico, Dominican Republic, Aruba, Canada, Bahamas, Barbados, and Curacao. The Beverly Hills Hotel delivers pink bungalow allure and poolside glamour in Los Angeles, while The Peninsula New York commands Fifth Avenue with chauffeured arrivals and skyline panoramas. These icons facilitate hybrid city-beach escapes.
Operators streamline commissions on diverse North American blends of glamour and turquoise shores.
Western and southern Europe flourish with additions in Greece, UK, France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Spain, and Italy. Domes Noruz Mykonos captivates with Aegean infinity pools, Cavo Tagoo Santorini stuns via cliffside caves, 1 Hotel Mayfair London pioneers eco-chic, and The Roseate Villa Bath revives Regency splendour. These fuel romantic, cultural, and alpine pursuits.
Trade experts forge multi-country odysseys tapping heritage trails and azure coasts.
High-velocity Asia growth spans Thailand, Indonesia, UAE, Turkey, Maldives, Singapore, and Japan. Banyan Tree Dubai sanctuary offers rain-forest spas, The Sukhothai Bangkok Hotel weaves silk heritage luxury, and SIRO One Za’abeel Dubai innovates atop architectural marvels. Properties support wellness retreats fused with urban explorations.
Advisors capitalise on Asia’s boom, layering private jets and temple tours.
Africa spotlights South Africa safaris with extensions to Seychelles, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia. Kempinski Seychelles Resort graces white sands with epicurean flair, Anantara Maia Seychelles Villas whispers seclusion via private beaches, and Kapama River Lodge South Africa thrills with rhino sightings near Kruger fringes. Kempinski’s entry heralds 13 elite addresses.
Kapama River Lodge immerses guests in 13,000-hectare private reserves teeming with lion prides, elephant herds, and rare leopards during guided dawn patrols. Luxury tents overlook the Klaserie River, where hippos grunt at dusk. Pair with Kruger proximity for seamless Big Five circuits, elevating Classic Vacations’ African portfolio to unrivalled depths.
Professionals design life-changing wildlife immersions synced with luxury downtime.
Classic Vacations pioneers ties with century-old Kempinski, incorporating 13 bastions from continental Europe to Bali and Seychelles. Renowned for imperial service and design-forward havens, these elevate portfolios. The move aligns with Classic’s 45-year trajectory in ultra-luxury wholesaling.
B2B channels amplify offerings for elite clientele chasing timeless elegance.
Classic Vacations pledges continuous influx of advisor-aligned hotels and locales. The 2600 benchmark fuels dynamic tools like real-time availability and VIP upgrades. Future waves target untapped frontiers, fortifying market leadership.
Classic Vacations’ preferred hotels at 2600 properties reimaginate global luxury for trade partners. Beverly Hills Hotel, Cavo Tagoo Santorini, Banyan Tree Dubai, and Kempinski Seychelles anchor regional triumphs which generate multiple revenue streams through different commission structures. Kempinski’s 13-site debut and safari lodges like Kapama enable cities to provide experiential packages which extend into wilderness areas. Advisors use this complete collection of resources to create superior client experiences, which establish Classic Vacations as the top luxury travel channel in changing travel markets.
The post Classic Vacations Explodes Preferred Hotels to 2600 Luxury Worldwide Powerhouses Now: What You Need To Know appeared first on Travel And Tour World.Lithuania, especially its capital Vilnius is stepping firmly into Europe’s culinary spotlight as prestigious Falstaff guide experts turn their attention to the country’s rapidly rising gastronomic scene. Local hospitality workers believed that the newly granted recognition served as a reward for their extensive creative work across kitchens markets bakeries and bars which they had developed throughout the country.
Lithuania has been formally included in the scope of analysis by Falstaff, one of Europe’s most influential publications for food, wine, and travel, marking a major milestone for the country’s culinary tourism ambitions. The Falstaff team plans to independently rate and present Lithuania’s best restaurants, hotels, street food spaces, wine and cocktail bars, cafés, bakeries, and markets, providing both expert scores and rich editorial coverage to international readers.
Officials from Lithuania’s Ministry of Economy and Innovation were reported as saying that Europe is increasingly discovering Lithuania’s uniqueness, with gastronomy now one of the country’s most visible breakthroughs on the global stage. The national tourism promotion agency Lithuania Travel has framed the partnership as a strategic step in positioning the country as a destination where food and drink are central to the travel experience.
Lithuania’s inclusion in Falstaff follows a string of high-profile culinary achievements that have reshaped how travellers see the country. In recent years, the Michelin Guide has released dedicated editions for Lithuania, highlighting a growing constellation of starred and recommended restaurants, while the Bocuse d’Or competition, often dubbed the Olympics of gastronomy, has been hosted in the country.
Lithuania Travel emphasises that these accolades support a longer-term strategy to use gastronomy as a key pillar of national branding and tourism growth. Travel experts at the agency have noted that international recognition from guides such as Michelin and Falstaff not only celebrates top chefs but also helps draw visitors into lesser-known regions and smaller cities, where authentic culinary traditions thrive.
According to Lithuania Travel, the country’s gastronomic boom is not confined to the capital; it is spreading across regions through initiatives like thematic maps and regional food trails. One flagship example is The Tastiest Cities of Lithuania map, which showcases symbolic dishes from 51 municipalities from Čičinskas steak in Panevėžys and Viduklė dumplings in Raseiniai to kibinai in Trakai and inventive takes on Žemaičiai pancakes in Telšiai.
Tourism researchers in Lithuania have observed that nearly four in ten domestic travellers prioritise visiting restaurants and cafés on their trips, with a significant share specifically seeking out new flavours and traditional local cuisine. On average, Lithuanians allocate close to a quarter of their domestic travel budget to food and beverages, underlining how deeply gastronomy is woven into the country’s travel culture.
As part of its entry into the Lithuanian market, Falstaff Nordics will stage an awards ceremony in Vilnius at the end of March, celebrating the country’s standout restaurants, cafés, bars, and other venues. The event will be accompanied by a series of features, including a curated list of Lithuanian restaurants, a coffee guide, and recommendations for visitors looking to plan food-focused itineraries.
These Lithuanian selections will feed into the Falstaff Restaurant Guide Nordics and appear across the magazine’s print and digital channels, reaching an audience of nearly three million readers in multiple countries. Industry commentators say this kind of sustained coverage can help cement Lithuania’s place in the wider Nordic–Baltic culinary conversation, where local identity, seasonality, and innovation are increasingly prized.
Lithuania Travel highlights that the Falstaff decision underlines the growing ties between Baltic and Nordic food cultures, which share strong roots in local produce, foraging traditions, and contemporary interpretations of heritage dishes. Falstaff Nordics’ editorial team has already drawn attention to Lithuania’s vibrant café and bakery culture and to imaginative street food concepts that rework classic flavours for modern travellers.
Travel planners in the tourism board suggest that the Falstaff partnership will particularly benefit visitors who like to combine city breaks in Vilnius, Kaunas, or Klaipėda with culinary detours into smaller towns, villages, and farmsteads. They argue that the country’s compact size and strong farm‑to‑table traditions make it unusually easy for tourists to move from sleek urban dining rooms to rustic countryside tables in a single trip.
For Lithuania and for Vilnius as its most visible gateway, the arrival of Falstaff marks more than just another accolade; it feels like a personal invitation to travellers who want to taste a destination as much as see it. People in the sector were said to be proud that the stories of local farmers, bakers, baristas, and chefs will soon sit alongside Europe’s most celebrated gastronomic addresses in one of its leading culinary guides.
Lithuania Travel invites tourists to discover Michelin‑recognized restaurants together with food markets and innovative street food markets and traditional bakeries and all the small dining establishments that are shown on thematic maps and online travel guides. For travellers who plan their journeys one plate at a time, Lithuania now hopes to feel less like a hidden secret and more like a warmly recommended table already set and waiting.
The post Lithuania Serves A Surprise Feast As Culinary Tourism Trend Tempts Gourmet Tourists From Across Europe appeared first on Travel And Tour World.With the opening of Mosella, Singapore’s culinary offerings have expanded to include modern Mediterranean cuisine. Located at the Pan Pacific Orchard, Mosella has recently launched a new Mediterranean concept, including weekend brunches and a large selection of Mediterranean tapas, in addition to one of the largest Josper grills in Singapore. Mosella, with an all-day dining menu and a thoughtfully designed indoor dining space, is ideal for family and group gatherings, celebrations, and casual get-togethers.
From the first minute Mosella welcomes the guests to the last one, an immersive Mediterranean brunch experience is provided. Mosella offers guests the opportunity to participate in a Josper grill grilling event. In addition, guests can enjoy desserts at a cheese bar, a first-of-its-kind, in an event that engages all the senses.
Brunch at Mosella
Mosella offers an authentic experience every Saturday. In a style inspired by Mediterranean cuisine, a new flavor is introduced with the first tapas plate. This large style brunch experience offers Mediterranean cuisine for all to enjoy, featuring zesty seafood salads, hearty charcuterie, and salads, and is designed for sharing. Guests may also enjoy the grilled delights of Josper Basque Grill. What makes Mosella’s brunch fun is the dessert format and special treat guests see at the brunch, called Gorgonzola cheesecake. Guests enjoy the dessert cheese-themed showcase with Singapore’s largest and most varied selection of burrata & honey cheesecube desserts. The live dessert station is a huge show of desserts and features churros and Valrhona chocolate raclette, which will take you to the happiest place of a Mediterranean mood.
Mosella also has an optional free-flow drink pack with Mediterranean-themed wines and guest signature cocktails. There is Mediterranean themed sparkling wines and also Frosé, a frozen rosé. There are three drink options guests can choose from and enjoy the refreshing and rich elements of the Mediterranean.
Mosella has a focus on Shared Dining with Tapas and Josper-Grilled Feasts
Mosella’s À La Carte menu is a wonderful example of the essence of Mediterranean food. Shared Dining has a unique charm and intimacy that heightens the overall experience. Tapas start from $7, and include a range of delicate and exquisite seafood and satisfying, hearty meat options. With an inspiring emphasis on meat and seafood, the Josper grill innovation is an absolute must-try.
A signature dish is Josper charcoal-grilled meat platters, which feed 6-8 guests, and feature a stunning range of premium offerings. These include Australian Beef Tomahawk, lamb rack, and crispy porchetta. With enticing and mouthwatering flavors, these meat platters are perfect for families and friends. Seafood enthusiasts will also be irresistibly tempted by the seafood paella and Marisco a la Brasa, which features Josper-grilled octopus and grilled Boston lobster.
The Best Mediterranean Food Experience Any Day of The Week
Mosella has an À La Carte menu, which is an experience in itself, but the weekend brunch is where the real highlight is. The À La Carte menu is structured for the diner’s discretion to mix and match meals to their liking and includes Mediterranean-style sharable plates, encouraging diners to create their own feasts. Signature plates include the Mosella Lobster Brioche, Truffle Hollandaise Eggs Benedict, and the Smashed Avocado Tartine, which is extravagantly topped with Foie Gras and Crab.
Mosella is the ideal location to host your get-togethers and larger festivities, of which the rest of the week offers. Mosella offers the perfect backdrop of the natural, lush locale to escape the busy Orchard Road. Also, the airy, open design enabling alfresco dining creates an atmosphere for dining to be enjoyed and experienced.
Desserts with a Mediterranean Origin
Mosella’s flamboiants of excess are also touched on in the desserts, where the Mediterranean undertones run loose. Inspired by the Mediterranean, the desserts include the Cheesecake Board, Chocolate Odyssey, and Wild Berry Mille Feuille. The Dessert Trolley, starring an ensemble of small cakes and petits four is a nice touch to crown your meal with a box of cigarettes-style finale.
Experience the joy of Mediterranean cuisine and desserts at the Mosella restaurant, located at the Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore, and remember the Mediterranean desserts, especially as you enjoy them, Mosella’s special cheese desserts that highlight outstanding Mediterranean dessert cheese specialties.
Mediterranean Brunch at Mosella and À La Carte Menus
From the date of its launch, Mosella has been recognized as one of the most unique dining places on Orchard Road. It allows you to enjoy dining at its best, Mediterranean cuisine, and while you are at that, you also get to enjoy the beautiful décor and escape the noisy atmosphere of the busy Orchard Road. It is so beautiful that it is also a very good place to spend time with family, escape dangerous and unhealthy Mediterranean food practices, and enjoy Mosella’s ethnic Mediterranean food.
Relax and enjoy Mosella’s Mediterranean brunch and exquisite Mediterranean cuisine. Whether it is a gathering with family for a Saturday afternoon brunch, a celebration with friends, or a restaurant for dinner, Mosella is a Mediterranean cuisine paradise. Mosella has a vast emphasis on Mediterranean hospitality, so a visit to Mosella will highlight the Mediterranean hospitality of Mosella.
Conclusion
Mosella at Pan Pacific Orchard is a memorable dining experience with Mediterranean-inspired desserts, unique, vibrant flavors, and Josper-grilled dishes. It is Mosella’s ambience that makes it an excellent venue for a weekend brunch and a casual get-together with friends. Mosella re-creates the experience of social dining, with a focus on sharing, and lays emphasis on rich foods – offering a Mediterranean escape in the midst of Singapore.
The post Experience The Ultimate Mediterranean Feast At Mosella Singapore With Brunches And Josper Grill Specialties appeared first on Travel And Tour World.Palm Beach International Airport is currently the epicenter of a logistics crisis. Winter Storm Hernando has forced JetBlue, Delta, United, Spirit, Southwest, and American Airlines to cancel 52 flights. Consequently, travelers are navigating 56 delays across the United States and Canada. Major hubs like Boston, Newark, Providence, and Toronto are facing major travel interruptions. For example, JetBlue currently shows a staggering 53% cancellation rate. Meanwhile, others like Delta and United struggle with “out-of-position” crews. These 56 delays stem from a gridlocked Northeast corridor.
The disruption is not distributed equally across all carriers. A deep dive into the performance metrics reveals that airlines with heavy “Acela Corridor” footprints are struggling the most to maintain their schedules.
JetBlue is currently the most distressed carrier at PBI. With 35 cancellations (53%) and 14 delays (21%), more than half of their scheduled operation has been wiped out. Other carriers are also seeing significant portions of their fleets grounded:
The data by origin and destination highlights a clear geographic culprit. The New York and Boston metropolitan areas are effectively “closed” for reliable travel.
John F. Kennedy Intl (JFK) is seeing a massive 71% cancellation rate for flights arriving at PBI. LaGuardia (LGA) follows closely with 54% of incoming flights and 45% of outgoing flights canceled. Boston Logan (BOS) is equally troubled, with 50% of its departures from PBI scrapped. Interestingly, smaller regional airports like Rhode Island T.F. Green (PVD) and Atlantic City (ACY) have seen 100% of their PBI service canceled or delayed, respectively.
While the primary impact is domestic, the reach of these disruptions extends to Canada, with Toronto Pearson (YYZ) experiencing a 25% delay rate on flights to Palm Beach.
Domestically, the disruption has spread beyond the snow-hit zones. Hubs like Atlanta (ATL) and Nashville (BNA) show 0% cancellations but high delay rates (40% to 50%), indicating that the backlog of passengers and “out-of-position” aircraft is slowing down travel even in the sunbelt and southern states.
If you are one of the thousands caught in today’s 56 delays or 52 cancellations, immediate action is required to secure your spot on future flights.
The data from Palm Beach International today paints a vivid picture of the modern aviation industry’s interconnectedness. With 52 total cancellations and 56 total delays, the day has been defined by a “gridlock” that transcends local weather conditions. While PBI remains operational, its schedule is currently held hostage by the operational recovery of the Northeast corridor.
The lopsided statistics—highlighted by JetBlue’s 53% cancellation rate and the near-total shutdown of routes to JFK and Boston—suggest that the industry is still in the “triage” phase of recovery. For travelers, the takeaway is clear: the ripple effects of Winter Storm Hernando are far from over. As airlines work to reposition crews and aircraft, the focus at PBI shifts from “if” flights will leave to “when” the system can absorb the massive backlog of displaced passengers.
Until the primary hubs in New York and Boston can clear their taxiways and reset their schedules, the departure boards at PBI will likely continue to show more red and yellow than green. Travelers are advised to remain patient, stay informed through digital tools, and consider alternative regional airports to navigate around the most congested hubs.
Source: FlightAware
The post United States and Canada Faces Major Travel Interruptions at Palm Beach International Airport as JetBlue, Delta, United, Spirit, Southwest and American Airlines Cancel 52 Flights and 56 Delays across Boston, Newark, Providence, Toronto and Others appeared first on Travel And Tour World.Samsung’s Galaxy S25 series is doing better than the previous Galaxy S24 series. These high-end phones are still very popular with buyers around the world.
According to Counterpoint Research, the total sales of the Galaxy S25 series grew 5%, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra sold 7% more than the S24 Ultra. This shows that people still want premium smartphones even when the market is changing.
Even with a slower start, the Galaxy S25 series sold more from February to December 2025 than the S24 series during the same months. The Galaxy S25 Ultra also saw monthly sales increases in July and October. At the same time, Galaxy Z Fold 7 foldables were in high demand. This means people wanted both types of flagship phones.
Image via Counterpoint
The Galaxy S25 Ultra ended the year as one of the Top 10 best-selling smartphones of 2025. Samsung focuses on premium devices to keep sales strong while lower-priced models face rising component costs.
Aside from this, Samsung will launch the Galaxy S26 series at the Unpacked event in San Francisco on February 25, 2026. The launch will show how memory shortages might affect prices and features. Prices, memory options, and promotions will give an early idea of the 2026 smartphone market.
Samsung is also adding AI updates, including improvements to Bixby and integration with Perplexity. The company hopes these features will interest buyers, even though AI is not yet a main reason for upgrades.
Research Director Tarun Pathak said:
“The global smartphone market’s premiumization trend continued in 2025, as witnessed by the notable performance of Samsung’s Galaxy S25 series, particularly the Ultra variant. For this year, Samsung will be looking for continued growth in the premium segment, aided by promotions and financing options in key markets, to offset exposure to lower price tiers, which are likely to be impacted immediately by rising component costs.”
The post Samsung Galaxy S25 success sets stage for strategic Galaxy S26 launch appeared first on Sammy Fans.
Honor will officially introduce the Honor Magic V6 at the MWC on March 1. While the phone is still under wraps, the company decided to offer a peek at the work it has done to make its latest flagship foldable tougher. Honor Magic V6 in Red The V6 will be rated IP68 and IP69. IPX9-rated devices are already on the market (the Magic V5 is among them), note the first digit – “6” denotes that the phone is dust-tight. Almost every other foldable on the market is only rated “5” for dust protected (i.e. 5 means that some dust may get in but won’t damage the device, 6 means no dust gets in at...
Keylor Navas has shared a dressing room with some of the greatest players in soccer history, yet he has made a surprising choice when asked to name the most talented teammate of his career. Despite playing alongside both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the Costa Rican goalkeeper stunned many by snubbing the two icons and instead pointing to Neymar as the player who left the deepest impression on him.
The revelation has sparked debate among fans, reigniting the age-old discussion about raw talent versus legacy, numbers, and trophies. Coming from a three-time Champions League winner who has seen greatness up close, Navas’ words carry significant weight in soccer circles.
After years guarding the net behind Ronaldo at Real Madrid and later sharing the pitch with Messi at Paris Saint-Germain, Navas was uniquely positioned to judge the very best. Yet when asked about the most gifted player he ever played with, he looked past the Ballon d’Or legends and highlighted the Brazilian magician.
“We are talking about great stars and the best of the last decades, but due to talent on the field, Neymar impacted me a lot,” the 39-year-old goalkeeper told Diairo AS. “He did what he wanted with the ball, it didn’t matter if it was with the left or with the right. When I saw him in the games, I felt that it was like when I played with my children. Ney is an incredible player.”
This was the key reason behind Navas’ choice: Neymar’s unpredictable, two-footed mastery and ability to make soccer look effortless, something that even the most decorated players in history do not always possess.
Navas’ assessment highlights an important distinction in soccer debates. While Messi and Ronaldo are widely regarded as the greatest players of all time based on records, trophies, and longevity, Navas judged talent on pure technical ability and creativity rather than achievements.
For the veteran goalkeeper, Neymar embodied a rare kind of spontaneity, an instinctive genius that bends the game to his will. He described Neymar’s style as playful yet devastating, capable of humiliating defenders with improvisation and flair.
The former Costa Rica international’s endorsement of Neymar as the most talented player he ever played with adds another chapter to the Brazilian’s complex legacy. While injuries and inconsistencies have limited Neymar’s achievements compared to Messi and Ronaldo, his technical brilliance continues to mesmerize teammates, opponents, and experts alike.
For the experienced shot-stopper, talent is not defined by goals, trophies, or Ballon d’Or awards, but by the ability to make the impossible look natural. In that sense, Neymar represents soccer in its purest artistic form, a player capable of redefining what is technically possible on the pitch.
Neymar remains one of the most iconic figures in modern soccer, and Carlo Ancelotti is tasked with managing expectations around the Brazil squad as the 2026 World Cup approaches. Yet, with the tournament edging closer, concerns are mounting that one of the nation’s most celebrated talents may not be in the condition required to make the biggest stage.
Brazil has long relied on Neymar’s brilliance to unlock defences and ignite crowds, but the conversation around his future has shifted dramatically. What was once unquestioned superstardom is now clouded by uncertainty, doubts over fitness, and growing scrutiny from fans and pundits alike.
The turning point came during a recent match involving Santos, where a viral clip circulated across social media and reignited debate about Neymar’s physical condition. In the footage, the Brazilian struggled to chase a loose ball, failing to keep it in play as it rolled out for a throw-in. The moment quickly became symbolic of a wider narrative: that injuries and age may finally be catching up with him.
The reaction from fans was brutal and immediate. Some online users labelled the 34-year-old forward “done,” while others suggested he should retire rather than pursue another World Cup campaign. “Neymar is done. I know it’s hard for him to accept it but the injuries have taken their toll on his mobility.”
🇧🇷 Neymar can’t run anymore… 😔 pic.twitter.com/j8PIQ0bpzM
— Polymarket FC (@PolymarketFC) February 23, 2026
Another added, “He’s finished. Bro should retire, he can’t make the World Cup in this state.” Meanwhile, others raised concerns about the long-term toll of playing on artificial turf and the impact of repeated surgeries on his joints and explosiveness.
Injuries have become the defining theme of Neymar’s later career. A devastating knee ligament injury suffered while playing for the national team in 2023 kept him sidelined for a full year. Another operation followed in December 2025, forcing him into further rehabilitation and limiting his rhythm.
Despite flashes of brilliance during his return to Santos, Neymar is widely viewed as a shadow of the player who once commanded a record $260 million transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. His technical quality remains undeniable, but his physical condition has been questioned more than ever.
The match against Novorizontino, which ended in elimination from a key competition, further highlighted those struggles. Neymar completed the full 90 minutes but failed to influence the game decisively and made a defensive mistake that led to the opening goal.
Carlo Ancelotti has made it clear that reputation alone will not secure Neymar a place in the World Cup squad. Despite being Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, he must prove his fitness and form to earn selection.
With the World Cup approaching, Ancelotti’s stance represents a major shift in Brazil’s approach. Past tournaments often revolved around Neymar as the focal point, but the current generation offers alternatives that could reduce reliance on the veteran forward.
| WHO | LAFC vs Real España |
| WHAT | CONCACAF Champions Cup |
| WHEN | 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT • Tuesday, February 24, 2026 |
| WHERE | Fubo, DirecTV Stream, FS2, TUDN and ViX |
| STREAM | WATCH NOW |
After delivering a ruthless 6-1 road victory in the opening leg, Los Angeles FC return to Southern California with one foot firmly in the next round and all the momentum on their side. The MLS contender flexed its attacking depth early and often against Real España, turning what many projected as a lopsided matchup into a full-blown showcase of firepower.
Now back on home soil, LAFC are in prime position to close out the series in front of their supporters, while Real España head north simply hoping to salvage pride and produce a far more competitive performance despite facing overwhelming odds. With a spot in the next stage within reach and plenty of goals expected, this is one matchup fans won’t want to miss.
The national team circle should be ready for the 2026 World Cup with most staff set. However, there was surprising news on Tuesday as Morocco looks ready to part ways with Walid Regragui. Reportedly, the target is a Barcelona legend as a coach.
With the defeat in the controversial AFCON final against Senegal that included a Brahim Diaz penalty miss in the final minute, the federation was reportedly not pleased with the idea of keeping Regragui as manager.
There is one name that apparently interests the executives. Xavi Hernández has begun to be mentioned in recent hours as a potential replacement, according to Marca. Getting someone who won the competition could be a major boost for the recent semifinalists.
Xavi has benefited from his extraordinary playing career to quickly reach top jobs. His first coaching experience was with Al Sadd. The Qatari club where he finished his playing days gave him the chance to coach for 102 matches, resulting in 67 victories, 17 draws and 18 losses.
His next step was the club he knows best, where he replaced Ronald Koeman during a rebuilding phase at Barcelona. After a strong start that included a La Liga title and a Supercopa de España, the final stretch was less favorable.
The Spaniard left the club after 142 matches from 2021 to 2024. His record shows 89 victories, 24 draws and 29 losses before he departed. He has not coached anywhere since then.
Despite not being among the main favorites to win the World Cup, Morocco looks like a tough assignment for many coaches. Reaching the semifinals in the recent edition means the job is no longer a surprise step.
What could prevent Xavi from taking the job is the limited time he would have to prepare for the tournament. Spanish outlets say he is unlikely to take on a mid-project assignment. That could be the reason he says no, with only a few months to the most important event.
The rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid is one of the most significant in world soccer. Year after year, they compete for titles in Spain, have faced each other in European competitions, and routinely battle for top players in every transfer window. Now, Pedri and Ferran Torres have openly admitted there is a rival star they would like to have as a teammate.
The two players gave an extensive interview this week on the popular Spanish TV show El Larguero, where they discussed their team’s current situation and shared some behind-the-scenes details. For example, they were asked whether they have friends at Real Madrid despite the intense rivalry on the field.
Pedri answered honestly. “Yes, some. We get along well,” the young Barcelona midfielder began, before adding an important clarification: “We’re not calling each other every day, but we get along.”
The interviewer then asked if there was any Real Madrid player they would like Barcelona to sign, if it were possible. After thinking for a few seconds, Pedri responded: “Mbappe, right?” he said, looking toward Torres, who agreed: “Yes, Mbappe.”
The French forward would be an ideal addition for Barcelona, who have been surrounded for months by speculation regarding the futures of two of their most important forwards: Robert Lewandowski and Marcus Rashford. Ironically, if such a deal were to happen, one of the main players affected would be Ferran Torres himself, who would likely move into a secondary role behind Mbappe.
Since bursting onto the scene as a teenager with AS Monaco, Kylian Mbappe has been the subject of transfer rumors linking him to nearly every major club in the world. In Spain, however, Real Madrid always appeared to be his most likely destination rather than Barcelona — something that became reality in the summer of 2024.
Over the course of his career, Mbappe has faced Barcelona several times, initially in European competition and, over the past two seasons, also in Spanish domestic tournaments. So far, the overall record has been unfavorable for the French forward.
During his years at Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappe enjoyed his best results against Barcelona. The French side eliminated Barcelona twice in the UEFA Champions League, in 2021 and 2024, and on both occasions Mbappe stood out, scoring a combined six goals.
However, since joining Real Madrid, the results have not been as positive. Mbappe has won El Clasico only once — a 2-1 La Liga victory in October of last year. The other five matches have ended in defeats, including the 2025 Copa del Rey final and the 2025 and 2026 Spanish Super Cup finals.
became a world champion in two weight divisions during his time in the ring, but now the 42-year-old Californian has told another two-weight conqueror to walk away from the sport, believing his best days to be behind him. Bradley held the WBC and WBO super-lightweight world titles and the WBO welterweight crown, defeating Junior Witter, […]
The post Tim Bradley tells two weight world champion to retire after ‘horrible’ performance appeared first on Boxing News.
Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather are set for a professionally sanctioned rematch in September, eleven years on from their first meeting. In 2015, Mayweather took a unanimous decision on the cards in what is still the highest grossing boxing bout of all time. The fight had marinated for around six years and was underwhelming to […]
The post Manny Pacquiao refused one condition for Floyd Mayweather rematch: “He wanted that” appeared first on Boxing News.
“Nyukasl”ın baş məşqçisi Eddi Hau UEFA Çempionlar Liqasının pley-offunda “Qarabağ”a qarşı keçirdikləri cavab oyununu şərh edib.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, Bakıdakı ilk oyunda 6:1 hesabıyla qalib gəlmiş İngiltərə təmsilçisi ev oyununda da 3:2 hesabıyla üstün olub.
Eddi Hau qarşılaşmadan sonra təşkil edilmiş mətbuat konfransında bunları söyləyib:
“1/8 finala yüksəlmək bizim üçün tarixi uğurdur. Bu axşam ideal oyun sərgilədiyimizi deməzdim. Görünür, əsas çətinliyimiz görüşün əvvəlində hesabı 2:0 etməyimizdən sonra yarandı. Daha çox qol vurmaq üçün lazımi istəyi və aqressiyanı göstərə bilmədik. İkinci hissədə isə oyun daha açıq keçdi, hər iki komanda tez-tez hücumlara atılırdı. Hesab 2:0 olduqdan sonra rəqibin müdafiəsini yarmaqda çətinlik çəkdik”.
Hau qitənin ən nüfuzlu klub turnirində böyük təcrübələr qazandıqlarını bildirib:
“UEFA Çempionlar Liqası bizim üçün möhtəşəm bir təcrübədir. Hər şeyimizi ortaya qoyacaq və əlimizdən gələnin ən yaxşısını etməyə çalışacağıq”.
“Qarabağ”ın baş məşqçisi Qurban Qurbanov Çempionlar Liqasının pley-offunda “Nyukasl”a qarşı keçirdikləri cavab oyununu şərh edib.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, Bakıdakı ilk oyunda 1:6 hesabıyla uduzmuş Azərbaycan çempionu səfərdə də 2:3 hesabıyla məğlub olaraq ÇL-lə vidalaşıb.
Qurban Qurbanov matçdan sonra təşkil edilmiş mətbuat konfransında bunları söyləyib:
“Futbolçularıma təşəkkür etmək istəyirəm. Çünki Çempionlar Liqasında uzun və maraqlı mövsüm keçirdilər. Göstərdikləri oyuna, performansa, xarakterə görə hər birindən çox razıyam. “Nyukasl”la bugünkü matçda da özlərini maksimum dərəcədə yaxşı tərəfdən göstərdilər. Görüşün startında iki qol buraxsaq da, komanda toparlanmağı bacardı və sona kimi mübarizədən qopmadı. Fürsətdən istifadə edərək “Nyukasl” azarkeşlərinə də təşəkkür edirəm. Yaxşı hücumlarımıza, vurduğumuz qola görə əl çalır, bəzən bizə də azarkeşlik edirdilər. Həmçinin bu mövsüm bizimlə olan, komandamızı sona kimi dəstəkləyən azarkeşlərimizə də təşəkkürümü bildirirəm. Biz də onları sevindirməyə çalışdıq”.
Qurbanov bu mövsüm UEFA Çempionlar Liqasında yaxşı təcrübə qazandıqlarını söyləyib:
“Hər oyun bizim üçün böyük təcrübə oldu. ÇL-in Liqa mərhələsində fərqli oyun sistemində çıxış edən böyük klublara qarşı oynadıq. Ancaq bizim üçün ən böyük təcrübə İngiltərə klublarına qarşı oyunlar oldu. İngilis futbolu Avropada çox fərqlənir. Əlbəttə, daha yaxşı oyunlar keçirməyimizi istərdim. Ancaq düşünürəm ki, özümüzü mümkün qədər yaxşı tərəfdən göstərməyi bacardıq. Futbolçular fiziki və psixoloji cəhətdən çox yoruldular. Buna baxmayaraq, qarşımıza qoyduğumuz məqsəd maksimum dərəcədə irəli getməkdir. Qısa müddətdə toparlanmalı və daha uğurlu iş görmək üçün düşünməliyik”.
Bu gün futbol üzrə UEFA Çempionlar Liqasında (ÇL) 2025/2026 mövsümünün pley-off mərhələsinin cavab oyunlarına start verilib.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, ilk oyun günündə 4 qarşılaşma baş tutub.
Azərbaycan çempionu “Qarabağ” səfərdə İngiltərə təmsilçisi “Nyukasl”ın qonağı olub. Cavab görüşündə də uduzan Ağdam klubu ÇL-lə vidalaşıb.
“Atletiko” Madriddə “Brügge”ni qəbul edib. Bu komandalar arasındakı ilk görüş heç-heçə başa çatmışdı. Amma cavab görüşündə darmadağına sevinmiş İspaniya təmsilçisi 1/8 finala yüksəlib.
“Bayer” səfərdə məğlub etdiyi “Olimpiakos”la doğma meydanda heç-heçə etsə də, bu, Almaniya təmsilçisinin mərhələ adlamasına mane olmayıb. İtaliya nəhəngi “İnter” isə evdə “Bodo Qlimt”ə məğlub olaraq Çempionlar Liqasında mübarizəsinə xitam verib.
Qeyd edək ki, ÇL-in pley-off mərhələsinin qalan cavab görüşləri sabah baş tutacaq.
UEFA Çempionlar Liqası
Pley-off mərhələsinin cavab oyunları
24 fevral
Atletiko (İspaniya) – Brügge (Belçika) 4:1
Qollar: Sörlot, 23; 76; 87. Kardozo, 48 – Ordones, 36.
İlk oyun – 3:3
Bayer (Almaniya) – Olimpiakos (Yunanıstan) 0:0
İlk oyun – 2:0
İnter (İtaliya) – Bodo Qlimt (Norveç) 1:2
Qollar: Bastoni, 76 – Hauqe, 58. Evyen, 72.
İlk oyun – 1:3
Nyukasl (İngiltərə) – Qarabağ (Azərbaycan) 3:2
Qollar: Sandro Tonali, 4. Joelinton, 6. Sven Botman, 52 – Kamilo Duran, 51. Elvin Cəfərquliyev, 57.
İlk oyun – 6:1
Futbol üzrə Azərbaycan çempionu “Qarabağ” bu gün UEFA Çempionlar Liqasının (ÇL) pley-off mərhələsində cavab oyununa çıxıb.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, Azərbaycan çempionu 1/8 finala vəsiqə uğrunda İngiltərə təmsilçisi “Nyukasl”la üz-üzə gəlib.
Sözügedən komandalar arasındakı ilk oyun ötən həftə Bakıdakı Tofiq Bəhramov adına Respublika stadionunda baş tutmuş və Azərbaycan təmsilçisinin 1:6 hesablı məğlubiyyəti ilə yekunlaşmışdı. Cavab görüşü isə bu gün Nyukasldakı “Sent Ceyms Park” stadionunda baş tutub. Bu görüşü İtaliyadan olan hakimlər briqadası idarə edib. Matçın baş hakimi Davide Massa olub.
Qurban Qurbanovun kollektivi qitənin ən nüfuzlu klub turnirinin cari mövsümündə uğurlu çıxışı ilə diqqət çəkirdi. Ağdam klubu ÇL-in Liqa mərhələsində 8 oyuna topladığı 10 xalla ən güclü 24 komanda arasında yer alaraq pley-offda iştirak hüququ qazanmışdı. “Nyukasl” isə ÇL-in Liqa mərhələsində 14 xalla 12-ci yeri tutmuşdu.
İngiltərə təmsilçiləri ilə oyunlarda adətən çətinliklə üzləşmiş “Qarabağ” “Nyukasl”la görüşdə də uğursuz gedişata son qoya bilməyib. Artıq itiriləsi heç nəyi qalmamış Ağdam klubunun səfərdəki oyunda ən azı layiqli mübarizə aparacağını gözləmək olardı. Belə də olub. Komandamız səfər matçında 2 qol vurmağa nail olsa da, 3 qol buraxmaqla yenə məğlub olub və ÇL-in cari mövsümündəki tarixi çıxışını başa vurub.
“Nyukasl” – “Qarabağ” 3:2
Qollar: Sandro Tonali, 4. Joelinton, 6. Sven Botman, 52 – Kamilo Duran, 51. Elvin Cəfərquliyev, 57.
Hakimlər: Davide Massa, Filippo Meli, Stefano Alassio, Luka Payretto (İtaliya).
VAR: Daniele Kiffi (İtaliya).
AVAR: Kristian Dingert (Almaniya).
Nyukasl. “Sent Ceyms Park” stadionu. Saat 00:00.
İlk oyun – 6:1.
Nyukasl: 32. Aaron Ramsdeyl, 2. Kiran Trippyer (k), 4. Sven Botman, 7. Joelinton, 8. Sandro Tonali, 11. Harvi Barnes, 18. Uilyam Osula, 23. Ceykop Mörfi, 27. Nik Voltemade, 33. Dan Börn, 37. Aleks Mörfi.
Ehtiyat oyunçular: 1. Nik Pope, 26. Con Ruddi, 58. Aydan Harris, 3. Lyuis Holl, 9. Yoan Vissa, 10. Antoni Qordon, 20. Antoni Elanqa, 28. Co Uillok, 61. Leo Şahar, 62. Şon Niv.
Baş məşqçi: Eddi Hau.
Qarabağ: 99. Mateuş Koxalski, 2. Mateus Silva, 8. Marko Yankoviç, 9. Xoni Montiel, 10. Abdullah Zubir, 17. Kamilo Duran, 18. Dani Bolt, 35. Pedro Bikalyo, 44. Elvin Cəfərquliyev, 55. Bədavi Hüseynov (k), 81. Kevin Medina.
Ehtiyat oyunçular: 89. Amin Ramazanov, 97. Fabian Buntiç, 11. Emmanuel Addai, 15. Leandro Andrade, 20. Kadi Borges, 21. Aleksey Kaşuk, 22. Musa Qurbanlı, 27. Toral Bayramov, 30. Abbas Hüseynov, 32. Hikmət Cəbrayılzadə.
Baş məşqçi: Qurban Qurbanov.
Inter are out of the Champions League, but there was some good news, as Denzel Dumfries made his comeback after three months out with an ankle injury.
The Nerazzurri needed something remarkable to overturn their 3-1 first leg play-off defeat to Bodo/Glimt, but instead were beaten again 2-1 at San Siro, eliminated 5-2 on aggregate.
It was a nightmare evening for the club, but the only positive on the horizon for coach Cristian Chivu was represented by a substitution.
Dumfries had been out of action since sustaining an ankle injury, leaving the field during their 2-0 win over Lazio on November 9.
The situation worsened on international duty, and he had surgery to stabilise the ankle in December.
This evening was the first time Dumfries returned to the bench since November 9, and he was given a brief run-out for the final nine minutes.
He was greeted by an enthusiastic welcome from the Inter fans at San Siro, glad to have the Ballon d’Or nominee back at long last.
It was only his 16th appearance of the season, where he contributed three goals.
Juventus and Italy legend Alessandro Del Piero has delivered a frank assessment of Inter’s shock Champions League elimination at the hands of Bodo/Glimt, while issuing a rallying call to the Bianconeri ahead of their own daunting second leg against Galatasaray.
Speaking on Sky Sport, via TuttoMercatoWeb, the Juventus legend was generous in his praise for the Norwegian side, but pulled no punches when it came to analysing Inter’s performance.
“Bodo played an exceptional game, their teamwork, desire and passion for the sport made the difference,” he said.
“But Inter were too passive. These are matches you win by doing something more than average, and tonight Inter played an average game. Often that is enough for them, but tonight everything went wrong.”
Del Piero was particularly struck by the atmosphere inside the stadium and felt Inter failed to rise to the occasion.
“There were 80,000 people there, it only takes a moment to ignite a crowd like that,” he said.
“Their performance, not exactly lifeless but without that something extra, gives you pause for thought. It is a shame, because Inter had the tools to go through.”
Attention then turned to Juventus, who face Galatasaray on Wednesday holding a 5-2 deficit from the first leg, a mountain Del Piero described in stark terms.
“Juventus face a titanic challenge, far greater than the one Inter had,” he said.
“They need to give a response of pride, win the game and produce a superior performance. They need a spark to change the current trend, because they have lost several matches recently. It will be extremely difficult for them to go through, even if we all hope they do.”
Cristian Chivu points out Bodo/Glimt ‘had more energy’ than Inter, as they only have the Champions League, but admits the Nerazzurri were ‘not competitive’ enough in Europe.
It was already a mountain to climb after the 3-1 first leg defeat in Norway, but there was no blaming the artificial turf after the 2-1 home loss at San Siro.
The absence of Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu was felt, as they were toothless in attack despite dominating the game and having several chances.
Manuel Akanji’s howler to gift Jens-Petter Hauge the opener here was the turning point, as Bodo/Glimt then added a second through Hakon Evjen, with Alessandro Bastoni’s attempt from a corner too little, too late.
“We tried everything we could from the start,” Chivu told Sky Sport Italia.
“We were up against a very well-organised team with a low defensive block, keeping 10-11 players behind the ball. Probably the fact we didn’t break the deadlock gave them extra psychological comfort, knowing we needed to score two goals just to get it to extra time.”
Bodo/Glimt have now registered four consecutive Champions League victories over Inter, Atletico Madrid and Manchester City.
It is also notable their league is on a break, so since mid-September their only matches have been in this competition.
“I have nothing to reproach my players for, as they tried everything they could with all the energy they had, and in the second half Bodo had a lot more energy than we did,” continued Chivu.
“We gave all that we had, tried to break the deadlock in every way, but then after the restart they scored two goals.
“There is a lot of disappointment, as unfortunately we were against a side that had a lot more energy than us, they were very well-organised, knew that they had to do after the 3-1 first leg result and did it brilliantly.
“We can only congratulate Bodo/Glimt, they are a team who deserve to be in the next round.”
Click here for the Football Italia Player Ratings: Inter 1-2 Bodo/Glimt
Inter had reached the Champions League Final twice in three years under Simone Inzaghi, but had not gone out of the tournament this early since Antonio Conte failed to get out of the group stage in 2020-21.
At least they had passage into the Europa League that time, but the new format means their continental adventures end here.
“Our objective was to be competitive, we always said that, and we never intended to think too far in the future for things we are unable to control,” added the coach.
“Unfortunately, we were not able to be competitive in the Champions League. We had started well and won four games in a row, then unfortunately we dropped a few points despite good performances.
“It’s a high level here, if you don’t manage to convert your chances and make the right choices, you will be punished at the first mistake.”
The main problem put to Chivu today was the sluggish tempo, so Fabio Capello in the Sky Sport Italia studio asked if he had considered moving Nicolò Barella into a deeper role compared to Piotr Zielinski.
“We tried to force our way through the midfielders and strikers behind their defensive lines, I had asked them to move the ball around quicker, more cross-field passes to destabilise the dense and well-organised 4-4-2,” replied Chivu.
“The few times we got into the box, there were important situations, but we didn’t find the right pass or manage to shrug off the markers. There were many corner kicks, but with more efficiency we could’ve scored there.
“We have certain strengths and weaknesses, it’s a pity we didn’t score earlier, as that would’ve put a lot more pressure on.”
Inter are still 10 points clear at the top of the Serie A table, and will face Como in the Coppa Italia semi-final, but it felt like this season they were more focused on those targets than the Champions League.
“It’s hard to find the energy when you play every three days. I cannot ask for more from my lads, as they tried everything this evening. If we’d managed to break the deadlock, it might’ve sparked more enthusiasm, but it was so difficult when they defended with 10 men,” insisted Chivu.
“There is great disappointment, as we wanted to at least be competitive in Europe, but we were against a team that played four games in the last three months, all of them in the Champions League.
“We turn the page, we go forward, this is the Champions League, we have to give credit to our opponents and what they achieved.”
Sandro Tonali was on the scoresheet today as the Italian midfielder helped Newcastle qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League, as the first batch of play-off matches played out their second legs.
Matteo Ruggeri picked up an assist for Atletico Madrid, helping Los Colchoneros beat Club Brugge 4-1 to qualify for the Champions League round of 16.
“We’ll take ANYONE on”
Newcastle aren’t afraid of any team in the Champions League
— Prime Video Sport UK (@primevideosport) February 24, 2026
Tonali scored within five minutes against Qarabag, as Newcastle breezed to a comfortable 9-3 win on aggregate – and the Azzurri midfielder was named as UEFA’s Player of the Match.
The UEFA Technical Observer Group said: “Tonali retained possession a lot, controlled the centre, made good passes, had lots of energy and scored his goal at an important time.”
Ruggeri, meanwhile, helped Atletico to a 7-4 aggregate victory in the day’s early kick-off.
24-year-old defender Lorenzo Pirola was also in action, playing ninety minutes as Olympiacos drew 0-0 away at Bayer Leverkusen.
The draw, however, was not enough for Pirola and his Greek side to progress, having lost 2-0 at home in the first leg.
The rest of the Italians in action today were of course playing as Inter crashed out of the Champions League for the earliest time since the group-stage exit in 2020/21.
The Nerazzurri lost 2-1 to Bodo/Glimt at San Siro, losing 5-2 on aggregate. Bastoni, Dimarco, Barella, Frattesi and Pio Esposito were the Azzurri contingent who featured.
Nicolò Barella admits Bodo/Glimt ‘deserved to go through’ to the Champions League Round of 16, but Inter’s ‘target is the Scudetto and that has been the case since the start.’
The Nerazzurri knew they needed something special to overturn the 3-1 first leg defeat in Norway, and felt that it was entirely within their capabilities to do so at San Siro.
However, despite dominating possession and numerous chances, they were toothless in attack and made fatal errors in defence, above all Manuel Akanji to give away the Jens-Petter Hauge opener.
Hakon Evjen added a second, with Alessandro Bastoni mere consolation on a corner, as Inter were eliminated 5-2 on aggregate.
“We conceded a goal with an individual error, it happens in football, but the most difficult thing was to break the deadlock and we didn’t do it. Bodo deserve congratulations, they beat us home and away, so clearly they deserved to go through,” Barella told Sky Sport Italia.
Inter had been Italy’s best representative in Europe in recent years, reaching the Champions League Final twice in the last three seasons under Simone Inzaghi.
They hadn’t gone out this early since Antonio Conte failed to get past the group stage in 2020-21, but back then they were given access to the Europa League, whereas this is the end of their continental campaign.
“There is disappointment because we never hid from our desire to compete for every tournament. We tried, they did better, but this is the difference when you don’t go through by a point because they awarded a penalty at the 90th minute. Without that, we’d have avoided two games and a trip to Norway, but this is the new Champions League.”
Barella was referring to the failure to finish in the top eight after that controversial Liverpool penalty, awarded for a light Bastoni tug.
They have to put all their focus now on Serie A, where they are 10 points clear at the top of the table, and the Coppa Italia semi-final against Como.
“Our thoughts were to go all the way in every competition, which we’ve done more or less consistently for years now,” added Barella.
“Last time we went out to Atletico Madrid and won the Scudetto, this time we went out to Bodo and are 10 points clear. Naturally, the target is the Scudetto, but that has been the case since the start of the season.”
Inter’s Champions League dreams came to abrupt halt this evening as they were defeated 2-1 by Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt on the night, and 5-2 on aggregate.
It is an extremely disappointing result for the Nerazzurri, despite a spirited performance from Italian wing-back Federico Dimarco.
Football Italia’s Player of The Match was Bodo/Glimt forward Jens Petter Hauge – for his goal and assist that propelled his side into the last 16 of the Champions League.
Inter: Sommer 6; Bisseck 5.5, Akanji 5.5, Bastoni 7; Luis Henrique 6 (Diouf 6), Frattesi 6, (Sucic 6), Zielinski 6.5 (Bonny 7), Barella 7, Dimarco 7.5 (Dumfries N/A); Esposito 6, Thuram 6
Best Inter player: Federico Dimarco – Once again standing out as one of the Nerazzurri’s best players, Dimarco put in a stellar display from the left flank but was ultimately let down by his teammates. He created overwhelming chances and managed several attempts on goal himself.
Lowest Inter rating: Manuel Akanji – Shocking mistake to gift Bodo/Glimt their opener and it looked like an uphill struggle from that point for the Nerazzurri after dominating for most of the match. Wasn’t much better in the rest of the match.
Coach: Cristian Chivu 5.5 – Some may say this tie was lost in the first leg but defeat at San Siro with the stakes as high as they were is simply unacceptable. The team look lost without the likes of Calhanoglu and Lautaro and the coach’s tweaks and substitutions show he’s still learning.
Bodo/Glimt: Haikin 6.5; Sjøvold 6.5, Bjørtuft 6.5, Gundersen 6, Bjørkan 6 (Aleesami N/A); Evjen 7 (Saltnes N/A), Berg 6, Fet 6; Blomberg 6.5 (Helmersen 6), Høgh 6, Hauge 8
Best Bodo/Glimt player: Jens-Petter Hauge – The winger covered a lot of ground tonight, got himself on the scoresheet and picked up an assist. The former Milan man will have put a smile on the faces of his old supporters tonight with another excellent game.
Lowest Bodo/Glimt rating: Kasper Høgh – Hard to single out a worst performer for the visitors today, as they worked as such a team unit there was nobody who stuck out as poor. However, the MOTM from the first leg, Høgh, was much quieter today in comparison.
Coach: Kjetil Knutsen 8 – Once again had his team soak up Inter pressure and then hit them where it hurts with lethal counter attacks. Substitutions helped the overall gameplan, excellent night for the Bodo coach.
Inter crashed out of the Champions League play-offs, as Bodo/Glimt swept them aside both home and away for a 5-2 aggregate result.
The Nerazzurri had a disastrous first leg 3-1 defeat in Norway, made worse by Lautaro Martinez sustaining a soleus injury on the artificial pitch and being ruled out for a month. Hakan Calhanoglu was also sidelined, but Denzel Dumfries returned to the bench for the first time since November 9 after ankle surgery, while Davide Frattesi was preferred to Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Bodo/Glimt had a full squad to choose from after their Spanish training retreat, as the domestic duties resume on March 6, so they have only played Champions League football since September 26.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
Francesco Pio Esposito nodded a Federico Dimarco cross just over in the third minute, then Dimarco’s curler after a corner was acrobatically palmed out from under the bar by Nikita Haikin.
Marcus Thuram cut inside from the left and his right-foot curler was deflected inches past the far top corner by Odin Bjortuft’s back.
Frattesi’s header at the near post on a Dimarco corner was also well saved from six yards, while Esposito and Alessandro Bastoni nodded just over.
Piotr Zielinski blasted wide from distance after nutmegging Hakon Evjen, while Yann Sommer still had to make a save on the relatively free Evjen header.
Berg charged down a Frattesi cross with his armpit inside the penalty area, then Kasper Hogh’s sliding tackle on Barella got the ball.
After the restart, Dimarco’s free kick was straight at Haikin, then an acrobatic Frattesi volley was put out for a corner before Thuram could pounce.
Thuram surged forward only to hesitate and his shot was charged down by the sprinting Bjortuft, but the situation went from bad to worse.
A sloppy mistake at the back and Bodo/Glimt extend their aggregate lead at the San Siro
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 24, 2026
A few minutes after he’d needed a large bandage on a cut eyebrow, Manuel Akanji gave the ball away horribly on the edge of his own penalty area to Ole Didrik Blomberg, who forced a great save out of Sommer, but Jens-Petter Hauge was ready on the rebound.
Akanji tried to make up for it with a deflected header on a corner, but Berg cleared off the line. On another corner situation, the former Manchester City defender’s finish bounced off the upright through a sea of legs, Thuram flicking the rebound wide with his back to goal.
Bodo/Glimt double their advantage and now lead Inter 5-1 on aggregate
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 24, 2026
Instead, Bodo/Glimt extended their aggregate lead to 5-1, as Evjen’s excellent first touch controlled the Hauge cross from the right and then his right-foot angled drive found the far bottom corner.
Inter finally did get one back from a chaotic corner, as Haikin smothered the Bastoni flick only after it had already crossed the line completely.
Alessandro Bastoni pulls one back for Inter
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 24, 2026
Denzel Dumfries made his comeback for the final nine few minutes, his first game since November, but it is also Inter’s last in the Champions League for this season.
Hauge 58 (B), Evjen 72 (B), Bastoni 77 (I)
| 58' | Jens Petter Hauge (Assist: Ole Didrik Blomberg) | |||
| 67' | |
Jostein Gundersen | ||
| 72' | Hakon Evjen (Assist: Jens Petter Hauge) | |||
| Alessandro Bastoni (Assist: Ange-Yoan Bonny) |
|
76' |
While Tottenham find themselves right in the middle of a desperate fight for Premier League survival, a ghost from the January transfer window has returned to haunt them.
Ademola Lookman, the Nigerian international who has become an overnight sensation at Atletico Madrid, was reportedly offered to Spurs multiple times last month, only for the North London club to reject the chance to sign him.
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Spurs were strongly linked with a move for the former Atalanta star, holding a long interest in the attacker.
And they had a chance to sign him, not once but twice, with latest being in January when they were offered the opportunity to secure his signature.
But according to The Sun, Tottenham’s hierarchy turned down the 28-year-old winger despite a “crippling” injury crisis that decimated Thomas Frank’s squad throughout January.
Lookman eventually completed a £30 million deadline-day move from Atalanta to the Spanish capital, and his impact has been nothing short of explosive.
The Super Eagles star has already netted four goals in his first six appearances for Diego Simeone’s side.
His standout moment came just a fortnight ago, when he terrorised the Barcelona defense in a 4-0 Copa del Rey demolition.
Lookman opened his account for the club with a clinical strike and turned provider for Julián Álvarez, leaving many at the Metropolitano wondering how a player of his caliber remained available until the final hours of the window.
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atalanta BC | 137 | 55 | 27 |
| Charlton Athletic | 49 | 12 | 3 |
| Everton FC | 48 | 4 | 2 |
| Leicester City | 42 | 8 | 5 |
| Fulham FC | 35 | 4 | 4 |
| RB Leipzig | 24 | 5 | 4 |
| Atlético de Madrid | 7 | 4 | 2 |
| Everton FC U21 | 2 | 2 | – |
Ademola Lookman stats across various clubs via Transfermarkt
The decision to snub Lookman appears even more baffling given that Spurs lost nine first-team players to injury in January alone.
Director of Football Johan Lange recently defended the club’s quiet window, claiming they had to remain “disciplined” to avoid signing “quick fixes.”
Lange argued that with a bloated squad set to return from injury, any new arrival had to be a “premium player for now and the future.”
Ironically, Lookman, who turned 28 in October, seemingly didn’t fit that long-term profile, yet he has outperformed almost every fit attacker currently in the Spurs squad.
Instead of the Nigerian, Spurs opted for Conor Gallagher and teenage full-back Souza, leaving many fans questioning why a proven goalscorer wasn’t prioritised during a relegation battle.
While Tottenham’s forwards have struggled for consistency, Lookman’s instant hit status in Spain suggests he was exactly the type of spark Spurs needed.
For a club currently sitting 16th in the table, the decision to ignore a player who has already humbled Barcelona may well go down as the most expensive mistake of their season.
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While the 4-1 scoreline in the North London Derby left Tottenham fans with little to cheer about, a new piece of fan-captured footage has provided a rare moment of consolation.
Despite the heavy defeat at the hands of Arsenal, 19-year-old Archie Gray has endeared himself to the Spurs faithful with a display of raw passion and defiance following a crucial first-half equaliser.
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The footage, which has quickly gone viral on social media, captures Gray’s immediate reaction to Randal Kolo Muani’s strike that momentarily leveled the game at 1-1.
The youngster was seen booting the ball with immense force directly toward the section of Arsenal supporters celebrating in the away end.
The video shows Gray launching the ball hard toward the Arsenal fans.
Arsenal fans in the footage could be seen fuming and having a go at the teenage. And on social media, the supporters are calling on for the player to be banned for his actions.
I don’t want to hear any more noise about Gabriel/Kolo Muani.
Archie Gray should have been sent off for booting the ball into the Arsenal fans. Referee bottled it.
Red every day of the week for something like that with supporters. Every time.
— M (@MRIRBT) February 24, 2026
However, for the Tottenham supporters, the action has been hailed as a sign of a player who truly understands the weight of the rivalry.
Despite the viral moment, it was a difficult afternoon for Gray on the pitch. Deployed in a hybrid role, the teenager struggled to contain the physicality and movement of Arsenal attackers, in particular, Viktor Gyokeres.
The Swedish striker, who bagged a brace, frequently targeted Gray’s side of the pitch, exploiting the youngster’s inexperience at the elite level.
For Gyokeres’ second goal, he easily outmuscled the youngster before putting the ball past the goalkeeper.
However, if the fan reaction is anything to go by, Gray’s “derby fire” has bought him plenty of applause with a fanbase desperate for players who wear their hearts on their sleeves.
The post Watch: Tottenham fans will love what Archie Gray was spotted doing after Kolo Muani’s equaliser vs Arsenal appeared first on CaughtOffside.
It has been a disappointing season for Tottenham so far, and they are very close to the relegation zone.
They will look to bounce back strongly and finish the season on a high. According to a report from The Guardian, the owners are now looking to invest heavily in the summer window and are prepared to shatter the rigid wage structure at the club to bring in top-quality players.
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The Guardian report claims that Tottenham’s wage bill is the lowest among the big six clubs, and that the owners are prepared to change that to attract top-quality players. Tottenham fans have been calling for more ambition in the transport market for several years, and it seems that their prayers are finally going to be answered. However, they will need to secure safety in the Premier League first. If they are relegated at the end of the season, it would be catastrophic for them, financially.
They have brought in Igor Tudor to steady the ship and help the team bounce back strongly. It remains to be seen whether the former Juventus manager can make his mark. He has had a baptism of fire in the Premier League, so far. Tottenham were humiliated by Arsenal in his first game in charge of the north London club.
He has now demanded a strong reaction from his players for the upcoming matches, and it remains to be seen whether they can step up and deliver. There is no doubt that they have a quality team, and they should be doing a lot better.
There is likely to be a major overhaul of the team in the summer, but everything now depends on their ability to secure safety first.
The post Report confirms how Tottenham owners plan to end years of transfer frustration appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Lens striker Rayan Fofana has been linked with a move away from the French outfit and Premier League clubs.
Arsenal and Chelsea are interested in him. According to a report from SportsBoom, Arsenal and Chelsea are leading the race to sign the talented young attacker, and it will be interesting to see if they can get the deal done. The centre forward has impressed with his “poacher” instincts, and he could be a useful acquisition for both London clubs.
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Fofana has been described as a player with “ice cold finishing”. The two London clubs could use a clinical presence like his upfront. The 19-year-old has six goals to his name this season.
Chelsea need to find an alternative to Liam Delap, who has not been able to find the back of the net regularly. It will be interesting to see if they can sign Fofana in the summer.
Meanwhile, Arsenal need more depth in the attacking unit. Viktor Gyokeres has been inconsistent, and they need more quality in that area of the pitch.
The player is likely to cost around €35-€45 million. It will be interesting to see if Arsenal or Chelsea is willing to pay that kind of money for him. The young attacker has a contract with the French outfit until 2029, and they are under no pressure to sell him. It is no surprise that Lens are demanding a premium for his signature.
Arsenal and Chelsea certainly have the financial muscle to pay the asking price, but they might prefer to sign the player for a more reasonable fee. It will be interesting to see how the situation unfolds.
The opportunity to join a Premier League club will be exciting for Fofana, and he will certainly hope to secure a move to a big club.
The post Arsenal & Chelsea leading the race to sign €45 million-rated “Ice cold finisher” appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Conor Benn's signing with Zuffa Boxing continues to shake up the combat sports world. Although the move isn't directly affiliated with MMA, UFC stars like Michael Page have been left scratching their heads.
Benn stunned many this past weekend by inking a one-fight deal with Dana White's Zuffa Boxing reportedly worth at least $15 million. It's a eye-catching price tag for an athlete who has never won a world championship, and one that immediately makes the 29-year-old Englishman one of the highest-paid — if not the highest-paid — fighters under the TKO umbrella, with includes the UFC.
Page, 38, has been around the game for a long time, and he admitted Tuesday on "The Boys in the Back" that he isn't exactly thrilled to see the eye-popping figures being spent by White's new venture.
"[Benn's signing is] not something that I'm happy about," Page told Uncrowned. "What I would say is when the announcement of the Paramount, big-money partnership [with the UFC] came, people were asking me, 'Are you excited about this?' And my answer was, 'Well, what does this mean for the fighters? Until we understand how that's going to translate to the fighters, there's nothing to really be excited about.' Then I heard about the, if you want to call it an increase, in [UFC] bonus structure.
“This is why I wasn’t bothered to be excited initially. Because for me, that doesn’t do enough comparatively to the amount of money that they’ve just brought in for themselves. ... Then to see it and how quickly [White] values people — or how highly he values people away from the sport that kind of built his reputation — it's just upsetting, to be fair. It's disappointing more than anything.”
The timing of Zuffa Boxing's official launch in 2026 coincides with the UFC kicking off its Paramount era after striking a colossal $7.7 billion deal with its new broadcast partner. A deal of such financial magnitude assuredly brought about significant changes in UFC athletes' payouts, right? Not necessarily.
Extra $25,000 bonuses for finishes have been added, along with an increase to the promotion's traditional Performance and Fight of the Night bonuses. However, that's seemingly the only place fighter pay in the UFC has shifted at present. And similar to former UFC champion Sean O'Malley, who appeared incredulous at Benn's deal but ultimately resigned to his fate within the UFC's less lucrative payment structure, Page doesn't see much of an opportunity for his fellow fighters to argue their worth.
"I don't think so. And the reason I don't think so, it gives us something to complain about," Page said, "but in all honestly I think if you couldn't see the value of your fighters prior to this, and then you slap a price tag on — I love Conor Benn, but he's nowhere near the best in his field. I think he's a great fighter, I love watching him, he's an exciting fighter, but he's not the best in his field in terms of his weight division. He's got a lot to prove still within the boxing world, and you slap that price tag on him?
"I've been saying this for a long time, I feel like we have deserved more. I hate hearing stories of fighters getting to what is the pinnacle of your career, in terms of the UFC, and still being broke. That just shouldn't exist. Unless you're just completely terrible with money, it just shouldn't exist that you're struggling from fight to fight, and it just shouldn't be a thing. ... The only thing I can say is it's disappointing more than anything."
Page added that he knows it's not a secret that the price tags in boxing are significantly higher than they are in MMA. But that doesn't make the reality any less sour.
"The game has kind of set you in a position where you get to a place where you enjoy it, and now you have to go and do something you might not 'not enjoy' [like boxing], but it's something that doesn't bring you the most joy," Page said. "So you're at your pinnacle, and now you're thinking about having to go somewhere else [to make more money].
"I love combat. But what I'm passionate about is mixed martial arts. There's a different kind of love for it. So it's a shame that you can't really achieve what you want to, financially speaking, purely from being great at your passion in this particular field. And I feel like it's one of the very few fields where that is the case."
For now, at least, Page (24-3) remains fixated on MMA.
For his next order of business, it's back to the welterweight division after a successful two-fight stint at middleweight. "Venom" looked arguably his sharpest at the new weight class in 2025 since he debuted in the Octagon, scoring unanimous decisions over Jared Cannonier and Sharabutdin Magomedov.
Another big-name opponent felt like an obvious next step for the striking sensation, however he's instead been tasked with fending off a rising prospect, Sam Patterson, at UFC London on March 21.
Even Page is confused by the booking.
“I’ve been asking for a lot of different fighters and not really getting responses, and I wasn’t panicking, but I definitely felt more urgency when I was speaking to the UFC," Page said. "I was like, ‘What’s going on? Who am I going to be fighting?’ We had a few back-and-forths, and we just kind of pushed a ton of names over that we hadn’t really considered before because they weren’t the high-level names. But which one of these types of guys are [the UFC] looking for? Because the names we're sending over don't seem to be getting any type of responses. ... Sam stepped up to the plate and I guess wanted to fight.
"It’s an unusual one, but either way, I’m excited to just be back in the cage. I’m glad I got a fight. I'm glad I didn’t miss the opportunity to fight back in the UK, because I think a lot of people wanted me to be there, and I'm just excited to put on a show.
”For me, it's a slightly weird one," Page added, "but I'm going to go and do what I do best — put on an amazing show, and hopefully progress to a bigger name after that."
Come summer 2026, Manchester United’s biggest priority will be reshaping their engine room.
With Casemiro leaving as a free agent and Manuel Ugarte, who was signed as his heir, still struggling to establish himself, the need to elevate standards in midfield leaves Ineos with little choice but to invest heavily in quality reinforcements.
Several names have already been linked with Old Trafford, including Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, and Carlos Baleba.
Yet Rio Ferdinand has introduced a wildcard option into the conversation.
Speaking on his YouTube channel about United’s transfer needs, Ferdinand urged the club also to consider looking beyond the obvious candidates:
“There are others in the market as well, a couple of young ones,” said the legendary Red Devil.
“Kees Smit, I like him a lot. If you don’t know who he is, go and have a look at him, guys! Kees Smit is a player. He’s a young midfielder, he can do a bit of everything really, and he’s performing to a very good standard.”
Smit’s impressive performances in the Eredivisie and the Europa Conference League have certainly turned heads.
United fans are not unfamiliar with him, as the AZ Alkmaar wonderkid keeps being linked with the club. Reports, well covered by The Peoples Person, underline how his resurgence continues to attract attention in M16.
It is not only United’s attention that has been caught; Newcastle United, Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund are also said to be closely monitoring his progress.
One might wonder why, yet the answer lies in his press resistance, box‑to‑box dynamism, and ability to break lines.
But it is not simply about controlling tempo; he also drives attacks with incisive passing, purposeful ball‑carrying, and even long‑range shooting. Altogether, he represents the complete package for a modern‑day midfielder.
Whether United act on Ferdinand’s advice remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that this United team needs two or three high-quality midfield additions to transform a position of weakness into one of strength.
Smit could be a brilliant option as part of that rebuild, especially if signed alongside one or two established midfielders. Such a combination would not only bolster United’s midfield but also provide the balance and creativity they have sorely lacked.
Featured image Daniel Jayo via Getty Images
The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
Proposed Guardians trade sees Cleveland land $15.65 million two-time All-Star, ALCS MVP to finally give Jose Ramirez the help he deserves originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Cleveland Guardians didn’t do much this offseason, to the detriment of their franchise star, Jose Ramirez, who took a team-friendly seven-year extension with the hopes the Guards would get some stars to support him. So far this offseason, all they got is Rhys Hoskins.
This isn’t enough for Ramirez. Fansided’s Mark Powell proposes the Guardians go out and acquire a truly big fish in Seattle Mariners All-Star Randy Arozarena, who would provide some serious power to the lineup.
“Alas, this is how trade rumors work. No player is untouchable, and Arozarena is in a contract year. The Mariners don't want to lose him for nothing. There aren't many capable, All-Star level hitters available in the 2026-27 free agent class. With a lockout looming as well, shedding capital makes sense for ownership. If I had to pick a suitor for Arozarena, it'd be the Cleveland Guardians. Jose Ramirez has been begging for help this winter, and the Guardians haven't provided it. Signing Rhys Hoskins won't help all that much. Arozarena is an under-the-radar difference maker,” Powell wrote.
This past season, Arozarena slashed .238/.334/.426/.760 with 32 doubles, 27 home runs, and 76 RBI in 160 games played. He would provide another great bat to finally help Ramirez, and put the Guards’ offense into overdrive.
MORE: Braves predicted to part ways with $16 million 29 SV closer after extending Chris Sale
Arozarena’s on an expiring contract of $15.65 million this year, so the Guardians would have to extend him during the season or try and re-sign him in the offseason. However, with the money they freed up from Ramirez’s extension, it shouldn’t be too hard.
Hopefully, the Guardians find a way to pry Arozarena from Seattle, as he could be the answer to Ramirez’s calls for help.
MORE MLB NEWS
Dodgers predicted to re-sign $5.2 million 2.45 ERA closer even after signing Edwin Diaz
Why do Bodo/Glimt have a slash? Name, location, squad worth of Norwegian club into Champions League last 16 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
One of the biggest upsets in Champions League history saw Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt reach the Round of 16 in the 2025/26 campaign, toppling 2025 finalists Inter Milan in the process by an astounding 5-2 aggregate scoreline.
The Norwegian club emerged victorious from both legs in their knockout playoff matchup against the Italian giants, with Jens Petter Hauge scoring twice across the two games.
Fans may not be familiar with the interestingly-named club, as they are set to contest their first-ever Champions League Round of 16 matchup, never before having reached the knockout stage prior to this season. They are a rising force in European football, having reached the semifinals of the Europa League last campaign before falling to Premier League side Tottenham.
The Sporting News brings you all you need to know about the Norwegian club, including where their name comes from, where they are from, and how their squad compares to others around Europe.
MORE:All possible opponents for Champions League Round of 16 and beyond
Bodo/Glimt were founded in 1916, originally named FK Glimt. The word "glimt" translates as "flash", "gleam" or "spark" in Norwegian.
The club progressed for its first few decades of existence with this name before a change in 1948. As the club grew, they became confused with an older club from another city, Trondelag, who were also called Glimt. So, the club added the city Bodo to the name, making it FK Bodo-Glimt.
In the 1980's, the club changed the hyphen to a slash to avoid confusion with newspapers and betting slips, which routinely printed fixtures using a slash between the participating clubs.
Yet to this day, both the club and fans prefer to be referred to as simply "Glimt," as evident by the club's official website URL which reads, simply www.glimt.no.
Bodo/Glimt are from the city of Bodo in Norway, which is located on the Bodo peninsula between the Vestfjorden and the Saltfjorden. Bodo is located just north of the Arctic Circle
The club's ground is Aspmyra Stadium, and is sometimes referred to by its nickname "Hell of Ice" due to its northern location. It seats around 8,300 spectators, and has been the home of Bodo/Glimt since it opened in 1966.
They play in the Norwegian top flight, the Eliteserien. They are the first Norwegian club to reach the Champions League Round of 16, after being the first Norwegian club to reach the knockout stage a few weeks prior.
Incredibly, Bodo/Glimt have been contesting their Champions League knockout matches during their offseason, as the Eliteserien plays on a calendar year schedule, with the 2026 season not kicking off until mid-March and running until November.
They have won four league titles, all coming since 2020.
"Can you believe it?" said Norwegian manager Kjetil Knutsen after beating Inter Milan in both knockout playoff matches. "A team from a small town up north, it's unbelievable."
"I'm so proud"
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 24, 2026
Bodo/Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen praises his players for their impressive victory at San Siro...
🎙️ @patrickendrick
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/duoFN6RMzr
According to Transfermarkt, the combined market value of the Bodo/Glimt squad in the 2025/26 season is around €60 million.
Compare that with their two potential Round of 16 opponents, Sporting CP or Manchester City. Sporting boast a squad valued at €464m by Transfermarkt, while City have the most valuable dressing room on the planet with an estimated €1.29 billion worth of playing talent.
The club's two most valuable players are 25-year-old forward Kasper Hogh and 22-year-old full-back Frederik Sjovold, who both sport an estimated transfer value of €8m, followed closely by the €7m valuation of captain Patrick Berg.
Like many of Norway's top clubs in recent years, the club has built its reputation on developing Nordic talent and exporting it abroad. In the past four seasons, they have broken their outgoing record transfer sale five times, most recently being the €15m they earned for sending playmaker Albert Gronbaek to French side Stade Rennes.
A perfect encapsulation of their transfer strategy is their record purchase, also being Gronbaek two years prior, as they snatched him up from Danish club Aarhus GF for just under €5m.
Their manager Kjetil Knutsen has been in charge of the club since 2018, when he was hired to take over in his first top flight job after serving as the club's assistant manager.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish host the Duke Blue Devils on Tuesday night hoping to get a marquee win in the Micah Shrewsberry era.
Notre Dame (12-15, 3-11 ACC) is coming off a 73-68 road loss at Pittsburgh in which the Irish hoisted a season-high 38 3-point attempts but made only 24 percent. Cole Certa led Notre Dame with 16 points, while Logan Imes and Ryder Frost added 12 apiece as the Irish rallied late but could not erase a double-digit deficit.
The top-ranked Blue Devils enter at 25-2 overall and 13-1 in the ACC after a marquee 68-63 neutral-site win over top-ranked Michigan, a game in which Cameron Boozer scored 18 points and hit a dagger 3-pointer in the final two minutes. Isaiah Evans added 14 points, while Caleb Foster and Patrick Ngongba II combined for 23 as Duke controlled the glass 41-28 and held Michigan to 6-of-25 shooting from beyond the arc.
Boozer is considered by many a potential top pick in the upcoming NBA draft this summer. He's currently having a stellar freshman season in Durham averaging over 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists while shooting 58% from the field.
Oddsmakers at Covers.com list Notre Dame as a heavy underdog, with the Irish getting 17.5 points and the total around 140.
Pack Purcell 🗣️
— Notre Dame Men's Basketball (@NDmbb) February 24, 2026
🆚 #1 Duke
🕖 7:00 PM
📺 @espn
📻 @NotreDameRadio#GoIrish☘️ | @DICKSpic.twitter.com/n3ccWnio2Q
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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Notre Dame fans get a chance to see potential top overall pick tonight
For the first time in over a month, Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales gave us something to chew on.
The duo took their podiums from the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday afternoon—and spoke on a range of topics including free agency, the draft and the outlook of their current roster. Heck, one of them even dropped a bombshell bit of news about the upcoming campaign.
But which pieces of information were the most interesting?
Here are our biggest takeaways from this afternoon's media availabilities . . .
One of Carolina's major weaknesses over the past few seasons has been their play at inside linebacker. Morgan, a former linebacker himself, told reporters that he'll be looking to bolster the position in the coming weeks.
"In terms of free agency and the draft, I think that's a position that we'll try to attack," Morgan stated. "We're looking for guys that are leaders, that are playmakers and that are culture fits for us. So we're excited about attacking that and putting the work in."
Starter Christian Rozeboom, who led the team with 122 tackles in 2025, is set to become a free agent. Trevin Wallace, a third-round pick from 2024, has had his first two pro campaigns shortened by season-ending shoulder injuries.
Morgan provided an encouraging update on starting left tackle Ikem Ekwonu, who ruptured his patellar tendon in the Panthers' wild-card loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
"The surgery went really well," he said. "Ickey's doing really good. He's recovering, feeling good. I just talked to him the other day. So he's in good spirits. Unfortunate what happened. Obviously, timeline-wise, I don't really have a timeline. We'll see how it progresses, how it goes. But so far, it's looking good."
And regardless of a timeline, Morgan affirmed that the team was always planning on bulking up their offensive trench.
"In terms of it impacting the draft and free agency, offensive line is a position we're always gonna be looking at," he added. "Always trying to upgrade and have as much depth as possible there. So we're just gonna attack that like we usually do."
The Panthers are hoping to add some competition behind starting quarterback Bryce Young, which could cloud Andy Dalton's future in Carolina.
"Andy knows he's gonna have to compete," Morgan stated. "We are gonna try to bring somebody in here. I don't know who that is—whether through free agency or through the draft or, again, both. You never know. I'm in constant communication with Andy. We've talked multiple times. He's aware of the plan."
Dalton, 37, is on the final year of his contract in 2026.
Despite indicating otherwise in January, Canales has decided to relinquish offensive play-calling duties moving forward. That role will now belong to soon-to-be third-year offensive coordinator Brad Idzik.
Canales discussed his huge decision.
"When I look at this, this allows me to be in a better position to affect our team," Canales said. "And this also allows Brad to affect the offense in a positive way.
"He's my primary architect for what we do offensively—with the run game, the pass game and the connection of it. And I saw this as an opportunity to streamline the work that goes in during the week, and then to have that come alive on game day for the play-caller who has a vision for what we're doing."
Idzik's only play-calling experience for the Panthers has come during preseason play.
Canales spoke on the addition of new associate head coach and offensive specialist Darrell Bevell. He explained what Bevell can bring to the unit.
"We're looking at all the things Darrell brought from Miami, and just putting it all on the table," Canales said of the addition. "We know we have our core. That will stay the same. But what are some of the things operationally, what are some of the wrinkles from a schematic standpoint that we might be able to add to bring value to what we're doing?"
He also made note of how Bevell's most recent experience as the Miami Dolphins quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator can factor in.
"And certainly, looking at an offense that I've really respected over the years," he added of the Dolphins. "And a coaching family with Mike McDaniel, Kyle Shanahan and the like that I really respect—and to see, like, how do they get to such good football? Explosive plays, all of those things. We wanna make sure that we're continuing to bring things to our offense."
Bevell has 25 years of NFL coaching experience, with 15 of those coming as an offensive coordinator.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: 2026 NFL combine: Biggest takeaways from Panthers' media availability
'Queen of the NFL' Erica Diggs shows the human side of the sports hustle originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Erica Diggs has built her name in rooms where precision matters.
Known for designing custom jewelry for NFL players and hip-hop artists, she’s earned the “Queen of the NFL” nickname through consistency and access. But a 2021 visual profile—later discussed in an interview with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson—shifted the focus from clients to the foundation behind the work.
MORE: Kelly Price sparks controversy after singing 'Lift Every Voice & Sing' before Claressa Shields fight
The story didn’t start in a showroom. Photographer Mayan Toledano first met Diggs in a Brooklyn deli, where she was with her daughter, Laila. That moment stuck. Years later, it turned into a full creative project.
“I admire Erica for her confidence and her ability to pass strength onto her daughter,” Toledano said.
That dynamic became the center of the feature. Instead of focusing on jewelry, the project documented Diggs during the pandemic, when her workload didn’t slow down—but her responsibilities doubled. She was running a business while also taking on full-time parenting.
Diggs described that stretch as doing everything at once—provider, teacher, and caretaker—while still maintaining her client base. The work didn’t pause, it just shifted.
At the same time, she made a move that changed how she operates in the long term. Diggs completed her formal gemology training, adding technical certification to her resume. The goal wasn’t branding—it was control.
With that knowledge, she was able to break down stone quality, grading, and pricing in real time. It gave her leverage in an industry where information isn’t always shared evenly. Instead of relying on suppliers, she could verify everything herself.
MORE: National Basketball Wives Association honors First Lady Michelle Obama
In her conversation with Robinson, Diggs made it clear that her process has always been hands-on. She doesn’t just deliver finished pieces—she understands every step behind them.
LPGA golfer Lydia Ko has praised Rory McIlroy’s greatness in her latest interview.
Ko spoke about the Northern Irishman in the context of staying motivated after winning the biggest events.
McIlroy has previously admitted that he lost some motivation after completing the Career Grand Slam at The Masters.
However, he proved himself wrong by winning the Irish Open and the Ryder Cup in the months after his career-defining success.
Ko has now highlighted the quality that separates star players like McIlroy from the rest of the field.
Ko spoke to the media ahead of the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore this week.
The three-time major champion and 24-time LPGA winner was asked whether she had experienced a similar loss of motivation to Rory.
“I haven’t done the career Grand Slam, so maybe if I do that, then I might lose motivation like Rory,” Ko responded.
She then explained that McIlroy has never lost his fierce competitiveness, which is the reason he will remain a world-class player for a while.
“I’m sure he might have lost a bit of motivation, but at the same time, when a player is that good and is that calibre, I feel like he still doesn’t like losing,” Ko continued.
“Yeah, there might be a question in your head like, ‘Okay, what’s next?’ And I’ve had that question in my career at multiple points.
“Even after winning the Silver Medal in Rio, that was such a big goal of mine. After that was done, I had lost a little bit of sense of direction in my career.
“Yeah, I do think that when you are at that high level, it means you are a little different, very special.
“I don’t know what the next event he teed up at, but he still wanted to win at the end of Sunday, and I think that’s what makes him so good.”
Ko made an excellent point. Even though McIlroy has fewer things on his bucket list, he will always be determined to win every event he plays in.
Ko admitted that she would like to win the US Women’s Open more than any other tournament.
The New Zealander would then become only the eighth Grand Slam champion in women’s golf history.
“I think the US Women’s Open has always been a big star or key on the schedule in any season,” Ko said. “I obviously haven’t won that. So that’s always a motivation.”
However, Ko is not focused on completing the Grand Slam; she just wants to play her best golf and see what happens.
“I’m honestly excited for the process and not really what exact event that I really want to grasp,” she added.
“I feel like if I do the process well, then everything else is going to kind of sort itself out.”
Read more:
Victor Font, chief contender to Joan Laporta in the presidential elections at La Liga champions Barcelona, has turned heads across Spain and beyond this week.
As much comes after the 53-year-old drew comparisons between Joan Laporta, and American president Donald Trump.
Laporta is for his part fresh off bringing a close to his latest stint at the helm of the Camp Nou boardroom.
This came with a view to running for reelection over the weeks ahead.
Laporta has long represented something of a controversial figure, never afraid to speak his mind when faced by the media.
As alluded to above, though, early this week, it was the patron’s chief competitor for the role of Barca president who grabbed the headlines.
Victor Font, runner up for the Blaugrana presidency back in 2021, recently sat down for an interview with RAC1.
And during the discussion, Font took full advantage of the chance to take aim at Laporta, in sniping:
“Laporta lives in a parallel reality. Each day that passes, he resembles Trump more. There are more and more parallels between Trumpism and what’s happening around Laporta.”
Conor Laird – GSFN
The Giants could target this Mariners breakout candidate to insure Luis Arraez originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The San Francisco Giants were kept busy over the offseason. After hovering around .500 for the last four seasons, the club is looking to break through in 2026.
While they were not involved in the biggest headlines over the winter months, they did enough to remain postseason contenders. Adding onto the Rafael Devers trade from last season, they went out and acquired OF Harrison Bader, IF Luis Arraez, and a handful of both starting pitchers and bullpen arms.
Add that to Willy Adames and Bryce Eldridge's ceilings, and San Francisco should be a fun team to watch. However, that does not mean they still cannot get better before Opening Day.
MORE: Giants sign Dodgers' 2024 World Series champion to free agent contract
Luis Arraez is set to take on the majority of the second base duties this season in San Francisco. He has great bat-to-ball skills, but his glove is the thing that holds him back.
With the Giants playing in the same division as the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, they need all the help they can get. And trading for a defensive late-inning replacement could be something that would help San Francisco this season.
Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer has the perfect player for the Giants to consider, and that is Seattle Mariners 2B Ryan Bliss.
"The thinking here is that the Giants need a backup plan at second base. They think Luis Arraez will be fine out there, but he hasn't been an everyday second baseman since 2023. And even when he was, he was famously bad at it. To end this, Bliss would have more daylight to playing time in San Francisco than he does in Seattle. And in his speed, he would also bring a tool that the Giants badly need to keep up with the rest of MLB. They stole an NL-low 68 bases in 2025."
On top of being a late-inning replacement, he gives San Francisco the speed they desperately need. All in all, while he may not start every game, he could be a huge piece of San Francisco's success if a trade came to fruition.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Gavin Stone commented on his single-inning start against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday.
Stone hadn’t made a pitching appearance in a competitive game since Aug. 2024 leading up to Tuesday, but he picked up like he never left. He made it through the inning in 15 pitches, recording two strikeouts and not allowing a baserunner.
“That was awesome,” Stone said to SportsNet LA’s Kirsten Watson. “Considering the whole rehab process, how long it took, the surgery I had. It was amazing to finally get back out there and do what I love doing.
”…As long as I could replicate the stuff I had in ‘24 I knew I’d be okay. Getting back to that point, working on the velo… I’m just ready to go out there and get outs for the guys. I don’t really care about personal accomplishments or what I do out there as long as I can get outs for the guys as long as we can push for a three-peat.”
"Perseverance, trust in the process, relying on Jesus, and my family." – Gavin Stone talks with @kirsten_watson after his return to the mound… and maybe starting a band????? pic.twitter.com/1P0ED7omkp
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) February 24, 2026
Stone underwent shoulder reconstruction surgery after suffering an injury in 2024 and missed the entirety of the 2025 season while recovering. Now, he’s putting together a case to make the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster despite their stacked pitching staff.
Stone made 25 starts for the Dodgers during their championship campaign in 2024, putting together a stellar season before falling to injury.
Through his 25 starts, which spanned 140.1 innings pitched, he posted a 3.53 ERA and struck out 116 batters. He led a beleaguered Dodgers pitching staff in innings pitched that season, and even recorded a complete game shutout.
The Dodgers have a pretty stacked rotation at the moment, so Stone could struggle to break into the rotation.
Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Emmet Sheehan and Roki Sasaki are all healthy, and while Shohei Ohtani may not start the year in the rotation, he could very well join it at some point.
While Stone may not have a spot in the Dodgers’ rotation, it seems likely he’ll feature for the Dodgers at some point this season. Whether that time comes at the beginning of the season as a reliever of some sort or later on, the right-hander is sure to assist the Dodgers in some capacity during the season.
Are you excited to watch Gavin Stone pitch again?
Indianapolis Colts' head coach Shane Steichen met with the media at the 2026 NFL Combine.
Here are the highlights and key takeaways from it.
- "We gotta find ways to win ugly games," Steichen said of the Colts struggling down the stretch. He mentions emphasizing that in practice throughout the year, and putting the team in more critical situations in those practice environments.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 2026 NFL combine: Colts' Shane Steichen meets with media
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Sacked All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has been named as one of four coaches who will coach the Barbarians against world champion South Africa in June.
Robertson will join Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi, Racing 92 head coach Patrice Collazo and Pumas assistant coach, New Zealand-born Kenny Lynn.
The Springboks will open their 2026 season against the Barbarians at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Gqeberha — formerly Port Elizabeth — on June 20.
It will be the ninth match between the Barbarians and South Africa since the first in 1952.
“It’s always exciting to face the BaaBaas and we are looking forward to hosting them in South Africa for the second year in a row – this time at the iconic Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, where we have traditionally enjoyed fantastic support,” Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus said. “With our opening Nations Championship encounter against England two weeks later, this will be an ideal opportunity to get the players match-ready against a side that always boasts top players from across the world."
Robertson has coached the Barbarians on four occasions, against Tonga and New Zealand in 2017, a New Zealand XV in 2022 and Wales in 2023.
The seven-time Super Rugby-winning coach was sacked as All Blacks coach in January after a series of poor results, including a record loss to South Africa. His appointment to the Barbarians role in his first since his sacking.
“The Barbarians brings the rugby world together, so it’s special to be a part of it and to honour the jersey,” Robertson said.
___
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
Inter is out of the Champions League after losing decisively against Bodo Glimt. At San Siro, the Nerazzurri never came close to pulling off a miracle, and in the second half, the Norwegians scored twice, gifting themselves a historic 2-1 victory at San Siro.
This, in addition to being a huge disappointment for all Nerazzurri fans, sparked a flood of reactions on social media.
Between memes and banter: Bodo’s players depicted with the snake under the northern lights.
Unmissable is the reinterpretation of one of the trending memes featuring the well-known streamer Jok3R.
Bodo seen as Brazil and Akanji criticized: "Every time he plays an important match."
A striking statistic that highlights the extreme difficulties of Italian football at the moment.
Barella was caught online for a very exaggerated contact in the penalty area, drawing the attention of rival fans.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.
Here's everything Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio said at the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday in Indianapolis, including an update on the fifth-year options for C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr., a Joe Mixon update, draft needs and more.
Question: On DE Will Anderson Jr., QB C.J. Stroud and other potential contract extensions
Nick Caserio: “We haven't typically talked publicly about contracts in anybody's particular situation. I would say those two players are really good players. They've helped our program win a number of football games. So, we take it one day at a time and just try to piece the team together and try to do, ultimately, what we feel makes the most sense for our team and the organization. No timetable on anything, but we'll handle business as business is being done.”
Q: On the team’s recent history of using trades to draft multiple players
Caserio: “I'd say those two [WR Jaylin Noel and WR Jayden Higgins], it's probably more happenstance more than anything else. We don't go into the draft and say we're going to draft X, Y and Z. We try to grade the players. Try to take them off the board as they come. In that particular situation, those are two players that we really liked. So, this program's not about one player. It's not about helping one position group. It's not about helping one individual. It's about, ‘How do we put together a good, consistent team on a year-to-year basis?’ We feel that we've been able to do that, and that'll be the goal here this offseason as well. So, those two guys are going to be two pretty good young players in ‘J. Noel’ and ‘Higgs’. I'm sure there's some other players that are here this week that we're going to have an opportunity to bring in our building, and hopefully they can help our program in some capacity.”
Q: On if the focus will be on the offensive line or the best available player
Caserio: “We're typically taking the best players. I would say, as it pertains to the offensive line, honestly, it's probably one of the best years we had since I've been there. I think we gave up the least amount of sacks, or second [fewest] in the history of the organization. We had the most improvement in sack production from one year to the next. I think it was the [Chicago] Bears. Honestly, our offensive line actually played pretty well last year, so maybe I was looking at a different film. But we're going to look at who we feel are the best players that we think are going to help us and try to put together a good team.”
Q: On the Jacksonville Jaguars
Caserio: “I'd say they [the Jacksonville Jaguars] got a great program. What Liam [Coen] and [General Manager] James [Gladstone] and honestly [Jaguars Executive Vice President of Football Operations] Tony Boselli have done building the program. Going into the season, we felt that this was going to be a much-improved team, or at least I thought that, and it came to fruition. They're tough. They're physical. They play the right way. They're well coached. They're disciplined. Anytime you win 13 games in this league, it says a lot about where your program is. They earned the AFC South this year with their performance. I think our division overall is going to be probably as competitive as any in the league next year. You mentioned the Jaguars. They're defending division champs and made the playoffs. The [Indianapolis] Colts, they're a good team. I think Tennessee [Titans] is going to be much improved. But we got a lot of respect for Jacksonville and their program and what they did. We understand the challenges that it's going to take. You're going to have to play a good brand of football on a weekly basis to beat the Jaguars. So, a lot of credit to them and a lot of respect for their program.”
Q: On how he evaluates tackling in prospects and if he sees players improve their tackling in the NFL
Caserio: “The short answer is yes. I'll give you one illustrative example. So, we drafted [Jalen] Pitre in 2022, a really good player. His rookie year, it wasn't great, and he'll tell you that. I think he led the league in missed tackles. I think he had 150-some-odd tackles, but he also led the league in missed tackles. I'd say fast forward; he's probably one of the best tacklers that we have on the team. So, it's a skill that you can improve. I think it goes back to coaching. Our defensive staff does a great job of focusing on certain fundamentals and techniques, and then you see that transfer over into our play. It absolutely is a skill that you can improve. Tackling is really about a mindset. Tackling can be taught in a lot of different ways. You can approach the ball carrier, break down, you can shoot your shot, go to the near hip. It all depends on what your philosophy is. But as long as you have the right mentality and the right mindset, you can improve any skill that you're deficient in, which I would say tackling certainly qualifies.”
Q: On how difficult it is to evaluate a college quarterback given the changes in the sport
Caserio: “The big thing is what are they being coached to do, what are they being asked to do and how much of the system with which they play in can transfer over into our league. This league is really… The situational element is probably more magnified and more pronounced. Third down, red area, end-of-game, end-of-half situations, those happen more in our league than they do in college football. You can go look for them in college football, but a quarterback a lot of times isn't really put in those situations. But if you have the ability to evaluate them through that lens, then that's certainly valuable. But there's a certain level of retraining how you play the position. Look, the reality is the quarterbacks are going to play under center in our league. In college, I don't know what the percentages are, I'm sure there's a bunch of data out there, but the majority of them are not playing under center. They're playing from the shotgun. So, there's a little bit of a transition there that takes place. Some can handle that. Again, there's technique. There's footwork that's involved. How do you position your feet, your stance? How do you get away from center? Those are all relevant. It might seem like minor things, but those are absolutely relevant to playing quarterback in this league. There's an adjustment period. Look, I've said this publicly. It's the hardest position to play in sports. It's not like, ‘Well, what you did in college is automatically going to translate over.’ There are certain skills that are going to translate over. But it's not always one for one.”
Q: On the decreasing number of prospects competing in on-field workouts at the combine
Caserio: “You'll probably get a different answer from everybody. It doesn't matter to me, honestly. Whatever they do here, they do. It doesn't really matter. So, eventually, you'd like to have a [40-yard dash] time. Okay, how relevant is that time? Let's go back to [Kamari] Lassiter however many years ago. He ran, what was his time? I don't know, 4.65 [seconds]? He's not a 4.65 guy. The guy plays 4.5 or below. He's a football player. He's one of our best players. So, if we're so caught up in, ‘Well, the guy ran this.’ Okay, well, it's a data point. Does it affect their play if they choose not to do something here? Ultimately, it's the player's prerogative. Our job is to understand the thought process, the rationale behind why they do or not do something and then figure out, ‘All right, does this player fit in our building or not?’ Ultimately, when they walk in our building, they're all starting from scratch. So, we're going to teach them and train them and provide them with the resources that [they] need to be successful. So, whatever they decide to do here… Now, I'd say sometimes they listen to the wrong people because they're getting misinformation. So, you have to balance that off here a little bit. Our job is to understand it, not to make a judgment about it, and ultimately make a good decision that we feel is in the best interest of our team and organization.”
Q: On what matters to him at the combine as more teams elect not to attend
Caserio: “I think the timing and the scheduling lead to these wide gaps. So, I think everybody has to look at it. How can we be most efficient with our time? I think when you look at the league, there are 10 new head coaches. Separate from that, there are another 10 to 12 coordinators who have turned over. So, you're talking about massive coaching turnover. This is probably a good opportunity for those teams to spend time together as a staff and go through self-scout, look at the team, what happened this year, and who are the players coming back. So, it's all about resources and time allocation. I'd say specifically for the Texans, we try to maximize our opportunities to spend one-on-one time with the players. A lot of times, it's our first introduction with the player, meeting them on a personal level. We're trying to get to know them personally. Then the more time and the more touch points that we have for them; it's just going to help us make a good decision. I think everybody, every team, has to go about their business however they see fit. You certainly understand why some teams are here, why some teams are not here. In the end, you've got to do what they feel is best for themselves. We try to be as efficient with our time and resources as possible, which is why DeMeco [Ryans] and I are here. I'll speak for both of us. None of us are going to be here starting Friday when the workouts actually start. We can watch them on TV, and to go into the question a little bit earlier, if we watch them, we watch them. If we don't, we don't. Eventually, you're going to get the information. But I think that interpersonal element, I'd say that's a big thing for us here over these next three to four days.”
Q: On the reason teams haven’t found success in spending around a young quarterback to win during their rookie contract
Caserio: “I think that whole concept gets a little bit overblown. Again, everybody's got a salary cap. Everybody has parameters that they have to operate in. You have to look at your team, and you're going to allocate resources across the team. Where's that money going? Some positions are going to have a little bit more money than others. Then eventually it's going to shift to a different position. So, I think the most important thing is how do you put together the best team? Let's go back and look at the Super Bowl. I would say when you look at the teams that were in the Super Bowl [the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots], or even the teams in the championship games [the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Rams], and what are the things that stand out? Run defense, taking the ball away, playing good situational football. So, quarterback's a part of that. But that's why those teams won, or that's why those teams were in that position. So, again, I think you see different trends throughout the league, and the league goes a little bit in cycles. I think that whole concept, I think it gets talked about a lot. Honestly, I think it gets overblown because I'm not sure any of us really understand what it really means. You draft players, you add them to the team, at some point you're going to keep certain players, other players are going to move on. So, how do we put together the best team? The goal is to try to keep it as consistent and competitive as possible over a long period of time so you don't have any lapses.”
Q: On how NIL has impacted the NFL Draft
Caserio: “It's a great question. I think what the college kids are going through… Some that put their names in for an evaluation, let's say they come back as a fourth to sixth round pick. Then they look and say, here's a signing bonus and the contract associated with that. If they have the opportunity to maybe receive that same amount in college, maybe they feel the best thing for them is to go back and to play more football. I think one of the areas where it's probably helped is you've seen some players play a lot of football. They're more prepared to come into our league and potentially make a contribution. You have some players with 45, 50, 60 games played. The more you play, the more you do something, the better you're going to get. It works both ways. To an earlier question, whatever they decide, they decide. We don't penalize a player because he received X amount of dollars in NIL. What’s the rationale, what's the understanding? Our job is to understand it, not to pass judgment. I think you've seen a shift from the number of underclassmen. I think going back however many years, it was like 125, almost 130. Now we're at 65 or 70, so it got cut in half. A lot of those players are choosing to stay and that's okay. We can evaluate who's available and then we've probably evaluated the player going back to school. Maybe a year later, we're ahead in our process because we've done the work.”
Q: On if you can judge players from a character and maturity standpoint now that they make money from NIL
Caserio: “For sure. Now, what are they all doing with that money? That's another way to look at it. Does the guy have eight cars or does he actually have a financial advisor, and he puts it into an S&P stock index because he's trying to grow his portfolio? You've got probably a different thought process that goes into it. I know what I would do. Nobody was giving me any NIL money and I wasn't good enough. But, again, it's just understanding their thought process. I think you do see a certain level of maturity and there's a number of players… We're talking to players that are 24, 25, 26 years old and then it's like, ‘Are they too far along? You're not going to be able to develop them and you're worried about the second contract.” We don't care about any of that. What's the player? What's their profile? How does he fit? Is this a player that we think is going to be an asset to our program? Great, then we'll add him to the team. If he's not, then we'll move on to another one.”
Q: On WR Jaylin Noel
Caserio: “He's got a great attitude. He's actually been in the weight room training. We've had probably 10 to 12 guys who haven't stopped working out since the season has ended. ‘J. Noel’s got a great attitude. He's going to be a good player in this league. Our players are going to earn their opportunity with their performance. The better you are, the more opportunities you get. The more you do with them, the more you're going to receive. I love ‘J. Noel.’ Glad he's on the team. He really helped us as a returner. Then, when he had opportunities offensively, he was productive with those touches. I think between him and ‘Higg’ [Jayden Higgins], and we've got another group of young players as well, going from year-one to year-two, the investment that you make in your preparation and the work, getting yourself ready for that second season, that's where you can make a lot of gains.”
Q: On his confidence in QB C.J. Stroud
Caserio: “He's our quarterback. He isn’t going anywhere. We have a lot of confidence, a lot of belief. I'd say the philosophy that DeMeco [Ryans] and I have, we're going to support our players and do everything we can to help them. This league is about ups and downs. Nothing's perfect. There was no team that was undefeated unless I missed something this year, that's not going to happen. By and large, we're probably going to lose five or six games. There's going to be some margin on either side. You’re going to have some good plays. You’re going to have some bad plays. You’re going to have some good games. You’re going to have some bad games. How do you bounce back? How do you handle that? This league is a one-game-at-a-time proposition. How you handle every situation ultimately is going to determine your success and your longevity. No lost confidence. Look, the stock market's been going down for five days. Everybody's probably panic-selling. Really what you need to be doing is investing more. But, anyways, we have a lot of confidence in C.J. We've got a lot of confidence in our players. I'm glad he's our quarterback.”
Q: On how he evaluates movement skills versus in-game football skills
Caserio: “It's a great question. It's really what are you going to ask that player to do? What's their skill set specific to the position that they play? With cornerbacks, it's not just running in a straight line. It's your awareness, your eyes, your level of instinctiveness, your ability to process information at a high rate of speed, breaking on the ball, breaking on the throw. You've got to be able to delineate between time speed and track speed and game speed. In the end, how fast does the player play? Sometimes guys play at their time speed. Sometimes they don't play at their time speed. Then what's the rationale behind that? Again, it's specific to the position. I've stood up here and said this. The whole offensive line run of 40 [yard dash] times is asinine. They're never going to run 40 yards. They're going to move into short space. Can they bend their knees? Can they move the line of scrimmage? Can they play with good technique? I would say, not a lot of them to play with good technique. So, we have to coach them to play with better technique, to move bodies and move the line of scrimmage. We're going to look at everything. There are certain skills that are going to be transferable based on a position, but we factor everything in. Sometimes there's a correlation between, if the guy has these metrics and these measurables, it potentially could lead to this result. Not all the time. But, again, speed is speed. I'm not going to say it's not important, but it's just one data point. How does that affect… You guys can go back through and look at some of the fastest times in the history of the [NFL] Combine. The list of players that have actually been worth a lick, it's a pretty short list. It doesn't mean that every fast guy is a bad player. It just means you've got to take it sometimes with a grain of salt. There's more to it than what the guy does out there with his shorts on that he's been training basically for six weeks, hasn't done anything else. You've got to take all that into consideration.”
Q :On what makes the NFL Combine so effective
Caserio: “I think the main thing is the location. There's not a better location to have something like this than Indianapolis. It logistically works on a lot of levels. It's centrally located. I know there's been a lot of talk about moving the [NFL] Combine, but what [President of National Football Scouting and Director of the NFL Scouting Combine] Jeff Foster and his staff do is incredible. It's a great location. You've got access. You've got everything you need. You've got the hotels. You've got the dome. You've got the medical center. You've got everything. Logistically, this is a good spot. From a scheduling standpoint and some of the other things, look, it's made for TV. Let's be honest, that's what the focus is. I would say we're less worried about the TV component and more worried about understanding the player, getting to know the players a little bit. Whatever the schedule is… The one thing about football people in general, for the most part, we’re pretty flexible. Whatever it is, we'll adjust, we'll adapt and we'll figure it out and make it work. That's how we approach it. That's how DeMeco and I think. Whatever it is, we'll be there and we'll be ready to go.”
Q: On the attributes he looks for in a player
Caserio “Mindset, selflessness. Our program is about team first and doing the right thing for the team, when maybe everything isn't perfect for you. Our defense is about violence and physicality. So, if you don't have that, you're probably not going to work here. It's just the reality of it. You can go play somewhere else, no problem. But we're looking for players with a certain mentality and a certain mindset, honestly, not just on defense, but offensively as well. We're trying to build a strong, fast, big, physical team that can compete on a week-to-week basis, regardless of the circumstances or conditions. Who are the players that have those qualities that are going to be able to go out there and handle that on a week-to-week basis?”
Q: On how important it is to look at not just the season ahead but multiple seasons down the road
Caserio: “It's two-fold. As you said, we've got a number of them [defensive tackles] that are free agents this year. Probably going to lose some of them, maybe we'll get some of them back. I'd say Tommy Togiai is an example of a player where we felt like, again, that he was going to be competitive, try to get ahead of that a little bit. Again, some of it is what the willingness or openness on the other side. There are two parties that are involved here in negotiation. We'll have dialogue at any point, any time. I think people know how we operate. I'm to the point, get to the bottom line. If it's going to work, it's going to work. If it's not, no problem. We understand that. Then we can plan accordingly. We're never going to rule anything out. But some years it's going to look a little bit different relative to others.”
Q: On G Ed Ingram’s play this year and on if there’s potential to bring him back
Caserio: “Ed had a great year. Honestly, he probably had the best year of his career. For the most part, he was out there. He missed a couple of games there with injuries. But he's a good kid. He's strong. He's physical. He plays violent in the running game. You saw that on tape quite a bit. Pretty good in pass protection. We're working through that [negotiation] process right now. We'll have discussion with him and his representatives. We'll see how far he goes. But I'm glad he was here. He's a player that we feel benefited from our program. Honestly, sometimes a change in scenery is good. It probably worked out for him and worked out for us as well. I'm glad Ed was on the team here this year.”
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything Texans GM Nick Caserio said at the NFL combine
Bills outline perfect Keon Coleman offseason plan originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
One player the entire NFL world will be watching like a hawk this offseason is Buffalo Bills receiver Keon Coleman.
After an up-and-down Year 2, and the trainwreck of a press conference that saw him get thrown under the bus, many think Keon's future is anywhere but in Buffalo.
However, Joe Brady is now the head coach, so at least he has someone in his corner as he approaches Year 3.
And for general manager Brandon Beane, when asked what he needs to see from Coleman for the franchise to trust him long-term, he gave a superb answer.
"I think we need to see Keon have the offseason he had a year ago, which was excellent, we couldn't have asked for anything more,” Beane said. “He had an excellent camp. Let's do that again. It's the maturity. It's the off-the-field that can get in the way. That is the challenge to Keon. Don't let some of the maturity issues off the field affect the product on the field. If he does that, he'll have every chance.”
More:Bold prediction sees Bills execute incredible Super Bowl-winning plan
So the path forward for Keon is now laid out, and it couldn't be easier to follow.
Be present for the offseason program and don't let the off-field issues that derailed his 2025 season happen again.
While he still has two years left on his rookie contract, you get the sense that this might be Keon's final chance to register the level of trust needed for the offense to consistently look his way in the passing game.
So it is all in front of Coleman. He knows what he has to do; now he's got to do it.
If he goes, great, the Bills will have a good weapon for Josh Allen. If he doesn't, well, the clock might strike midnight on his time in Buffalo.
After a big 78-74 victory over Maryland, the Northwestern Wildcats will look to keep their positive momentum going on the road against the Indiana Hoosiers. Here’s how you can follow along.
Location: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (Bloomington, Ind.)
Game Time: 6 p.m. CST
TV/Streaming: FS1
Radio: WGN Radio 720
Northwestern +8.5, O/U 145.5 (Odds Shark)
Northwestern
OUT — NONE
OUT FOR SEASON — NONE
QUESTIONABLE — NONE
Indiana
OUT — Jason Drake, Josh Harris
OUT FOR SEASON — Jordan Rayford
QUESTIONABLE — NONE
Size. Spacing. Talent. Depth. The Cleveland Cavaliers are built to test these new-look Knicks.
And their most recent moves only sharpen the edge of this Eastern Conference matchup.
Not only did the Cavaliers acquire more perimeter defenders capable of throwing bodies at Jalen Brunson (Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis) but they also traded Darius Garland for James Harden, an All-Star-for-All-Star swap that gives Cleveland another player capable of placing real pressure on what has at times been a porous Knicks point-of-attack defense.
Odds are slim these two teams meet in the playoffs, though a second-round series isn’t entirely off the table. Still, the Cavs are constructed to challenge the Knicks in the regular season in the exact ways New York will need to be prepared come April.
Because Harden and Donovan Mitchell are a handful — individually and together — and the Knicks, despite being loaded on the wings, could be ill-equipped to handle both for extended stretches.
The Cavaliers entered Tuesday’s matchup against the Knicks riding a 6-1 record since Harden made his Cleveland debut. The Beard walked into the game averaging 18.7 points, 8.7 assists, five rebounds and a steal per contest, shooting 51% from the field and a significant career-best 47% from three-point range.
So now the Knicks have more than just Mitchell to worry about in the backcourt.
If OG Anunoby is guarding Evan Mobley — as expected, given Anunoby primarily defends the four — it will likely fall to Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart to split the responsibility of guarding Cleveland’s All-Star guard duo. Head coach Mike Brown will almost certainly turn to Landry Shamet and Jose Alvarado for a defensive spark off the bench, but that becomes a collective effort against two elite shot creators.
Historically, the Knicks have owned the edge.
Brunson is 6-4 against Mitchell since joining the Knicks in the summer of 2022. He’s averaging 24 points across those 10 matchups, including a 34-point outburst in last Christmas’ victory over Cleveland.
Mitchell, meanwhile, is averaging roughly 26 points, five rebounds and five assists against the Knicks since arriving in Cleveland in 2022 — and has scored 25 or more in each of his last eight games against New York.
The Knicks own the record over the last 10 games. The Cavs have won three of the last five. And New York is 2-0 in the season series this year.
But Cleveland is no longer the same team.
And whether these two see each other in May or not, this version of the Cavaliers offers something the Knicks can’t ignore — a glimpse of the kind of offensive pressure they’ll need to solve when the games slow down and the matchups tighten.
When meeting with the media at the 2026 NFL combine, Indianapolis Colts' general manager Chris Ballard provided an update on where things stand with free agents Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce.
All reports suggest that the Colts are working towards re-signing both players.
"Good," Ballard said on Tuesday of the conversations with Jones and Pierce. "I've had great discussions about both of them. We'll continue to work this week and see if we can get something done. It's been very positive."
Since Ballard's end-of-season press conference in early January, he's made it known that retaining both Jones and Pierce are priorities for the Colts. Both players have said that they would like to return to Indianpolis as well.
"Look, when both sides are driven to get it done, it usually works out in the right way," Ballard added. "I know four or five days doesn't seem like a long time but it can be in these situations. They're drive, we're driven, the agents have been great to work with, we just gotta keep working through it."
If the Colts are unable to agree to new deals with Jones and/or Pierce before March 3rd, they could then utilize the franchise tag and transition tag to prevent both players from hitting the open market.
The goal in this scenario isn't for either Jones or Pierce to play out the 2026 season on one of those tags, but it would help extend the negotiating window beyond March 9th, when the NFL's free agency legal tampering period begins.
However, that is, ideally, not a path that Ballard and the Colts want to go down.
"It's not what we want to do," Ballard said of the franchise tag. "It's a tool we have, but it's not what we want to do, though."
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: NFL free agency: Colts' Ballard addresses contract talks with Jones, Pierce
The Miami Dolphins appear ready to move on from former All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Reports indicate that the Dolphins are aggressively reshaping the roster, having already released high-profile veterans like Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb. With Miami entering a clear rebuilding phase and prioritizing long-term financial flexibility, the 29-year-old safety has been placed on the trade block. It is a rare opportunity for a team in dire need of safety help to take advantage of this South Beach fire sale.
Fitzpatrick’s career résumé is impressive, boasting three first-team All-Pro selections and five Pro Bowl nods. Over his career, he has amassed 690 total tackles, 60 pass breakups, and six forced fumbles. He also has an impressive 21 interceptions, including five that he took to the house, albeit not in the same season, but still, that’s pretty fantastic.
The primary strength of Fitzpatrick lies in his range and ball-hawking instincts, which allow him to erase mistakes in the secondary and take away the deep half of the field. He is a versatile defender who can play deep safety, drop into the slot, or even contribute in the box, having recorded 82 tackles last season. His ability to diagnose plays before they happen makes him a problem for opposing quarterbacks who think they have an open window.
Miami is looking to trade Fitzpatrick because they are in rebuild mode, prioritizing draft capital over expensive veteran contracts. While Fitzpatrick is set to earn a base salary of $15.6 million in 2026, the Dolphins are looking to exchange that cap hit for picks that fit their new agenda, especially as the safety turns 30 this year. They are essentially treating their roster like a garage sale where everything must go, with interested buyers encouraged to make an offer.
The Cowboys should find this situation familiar, as they made a nearly identical move with the Dolphins in 2019 to acquire defensive end Robert Quinn. In that trade, the Cowboys landed a premium pass rusher for the low price of a sixth-round pick, while also benefiting from a renegotiated deal where Quinn took a pay cut to facilitate the move. Quinn rewarded his new team with 11.5 sacks that season, proving that these transition periods can offer up some great values. If Jerry Jones plays his cards right, he could land another 29-year-old former All-Pro who again appears to be another big fish out of water.
Fitzpatrick would be a great fit for new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, who has explicitly stated that scheme flexibility is the core principle of his defense. Parker’s system thrives on versatile defensive backs who can rotate through different front structures and coverages, a role Fitzpatrick has mastered throughout his career. Adding a player of his caliber would allow Parker to get creative with his 4-2-5 nickel packages without sacrificing run support.
Another incentive for the Cowboys to make this move is that finding a starting safety might be difficult for them this year. They’re not likely to land collegiate star safety Caleb Downs, who stands a great chance of coming off the board before the Cowboys pick at 12. There isn’t another college safety worthy of the 12th or 20th pick. And the options available during their next pick, 112th overall, aren’t likely to offer them a starting-caliber safety. The team either makes a move to acquire a veteran or comes to terms that the safety position will be an area of concern heading into the new season.
The Cowboys have a nice opportunity to upgrade their secondary with a proven, three-time All-Pro who is currently available due to Miami’s organizational reset. By taking advantage of the Dolphins’ desire for draft picks and salary relief, Dallas can bolster a secondary that has struggled with consistency in recent years. The move is a low-risk, high-reward play that aligns perfectly with the vision of the new coaching staff. The Cowboys should take a serious look at what it would take to acquire Fitzpatrick, and if the right deal comes up, be ready reel him in.
Nothing says you care about that Dak window more than renting a $15 million safety.
— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) February 18, 2026
1. You're not getting Caleb Downs
2. You're not wasting 12 or 20 on any other safety
3. You're not finding your long-term answer on Day 3
You want to cross something off the list? Go get Minkah. pic.twitter.com/LNNwfXPJmQ
Would you make a play for Minkah Fitzpatrick?
Spring training is one of the best times of the year for baseball fans, the return of their sport after three agonizing months of waiting. It’s also a time for the Yankees coaching staff to get their first in-person look at the mechanics and adjustments their players have been working on over the winter. After a week of watching players at the spring training complex in Tampa, we’ve spotted four players who have made discernible adjustments over the offseason. We’ll be keeping our eye on Gerrit Cole, Spencer Jones, Luis Gil, and José Caballero in the month leading to Opening Day to see how these developments progress.
You don’t need me to tell you how exciting it is to have the Yankees ace back healthy and in camp. Cole showed up ready to participate in live BPs, his fastball touching 97 mph in his latest session. It’s uncertain whether he will pitch in any of the Grapefruit League games, but by his account he is tracking right on schedule with his Tommy John rehab with his sights set on a May return.
Cole arrived in camp with by far the most noticeable mechanical adjustment of anyone on the team, going with an arms-over-the-head windup like the kind we’ve seen from Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, Max Scherzer, and many other. Below are Cole’s windup mechanics before his surgery, followed by a video of his new windup this spring.
Gerrit Cole back on the mound pic.twitter.com/nJBYxal4JB
— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) February 13, 2026
When asked about why he chose to switch to this windup, Cole didn’t give much away, simply saying that “it feels good.” It’s hard to say whether this new windup has anything to do with injury prevention given the coincidental timing of Cole making this adjustment on the heels of Tommy John rehab. Personally, I’ve always liked this kind of windup because I feel it keeps your upper body vertically aligned over your center of mass before making your move down the mound. This helps prevent disconnection between your lower and upper halves during the force generation phase of delivery — you can imagine that if your arm lags behind your base as you step toward the batter, you have to generate all the velocity with your arm rather than efficiently transferring it from the ground via the lower half.
Spencer Jones made positive strides in the minors last year, slashing .274/.362/.571 with 35 home runs, 80 RBIs, 29 stolen bases, and a 153 wRC+ in 116 games between Double-A and Triple-A. However, he still struck out in over 35-percent of his plate appearances, and more concerningly, struggled to make contact on pitches in the zone, his 28-percent zone whiff rate among the highest in Triple-A. In his first spring AB, there was a noticeable difference in his batting stance relative to last season. Below is a swing from last season, followed by his first swing of the Grapefruit League — a 408-foot solo home run off the Tigers’ Keider Montero.
Jones went from a left-handed mirror of Aaron Judge’s front foot hover in 2025 to a toe-tap and load that looks eerily similar to Shohei Ohtani’s pre-swing mechanics. Indeed, the Yankees’ fourth-ranked prospect cited Ohtani as the inspiration behind this mechanical adjustment.
“He’s a great reference of a really good mover with a great swing. He’s one of those guys that I look at with some of the stuff he does, and I try to apply it in whichever way I can.”
After witnessing the results of this adjustment, Judge offered praise for Jones in the post-game press conference.
“The minute he puts that foot down with that little toe-tap, he’s ready to hit. They might have gotten him with a lot of high heaters in the past, or even last season. I think that’s just going to help him. He doesn’t have a big leg kick and doesn’t have to worry about trying to get that down. I liked the results I saw in that first at-bat. That quickness, that readiness, it’s really going to be a game-changer for him.”
I love this adjustment for Jones, especially as a batter who struggles to catch up to fastballs in the zone as Judge noted. Getting that front foot down earlier gives Jones valuable milliseconds more to react to the incoming pitch while also eliminating unwanted head movement after the pitch has left the hand. Jones has so much raw strength that he doesn’t need an exaggerated leg kick to generate power, it’s all about getting into a good hitting position earlier. I will definitely be monitoring Jones’ timing against heaters in his upcoming spring appearances.
Luis Gil was something of an enigma in 2025. He missed the first four months to a lat strain, and though his top level stats appeared decent — 4-1 with a 3.32 ERA in eleven starts — Gil regressed in several concerning areas. His fastball velocity was about a tick-and-a-half below his 2024 Rookie of the Year campaign, and he lost a whopping ten points off his strikeout rate while placing in the first percentile in chase rate.
His fastball velo is still down in his first spring training reps, something which Gil acknowledged following his Grapefruit League start against the Mets. What caught my eye, however, was the reduced velocity of his slider and changeup — both about two-and-a-half mph slower on Sunday than last season — and this is something that I think can work in Gil’s favor in 2026.
I’ve always been a big proponent of creating velocity separation between one’s fastball and one’s secondary pitches. Players looking to cheat to the fastball will be even earlier against the soft stuff, while a hitter sitting on offspeed has less time to react to the fastball when there is a wider gap in velo. Gil worked with a roughly 5-6 mph gap between heater and secondaries in 2025 and now that has been increased to a roughly 7-9 mph gap. I feel this can allow his diminished fastball to play up which in turn should increase opportunities for chase out of the zone.
Obviously, the command issues remain a massive problem for Gil — he needs to rein in the walks and needs to find a consistent release for his slider. However, this adjustment from Gil should raise what had become an alarmingly low floor in 2025. It gives him a way to fool hitters with velocity when he’s finding it difficult to fool hitters with movement or location, which should help mitigate the strikeout, chase, hard-hit, and fly ball issues that cropped up last season.
UFC Mexico, set for this Sat. night (Feb. 28, 2026) on Paramount+ from inside Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico, will be headlined by the flyweight contest pitting former champion Brandon Moreno against once-beaten prospect Lone’er Kavanagh, a short-notice main event that was cobbled together after this untimely injury.
Check out their first face off in the Instagram video below (use <> keys to cycle through media).
Just be sure to ignore all that black smoke in the background.
“I was walking yesterday in the streets and I stopped to watch my cellphone at all the bad news around the country,” Moreno told CBS Sports. “Right now, in Mexico City, things here are super calm. All of the disaster is more to the north like Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. Actually, my [home] city has reports of some destruction on the streets in Tijuana, that’s the northwest. Thank life and thank God, my family is fine and the people all around me are fine.”
“It has been really hard hours for my Mexican people,” Moreno continued. “It’s weird, man. It’s crazy because, right now, I’m super focused on my fight but, at the same time, I know that a lot of Mexican people are focused on this bad moment. Maybe [the UFC ‘Fight Night’ event] can be a nice moment for the people to try to forget the bad moment and get some joy.”
For the rest of the UFC Mexico fight card and Paramount+ lineup click here.
Alexander Bublik defeated Jan-Lennard Struff, 6-3, 6-4, in the first round of the Dubai tennis Championships.
The Kazakh delivered a clinical performance to book his place in round two.
Bublik withdrew from last week’s Qatar Open to give him more time to prepare for Dubai, an event he reached the final of two years ago.
Picking up the win against Struff, Bublik’s decision to withdraw from Doha looked to have paid off.
The win was his 12th of the season, moving him top of the standings for 2026.
Bublik has now won 12 matches this year.
He won his first four in Hong Kong, en route to the title.
Then, he added another three to his tally at the Australian Open, where he reached the fourth round.
Bublik won his eighth match of the year at the Davis Cup against Monaco.
Wins nine, 10, and 11 came in Rotterdam, before he picked up his 12th in Dubai.
That moves him level with world number one Carlos Alcaraz, who has also won 12 matches in 2026.
The Spaniard won seven matches at the Australian Open and five at the Qatar Open, winning both tournaments.
Australia’s Alex de Minaur, Czechia’s Jakub Mensik, and Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry are tied for third with 11 wins each.
De Minaur and Etcheverry won’t win their 12th matches of the year this week, as the Aussie lost his opener in Acapulco and the Argentine withdrew from the Chile Open.
Mensik, on the other hand, could pick up his 12th win when he plays Hubert Hurkacz in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championships.
The record proves just how well Bublik is playing in 2026.
But what did he have to say after recording his 12th win of the season?
During his post-match interview, Bublik was asked if he’d found a better balance between having fun and working hard.
“I think it’s better, it’s definitely better,” he said.
“I’m not sure if it’s perfect, but definitely better than it used to be.
“So I‘m really happy with the way things are going, just trying to extend this moment as long as possible.”
Looking back at the match itself, Bublik explained how important it was for him to take his chances against Struff (3/3 on break points).
“Yes, especially on a fast surface like here, outdoors, the serve works better, I think I did well, in the most important moments, I delivered,” said Bublik.
“Had a few chances in the first game, which I took, and then the last game, when I had match points, when I broke him.
“I thought I returned twice amazingly, and that got me the win.”
The ever-charismatic Bublik was then asked if being a tournament favorite suits his personality.
“I don’t know, to be honest,” he said.
“I never thought this way, thinking that a great forehand makes you a very confident person.
“This does not raise my thoughts about myself, raise my level of confidence in terms of being a bit arrogant or a bit cool, for me, it’s not about a good forehand.”
Bublik will now rest up ahead of his second-round match against Tallon Griekspoor on Wednesday, February 25.
The Oklahoma Sooners have been waiting to see if they'll have star linebacker Owen Heinecke with them for the 2026 season, as he fights for an extra year of eligibility. However, they got some bad news on that front on Tuesday. After the NCAA initially denied Heinecke's petition for another year of college football, the latest update makes his plight to play again even more dire.
According to multiple reports, the NCAA has denied Heinecke's appeal of their initial decision, meaning he has not been given an additional year of eligibility, and he currently cannot play collegiately in 2026. According to On3 SoonerScoop's George Stoia IIII, "it’s unclear if Heinecke will take legal action against the NCAA, with some athletes having success when going that route. He intends to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine this week in Indianapolis."
Though there's a small chance this isn't the end of the road for Heinecke's quest to play another year of college ball, it's reportedly unclear at this time if he wants to pursue the legal route to try and get an injunction or a temporary restraining order against the NCAA. When Oklahoma general manager Jim Nagy announced the first denial of Heinecke's decision, he said, "NCAA has denied Owen Heinecke's petition for another year at OU ... There will be an appeal. If that appeal is denied, one lucky NFL team is going to get a stud two-contract player and an even better human being. Love everything you're about, Owen. You stand for everything that is pure and great about college football."
Heinecke was a redshirt junior for the Sooners in 2025, which was his fourth season in the program. He did not play in 2022, and he played in all 13 games in 2023 and 2024, mainly on special teams. Despite just three seasons of college football action, the NCAA is counting three games of lacrosse at Ohio State in 2021, totaling about 15 minutes of playing time, against Heinecke's eligibility. They've decided that he has exhausted his collegiate eligibility. That decision stands, despite other players in college football being granted sixth, seventh, eighth, and even ninth years of eligibility.
The 2025 season was a breakout one for Heinecke. He produced 74 tackles, four passes defended, three sacks and one forced fumble in his first significant college football action. He became a starter at inside linebacker during OU's "Red November" run to the College Football Playoff, and he never looked back. He was a big piece of Oklahoma's defensive success.
As it looks now, the Sooners will have to replace Heinecke's production at linebacker from an excellent season last year. With the NCAA denying him more additional eligibility not once, but twice, Heinecke will now need to decide how long and how strong he wants to fight this battle, or if he'd rather get ready for his next chapter in the 2026 NFL Draft, where he's likely to hear his name called to start his professional career.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: NCAA denies appeal for Sooners LB to get extra year of eligibility
The end of the wrestling season in Kentucky nears Kentucky High School Athletic Association's boys and girls wrestling state tournaments from Feb. 26-28 at Alltech Arena in Lexington.
The competition for the boys wrestlers starts on Feb. 26 and concludes the following day. The girls will then conclude the wrestling season on Feb. 28.
KHSAA Girls Regionals: IHSAA, KHSAA wrestling move toward state. Ohio finishes state duals
At the Region 5 tournament at Conner on Feb. 21, the hosting Cougars were victorious with 251 total team points, beating runner-up Simon Kenton's 192.5 and third-place Ryle's 191.5-point showing.
Of Conner's 14 wrestlers in the regional, 11 finished in the top four of their class and qualified for the state tournament.
Clayton Badida, Cordion Abernathy and Nathan Seth were the regional champions for Conner while Zaq Abdi, Keaton Dicken, Luke Peace and Landon Wuellner finished in second. Grandin Blackburn, Joesiah Hernandez, Mason Masteller and Bryce Sizemore also qualified for the state tournament.
Abernathy, Badida and Dicken are former state placers with Badida having three state placements already on his record.
Simon Kenton senior Braydan Blevins will again wrestle in the KHSAA state tournament three seasons after winning a state championship as a freshman.
In 2023, Blevins won the 106-pound state championship, beating Harrison County's George Dennis 7-4 in the state final. Blevins' shot at a repeat fell short of making the podium in 2024, but he managed a fifth-place finish at 126 pounds last season.
Blevins is still at 126 pounds, advancing to the state meet after a runner-up finish in the regional tournament. Blevins fell to Badida 8-4 in the championship match and has a 52-7 overall record.
Three local wrestlers ‒ Cooper's Christian Brown, Ryle's Bryant Brinkman and Cooper's Aaliyah Svec ‒ enter the KHSAA state tournament with undefeated records.
Brown will wrestle at 285 pounds with a 34-0 record, Brinkman competes at 113 pounds with a 27-0 mark and Svec will be in the girls tournament at 138 pounds with a 15-0 record.
Boone County: Kenzell Miller, George Mintch; Campbell County: Brayden Allender, Deacon Heisler; Conner: Zaq Abdi, Cordion Abernathy, Clayton Badida, Grandin Blackburn, Keaton Dicken, Joesiah Hernandez, Mason Masteller, Luke Peace, Nathan Seth, Bryce Sizemore, Landon Wuellner; Cooper: Christian Brown, Carson Clark, Corey Freihofer, Wayne Iles; Covington Catholic: Keegan Bishop, Tyler Heck, Emilio Rodriguez, Antonio Rodriguez, Landon Windeler; Dixie Heights: Hunter Francis, Jack Fredstrom, Justin Kidd, Henry Morales, Ethan Piasecki, Thomas Tilley; Grant County: Nathan Dillingham, Jaxon Franks, Tanner Magee, Gunner Patrick; Highlands: Ryan Nickelman, Xander Turner, Kayson White, Parker Wilkens; Holmes: Deontae Graves; Ryle: Aiden Brinkman, Bryant Brinkman, Luke Cornwell, Noah Crisp, Wyatt Crisp, Jagger Irvin, Keigan Reinsenbeck, Callen Schmidt; Scott: Tracker Blackburn, Peyton Zinser; Simon Kenton: Braydan Blevins, Cody Blevins, Kaiden Dauenbaugh, Jayden Rutherford, Jordan Rutherford, Parker Smith, Connor Warner, Liam Wood, Benjamin Woosley; Walton-Verona: Braylon Ryan, Boone Sawyer
Campbell County: Leah Boggs, McAyla Steffen, Olivia Thornton; Cooper: Fanta Mariko, Aaliyah Svec; Grant County: Olivia Butler; Highlands: Riley Booth, Abigail Edmondson, Emma Hood; Ryle: Peyton Brinkman, Preslee Steiber; Simon Kenton: Braelyn Babb, Devon Banks, Alayna Banks; Walton-Verona: Jaelynn Holcomb, Abrielle Hooten, Natalia Lucas, Emma Moore, Dezeray Morris, Chloe Schwanenberger.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: See which Northern Kentucky wrestlers will compete in KHSAA state meet
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A gold medal win is being celebrated at the White House ahead of President Donald Trump's State of the Union address.
Team USA's men's hockey team arrived at the Oval Office on Tuesday, Feb. 24, after being personally invited by the president, 79, via a phone call following their thrilling 2-1 win in overtime over Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Twenty members of the team made the trip to the White House, with Brock Nelson, Jackson LaCombe, Jake Oettinger, Jake Guentzel and Kyle Connor absent, per NBC News.
Local sports reporter Corey Masisak wrote on X that Colorado Avalanche players who played at the Olympics were "back in Denver," adding, "Brock Nelson skipped the White House/DC trip to come back here with his family." Reporter Diandra Loux confirmed that Guentzel was "back in Tampa" ahead of a home game for the Tampa Bay Lightning the following day.
Margo Martin/X
The team, who all matched in navy sweaters emblazoned with "USA," the flag and the Olympic Rings, wore their gold medals around their necks and posed with their arms wrapped around each other while smiling in front of the White House in Washington D.C., as seen in an X photo shared by communications adviser Margo Martin.
In another post, Dan Scavino — deputy chief of staff at the White House and director of the presidential personnel office — shared a video to X of the hockey team shaking hands with the president in the Oval Office.
Happening Now—President Trump welcomes the @USAHockey team to the Oval Office here at the @WhiteHouse. Congratulations TEAM USA!!!!!🥇🇺🇸🦅🚀 pic.twitter.com/rdI13mfRqA
— Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) February 24, 2026
"Happening Now—President Trump welcomes the @USAHockey team to the Oval Office here at the @WhiteHouse. Congratulations TEAM USA!!!!!🥇🇺🇸🦅🚀," Scavino wrote.
Members of the U.S. men's hockey team are expected to attend Trump's State of the Union address Tuesday evening. The administration had been working through logistics so the players could attend the speech, NBC reported, citing White House officials.
Elsa/Getty
The U.S. men's hockey team's arrival at the White House comes two days after the team received a phone call from Trump in the locker room after defeating Canada at the Milan Games. Their win marked the team's first Olympic gold since the 1980 Miracle on Ice.
The visit also comes shortly after golden goal scorer Jack Hughes, 24, and his brother Quinn Hughes, 26, addressed "backlash" they and the team have received for accepting the invitation from the president.
When asked by the Daily Mail how he felt about the visit and meeting the president, Jack replied that the team was "excited" about it.
"Everything is so political. We're athletes. We're so proud to represent the U.S. and we get the chance to go to the White House, meet the president. You know, we're proud to be Americans," he told the outlet. "No matter what your views are, we're super excited to go."
The reporter asked Jack how he felt about the U.S. women's hockey team not going to the White House in the wake of their own gold medal win over Canada on Thursday, Feb. 19.
"They've got busy schedules, too," he replied. His response mirrored a statement previously shared by a spokesperson for USA Hockey, which cited "previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games" as the reason why the women passed on the invite.
Jiang Qiming/China News Service/VCG via Getty
"Everyone is giving us backlash for all the social media stuff today," the hockey player, who plays for the New Jersey Devils in the NHL, said, adding, "People are so negative out there and they are just trying to find a reason to put people down and make something out of almost nothing."
Jack concluded by praising the women's team and all that they've accomplished.
"I think everyone in that locker room knows how much we support them and how proud we are of them," he made clear, adding, "And we know the same way we feel about them, they feel about us."
Quinn — who also represented Team USA at the Games and plays for the NHL’s Minnesota Wild — addressed the backlash while calling in to Good Morning America on Tuesday.
“Yeah, we're excited to go. It's something you don't get to do every Tuesday. It's going to be special for us, but I'm glad you mentioned the women's team again. We're really happy for them,” Quinn said.
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“Obviously, a lot going on on social media surrounding our team and their team,” he continued. “In the last couple [times] we've done a lot of training with them and got to know a lot of those girls really well. We're extremely happy to come."
Ellen Hughes, mom of the two Olympic men’s hockey brothers and player development consultant for Team USA women’s ice hockey, also shared her reaction to the video of Trump congratulating the men's team before joking about inviting the gold-medal winning women's team.
"These players, both the men and women, can bring so much unity to a group and to a country," Ellen told Today, in part, on Tuesday. "They care about humanity, they care about unity and they care about the country," she added.
PEOPLE reached out to representatives for USA Hockey to ask about the members who weren't present for the White House visit.
Read the original article on People
The end of the wrestling season in Kentucky nears Kentucky High School Athletic Association's boys and girls wrestling state tournaments from Feb. 26-28 at Alltech Arena in Lexington.
The competition for the boys wrestlers starts on Feb. 26 and concludes the following day. The girls will then conclude the wrestling season on Feb. 28.
KHSAA Girls Regionals: IHSAA, KHSAA wrestling move toward state. Ohio finishes state duals
At the Region 5 tournament at Conner on Feb. 21, the hosting Cougars were victorious with 251 total team points, beating runner-up Simon Kenton's 192.5 and third-place Ryle's 191.5-point showing.
Of Conner's 14 wrestlers in the regional, 11 finished in the top four of their class and qualified for the state tournament.
Clayton Badida, Cordion Abernathy and Nathan Seth were the regional champions for Conner while Zaq Abdi, Keaton Dicken, Luke Peace and Landon Wuellner finished in second. Grandin Blackburn, Joesiah Hernandez, Mason Masteller and Bryce Sizemore also qualified for the state tournament.
Abernathy, Badida and Dicken are former state placers with Badida having three state placements already on his record.
Simon Kenton senior Braydan Blevins will again wrestle in the KHSAA state tournament three seasons after winning a state championship as a freshman.
In 2023, Blevins won the 106-pound state championship, beating Harrison County's George Dennis 7-4 in the state final. Blevins' shot at a repeat fell short of making the podium in 2024, but he managed a fifth-place finish at 126 pounds last season.
Blevins is still at 126 pounds, advancing to the state meet after a runner-up finish in the regional tournament. Blevins fell to Badida 8-4 in the championship match and has a 52-7 overall record.
Three local wrestlers ‒ Cooper's Christian Brown, Ryle's Bryant Brinkman and Cooper's Aaliyah Svec ‒ enter the KHSAA state tournament with undefeated records.
Brown will wrestle at 285 pounds with a 34-0 record, Brinkman competes at 113 pounds with a 27-0 mark and Svec will be in the girls tournament at 138 pounds with a 15-0 record.
Boone County: Kenzell Miller, George Mintch; Campbell County: Brayden Allender, Deacon Heisler; Conner: Zaq Abdi, Cordion Abernathy, Clayton Badida, Grandin Blackburn, Keaton Dicken, Joesiah Hernandez, Mason Masteller, Luke Peace, Nathan Seth, Bryce Sizemore, Landon Wuellner; Cooper: Christian Brown, Carson Clark, Corey Freihofer, Wayne Iles; Covington Catholic: Keegan Bishop, Tyler Heck, Emilio Rodriguez, Antonio Rodriguez, Landon Windeler; Dixie Heights: Hunter Francis, Jack Fredstrom, Justin Kidd, Henry Morales, Ethan Piasecki, Thomas Tilley; Grant County: Nathan Dillingham, Jaxon Franks, Tanner Magee, Gunner Patrick; Highlands: Ryan Nickelman, Xander Turner, Kayson White, Parker Wilkens; Holmes: Deontae Graves; Ryle: Aiden Brinkman, Bryant Brinkman, Luke Cornwell, Noah Crisp, Wyatt Crisp, Jagger Irvin, Keigan Reinsenbeck, Callen Schmidt; Scott: Tracker Blackburn, Peyton Zinser; Simon Kenton: Braydan Blevins, Cody Blevins, Kaiden Dauenbaugh, Jayden Rutherford, Jordan Rutherford, Parker Smith, Connor Warner, Liam Wood, Benjamin Woosley; Walton-Verona: Braylon Ryan, Boone Sawyer
Campbell County: Leah Boggs, McAyla Steffen, Olivia Thornton; Cooper: Fanta Mariko, Aaliyah Svec; Grant County: Olivia Butler; Highlands: Riley Booth, Abigail Edmondson, Emma Hood; Ryle: Peyton Brinkman, Preslee Steiber; Simon Kenton: Braelyn Babb, Devon Banks, Alayna Banks; Walton-Verona: Jaelynn Holcomb, Abrielle Hooten, Natalia Lucas, Emma Moore, Dezeray Morris, Chloe Schwanenberger.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: See which Northern Kentucky wrestlers will compete in KHSAA state meet
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton met with the media today at the NFL Scouting Combine and dropped a bit of a bombshell. He confirmed to reporters that offensive coordinator Davis Webb will indeed call plays for the Denver Broncos this upcoming season.
A notable change: Broncos HC Sean Payton said OC Davis Webb will be Denver’s play caller this season.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 24, 2026
This has been rumored ever since the Broncos promoted Davis Webb to offensive coordinator, replacing Joe Lombardi, who was fired earlier in the offseason. Webb was a highly sought-after coaching candidate who had multiple head coaching interviews and was reportedly a finalist for the Las Vegas Raiders head coaching job. In the end, Webb would remove himself from consideration for that job as they appeared to have their eyes set on Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. In the end, the Raiders would end up hiring Kubiak as their head coach, and while Webb had offensive coordinator interest from around the league, he decided to return to the Broncos.
Webb has seen himself rise quickly through the coaching ranks. He retired from the NFL and was immediately hired by Sean Payton to be the Broncos’ quarterbacks coach. His work with rookie quarterback Bo Nix earned him the title of offensive pass game coordinator/quarterbacks coach last season, and now, he is the Denver Broncos offensive coordinator and play caller. He has accomplished all of this and is just 31 years old.
Asked Sean Payton what self-reflection led to him naming Davis Webb as #Broncos’ play-caller.
— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) February 24, 2026
Said it has to do with being “quicker.”
“It’s only if there’s someone that you feel like it is good enough to do that.”
Asked him if Bo Nix was involved in decision.
“No.” pic.twitter.com/XxPxDrepP4
Payton told reporters that Webb has a “gift” and added that he was already moving toward giving up playcalling duties midseason this past season. He said that he would only give up play-calling duties if he could give it to someone he trusts to do it, and it is clear that he fully trusts Davis Webb. Now, Payton will be heavily involved still and did add that he will call “some plays” still, but that Webb is going to be calling the vast majority of plays this upcoming season.
We’ll see the overall impact of this change, but it should add some excitement to the Broncos’ offense moving forward. Webb is fresh, new, lots of hype, and hopefully, brings some new ideas and strategies to the offense. He already has a great relationship with quarterback Bo Nix, and hopefully, the two can continue to grow and have an even better 2026 season.
Seahawks predicted to draft Clemson corner who is brother of star Falcons CB originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Seattle Seahawks are entering the 2026 offseason with a bunch of needs across the roster. One of the more pressing issues is in the secondary.
Coby Bryant is a free agent, but so too are cornerbacks Josh Jobe and Tariq Woolen. The Seahawks might need to spend a bit to land a cornerback opposite Devon Witherspoon this offseason, and the NFL Draft is a great place to do that.
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., in his latest mock draft, predicted that the Seahawks would take Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell, who is the younger brother of Atlanta Falcons star A.J. Terrell.
"Let's close out Round 1 with a talented cornerback to replace free agents Riq Woolen and Josh Jobe," Kiper writes. "... The brother of A.J. Terrell, Avieon Terrell, can fly in coverage, and he has 27 pass breakups over three seasons."
The Seahawks have a big need at cornerback, but with the massive contract coming up for Witherspoon and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the Seahawks need to find ways to get cheaper.
Letting Jobe and Woolen walk, and drafting a cornerback like Terrell in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, could give the Seahawks a young, cheap, talented cornerback for the next four-to-five seasons.
A.J. Terrell has already been in the NFL for six seasons, and he's put up some great years for the Falcons. He even earned a second-team All-Pro nod early in his career. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound cornerback has been a great first-round pick for the Falcons.
More: Seahawks get big $14.5M franchise tag update on Kenneth Walker III amid team history
Avieon Terrell, the Clemson cornerback the Seahawks could take 32nd overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, could be a great outside cornerback to pair with Witherspoon.
He is a 5-foot-11, 180-pound cornerback who's had three interceptions, 27 passes defended, 90 total tackles, four sacks, and eight forced fumbles for Clemson in his three years with the team since 2023.
Kiper's pre-NFL Scouting Combine mock draft has the Seahawks taking Terrell 32nd overall. The brother of Falcons star CB A.J. Terrell would be a nice pickup to round out the secondary in 2026 as the Seahawks look to rebuild their defense this offseason.
The NFL Combine officially started Tuesday, and Channel 11 is in Indianapolis to bring you all the coverage.
The start of the combine marks the start of NFL Draft season, creating a buzz about the future.
Channel 11’s Jenna Harner spoke with Steelers General Manager Omar Khan, covering a variety of topics.
Khan told us he spoke with quarterback Aaron Rodgers just last week. While there’s no deadline on Rodgers’ decision to return, Khan did not expect the process to drag out like it did a season ago.
When it comes to hosting this year’s draft, Khan said he can’t wait for the rest of the world to get to know Pittsburgh a little more.
“You know, we’ve been talking about this for a long time. Pittsburgh’s such a special place. It’s unique. You know, where it’s going to be held, it’s pretty exciting. And it’s going to be great knowledge for the local people,” Khan said. “But I just can’t wait for my you know, I have lots of friends. I’m getting a ton of requests. I’m sure a lot of people are about passes, what’s going on, what to do. And I’m just excited to show off to city.”
The Steelers have the 21st overall pick.
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Sunderland aggressively chased Víctor Muñoz during the winter transfer window. They sought to bolster their attacking options within the Premier League. According to a detailed report from Sport Witness on February 13th, the Wearside club initiated two significant verbal proposals for the Spanish winger.
The first offer sat at €20m. The subsequent bid reached €25m and included Eliezer Mayenda moving to Osasuna on a temporary loan basis. Management of the La Liga side refused to negotiate. They directed the English outfit toward the €40m release clause the player’s contract featured.
The deal fell apart because the Black Cats didn’t want to pay that much or come back with a better price. Braulio Vázquez, the sporting director at Osasuna, recently told DAZN and Marca he ignored the interest from the team that Régis Le Bris runs. Vázquez pointed out that the 22-year-old attacker never really thought about leaving.
He feels his current environment remains ideal for his professional growth. Muñoz moved from Real Madrid in July 2025. Since then, he has put in over 2,000 minutes and helped out with nine direct goal involvements. Sunderland might try again down the road. However, the buy-back option Real Madrid hold presents a substantial hurdle for any Premier League suitor.
“It depends on the player’s own wishes. He has had some opportunities, but at no point did he consider leaving because, as I said and as he himself has pointed out, he is in the right environment to continue growing,” he said.
“He’s back in the starting line-up [against Real Madrid], and in another team with different demands, he probably wouldn’t be,” Vázquez explained.
“Real Madrid have a buy-back option for several years. If exercised, it would be to bring him into the first team. They are a serious club in that regard,” he added.
PAMPLONA, SPAIN – JANUARY 31: Victor Munoz of CA Osasuna is challenged by Renato Veiga of Villarreal CF during the LaLiga EA Sports match between CA Osasuna and Villarreal CF at Estadio El Sadar on January 31, 2026 in Pamplona, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
The current situation for Sunderland places them in a mid-table struggle. Goal-scoring consistency remains a glaring deficiency. The squad boasts 13 national team players, including 19-year-old Eliezer Mayenda. Despite this, the lack of a clinical edge has seen them slip to 12th in the standings. Chasing Víctor Muñoz represents a departure from the club’s typical recruitment model. Even so, his raw pace, which Real Madrid scouts once clocked as their fastest player, offers a profile they currently lack.
If the recruitment team decides to return for the Spaniard, they must compare his €40m price tag against his relatively modest return of five goals this term. Muñoz represents the Spain U21 setup. He carries the pedigree of the La Masia and Valdebebas academies. This suggests his potential remains incredibly high.
However, the buy-back deal Real Madrid kept is complicating the long-term investment value for the Sunderland hierarchy. The Wearside club might find more success by integrating Mayenda further or seeking a winger without such restrictive contractual entanglements. Logic suggests that spending nearly £35m on a single player should guarantee an immediate transformation of the front line. Right now, Muñoz cannot provide that guarantee.
Sandro Tonali was on the scoresheet today as the Italian midfielder helped Newcastle qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League, as the first batch of play-off matches played out their second legs.
Matteo Ruggeri picked up an assist for Atletico Madrid, helping Los Colchoneros beat Club Brugge 4-1 to qualify for the Champions League round of 16.
Tonali scored within five minutes against Qarabag, as Newcastle breezed to a comfortable 9-3 win on aggregate.
Ruggeri, meanwhile, helped Atletico to a 7-4 aggregate victory.
BARCELONA, SPAIN – AUGUST 17: Matteo Ruggeri of Atletico de Madrid controls the ball whilst under pressure from Omar El Hilali of RCD Espanyol during the LaLiga EA Sports match between RCD Espanyol de Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid at RCDE Stadium on August 17, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)
24-year-old defender Lorenzo Pirola was also in action, playing ninety minutes as Olympiacos drew 0-0 away at Bayer Leverkusen.
The draw, however, was not enough for Pirola and his Greek side to progress, having lost 2-0 at home in the first leg.
The rest of the Italians in action today were of course playing as Inter crashed out of the Champions League for the earliest time since the group-stage exit in 2020/21.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 24: Referee Alejandro Hernandez and Nicolo Barella of FC Internazionale Milano interact after a penalty appeal for hand ball for FC Internazionale Milano during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and FK Bodo/Glimt at Stadio San Siro on February 24, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
The Nerazzurri lost 2-1 to Bodo/Glimt at San Siro, losing 5-2 on aggregate. Bastoni, Dimarco, Barella, Frattesi and Pio Esposito were the Azzurri contingent who featured.
Norway’s Bodo/Glimt’s fairytale run in the Champions League continued as they knocked out last year’s finalists Inter Milan in one of the tournament’s biggest ever shocks.
A season on from becoming the first Norwegian side to reach the semi-finals of a European competition, following their impressive run in the Europa League, head coach Kjetil Knutsen’s minnows have continued their remarkable rise by qualifying for the Champions League last-16, and as tournament debutants.
Bodo/Glimt, who were in Norway’s second-tier as recently as 2017, are the northernmost team to ever play in the Champions League. Based in the small town of Bodo, a 16-hour drive north of Oslo and inside the edge of the Arctic Circle, its whole population of 55,000 could have travelled to Inter’s iconic San Siro and there still would have been plenty of empty seats. Bodo/Glimt also operate on a budget that is a fraction of the size of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Remarkably, Knutsen’s team are also in their off-season; the Norwegian top-flight ended on 30 November 2025 due to the winter and will only resume when spring arrives in April. But, in that time, Bodo/Glimt have beaten Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and knocked out Italian giants Inter, the runaway Serie A leaders, by beating them home and away.
Bodo/Glimt took a two-goal lead to the San Siro after a stunning 3-1 victory in Norway, where they have developed an outstanding record on the artificial surface at their 9,000-capacity Aspmyra Stadion. Then, on Tuesday night, they survived long spells of pressure before Jens Petter Hauge punished Manuel Akanji’s error to silence the San Siro.
As Bodo/Glimt started to play with confidence, Hakon Evjen added an excellent second on the counter-attack, leaving Inter with a mountain to climb even as Alessandro Bastoni pulled one back. A 5-2 victory on aggregate will not only signal a crisis at Inter, the three-time European champions, and Italian football as a whole, but it will also send shockwaves around the sport.
In Norway, they will celebrate a first Norwegian side to win a knockout tie in the European Cup or Champions League since 1987-88.
Bodo/Glimt are also the first team outside of England, Spain, Germany Italy or France to win four consecutive games against teams from Europe’s big five leagues since Johan Cruyff’s Ajax in 1971-72. Ajax went on to win the European Cup that season, too.
This stuff isn’t suppose to happen in Europe these days.
Bodo/Glimt’s close-knit, team-first environment is often hailed as the key ingredient behind their remarkable journey. Head coach Knutsen, who has been in charge since 2018 has been linked with several major jobs and bigger leagues during the club’s rise, but has turned down offers to remain with Bodo/Glimt, where he recently signed a contract until 2029.
“For me, the people are the most important thing,” he told TV 2 in January. “That means more than all the trophies. You always work to win something, and that's great. But the joy of winning it together with someone means the most. There has to be an environment where people care about each other – and I feel we have created that in Bodo/Glimt.”
Hauge, Bodo/Glimt’s top goalscorer in the Champions League this season, now with six goals in nine games, is an example of that spirit. The 26-year-old was signed by AC Milan in 2020 after helping his hometown club’s early rise, before playing for Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany and Gent in Belgium as he attempted to make it at a higher level of European football.
But Hauge, upon returning to Bodo, had the same realisation as some of his team-mates that home was the best place for him after all. It has helped fuel the sense of togetherness at a club that feels as if it has created something special.
Then there is the impact of Bjørn Mannsverk, a former fighter pilot turned mental coach whose unconventional methods are also part of the club’s story. Mannsverk walked into the club when they were in the second division of Norwegian football in 2017 but revolutionised the team’s behaviour through meditation and embracing the process, rather than results on the pitch.
“It is a fairy tale, almost a miracle,” Mannsverk told The Associated Press last season. “How can you actually come from the second division in 2017 to playing Champions League… But I think it’s possible ... if you have the right mentality and you work hard over time.”
Bodo/Glimt won the Norwegian top flight for the first time in 2020, repeating that success in 2021, 2023 and 2024, but it is on the European stage where their story has gone mainstream.
They produced their first major shock in 2021 by beating Jose Mourinho’s Roma 6-1 in the group stage of the Europa Conference League, becoming the first team to put six past a Mourinho defence. They also defeated Celtic in the knockout rounds, before falling to a defeat to Roma in an ill-tempered quarter-final.
On their plastic pitch, Bodo/Glimt formed a formidable home record in last season’s Europa League run, beating Twente, Olympiacos and Lazio before defeat to eventual winners Tottenham in the semi-finals.
A first appearance in the Champions League was not entirely going to plan after the first six matches. Ahead of hosting Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in January, Bodo/Glimt were winless and their hopes of reaching the knockout play-offs were hanging by a thread.
But Erling Haaland’s homecoming to Norway was overshadowed by a dominant performance from Bodo/Glimt, who added their biggest scalp yet. Then, two weeks later, they went to Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid and came from behind to win 2-1 and squeeze through from the league phase.
The play-off draw handed Bodo/Glimt with a daunting tie against Inter, the Italian leaders and last year’s Champions League finalists. Sensationally, their story is not done there and they will face either a rematch with City or Portuguese champions Sporting in the last-16.
Anthony Richardson's first three pro seasons have not gone as he or the Colts would have planned.
But it sounds like Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick of the 2023 draft, should be ready for the start of the offseason program in April after missing most of 2025 due to an orbital fracture from a freak pregame accident.
"He’s getting better," General Manager Chris Ballard said during his scouting combine press conference on Tuesday. "I know he met with another specialist. He’s getting better. He’s been cleared to play football.
"I’m proud of him. I’m proud of Anthony, man. I mean, here’s a guy that’s had to deal with a lot of injury stuff that happens. Unfortunate accident with his eye. He doesn’t win the job, Daniel [Jones] wins the job. I think the one thing that I don’t know everybody appreciates about Anthony — I do and I know some of his teammates do — he’s a really good teammate. Positive, wants to do the right things. So, it’s trending in the right direction. Still got a ways to go, but he’s cleared to play. And the eye’s getting better. So, we’ll just work from there."
Richardson briefly appeared in two games in 2025, playing just 14 offensive snaps.
While the Colts seem highly likely to decline Richardson’s fifth-year option this spring, Ballard maintains Richardson could still have a future with Indianapolis.
“I see a future, yeah. I’m not going to — kind of like with any player, you never know what’s going to happen. And things change,” Ballard said. “But, yeah. We like Anthony.”
Bayern Munich's highly-rated talent Cassiano Kiala has been dealt a bitter blow with his season ended abruptly through injury.
As first reported by both TZ München and Merkur, the center-back tore his syndesmotic ligament during the Algarve Cup.
He is expected to be sidelined for at least three months, while Filip Pavić from the U-17 team will now train more regularly with the first team.
Prior to the injury, the 17-year-old had already made his debut under Vincent Kompany in a short cameo during a 4-0 win over Heidenheim.
The defender was also included on the bench in the Bavarian club's Champions League squad on three occasions during the league phase.
With the 2025 Texas Rangers season having come to an end, we shall be, over the course of the offseason, taking a look at every player who appeared in a major league game for the Texas Rangers in 2025.
Today we are looking at relief pitcher Caleb Boushley.
Caleb Boushley ended up with the unenviable role of the Rangers’ up-and-down long man and general “guy we call up when we need a body who can got multiple innings” pitcher in 2025.
Well, I say unenviable, but Boushley appears to have accumulated about 10 days worth of service time in his major league career (which consisted of six innings over three games the prior two seasons) before 2025. He now has 143 days of service time, which is more, by a lot.
The Rangers purchased Boushley’s contract on April 8, optioning Gerson Garabito to make room for him on the active roster.
Garabito, incidentally, ended up requesting his release from the Rangers later in the 2025 season so he could go pitch for Samsung in the KBO. Boushley, who became a free agent at the end of the 2025 season, will be spending the 2026 season in the KBO, though with KT Wiz. I hope the team’s slogan is, “Nobody beats the Wiz!”
Boushley was optioned to AAA Round Rock towards the end of April. The Rangers ended up recalling him five more times over the course of the season, and optioning him four more times. The last time the Rangers dropped him from the active roster, they designated him for assignment. He was claimed by the Tampa Bay Rays, for whom he did not pitch in the majors. The Rays designated him for assignment after the World Series.
Boushley was not good during his time with the Rangers. He threw 43 innings over 25 appearances, and really, you’d have expected him to pitch more often, given how much time he spent on the active roster, but then, the Rangers didn’t generally use him unless no one else was available or the game was so lopsided there was no point in using someone else.
Boushley put up a 6.02 ERA in those 25 games. He had an ERA of at least 5 in every month except May, when he put up a 4.38 ERA. He had a 5.04 ERA in the first half and an 8.31 ERA in the second half.
He did have significant home/road splits, putting up a 3.31 ERA at home and a 7.67 ERA on the road. If you’ve been paying attention to these write-ups and our discussions about how the Shed played, you will not be surprised to learn that Boushley was not a ground ball pitcher in 2025. He allowed a .234/.300/.281 slash line at home, with just 3 doubles and 0 home runs allowed, and a .345/.398/.558 slash line on the road, with 9 doubles and 5 homers allowed.
There was a guy named Bob Ferguson who had a 14 year career in the 1800s. His nickname was Death to Flying Things. That’s probably what we should be calling the Shed.
You may note that I said that Boushley was not a ground ball pitcher last year. I did not say he was a fly ball pitcher. That is because Boushley was, well, not a fly ball pitcher in 2025, either. He was a line drive pitcher. According to Statcast, 33.8% of the balls put in play against him were line drives. That’s not good.
Fangraphs, for what it is worth, has his line drive rate at 25.9%. There were 402 pitchers in MLB last year who threw at least 40 innings. Only nine of them had a higher line drive rate than Boushley. And five of those nine had line drive rates of either 26.0% or 26.1%. The worst line drive rate in the league was 27.6%, from AJ Smith-Shawver.
Not surprisingly, despite having a great defense behind him, Boushley had a ridiculous BABIP — .374, to be exact, tied with Mark Leiter, Jr., for second worst in baseball, behind Mason Montgomery.
Boushley put up a 5.94 xERA on the year, right in line with his 6.02 ERA. Not good. One isn’t surprised to see a -1.0 bWAR for him when you go to the B-R page.
However…Boushley was better than replacement level according to Fangraphs. Not a ton better — he has a 0.2 fWAR — but still, its positive.
This is because Fangraphs uses a FIP-based method for determining pitcher value, and Boushley put up a 3.85 FIP in 2025, along with a 3.95 xFIP. FIP is based on the assumption that pitchers do not have control over what happens when a ball is put into play but isn’t a home run, and thus is calculated based on home runs, walks, HBPs, and strikeouts. Whether a ball in play is a hit or an out is chalked up to the defense behind the pitcher and the overall randomness involved in small sample sizes.
In most cases, that works well enough. But there are some pitchers for whom that isn’t applicable. Sometimes a pitcher is giving up a high BABIP not because of randomness or defense but because he’s giving up rockets. And those edge cases don’t tend to affect the overall reliability of FIP because pitchers like that don’t stick around long enough to skew the numbers.
As is the case with Caleb Boushley, who will spend the 2026 season in Korea, getting paid.
Previously:
Jack Hughes #86 of Team United States, scorer of the U.S.'s winning goal, celebrates the team's gold medal victory over Canada on day sixteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games on February 22, 2026. Credit - EyesWideOpen/Getty Images
The gold medal–winning U.S. men’s ice hockey team is expected to attend President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday night, while the women’s team, which also took home gold at the Winter Olympics, has declined Trump’s invitation to the speech.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said in an interview with CBS that the U.S. men’s team "will be there with their gold medals.” Photos and videos shared by White House officials showed the men’s team touring the property and meetingwith Trump in the Oval Office earlier Tuesday.
"Everything is so political. We’re athletes. We’re so proud to represent the U.S. and when you get the chance to go to the White House, meet the president,” Jack Hughes, who scored the team’s winning goal in its gold-medal game against Canada in overtime, told reporters outside of E11EVEN nightclub in Miami on Monday night. “We’re proud to be Americans, that’s so patriotic. No matter what your views are, we’re super excited to go to the White House and just be part of that," he said.
A day before the men’s team visited the White House, the U.S. women’s team declined the President’s invitation to his Tuesday speech.
“We’re giving the State of the Union speech on Tuesday night. I could send a military plane or something, if you would like to. It’s the coolest night. It’s the biggest speech,” Trump said to the team in their locker room over speakerphone as he congratulated them for winning the U.S.’s first gold medal in men’s hockey in 46 years. “I must tell you, we’re gonna have to bring the women’s team, you do know that,” the President went on, according to videos of the exchange shared on X. He added that if he didn’t invite them, “I do believe I probably would be impeached, OK?”, a comment that drew laughter from the players. Trump added that he wanted to honor the men’s team at the White House on Wednesday night.
Prior to the women's team declining to attend, Johnson told reporters on Monday that there was "no way to have special guests on the floor" for the State of the Union "because it’s a literal session of Congress," but that House officials were trying to work out a way to "accommodate" the teams for the speech.
Read more:Erika Kirk Will Attend State of the Union as Trump’s Guest
In addition to Trump speaking to players over speakerphone, the White House and the President also touted the men’s team’s win over Canada on social media. Responding to a post from Canada’s former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau following Canada’s win over the U.S. in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament last February that read ”You can’t take our country—and you can’t take our game,” the White House posted a photo of a bald eagle pinning down a Canadian goose.
Trump, responding to the same past comment from Trudeau, shared what appeared to be an AI-generated video of himself checking and scoring against the Canadian hockey team.
Following the U.S. women’s team's earlier victory over Canada, the White House account posted, “WE ARE SO BACK. RED, WHITE, & BLUE RUNNING THROUGH OUR VEINS.”
Meanwhile, Federal Bureau of Investigations Director Kash Patel, who appeared to facilitate the call between the President and the men’s hockey team, came under fire after videos of him celebrating and drinking with the men’s team—coinciding with several high-profile security events over the weekend—were released on social media. Images of Patel in a box at the men’s final also circulated.
During Patel’s trip to Milan, Italy, law enforcement officers shot and killed an armed man at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, an incident the FBI director posted about on X. His time in Italy also came amid Trump’s consideration of strikes on Iran; the killing of drug kingpin “El Mencho” in a Mexican military raid using U.S. intelligence; and the ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie.
“For the very concerned media - yes, I love America and was extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys,” Patel posted on X on Sunday night in response to online scrutiny over his attendance at the game and celebration with the players as those events played out elsewhere. “Greatest country on earth and greatest sport on earth.”
Following the Olympics, players from both U.S. hockey teams are returning to their respective teams in the National Hockey League (NHL), the Women’s Hockey League (WHL), and on the college level. The NHL resumes games on Wednesday, and the WHL the following day.
Contact us at letters@time.com.
INDIANAPOLIS — Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce are the twin pillars of this Colts offseason.
Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard believes he’ll be able to get both players back, even though they would be two of the top free agents available if either player hit the open market.
But the Colts have been working towards new contracts with each player, and as the NFL scouting combine opens, Ballard was optimistic that Jones and Pierce will be staying home.
“I’ve had great discussions with both of them,” Ballard said. “We’ll continue to work this week and see if we can get something done. It’s been very positive. When both sides are driven to get it done, it usually works out in the right way.”
If the Colts sign either player before the deadline to tag players on March 3, Indianapolis could use the franchise tag to keep Jones or Pierce from hitting the market.
Indianapolis has only used it once in Ballard’s tenure, tagging wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. “because he was in Africa hunting” before signing him to a three-year deal in 2024.
“It’s not what we want to do,” Ballard said. “It’s a tool we have.”
Jones made his desire to stay in Indianapolis clear at the end of the season.
Pierce left the possibility of looking around a little more open, but he also acknowledged that the Colts would have an advantage if they brought back Jones. The two forged a close relationship last summer, even though Jones was a first-year quarterback.
The Cincinnati product has developed into arguably the NFL’s best deep threat, and he’s a critical piece of an Indianapolis offense that was dynamic and explosive to open the season.
“Daniel and Alec are such big pieces,” Ballard said. “We move and fit from there.”
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Daniel Jones, Alec Pierce expected to return to Colts per GM Chris Ballard
The NFL is inching closer and closer to free agency, which is causing some early movement around the league. That includes the San Francisco 49ers, who could be nearing a decision to move on from one of their longest-tenured players.
According to ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter, the 49ers and franchise left tackle Trent Williams have entered a contract stalemate. The 49ers want him to play at a lower cap number, but agreeing on value has been tough to do. If a contract resolution can’t be met, then the 49ers could end up just releasing Williams.
“With five-time All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams scheduled to carry a $39 million cap number this season, he and the 49ers currently are struggling to find a contractual solution, per league sources,” Schefter wrote. “If the two sides can’t bridge their differences in their standoff, Williams would be expected to join this year’s free-agent class, making him one of the premier players available.”
Williams will turn 38 before next season starts, but he’s also been consistent. He started all 16 games this season and was still named as a second-team All-Pro selection while earning a trip to the Pro Bowl for the 12th time in his career.
If the 49ers can’t see eye-to-eye on contract value with Williams, another contender will gladly add him into the mix at a rate he feels is more fair.
Related: San Francisco 49ers Could Be Ready to Trade Pro Bowl Player
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China's Chang Bingyu caused a Welsh Open shock by beating former winner Shaun Murphy 4-0 - and became only the ninth player in history to make four consecutive century breaks.
The 23-year-old went into the first-round encounter in Llandudno ranked 54th in the world, 46 places below Englishman Murphy.
But that counted for nothing as the 2020 winner's hopes of repeating his feat at Venue Cymru were ended at the first hurdle.
Home hope Jackson Page also won 4-0, defeating Luca Brecel of Belgium to ensure a second-round spot.
Switzerland's Alexander Ursenbacher suffered the same fate as Brecel, as he lost 4-0 against China's Zhou Yuelong.
England's Stan Moody, 19, did not lose a frame in his first-round win over compatriot Jimmy Robertson while another Chinese star, Zhao Xintong, took the first step towards winning a third consecutive ranking event as he beat follow countryman Fan Zhengyi 4-3.
In another whitewash, England's Gary Wilson saw off Iran's Amir Sarkhosh 4-0 while Zhang Anda beat Mitchell Mann 4-2.
In the evening session Scotland's five-time former winner John Higgins eased past China's Liu Wenwei 4-1, the same score David Gilbert of England posted as he beat Northern Ireland's Robbie McGuigan.
Liam Pullen, 20, and Sam Craige pulled off two more of the opening round's shocks.
Pullen, ranked 84th in the world, edged 13th-seed Chris Wakelin 4-3 to reach round two.
The same scoreline befell Elliot Slessor whose 21st spot in the global rankings meant little as Wakelin, in 89th, progressed.
Morning and afternoon session:
Evening session
Does 5th place in Premier League qualify for Champions League? How UEFA decides extra spot for 2026/27 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The expansion of European competitions has afforded some of the biggest leagues in the world even more entries into the continent's top club tournament.
Two associations each year earn an extra qualifier into the UEFA Champions League, and the Premier League has recently been a main beneficiary of this bonus.
Teams from the English top flight are enjoying a level of dominance across all three European competitions in the 2025/26 season, and that has set the league up well to remain the most represented next term.
The Sporting News explains how leagues earn the coveted fifth Champions League place, whether the Premier League is in contention, and how things look around the rest of the leagues.
MORE:Champions League top goal scorer 2025/26 season | All-time UCL goal scoring leaders
The Premier League is overwhelmingly likely to earn a fifth Champions League place for a second consecutive season in 2026/27.
As of early February, not only does the Premier League lead the coefficient average rankings so far, they are doing so with the most participating clubs of any league in Europe, and they are doing so while still seeing all nine clubs alive across the three competitions.
Thanks to both a huge total of points already collected plus by far the highest maximum possible points remaining available to them, the Premier League will almost surely finish atop the coefficient standings.
This season-long storm is being led by the five Champions League participants, four of whom finished in the top eight of the league phase to earn a bye to the Round of 16, while Newcastle United round out the five after finishing 12th and progressing through the knockout playoff phase.
Given that England are almost assured of a fifth Champions League place, the real battle is for the second spot amongst European nations. Italy put themselves in a strong position early, but saw all four of their Champions League participants eliminated by the Round of 16, with Inter falling to Bodo/Glimt in an extraordinary upset.
In their place, it would appear Germany are in prime position to secure a fifth Champions League position, with six of their seven teams still active in European competition. Portugal are also in a strong position as four of their five teams are progressing deep into Europe, but it remains to be seen whether they can remain competitive all the way through.
MORE:List of teams through to Champions League knockout phase
UEFA uses its club coefficient ranking to determine who to award the additional Champions League places to each season. The system is based off each country's performance in Europe the previous season, averaged by the number of clubs participating.
From the group stage on, a win is worth two coefficient points, while a draw earns one. If a match goes to extra-time, the result at the end of the 120 minutes is logged, regardless of the penalty shootout winner.
There are also bonus points for reaching particular rounds of competition. In addition, as of the 2024/25 season, bonus points are awarded for those clubs playing in the Champions League as opposed to the other two. There is a more detailed breakdown of this below.
Points gained by all clubs in a given association are added together, and then divided by the number of clubs participating in Europe that season to give an average.
Once the qualifying positions are awarded, the clubs to take the positions are the highest in the league table not to have qualified via other means.
As it stands, England would earn one extra Champions League place while Portugal would earn the other. However, that's not likely to stand for long.
Clubs with many qualifying clubs in European play suffer what looks like a penalty, as their average score is divided amongst more participants. However, as the season plays out, those countries also have more opportunities to gain points, so the cream usually rises to the top in the end.
The table below ranks all European leagues based on UEFA coefficient score in 2025/26 competitions. The table is ranked by max possible score, showing the teams most likely to finish at the top of the rankings by the end of the season.
The current average column shows where the clubs would stand if the season ended today, but as explained above, this is not always the best identifier of the eventual finish.
Figures updated as of February 24, 2026, via UEFA. Max score via BBC.
| Rank | Country | Points | Participants (Active) | Average | Max possible score |
| 1. | England | 21.902 | 9 (9) | 2.433 | 35.013 |
| 2. | Germany | 17.428 | 7 (6) | 2.490 | 30.928 |
| 3. | Portugal | 16.600 | 5 (4) | 3.320 | 30.700 |
| 4. | Italy | 16.071 | 7 (5) | 2.296 | 29.642 |
| 5. | Spain | 16.593 | 8 (6) | 2.074 | 29.093 |
| 6. | Poland | 14.125 | 4 (3) | 3.531 | 24.875 |
| 7. | France | 14.035 | 7 (5) | 2.005 | 24.392 |
| 8. | Greece | 12.500 | 5 (4) | 2.500 | 23.200 |
| 9. | Cyprus | 11.906 | 4 (2) | 2.977 | 19.156 |
| 10. | Denmark | 11.750 | 4 (1) | 2.938 | 16.000 |
UEFA coefficient rankings are worked out based on the performances of each association (league) in European club competitions in a particular season.
Each league is awarded points based on how well their teams do in Europe, which are all added into a final total.
Points are awarded as follows:
| Achievement | UCL | UEL | UCoL |
| Win (League Phase and on) | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Draw (League Phase and on) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| League Phase min* | 0 | 3 | 2.5 |
| Knockout round bonus (per round reached) | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 |
* Every club is guaranteed to earn the minimum bonus points even if their results earn fewer. Champions League participants do not earn a minimum, as their bonus points below guarantee such award.
In addition, the following bonus points were added to the mix in the 2024/25 season based on a club's final position in each competition's league phase:
| Rank | Champions League | Europa League | Conference League |
| 1 | 12 | 6 | 4 |
| 2 | 11.75 | 5.75 | 3.75 |
| 3 | 11.5 | 5.5 | 3.5 |
| 4 | 11.25 | 5.25 | 3.25 |
| 5 | 11 | 5 | 3 |
| 6 | 10.75 | 4.75 | 2.75 |
| 7 | 10.5 | 4.5 | 2.5 |
| 8 | 10.25 | 4.25 | 2.25 |
| 9 | 10 | 4 | 2 |
| 10 | 9.75 | 3.75 | 1.875 |
| 11 | 9.5 | 3.5 | 1.75 |
| 12 | 9.25 | 3.25 | 1.625 |
| 13 | 9 | 3 | 1.5 |
| 14 | 8.75 | 2.75 | 1.375 |
| 15 | 8.5 | 2.5 | 1.25 |
| 16 | 8.25 | 2.25 | 1.125 |
| 17 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| 18 | 7.75 | 1.75 | 0.875 |
| 19 | 7.5 | 1.5 | 0.75 |
| 20 | 7.25 | 1.25 | 0.625 |
| 21 | 7 | 1 | 0.5 |
| 22 | 6.75 | 0.75 | 0.375 |
| 23 | 6.5 | 0.5 | 0.25 |
| 24 | 6.25 | 0.25 | 0.125 |
| 25 | 6 | — | — |
| 26 | 6 | — | — |
| 27 | 6 | — | — |
| 28 | 6 | — | — |
| 29 | 6 | — | — |
| 30 | 6 | — | — |
| 31 | 6 | — | — |
| 32 | 6 | — | — |
| 33 | 6 | — | — |
| 34 | 6 | — | — |
| 35 | 6 | — | — |
| 36 | 6 | — | — |
The top two teams chasing the Premier League title, Arsenal and Manchester City, are considered almost virtual locks at this point to qualify for the Champions League next season. Aston Villa are also given an almost nine-in-10 chance to reach Europe's top competition.
From there, the final two positions are wide open, with no team given over a 50 percent chance to secure a place.
Table updated as of all matches on February 24. Percent chance to reach Champions League via Opta.
| Pos | Club | Games | Pts | W-D-L | GD | % chance |
| 1. | Arsenal | 28 | 61 | 18-7-3 | +35 | 99.9% |
| 2. | Man City | 27 | 56 | 17-5-5 | +31 | 99.6% |
| 3. | Aston Villa | 27 | 51 | 15-6-6 | +10 | 85.8% |
| 4. | Man United | 27 | 48 | 13-9-5 | +11 | 44.2% |
| 5. | Chelsea | 27 | 45 | 12-9-6 | +17 | 20.6% |
| 6. | Liverpool | 27 | 45 | 13-6-8 | +7 | 47.1% |
| 7. | Brentford | 27 | 40 | 12-4-11 | +3 | 1.8% |
| 8. | Bournemouth | 27 | 38 | 9-11-7 | -2 | 0.5% |
| 9. | Everton | 27 | 37 | 10-7-10 | -2 | 0.04% |
Eagles free agency update involving veteran playmaker is horrible news for Broncos, Chargers, Giants originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Philadelphia Eagles will have to make a decision on tight end Dallas Goedert's future, as the veteran is set to hit free agency in the coming weeks.
If Goedert hits the market, he will have plenty of suitors. However, it sounds like the Eagles have no plans to let the productive playmaker find a new home.
During a press conference at the NFL combine on Tuesday, Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman said the franchise will speak to Goedert's agent in the coming days and finalize a new contract.
"Tremendous player and person for the Philadelphia Eagles. I'm really glad we were able to figure it out and bring him back to Philadelphia this year (2025) and for this season and tremendously productive for us. Just a huge asset for our offense to have him on our football team. Again, we got to put the whole puzzle together. And so to sit here, we got a lot of other free agents too and say, ‘Hey, we're definitely going to get this guy back...’ When we get this late, obviously the market dictates a lot of that as well, but we'll certainly sit down with his agent here over the next couple of days and have a conversation. Very appreciative of Dallas Goedert," Roseman said via Dave Zangaro of NBC Philly.
Bringing back Goedert is a no-brainer move for the Eagles. The 31-year-old tallied a career-high 11 receiving touchdowns in 2025 and continues to be a reliable playmaker for quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Philadelphia working to re-sign Goedert is dejecting news for teams in need of a tight end, including the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, and New York Giants.
Denver could be looking for an upgrade over Evan Engram at tight end, and Goedert would fit that mold. The South Dakota State product would be a savvy security blanket and red-zone threat for quarterback Bo Nix.
Both Los Angeles and New York have young tight ends who posted promising rookie campaigns, Oronde Gadsden II for the Chargers and Theo Johnson for the Giants. However, both franchises could also be a fit for Goedert in two-tight-end sets.
It's looking more and more likely that Goedert will remain with the Eagles in 2026, so the Broncos, Chargers, and Giants will have to evaluate other options at tight end.
Some of your favorite college football players are in Indianapolis for the NFL Combine.
ALSO READ: Panthers’ McMillan named PFWA Rookie of the Year
In the video at the top of this webpage, sports director Phil Orban is there to find out who the Panthers are eyeing to bring back to the Carolinas.
VIDEO: Former Panthers star Luke Kuechly heading to Pro Football Hall of Fame
Astros trade proposal lands Red Sox's All-Star speedster to pair with Yordan Alvarez originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Following the trade of outfielder Jesus Sanchez to the Toronto Blue Jays, the Houston Astros are short-handed in the left-handed hitting department.
Joey Loperfido and Zach Cole are the only other two lefties in the Astros' projected lineup against right-handed pitching, per FanGraphs. To complement Yordan Alvarez, they'll need a more established middle-of-the-order bat.
Not to mention, second baseman Jose Altuve and Christian Walker will be on the wrong side of 35 for the majority of the season. How does general manager Dana Brown and the Astros attack the glaring issue?
Left fielder Jarren Duran's name has popped up in trade rumors countless times over the last few seasons. He's emerged as a multifaceted contributor who can hit for power and pose a threat on the basepaths.
However, the Boston Red Sox may be willing to move him in a trade for the right return package due to their surplus of outfielders.
"Though his $8 million salary reportedly gives them pause, the Astros have been a speculative fit for Duran all offseason," Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer wrote Tuesday. "And they remain a good landing spot for him on paper, as they need a left-handed-hitting outfielder who adds new elements (i.e., power and speed) to the offense."
Duran was named the All-Star Game MVP in 2024 and has two consecutive seasons with 16 or more home runs and 41 or more doubles. His batting average dropped 29 points from 2024 to 2025, but the Astros probably wouldn't mind the drop in production if he managed to increase his walk rate and often found himself in run-scoring opportunities.
The Red Rose Run is returning to Red Rose City this summer, celebrating 50 years of the 5-mile race.
Organizers announced that registration for this year's race will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday morning. The first 250 people to register will have their names entered into a drawing for a $250 Downtown Dollars prize.
In recognition of the race's 50th anniversary, organizers are offering limited-edition 50th anniversary T-shirts and other merchandise for sale.
This year's race will see a larger prize pool than ever before, with more than $27,000 in awards. That includes a $1,977 prize for the runner who breaks the course record.
Registration for the race will run through June 2 and cost $40. Those who wait until race day can register for $45. Registration includes a race bib, water bottle, refreshments after the race and a race medal.
A kid's fun run will begin at 9:30 a.m. Each participant will receive a 2026 season Stormers ticket voucher.
Two participants from the original 1977 race — Dave Glouner and Elvin Kraybill — will be recognized and honored before the race.
More information can be found on the City's tourism website.
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Jahmyr Gibbs continues to be the centerpiece of the Detroit Lions’ offense, and with fellow running back David Montgomery potentially on his way out of the Motor City, the dynamic playmaker could be in line for career-high numbers.
Gibbs headlines the early NFL Offensive Player of the Year odds, though plenty of familiar faces are also in the mix for 2026–27.
Odds from DraftKings, one of our best betting apps. Sign up with our DraftKings promo code, or get one of our other sportsbook promos.
| Player | Team | |
|---|---|---|
| Jahmyr Gibbs | Detroit Lions | +750 |
| Ja'Marr Chase | Cincinnati Bengals | +900 |
| Bijan Robinson | Atlanta Falcons | +900 |
| Puka Nacua | Los Angeles Rams | +1000 |
| Christian McCaffrey | San Francisco 49ers | +1000 |
| Jaxon-Smith Njigba | Seattle Seahawks | +1100 |
| Saquon Barkley | Philadelphia Eagles | +1400 |
| Justin Jefferson | Minnesota Vikings | +1400 |
| CeeDee Lamb | Dallas Cowboys | +1400 |
| Jonathan Taylor | Indianapolis Colts | +1800 |
Odds as of 2-24-2026.
Here is a look at NFL Offensive Player of the Year opening odds. Jahmyr Gibbs (+750) opened as the betting favorite.
Jonathan Taylor looked set to run away with OPOY honors last season, as the Indianapolis Colts running back was the odds-on favorite through the first half of the year.
Then came the collapse. The Colts stumbled down the stretch, losing nine of their final 10 regular-season games, which included noticeable dips in Taylor’s production.
Despite the team’s struggles, the Colts’ running back still finished with the second-most rushing yards in the NFL, falling just 26 short of James Cook.
Backed by a stout offensive line and a run-heavy scheme, Taylor remains a solid pick heading into a fresh season.
OPOY Pick: Jonathan Taylor (+1800 at DraftKings)
• Since this award was first given out in 1972, seven offensive players have claimed this award more than once. However, Jerry Rice is the only receiver to win it multiple times.
• Only five receivers have won OPOY since '72, but four of the five (Michael Thomas, Cooper Kupp, Justin Jefferson, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba) have won it in the last six years.
• Among the 52 Offensive Player of the Year winners, 28 were named Most Valuable Player in the same season.
• Running backs have won OPOY the most, with 29, and quarterbacks are second with 20.
A quick look at the NFL OPOY winners since 2000 and the position they played.
| Year | NFL OPOY Award Winner | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Jaxon Smith-Njigba | WR |
| 2024 | Saquon Barkley | RB |
| 2023 | Christian McCaffrey | RB |
| 2022 | Justin Jefferson | WR |
| 2021 | Cooper Kupp | WR |
| 2020 | Derrick Henry | RB |
| 2019 | Michael Thomas | WR |
| 2018 | Patrick Mahomes | QB |
| 2017 | Todd Gurley | RB |
| 2016 | Matt Ryan | QB |
| 2015 | Cam Newton | QB |
| 2014 | DeMarco Murray | RB |
| 2013 | Peyton Manning | QB |
| 2012 | Adrian Peterson | RB |
| 2011 | Drew Brees | QB |
| 2010 | Tom Brady | QB |
| 2009 | Chris Johnson | RB |
| 2008 | Drew Brees | QB |
| 2007 | Tom Brady | QB |
| 2006 | LaDainian Tomlinson | RB |
| 2005 | Shaun Alexander | RB |
| 2004 | Peyton Manning | QB |
| 2003 | Jamal Lewis | RB |
| 2002 | Priest Holmes | RB |
| 2001 | Marshall Faulk | RB |
| 2000 | Marshall Faulk | RB |
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.
Everyone is rooting for Lindsey Vonn, including the soccer G.O.A.T. Cristiano Ronaldo.
The injured athlete shared a pleasing update about her healing journey, and her comment section has witnessed an influx of well-wishes from all and sundry, across all facets of the world.
Lindsey Vonn abruptly bowed out of the 2026 Winter Olympics about two weeks ago when she crashed a few minutes into the start of her skiing race and underwent multiple surgeries to save her legs.
The former Manchester United player was found lurking under Vonn's comment section with uplifting words about her strength and journey so far.
"Champions are defined by the moments they win, and the moments they refuse to give up. The mountains you conquered were never bigger than the strength you carry. Keep fighting. Legends always rise," the soccer player declared.
The alpine ski racer reacted to the post, noting that it meant so much to her to read those kind words from the former FIFA world best soccer player.
Ronaldo was not the only soccer legend to publicly root for Vonn to completely bounce back from her injury. Zlatan Ibrahimović, who once played for Manchester United and AC Milan, also urged Vonn not to see quitting as an option, to which she replied, "NEVER!!"
The soccer champion definitely understands Vonn's perspective, as he has also encountered several hurdles in his illustrious career. As noted by Sportbible, the Portuguese player has been battling with a degenerative knee condition since 2014, which was stated would get worse as the years go by.
Describing the knee condition as tendinosis, an X user in 2021 claimed this was why Ronaldo had to change his football playing technique to make space for his challenges.
The Portuguese Football Association also confirmed his knee injury in a medical report in June 2014, stating that he had suffered a "muscle injury in the posterior region of the left thigh and left patellar tendinosis."
As explained by the Cleveland Clinic, tendinosis happens when something prevents an injured tendon from healing and thus causes the tissue to break down gradually. The condition is described as progressive and painful, and if left untreated, can continue to weaken the tendon till it becomes unusable.
As Vonn announced the good news of finally leaving the hospital, she revealed in the lengthy video that it remained one of the most challenging and painful injuries she has ever dealt with.
She updated her fans and loved ones, noting that she had a complex tibia fracture and fractured her fibula head and tibia plateau. Her compartment syndrome further escalated the situation.
Vonn stressed that due to the compartment syndrome, all the muscles, nerves, and tendons in the affected area were literally gone. However, her expert doctor, who had been with her since she tore her ACL in January, was there to save her leg from being amputated.
The ski racer thanked her fans for the amazing love and support, while wishing that her journey at the competition had a different and more exciting outcome.
She consoled herself with the words that she would rather go down swinging than do nothing, and she was able to achieve incredible feats for the year, especially after she retired six years ago.
Vonn named her medic, Dr. Tom Hackett, more than once in her viral video, crediting him for helping to save her legs from an emergency amputation.
She revealed that he swiftly performed a fasciotomy on her legs as soon as she was rushed to the local hospital, which helped her legs breathe and performed a timely miracle.
"When the injury happened, the situation was quite challenging in many ways but in the end, the situation was brought back into control. Again, thank you, Dr. Tom Hackett. He filleted it open [and] let it breathe, and he saved me," Vonn stated.
According to The Mirror US, Dr. Tom Hackett is widely recognized as an expert in knee, shoulder, and elbow injuries with a special focus on recreational athletes and Olympic gold medalists. Hackett has consistently pushed the boundaries of modern medicine through innovative treatments and surgical expertise.
He earned his medical degree from Creighton University and completed a general surgery internship and orthopedic residency at Boston's New England Medical Center at Tufts University.
While she crashed out at the competition, the athlete was dealt with an even more crushing blow the next day as she lost her dear dog, Leo. As shared by The Blast, Vonn explained that she was able to say her final goodbye to the dog right on her hospital bed.
Though Vonn broke the news a week after it happened, she confessed that it felt surreal processing the loss, and Leo forever had a special place in her heart.
Aside from winning hearts at several games and showing off her excellent ski talents, the star also carried a burning passion for saving dogs. In fact, Leo was her first ever adopted dog, and it proved to be a worthy confidant while she battled her 2014 knee injury.
Lindsey Vonn is definitely not alone in this journey towards complete recovery!
England Women captain Leah Williamson has said she would consider strike action to protest ongoing concerns regarding player welfare.
The Arsenal defender, recently returned to the Lionesses squad following knee surgery, led her country to Euro 2025 glory last summer.
Her comments come after a significant number of Sarina Wiegman’s squad faced fitness and injury struggles in the wake of last summer’s tournament in Switzerland.
While Williamson believes there remains an opportunity for governing bodies to tackle fixture congestion, she affirmed she would not dismiss drastic measures should players feel their health is being unduly jeopardised.
“Ultimately, we all want to play football; nobody wants any games, years, seasons to be taken away from them – tournaments especially,” she told a press conference ahead of next week’s World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Iceland.
“But across men’s and women’s football, I think the possibility for growth in the game just never seems to end. And the money that’s on the table for everybody involved, we’ll benefit from that too.
“There has to be a balance and I would never rule out further action from the players because if it needed to happen for people to protect themselves, I wouldn’t blame anybody.”
Asked if that could include going on strike, Williamson replied: “I’ve not had any conversations about this right now.
“But if a group of people doesn’t feel like they’re getting listened to then history suggests that that’s the only way they can get heard, so I’d never take it off the table.
“I just don’t think that’s where we are now. I think we’re still in a phase where we can all collaborate and listen and educate.”
After England retained the Euros title in July, the sidelined Williamson sat out a friendly defeat by Brazil and victories over China, Ghana and Australia.
“Scheduling, I don’t think people argue against it for fun,” said the 28-year-old.
“The more successful you are, the less rest you have and the higher risks of injuries. The facts are there with the players.
“I just think it’s an accumulation and when we look ahead, the players, sure we’d all love to just turn up and play football, but we do use our voice and we do try and get involved in the conversations with the hierarchy so they at least have our perspective.
“Whether it’s listened to is beyond my control.”
Williamson returned to club action on December 13 as a substitute in Arsenal’s 3-1 Women’s Super League victory over Everton.
She added: “It’s mainly around the rest periods and trying to get all governing bodies to align. It always sounds like we’re asking for a holiday, and that’s not the case.”
England face Ukraine in Antalya, Turkey next Tuesday — a neutral venue selected because of the ongoing war — before hosting Iceland four days later at a sold-out City Ground in Nottingham.
Speaking on the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Williamson said: “It’s incomprehensible to us and that’s a luxury we’re all very aware of.
“I’m sure Ukraine would have loved to play us in their home country, we would have loved to play there too.
“It’s not feasible because of war – when you actually say that out loud…
“I’m looking forward to an occasion that gets to celebrate those players. I’m proud to play for my country. I can’t imagine how they feel to step out in a Ukraine shirt.”
It looks like Nvidia is targeting Linux Gaming, and that’s bad news for Windows A pair of new job listings (via Videocardz) has been spotted that imply Nvidia has started specifically targeting Linux as a gaming OS. One job listing is searching for a “Senior System Software Engineer” who specialises in “Vulkan Performance”. This listing […]
The post Nvidia targets Linux and Proton optimisation with new Job Listings appeared first on OC3D.
FitRadar connects people with local fitness classes, sports events, and personal trainers on iOS and Android. You can search for nearby activities, filter by distance and favorites, and book in a few taps using secure Stripe payments. Ratings come from real attendees, allowing you to choose with confidence.
Trainers and organizers can host free or paid workouts, build a following, and manage bookings all in one place. You can share classes on social media, reach new clients, and grow your community across multiple languages.
Westchester County Airport (HPN) is experiencing significant operational disruption today, with 26 flight delays and 23 cancellations affecting regional air travel across the Northeast United States. For travelers relying on the White Plains-based airport as a convenient alternative to larger New York City hubs, the disruption has translated into revised departure times, rebooking efforts, and altered itineraries.
Located in White Plains and serving the Hudson Valley and northern New York metropolitan region, Westchester County Airport plays a critical role in connecting suburban and regional travelers to major business centers including Washington, D.C., Chicago, Atlanta, and Florida destinations. When flight operations slow at HPN, the impact is immediately felt by commuters and connecting passengers alike.
A combined total of 49 interrupted flights — 26 delayed and 23 cancelled — represents a notable operational shift for a regional airport of Westchester’s size. Unlike larger international hubs where daily flight counts are substantially higher, a disruption approaching 50 movements significantly compresses operational capacity.
Delays involve departures or arrivals occurring beyond their scheduled time, often by 15 minutes or more. Although delays may appear minor individually, multiple concurrent delays can create runway congestion and gate availability challenges.
Cancellations, meanwhile, remove flights from the schedule entirely. For passengers, this means full itinerary adjustments, possible overnight accommodations, and rebooking through alternative airports or connecting hubs.
Westchester County Airport operates within the complex and heavily regulated New York metropolitan airspace system. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) manages aircraft sequencing and traffic flow across the region, coordinating arrivals and departures among nearby airports such as LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport.
During periods of weather volatility or airspace congestion, the FAA may initiate traffic management programs such as ground delay initiatives or flow restrictions. These measures limit the rate at which aircraft depart or arrive in order to preserve safe separation standards.
Because Westchester County Airport shares congested regional airspace, disruptions at neighboring major airports can indirectly affect HPN operations, even if local conditions remain manageable.
Multiple factors can drive delay and cancellation volumes at regional airports:
Weather patterns in the Northeast frequently shift rapidly, bringing wind, precipitation, or visibility changes that alter runway usage and approach sequencing.
Aircraft rotation dependencies are another major variable. If inbound flights from Chicago, Washington, Atlanta, or Florida hubs arrive late, outbound departures from Westchester are likely to be delayed.
National network congestion can also amplify local disruption. Airlines operate interconnected route systems, and delays in one region often cascade through multiple airports.
Crew scheduling requirements under federal aviation regulations may contribute as well. Airlines must adhere to strict crew duty and rest rules, and prolonged delays can push crews beyond allowable limits, triggering cancellations.
Westchester County Airport primarily serves domestic routes with high business and leisure traffic. Key destinations often include Washington, D.C., Chicago, Charlotte, Atlanta, and Florida cities.
When cancellations occur at HPN, travelers may seek alternative flights through nearby airports such as LaGuardia or JFK. However, during broader regional disruptions, capacity at these airports may also be constrained.
For business travelers who rely on same-day return trips, cancellations can significantly disrupt schedules. Leisure travelers may encounter rebooking delays depending on seat availability and route demand.
Inside the terminal at Westchester County Airport, passengers encounter updated digital departure boards reflecting revised times and cancellation notices. Airline service desks typically experience higher demand during periods of elevated disruption.
Passengers affected by cancellations are often provided options including rebooking on later flights, rerouting through alternate airports, or receiving refunds depending on airline policy.
Airport management coordinates closely with airlines and ground handling teams to manage gate assignments, maintain passenger flow, and reduce congestion in waiting areas.
Airlines operating at Westchester County Airport implement structured recovery measures during high-disruption periods. These measures typically include:
Reallocating aircraft to maintain priority routes
Reassigning crew in compliance with federal duty regulations
Consolidating passenger loads where possible
Adjusting departure schedules to restore sequencing efficiency
Recovery timelines depend largely on broader airspace stabilization. Once upstream delays clear and inbound aircraft align with revised schedules, departure volumes gradually normalize.
Travelers departing from or arriving at Westchester County Airport are advised to confirm flight status directly with their airline before heading to the airport, allow additional time for check-in and security processing, monitor airline digital notifications closely, and explore rebooking or refund options promptly in the event of cancellation.
Staying informed through official airline and FAA updates remains critical during high-disruption periods in the New York metropolitan airspace.
Westchester County Airport’s 26 delays and 23 cancellations today highlight the interconnected and sensitive nature of regional air travel within the Northeast corridor. While disruptions at a regional airport may not draw national headlines, their impact on commuters, families, and business travelers is immediate and tangible.
Behind each delayed or cancelled flight are coordinated efforts from air traffic controllers, airline operations teams, ground crews, and airport management working to maintain safety and restore operational balance. For travelers navigating HPN during this disruption, flexibility and timely information remain the most valuable tools in managing changing schedules.
The post Travel Disruption Hits Westchester County Airport in the United States as 26 Flights Are Delayed and 23 Cancelled Disrupting American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways and More Across White Plains, New York City, Chicago, Atlanta and Key East Coast Routes appeared first on Travel And Tour World.Le Meurice, which belongs to Dorchester Collection as its historic palace that provides views of Tuileries Garden, will introduce its complete culinary and wellness program for 2026 which aims to attract high-end travelers who consider dining and spa treatments essential to their time in Paris, France. The guests at the event will have the opportunity to experience a relaxed pace which includes enjoying wine dinners that showcase local wines and participating in extended Parisian lunches and watching the creation of artistic pastry desserts before they go to Spa Valmont pour Le Meurice to experience a facial treatment that uses Swiss methods for deep skin hydration.
Restaurant Le Dalí, the hotel’s Philippe Starck‑designed dining room inspired by Salvador Dalí, will host les Jeudis de Vignerons, an intimate series of four winemaker dinners spotlighting distinctive French estates across 2026. Curated by wine director Gabriel Veissaire and supported by the culinary direction of Alain Ducasse’s team, each Thursday evening will pair a single estate’s philosophy with a bespoke four‑course menu.
Across the four dates – 19 March, 21 May, 15 October and 3 December 2026 – guests will begin with a guided tasting of four cuvées led by the visiting winemaker, before sitting down to a menu crafted to match the estate’s expressions. Each event is priced at €150 per person, including the guided tasting, four courses and wine pairings, positioning the dinners as a high‑end yet accessible way for oenophiles to immerse themselves in French terroir while in Paris.
The line‑up brings together Muscadet from the Loire, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Burgundy and the power of Châteauneuf‑du‑Pape in the Rhône, giving international visitors a curated circuit of France’s most storied wine regions without leaving the city. After each dinner, the featured cuvées will be available for two months on the wine lists at both Restaurant Le Dalí and Restaurant Le Meurice Alain Ducasse, under a dedicated “Coup de Coeur” selection for guests who discover a new favourite label.
Under the direction of chef Clémentine Bouchon, Restaurant Le Dalí is introducing a refreshed lunch menu that leans into comforting French classics, reframed with precise, contemporary technique for today’s cosmopolitan traveller. Offered as a two‑ or three‑course menu, lunch features bistro‑style starters such as egg mayonnaise with tuna belly and a rustic country terrine, followed by slow‑cooked dishes like beef bourguignon or free‑range chicken fricassee with seasonal mushrooms and vin jaune sauce.
Desserts are in the hands of renowned pastry chef Cédric Grolet and pastry chef François Deshayes, who are focusing on much‑loved recipes including crème brûlée and rice pudding, bringing a sense of French home cooking into a palace setting. The lunch menu is priced from €58 for two courses and €68 for three courses, excluding drinks, and is served Monday to Saturday from 12pm to 2:15pm, allowing both hotel guests and city visitors to fit a refined meal into a day of sightseeing between the Louvre and Place Vendôme.
Afternoon tea has been embedded in Le Meurice’s story since 1835, when the hotel became one of Paris’s pioneers in welcoming British travellers, and that tradition is now being recast for a new generation by Cédric Grolet at Restaurant Le Dalí. Described as one of France’s most celebrated pastry talents and named The World’s Best Pastry Chef in 2018, Grolet is bringing his signature trompe‑l’œil artistry to a reimagined teatime that blends British ritual with Parisian flair.
Teatime service, from 12:30pm to 5:30pm Monday to Saturday and 4:30pm to 5:30pm on Sundays, will begin with savoury finger sandwiches, including a Parisian interpretation of 12‑month‑aged ham with fresh truffle on house‑made bread, a lobster‑roll‑inspired brioche and a salmon sandwich topped with caviar. The sweet course will showcase six sculpted seasonal fruits – such as yuzu, apple, mango, peanut, pistachio and pecan – alongside warm madeleines, cakes, sugar brioches and freshly baked scones, served with carefully chosen teas, coffee, hot chocolate and optional Champagne pairings.
Teatime at Le Meurice starts from 95 euro per person including a hot drink, positioning it as a special‑occasion pause in the heart of Paris for visitors seeking a visually striking, social‑media‑ready experience. For travellers planning an indulgent afternoon between museum visits or luxury shopping, the hotel’s team guide guests through beverage pairings to align with each course, quietly emphasising the sense of ceremony that has long defined the property’s service.
In the wellness sphere, Spa Valmont pour Le Meurice is marking the launch of Valmont’s HYDRA3 hydration collection with an updated version of its Hydration des Bisses facial, drawing inspiration from the historic irrigation channels of the Swiss Valais. The treatment begins with a facial massage using lymphatic drainage techniques and Valmont’s characteristic butterfly motions, designed to stimulate microcirculation, ease tension and help the skin better absorb hydrating actives.
The ritual aims to leave the complexion revitalised, luminous and comfortable from the first session, promising restored suppleness and radiance under the hands of trained Valmont therapists. For international guests arriving after a long‑haul flight or a packed European itinerary, the spa’s hammams, sauna and treatment rooms at Le Meurice offer a cocooning counterpoint to the city outside, making wellness an integral part of a luxury Paris stay rather than an afterthought.
The hotel establishes its 2026 program schedule through two main elements, which include its traditional heritage and its modern innovative practices, as it develops its culinary offerings from winemaker-hosted dinners to elevated comfort food and its afternoon tea menu, which follows design principles. The hotel offers visitors a dual experience because it serves as both a sensory exploration site and a capital city base. The new experiences offer guests who want to travel to Europe different options for spending their day, which includes visiting the tasting room and tea stand and treatment bed, while they enjoy views of Paris’s famous landmarks through the Belle Époque windows.
Image Credit: Le Meurice Paris
The post Dorchester Collection’s Le Meurice: France’s Paris Icon Lures Luxury‑Seeking Tourists With Decadent New Gourmet And Spa Rituals appeared first on Travel And Tour World.Travel interruptions are currently sweeping through Australia, leaving hundreds of passengers facing an unpredictable day on the tarmac. Major transit hubs in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane are reporting a significant surge in scheduling inconsistencies. These interruptions create a challenging environment for commuters and holidaymakers alike. Jetstar and QantasLink appear at the forefront of these operational hurdles. Their teams are currently managing a high volume of rescheduled departures and grounded flights. Meanwhile, regional services in Perth and Cairns are also feeling the ripple effect of these delays. Even smaller hubs serving the Geelong region via Avalon have not escaped the impact. There’s a total of 666 delays and 12 flight cancellations reported. Active coordination between air traffic control and ground crews remains essential to restore order. Staying informed via real-time alerts is the best way to handle the evolving situation across the country.
The disruption has been most acutely felt at Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine), which stands as the most heavily impacted site in Australia. At this location, 5 total cancellations were recorded alongside a substantial 255 delays. This represents the highest concentration of travel interference for the day. Nearby, Avalon Airport, which serves as a vital link for the Geelong and Greater Melbourne region, also faced setbacks with 1 cancellation and 5 delays reported.
Further north, the situation remained strained. Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport recorded 2 cancellations and 208 delays, maintaining its position as a high-pressure zone for air traffic control and ground handling teams. In Brisbane, the airport recorded 2 cancellations and 101 delays, further complicating the transit routes along the East Coast.
The Western and Far North regions were not exempt from these scheduling adjustments. In Perth, 1 cancellation and 72 delays were documented, while in Cairns, 1 cancellation and 25 delays occurred. These figures illustrate a nationwide trend of interference that has necessitated a significant recalibration of travel expectations for those moving between these major urban centres.
Several of the region’s most prominent carriers have been forced to adjust their operations. Jetstar has been identified as a primary contributor to the day’s statistics, with disruptions spread across multiple cities. Specifically, the airline recorded cancellations and delays in Melbourne (1 cancellation, 67 delays), Sydney (1 cancellation, 43 delays), Brisbane (1 cancellation, 22 delays) and Geelong via Avalon Airport (1 cancellation, 5 delays).
Qantas and its regional subsidiary, QantasLink, also faced operational hurdles. QantasLink was particularly impacted at Melbourne Tullamarine with 4 cancellations and 31 delays. Meanwhile, Qantas mainline services saw 1 cancellation and 53 delays in Sydney, as well as 1 cancellation and 10 delays in Perth.
Alliance Airlines, a carrier frequently utilised for regional and charter-style connections, was also noted in the daily figures. The airline experienced 1 cancellation and 4 delays in Brisbane and 1 cancellation and 2 delays in Cairns.
Beyond these specific figures, delays were being experienced by several other Airlines, like Regional Express Airlines, Virgin Australia, Air Niugini, Indonesia AirAsia, Network Aviation and more.
The involvement of such a diverse range of carriers suggests that the interference was not isolated to a single business model but was felt across the full spectrum of the Australian aviation sector.
The ripple effects of 666 delays are often felt beyond the tarmac, as the tourism sectors in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane rely heavily on the punctual arrival of visitors. When travel interference of this magnitude occurs, local economies are frequently impacted by the late arrival of tourists who have pre-booked accommodation, tours and dining experiences. In cities like Cairns, where the tourism industry is a cornerstone of the local economy, even a small number of cancellations can lead to a reduction in footfall for reef and rainforest excursions.
Furthermore, the connectivity between Perth and the eastern states is vital for business and leisure alike. Delays in the Western Australian capital can lead to missed connections for international flights, potentially dampening the experience for global travellers visiting Australia. In the Geelong region, disruptions at Avalon Airport may affect the flow of visitors to the Great Ocean Road, a key destination for domestic holidaymakers. While the interference is categorised as moderate, the cumulative effect on visitor spending and local hospitality schedules is often a point of concern for regional tourism boards.
For those currently navigating the delays in Sydney, Melbourne, or any of the other impacted hubs, several professional recommendations are offered. Firstly, passengers are encouraged to monitor their mobile applications and email notifications frequently, as real-time updates are provided by Jetstar, Qantas and Alliance Airlines. It is advised that travellers remain in close proximity to information screens within the terminals to ensure that any sudden gate changes or boarding announcements are not missed.
For passengers facing cancellations, a visit to the airline’s service desk is often necessary to discuss rebooking options or to seek clarification on compensation policies. Those situated in Brisbane, Perth, or Cairns who may be delayed for several hours are encouraged to retain all receipts for essential purchases, as these may be required for future insurance claims.
In instances where travel has been diverted or significantly postponed, checking with local transport providers in Geelong or other regional centres is suggested to ensure that onward car rentals or shuttle services remain aware of the updated arrival times. By maintaining a proactive approach, the inconvenience caused by these 666 delays and 12 cancellations can be managed effectively while waiting for the resumption of standard flight operations across Australia.
-The information provided is sourced from FlightAware.
The post Passengers in Australia Experience Travel Interference as Jetstar, Qantas, Alliance Airlines and others Face 666 Delays and 12 Flight Cancellations across Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Cairns and Geelong, New Update appeared first on Travel And Tour World.Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) is experiencing notable operational challenges today, with 35 flight delays and 29 cancellations affecting departures and arrivals across regional and national routes. For passengers traveling through the Ohio River corridor, the disruption translates into altered departure times, rebooking procedures, and adjusted itineraries as airlines work to restore schedule stability.
Located in Hebron, Kentucky, and serving the greater Cincinnati metropolitan area, CVG functions as a key transportation gateway for southern Ohio, northern Kentucky, and southeastern Indiana. When schedule irregularities emerge at CVG, their impact extends across Midwest and southern travel corridors, affecting both connecting passengers and point-to-point travelers.
A total of 64 flight interruptions — combining 35 delays and 29 cancellations — represent a substantial daily operational shift for the airport. While larger hubs may see higher raw numbers, the proportion of cancellations relative to scheduled movements at CVG signals meaningful schedule compression.
Delays generally involve aircraft departing or arriving later than planned, often due to weather patterns, inbound aircraft timing, or airspace congestion. Cancellations, however, remove flights entirely from the day’s schedule, requiring more complex operational responses including passenger reaccommodation and crew reassignment.
At regional airports such as CVG, cancellation rates approaching 30 flights in a single operational window can significantly influence gate utilization, ground crew logistics, and airline recovery planning.
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport operates within the U.S. national airspace system overseen by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). During periods of elevated disruption, the FAA may implement traffic management initiatives such as ground delay programs or airspace flow restrictions to maintain safe aircraft spacing.
Ground delay programs are designed to regulate departure rates when arrival capacity at a destination airport is reduced due to weather, congestion, or runway configuration limitations. These programs can result in extended departure waits that ripple into cancellation decisions if recovery windows narrow.
Additionally, crew scheduling regulations mandated under federal aviation rules require airlines to adhere to strict duty and rest limits. Prolonged delays may therefore result in cancellation if crew availability becomes constrained.
Several interconnected elements typically contribute to delay and cancellation volumes of this scale:
Weather Conditions:
The Midwest region frequently experiences dynamic weather systems, including storms, wind shifts, and visibility changes that impact runway operations.
Aircraft Rotation Dependencies:
Aircraft arriving late from major hubs such as Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, or New York often depart late from CVG, creating a chain effect.
National Network Congestion:
Because airlines operate interconnected route systems, disruptions at one major airport can cascade through smaller airports such as Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky.
Crew and Equipment Reallocation:
When aircraft or crew are reassigned to stabilize operations elsewhere in the network, scheduled departures at regional airports may be cancelled.
While no single cause defines today’s event, operational interdependency remains a core characteristic of modern aviation systems.
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport connects the region to major U.S. destinations including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Orlando, Denver, and New York. Disruptions at CVG therefore affect business, leisure, and connecting travel across multiple states.
Passengers traveling to connecting hubs may experience additional scheduling complications if missed connections require overnight stays or alternate routing.
Because CVG serves both passenger and cargo operations, gate allocation adjustments and aircraft sequencing must be carefully coordinated to prevent congestion within the terminal and apron areas.
Inside the terminal, updated flight information boards display revised departure times and cancellation notices. Airline customer service counters typically experience higher demand during such events, with passengers seeking rebooking assistance or clarification regarding alternate routes.
Travelers affected by cancellations may be offered rebooking on subsequent flights, rerouting through alternate hubs, or refunds depending on airline policy. Mobile applications and airline communication channels serve as primary tools for notifying passengers of changes.
Airport operations teams coordinate with airlines to maintain orderly passenger flow, manage gate assignments, and support recovery operations.
Airlines operating at CVG implement structured recovery strategies during high-impact disruption periods. These strategies include:
Recovery timelines depend heavily on clearing earlier bottlenecks within the national airspace system. As arrival flows stabilize, departure schedules generally normalize.
Passengers traveling through Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport are advised to verify flight status directly with their airline before heading to the airport, allow extra time for check-in and security screening, monitor airline communication platforms for updates, and review rebooking or refund options promptly if cancellations affect travel plans.
Proactive coordination with carriers can reduce confusion during high-disruption periods.
Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky’s CVG Airport, with 35 delays and 29 cancellations today, reflects the broader complexities of operating within a highly interconnected U.S. aviation network. While disruptions of this magnitude create inconvenience for travelers, coordinated efforts between airlines, airport management, and federal air traffic authorities aim to restore schedule balance as efficiently as possible.
For passengers navigating CVG during this disruption, flexibility and timely information remain essential. Behind every adjusted departure time are aviation professionals working to ensure safety while stabilizing operations — a reminder that even regional hubs play a crucial role in maintaining national connectivity.
If you want the dramatic “Mass Travel Chaos…” style headline for this airport in the same long framework as your previous examples, tell me and I’ll format it exactly
The post Severe Travel Disruption Hits Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in the United States as 35 Flights Are Delayed and 29 Cancelled Disrupting Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Frontier Airlines and More Across Cincinnati, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas and Major Midwest Rout appeared first on Travel And Tour World.St. John’s International Airport is currently grappling with a severe air travel standstill as a powerful winter storm disrupts the Atlantic region. The latest flight data confirms that PAL Airlines, Air Canada, Porter, and WestJet were forced to cancel 14 flights today. Additionally, these carriers had to delay 6 more others, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded throughout the terminal. Consequently, travelers bound for Canada mainland destinations are facing a difficult day. Major hubs including Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, and Calgary have seen their scheduled links severed. Furthermore, several others like Montreal and regional ports are also heavily impacted.
Therefore, passengers should check their status immediately. This weather-driven standstill highlights how quickly St. John’s can become isolated. Whether you are flying with Air Canada, WestJet, PAL Airlines, or Porter, expect significant hurdles across Calgary, Ottawa, Halifax, and Toronto today.
The disruption, which has hit both regional hops and transcontinental “lifeline” routes, shows a staggered impact across different carriers, with some airlines seeing their entire daily schedule for specific routes wiped out.
A closer look at the carrier data reveals that no airline has been left untouched by the current conditions. PAL Airlines has seen the highest volume of grounded flights, with 6 cancellations (23%) and 3 delays (11%). As a primary regional carrier, PAL’s numbers reflect the difficulty of maintaining short-haul connectivity during coastal storms.
However, the “heavy hitters” are seeing even higher percentage-based disruptions. Air Canada has recorded 5 cancellations, representing a staggering 41% of their scheduled operations at YYT today, alongside an 8% delay rate. WestJet has seen a 50% cancellation rate, though this represents only 1 flight grounded today. Meanwhile, Porter Airlines appears to be fighting to maintain its schedule, reporting 2 cancellations (22%) and 2 delays (22%), indicating that nearly half of their flights are failing to meet their scheduled departure times.
The reach of this disruption extends far beyond the island of Newfoundland, impacting major hubs across Canada. The data by destination and origin provides a clear map of the current “no-fly zones.”
With 14 total cancellations and 6 total delays currently on the boards at YYT, the terminal is expected to remain crowded. If your flight is among those listed in the statistics above, here are your immediate next steps:
While the “standstill” caused by Air Canada, WestJet, PAL, and Porter has isolated the city from hubs like Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, and Calgary, the weather forecast suggests a high of 0°C tomorrow with steady 22 mph winds. This slight stabilization may offer a window for crews to continue clearing the historic accumulation, which has already surpassed 376 cm this season.
Source: FlightAware
The China National Tourist Office (CNTO) in Los Angeles will host a Chinese New Year celebration and Winter Travel Showcase at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, California. This is a public event that will showcase how wonderful and rich winter travel is in China and will provide guests with a taste of the New Year festivities. The CNTO will promote winter travel and cultural heritage in China. Attendees will get to explore different sights and cultural festivals to experience the Chinese New Year during the Spring Festival.
Participants will be able to experience a variety of multimedia cultural exhibitions, wonderful tourism winter China visual shows, and China-sponsored entertaining shows. China Event Fashion Island will bring the holiday and winter travel experience to the upscale open-air shopping travel destination.
The Chinese New Year Is a Time for Culture and Travel
The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, is a holiday that is very important in Chinese culture and is celebrated by billions of people worldwide. The holiday marks the start of the lunar calendar, and is a time for numerous traditions, customs, and celebrations. In addition to the festive activities, the holiday marks the largest annual travel season in China as people travel across the country to celebrate the Spring Festival with their families. A lot of people who travel to China for the Chinese New Year do so to experience the culture and traditions of this holiday.
The CNTO in Los Angeles sees this event as a way to encourage travel and culture exchange by providing people in Southern California a view of the beauty of the holiday and also the beauty of China. There will be a lot of beautiful lanterns, Chinese New Year decorations, and cultural exhibits at Fashion Island. A highlight will be a community photo spot where people can take photos with the seasonal symbols and a festive interactive photo booth.
As part of the cultural attractions, the event will showcase some of China’s popular winter festivals, including the Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, the snow-covered sections of the Great Wall of China, and others. These exhibits will showcase China’s unique appeal as a winter travel destination.
Winter in China: A Season of Unique Discovery
Though China is renowned for its spring blossoms and autumn foliage, each winter its enchanting landscape transforms once again and offers a unique travel experience. Dressed in white, its imperial sites, coupled with the lively spirit of temple fairs and world-famous ice festivals, create a strikingly different winter tableau. The winter experience of China is not limited to scenic views, but also offers the thrill of skiing, a unique winter cuisine, and a variety of cultural activities, which will capture the essence of winter.
A major feature of this winter travel promotion is the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival located in Heilongjiang, China. At this festival, the whole area is transformed into a winter wonderland with ice castles and glowing sculptures that light up the night, drawing in thousands of visitors every winter. Guests will get to experience this festival firsthand through displays that will take place during the Newport Beach event and gain insight into this extraordinary celebration of snow and light.
Another example of the modern advancements of winter destinations in China is the Mudanjiang-Jiamusi High-Speed Railway located in Heilongjiang. This 372-kilometer railway stretches between Mudanjiang and Jiamusi, making travel to the picturesque snow-covered landscapes of northeastern China much easier and quicker.
Showcasing China’s Winter Destinations
Winter destinations in China are extremely diverse and are perfect destinations for those wanting to get away from the typical beach or city holidays. The Harbin Ice Festival is just one of the many experiences that the country has to offer. China is an excellent option for winter tourism, with the other snow and ice destinations offering world-class winter sports, like the ski resorts in Jilin and Liaoning.
This year’s Winter Travel Showcase will highlight some lesser-known events that make UNESCO World Heritage Sites and other cultural locations even more captivating in the winter months. With opportunities to visit stunning winter festivals and participate in traditional lantern celebrations, China’s winter offerings allow travelers to reimagine the country.
Cultural Celebrations at Fashion Island
For the Chinese New Year, Fashion Island in Newport Beach will become a cultural celebration site, with the New Year’s festivities taking place at The Hideaway, the event’s central location. Decorative displays and installations will showcase the holiday and Chinese New Year traditions throughout the mall.
All travelers to Fashion Island will enjoy the Chinese New Year celebration, with the China National Tourist Office’s (CNTO) promotional artwork showcased on the center’s digital screens, which are located in the center of Winter Travel China. Shoppers will appreciate the center’s more than 150 stores and restaurants, as they consolidate their offerings to include Chinese culture and tourism.
Winter Travel to China: Bridging Cultures
The Chinese New Year celebration and Winter Travel Showcase are celebrations of how the cultures of China and the United States are coming closer. These events will be held to encourage people to travel to China during the winter months to experience the beauty and vibrancy of China’s winter tourism. The CNTO in Los Angeles hopes to inspire people in Southern California to travel to China to experience its beauty and vibrancy.
With the event approaching, the CNTO is grateful to go on yet another trip to the Fashion Island attendees to deepen their journey to the understanding of China in winter, its culture, and its various phenomenal places. The intention is to increase multicultural connections and travel to China during the winter. The celebration of the Chinese New Year is only a small part of the overall purpose.
Festive Traditions
The Fashion Island Winter Travel Showcase and Chinese New Year celebration will introduce visitors to the wonderful traditions and winter tourism offerings in China. From Southern California, visitors can learn about the winter festivals and destinations in China, the most magical time to travel to China. CNTO will promote travel to China’s snow-covered landscapes and celebrate the Spring Festival!
The post Newport Beach Transforms For Chinese New Year Celebration And Exclusive Winter Travel Event appeared first on Travel And Tour World.Thousands of travelers stranded in Asia today as 2,555 flight cancellations and delays hit major Asian and Middle Eastern airports: Dubai International (363 delays, 2 cancellations), Suvarnabhumi Bangkok (311 delays, 1 cancellation), Don Mueang Bangkok (284 delays), Indira Gandhi Delhi (282 delays, 2 cancellations), Guangzhou Baiyun (198 delays, 2 cancellations), Tokyo Haneda (187 delays, 3 cancellations), Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta (167 delays, 22 cancellations), Phuket (154 delays), Beijing Capital (149 delays, 3 cancellations), Sultan Hasanuddin (121 delays, 8 cancellations), Fukuoka (95 delays, 3 cancellations), Narita (94 delays, 2 cancellations), Abu Dhabi (52 delays, 2 cancellations), and King Khalid Riyadh (46 delays, 2 cancellations).
The most affected airlines by volume included FlyDubai (140 delays), Emirates (123 delays, 1 cancellation), IndiGo (116 delays), Air China (101 delays, 2 cancellations), Thai AirAsia (208 delays at Don Mueang; 33 at Phuket), and Batik Air (18 cancellations, 23 delays at Jakarta; 8 cancellations, 22 delays at Sultan Hasanuddin). According to latest flight data, other major carriers experiencing disruption included Japan Airlines (70 delays at Haneda; 15 at Narita; 18 at Fukuoka), All Nippon (44 delays at Haneda; 7 at Narita; 8 at Fukuoka), Air India (84 delays, 1 cancellation), Etihad Airways (31 delays, 2 cancellations), United (1 cancellation at Dubai; 1 cancellation, 6 delays at Narita; 3 delays at Haneda), SpiceJet (21 delays, 1 cancellation), and China Southern Airlines (59 delays).
Countries affected include United Arab Emirates, Thailand, India, Japan, China, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia.
Dubai recorded 363 delays and 2 cancellations, the highest delay volume across all airports. FlyDubai (140) and Emirates (123) accounted for the majority of delays.
Suvarnabhumi saw 311 delays and 1 cancellation, with Thai Airways (68) and Thai Vietjet Air (52) leading disruptions.
Don Mueang reported 284 delays, dominated by Thai AirAsia (208 delays).
Delhi recorded 282 delays and 2 cancellations, with IndiGo (116) and Air India (84 delays, 1 cancellation) most affected.
Guangzhou logged 198 delays and 2 cancellations, led by China Southern Airlines (59 delays).
Haneda recorded 187 delays and 3 cancellations, including 17 U.S.-linked delays. Japan Airlines (70) had the largest share.
Jakarta reported 167 delays and 22 cancellations, the highest cancellation count among all airports.
Phuket recorded 154 delays, primarily affecting Thai AirAsia (33 delays).
FlyDubai recorded 140 delays at Dubai, the highest single-airline delay volume in the dataset.
Emirates logged 123 delays and 1 cancellation at Dubai, representing a significant share of airport-wide disruption.
Thai AirAsia recorded 208 delays at Don Mueang and 33 at Phuket, making it one of the most disrupted carriers overall.
IndiGo faced 116 delays in Delhi, along with additional delays in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh.
Air China reported 101 delays at Beijing and 25 at Guangzhou, plus cancellations in both cities.
Batik Air accounted for 26 total cancellations across two Indonesian airports, the highest cancellation impact among airlines.
Japan Airlines recorded 70 delays at Haneda, 15 at Narita, and 18 at Fukuoka, reflecting widespread domestic and international disruption.
Air India faced 84 delays and 1 cancellation in Delhi, along with additional delays in Dubai.
Major airlines most affected included FlyDubai, Emirates, IndiGo, Air China, Thai AirAsia, Batik Air, Japan Airlines, and Air India, alongside carriers such as United, Etihad Airways, SpiceJet, China Southern Airlines, and All Nippon.
Cities most impacted by volume were Dubai, Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang), Delhi, Guangzhou, Tokyo (Haneda and Narita), Jakarta, and Phuket, with repeated disruption concentrations in these hubs.
The disruption wave affected airports across United Arab Emirates, Thailand, India, Japan, China, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia, with delays heavily outweighing cancellations and several U.S.-linked disruptions seen in Japan and the UAE.
Source: Different airports and FlightAware
Brazil has introduced an exciting new travel opportunity for Chinese passport holders. From 2026, visitors from China can stay in Brazil for up to 30 days without a visa. This policy also allows a cumulative stay of 90 days within a year. The move makes Brazil more accessible for tourists, business travellers, and cultural explorers alike.
Chinese visitors can now plan trips without the usual visa paperwork. They can focus on experiencing Brazil’s vibrant cities, stunning beaches, and breathtaking natural sites. Tourism experts anticipate this policy will significantly increase arrivals from China and strengthen cultural ties.
The new visa-free arrangement is set to transform Brazil’s tourism landscape. Popular destinations like Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Salvador are expected to see a surge in visitors. Chinese travellers can now explore iconic beaches, historic landmarks, and lively festivals with ease.
This initiative also supports adventure tourism. Visitors can trek the Amazon rainforest, cruise the Iguaçu Falls, or explore the Pantanal wetlands. Travel agencies are already preparing packages designed to attract Chinese tourists seeking immersive experiences.
Despite the visa-free access, travellers must meet certain requirements. A valid passport with at least six months’ validity is essential. Proof of accommodation, onward travel, and sufficient funds should also be ready. Overstaying the 30-day limit can result in fines or temporary travel restrictions.
Planning ahead is recommended. Tourists should book flights and hotels early, especially during peak events like the Brazilian Carnival. Following local guidelines ensures a hassle-free experience and lets travellers fully enjoy Brazil’s offerings.
The new policy is not only for leisure. Short-term business visitors from China can now attend meetings, conferences, and trade events without visa delays. Brazilian business hubs like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are now more accessible, allowing smoother corporate travel.
Long-term work or study assignments still require specific permits. However, short business trips, cultural exchanges, and exploratory visits can now be managed with far less bureaucracy.
Brazil is rich in culture, music, and cuisine. Chinese tourists can attend vibrant street festivals, explore historical architecture, and taste local dishes such as feijoada or acarajé. Carnival in Rio and music festivals across Salvador are now easier to attend thanks to visa-free travel.
This initiative encourages tourists to connect with local communities. Small businesses, local guides, and cultural programs also benefit from increased international visitors. Tourists gain memorable experiences while supporting sustainable tourism.
To make the most of the 30-day visa-free stay, tourists should plan carefully. Always carry travel documents and financial proof. Book accommodation in advance for popular cities and attractions. Respect local laws and cultural norms. Consider travel insurance for peace of mind.
Exploring less-touristy regions can also provide unique experiences. Cities like Florianópolis or historic towns in Minas Gerais offer authentic Brazilian culture and scenic beauty. Adventure seekers can explore wildlife tours, hiking trails, and eco-lodges across the country.
By welcoming Chinese travellers with visa-free access, Brazil strengthens its position as a top global tourism destination. The policy is expected to increase international tourism revenue, improve airline connectivity, and enhance cultural exchange between China and Brazil.
This new era offers Chinese tourists unprecedented convenience and access. From urban adventures in São Paulo to the serene beauty of the Amazon, visitors can enjoy a fully immersive Brazilian experience. Visa-free travel ensures that exploring Brazil’s rich landscapes and culture is simpler, safer, and more exciting than ever.
The post Explore Brazil Without Borders: 30-Day Visa-Free Entry for Chinese Tourists Unlocks Iconic Cities, Beaches, and Rainforests appeared first on Travel And Tour World.Bonito, located in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, has emerged as a global model for climate-resilient tourism. More than just a stunning natural destination, it is pioneering eco-conscious travel. Local authorities are designing tourism practices that protect nature, manage visitor impact, and promote sustainability. For travellers, this means the chance to experience extraordinary landscapes responsibly. By combining adventure with environmental stewardship, Bonito shows how tourism can thrive while conserving fragile ecosystems for future generations.
Visitors from around the world are drawn to Bonito for its clear rivers, limestone caves, and diverse wildlife. The destination is now an example of how a tourist hotspot can reduce its carbon footprint while offering world-class experiences.
Bonito has implemented measures that make it one of the most environmentally advanced destinations in Brazil. Strategies include carefully controlling visitor numbers, monitoring ecosystems, and offsetting carbon emissions. These actions ensure that tourism supports local communities and preserves the natural beauty of the area.
The town’s eco-tourism initiatives extend beyond the environment. Local businesses, guides, and residents are actively involved in protecting natural resources. This collaborative approach allows travellers to enjoy immersive experiences without harming the environment. Bonito has become a destination where sustainability and adventure coexist seamlessly, offering travellers a meaningful connection with nature.
Travellers can explore Bonito’s rivers, waterfalls, caves, and forests through eco-certified tours. Snorkelling in crystal-clear waters, hiking through lush forests, and exploring unique limestone formations are highlights for eco-conscious tourists.
Every activity is designed to minimise environmental impact. Tourist numbers are limited, and local guides educate visitors on preserving wildlife and habitats. For global travellers seeking authentic and sustainable experiences, Bonito provides an ideal combination of adventure and responsibility.
By visiting responsibly, tourists contribute directly to conservation efforts and support local livelihoods. This ensures that Bonito remains a pristine destination for years to come.
Bonito is among the first destinations in Brazil to pursue carbon-neutral tourism. The region carefully measures emissions from tourism activities and implements strategies to offset them. This approach allows travellers to enjoy nature-based adventures with minimal environmental impact.
For international travellers, this model offers reassurance that their journey aligns with global sustainability goals. It also sets a benchmark for other destinations worldwide, proving that eco-tourism can be both profitable and responsible.
Bonito’s eco-tourism framework positions it as a top choice for climate-conscious travellers. The destination not only protects its ecosystems but also enhances visitor experiences. Limited group sizes, guided tours, and educational initiatives allow travellers to explore safely and responsibly.
Visitors can witness diverse wildlife, from colourful fish in pristine rivers to native bird species in forested areas. Each encounter is an opportunity to connect with nature while supporting a sustainable tourism model.
For travellers seeking adventure with purpose, Bonito offers an unmatched combination of beauty, sustainability, and education.
Following these tips helps travellers enjoy Bonito safely while contributing to conservation and community development.
Mato Grosso do Sul aims to become a global leader in climate-resilient tourism. Bonito’s success demonstrates that destinations can grow tourism while maintaining environmental integrity. By implementing sustainable strategies, the region ensures that travellers experience Brazil’s natural beauty in its purest form.
For global tourists, Bonito offers not only adventure but also inspiration. Its eco-conscious approach sets a standard for responsible travel worldwide. As the destination continues to innovate, it will remain a must-visit location for travellers seeking unforgettable, sustainable experiences.
The post Discover the Magic of Bonito: Brazil’s Eco-Friendly Paradise Pioneering Sustainable Tourism and Climate-Resilient Travel Experiences appeared first on Travel And Tour World.Reagan National Airport (DCA) is experiencing significant operational disruption today, with 195 flight delays and 126 cancellations affecting domestic air travel throughout the United States. For travelers moving through the nation’s capital region, the numbers translate into altered itineraries, extended waiting periods, and rebooking adjustments as airlines work to restore schedule balance.
Located just across the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia, Reagan National Airport serves as one of the most strategically important domestic hubs in the country. Its close proximity to downtown Washington, D.C. makes it a preferred airport for business travelers, government officials, and commuters. When disruptions occur at DCA, the ripple effects quickly extend across the East Coast and into major national corridors.
With 195 flights delayed and 126 cancelled, the operational strain at Reagan National represents one of the more substantial single-day impacts among U.S. domestic airports. The combined figure of 321 disrupted flights reflects both weather-related factors and network congestion within the broader U.S. aviation system.
Delays typically indicate aircraft departures or arrivals occurring 15 minutes or more beyond their scheduled times. While a single delay may appear minor, large volumes of delayed movements can create runway congestion, aircraft sequencing challenges, and scheduling conflicts that intensify throughout the day.
Cancellations carry more pronounced consequences. A cancelled flight removes the movement entirely from the schedule, requiring passenger reaccommodation, aircraft reassignment, and crew rescheduling. When cancellation totals exceed one hundred flights at a major airport, the recovery process can extend beyond a single operational cycle.
Reagan National operates within one of the most tightly controlled airspaces in the United States. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) manages arrival and departure sequencing in the National Capital Region, where restricted airspace, security protocols, and congestion intersect.
The FAA frequently implements traffic management initiatives such as ground delay programs and flow control measures when weather or congestion affects airspace capacity. These programs regulate the rate at which aircraft depart for or arrive at affected airports in order to maintain safety and manage workload for air traffic controllers.
In addition to FAA oversight, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) coordinates passenger screening and security flow within airport terminals, ensuring that safety standards remain intact even during operational disruption.
Large-scale delay and cancellation events at Reagan National commonly stem from interconnected factors:
Weather variability remains one of the primary contributors. The Mid-Atlantic region frequently experiences sudden shifts in wind patterns, precipitation, or visibility, all of which influence runway usage and arrival spacing.
Airspace congestion is another factor. DCA’s runway configuration and proximity to other major airports such as Washington Dulles International Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport create tightly coordinated traffic patterns. Any slowdown within the regional airspace can quickly cascade across schedules.
Aircraft rotation timing also plays a role. When inbound flights from major hubs like New York, Atlanta, Chicago, or Dallas experience delays, their outbound departures from Reagan National are frequently affected.
Crew duty regulations further complicate prolonged delay periods. Airlines must comply with federally mandated crew rest requirements, and extended delays may require crew substitutions or reassignment.
Reagan National Airport functions primarily as a domestic airport, connecting Washington, D.C. to major business and political centers across the country. When operations slow at DCA, routes serving New York, Boston, Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, and Miami may experience downstream effects.
Because many travelers use Reagan National for same-day return business trips, disruptions can significantly alter schedules for government officials, corporate travelers, and connecting passengers.
When cancellation counts exceed one hundred flights, airline networks must rebalance aircraft distribution across multiple cities. This often results in secondary delays at downstream airports.
Within the terminals at Reagan National, digital departure boards reflect shifting gate assignments and updated departure times. Passengers receive notifications through airline mobile applications and email alerts as schedules change.
Longer lines at customer service counters are common during high-disruption periods. Travelers affected by cancellations may need to secure alternative flights, request refunds, or arrange ground transportation adjustments.
Despite the operational strain, airport authorities continue managing passenger flow, gate allocation, and runway sequencing under established contingency frameworks.
Airlines operating at Reagan National deploy disruption management systems to stabilize schedules as efficiently as possible. These systems prioritize aircraft repositioning, rebooking affected passengers, reallocating crew assignments, and minimizing further cancellations.
Operational recovery typically depends on clearing earlier congestion points within the national airspace system. Once arrival spacing normalizes and aircraft rotations align with revised schedules, delay volumes gradually decline.
However, given the scale of 195 delays and 126 cancellations, recovery may extend into subsequent operational periods depending on conditions.
Passengers traveling through Reagan National Airport are encouraged to confirm flight status directly with their airline before departing for the airport, allow additional time for check-in and security processing, monitor real-time updates via airline digital platforms, and review rebooking or refund policies if cancellations affect their itinerary.
Staying informed through official airline and federal aviation updates remains essential during elevated disruption periods.
Reagan National Airport’s 195 delays and 126 cancellations underscore the complexity of maintaining synchronized operations within one of the nation’s busiest and most regulated airspaces. For travelers navigating the Washington, D.C. region today, flexibility and real-time communication are critical.
Behind each delayed departure and cancelled flight are coordinated efforts from air traffic controllers, airline crews, ground teams, and security personnel working to maintain safety while restoring operational balance. Although disruptions of this magnitude create temporary strain, the national aviation system is structured to recover through coordinated federal oversight and airline contingency planning.
If you need the headline written in the dramatic “Mass Travel Chaos…” framework like your previous examples, tell me and I’ll structure it exactly that way.
The post Severe Travel Chaos Grips Reagan National Airport in the United States as 195 Flights Are Delayed and 126 Cancelled Disrupting American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and More Across Washington, D.C., New York, Charlotte, Atlanta and Major U.S. East Coast Routes appeared first on Travel And Tour World.
© <p>AscentXmedia/Getty Images</p>
Samsung is all set to start hosting its biggest tech event, Galaxy Unpacked 2026. Every year, Samsung uses this event to show its newest phones, smart devices, and features. People all over the world wait to see what new technology Samsung will bring. Here you can check what to expect in Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026.
Event Date, Time, and Place
The Galaxy Unpacked 2026 event will be held on February 25, 2026 at San Francisco, United States. Everyone who cannot attend in person can watch the event live on YouTube.
The event timing is as follows:
Galaxy S26 Series
The main highlight of the event will be the Galaxy S26 series, which includes the Galaxy S26, S26+, and the S26 Ultra. The Galaxy S26 Ultra will be the most advanced model.
Samsung promises brighter screens, faster performance, and improved cameras. The Ultra model will also have a Privacy Display feature that protects your screen from prying eyes.
A major change this year is the use of Samsung’s own Exynos 2600 chip. This chip makes the phones faster, improves graphics, and powers smarter AI. Users can expect better gaming, smoother apps, and quicker performance overall.
Source – DUXDUCIS
One UI 8.5 and New AI Features
Samsung is reportedly going to announce One UI 8.5 and its new features at the Galaxy Unpacked event. The new software will help users do everyday tasks faster. AI can improve photos, organize files, suggest helpful shortcuts, and make the phone easier to use.
One UI 8.5 will introduce several new features and enhancements to provide a a next level Galaxy experience. Samsung has been testing the beta version on Galaxy S25 phones, and now it will be official. The Galaxy S26 series will go on sale on March 11, 2026, marking the rollout of the official One UI 8.5 software. Samsung will gradually roll out this update to more Galaxy devices.
Galaxy Buds 4 Series
Along with the Galaxy S26 phones, Samsung will launch the Galaxy Buds 4 series, including a standard and a Pro version. These earbuds have a new design, longer battery life, and AI features for better sound. They will connect easily with the Galaxy phones and make listening to music and calls more enjoyable.
Galaxy Unpacked 2026 shows how Samsung is shaping its future. Fans can expect faster phones, smarter AI, improved cameras, and new accessories. This event is a chance to see the newest Samsung technology and how it can make everyday life easier and more fun.
The post Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026 Event: Here’s what to expect appeared first on Sammy Fans.
Samsung is ready to launch its new Galaxy S26 phones at the Galaxy Unpacked 2026 event on February 25. There will be three models: the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. A new leak has shared details about prices and pre-order offers for the Galaxy S26 series in Europe.
New information from Dealabs reveals that Samsung will give special discounts to people who pre-order. This time, there will be a change in storage. The Galaxy S26 will now start with 256GB of storage. Samsung is removing the 128GB base model that was available in the Galaxy S25 series. This means customers will get more storage as the starting option.
Samsung will offer a free storage upgrade for early buyers in Europe. This means if you pay for 256GB, you will get 512GB without paying extra. Samsung will also give extra money if you trade in your old phone. Buyers of the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus can get a €100 trade-in bonus. The Galaxy S26 Ultra will give a €150 bonus.
Source – DUXDUCIS
The Galaxy S26 is expected to start at €999 for 256GB. With the free upgrade and trade-in bonus, the starting price could be like €899. Customers could save up to €300 on the S26 and S26 Plus. The Ultra model could offer savings of up to €350.
| Model | Storage | Starting Price | Discounted Price | Total Discount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S26 | 256 GB | €999 | €899 | €100 |
| Galaxy S26 | 512 GB | €1199 | €899 | €300 |
| Galaxy S26+ | 256 GB | €1269 | €1169 | €100 |
| Galaxy S26+ | 512 GB | €1469 | €1169 | €300 |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | 256 GB | €1469 | €1319 | €150 |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | 512 GB | €1669 | €1319 | €350 |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | 1 TB | €1969 | €1619 | €350 |
These offers will be available in Europe. They may not come to other regions. Samsung will launch the phones on February 25, and is expected to make them available on March 11. Stay tuned for more information.
The post Samsung Galaxy S26 pre-order leak reveals big savings for early buyers appeared first on Sammy Fans.
Samsung is now rumored to be developing a new 200MP 1/1.3-inch type camera sensor, that will be called ISOCELL HPC. That would be an increase in size from the HPB developed for vivo's X300 and X300 Pro, which is 1/1.4-inch type. The new sensor is high-end, and is expected to be used by Oppo in a future smartphone, most likely one in the Find X10 family. It features UFCC aka Ultra Fine Color Filter, which was developed by Samsung to reduce thickness while improving light transmission and color purity. It should also have ultra-high dynamic range. Source (in Chinese) | Via
After surprising everyone by reaching the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup, Morocco have established as one of the best national teams in the world. In addition, they have world-class players such as Abde Ezzalzouli, Noussair Mazraoui, Achraf Hakimi, and Brahim Diaz, making them one of the favorites to win the 2026 World Cup. However, they may face a major setback, as head coach Walid Regragui has reportedly made a tough decision about his future.
According to Lassana Camara, via X (formerly Twitter), Walid Regragui has decided to step down as Morocco‘s head coach his position just months before the 2026 World Cup. Despite being the architect of a solid sporting project, the defeat in the Africa Cup of Nations significantly weakened his standing, as he had been facing heavy pressure and criticism. As a result, the coach chose to step aside, leaving the national team without clear direction.
Even though Regragui’s resignation had reportedly been rejected a few weeks ago, he ultimately remained firm in his decision. In addition, Morocco’s roster is not going through its best moment, as the AFCON defeat left the squad deeply shaken, with Brahim Díaz and Achraf Hakimi among the most affected stars. Consequently, the Atlas Lions are in a vulnerable position; they had seemed to be one of the favorites for the 2026 World Cup and now face a major setback.
Walid Regragui managed to consolidate one of the greatest projects in Morocco’s history, cementing his name in the legacy of the national team. Despite arriving at the 2022 World Cup as one of the outsiders, he led the side all the way to the semifinals. In addition, he elevated the performances of several players like Abde Ezzalzouli, Brahim Díaz, Achraf Hakimi, and Ismael Saibari, among others. For that reason, they will have a hard task replacing him.
Walid Regragui’s departure is undeniably a major blow for Morocco — not only because of his impact on the national team, but also because there are just four months left until the 2026 World Cup. For that reason, they have very little time to appoint a new head coach capable of implementing his ideas within the squad. In this context, a former Barcelona coach has emerged as a leading candidate.
According to MARCA, Xavi Hernández is the favorite to become Morocco’s new manager ahead of the World Cup. Having been without a club since leaving Barcelona, he would be an ideal fit for the national team, as his philosophy would represent continuity from Regragui’s approach, with both built around possession-based soccer. However, he may have doubts as that it would mean taking over a project midway through the cycle and with limited time to build.
With less than four months until the 2026 FIFA World Cup officially kicks off, the soccer world is closely watching what will unfold. Former players and legends are no exception, and among them is Alan Smith. The former Arsenal striker included Lionel Messi’s Argentina among his favorites to win the title, but left out Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
“Argentina will be very keen to retain the trophy,” Smith said during an exclusive interview with Bolavip. He then mentioned other national teams he believes can also contend for the title: “Obviously, Brazil, Spain, Germany, England. We’ll see. I mean, there’s a lot of hope in England that we can lift it. But we’ll have to see.”
The former Arsenal player, who retired in 1995 and now works as a media commentator, elaborated on how Messi’s influence has been central to Argentina’s success. “I’ve covered a lot of Argentina games at the World Cup and you know, there were some where Argentina were a little flat, nothing was happening and then Messi just changed it entirely, it just looked like he was made to end up a winner and be the star,” Alan recalled.
Smith then drew a comparison with Portugal: “Can Ronaldo still do it? I mean, Ronaldo has been scoring fun in Saudi Arabia, obviously the standards are much different, but I think they’ll both see this as their last tournament, so they’ll be very keen to go out with a bang.”
Alan Smith’s selection of the teams he considers favorites to win the title this summer in North America is based on the qualities they have shown on the field in recent years, as well as the talent and experience within their squads. However, he acknowledged that other factors will also play a role.
“I think the weather will play a part and maybe not to England’s advantage. In New York, in the Club World Cup last year, I think it was 95 degrees or something,” Smith recalled. “So it might be the team like Spain or Argentina would be better suited to it. Spain are looking good. France still look strong. But yeah, yeah, a lot of factors can get in the way. But I think it’s the normal ones that you think of will be there again.”
In the same interview with Bolavip, Alan Smith was asked about the inevitable comparisons between Messi and Ronaldo. “I think they will be rated as the best two players of all time,” the former English player said. “Partly because of how long they’ve lasted, quite amazing. You can look at a lot of players like (Diego) Maradona, I mean Pele lasted a long time obviously, but a lot of top players haven’t gone for as long as Messi and Ronaldo and for that reason, you know, I think they are the top two.”
Finally, Smith was bold and chose his favorite between the two. “I’d probably just go for Messi,” the Arsenal legend said. “Well, he’s a world champion obviously, but maybe he thinks about the team a little more than Ronaldo does at times. Hasn’t quite got that ego, obviously has got an ego, but yeah, he’s just such an amazing player to watch. But they are both fantastic.”
Lionel Messi continues to be a main focus for Barcelona presidential candidates while they make their public speeches. Joan Laporta was the latest to give his thoughts on the player’s exit to PSG.
In 2021 everybody was shocked when Messi announced he was no longer going to play for Barcelona after more than two decades at the club that welcomed him when he was younger. Laporta has been blamed for the move by many, but he explained what happened in an interview on the TV show Cafè d’idees.
Laporta said: “Messi’s entourage didn’t dislike going to PSG. It was a very generous offer, but I’m convinced he wanted to stay. We tried. Barcelona’s economy couldn’t afford it. You can always do more in life. Everything can improve. However, the situation was constrained.”
It now seems impossible for Messi to come back as a player for Barcelona. He’s nearing the end of his career while the club seems to have regained its spirit with a young team for many years.
The main idea centers on an honorary match so the fans can properly thank him for all he has done for the club, and Laporta added that the club has also honored the Argentine throughout its history.
Laporta remembered when a return was possible: “We tried to bring him back in 2023, but he preferred to join Inter Miami for various reasons. He made that decision, which is very respectable. That’s not criticism.”
Joan Laporta resigned from the presidency to run as a candidate in the upcoming elections. The club’s board announced a series of measures in January, with the key decision being the scheduling of the presidential vote for March 15.
Laporta is considered the leading candidate after the club’s financial stabilization. His main challenger appears to be Víctor Font, who received nearly 30 percent of the vote in the previous election. Marc Ciria, Xavier Vilajoana, and Joan Comprubí are also running.
is set to return to professional boxing this year and pound-for-pound superstar has revealed whether he would be willing to take on the 49-year-old, five division champion. ‘TBE’ hung up the gloves with a perfect 50-0 record back in 2017 after a knockout victory in a lucrative showdown with Conor McGregor, but Mayweather has continued […]
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Ryan Garcia’s world title win has the boxing world talking about a potential grudge rematch with Devin Haney, but reigning WBA welterweight champion Rolando Romero does not believe it would be competitive. Garcia dominated Mario Barrios on Saturday night to get his hands on the WBC crown at 147lbs, cruising to a statement unanimous decision […]
The post Rolly Romero predicts KO in Devin Haney vs Ryan Garcia rematch: “He sucks” appeared first on Boxing News.
Zeren Spor Voleybol Takımı, CEV Zeren Group Kadınlar Şampiyonlar Ligi play-off turu rövanş maçında Alman kulübü Palmberg Schwerin'i 3-0 mağlup etti.
Zeren Spor Voleybol Takımı, CEV Zeren Group Kadınlar Şampiyonlar Ligi play-off turu rövanş maçında Alman kulübü Palmberg Schwerin'i 3-0 yenerek çeyrek finale çıktı.
Başkent ekibi, deplasmanda 3-1 mağlup ettiği rakibini sahasında da 3-0 mağlup ederek ilk kez katıldığı Şampiyonlar Ligi'nde son 8 takım arasına girmeyi başardı.
Zeren Spor, çeyrek finalde A Milli Kadın Voleybol Takımı Başantrenörü Daniele Santarelli'nin çalıştırdığı, Şampiyonlar Ligi kupasının son 2 yıldaki sahibi Imoco Volley (İtalya) ile karşılaşacak.
Salon: TVF Ziraat Bankkart
Hakemler: Pawel Burkiewicz (Polonya), Predrag Balandzic (Sırbistan)
Zeren Spor: Malinov, Uzelac, Janset Cemre Erkul, Lazareva, Gatina, Aleksic (Özlem Alkan, Ceren Önal, Saliha Şahin)
Palmberg Schwerin: Kohn, Kok, Gerritsen, Kirchhoff, Hölzig, Ten Brinke (Reesink, Jaksetic, Artyshuk, Grozer, Van Clewe, Vos)
Setler: 25-16, 25-18, 25-14
Süre: 69 dakika
Manuel Akanji gifted Bodo/Glimt the lead against Inter at San Siro, moments after coming back onto the pitch after receiving treatment for a head injury.
Akanji took a blow to the head and came off the pitch to receive medical attention, before returning to the field after a couple of minutes.
No more than five minutes later, the away team had a surprise lead after the Swiss defender tried to carry the ball forward, got himself into trouble with Bodo’s front line, lost possession and gifted former Milan forward Jens Petter Hauge a goal.
A sloppy mistake at the back and Bodo/Glimt extend their aggregate lead at the San Siro
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 24, 2026
BODØ/GLIMT STUN THE SAN SIRO
Former AC Milan striker Jens Petter Hauge cashes in on a gift of a mistake from Manuel Akanji to put the Norwegian side in total control
— CBS Sports Golazo
The end of Kevin De Bruyne’s long injury nightmare is finally in sight, with the Belgian midfielder making a significant step forward in his recovery this week.
De Bruyne has been absent since late October, when he suffered a serious high-grade bicep femoris tear during Napoli’s match against Inter on 25 October.
The injury, sustained in his right thigh shortly after scoring a penalty, has kept him sidelined for almost four months, a frustrating spell for both player and club during a crucial phase of the season.
On Monday 23 February, De Bruyne returned to Napoli’s Castel Volturno training ground, working in the gym in what represents a meaningful sign that the worst is firmly behind him. Napoli are in no rush, however, with the club determined not to risk a setback by accelerating his return before he is fully fit.
De Bruyne himself offered a brief but encouraging message when he landed at Naples’ Capodichino airport on Sunday, greeted by waiting journalists.
According to Sky Sport, via CalcioMercato, De Bruyne could rejoin full group training as early as next week, the final step before Antonio Conte can consider calling him up for a competitive fixture.
Should everything go to plan, the most likely matches to target for his return are Napoli’s home clash with Torino on the weekend of 8 March, or alternatively the home fixture against Lecce the following weekend. Cagliari away, scheduled for 21-22 March, represents a third possible target date.
After four months on the sidelines, Napoli fans may not have to wait much longer.
Okan Buruk has urged Galatasaray not to assume their place in the Champions League quarter-finals is already secured, despite his side carrying a commanding 5-2 aggregate lead into Tuesday’s second leg at the Allianz Stadium.
The Turkish coach, who played in Italy during the 2002/03 season and retains fond memories of the country, was in a reflective mood ahead of what promises to be a charged atmosphere in Turin. But sentiment aside, his message to his players was clear, complacency is the enemy.
“We haven’t gone through yet,” Buruk said plainly, with quotes via TuttoSport.
“We feel the same enthusiasm as the first game and we must take to the pitch with the same desire to win. Juventus is an important club and they will have the backing of their supporters, we cannot think we are already in the next round.”
On the tactical approach, Buruk was equally straightforward, insisting there is no need for wholesale changes.
“We don’t need to do many things differently from the first game,” he said.
“We need enthusiasm, dedication and concentration. If you rely too heavily on the first-leg result, you will find the second leg more difficult.”
He also warned against underestimating a Juventus side desperate to turn their form around on home soil.
“They have strong players: Yildiz, Conceição, David,” he said.
“They didn’t play very well in the first game but now they are at home. Spalletti is a great coach. We are not relaxed, we need to be even stronger than in the first match.”
Buruk drew a personal parallel with Juventus’ current difficulties, suggesting the adversity his own squad have navigated over recent years has been key to their growth.
“The reason we have consolidated our strength,” he concluded, “is the confidence that excellent result gave us.”
Victor Osimhen has admitted that a move to Juventus could appeal to him in the future, ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 second leg at the Allianz Stadium, a tie in which his Galatasaray side hold a commanding 5-2 advantage from the first leg.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, with quotes via TuttoSport, the Nigerian striker was asked about his long-standing links with Juventus, having been heavily linked with the club in previous transfer windows before his move to Galatasaray materialised instead.
His response was candid.
“Juventus is one of the most important clubs, rich in history with so many legends,” he said.
“When they spoke to me at the time, I was eager to join before Galatasaray came along, but there were some obstacles and the transfer didn’t happen. If opportunities arise in the future, there are several clubs I would like to play for, playing here would be a privilege. But 90% of footballers in the world would want to play for Juventus.”
Osimhen was equally forthright on the match itself, insisting Galatasaray will not be taking their lead for granted.
“It won’t be an easy game, especially for them, but we want to win,” he said, adding that his side intend to replicate their first-leg performance.
Galatasaray won the first leg with a comfortable 5-2 scoreline, putting all the pressure on Juventus to turn around the deficit in Turin on Wednesday.
The Nigerian also reflected on the mentality that has defined his career.
“I have never been satisfied enough with my performance,” he said. “I want to work hard, push the team to give their best. I don’t like to lose.”
Juventus are reportedly preparing a sensational move to sign Liverpool’s Alisson Becker this summer as part of a massive squad overhaul under Luciano Spalletti.
According to The Standard, Juventus have identified the Brazilian international as the “dream” solution to their current goalkeeping crisis.
Spalletti has reportedly earmarked the goalkeeper position as a primary area of concern. Current number one Michele Di Gregorio has faced heavy scrutiny following a string of high-profile errors in 2026, while aging understudies Mattia Perin and Carlo Pinsoglio are not viewed as long-term solutions.
The move would see Alisson reunite with Spalletti, the man who oversaw his rise at AS Roma before his record-breaking move to Merseyside in 2018.
Juventus executives are reportedly optimistic that they can secure the 33-year-old in a “cut-rate” deal, leveraging the fact that his contract is set to enter its final year in 2027.
The Turin based club could face competition from AC Milan, who too have been linked with a move for the Liverpool star.
While Alisson remains the undisputed number one at Anfield, Liverpool’s hierarchy has already prepared for his eventual departure.
Giorgi Mamardashvili, the Georgian standout who officially joined the club in the summer of 2025, is waiting in the wings.
This succession plan could tempt the Reds to cash in on Alisson now rather than risk losing him for a reduced fee next year.
Despite the logic of cashing in, selling Alisson could be a catastrophic error for Liverpool.
While the Brazilian is 33-year-old, the typical aging curve doesn’t apply to elite goalkeepers; legends like Gianluigi Buffon and Manuel Neuer have proven that world-class shot-stoppers can perform at the highest level well into their late 30s.
Alisson remains statistically one of the top three goalkeepers in the world, and his presence is vital to Arne Slot’s defensive structure.
Losing his leadership and shot-stopping ability, especially with Manchester City and Arsenal still dominating the domestic scene, could be a loss that even a talent like Mamardashvili cannot immediately replace.
The post Juventus line up surprise move for Liverpool star; Reds have already signed replacement appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing the Lens keeper Robin Risser at the end of the season.
According to TEAMtalk, the 21-year-old’s performances for the French outfit have impressed the north London club, and they are looking to sign him as a replacement for Guglielmo Vicario.
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The Italian has been inconsistent since joining Tottenham, and the club hierarchy has decided to move on from him. They are looking to replace him, and the young French goalkeeper would be ideal for them.
Risser has done quite well this season, and there are rumours that he could be a part of the French World Cup as well. Tottenham have been monitoring him closely and are impressed by his displays. It will be interesting to see if they can get the deal done. Other clubs are monitoring his situation as well, and they should move quickly to get the deal done.
Having a reliable goalkeeper, could make a huge difference for Tottenham and it remains to be seen how the situation unfolds. The 21-year-old will certainly be attracted to the idea of joining Tottenham. It would be a step up in his career, and he would get to play for a big club. Regular football in the Premier League could accelerate his development and help him fulfil his potential.
Tottenham have the financial muscle to convince the French outfit to sell the player. It will be interesting to see if they come forward with a lucrative offer in the summer. Meanwhile, they will look to get rid of the Italian goalkeeper, and it will be interesting to see where he ends up.
Meanwhile, Tottenham are close to the relegation zone, and they must finish the season strongly to attract elite talent.
The post Tottenham eye 21-year-old French sensation as they look to dump first-team flop appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Liam Delap has been linked with the move away from Chelsea, but a move in the summer seems unlikely.
Everton is interested in signing the 22-year-old striker at the end of the season. However, Liam Rosenior could block any potential exit for the striker. The Chelsea manager is not keen on losing him at the end of the season, as per Football Insider.
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Even though he has not lived up to expectations, Chelsea is prepared to hold onto him. He is a talented player with a bright future. Chelsea paid £30 million for him, and there is no doubt that he could justify the investment in future.
He has not been a regular starter for Chelsea this season, and he will look to regain his form and confidence. It will be interesting to see if he can establish himself as an important player for the London club.
Delap was highly rated during his time at Ipswich Town. There is no doubt that he has the quality to play for the biggest clubs in the country. He was linked with several teams before he joined Chelsea.
It seems that Chelsea values his potential, and it will be interesting to see if they can bring out the best in the player.
Meanwhile, Everton need more quality in the final third, and they could use the 22-year-old. He could prove to be an excellent long-term acquisition for them. Regular football at Everton might be able to bring out the best in the player as well. It remains to be seen whether they are prepared to come forward with their official proposal in the summer.
Chelsea do not need to sell players for money, and it will be difficult to convince them if they are uninterested in letting Delap leave. It remains to be seen how the situation develops.
The post Chelsea boss takes firm stance on £30m star’s future amid rival interest appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven has been linked with a move away from the club at the end of the season.
Real Madrid are interested in securing his signature. According to a report from TEAMtalk, Tottenham are hoping to keep him at the club long-term and are looking to agree a new contract with the player.
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However, the Netherlands International is not convinced that signing a new contract with Tottenham is the right decision. Tottenham are struggling right now, and they are not in a position to challenge for major trophies. The 24-year-old is an ambitious player who wants to compete at the highest level. Joining Real Madrid will allow him to push for major trophies. It remains to be seen how the situation develops.
Van de Ven has also been linked with clubs like Liverpool. He will want to compete at the highest level, and leaving Tottenham in the summer could be ideal for him. Meanwhile, his departure would be a huge blow for the London club. They are already expected to lose Cristian Romero, who wants to join a more ambitious team. Losing both of their best defenders in one window would be a catastrophic situation for Tottenham.
It will be interesting to see if they can convince the Dutch International to continue at the club beyond the season. However, it seems unlikely.
The 24-year-old is at the peak of his career, and this is the right time for him to take the next step. Joining an elite club where he can fight for league titles and the UEFA Champions League would be ideal for him.
The post How Tottenham star feels about his future at the club as top clubs circle appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for Yan Diomande in recent weeks.
The 19-year-old RB Leipzig attacker is also a target for Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea. There have been rumours that Liverpool has an agreement in place to sign the player, but TEAMtalk reports that no such agreement exists.
“As it stands nothing is agreed. The only thing we currently know is that Yan is determined to help Leipzig finish in the top-four before then focussing on the World Cup with Ivory Coast. There is no denying the interest, nobody has. But let’s see how the coming months pan out,” a source close to Diomande’s camp said.
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It will be interesting to see if Liverpool can get the deal done for him. They need more quality in the wide areas, and the 19-year-old would be a solid addition. He has proven himself in Germany, and he could make his mark in England as well. He has the physicality and technical attributes for Premier League football.
Liverpool could use his flair and explosive pace in the final third. It remains to be seen whether they can beat the other interested parties in the transfer race. The 19-year-old could be an asset for all four clubs.
Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea could use more quality on the flanks as well. They need to add more unpredictability going forward. The 19-year-old could be the ideal long-term acquisition for them. It remains to be seen where he ends up.
Diomande will want to compete at the highest level and fight for major trophies. He will look to join a team with a formidable project.
Meanwhile, the player is likely to cost around €100 million. Even though he has done nothing to justify the pricetag, he is an elite talent, and any club hoping to sign him will have to pay a premium.
The post “As it stands..”: Latest on Liverpool move for €100m star as Arsenal, Man United, Chelsea circle appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Real Madrid playmaker Franco Mastantuono has been linked with a move away from the club at the end of the season.
According to a report from Fichajes, Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing the player. Real Madrid would be willing to facilitate his departure for a substantial €50 million offer.
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It will be interesting to see if Tottenham is willing to pay that kind of money for him. They could use more cutting-edge and creativity in the final third. The 18-year-old would be a solid long-term acquisition.
Even though he has done nothing to justify the €50 million price tag, he could prove to be a future investment and justify the outlay in the long term. It remains to be seen how the situation develops. Along with Tottenham, Brighton are keeping tabs on his situation as well.
The Argentine playmaker is highly rated, and he has a bright future. He could develop into a future star with the right guidance. The opportunity to join Tottenham could be exciting for him, especially if they are willing to offer him regular game time.
The highly rated playmaker will not want to sit on the bench at Real Madrid. He needs more opportunities in order to develop further. The move to the Premier League could be ideal for him. It remains to be seen whether Tottenham come forward with an official proposal to get the deal done.
Xabi Alonso has previously described him as a “warrior” with a “lovely technique”.
Tottenham would do well to sign a player of his calibre, and he could develop into a key player for them in future. They have done well to groom young players in the past, and they could help the South American fulfil his potential as well.
The post Tottenham lining up move for €50m-rated South American “warrior” with a “lovely technique” appeared first on CaughtOffside.
With exactly a week left before the official launch of World of Warcraft: Midnight, here's a semi-exclusive interview with Blizzard where four members of the development team open up on the key areas of the game's eleventh expansion, such as dungeons, raids, delves, the Zul'aman zone, and the new Prey system. I said semi-exclusive because I shared the remote interview session with Carrie Lambertsen from Screen Rant, so you'll see her name pop up as well throughout the transcript when she was the one asking questions. The following Blizzard developers were involved: Associate Game Director Paul Kubit, Lead Encounter Designer […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/wow-midnight-interview-prey-system-raids-zulaman/
The M5 Pro and M5 Max are expected to arrive next month, but if you cannot muster the patience for the more powerful 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models , or if you think that you have little use for such expensive configurations, we have just the deal for you. The M5 MacBook Pro continues to be an exceptional performer in multiple areas, and given that manufacturers have little choice but to charge premiums for increased storage and memory, Apple and Amazon have gone in the opposite direction, with the more capable 24GB unified RAM and 512GB SSD option going for […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/m5-macbook-pro-with-24gb-ram-and-512gb-ssd-both-colors-200-off-on-amazon/
The post White House: Trump Will Not Pardon Sam Bankman-Fried Despite Ongoing Clemency Campaign appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
A spokesperson from the White House has confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump will offer no clemency to Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the founder and former CEO of the now-defunct FTX cryptocurrency exchange.
The spokesperson added that Trump is the sole decider on a mercy release, and he is firmly rooted in granting no pardon to SBF.
In March 2024, Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after being found guilty of all seven counts of money laundering, conspiracy, and fraud.
In his defense, SBF argued that he and FTX had been strategically targeted by the Biden administration because of his multi-million-dollar pro-Republican donations. His parents (both professors and legal scholars at Stanford Law School) have tried to secure a presidential pardon for their son to no avail.
A week ago, SBF claimed that FTX’s collapse was manufactured by lawyers and his successor, John J. Ray III, who allegedly profited from the exchange’s bankruptcy filings. He also pinpointed the FTX $7.1 billion payback of its investors as a show of goodwill.
Source: X
More recently, Bankman-Fried took to X in a long-shot show of Republican pivot, with hopes of swaying Trump’s resolve. He described the recent tariff policies as “right on crypto” and Trump’s capture and extradition of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro as “smart, gutsy, and pro-democracy.” SBF further noted the “political bias” nature of Judge Lewis Kaplan, the man who sentenced him and has been a key player in civil cases against Trump.
Clinton-appointed judge Lewis Kaplan made his political bias very clear when sentencing me and @rsalame7926.
— SBF (@SBF_FTX) February 18, 2026
Kaplan ranted about how I “set up a vehicle for making political donations to the right.”
“The state of our political life in this country is in jeopardy,” he said, and…
Bankman-Fried remains incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, New York. The 33-year-old man has run into rotten luck with yet another denial of a presidential pardon and a much heavier sentence compared to his associates.
Supporters say SBF should receive a similar pardon to crypto players like Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao and former BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes. Trump, however, stands his ground, saying the man committed financial fraud worth $8 billion. Bankman-Fried’s last resort is an appeal to the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
AFFA və Bakı Kəndlər Futbol Federasiyasının birgə təşkilatçılığı ilə əfsanəvi futbolçu Anatoli Banişevskinin anadan olmasının 80 illik yubileyi münasibətilə xatirə turniri keçirilib.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, 14 yaşadək uşaqlar arasında təşkil olunan turnirdə Bakının kənd və qəsəbələrini təmsil edən 6 komanda mübarizə aparıb. Dalğa Məşq Mərkəzində baş tutan final qarşılaşmasında “Atəşgah”ı (Suraxanı) 4:0 hesabı ilə məğlub edən “Binə” komandası turnirin qalibi olub. “Atəşgah” isə ikinci yeri tutub.
Final matçından sonra mükafatlandırma mərasimi keçirilib. Qalib və mükafatçılar kubok, medal və diplomlarla təltif olunublar. Kubok qalib komandaya AFFA-nın Kütləvi Futbol Departamentinin rəhbəri, veteran futbolçu Fərrux İsmayılov və Bakı Kəndlər Futbol Federasiyasının prezidenti Vaqif Davudov tərəfindən təqdim edilib.
Qeyd edək ki, turnirin keçirilməsində əsas məqsəd Azərbaycan futbolunun parlaq simalarından olmuş mərhum Anatoli Banişevskinin xatirəsini yad etmək, eləcə də uşaqlar arasında futbolun kütləviliyini artırmaq və istedadlı futbolçuların üzə çıxarılmasına dəstək olmaqdı r.
Bitcoin remains pinned below $65,000 as random bouts of intense selling pressure persist, but one onchain indicator has stabilized, providing insight into when spot market demand may return.
Users placed more than $7 million betting on the outcome of the crypto sleuth's investigation, expected to be announced on Thursday.
Ether whale order sizes are shrinking, while a $2 billion short cluster near $2,000 frame a tightening liquidity scenario for ETH after a sixth week of red price action.
A 9.8% shareholder has doubled down on calls for Empery Digital to sell its BTC holdings, return capital to investors and remove its CEO and board.
The approval allows WisdomTree’s tokenized Treasury money market fund to trade and settle around the clock within the US regulatory framework.
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman has made headlines recently with his desire to play for the Boys in Blue for four more years before he retires.
But he’s not planning on taking things easy as he enters the final few years of a Hall of Fame career.
Freeman said for the 2026 season, he wants to play all 162 regular season games, and manager Dave Roberts told the media Tuesday he thinks that is exactly what might happen.
“I think he should prepare to play 162,” Roberts said. “I think most guys should, and you kind of adjust from there, but that’s the way he’s wired.”
When a reporter brought up Freeman’s relative dip in production over the past couple of seasons, Roberts jumped to his star’s defense, explaining that the 36-year-old Freeman was hindered by injuries, not age.
“I think he takes such good care of himself,” Roberts said. “I think that age is an easy one to point to, but I really believe that he’s been dinged up for two years. Right now, today, is as good as I’ve seen his swing over the course of a week sample, than I have in two years. He’s in a good spot physically, mechanically, if we can keep him healthy, I don’t see why he can’t have the year he expects and with that, with everything that he went through the past couple years, he was still very productive. That says a lot about, for me, [his] character.”
Roberts also said that while Freeman is doing a good job of staying focused on the present season, he’s doing what he needs to in order to be able to fulfill his wish of four more seasons.
“With Freddie, the brain works, the care is there,” Roberts said. “The mechanics, it’s a sound swing, it’s a short swing. I think he can be productive for four more years for sure.”
That longevity would require a contract extension, as Freeman’s current deal is set to expire after next season.
LONDON (AP) — Organizers and teams competing in The Hundred said Tuesday that the cricket competition was “inclusive" and "open to all” after claims Indian-owned franchises could freeze out Pakistani players.
The England and Wales Cricket Board and all eight teams issued a joint statement after the BBC reported that Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds would not consider any Pakistani cricketers at The Hundred auction in March.
“The Hundred was established to reach new audiences, grow the game of cricket and ensure that everyone - regardless of their ethnicity, gender, faith, nationality or other - can feel they belong in our sport. This has been a guiding principle from the outset and remains at the heart of everything we do," the statement read.
It said teams were committed to “selection being based solely on cricketing performance, availability, and the needs of each team.”
The ECB said there were regulations to take “robust action” against discrimination.
“Players must not be excluded on the grounds of their nationality,” it said.
It was reported that the governing body sent an email to the eight teams on Sunday, warning them that action would be taken if there is any evidence of discrimination, including ignoring players based on nationality.
A total of 67 Pakistani players — 63 men and four women — have submitted themselves for next month’s auction.
Longstanding geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan have cast a shadow over cricket for many years.
___
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky trade plan might surprise many NHL fans originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Florida Panthers are going to have to do a lot of work to get back in position to defend their back-to-back Stanley Cup titles.
They may instead turn into sellers at the trade deadline, and if that happens, goalie Sergei Bobrovsky could go.
That probably surprises many hockey fans, because Bobrovsky has won all the big games for the Panthers.
MORE: Jack Hughes, not a miracle, just magic
Because of his contract, though, Daily Faceoff's Scott Maxwell lists Bobrovsky as a very logical candidate to be moved before the March 6 deadline.
"While you can never count out the Panthers, an eight-point gap is a lofty one to overcome at this stage of the season, especially when we don’t know the injury statuses of some of their players coming out of the Olympics," Maxwell writes. "... Bobrovsky may be a surprise on this list considering his legacy with the team, but he’s 37 and a pending UFA, so the Panthers should explore what he’s worth. Even with his struggles this season, Bobrovsky always flips the switch come playoff time and could be a valuable asset to a playoff team with short-term goaltending problems (Montreal? Vegas? Insurance behind Brandon Bussi for Carolina?), especially if the Panthers retain salary."
MORE: Team USA honors Johnny Gaudreau in special way after gold medal
The Panthers don't have a lot of high-profile selling options, so if they really want to recoup future assets at this deadline, Bobrovsky is the best candidate to make it happen.
This season, the two-time Vezina winner Bobrovsky has an 87.1 save percentage and 3.13 goals against average. Those are well below his career averages of 91.3% and 2.60 GAA.
Bobrovsky has been great in the Panthers' runs to the Stanley Cup each of the past two seasons. Another team could certainly see him as a player worth acquiring to try and make a push of their own.
Brett Veach's latest Chiefs quote should terrify the NFL originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
This offseason will look different for the Kansas City Chiefs for a variety of reasons, the main one being the franchise getting a head start on 2026 preparations.
With the Chiefs not making the playoffs in 2025, the work to build towards 2026 started in January, not February as they had become accustomed to over the years, having played in at least the AFC Championship game every year of Patrick Mahomes' starting career.
Now, the Chiefs are coming off a poor season, and the chance to truly reflect and look at what went wrong can take place. For general manager Brett Veach, he's delivered a quote that should scare the entire NFL as it pertains to 2026.
“The last three years, we were kind of just like in a maintenance stage, and now we’re trying to rebuild this thing again," Veach said. "I think for a GM and a personnel staff, that’s exciting.”
More:Chiefs' path back to 2026 relevancy dependent on 1 key position
With the Chiefs being in at least the AFC Championship game every season of Mahomes' starting career, the focus was always to make sure that level was maintained.
Now, after swinging and missing, the Chiefs are recalibrating, and what that could mean for the 2026 season should excite Chiefs Kingdom.
There is a desire to change things up on the field, and Veach is clearly excited about the direction the franchise is going.
The AFC kings had a down year in 2025, but if the other teams in the conference thought that it was the beginning of the new "norm," well, they couldn't be more wrong.
NORTH PORT, FL – The Detroit Tigers lost to the Atlanta Braves, 8-1, at CoolToday Park on Tuesday, Feb. 24, in spring training.
Detroit is 0-3 in Grapefruit League play.
IN DEPTH: How Kevin McGonigle looked in Tigers game vs ex-All-Star pitcher
At times, this game felt like a showcase for some of the Tigers' top prospects. In the second inning, third baseman Hao-Yu Lee (grounder), shortstop Kevin McGonigle (grounder) and left fielder Max Anderson (fly ball) recorded outs on successive plays.
But the highlights were far and few between on this day when Tigers bats were mostly silent.
The sun and wind played havoc on the Tigers – OK, mostly on left fielder Max Clark, the Tigers' 2023 top pick (at No. 3 overall) who misplayed two balls, one of which was ruled an error.
And the Tigers are still searching for their first win in Grapefruit League play.
Enmanuel De Jesus, an intriguing 29-year-old lefty who spent the past two seasons as a starter in the KBO League in South Korea, got the start for the Tigers.
De Jesus got into trouble in the first inning, although only partially by his own making. After Ronald Acuña Jr. walked, Matt Olson hit a high fly ball to left field on an extremely windy, bright day. Clark missed the ball, either because of the sun or wind, and it was ruled a hit. But Acuna was picked off stealing. Then, Austin Riley hit a ball into the right-field corner that could have been the end of the inning. Wenceel Pérez made an attempt to catch the ball but the wind blew it into the wall. With new life, Riley hit a deep fly ball to left that Clark, again either lost it in the sun or misjudged it because of the wind; this time, he was charged with an error.
De Jesus was stretched out and able to last 3⅓ innings, in large part because he pitched in the Venezuelan Winter League, where he led his hometown club to a championship.
De Jesus allowed two hits and a walk in giving up three runs, none earned.
De Jesus, who signed a minor-league deal this offseason, will pitch one more time for the Tigers before leaving to pitch for Team Venezuela in the WBC.
The Tigers had an interesting challenge early in this game in facing right-hander Reynaldo López. The 32-year-old was a 2024 All Star but pitched in only one game in 2025 because of injuries.
McGonigle, a 2023 first-round pick and baseball's No. 2 ranked prospect (per Baseball America), started at shortstop and batted second in the Tigers order, right behind Parker Meadows. McGonigle worked the count to 3-1 before singling to center. Then, he stole second base with ease. But he was stranded at second when Jahmai Jones struck out.
In the fifth inning, Jace Jung – the Tigers' first-round pick in 2022 – singled to left, driving in Clark. But then Jung tried to stretch it into a double and inexplicably decided not to slide. He was thrown out.
Trei Cruz, a 2020 third-round pick who is trying to make the Tigers as a utility player, showed off his bat, hammering a double in the eighth inning.
De Jesus was the star of the day for the Tigers on the mound, throwing 3⅓ innings while not allowing an earned run.
In the fifth inning, Braves first baseman Matt Olson hammered a pitch thrown by Matt Seelinger. The ball landed on top of a two-story building in right field, bounced off the roof and disappeared out of sight – much like the chances of the Tigers winning this game.
Seelinger (two earned runs in 1⅓ innings), Drew Sommers (two earned runs in one inning) and Ricky Vanasco (one earned run in one inning) were all roughed up by the Braves.
1. Enmanuel De Jesus, 2. Kevin McGonigle, 3. Trei Cruz.
Split-squad games: Wednesday vs. Toronto Blue Jays in Lakeland (1:05 p.m.) and vs. Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater (1:05 p.m., MLB Network).
Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' top prospects get plenty of work in loss to Braves
Proposed trade idea sees Reds landing Angels offensive powerhouse originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
While the Chicago Cubs made a ton of headlines over the winter, the Cincinnati Reds are still a team that everyone should be paying attention to.
Coming off a postseason appearance, the club is looking to do so again in 2026. The front office kept itself plenty busy, re-signing Emilio Pagan and acquiring JJ Bleday.
However, the club's biggest splash over the offseason came when they acquired Eugenio Suarez. The two sides agreed on a one-year deal for him to return to Cincinnati.
MORE: Eugenio Suarez returns to Cincinnati to reclaim his home run throne
Suarez is coming off a monster season where he hit .228/.298/.526, tying a career high of 49 home runs while driving in 196 runs, and returning to Great American Ball Park should do wonders for him this season.
Between him and Elly De La Cruz, fans should be pretty excited. But, if they really want to compete in the division, a trade or two couldn't hurt.
Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter believes Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell could be the perfect fit for the Reds.
"The Reds are low-key scary, as any team that has Chase Burns as a No. 5 starter is one that could be a problem in October. But if they really want to make a Cinderella run, more offense is needed. To this end, they could hope for 40-plus homers from Adell at Great American Ball Park. And while he isn't much of a defender in the outfield, there are few places where outfield defense matters less than Cincinnati."
Adell is coming off a season where he led the Halos offense with a career high 37 home runs. He could be a great addition to help Cincinnati's offense.
He could split his time between one of the corner outfield spots and DH, and the Reds would have full control over him for the next two seasons.
One of the top in-state prospects in the 2027 class has reportedly locked in an official visit to Michigan State for late May.
Myles Smith of Farmington, Mich. has reportedly scheduled an official visit to Michigan State for the weekend of May 29, according to 247Sports recruiting insider Allen Trieu. He also has scheduled an official visit to Kentucky for June 12.
Smith is listed as a four-star edge rusher, with a recruiting rating of 92.53 in 247Sports' composite rating system. He ranks as the No. 4 player from Michigan and No. 21 edge rusher in the 2027 class. He is also listed as the No. 205 overall prospect in the class.
Michigan State is one of more than 20 schools to extend an offer to Smith, according to 247Sports. He also holds notable offers from Kentucky, California, Illinois, Indiana, Cincinnati, Missouri, Michigan, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Penn State, Purdue, Pitt, Rutgers, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Vanderbilt.
Smith has been a clear priority for the Spartans in the 2027 recruiting class so this is big news for Michigan State to lock in an official visit. By getting this official visit, it's clear the interest between Michigan State and Smith is mutual, which could go a long way in his recruitment.
First two officials are set for Farmington (Mich.) EDGE Myles Smith.
— Allen Trieu (@AllenTrieu) February 24, 2026
Michigan State (May 29th), Kentucky (June 12th).https://t.co/x01Fmrt155pic.twitter.com/jyM0ccLrFi
Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Elite, in-state EDGE Myles Smith to reportedly visit MSU in May
New Orleans Saints fans eager to see Drew Brees be inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame shouldn't get their hopes up about seeing their team play a preseason game at the stadium named for their old owner. The first game of the NFL preseason is always played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in honor of the year's inaugural class, and on paper, the Saints have been seen as a natural fit. Beyond tying Brees a little closer to the team that he made famous (step off, Chargers fans) it's an opportunity for Kellen Moore and his coaching staff to start training camp a little sooner and spend more time developing their roster. When the NFL cut down the preseason from four games to just three, a lot of guys on the roster bubble lost out. This is their chance to put more plays on tape and help their evaluations.
However, the Times-Picayune's Jeff Duncan observed that the Saints already have a busy travel schedule this summer. New Orleans is expected to play two preseason road games (with a third exhibition game at home in the Caesars Superdome) and travel to California for another week of training camp, as they've done in recent years. Chartering flights for a 90-man roster, coaching staff, support personnel and front office executives isn't cheap. The logistics of moving all the equipment and supplies they need can be challenging. That's all true.
It's also true that the Saints have been giving their fans the short end of the stick in recent years. They're moving a second home game overseas in five years by going to France in 2026. They haven't put the same effort the Los Angeles Rams did in admitting fans to training camp practices at UC Irvine, which included a full month of practices in 2024 and a week of work last summer. For Saints fans in Ohio (and those making the trip from all around the NFL-watching world) their only other chance to see the team is on expensive out-of-market streaming packages. Even if it's backups like Spencer Rattler and Devin Neal in the huddle instead of Tyler Shough and Alvin Kamara, they deserve a chance to see their favorite team in person.
So it would be disappointing to see the Saints pass on the chance to play an exhibition game in front of their most faithful fans at an occasion honoring the greatest player in franchise history, and with a bronze statue of the late Benson watching on. But it wouldn't be surprising. Whatever ends up happening with the Hall of Fame game in August, let's hope the Saints are winning so many games in December and January that we've forgotten all about it.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints may not have time to honor Drew Brees at Hall of Fame game
For months now, we’ve been wondering just how much Weston McKennie’s form would be the tipping point in Juventus deciding to offer him a new contract just a few short months before his current deal expires. Week after week went by, with the waiting game of what would happen amidst rumors of other clubs circling and monitoring McKennie’s situation becoming the norm more than anything.
Even with that, McKennie shrugged off any real talk that he could leave Juve come the summertime, instead saying that he hoped to stay in Turin and that his agent was the one who was taking care of everything.
It looks like there’s no more reason to wonder. Or for those clubs not named Juventus to be lurking in the distance.
According to multiple reports out of Italy on Tuesday, Juventus and McKennie’s camp are close to finalizing a contract extension through 2030. It would give the American midfielder who has basically been in and out and then back into the Juventus squad for more than just a couple of years now the stability that he has so desired — and a much-deserved pay raise as he continues to be one of the Bianconeri’s best performers under yet another manager in Igor Tudor and now Luciano Spalletti so far this season.
McKennie will reportedly see his salary go up to €4 million with potential bonuses.
Juventus are expected to announce the new deal with the 27-year-old McKennie following this weekend’s crucial matchup with fourth-place Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.
👊🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ue661cqdvL
— Romeo Agresti (@romeoagresti) February 24, 2026
Check back for more on this developing story.
Pro Football Focus continues to praise Buffalo Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau this offseaon.
PFF first named Rousseau one of the top-101 players from the entire 2025 NFL season. The Bills defender slotted in at the No. 64 overall position on that list.
Considering that, it should come as no surprise that Rousseau was also named one of football's top pass rusher by PFF as well.
In PFF's ranking of the best edge defenders in 2025, Rousseau cracked the top-10 position, despite only recording seven sacks last season. However, that number did lead the Bills.
Rousseau's 86.3 grade on Rousseau earned him the No. 8 position.
PFF's breakdown on Rousseau can be found below:
Greg Rousseau, Buffalo Bills (86.3)
Although Rousseau’s pass-rushing metrics don’t quite match up with others on this list, no edge defended the run at a higher level than him this season (85.1). The area of his game that was most improved this season was tackling, as he dropped his missed tackle rate from 21.2% in 2024 to 8.7% this season.
This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: PFF: Bills' Greg Rousseau named top-10 pass rusher in 2025
Chinese-American Winter Olympics star Eileen Gu is under fire once again, but this time it’s an NFL legend calling out the successful women’s skier.
Former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason has become the latest critic of the Milan Cortina Games gold medalist after going on a viral rant Tuesday. The WFAN radio host questioned Gu for her “insufferable” behavior throughout the Olympics.
Eileen Gu controversially decided to represent China instead of the United States after a reported hefty payday. However, her Olympic interviews also rubbed American fans the wrong way throughout the Milan Cortina Games.
MORE: NHL star Jack Hughes bashes haters over Team USA White House visit
"She’s a very attractive woman and she’s extremely bright, she went to Stanford. But if you listen to her post participation interviews, she’s insufferable" – Boomer Esiason on Eileen Gu pic.twitter.com/wLZELJx383
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 24, 2026
Meanwhile, Esiason’s questionable remarks come after he surprisingly called Gu an “attractive woman” before bashing her for some of her other qualities.
“She’s a very attractive woman and she’s extremely bright, she went to Stanford,” Esiason said on the WFAN airwaves recently. “But if you listen to her post participation interviews, she’s insufferable”
Esiason hasn’t been the only vocal critic of Eileen Gu’s though in recent weeks. Former NBA star Enes Kanter bashed the Winter Olympics star for choosing China over the U.S. and even went as far as to call her a ‘traitor.’
MORE: USA figure skater Amber Glenn gives video tour of room at Olympic Village
Ailing Eileen Gu during the women’s skiing halfpipe final at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Regardless of fans’ thoughts on the young skier’s choice of country, Gu certainly dazzled the Milan Cortina Games with her incredible talent. The 22 year old is fully expecting to be in the mix once again when the 2030 Olympic Games take place in the French Alps.
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VIRAL: Watch Johnny Gaudreau’s children join Team USA hockey gold medal celebration
The post NFL legend calls out ‘insufferable’ Winter Olympics skier Eileen Gu appeared first on The Big Lead.
Why USA hockey is at the State of the Union for Donald Trump's address after Olympic gold medal win originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Both the United States' men's and women's ice hockey teams took home the gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
To make the victories even better, both came in overtime, and both saw the USA win 2-1 over Team Canada, which is generally favored as being the best hockey team.
It was an exciting win for the United States, and the men's team celebrated in their locker room after the big win. Videos have been released of their celebrations, including downing beers with FBI Director Kash Patel and a FaceTime with President Trump. During the FaceTime, Trump invited the men's team to attend his State of the Union address, and then added he guessed he should invite the women's team too.
The hockey wins came over the weekend, and both teams had to fly back from Italy amid a severe storm in the northeastern United States. The NHL season resumes on Wednesday, with the State of the Union address scheduled for the night of Tuesday, February 24.
Here is more on whether or not the gold-medal-winning USA hockey teams are at the State of the Union address.
MORE: How Jack Hughes became national icon for Team USA
During the video showing the FaceTime with the President, the men's team accepted the invitation, but it didn't feel like a binding decision. It is more seen as the team riding high from the win and responding to the President's offer. Officials from both the White House and Team USA have not confirmed whether they will attend the address.
The men's gold-medal-winning team is confirmed to be celebrating the victory in Miami, Florida on Monday night. Trump has invited them both to the State of the Union address on Tuesday, and to the White House on Wednesday to be honored, per The Athletic.
With the address and the visit lining up with the NHL regular season restarting, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Athletic that "players can decide on an individual basis if they want to accept the invitation and then it'll be up to their individual teams whether or not to grant permission."
The women's team declined the invitation. A spokesperson for the team said, "We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal–winning U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement...They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment."
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson pointed out that the logistics may be tough to get the men's hockey team to the State of the Union. "We’ve got to figure out logistics. There's no way to have special guests on the floor because it's a literal session of Congress and you know that's what's good about rules. But we're going to work and do what we can to accommodate. We certainly want to have them here for the celebration. It's quite a feat. The men's and women's hockey teams. We're trying to work out logistics to see if there's some way to perhaps get them into the gallery and the doors, wave and receive the applause that they're due. We're working on logistics."
Team USA's men's hockey team is en route to Washington D.C. ahead of the State of the Union address as of Tuesday afternoon.
The U.S. men’s hockey team is now en route to Washington, D.C., ahead of President Trump’s State of the Union tonight.
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) February 24, 2026
pic.twitter.com/pL4JmUv3Sn
MORE: Why Kash Patel was celebrating with Team USA
Not every member of the gold medal winning team will be at the State of the Union address. Jake Guentzel is back in Tampa Bay and will not attend. Brock Nelson also flew back to Denver, Colorado with his family, and will not attend, instead choosing to get ready to play for the Avalanche against the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday. Kyle Connor, Jackson LaCombe and Jake Oettinger also opted not to attend.
Here are the players confirmed to be attending the State of the Union.
From Matthew Tkachuk’s IG story. Appears the team is on its way to the State of the Union pic.twitter.com/DhhYZwZQeT
— Evan Sporer (@ev_sporer) February 24, 2026
Team USA arrives at the White House!!! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Iv6XS5q6In
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) February 24, 2026
Trump reportedly called Team USA's men's team after they beat Team Canada. The call itself has become controversial on social media. In the call, Trump congratulated the men's team on their win and invited them to his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, even offering to send a military plane for them if that's what it took to get them to attend.
You can hear the genuine pride in Donald Trumps voice when he called the Team USA Hockey Team pic.twitter.com/ch6GbXShwh
— Harrison Krank (@HarrisonKrank) February 23, 2026
While doing so, he also says, "I have to tell you, we are going to have to bring the women's team too." Many took this as a lessening of the women's team gold-medal win also over Canada, and felt like he was considering them as an afterthought, as he added, "If I don't invite them, they will try to impeach me."
Matthew Tkachuk said after Trump's call that the president "just congratulated us," adding, "It's an honor to wear this jersey and represent the U.S." Tkachuk is a member of Trump's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition and has visited the White House twice to celebrate Stanley Cup championships with the Panthers.
MORE: Best quotes after Team USA's gold medal win
President Trump's 2026 State of the Union address will take place on Tuesday, February 24. It is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET, and he is expected to discuss immigration enforcement, economic policies, and the United States' recent success at the 2026 Winter Games.
MORE: Nathan MacKinnon says Canada was better team despite loss to USA
The State of the Union address can be watched in a variety of ways. It will air on all of the major networks like ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox as well as CNN and MSNBC.
The State of the Union address can also be streamed on YouTube, PBC, The White House website, C-Span's website.
Gov. Bill Lee signed Senate Bill 16 into law on Feb. 23, paving the way for Tennessee high school athletes to gain immediate eligibility after one transfer effective July 1.
The law will allow student-athletes in grades 6-8 and 9-12 to gain immediate eligibility after transferring schools one time without having to make a bona fide change of address. That's as long as the transfer is in the summer between school years and other eligibility requirements are met.
The TSSAA, which governs high school sports in Tennessee, collaborated with bill sponsors to craft the language. The TSSAA is expected to present specific bylaw revisions to its Legislative Council in April in order to comply with the law. The rule is expected to go into effect for the 2026-27 school year.
After the TSSAA amends its bylaws and the new rules go into effect, athletes will no longer have to submit information required under the association’s current transfer rule, which allows one transfer but only for significant academic, social-emotional, environmental or mental health needs. The current rule also mandates that the sending schools attest the move is not for athletic or disciplinary reasons.
More: TSSAA working with Tennessee legislature on one-time transfer rule for any reason
More: Tennessee lawmaker says he's no longer interested in dissolving TSSAA
There are exceptions to the new law that defer to other TSSAA eligibility standards, but overall, it’s a seismic shift from the transfer rules the TSSAA had previously upheld since its inception 1925. Other state high school associations have traditionally denied immediate eligibility to student-athlete transfers unless they physically moved into another school’s district.
Some states are shifting to one-time transfer policies, in some cases due to government involvement. During Tennessee's 2025 legislative session, Senator Adam Lowe, R-Calhoun, filed bill SB16 and had it co-sponsored in the house by Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, with HB25 pushing for looser transfer rules. The TSSAA responded by loosening its transfer restrictions with its current rule.
An amended bill was brought to the floor during the current session and was passed for the governor to sign.
Student-athletes are permitted one transfer during grades 6-8 and one during grades 9-12 between school years.
Under the law, student-athletes cannot transfer more than once during those periods unless they make a bona fide change of address or receive a hardship waiver. Transfers are also restricted if student-athletes are ineligible due to other school or TSSAA policies, including but not limited to, academic ineligibility, disciplinary reasons, violation of the TSSAA’s recruiting or coaching link rules, the TSSAA’s age-limit rule or semester rule.
The law states that the TSSAA is allowed to determine “the content, scope, and requirements of any rule or policy adopted by the association for purposes of implementing the immediate eligibility requirement; and (establish) standards, requirements, and procedures for determining a student's eligibility to participate in interscholastic athletics.”
While the TSSAA challenged previous legislative involvement in its transfer rules, the association collaborated with lawmakers after 60% of Tennessee high school principals, surveyed by the TSSAA, said they were in favor of a one-time transfer rule for any reason.
Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.
He also contributes to The Tennessean's high school sports newsletter, The Bootleg. Subscribe to The Bootleg here.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Gov. Bill Lee signs transfer law for TSSAA athletes. What it means
Gov. Bill Lee signed Senate Bill 16 into law on Feb. 23, paving the way for Tennessee high school athletes to gain immediate eligibility after one transfer effective July 1.
The law will allow student-athletes in grades 6-8 and 9-12 to gain immediate eligibility after transferring schools one time without having to make a bona fide change of address. That's as long as the transfer is in the summer between school years and other eligibility requirements are met.
The TSSAA, which governs high school sports in Tennessee, collaborated with bill sponsors to craft the language. The TSSAA is expected to present specific bylaw revisions to its Legislative Council in April in order to comply with the law. The rule is expected to go into effect for the 2026-27 school year.
After the TSSAA amends its bylaws and the new rules go into effect, athletes will no longer have to submit information required under the association’s current transfer rule, which allows one transfer but only for significant academic, social-emotional, environmental or mental health needs. The current rule also mandates that the sending schools attest the move is not for athletic or disciplinary reasons.
More: TSSAA working with Tennessee legislature on one-time transfer rule for any reason
More: Tennessee lawmaker says he's no longer interested in dissolving TSSAA
There are exceptions to the new law that defer to other TSSAA eligibility standards, but overall, it’s a seismic shift from the transfer rules the TSSAA had previously upheld since its inception 1925. Other state high school associations have traditionally denied immediate eligibility to student-athlete transfers unless they physically moved into another school’s district.
Some states are shifting to one-time transfer policies, in some cases due to government involvement. During Tennessee's 2025 legislative session, Senator Adam Lowe, R-Calhoun, filed bill SB16 and had it co-sponsored in the house by Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, with HB25 pushing for looser transfer rules. The TSSAA responded by loosening its transfer restrictions with its current rule.
An amended bill was brought to the floor during the current session and was passed for the governor to sign.
Student-athletes are permitted one transfer during grades 6-8 and one during grades 9-12 between school years.
Under the law, student-athletes cannot transfer more than once during those periods unless they make a bona fide change of address or receive a hardship waiver. Transfers are also restricted if student-athletes are ineligible due to other school or TSSAA policies, including but not limited to, academic ineligibility, disciplinary reasons, violation of the TSSAA’s recruiting or coaching link rules, the TSSAA’s age-limit rule or semester rule.
The law states that the TSSAA is allowed to determine “the content, scope, and requirements of any rule or policy adopted by the association for purposes of implementing the immediate eligibility requirement; and (establish) standards, requirements, and procedures for determining a student's eligibility to participate in interscholastic athletics.”
While the TSSAA challenged previous legislative involvement in its transfer rules, the association collaborated with lawmakers after 60% of Tennessee high school principals, surveyed by the TSSAA, said they were in favor of a one-time transfer rule for any reason.
Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.
He also contributes to The Tennessean's high school sports newsletter, The Bootleg. Subscribe to The Bootleg here.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Gov. Bill Lee signs transfer law for TSSAA athletes. What it means
MLB Mock Trade suggest Yankees will trade for 25-year old star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Yankees are always in the mix to make a deep postseason run with the many weapons they have accumulated over the years, such as Giancarlo Stanton, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Cody Bellinger, etc.
However, in an article from Bleacher Report proposing every trade each MLB team could make before opening day, it suggests that New York will pull the trigger on a trade for the young phenom shortstop, CJ Abrams, from the Washington Nationals, which might get the team over the hump.
Abrams, 25, has quickly become one of the top prospects in the league since entering the league in 2022, and has consistently improved over the last three seasons, including hitting around 20 home runs with a batting average of around .250.
Adding something like that to a Yankees team that already has a batting lineup that has no problem knocking balls out of the park makes them even more dangerous, as they are hoping to make it back to the World Series after losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Obviously, it is just an idea for now. Still, in a competitive division such as the AL East, which has produced the last two American League teams to reach the World Series (the Toronto Blue Jays last season), if New York can pull this off, it will undoubtedly make them the favorites to win another AL pennant.
Opening day is practically a month away, and the Yankees will open the season against the San Francisco Giants in a primetime matchup on March 25.
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Kobie Turner has been a prolific sack artist since he entered the league. Since 2023, Turner has registered 24 sacks and 43 quarterback hits in 51 career games.
He's played a lot of quarterbacks in his career already, but Turner told Quentin Lake during a recent episode of the team's "Right on Q" podcast that he's almost rather play an elusive quarterback than one who gets the ball out fast.
"Sometimes, like, the fast ones or the elusive ones, you can kind of trap them in," Turner said. "Sometimes facing a quarterback that's going to get the ball out quick is worse cause the second you pop him in his face or whatever, now he's dirting it or he's throwing it to whatever receiver he knows he has a check down. ... Sometimes I'd rather play a guy who thinks he's shiftier than he really is. Then you can get him down."
Now, Turner agreed with Lake that he likes playing the "statues" — or the quarterbacks who stay in the pocket and aren't as mobile. However, Turner's assessment is all about opportunity. He'd rather play a quarterback that's more willing to dance around behind the line of scrimmage because it gives him more time to take him down, rather than quarterback who wants to get the ball out as quick as possible.
The problem with facing elusive quarterbacks, though, is that you run into the situation Turner noted earlier in the podcast with regard to Lamar Jackson. The Baltimore Ravens' star quarterback eluded Turner in a 2023 game and lofted up a touchdown that ultimately helped his team win. Another example reared its head in the 2025 playoffs, when Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams avoided Rams defenders before tossing up a game-tying touchdown on fourth down to set up overtime in the NFC divisional round.
Turner has the skills to sack any quarterback, but it's interesting to see his thought process when it comes to different types of passers he faces.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Kobie Turner explains why elusive QBs are sometimes easier to sack
Former NBA star Patrick Beverley will no longer face a felony assault charge connected to allegations made by his teenage sister late last year that he grabbed her by the neck and punched her in the eye during an altercation at their mother's home.
On Monday, a grand jury in the 240th District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas, returned a "no bill" —— meaning that insufficient evidence had been found — concerning the third-degree felony charge against Beverley of assault and impeding breath/circulation. District clerk Beverley McGrew Walker ordered that the complaint against the former player be dismissed.
On Monday, Beverley addressed the outcome in a statement Monday on social media.
"I am deeply grateful for all thoughts and prayers for the family," the former Lakers and Clippers player wrote. "We must continue to protect our children, especially our young girls. This ordeal has truly made our family stronger. Thank you for your continued support and prayers."
Read more:Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs pleads not guilty to felony strangulation charge
Beverley was arrested Nov. 14 after Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Deputy Miguel Ramirez responded to a possible family violence situation at a residence at around 3:50 a.m. According to his probable cause affidavit, Ramirez said Beverley's sister told him that her mother had called Beverley to come over after discovering that the girl had been out with her boyfriend without permission.
Beverley’s sister said her brother “grabbed her by her neck with both hands, and picked her up off the ground" and “squeezed her neck causing her to feel pain,” according to the affidavit. His sister felt like “she was losing oxygen and not able to breathe” for approximately 20 to 30 seconds, the affidavit stated, adding that she also said her brother slammed her body against the walls and punched her in the left eye.
Later that day, Beverley wrote on X, “Please don’t believe everything you see on the internet.”
He also indicated on social media that his sister was 15 and her boyfriend was 18.
Read more:Jaylen Brown rejects Beverly Hills' apology after cops shut down his private All-Star Weekend event
Letitia Quinones-Hollins, one of the attorneys representing Beverley, told The Times in an emailed statement Nov. 17 that the affidavit gives "only one side of the story — given at a time when emotions were high. As I’ve said before, we don’t believe that the description in that affidavit is accurate, nor is it complete. Patrick is not a violent man and was not violent that night."
Quinones-Hollins and fellow attorney Rusty Hardin told TMZ on Monday that they felt all along that Beverley "would be cleared of all charges."
"Patrick wants everyone to know that he would never do anything to harm his sister and that he is very grateful that the grand jury has recognized that with their no-bill," the attorneys said. "He is thankful for all who prayed for him and supported him during this time. He is glad that the process was allowed to work as it did and his hope is that with these charges behind him now, his name and reputation will be restored."
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Nottingham Forest and Fenerbahçe face off this Thursday at the City Ground in UEFA Europa League.
In their last fixture, Nottingham Forest suffered a 0-1 reverse against Liverpool (Premier League 2025/26). In their last fixture, Fenerbahçe shared the spoils 1-1 with Kasimpasa (Turkey Super Lig 2025/26).
Nottingham Forest ( vs Liverpool 2026-02-22): Stefan Ortega, Ola Aina, Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, Neco Williams, Ibrahim Sangaré, Elliot Anderson, Omari Hutchinson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Igor Jesus
Fenerbahçe ( vs Kasimpasa 2026-02-23): Ederson Moraes, Nélson Semedo, Jayden Oosterwolde, Çaglar Söyüncü, Levent Mercan, Ismail Yuksek, Mattéo Guendouzi, Nene Dorgeles, Marco Asensio, Anthony Musaba, Anderson Talisca
Manchester United have reportedly made a major decision regarding Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White ahead of the summer transfer window.
Having spent the bulk of last summer’s budget on bolstering the attacking department, United are expected to prioritise other areas of the pitch, with midfield being the top item on the agenda.
Casemiro is set to leave United at the end of the season upon the expiry of his contract, while there is also uncertainty over the futures of Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes.
Ugarte has struggled to make an impact at Old Trafford since joining the club from Paris Saint-Germain and it seems patience with him is wearing thin. Meanwhile, Fernandes is eager to compete for football’s most prestigious honours while at the peak of his career, leading to speculation that he may consider his options when the window commences.
United continue to be linked with a host of midfielders including Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace), Carlos Baleba (Brighton and Hove Albion) and Sandro Tonali (Newcastle).
There have been suggestions that the Red Devils could look to make more than one addition in the middle of the park.
Now, the Daily Mail report that United have stormed into the race for Gibbs-White.
The newspaper reveals that United have joined the race for Gibbs-White, who is attracting plenty of interest as Forest flirt with the prospect of relegation from the Premier League.
However, United are at a disadvantage in the race for both Gibbs-White and Anderson, and the Daily Mail have explained why.
“Confidential understands United’s new pay scale may hinder their efforts to persuade either player to turn down bigger offers from other clubs and move to Old Trafford in the summer.”
“United have been trying to drive down their wage bill, but it could leave them at a severe disadvantage in the chase for Gibbs-White and Anderson – even more so with Manchester City understood to be tracking both Forest players as well.”
“Earning in excess of £100m by qualifying for the Champions League would have a big impact on United’s ability to offer big money for transfer targets in the summer, but the club are still committed to moving high earners off the books.”
It’s understood that Gibbs-White has a release clause, which was inserted in the contract he signed last year after Tottenham Hotspur failed with a bid to snap him up.
Gibbs-White currently earns around £150,000-a-week, which is similar to what the club pays last summer’s signings Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko.
City, who would not think twice about their wage structure, are expected to be among the favourites for Gibbs-White and Anderson.
Feature image Clive Brunskill via Getty Images
The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
Joe Mixon didn't play last season, due to an off-field injury to his foot. It's an injury that remains a mystery.
General Manager Nick Caserio revealed the running back underwent surgery for his injury this offseason but would not elaborate on the injury.
“He didn’t do anything off the field,” Caserio told Aaron Wilson of KPRC. “It wasn’t like he was riding a snowmobile or anything like that. I would say it was more of a medical condition or situation that didn’t really improve as much as everyone would hope.
“I’m not trying to evade the question. I think that’s the reality of the situation. He didn’t jump off a building. He wasn’t cliff diving or anything like that. He wasn’t doing anything irresponsible. It was a freak thing. Honestly, I’ve never seen it. It’s just the condition.”
Caserio has had conversations with Mixon's agent, Peter Schaffer, but the Texans are expected to release Mixon with a failed physical, per Wilson. Releasing Mixon would save the team $8.5 million.
Mixon's future is unknown.
“I’ve said this multiple times: I’m not trying to be evasive; it’s a moving target," Caserio said. "So, we’ll kind of see what the availability is going to be, what the prognosis is for the season, and then ultimately try to figure out what makes sense for everybody involved.”
Against all odds and common sense, Fiorentina’s suddenly one of the form teams in Serie A, with only 3 teams performing better over the past 3 games. Add in a big win over Jagellonia Białystok in the Conference League knockout round last week and there’s hope that the Viola have turned a corner in this accursed season. Following an ugly win over Pisa in the Tuscan derby, the guys now welcome Jaga to Tuscany.
The match will be played on Thursday, 26 February 2026, at 17:45 GMT/12:45 PM EST, at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in beautiful Firenze. The forecast calls for a glorious day, actually: sunny, warm (17° C/55° F), with nary a cloud nor a gust of wind. The conditions are about as perfect for an enjoyable Thursday evening as you could ask for. Unfortunately, only about 7000 fans are expected for what is, on paper, a dead rubber
3-0 feels like a pretty secure scoreline. For most clubs in the knockout rounds of a European competition, it would be. Fiorentina, of course, is not most teams in the knockout rounds of a European competition. Let me paint you a picture of disaster: Paolo Vanoli fields his backups again, the team comes out complacent due to its lead, Jaga takes advantage and grabs an early goal, the nerves start setting in, Jaga grabs a second before halftime, the momentum tangibly shifts, and just like that it’s a life or death struggle.
It’s not just my natural pessimism with the brush here. Jaga’s going to come out with something to prove and, perhaps more importantly, Adrian Siemieniec (whose name we know just fine, thanks) will get 2 of his most important players back from suspension. Captain Taras Romanczuk is the midfield lynchpin, a calming presence who excels at winning the ball and moving it on. Striker Afimico Pululu is a pressing dynamo whose athleticism, motor, and predatory instincts have resulted in 15 total goals this season. Jaga’s still top of the Ekstraklasa and won’t give up because of a bad 45 minutes in the first leg. If Fiorentina comes out playing softly, the Poles will pounce.
One of the ways to prevent an early wobble is to not do anything stupid at the back, which has been a nearly impossible task for Fiorentina this year. The defenders have been prone to inexplicable mistakes all year, whether those are bad passes, blown marking assignments, or a lack of force. Especially against a team that’s going to go all-out in pressing them early on, keeping it tight and not shooting their own toes off is of critical importance. If that sounds like advice from your Sunday league captain, well, yeah. Getting the basics right has been a struggle.
On the plus side, there should be plenty of experience out there. Dodô’s suspended for the Udinese game so will probably get a run here to save Niccolò Fortini for Monday. Robin Gosens is smart, experienced, and offers vocal leadership as well as a presence in both boxes. The real question is in central defense. I’d guess Pietro Comuzzo will start next Luca Ranieri; the former captain’s rediscovered his form of late but the Ginger Prince has fallen off and his technical limitations mean he’ll be the primary target for Jaga’s pressing. Hopefully his experienced colleagues can settle him down and let his natural ability carry him through.
Roberto Piccoli and Jacopo Fazzini are among the most disappointing players on the roster. Both arrived in the summer for significant fees and both were expected to start but have mostly disappointed and now find themselves as backups. Both have absorbed a lot of criticism from fans about their limitations. Piccoli’s struggles on the ball and in front of goal, as well as his €25 million price tag, have seen him labeled a bust. Fazzini didn’t come in with quite as heavy a burden of expectation but his infuriating inability to connect with his teammates is a real problem.
They’ll both start in this one and, beyond playing well, they need to play well together. In the first leg, I counted 5 chances Fazzini had to play a forward ball to Piccoli that he either ignored or whiffed. I’ll give you a basketball analogy: you have to reward your center for their hard work and that means getting them the occasional touch outside the flow of the offense to ensure they remain engaged in all phases. Piccoli works hard but if he’s not getting the ball, he’s prone to sulking. If Fazzini’s not a goal threat (0 goals on 12 shots this season), he needs to offer something beyond dribbling down dead ends. Forging a connection with Piccoli would improve both players’ outlook quite a bit.
The bookies lean very heavily towards Fiorentina for obvious reasons. That 0-3 is, after all, quite persuasive. However, I think that ignores some of the context at play: would it shock anyone if Vanoli decided the best course of action was to dig in and weather the storm and this one ended up as a 1-2 defeat or something like that? Jagiellonia wants some measure of revenge and has 2 of its best players back. With the hosts likely to conserve energy ahead of a huge Serie A game on Monday and safe in their first leg margin of victory, the door is open for some silliness.
Nevertheless, I’ll take Fiorentina to see out a businesslike 2-1 win. Jaga will come out swinging, applying a level of pressure that catches the Viola unprepared and even gets them a goal that sets the teeth on edge a bit; I’ll say Pululu’s the scorer but it could be anyone at a set piece. The visitors will continue to pour forward but that, by necessity, requires leaving a lot of gaps, gaps that Fiorentina will eventually take advantage of. Once Piccoli equalizes, the visitors’ aggression will turn to desperation and Giovanni Fabbian will grab the second to put it to bed. That aggression I’m expecting from Jaga, by the way, could lead to an ill-tempered match with a fair number of cards.
Forza Viola!
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Our NBA player prop projections are back for tonight's prime-time matchup, and the model has spotlighted a few plays that really pop.
We ran the numbers, lined our projections up against the market, and locked in on the spots with genuine value.
For these Knicks vs. Cavaliers predictions, it’s not guesswork — it’s all driven by the data.
If you’re building your betting card, these are the NBA picks the model likes most for Tuesday, February 24.
| Knicks | Cavaliers |
|---|---|
| Towns u19.5 points -112 | Mitchell u27.5 points -112 |
| Hart o4.5 assists -155 | Harden o2.5 3-pointers +135 |
| Brunson o2.5 3-pointers -112 | Allen o8.5 rebounds -112 |
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!
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Projection: 18.9 points
Compared to last year's 23.8 mark, Karl-Anthony Towns' points per game have dipped to 19.6.
The New York Knicks have played at the fifth-lowest up-tempo pace in the league over the last 15 games.
Whereas the Cleveland Cavaliers have played at the 10th-lowest up-tempo pace in the NBA over the last five games, which ought to reduce possessions for the Knicks.
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Projection: 4.6 assists
Josh Hart has a strong path to clearing 4.5 assists because he’s not just a wing who spots up. He pushes the ball in transition, initiates sets in the halfcourt, and thrives as a connector who keeps the offense flowing. When the ball swings, he’s often the guy making the extra pass that leads directly to a bucket.
Another big factor working in his favor is New York’s dominance on the offensive glass. The Knicks are the NBA's fourth-ranked offensive rebounding team, which creates second-chance possessions and extended plays.
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Projection: 2.7 3-pointers
This game against the Cavaliers sets up nicely for threes since opposing starting point guards have attempted the second-highest rate of triples in the NBA this season (41.4%) against them.
That kind of defensive tendency gives an elite guard like Jalen Brunson plenty of room to capitalize.
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Projection: 26.5 points
Donovan Mitchell has hit the Under 27.5 points in six of his last 10 games, and the trend makes sense when you look at how he’s been used and the defensive matchups he’s faced.
Over this stretch, Mitchell has seen more balanced scoring roles, with teammates stepping up offensively and defenses collapsing on him in key spots, limiting his efficiency and high-volume scoring opportunities.
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Projection: 2.6 3-pointers
James Harden has been scorching from deep lately, hitting the Over 2.5 made 3-pointers in six of his last 10 games.
Tonight, the conditions are ideal for Harden to keep that hot streak alive.
The Knicks have struggled to contain elite perimeter scorers this season, often leaving shooters open in catch-and-shoot situations and giving up extra possessions through their defensive schemes.
Combine that with Harden’s ability to create his own shot or pull defenders out of the paint, and he has multiple paths to knock down three or more from beyond the arc.
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Projection: 9.2 rebounds
Jarrett Allen has been a rebounding machine, hitting the Over 8.5 rebounds in nine of his last 10 games.
He’s consistently active on both ends of the floor, using his size, timing, and positioning to snatch boards over smaller or slower opponents. Allen’s ability to read the ball off the rim and box out effectively gives him multiple chances to control the glass, and his motor ensures he’s always around the action.
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| Location | Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH |
| Date | Tuesday, February 24, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | Peacock |
Not intended for use in MA.
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The Georgia Bulldogs have the fifth-most players of any college football program invited to the 2026 NFL combine. Georgia's 10 combine invitations is down from the 14 UGA players that were invited to the 2025 NFL combine.
The combine will be at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, from Feb. 23 to March 2 with on-field drills being from Thursday, Feb. 26 to Sunday, March 1. A trio of Georgia receivers in Zachariah Branch, Dillon Bell and Colbie Young will all be interesting to watch at the combine.
Combine participants can run the 40-yard dash, bench press, participate in on-field drills, interview with NFL teams, undergo medical tests and more. The combine is one of the top NFL draft preparation events and carries a fair amount of weight for most NFL teams. However, not every player participates in every drill. Players tend to selectively choose which drills they'll participate in to elevate their draft stock.
Georgia's pro day, which is typically held in March, will be much more important for the six Bulldogs that failed to receive combine invitations. The 2026 NFL draft will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from April 23-25.
Follow UGA Wire on Instagram or Threads for more Georgia football coverage!
This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: The 10 Georgia Bulldogs invited to the 2026 NFL combine
Nick Sirianni doesn't rule out an A.J. Brown trade for Eagles originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni stopped short of guaranteeing that star wide receiver A.J. Brown will be back with the team next season.
Brown’s future in Philly has been a consistent source of speculation, and while Sirianni made it clear that he wants to continue to coach Brown, he can’t make any promises regarding what the front office will decide to do.
"Will A.J. be here next season? I think we're still in a spot, like, I can't guarantee how anything is going to play out into next season. I'm thinking I'm going to be the coach next season, but you can't guarantee anything past tomorrow," Sirianni said, via ESPN.
"… Yeah, my expectation is he wants to be here. And obviously you want good players like that in your building. … As Howie [Roseman] said, it's hard to get good players in this league. A.J.'s a great player and A.J. is a good teammate and A.J. is a good person. Does he want to be here? Yes. Do I want him to be here? Yes."
More: Saquon Barkley provides encouraging update about Eagles' new offense under Sean Mannion
That quote from Roseman referenced by Sirianni was from last month after the Eagles were defeated by the San Francisco 49ers in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.
“It’s hard to find great players in the NFL and A.J.’s a great player," Roseman said at the time in response to a question about the Eagles potentially looking to trade Brown.
"I think from my perspective that’s what we’re going out and looking for, when we go out in free agency and the Draft, is trying to find great players who love football and he’s that guy. So that would be my answer.”
Allow us to read between the lines here for a minute. Basically, it sounds like the Eagles like Brown and would be happy to have him back in the fold next season under new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion.
But, that doesn't mean that a trade involving the star receiver is completely off of the table. If an intriguing enough offer comes along, perhaps the Eagles would indeed pull the trigger.
More Philadelphia Eagles news:
Ellen Hughes is speaking out after her two sons on the U.S. men’s ice hockey team, golden goal-scoring hero Jack and his brother Quinn Hughes, were seen laughing in response to Donald Trump’s patronizing joke about having to invite the gold medal-winning women’s team to the nation’s capital.
Ellen Hughes, who played for the American women’s squad in the early ’90s before the sport hit the Olympic ice, was asked by NBC’s “Today” show how the president’s comments landed with her.
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“Well, I think at the end of the day, it’s just about the country and the moment that these players, both the men and women, can bring so much unity to a group and to a country,” said Hughes, who is now a player development consultant for the women’s team. “People that cheered on that don’t watch hockey, people that have politics on one side or on the other side, and that’s all both the men’s team and the women’s team care about.”
Hughes went on to remark on the “synergy” between the two squads, both of whom made the undefeated journey to Olympic gold before ultimately taking down their Canadian rivals in overtime by the same score, 2-1.
“The way the women cheered on the men and the way the men cheered on the women — that’s what it’s all about,” she stressed.
“And the other things they cannot control. They care about humanity. They care about unity and they care about the country.”
Trump’s over-the-phone joke and the resulting locker-room laughter from the Hughes brothers and their teammates have sparked backlash in the days since, including from fans of the Professional Women’s Hockey League.
USA Hockey — which oversees both teams — later announced that the women’s squad turned down the White House’s invite to attend the president’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, citing scheduling conflicts.
Sports: Team USA Has Officially Made History At The Winter Olympics
The news led “Public Enemy” rapper Flavor Flav to invite the American women to a future ceremony in Las Vegas. The Team USA hype man said the women’s squad has since accepted his offer.
Trump’s plans for the men’s squad to attend his SOTU address appear to be coming to fruition, as several players shared photos aboard an Air Force jet on Tuesday.
Golden goal scorer Jack Hughes told the Daily Mail that the men’s team is excited to head to D.C. before adding, “Everything is so political. We’re athletes.”
He told the tabloid that the women, like the men, also have “busy schedules.”
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“Everyone is giving us backlash for all the social media stuff today,” he said. “People are so negative out there, and they are just trying to find a reason to put people down and make something out of almost nothing.”
It remains unclear whether members of either team, as Trump pitched, would attend a White House ceremony that he eyed for Wednesday.
Such plans could conflict with the return of both NHL and PWHL hockey as teams are set to resume play on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
HuffPost has reached out to the White House and USA Hockey for comment.
Sabres urged to trade for one of these 4 centers before NHL deadline originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Buffalo Sabres are on the verge of ending their drought.
The Sabres have missed the NHL playoffs in 14 consecutive seasons. This appears to be the campaign when they can change that.
Coming out of the Olympic break, the Sabres are in possession of a playoff position in the Eastern Conference. If they can just maintain the status quo down the stretch, the drought will be over.
To really achieve that, though, they might want to make an addition. They could use another center.
MORE: Jack Hughes, not a miracle, just magic
Daily Faceoff's Scott Maxwell lists four possible targets in the middle:
"The Sabres are poised to make the playoffs for the first time in 15 years, and it feels like everything is finally clicking for this roster," Maxwell writes. "On one hand, they will want to try to add to this team to build on their depth and improve their chances of making the postseason. But on the other hand, they don’t have any glaring weaknesses, and they may not want to disrupt the chemistry of the team when they’re finally firing on all cylinders. They could make a short-term buy for a middle-six veteran who doesn’t break the bank, shoot for a high-upside long-term options, or even just add along the edges while keeping Tuch as an own rental."
MORE: Team USA honors Johnny Gaudreau in special way after gold medal
As he mentions there at the end, the other thing to watch is what happens with Alex Tuch.
If the Sabres were scuffling, Tuch would be an obvious sell candidate in the final year of his contract. With them thriving, though, they might owe it to the rest of the team to keep Tuch.
There'll definitely be movement involving Buffalo between now and the March 6 NHL trade deadline, so stay tuned.
Braves urged to trade for Twins' 3.42 ERA All-Star righty due to injury trouble originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Braves are entering the 2026 season with hopes of returning to the postseason after two years off due to various injuries, bad luck, and regressing play.
There is optimism for 2026, but the Braves have already been dealt some tough injury news with He-Seong Kim's hand issue, which will cause him to miss 4-5 months. But the most pressing issue is the injuries to the rotation.
Amid some early injury trouble, the Braves are urged by Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer to go out and trade for a 3.42 ERA All-Star from the Minnesota Twins in Joe Ryan, to address the rotation need.
"For the Rangers, Ryan is a want more than a need. For the braves, it's the other way around," Rymer writes. "Chris Sale is 36 years old, and after him in their rotation is nothing but a series of question marks. That's the result of offseason inactivity clashing with early injury trouble."
The Braves' rotation has Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, and, normally, Spencer Schwellenbach, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Hurston Waldrep. But those last three are all hurt, leaving the Braves with some big questions in the rotation.
Reynaldo Lopez, Grant Holmes, and Bryce Elder make up the rest of the healthy rotation at the start of Spring Training. The Braves need another starter.
More: Twins get devastating injury news on Pablo Lopez
Ryan is a 29-year-old right-handed starter who's coming off a 3.42 ERA All-Star season for the Twins in 2025. He is under club control through 2027 and is a clear top trade target.
But, unfortunately for the Braves, he's dealing with some lower back inflammation, and while it might not be serious, he could return by Opening Day. For a team dealing with injury issues, trading for an injured starter might not be the best idea.
Atlanta needs to add to their rotation in some way this spring, and making a splash trade for Ryan, as Rymer is urging, would be an interesting move. A rotation with Sale, Ryan, Strider, and the others as depth options is a World Series-caliber rotation.
Maybe it’s some kind of post-Valentine’s rebuttal, but it’s been a time of cutthroat betrayals in the fight business. Last week Zuffa Boxing snatched away Conor Benn from his longtime caretaker Eddie Hearn in what struck many fans as an act of outright disloyalty, even as cooler minds called it “business.” What rubbed people the wrong way was that Hearn stuck with Benn through thick and thin, while Benn stuck with Hearn through thick.
Then of course, Ronda Rousey, one of the key figures in the UFC’s ultimate success, returned fire on Dana White and company by signing up to fight Gina Carano for Most Valuable Production’s first foray into MMA. That fight will stream this May on Netflix, a juggernaut of such immense proportion in the streaming business that it makes Paramount+ dine at the kid’s table.
Rousey going head-to-head with Dana White? Netflix versus Paramount+? MVP taking on the UFC? Just a few weeks before the UFC White House card?
See, now we’re talking.
It took a village, but we’ve arrived in a real-life pro-wrestling moment in combat sports where the storylines become just as big as the players. It just happens that turncoats are in fashion this winter, and they’re stitched with highly-sustainable drama.
And if there’s one thing that stands out as we kick into a rivalry we never suspected is that Ronda and Dana know each other very well. So well, in fact, that they understand exactly which blows can be felt. Back in the day, when Rousey was breaking the UFC through on global media platforms that would never deign to peek in on the goings-on in the Octagon, Dana sung Rousey’s praises louder than Beyonce ever could.
“I’m a huge Ronda Rousey fan,” he said a thousand different ways. “She’s extremely talented. What I like most about her is she’s mean and nasty.”
Hell yes, she is. The 39-year-old Rousey had been in talks with the UFC about doing the Carano fight, but it couldn’t be worked out. She was jilted enough to toss a match over her shoulder on the bridge that delivered her to transcendent status in the fight game, perhaps understanding that it can fully be rebuilt at a later date (this is all business, after all). But right now, in a fortified fit of fancy, Rousey doesn’t want to just have a one-off mega-fight with the 43-year-old Carano.
She said she wants to kick up a war with the UFC.
“It’s a dream fight and a superfight and everything,” she to her MVP business partner Nakisa Bidarian on the first episode of "MVP Uncut." “But I feel like the story behind it is not just this fight, but a lot of it is MVP vs. UFC. And that’s where I’m going to f***ing go really had in the trenches. “Because they’re suffering from a lack of competition…”
Here Bidarian, an ex-exec of the UFC who founded MVP with Jake Paul, got so tickled that he let out a giggle. It was all music to his ears, and Rousey broke into some serious easy-listening jazz after that.
Ronda Rousey: I feel like the story and everything behind it is not just this fight, but a lot of it is MVP vs. the UFC and that's where I'm gonna fucking go real hard in the trenches. We're helping them cause they're suffering from a lack of competition and they can't just make… pic.twitter.com/lFosXyrihc
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) February 23, 2026
“They can’t just make a class-action lawsuit every couple of years at the cost of doing business. And so, I’m really trying to help Dana out,” she continued. “And if anyone has been groomed to be his apprentice, it’s been me. I think I’d be the most favorite adversary he’s ever had.”
Mean. Nasty. And if you watched Rousey circa 2013, she’s the same “do nothing b****” she so famously professed to be. This was the Rousey that everyone fell in love with. This was the one who wouldn’t be denied, who wouldn’t stand for second place.
It’s not like they thawed Rousey out of a cryopreserved chamber, but she has raged back to life as if the intervening years don’t exist. Gone, with an overnight shake of the Etch-a-Sketch, is the Ronda who disappeared at the first sign of adversity. Many MMA fans got off the Rousey train after the way she handled herself upon losing to Holly Holm at UFC 193 in 2015. Rousey hid her face from the public and proceeded to sulk for a full year. It didn’t help that she avoided media ahead of her next (and last) fight with Amanda Nunes at UFC 207.
To this day she’s never admitted going about things the wrong way with her fan base after the losses. Instead, she blamed fans and media for turning on her. All those hard feelings remain intact, and it’s a definitive subplot as she makes her return to cage-fighting. Reinvention, it should be reminded, is forever possible in fighting, especially in the age of scattered attention.
What gives it the WWE drama is that, through it all, Dana has stood by Rousey as a guardian to her legacy. She was inducted into the UFC’s Hall of Fame in 2018. Whenever he talks about the success of the UFC, he always comes around to Rousey. She can do no wrong in his eyes, and he’s doted on her through the years even as many winced at her behavior.
“She’s f***ing fascinating,” Dana said at one point. “She’s the greatest athlete I’ve ever worked with on every level. Everybody talks about how I’m always Ronda this and Ronda that. It’s hard not to be Ronda this and Ronda that when you deal with her.”
He dealt with her recently, alright, and he didn’t work out a deal for her to fight Carano. Dana had to have known what was coming next. Perhaps that’s why he wished her well when asked about it in Houston after the UFC’s latest event this past Saturday.
“Her and I have been talking about this since last year,” he said, as fatherly as he could muster. “It just didn’t work out, and I’m happy for her. Listen, me and Gina are in a really good place we weren’t at at one point, and I’m happy for both of them.”
We’ll see how it shakes out. But the Ronda that he was so protective of during the delicate years is back. She wants to see MVP give the UFC a dose of its own medicine. The attitude is the same, but — and maybe this something she picked up from her venture in pro-wrestling — her faction has changed. Now she’s running with Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian and Netflix. This is an anti-UFC collective if there ever was one.
It's business, it’s business. Just like when Dana and Nick Kahn signed Conor Benn from out from Eddie Hearn’s grasp for eight digits for a single fight, it’s just business. The difference is that it’s also personal, and right now not everyone is minding their own business.
“Look,” Bidarian told Rousey in that same clip, “if [MVP] gets that co-main done, and I’m hoping we get that co-main done, it’s going to be an unbelievable one-two punch, you know?”
History has told us that the UFC will absorb the shots just fine, but these are storylines to keep an eye on.
Genk and Dinamo Zagreb go head-to-head at Luminus Arena this Thursday in the UEFA Europa League.
Last time out, Genk slipped to a 0-3 defeat against Standard Liège (Jupiler Pro League 2025/26). Last time out, Dinamo Zagreb triumphed 0-4 against NK Varazdin (Prva HNL 2025/26).
The last meeting between the two teams ended with Genk winning 3-1.
Genk ( vs Standard Liège 2026-02-22): Tobias Lawal, Zakaria El Ouahdi, Mujaid Sadick, Matte Smets, Joris Kayembe, Konstantinos Karetsas, Daan Heymans, Bryan Heynen, Jarne Steuckers, Aaron Bibout, Junya Ito
Dinamo Zagreb ( vs NK Varazdin 2026-02-22): Dominik Livakovic, Moris Valincic, Niko Galesic, Scott McKenna, Bruno Goda, Gabriel Vidović, Josip Misic, Miha Zajc, Monsef Bakrar, Dion Beljo, Arber Hoxha
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, journalist Pete O’Rourke claimed that Manchester United have identified Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana. O’Rourke said,
“We know the central midfield position is going to be a priority for Man United this summer.
“Casemiro is leaving at the end of season. There’s doubts over Ugarte’s future as well.
“So look, they’re going to need strengthening in that midfield position.
“Onana is a player that they’ve had previous interest in. So I think it’s one of those where he probably still remains on the list, but he’s probably not at the top of it.”
Onana is having a solid campaign at the West Midlands club as he has put in a string of impressive displays for them at the centre of the park. The 24-year-old has scored two goals in 25 matches for Aston Villa this season across multiple competitions.
The Belgian talent has proven his worth as a reliable performer in the Premier League, so it makes sense for the Red Devils to move in for him next summer.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 11: Amadou Onana of Aston Villa celebrates victory in front of the fans after the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion at Villa Park on February 11, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
His current contract at Villa Park will expire in the summer of 2029. Hence, it won’t be easy for the Red Devils to sign him on the cheap later this year.
Onana loves a tackle and can time his challenges well to secure the ball back for his team inside his half. He doesn’t mind clearing his lines when required and is a good passer of the ball as well.
The Belgian sensation is primarily a holding midfielder but can also function as a box-to-box midfielder if required. He has got a wealth of experience in the Premier League and is well-equipped to make a smooth transition to life at Man United.
Onana would add more energy and dynamism to Michael Carrick’s midfield. He is good enough to challenge for a regular first-team spot at Old Trafford.
At 24, Onana has got his peak years ahead of him, which makes him a decent signing for the Red Devils to pursue this summer. He might even help the Mancunian club compete across all fronts in the coming years. Therefore, Carrick should focus on getting a deal done for Onana soon.
That’s why Zeki Celik is such an intriguing transfer link. The 29-year-old Roma star is out of contract in 2026 - with no sign of a new deal in the Italian capital on the horizon.
The Turkey international can play as a conventional right-back but is also adept at tucking in as a right-sided centre-back and also plays as a right-sided midfielder ahead of a back three.
He could be a Swiss Army Knife of sorts for Arne Slot and Richard Hughes should they choose to pursue their reported interest.
Celik was reported last week to have sealed an agreement to join Juventus in the off-season - which would have put him out of Liverpool’s reach.
But his agent Fazil Ozdemir has put an end to speculation that his client will move to the Turin giants. And that should come as a massive boost to the Premier League champions.
“Rumors that Zeki has reached an agreement with a club are inaccurate,” a statement picked up by Calcio Mercato says.
“He currently plays for a major club, and it's natural for major teams in Italy and England to show interest in a player competing at this level and for his name to be associated with those clubs.
“His contract with Roma expires at the end of the season; however, he has great respect for the club. At this stage, he is not focusing on contractual or transfer issues.
“His full attention and commitment are focused on supporting Roma in achieving its objectives. We believe all other matters will be addressed and resolved in due course, in a professional and respectful manner.”
The English link could naturally be assumed to be Liverpool. Celik would be a no-cost option and given he currently makes around £43k per week at Roma he wouldn’t break the bank in terms of wages either.
The Atlanta Braves took on the Detroit Tigers today in North Port, FL. With it being a home game for the Braves we saw mostly starters in the lineup and the debut Reynaldo López after his long injury absence.
The game started off strong for the Braves both offensively and on the pitching side of things. It is important to note that the Tigers only had approximately three to four starting caliber players in their lineup, but López looked solid in his two innings of work.
López only saw eight batters. He was not perfect, but he got the job done. He surrendered a single in the first inning to Kevin McGonigle and in the second inning he walked Zach McKinstry in the second, but he also secured two strikeouts along the way. One thing to keep an eye on is that while he was pitching two stolen bases happened. Grant Holmes came in to take over and also pitched two innings. He saw the minimum number of batters with six. He did give up a walk, but the damage was mitigated by inducing a double play.
Joey Wentz came in to pitch the fifth and it did not start well. He walked the first two hitter and gave up a single right after that. Luckily for Wentz he got bailed out with an outfield assist on that single, but a run scored. Wentz then settled down for the most part for the rest of his two-inning outing. He ultimately had three strikeouts, one HBP, two walks, one single, and one ER.
Owen Murphy broke the trend of two-inning outings for Braves pitchers today and finished up the game for his third inning of work by pitching ninth. He held his own with one hit and four strikeouts. His only blemish was giving up a bases empty double. He also had an ABS win as a pitch was overturned for a strikeout.
The bats for the Braves started the game hot. They scored three runs in the first inning thanks to a single from Olson, Riley reaching on an error, Albies hitting a double to score two, and then Yastrzemski continuing his hot spring with a double of his own. It should also be noted that Acuña walked, but when he tried to steal third, he was thrown out. This could be a good sign that Acuña is being aggressive on the base paths after taking a step back the past few seasons due to injuries.
The offense was relatively quiet until the fifth, but new Braves addition Mauricio Dubón reached on a single and ultimately score when Matt Olson hit a two-run bomb to make the score 5-1 at that time.
Back in the swing of things! pic.twitter.com/2wupnUOqfE
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) February 24, 2026
After the fifth the Braves brought in most of their subs. Prized SS prospect John Gil did come in game as well, but he pinch hit for Profar in the seventh and walked and eventually scored. The subs did not slow down with the bats at all, ultimately scoring three runs after the fifth inning to total eight total runs for the Braves today.
The Braves will take on the Pirates tomorrow at the same time and same place where the Pirates will send their ace Paul Skenes against the Braves’ Bryce Elder who is fighting for a rotation spot.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — With Aaron Rodgers undecided on whether to return for a 22nd season in the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers are anticipating quicker clarity about their quarterback situation this time.
General manager Omar Khan said he doesn't have a deadline in mind for determining if the team will need to look elsewhere. Though Rodgers put off retirement last year to play for coach Mike Tomlin, the hiring of Mike McCarthy as Tomlin's successor has increased the chance of Rodgers returning because of the 13 seasons he played for McCarthy with the Green Bay Packers.
“He knows how we feel, and we know how he feels about us,” Khan said at the league's scouting combine in Indianapolis. “There's a mutual respect there.”
After being released by the New York Jets, Rodgers had serious talks with the Minnesota Vikings before they decided to move ahead with J.J. McCarthy last year. Rodgers ultimately waited until June to join the Steelers. They won the AFC North with a 10-7 record but lost their seventh straight playoff game since the 2016 season.
“I think the circumstances are a little different, but just conversations that we had, I think neither side wants to have this drag on like we did last year,” Khan said.
The Steelers remain high on their 2025 sixth-round draft pick, Will Howard, who spent most of his rookie season on injured reserve.
“We’re all searching for the next franchise player, the guy who’s going to be our quarterback for the next 10 or 15 years. It might be Will. We don’t know. We’re excited to work with Will,” Khan said.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Mets urged to trade 27 home run hitter for Brett Baty reason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
First baseman/third baseman Mark Vientos may have limited opportunities with the New York Mets during the 2026 season.
Just two seasons ago, Vientos hit 27 home runs and recorded a .837 OPS, a career high. Last year's results at the plate were not nearly as solid, however, as he connected for just 17 homers and a .702 OPS in 10 more appearances than the previous season.
Funny enough, Vientos' strikeout percentage dropped nearly five points, going from 29.7 to 24.8. New York plans to use free agent signees Jorge Polanco at first and Bo Bichette at third.
Former top prospect Brett Baty is also in the mix at the hot corner. Will this lead to a change of scenery for Vientos?
With Polanco and Bichette added to the Mets' heart of the order, Vientos may have a better opportunity at playing time with another club.
"Speaking of best arguments against trades, the Mets may yet have a need for Vientos. He's primarily a third baseman and first baseman, and they have two starters (Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco) who are new to those positions," Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer wrote Tuesday.
"For now, though, Vientos seems sidelined in a way that fellow former top prospect Brett Baty does not. There's no harm in seeing what's out there for him, especially if someone is willing to give up pitching."
Baty had a career-high 3.1 bWAR and 18 home runs last season and can handle a full-time role at second base if Marcus Semien suffers an injury.
In what is just their second season ever in the Champions League, Qarabağ have broke new ground for Azerbaijan football.
Tonight, they've made more history but not the kind any side would want.
The minnows won their first ever game in the competition against Benfica and then beat Copenhagen and Eintracht Frankfurt too.
A point at home against Chelsea was also claimed as they amazingly qualified for the knockout playoff round.
However, they have been routed almost from minute one of the first leg of their tie with Newcastle, conceding eight goals in less than three halfs of football.
Coupled with the 21 they conceded in eight league phases game, it sees Qarabağ break the record for most goals conceded in a single season of the competition.
In fairness to them, it is their 10th game and they've done better than anyone could have expected haven't they?
First baseman Rhys Hoskins, who spent the last two seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, found a new home Feb. 22 on a reported minor-league contract with the Cleveland Guardians.
The deal will pay him a base salary of $1.5 million if he makes the opening-day roster, according to Zack Meisel of The Athletic.
Milwaukee signed Hoskins to a two-year deal in advance of the 2024 season, a contract worth $12 million in 2024 and $18 million in 2025 after Hoskins picked up his player option. Hoskins was coming off a torn ACL that cost him all of the 2023 season.
The longtime Philadelphia slugger hit 26 homers for Milwaukee in 2024 but had only a .722 OPS and finished with a negative WAR for the season according to Baseball Reference, and a 0.2 WAR according to Fangraphs.
Hoskins had a strong start in 2025 and finished with better all-around numbers, but he was limited to 90 games by a sprained thumb. After Andrew Vaughn emerged as a source power at first base midway through the season, Hoskins wasn't on the team's postseason roster.
Hoskins hit an emotional home run against his old team in his first game back in Philadelphia, the lone run scored that day against Zack Wheeler. He also hit two homers in a May 31 game at Philadelphia. He finished with 38 homers over two years with the Brewers and a .732 OPS.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Rhys Hoskins, ex-Brewers first baseman, has a new team
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said he's excited about offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher's return to the team, despite reportedly having interviewed for other jobs earlier in the offseason, as Taylor spoke at the podium Feb. 24 at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.
In January, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Taylor gave Pitcher permission to speak to other teams with play-calling OC opportunities.
"(Pitcher)'s been an integral part of our process every single day he's been here," Taylor said. "And he and I are lockstep in terms of how the plan comes together, how we're calling it during the game - all of our discussions during the game. So I think a lot of it's overstated, when they talk about a first-time play-caller. ... I think that's really overblown. Go find the best person and leader that can put it all together and the players respond to. Those guys usually make pretty good OCs."
"I'm happy to have him back," Taylor continued. "I was hopeful he wasn't gonna go anywhere. But I've got a staff that's worked for me for a long time. So I want them to have great opportunities. I want them to always be searching for more. And I think that's how you know you've got a great staff. They're not content. They want to continue to do more, and they want more on their plate and bigger opportunities. I'm certainly open to that with Dan."
Taylor was the only head coach retained from last season in the AFC North.
Earlier, Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin said he and the front office are "all-in" about trying to get the best team possible with the resources available.
Bengals president and owner Mike Brown announced Jan. 5 that Tobin and Taylor would be back for the 2026 season.
In January, Tobin said he sees "a lot of reasons for optimism" for the Bengals' future, though he acknowledged the team's challenges after a 6-11 season.
The Bengals are slated to pick 10th overall in the 2026 NFL draft in April.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Zac Taylor says he's happy to have OC Dan Pitcher back with Bengals
NFL Free agency officially gets underway on March 11, so the Eagles don’t have a ton of time to bring back and re-sign some important players from their 2025 roster. One of those pending free agents is edge rusher Jaelan Phillips.
Phillips was a trade acquisition by the Eagles from the Dolphins just ahead of the deadline. He was instantly impactful, and seemed to blend seamlessly with the rest of the defense. He’s considered a top five free agent by some rankings, which means his asking price is going up, and while he’s continued to express his appreciation for the opportunity Philadelphia gave him last season, he is looking for the best situation for him and his growing family.
Howie Roseman spoke to reporters ahead of the NFL Combine and talked about Phillips as a player and what he was able to see from the linebacker during his time in Philly.
“Unbelievable worker, unbelievable leader, incredibly talented player who cares desperately about winning.”
The Eagles GM went on to explain that spending a third round pick for Phillips doesn’t really factor in to how they’ll handle the next move. Howie quipped that he would trade a third round pick for a playoff game any day, and the move was worth it for the one season regardless of whether he comes back.
“From my perspective, that gave us a shot on the arm. The defense obviously played really well throughout the course of the season and took another step when [Jaelan Phillips] was here. And we understood, and we understood the risk of that. We also understood why the Dolphins were doing it, you know, and getting the third round pick now. But, you know, for us, we understood also, here’s the worst case situation, you know, which is he’s going to be a free agent. If he leaves a free agent, you would have to not sign somebody to get the comp pick for next year, understanding that. And also, the hardest part about free agency is understanding who the player is, because you don’t live with that person and getting the chance to be with him and see who he was, obviously, to us, is even more additive.”
Roseman was asked if Phillips’ medical history would factor into their decision to try and retain the linebacker, and he said that when evaluating any player, they always factor in medical, level of play, age, and scheme fit. All of those things are part of the decision making regardless of any one player’s specific history.
The Commanders traded for left tackle Laremy Tunsil during the 2025 offseason and they'd like to secure his rights beyond 2026 this offseason.
Tunsil started all 14 games he played for Washington in his first season with the team and General Manager Adam Peters said on Tuesday that signing the veteran to an extension is one of the team's priorities in the near future.
"But it is really important for us," Peters said, via the team's website. "We've been having good and productive talks with Laremy and his team. We're as motivated as ever to get that done . . . I don't think either side wants to drag it on, but I don't think the league year is gonna be a deadline of sorts."
Tunsil is set to have a cap number of more than $24 million for the 2026 season. An extension would likely bring that number down and give the Commanders cap room to use in other ways as they try to return to the playoffs after falling short in 2025.
Ohio State’s 2026 corner room is one of the most interesting position groups on the roster because it combines proven production, NFL level upside, and just enough volatility to make the ceiling question real.
At the top, the Buckeyes have the pieces to be elite.
Jermaine Mathews Jr. returns as the steady veteran presence after a highly productive 2025 season in which he posted 26 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 3 pass breakups, numbers that reflect both ball production and week to week reliability on the outside.
Devin Sanchez, meanwhile, came through the normal true freshman learning curve, and took his lumps, but still flashed big time talent, finishing with 15 tackles, and 2 pass breakups of his own. For a first-year corner in a high leverage role, that is a strong foundation, and it is exactly why expectations are climbing so quickly around him.
The most important part of this room is that the top two corners bring very different kinds of value.
Mathews gives Ohio State experience, toughness, and a corner who already understands how to survive and produce in major games. His 2025 stat line backs up what the tape shows. He was around the ball constantly and played with much better consistency than many corners ever reach in college.
Sanchez is the upside play, but not in a hypothetical way anymore. He already showed the flashes last season. The next step is turning those flashes into steadier snap to snap play. If he does that, Ohio State suddenly has the kind of outside duo that changes how defenses can call games.
That is where the ceiling conversation starts. If Mathews plays like the veteran he was last season and can even take another jump and improve, and Sanchez makes the expected second year jump, Ohio State can line up with two corners who can survive on islands and let the rest of the defense get aggressive.
Additionally, Earl Little Jr. adds another layer to that ceiling, even if his role is expected to be more nickel oriented. He arrives with real experience after starting 11 games at Florida State in 2025 and leading the Seminoles with 76 tackles and 4 interceptions, which is high level production for any defensive back. He gives Ohio State another adult in the room and another player who has already handled major college snaps.
That matters because modern defenses are really playing three starting corners. If Little settles into the nickel the way many expect, Ohio State is not just replacing snaps. It is building a more stable coverage structure around Mathews and Sanchez.
Instead of asking the outside corners to solve everything, the Buckeyes can spread responsibility across three experienced options and be more flexible in man and zone looks alike.
Behind that top group is where the projection starts, but it is a very intriguing projection.
Cameron Calhoun brings transfer experience and should be in the early rotation conversation right away. Dominick Kelly is one of the more interesting long term bets in the room, a young transfer with SEC development and real upside if Tim Walton gets him rolling. Jay Timmons gives the room another high ceiling talent, and Jordan Thomas and Miles Lockhart remain part of that next wave of players Ohio State needs to keep developing.
That group is why the room’s ceiling is so high. Ohio State does not need all of them to hit immediately. It just needs one or two of those younger options to become trustworthy rotation pieces behind the top three. If that happens, this goes from a good corner room to a true strength.
The one caution is depth certainty. The top of the room looks strong. The next layer looks promising. But until those rotational names prove it on Saturdays, the unit is still a little top heavy. That does not lower the ceiling, it just sharpens the path to reaching it.
Ohio State can absolutely have one of the better cornerback groups in the country next season. For that to happen, Mathews has to stay the tone setter, Sanchez has to make the sophomore jump everyone expects, and the rotation has to produce at least one or two real answers.
If those things happen, this will not just be a solid room. It will be one of the reasons Ohio State’s defense can carry championship expectations.
The United States men's hockey team has been the source of some controversy this week involving their celebratory phone call with President Donald Trump after winning the gold.
As members of the U.S. men's team attend Tuesday's State of the Union, you may hear about it. What happened, exactly? Well, the moment in question came after the team won the gold on Sunday over Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.
FBI director Kash Patel joined in the locker room after the gold win to celebrate with the team. President Trump reached out to the hockey team via Patel's phone to congratulate them on the victory and invite them to the State of the Union address and White House.
During the conversation, Trump made a wisecrack that the White House is "going to have to bring the women's team," which elicited a mix of cheers and laughs from the men's team.
Trump followed that up with his thought on what would happen if he didn't invite the gold-winning U.S. women's team: "I do believe I probably would be impeached, okay?" Some laughter followed that comment.
Since that video went viral, some have felt that some members of men's team failed to uphold their women counterparts, who went just as far as they did in the Winter Olympics, by laughing at Trump's comments.
U.S. men's hockey standouts like Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes have responded to the video, offering praise for the women's team.
Trump has not yet responded to his viral comments, but he could during his State of the Union address.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: The U.S. men's hockey call with President Trump controversy, explained
The Detroit Lions are headed abroad in 2026.
For the first time since 2015, the Lions are part of the NFL's International Games. Detroit is officially headed to Germany for the 2026 NFL Munich game, presented by DKB. It's one of a record nine international games in 2026 across four continents, seven countries and eight stadiums. It will be played at the FC Bayern Munich Stadium as part of a multiyear commitment to playing games in the city in 2026 and 2028.
The Lions' opponent, game date and kickoff time won't be announced until the entire NFL schedule is revealed in the spring.
See you soon, Deutschland! pic.twitter.com/NyCMrLyrq3
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) February 24, 2026
"We are thrilled to be playing internationally and specifically in Munich for the 2026 season," Lions president and CEO Rod Wood said in a statement. "As an organization, we have invested greatly in the German market and are excited to play in front of our passionate German fans."
For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a like. Follow Josh on X, @JoshOnLions
This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Detroit Lions set for Munich game in NFL international series
Vicente Luque is moving on up.
Up to middleweight the longtime UFC welterweight staple goes as he aligns for a matchup vs. surging promotional returnee Kyle Daukaus. The bout takes place April 10 at Kaseya Center in Miami. The promotion announced the matchup Tuesday after it was first reported by Home of Fight.
Luque (23-12-1 MMA, 16-8 UFC) heads to middleweight after 24 promotional appearances at welterweight. A member of the organization since 2015, Luque quickly established himself as an upper-echelon fighter. However, coming off back-to-back losses and with a 2-5 record in his most recent seven outings, he looks to breathe new life into his career at a fresh weight class.
Daukaus (17-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC) finds himself surging in his second UFC stint. He went 2-4 in one no contest in the UFC from June 2020 to December 2022. After his departure from the promotion, Daukaus returned to CFFC where he went 3-0 in title fights with three finishes.
He returned to the UFC in August and finished Michel Pereira with strikes in 43 seconds. He followed that up with another quick finish in November when his signature D'Arce choke did the trick against Gerald Meerschaert in 50 seconds.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 327 adds Vicente Luque middleweight debut
The LPGA's HSBC Women's World Championship has long been a star-studded affair. From its long list of decorated champions inside the ropes to memorable photo calls and swanky parties, like those held at the iconic Raffles Hotel or, more recently, at Marina Bay Sands, the famous hotel in Singapore with the ship on top.
This year's field features nine of the top 10 players in the world, including LPGA Hall of Famer Lydia Ko, the defending champion, and Jeeno Thitikul, the top-ranked player who won last week on home soil in Thailand.
Players in the 72-hole no-cut event will play for a $3 million purse at Sentosa Golf Club.
On Tuesday night, the stars posed for pictures at Marina Bay Sands during the annual welcome reception.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: LPGA stars ready for HSBC Women's World Championship
The Montreal Canadiens play their first game following the Olympic break on Feb. 26 against the New York Islanders. The Habs are undoubtedly in a good spot at this point of the season, as they have a 32-17-8 record and are second in the Atlantic Division standings with 72 points.
There are several reasons why the Canadiens are one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference this season, and forward Oliver Kapanen is undoubtedly one of them. After posting two assists in his first 18 career NHL games last season, Kapanen has broken out in a big way this campaign for the Canadiens and has cemented himself as a key part of their forward group in the process.
In 57 games so far this season with the Canadiens, Kapanen has recorded 18 goals, 13 assists, 31 points, and a plus-5 rating. Kapanen is currently tied with Anaheim Ducks forward Beckett Sennecke for the most goals among all NHL rookies. He is also fourth in points out of all NHL rookies, so he has undoubtedly been one of the top rookies in the NHL this season.
With all of this, there is no question that Kapanen has been having an impressive breakout year for the Canadiens. The young forward should only get better as he continues to gain experience, and it will be fascinating to see how he finishes off the season from here.
WTGL has just received a huge boost after it was confirmed that Michelle Wie West will be playing in the competition.
WTGL will mirror the men’s TGL, which features PGA Tour players competing in a hybrid of real-life and virtual golf.
The likes of co-founders Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have taken part in the innovative venture, which will soon launch a women’s version.
WTGL will get underway in Winter 2026/27, with legendary figure Wie West now confirmed as one of its participants.
Golf fans would not have expected an upcoming WTGL appearance from Wie West, who retired from professional golf in 2023.
Her glittering career included the 2014 US Women’s Open title, with the American boasting five LPGA Tour wins overall.
She also has five United States Solheim Cup team appearances to her name, and is a current investor in TGL side Los Angeles Golf Club.
Wie West is the latest in a long line of female stars already confirmed for WTGL, which will take place at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
The custom-built venue is currently hosting the second season of TGL, and will soon welcome the biggest stars of the women’s game.
World number one Jeeno Thitikul has already been confirmed, along with world number three Charley Hull.
Also announced are three-time major champion Lydia Ko and two-time major champion Brooke Henderson, along with fellow high-profile players Lexi Thompson, Rose Zhang and Lottie Woad.
The high-quality field may just have helped persuade Wie West to come out of retirement to play in WTGL, which is certain to attract more star names before it gets underway.
She clinched her one and only major championship win at the iconic Pinehurst No. 2 course over a decade ago, edging out fellow American Stacy Lewis by two shots.
READ MORE:Jack Nicklaus’ thoughts on Michelle Wie West playing in PGA Tour events, as she signs with WTGL
Celta de Vigo and PAOK face off this Thursday at the Municipal de Balaídos in UEFA Europa League.
In their last game, Celta de Vigo won 2-0 against Mallorca (La Liga 2025/26). In their last fixture, PAOK shared the spoils 1-1 with Larissa (Greek League 2025/26).
The last meeting between the two teams ended with Celta de Vigo winning 2-1.
Celta de Vigo ( vs Mallorca 2026-02-22): Ionut Radu, Javi Rodríguez, Joseph Aidoo, Marcos Alonso, Javier Rueda, Matías Vecino, Miguel Román, Hugo Álvarez, Fer López, Ferrán Jutglà, Pablo Durán
PAOK ( vs Larissa 2026-02-22): Jiri Pavlenka, Jorge Sánchez, Tomasz Kedziora, Ioannis Michailidis, Baba Rahman, Andrija Zivkovic, Christos Zafeiris, Magomed Ozdoev, Dimitrios Chatsidis, Taison, Giorgos Giakoumakis
Indianapolis, IN — The Indianapolis Colts have been at an advantage thanks to strong tackle play this decade, with a brief transitional period at left tackle that otherwise found its footing rather quickly. On the opposite side of the line, however, has been locked down by longtime Colt Braden Smith.
Initially scoffed at by draft analysts for making the move from guard to tackle, the short-armed offensive lineman has been a mainstay in Indianapolis due to his consistency from snap to whistle over the years. The kicker with Smith is that he’s been unable to finish back-to-back seasons since his second and third years in the league.
Playing up to standard has hardly been the concern; it’s the recently established dwindling dependability.
This is the third installment of an article series that covers each of the Indianapolis Colts’ top free agents, offering a case for their retention, a case against it, and a final verdict.
In short, Braden Smith is a warrior. From battling physical injuries on the field to dealing with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder off the field, Smith has never been one to back down from a fight — even when the tough gets going.
Despite ending the season on injured reserve, Smith’s 13 starts featured 26 pressures and 1 sack allowed across 471 pass-blocking reps. Known as a mauler in the run game, it’s difficult to quantify his influence in this area, though, as of recent — the past three seasons — Smith’s run-block rate sits in the 82nd percentile.
Braden Smith’s injury concerns are nothing to scoff at, but at least he recognizes his shortcomings and has been willing to work with the front office to adjust his salary accordingly.
As previously touched on, Braden Smith’s reliability (or lack thereof) has been his biggest detractor as of late. He has ended four of the last five seasons on injured reserve, proving that even despite strong play, it’s hard to commit to a player who more than likely will re-injure at some point in the season, if not down the stretch in the most important part of the calendar.
Smith’s play has dipped a bit on top of the injuries, though the latter far outweighs the former in impact. The 30-year-old is set to play his ninth season in the NFL.
It’s hard to suggest whether they should or shouldn’t retain Braden Smith, given how similar both outcomes project to be.
On one hand, the veteran leadership and dependable play are enough to keep him around for the immediate future. On the other hand, Smith’s durability concerns, a required modest payday, and his replacement — second-year tackle Jalen Travis — waiting in the wings, combine for an easy break from the organization.
Ultimately, retaining Smith on a cheaper, 1-year deal would be beneficial if the organization can financially swing it. Although you almost anticipate losing Smith for some portion of the season, if not the final stretch, allowing Jalen Travis the opportunity to be the team’s swing tackle would do wonders for not only his progression both now and down the road, but also for the rest of the offensive line.
The right side of the Colts’ offensive line, including the center spot, would consist of three 24 to 25-year-olds with two combined years of starting experience. The succession plans at center and right guard have gone according to plan thus far, so using that same methodology for Travis checks out. The worry is that adding a first-time starter to the group may do more harm than good, especially considering there’d be no swing backup to confidently remedy any mid-season setbacks.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released his latest mock draft, and the San Francisco 49ers invested in the offensive line for the first time in the first round since Mike McGlinchey.
It’s something we can expect to be popular in every mock draft cycle, but it’s 49ers offensive line coach Chris Foerster who is on record saying that he tells Kyle Shanahan to draft the guys who score touchdowns in early rounds. Will this year be any different?
Maybe. Kiper mocked a player to the Niners who does not seem like their type on paper:
Kadyn Proctor, OT/G, Alabama
Proctor’s tape is all over the place. The highs are really, really good. The lows raise a lot of questions. But in the right situation, he could become a standout tackle in the NFL. And there might not be a better situation than learning behind one of the best to ever do it in San Francisco. Trent Williams will be 38 by Week 1, and he’s entering the final year of his contract. So, Proctor could develop in Year 1 while kicking inside to guard and/or playing a swing tackle role before perhaps taking over for Williams in 2027. He has 40 career starts — all at left tackle — and is reliable in pass protection. This would be an upside pick for GM John Lynch.
Proctor is listed at 6’7″, 366 pounds. The 49ers ask their lineman to run and execute blocks on the move and in space. That does not seem like something a player of Proctor’s size would excel at. However, Bruce Feldman’s annual Freak List had Proctor listed with a 32-inch vertical jump. For reference, Trent Williams had a 34.5-inch vertical jump, which is in the 97th percentile. Proctor also had an 815-pound squat, 535-pound bench press, and a 405-pound power clean. That is a powerful human being.
Proctor wasn’t always 366. He was 400 pounds as a freshman. The concern would be Proctor regaining that weight as a pro now that he’s not being monitored as closely. That weight fluctuation could lead to inconsistencies in his play, especially his sets as a pass protector.
But we are talking about a player with the ideal frame, athleticism, and one who looks dominant when he’s engaged. Those dominant stretches don’t always last, and there is enough tape out there to be concerned, which is why he might be available when the 49ers are on the clock.
Proctor was the No. 1 offensive tackle out of his high school class and will be 21 in June. The pedigree is there. Concerns about handling speed and whether he can maintain his weight are valid, but it’s impossible to ignore his power and how he clears running lanes with ease. Plus, for a player as big as Proctor, the range is where it needs to be.
Proctor was exclusively a left tackle in college. He could play left guard next to Trent Williams, giving the Niners a talent boost they desperately need at the position.
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At a recent joint oversight hearing on Guam’s tourism and airport operations, lawmakers grilled officials from the Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) regarding the slow rollout of the $10 million airline incentives program designed to boost tourism. With $7.5 million already received by the GVB, officials have committed significant funds, yet the program’s implementation has faced delays, raising questions about its effectiveness.
The airline incentives program was approved by lawmakers months ago in an effort to recover the tourism industry, which has struggled since the pandemic. Vice Speaker Tony Ada and Senator Jesse Lujan questioned why more funds had not been spent, despite promises made during the budget session in October 2025 that this funding was crucial for the recovery of Guam’s tourism sector.
Ada expressed that they had been told the $10 million would be essential for airline incentives. He pointed out that, as of February 2026, with March approaching, there was still a remaining balance of $7.4 million, questioning what had caused the delay.
GVB General Manager Régine Biscoe Lee and GVB financial controller Rudd Gudmalin explained that out of the $7.5 million received so far, only $62,000 had been spent, primarily for the Philippine market. However, GVB had already committed a total of $9 million for the Korean and Japanese markets, with $5 million earmarked for Korea and $4 million for Japan.
Despite the commitments made, the amount spent had been relatively low, which led lawmakers to press GVB officials for an explanation. Senator Lujan questioned why the funds hadn’t been fully deployed, emphasizing that the underutilization of the funds could negatively impact Guam’s fragile tourism industry.
Nadine Leon Guerrero, GVB Director of Global Marketing, clarified that GVB has already committed funds to the airline incentives, but the funds haven’t yet been fully invoiced for some flights, explaining part of the delay. She added that Philippine Airlines had received an incentive, though specific details on the amount of the incentive were not disclosed.
Biscoe Lee stated that they were not disclosing the exact amounts at that time, as they wanted to maintain their negotiating power and ensure they were securing the best deal for Guam.
Lawmakers also questioned GVB officials about the slow recovery of tourism, which still lags behind pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, Guam welcomed 1.6 million visitors, but that number dropped significantly after the pandemic. The lack of sufficient flights and ongoing structural reductions in fleet capacity have made it challenging to return to those levels.
Senator Ada asked why tourism had not returned to the levels of success seen in 2019.
GVB General Manager Régine Biscoe Lee responded by stating that one of the primary obstacles is the reduced number of available airline seats. “In 2019, we had about 38,000 to 40,000 international seats per week. In 2026, we only have 22,000 to 25,000 seats per week,” she said, comparing it to buses transporting tourists.
“In 2019, there were 40 buses arriving each week. In 2026, there are only 24 buses,” Biscoe Lee explained. This reduction in available flights, she said, is due to a decrease in fleet capacity after the pandemic, and many airlines have prioritized higher-yield routes.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has noted a “structural reduction in fleet capacity”, with wide-body aircraft—key to long-haul Pacific routes—being retired. According to Biscoe Lee, even large markets like Hawaii have struggled to restore flights to Japan, further limiting Guam’s ability to attract visitors.
Despite these challenges, GVB Board Chairman George Chiu emphasized that airline incentives remained crucial to the island’s tourism recovery. He explained that their goal was to return to the peak levels they had previously reached, referring to the 750,000 airline seats arriving from Tokyo in 2019.
He expressed concern that with the current number of flights from Japan and Korea, it would be difficult for Guam to hit its targets for visitor numbers. Airline incentives, he said, are necessary to increase the number of seats available and boost tourism numbers.
GVB Director of Tourism Research Christian Valencia provided some optimism by sharing the latest tourism arrival numbers for fiscal year 2026. From October 2025 to January 2026, Guam saw 297,800 visitors, a 22.97% increase over the same period in fiscal year 2025. While this is a positive trend, Valencia pointed out that 2025 had a difficult start, particularly due to issues in the Korean market, such as the Jeju Air crash and martial law declarations in South Korea.
Valencia mentioned that fiscal year 2025 had a rocky start, with visitor numbers being 3.3% lower than those of fiscal year 2024. However, he expressed optimism about the island’s recovery, pointing out that the first four months of fiscal year 2026 showed a 9.7% increase compared to fiscal 2024. He added that the goal remained to reach 1 million visitors by the end of fiscal year 2026.
Despite the challenges, GVB is hopeful for the future. Biscoe Lee stated that GVB is continuing efforts to bring back tourism jobs by the end of the fiscal year, aiming to provide more opportunities for locals in the tourism industry.
As GVB retools its efforts and adjusts its strategies, officials are hopeful that with continued airline incentives, tourism will reach its pre-pandemic levels once again.
The post Lawmakers Challenge GVB on Airline Incentives Program as Guam’s Tourism Struggles to Bounce Back appeared first on Travel And Tour World.The Ski-Doo brand has continued its legacy in snowmobile racing with endurance and skill at the 2026 Iron Dog, the longest and most demanding snowmobile race in the world. Tyler Aklestad and Nick Olstad achieved Iron Dog Champion status, winning the race with great accuracy. Teammates Zack Weisz and Thomas Davis secured 2nd place, resulting in a dominant 1-2 finish for Ski-Doo.
Ski-Doo’s triumph showcases the brand’s commitment to the best world-class machines, but it also shows the resilience and talent of its racers. The Iron Dog, which takes place every year in Alaska, is a race that requires extreme toughness from the snowmobiles and the racers. This year’s race was not all based on speed, but rather endurance and the ability to overcome extreme conditions.
Ski-Doo never wavers, even in the daunting Iron Dog
The 2026 Iron Dog Race truly faced the elements, testing all participants with the Iron Dog’s freezing temperatures and harsh wilderness. The Aklestad and Olstad victory, who crossed the finish line with an MXZ X-RS 600R E-TEC, showed how effective the Ski-Doo snowmobile model is. These racers had no special, race-only models that other competitors used. The competitors’ MXZ X-RS models that Skidoos produced were the models that everyone could buy. Ski-Doo MXZ X-RS 600R E-TECs are the same machines that anyone can buy. The race is a testament to how their elaborate snowmobile’s design and racing tech is the product of their racing and driver/vehicle interface, and arabsah racing outward formation response and outcross product.
Aklestad said, even though the terrain was daunting, every machine was great and even credited Ski-Doo himself. Aklestad and Olstad’s victory was an acknowledgment of all the great teamwork in preparing for the most legendary race with all its elements. The range of the Ski-Doo team is inspiring and with all the factors of the elements, it gives them a rational and optimistic response for preparing next year’s elements.
Ski-Doo’s Continued Snocross Success in Salamanca
Celebration of Ski-Doo’s success in Iron Dog was international, but the brand’s racers continue to do well in other big racing activities. Ski-Doo racers maintained their consistent success in Snocross in Salamanca, New York. Rookie phenom Crayden Dillon, fresh off a runner-up finish on Friday, came back with a blazing hot performance on Saturday, racing to a clear nine-second win.
A legend in Snocross, Jordan Lebel, continued to demonstrate his prowess. Lebel, who started further down the pack, rose with his classic fire from eighth to third, making it to the podium in third. Ski-Doo racers Dillon and Lebel’s success further illustrates the brand’s powerful snowmobiles and Ski-Doo’s dominance in the highlight of the sport.
The Spirit of Ski-Doo Racing
The brand’s commitment to innovation and its sustained support of athletes exemplifies Ski-Doo’s commitment to racer success. Ski-Doo continues to lead the competition, and its racers are redefining what it means to be a snowmobile racer.
Ski-Doo’s success doesn’t just come from Alaska and New York race tracks. It runs through the veins of Jordan Lebel, Crayden Dillon, and Theo Poirier, who, time and time again, prove their worth in the ISOC Pro class. These athletes and Ski-Doo sleds are a dominant force in snowmobile racing.
Looking Ahead: The 2027 Season
The 2026 victories are just a glimpse of what the 2027 season holds. The 2027 MXZ X-RS 600RR E-TEC, with the new Rotax 600RR E-TEC engine, is already in Ski-Doo’s forecast of dominant snowmobiling years. The racers are excited to take the new sleds out, and Ski-Doo is excited for what new snowmobiles will bring to racing.
The Iron Dog victory in 2026 and the ongoing success in Snocross give evidence of both the impressive power of Ski-Doo’s machines and the ability of the athletes who race them. The race to the peaks of snowmobile racing continues, and Ski-Doo’s legacy grows stronger with every race.
The Legacy Continues
Ski-Doo’s success in the 2026 Iron Dog and in Snocross is not only success for the brand but success for the essence of the sport. The Ski-Doo brand legacy is the spirit of racing. Commitment to the essence of racing, the culture of performance, and the spirit of snowmobiling guides the brand. It is the essence of snowmobiling that drives and pushes Ski-Doo. The upcoming year is filled with even tougher trials and triumphs that Ski-Doo is prepared for.
Ski-Doo’s commitment to world-class engineering focused on the rider experience has set the brand apart from the competition in the powersports industry. With passionate athletes, advanced technology, and the dedication of the brand’s loyal consumer base, Ski-Doo will continue to lead the charge in snowmobile racing.
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By linking existing Ghan and Indian Pacific rail journeys with coastal ferries, the acquisition fosters hybrid itineraries that extend guest dwell times. Sydney Harbour‘s iconic cruises now pair effortlessly with Outback adventures, elevating tourism sophistication nationwide.
Sydney Harbour gains elevated prominence through Captain Cook Cruises integration, where high-speed catamarans and tall ship sails supercharge tourism during Vivid festivals and New Year’s Eve spectacles. Circular Quay departures connect seamlessly with Journey Beyond’s rail network, enabling Overland to Opera House transitions for international fly-cruise packages. Taronga Zoo ferries and private charters diversify offerings, projecting 25% tourism uplifts in harbor-front hotels.
This urban-coastal synergy diverts airport traffic into extended city stays, sustaining tourism revenues through bundled accommodation and dining. Sydney Harbour‘s UNESCO-endorsed skyline becomes the gateway to national adventures, captivating first-time Australian explorers.
Whitsundays operations encompass Heart Reef flights, Whitehaven Beach ferries, and Hill Inlet sand sails, revolutionizing Great Barrier Reef tourism with rail-to-reef connectivity from Brisbane’s Spirit of Queensland. SeaLink’s fast cats link Airlie Beach to Daydream and Hamilton Islands, fostering multi-island hopping that maximizes marine park levies. Snorkel platforms and glass-bottom boats sustain eco-tourism, drawing families for immersive coral encounters.
Acquisition synergies introduce luxury lodge extensions at Daydream, prolonging tourism beyond day trips. Whitsundays‘ turquoise lagoons position as the experiential hub linking continental rail with Pacific paradises, boosting regional airlift demands.
K’gari (Fraser Island) welcomes Kingfisher Bay Resort and Beach Resort under unified management, where 4WD ferries from Hervey Bay unlock UNESCO World Heritage tourism across seventy-mile beaches and ancient rainforests. Lake McKenzie swims and Champagne Pools cliff jumps integrate with inland rail journeys, creating epic Overland-to-Ocean packages. Vehicle barges sustain self-drive tourism, while guided walks preserve delicate sand ecosystems.
Resort expansions enhance glamping and eco-villa capacity, projecting occupancy surges from integrated bookings. K’gari‘s dingo safaris and shipwreck dives emerge as must-do extensions, elevating Queensland’s wilderness tourism profile.
Bruny Island ferries from Kettering connect Hobart’s waterfront with artisanal cheese trails, oyster farms, and penguin rookeries, igniting culinary tourism paired with Tasmanian rail explorations. SeaLink’s RoRo vessels enable bike-loading for self-guided gastronomy circuits, sustaining farmgate economies through direct visitor flows. Lighthouse climbs and neck-shots tastings diversify beyond Hobart day-trippers.
This acquisition fosters winter truffle hunts and summer berry festivals, extending tourism seasons island-wide. Bruny Island‘s pristine produce positions Tasmania as the seamless southern finale to mainland journeys.
Perth and Swan River cruises via SeaLink catamarans showcase Rottnest Island quokka selfies and Fremantle maritime heritage, supercharging Western Australia’s tourism gateway with Indian Pacific rail connections. Elizabeth Quay departures align with sunset wine cruises, channeling east-coast arrivals into extended city breaks. Aquarium of Western Australia integrations add family appeal, projecting harbor hotel booms.
River-to-reef packages link Swan Valley vineyards with Ningaloo fly-ins, creating continental-spanning tourism narratives. Perth‘s isolation transforms into connectivity advantage under unified operations.
Darwin harbor cruises and Tiwi Islands ferries unlock Aboriginal cultural immersions, where SeaLink catamarans ferry visitors to Bathurst Island’s Pukumani poles and Melville’s sacred sites. Mindil Beach markets sync with sunset sails, fostering evening tourism that sustains monsoon-season revenues. Ghan passengers disembark directly into Top End extensions, maximizing overland-to-ocean transitions.
Cultural protocols preserve authenticity, drawing respectful tourism demographics. Darwin‘s tropical pulse integrates seamlessly with national rail, elevating Northern Territory’s experiential share.
Murray River’s Murray Princess paddlewheelers offer three to seven night outback cruises from Mannum, blending wine regions with mallee scrub expeditions under Journey Beyond’s stewardship. SeaLink’s existing operations enhance with rail feeders from Adelaide, creating loop itineraries that immerse in river red gum forests and historic ports. Houseboat synergies expand self-skipper fleets, diversifying pace options.
This acquisition sustains drought-resilient tourism, positioning South Australia’s Murraylands as the gentle inland counterpart to coastal adventures. Paddle steamer heritage captivates history enthusiasts year-round.
Adelaide city tours via SeaLink coaches connect airport transfers with Barossa Valley day trips, serving as the nexus between Ghan arrivals and SeaLink ferries. Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens loops and Adelaide Oval roof climbs integrate with river cruises, fostering compact capital tourism that punches above urban size. Festival programming aligns with national rail schedules, maximizing convention overflows.
Acquisition creates seamless airport-to-adventure pipelines, boosting tourism multipliers across Fleurieu Peninsula wineries. Adelaide emerges as the experiential crossroads linking rail, road, and river.
Unified booking platforms enable “Journey Complete” packages spanning Sydney ferries to K’gari 4WDs, pioneering multi-modal tourism that captures fifteen percent higher spends per guest. Rail-to-reef transitions eliminate single-operator silos, streamlining logistics from The Ghan to Whitsundays cats. Dynamic pricing syncs capacities across fleets, optimizing national load factors.
This vertical integration empowers advisors with one-stop shopping, projecting industry consolidation waves. Tourism evolves from fragmented legs to narrative arcs, captivating modern multi-experience seekers.
Acquisitions inject capital into fleet modernizations, sustaining over two thousand jobs across ferry crews, resort staff, and tour guides. Regional airports gain scheduled lift from guaranteed transfers, spurring air tourism expansions. Tax revenues fund pier upgrades and eco-initiatives, fortifying infrastructure against climate shifts.
Small suppliers benefit from centralized procurement, stabilizing rural economies. Tourism boards forecast dollar three hundred million incremental GDP from connected journeys.
SeaLink’s low-emission catamarans complement Journey Beyond’s carbon-offset rail, advancing hybrid tourism with reef-safe operations at Whitsundays and K’gari. Solar-powered resorts and electric tour boats reduce coastal footprints, attracting green-certified travelers. Marine park partnerships fund coral restoration, preserving assets amid warming seas.
Acquisition mandates elevate ESG standards nationwide, positioning Australia as sustainable tourism leader. Guests engage via carbon calculators, deepening eco-stewardship.
Journey Beyond’s app integrates SeaLink reservations with live vessel tracking, revolutionizing tourism planning through real-time availability across rail, ferry, and lodge inventories. AI-curated itineraries suggest Whitsundays extensions post-Ghan, boosting upsell conversions. VR previews immerse users in Sydney Harbour sails before booking.
This tech stack captures millennial/gen-Z tourism, generating user content that amplifies organic reach. Unified loyalty programs reward multi-journey explorers, locking in lifetime value.
International campaigns target US and UK markets with “Rail to Reef” narratives, leveraging SeaLink’s coastal icons to sell national packages. Partnership synergies with Qantas and Virgin Australia embed transfers, easing inbound tourism. Trade shows showcase integrated demos, simplifying advisor sales.
Acquisition vaults Journey Beyond into top-tier experiential operators, rivaling international peers. Sydney Harbour‘s glamour headlines global brochures, funneling aspirational tourism.
Pending regulatory nods pave 2026 launches of cross-portfolio festivals, from Sydney seafood trails to Whitsundays rail-reef races, uniting brands under experiential banners. Fleet electrification roadmaps and resort sustainability upgrades position for net-zero tourism. K’gari expansions hint at eco-luxury glamping precincts.
This blueprint redefines Australian tourism, blending heritage operators into modern multi-modals that captivate generations across Sydney Harbour, Whitsundays, K’gari, and beyond.
The post Sydney Harbour, Whitsundays, K’gari Transform Tourism with Journey Beyond’s Acquisition of SeaLink’s Iconic Australian Portfolio: What You Need to Know appeared first on Travel And Tour World.Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) has been hit with severe disruptions today, as travelers face substantial delays and cancellations. With a reported total of 22 delays and 23 cancellations, the chaos is significantly impacting passengers’ travel plans. The airline industry, especially in this busy travel hub, is feeling the brunt of the disruptions, affecting a range of airlines, from Endeavor Air to Southwest Airlines. While the operational setbacks create frustration for passengers, the broader economic impact, particularly on tourism, also requires consideration.
Passenger Impact
The flight delays and cancellations at Jacksonville International have affected hundreds of passengers across various airlines. Among the most disrupted carriers are Endeavor Air and JetBlue, with Endeavor experiencing 72% of its flights canceled and 18% delayed, while JetBlue canceled 75% of its flights, though they had no reported delays. Other airlines such as Republic, United, and Delta also had significant cancellations or delays, with Republic seeing 33% of its flights canceled.
In total, several airlines, including American Airlines, SkyWest, and Southwest, have faced substantial delays. However, their overall impact is more contained in terms of cancellations. SkyWest, for example, experienced a total of 100% cancellations for its flights but reported no delays, while Southwest had a relatively lower percentage of cancellations but a notable delay percentage of 9%.
Affected Airlines, Airports, and Cities
The airlines most affected by these disruptions include:
The cancellation and delay figures primarily stem from Jacksonville International Airport’s flights, which connect the airport to numerous cities across the U.S. Airlines like Endeavor Air and JetBlue primarily serve popular destinations, impacting passengers traveling to various cities. Passengers attempting to connect from these cities may experience knock-on effects, creating a ripple impact that stretches to other airports in the region.
Impact on Tourism
The travel disruptions have a broader impact on Jacksonville’s tourism industry. With significant flight delays and cancellations, both leisure and business travelers are facing challenges. Jacksonville is a popular destination for tourists exploring Florida’s culture, beaches, and attractions. Disruptions at the airport could affect their ability to visit key sites such as the Jacksonville Zoo, Riverwalk, and local beaches, which could result in lost revenue for local businesses dependent on tourism. Additionally, tourists arriving for events like festivals or conventions may have to reconsider their plans, leading to a temporary slowdown in the tourism sector.
Many visitors planning to spend time in Jacksonville for work or leisure may be stranded or face lengthy delays, meaning accommodations, dining, and transportation services could see increased demand in the immediate area. However, with reduced visitors coming in, hotels and car rental services might face cancellations, leading to lost business.
The ripple effect on the local economy could extend beyond tourism, as business travelers may miss important meetings, causing a decrease in business-related travel, which typically supports local services and restaurants.
Conclusion
Jacksonville International Airport has their own unique challenges, but these issues only amplify how susceptible the airline industry is to operational disruptions. In the last few days extensive cancellations and airline companies unable to meet demand have affected hundreds of passengers. Beside the already frantic airport, the ongoing issues are negatively impacting the local economy and tourism. The operational disruptions at the airport will also close tourist attractions in Jacksonville adding to the importance of providing services to support the public.
Travelers should avoid further issues by checking their flight statuses before heading to the airport. This situation is highlighting the relativity of the aviation industry, efficient airport operations, and the operational challenges they deal with.
Source: Flightaware and Affected Airports
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With the approval of Gulfstream business jets, international tourists gain new opportunities to explore Canada. Private jets offer direct routes from global cities, reducing travel time and making distant attractions more accessible. Destinations like the Canadian Rockies, Nova Scotia’s coastal towns, and northern wilderness lodges become reachable for short trips or extended stays. This approval transforms travel itineraries, offering flexibility for those who want to combine adventure, culture, and relaxation without relying solely on commercial airlines.
One of the most significant benefits of Canada approving Gulfstream business jets is access to previously hard-to-reach locations. Smaller airports, regional airfields, and private terminals can now accommodate these jets, allowing tourists to explore off-the-beaten-path destinations. Luxury travellers can schedule trips to secluded lakes, national parks, and charming rural towns, bypassing crowded hubs. This approval makes it easier to create bespoke travel experiences tailored to individual preferences, combining comfort with discovery.
Canada’s decision also impacts business travellers who wish to incorporate leisure into their trips. Long-distance flights in Gulfstream jets allow executives to attend meetings and continue their journeys to vacation spots with minimal disruption. The approval makes it possible to enjoy a seamless transition between business and leisure travel, encouraging professionals to explore cultural sites, natural wonders, and urban attractions during the same journey. This new flexibility is a game-changer for global travel planners.
The certification of Gulfstream jets in Canada is expected to benefit the tourism industry. Regional airports, luxury lodges, and high-end resorts stand to gain from increased private jet traffic. Tour operators can design bespoke itineraries for small groups or families, including sightseeing, culinary tours, and adventure experiences. By enabling smoother access to remote and popular destinations alike, this approval strengthens local tourism economies and encourages a more diversified travel offering throughout Canada.
Approval by Canada’s aviation authorities guarantees that Gulfstream jets meet strict safety and operational standards. Travellers can fly with confidence, knowing these aircraft comply with rigorous technical regulations. This ensures passenger safety and reliable service across all Canadian routes. For tourists prioritising both comfort and safety, this development provides assurance that private aviation remains a secure option for exploring Canada’s diverse landscapes.
For luxury and adventure travellers alike, the approval of Gulfstream business jets redefines how journeys are planned. Tourists can now design highly customised itineraries, incorporating multiple destinations, outdoor excursions, and cultural experiences in one trip. This level of flexibility allows visitors to enjoy Canada’s beauty and attractions at their own pace, while reducing the stress of commercial flight schedules. The ability to reach remote areas and scenic locations enriches the overall travel experience, making trips more immersive and memorable.
The approval of these jets signals Canada’s commitment to modernising its aviation landscape and welcoming global travellers. It encourages international tourism, increases accessibility to less-travelled regions, and highlights Canada as a hub for luxury and bespoke travel. For tourists worldwide, this development means quicker, safer, and more enjoyable journeys. Canada’s skies are now open to a new era of travel, blending efficiency, comfort, and adventure.
The approval of Gulfstream business jets in Canada is more than a regulatory milestone; it is a transformative moment for global travel. From luxury escapes and remote adventures to business-leisure combinations, travellers now have unprecedented access to Canada’s rich landscapes and vibrant cities. With enhanced safety, flexibility, and convenience, this approval sets the stage for a new era of premium travel, making Canada an even more compelling destination for tourists across the world.
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Flights connecting Nashville with John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Boston Logan International Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport saw significant impact. States of emergency were declared in New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and others, triggering travel restrictions that rippled into Tennessee and beyond.
Republic reported 17 cancellations and 2 delays, the highest number of cancellations among all airlines operating through Nashville today. The carrier’s regional network linking Tennessee with the Northeast experienced severe interruption.
Southwest recorded 9 cancellations and 19 delays, the highest delay volume of the day. Its extensive domestic network across the United States contributed to widespread schedule adjustments.
Endeavor Air saw 7 cancellations and 2 delays, reflecting operational strain on regional routes connecting Nashville with major East Coast cities.
JetBlue posted 4 cancellations with no reported delays, reflecting concentrated cancellations rather than rolling schedule disruptions, particularly on Northeast-bound flights.
American Airlines experienced 2 cancellations and 1 delay, impacting service to major hubs including New York and Washington.
United reported 2 cancellations and 2 delays, primarily affecting connections to key northeastern and Midwestern cities.
The winter storm system impacting the Northeastern United States has created cascading disruptions across major aviation corridors. With New York City under its first blizzard warning in nine years, flights between Nashville and key airports such as John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Boston Logan International Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport faced substantial cancellations.
Airlines most affected include Republic Airways, Southwest Airlines, Endeavor Air, JetBlue Airways, American Airlines, and United Airlines. Delta Air Lines and Spirit Airlines also experienced isolated cancellations and delays.
Cities including New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Nashville were repeatedly impacted as emergency declarations in New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut triggered travel restrictions. The weather system has disrupted air traffic flows not only within the United States but also affected connecting passengers traveling between the U.S. and international destinations.
As millions remain under winter alerts and blizzard warnings, operational recovery will depend on improving weather conditions across the Northeast corridor, one of the busiest aviation regions in the country.
Source: Different airports and FlightAware
The post Passengers Disrupted Across The US As 42 Flights Were Cancelled and 39 Delayed At Nashville International Airport, Impacting Republic, Southwest, Endeavor Air, JetBlue, United, And Other Airlines Across New York, Boston, Washington, Philadelphia and More appeared first on Travel And Tour World.As Spring Break 2026 nears, Florida continues to lead domestic travel searches, with destinations like Key West, Destin, and Orlando capturing the most attention for their sunny beaches, lively nightlife, and wide range of attractions. The state’s accessibility, diverse resorts, and entertainment options make it the go-to choice for millions of Americans seeking a mix of relaxation and adventure. On the international front, Mexico stands out, with Cancún and Puerto Vallarta topping searches for their warm weather, vibrant culture, and affordable beach resorts. Greece and Iceland also draw significant interest, appealing to travelers looking for scenic landscapes, historic landmarks, and unique experiences abroad.
A recent nationwide analysis of Google search trends, covering January 2025 through January 2026, shows that Americans are concentrating their spring break plans on these popular hotspots. While Florida dominates domestic searches, Mexico remains the international favorite, with Cancún leading globally, reflecting a clear pattern of preference for destinations that offer both convenience and memorable experiences.
International travel searches indicate that Mexico remains the top choice for spring breakers. Cancún ranks as the most-searched destination in 13 US states, the highest for any overseas location included in the analysis. Its consistent popularity is likely fueled by a combination of tropical beaches, vibrant nightlife, and extensive resort options catering to a variety of travelers.
Following Cancún, Greece claims the top spot in eight states, offering picturesque islands, historical sites, and Mediterranean charm that appeal to both adventure-seeking students and families. Belize also ranks prominently, securing the first position in five states, thanks to its mix of natural beauty, barrier reefs, and eco-tourism opportunities. Puerto Vallarta, another Mexican destination, leads searches in four states, highlighting the continued allure of Mexico’s Pacific coast. Iceland and Peru round out the list, each taking the top international spot in three states, reflecting growing interest in unique cultural and adventure experiences abroad.
The data indicates a trend toward destinations that combine accessibility with distinctive cultural, recreational, and natural attractions. Countries offering scenic beaches, historical exploration, and outdoor activities appear to resonate most with American travelers planning their spring escapes.
Domestically, Florida continues to command spring break attention. Key West tops the list in 17 states plus Washington, D.C., totaling 18 state-level wins. Destin, Florida, follows closely, leading in 15 states. Together, these two destinations account for 33 of the 51 total domestic top spots, demonstrating a concentrated preference for Florida’s sunny beaches, recreational options, and entertainment amenities.
Where multiple in-state destinations compete, the study identifies a clear leader. In Florida, Orlando surpasses other options due to its combination of family-friendly theme parks, attractions, and nightlife. Texas travelers favor Galveston over South Padre Island and Port Aransas, while South Carolina shows a strong preference for Myrtle Beach over Hilton Head Island. Alabama’s Gulf Shores ranks above Orange Beach, reflecting the popularity of accessible beaches with extensive amenities.
The findings underscore the enduring appeal of destinations offering a balance of leisure, entertainment, and accessibility. Florida’s dominance highlights how a mix of beach culture, nightlife, and varied accommodation options continues to draw domestic travelers year after year.
The analysis of search patterns reveals several key trends shaping 2026 spring break planning. Travelers are gravitating toward destinations that provide both relaxation and adventure, from sun-soaked beaches to culturally rich locales. Domestic searches emphasize ease of travel, short flight times, and family-friendly options, while international searches highlight exotic destinations that combine natural beauty with unique cultural experiences.
Budget considerations, resort availability, and the popularity of curated experiences—such as eco-tours, water sports, and historical sightseeing—also appear to influence search behavior. Florida’s strong presence in domestic searches suggests that well-known beach destinations remain reliable favorites, while Mexico’s international appeal indicates that travelers are seeking a blend of affordability and immersive experiences abroad.
Florida remains the top domestic choice for Spring Break 2026, with Key West, Destin, and Orlando leading searches thanks to their beaches, resorts, and attractions, while Mexico, Greece, and Iceland rank highest internationally as travelers seek sun, culture, and adventure.
Overall, the findings highlight a concentrated but diverse pattern of spring break planning. Florida and select international locations continue to dominate US travelers’ searches, reflecting preferences for sun, sand, cultural immersion, and accessible entertainment. As spring break 2026 approaches, these destinations are set to welcome large numbers of Americans seeking memorable experiences across both domestic and international locales.
The post Florida Continues to Attract Domestic Spring Break Visitors While Mexico, Greece, and Iceland Rank Highest Internationally in 2026 appeared first on Travel And Tour World.Montenegro is a compact European destination that manages to pack an extraordinary variety of experiences into a small space. From the soaring peaks and deep canyons of its national parks to the charm of its historic towns, the shimmering waters of the Adriatic, and quiet stretches of sandy beaches, the country offers something for every type of traveler. Its unique combination of unspoiled nature, rich cultural heritage, and well-developed tourism infrastructure allows visitors to explore adventure, relaxation, and history all in one trip, making Montenegro a truly versatile and unforgettable destination.
Tourism has become a cornerstone of Montenegro’s economy. Drawing roughly 2.5 million visitors each year, the country achieves remarkable visitor numbers for its size, with tourism accounting for nearly a quarter of GDP. The emphasis on quality travel ensures that guests are offered authentic experiences and well-developed infrastructure rather than crowded resorts or overstretched attractions.
Upscale Stays and Better Connections
International hotel groups are increasingly drawn to Montenegro’s coastline. From Hilton and Hyatt to Melia, Radisson, and Iberostar, luxury and boutique hotels are setting up in prime locations like Porto Montenegro and the Bay of Kotor. In total, the country has around 500 hotels, a mix of five-star resorts and boutique options designed for travelers who value personalized service and distinctive experiences.
Air travel has expanded to meet growing demand. Montenegro’s two international airports, Tivat and Podgorica, offer more than 130 direct connections to major European cities, with airlines continuously adding routes. Visitors from Western Europe, the United States, China, and Israel are arriving in greater numbers, taking advantage of the improved accessibility. Summer flights from hubs like Madrid and Barcelona make the country even easier to reach.
A Cultural Crossroads
Montenegro occupies a unique spot at the junction of East and West, sharing borders with Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Albania, and Kosovo. Its location has left a rich cultural tapestry, visible in architecture, cuisine, and local traditions. Its compact geography allows for dramatic contrasts in a single day: one can hike in the northern mountains in the morning, and swim in the Adriatic by the afternoon.
The country is home to five national parks. Durmitor National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers jagged peaks, glacial lakes, and dense forests that attract hikers and outdoor enthusiasts from across Europe. Nearby, the Tara Canyon—the world’s second-longest—provides rafting opportunities amid breathtaking scenery. Religious and historic sites, including the 17th-century Ostrog Monastery built into a sheer cliff, add layers of spiritual and cultural interest, blending seamlessly with the natural environment.
Coastal Highlights
Montenegro’s coastline is the main magnet for international visitors. Stretching almost 300 kilometres along the Adriatic, it features a mix of lively resort towns and secluded beaches. Budva, with its 2,500-year history, is known as the Saint-Tropez of the Balkans, offering nightlife, luxury yachts, and sun-soaked beaches. Ulcinj, at the southern tip, boasts Velika Plaza, a sandy stretch exceeding 13 kilometres, one of Europe’s longest beaches. Along the coast, centuries-old fortresses crown hillsides, providing sweeping views of the sea below.
Historic towns enrich Montenegro’s cultural landscape. Cetinje, the former royal capital, offers a glimpse into the country’s monarchy and heritage, while Kotor, a medieval walled city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, charms visitors with its cobbled streets and dramatic bay setting. Kotor is famously home to hundreds of cats, protected by local laws, and even has a Cat Museum. The Bay of Kotor, stretching 30 kilometres inland, is a postcard of mountains meeting the Adriatic, a rare combination of natural beauty and history.
Authentic Experiences in a Modern Destination
Montenegro appeals to travelers seeking authenticity and sustainability. The country balances luxury travel with genuine cultural experiences, offering everything from boutique accommodations to adventure tourism in its mountains and rivers. Its natural beauty, historic towns, and scenic coastlines combine with an approachable size that allows visitors to experience multiple landscapes and activities in a single trip.
Using the euro, Montenegro aligns itself with European markets, while its status as an EU candidate positions it for further growth. With careful planning and a focus on quality, Montenegro is moving from a hidden gem to a fully recognized European destination. Its rugged mountains, glistening coastline, and historic towns create a mix of adventure, relaxation, and culture that few countries of its size can match.
Montenegro offers a diverse journey where breathtaking national parks, vibrant historic towns, sparkling bays, and secluded beaches come together, providing unforgettable experiences for every type of traveler.
Montenegro proves that big experiences can come in small packages, offering travelers a destination where natural beauty, history, and luxury coexist seamlessly.
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Strategically located less than 50 miles from Dubai International Airport on the man‑made Al Marjan Island, the USD 5.1 billion integrated resort is being positioned as one of the most ambitious hospitality developments in the Middle East. Its inclusion in Preferred’s top‑tier portfolio reinforces Ras Al Khaimah’s status as a serious player in the global luxury travel market.
Preferred Hotels & Resorts describes the Legend Collection as its ultimate portfolio of exceptional properties in the world’s most remarkable destinations, recognised for exquisite accommodations, intuitive service, renowned dining, and exceptional spas. Wynn Al Marjan Island now joins a line‑up that already includes some of Wynn Resorts’ flagship properties in Las Vegas, Macau, and Boston, creating powerful cross‑marketing potential for Ras Al Khaimah among loyal high‑end travellers.
Executives at Preferred Hotels & Resorts indicated that welcoming Wynn Al Marjan Island under the Legend banner showcases the brand’s ambition and innovation in the UAE, while deepening its global partnership with Wynn Resorts. They suggested that the resort will help set new benchmarks for ultra‑luxury, experience‑led hospitality in the country and wider region.
For Ras Al Khaimah’s visitor economy, this affiliation translates into prime visibility on a global distribution and loyalty platform frequented by discerning travellers and travel advisors, likely driving higher‑spend stays and longer lengths of visit.
Wynn Al Marjan Island has been conceived as a stylish, sophisticated resort, rising around 70 storeys and reaching approximately 352 metres, with all 1,530 guest rooms and suites offering panoramic Arabian Gulf views. The upper floors will host Enclave, a boutique hotel‑within‑a‑hotel concept with 313 suites designed for heightened privacy, elevated service, and exclusivity, exactly the type of product that can attract ultra‑high‑net‑worth visitors and VIP events to Ras Al Khaimah.
The resort’s amenity mix reads like a blueprint for destination development: 22 restaurants and lounges, a vibrant beach club, a state‑of‑the‑art theatre, a five‑star spa with salon and fitness facilities, and a luxury shopping parterre featuring curated designer boutiques. Multiple pools with private bungalows and cabanas, a 420‑metre stretch of white‑sand beach, and a 98‑berth deep‑water marina are expected to appeal to both leisure visitors and yacht‑borne guests, supporting higher‑value coastal tourism for the emirate.
Crucially for the local meetings and events segment, Coral Court, a dedicated events and celebrations centre, has been purpose‑built for weddings, social occasions, and large‑scale gatherings. Industry observers note that such infrastructure can significantly increase Ras Al Khaimah’s share of destination weddings, incentive groups, and multi‑day celebrations, amplifying year‑round demand for hotels, venues, decorators, caterers, and specialised DMCs.
The scale and positioning of Wynn Al Marjan Island are expected to have a multiplier effect on Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism value chain. A resort of this magnitude requires a sizeable workforce across front‑of‑house, culinary, entertainment, marine, spa, and retail operations, opening up substantial employment and skills‑development opportunities for residents.
Local suppliers are likely to benefit from increased demand for premium F&B products, technical services, event production, and transport solutions, encouraging the growth of specialised SMEs in the emirate. With Wynn’s strong brand recognition in North America and Asia, and Preferred’s global network of travel advisors and loyal guests, Ras Al Khaimah can expect to see an uptick in international arrivals from high‑yield source markets that may previously have focused on Dubai or Abu Dhabi alone.
Travel trade insiders suggest that the integrated resort’s entertainment offering, retail mix, and marina facilities could help reposition Ras Al Khaimah as a complementary stay to longer UAE itineraries, encouraging twin‑centre holidays that combine urban and beach escapes. This shift would support higher average daily rates and visitor spending across the emirate’s broader hotel portfolio.
Ras Al Khaimah now introduces its new entry point for visitors to experience the nation. The Wynn Al Marjan Island at Ras Al Khaimah serves as a complete travel experience for visitors who require dining options, theatrical shows, and beachside relaxation, combined with their need for exceptional service throughout their stay. The resort development will proceed to its planned Spring 2027 opening, which both residents and tourism industry professionals will monitor because they believe the Legend Collection badge will improve hotel quality while attracting more diverse visitors to the emirate.
The post Ras Al Khaimah’s Wynn Al Marjan Island Joins Preferred Hotels & Resorts Legend Collection To Promote UAE Luxury Tourism appeared first on Travel And Tour World.A historic nor’easter recently slammed the US East Coast, leaving a trail of record-breaking snowfall and logistical chaos in its wake. This massive storm centered its fury on New York City, burying Central Park under 19 inches of snow. Consequently, travel across the region ground to a halt as officials implemented strict bans to ensure public safety. LaGuardia Airport became the epicenter of this aviation crisis, recording hundreds of cancelled flights in a single day. Regional carriers bore the brunt of the atmospheric onslaught. Republic Airways faced the most significant hurdles, reporting 164 cancellations as ground operations became impossible. Similarly, Endeavor Air struggled to maintain its schedule, resulting in 105 grounded flights. These disruptions left thousands of passengers stranded and searching for answers. There’s a total of 449 cancellations and 119 delays reported. This report examines the specific data behind the delays and the ongoing recovery efforts. We explore how the aviation industry navigates such unprecedented weather events while prioritizing passenger security
LaGuardia Airport was significantly hampered by the storm’s intensity, which saw more than 19 inches of snow fall in New York City’s Central Park. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the storm brought white-out conditions and extreme hazards, necessitating a total citywide travel ban that was only lifted at noon local time. During the height of the crisis, all roads, highways and bridges were closed, effectively isolating the airport from the rest of the city.
The scale of the disruption at LaGuardia is reflected in the staggering operational figures reported today. A total of 449 flight cancellations were recorded, alongside 119 delays. Although the nor’easter has moved away, the facility continues to deal with the logistical nightmare of clearing snow and reorganizing flight schedules. Strong winds are expected to continue, potentially complicating the recovery efforts for ground crews and air traffic controllers in the US Northeast.
The burden of the cancellations was felt most acutely by regional and domestic carriers. Republic Airways was the most heavily affected, with 164 cancellations and 41 delays. This was followed by Endeavor Air, which saw 105 of its flights cancelled. Major mainline carriers were not spared either; Delta Air Lines reported 74 cancellations and 21 delays, while American Airlines faced 33 cancellations and 20 delays.
Other airlines impacted by the travel chaos include:
The concentration of these disruptions highlights the vulnerability of regional networks when a major US hub like New York City is incapacitated by extreme weather.
The nor’easter has caused an immediate and visible halt to tourism activities. With New York City brought to a near-standstill and over 600,000 properties across the East Coast losing power, the hospitality sector has faced significant strain. The severity of the storm was such that even The Boston Globe ceased its print edition for the first time in 153 years, signaling the total disruption of normal commerce and information flow in the region.
Tourism in New York City is heavily dependent on the seamless movement of people through its airports. With nearly 450 flights cancelled at LaGuardia alone, thousands of visitors were unable to reach their hotels, theaters, or business engagements. Furthermore, the historic nature of the storm—with Rhode Island recording its worst snowstorm ever and Providence receiving 36 inches—suggests that regional tourism will take days to recover as states like Connecticut and Massachusetts work to lift their respective travel bans.
For those currently stranded or facing delays in the US, certain protocols are recommended to navigate the situation. Passengers are advised to monitor their flight status via airline mobile apps or websites, as the situation remains fluid due to ongoing winds and the backlog of diverted aircraft.
Because the travel bans in New York City and neighboring states have only recently been lifted, ground transportation to and from airports may still be limited. Passengers are encouraged to remain in safe locations until their airline confirms a new departure time. Most carriers offer rebooking options for weather-related events and travelers should explore these digital self-service tools to avoid long wait times at airport service desks.
The recovery of the travel network is expected to be gradual. While the snow has stopped, the 1-2 feet of accumulation predicted for the coastline continues to pose a challenge for infrastructure. Safety remains the priority for all officials and aviation personnel as they work to restore normalcy to the US air travel system.
-The information provided is sourced from FlightAware.
The post Thousands of US Passengers Stranded in LaGuardia Airport as New York Deals with the Aftermath of the Travel Chaos Caused by Nor’easter, Impacting Republic Airways, Endeavor Air, Delta, Southwest, American Airlines and Several other Carriers with 449 Cancellations and 119 Delays appeared first on Travel And Tour World.Samsung will reportedly bring major camera improvements with its upcoming flagship, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. For a long time, rumors suggested that Samsung was working on adding a 24MP photo mode to the device. Now, new information has made this upgrade more certain.
According to Sahil Karoul, who reportedly got early access to the Galaxy S26 Ultra before its official launch, the phone will come with four camera modes, including 200MP, 50MP, 24MP, and 12MP. The addition of the 24MP camera is new and interesting because Samsung has not offered this exact resolution option before in its Ultra series.
The 24MP camera mode is designed to give users a balance between high detail and smooth image processing. While 200MP photos capture extreme detail, they can take up more storage and sometimes require heavy processing. The 24MP option may provide sharp images without making file sizes too large.
Image via
Sahil Karoul
Samsung’s Camera Assistant app recently received an update. This update added support for a 24MP shooting mode. This strongly hints that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will officially feature this new camera option when it launches, but under Camera Assistant functionality.
The new 24MP mode will reportedly work in both Photo and Portrait modes. After taking a picture, the phone takes around three seconds to process the image. The final photos look clean and natural, especially in bright scenes or when taking portraits.
Samsung is going to launch the Galaxy S26 series on February 25, 2025. Stay tuned for more information.
The post Galaxy S26 Ultra leak highlights new 24MP photo option appeared first on Sammy Fans.
This year the big show is a month later than usual, but it’s finally here – you can watch the Galaxy S26 Unpacked event live on YouTube below. We’re on location and will have more to report, but for now you can just enjoy the show. If you haven’t already, you can still register on Samsung.com for a $30/€30 discount once the phones are ready for pre-order – that should be later today or tomorrow morning at the latest. If the stream hasn’t started yet, you can check out our rumor round-up articles for the Galaxy S26 and S26+ as well as the Galaxy S26 Ultra. In addition to the new...
Google is now sending earthquake alerts to Wear OS devices even when they're not connected to a smartphone, according to the release notes for the latest version of Google Play Services. Google first brought Android's Earthquake Alerts System to Wear OS last year, but so far it was just basically mirroring the alert you received on your phone. From now on, even if your phone is too far to remain connected to your watch, the latter will still notify you about earthquakes. Of course, it will probably need a standalone internet connection to do so - thus, this most likely only applies...
Amid a difficult season, Virgil van Dijk has remained one of Liverpool’s standout performers, leading the team from the back. Despite this, the Dutchman’s contract runs until 2027, and a renewal appears complicated. As a result, the Reds are reportedly targeting a Premier League defensive star valued at $135 million. However, they would have to compete with Manchester United to secure his signing.
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are closely monitoring Micky van de Ven, who is looking to leave Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2026. Despite being under contract until 2029, his team has set a price tag of £100 million (around $135 million). The Reds reportedly view him as the ideal long-term successor to Virgil van Dijk. However, Manchester United have also entered the race, further complicating a potential move to Anfield.
Although Arne Slot will already have Jérémy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni at his disposal next season, the potential arrival of Micky van de Ven would be a game-changer. He would not only make an immediate impact at Liverpool, but also represent a long-term investment, as he is just 24 years old and already shining in the Premier League. Moreover, he could even thrive alongside Virgil van Dijk, covering for the possible departure of Ibrahima Konaté.
Far from being simply a matter of paying the $135 million fee, Liverpool could face a significant challenge in convincing van de Ven. Just as he would be an ideal solution at Anfield, the young Dutchman would also fit perfectly at Manchester United. In addition, they appear to be on track to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, which could give them an edge in the race. As a result, Micky could also be tempted to form a strong partnership with Matthijs de Ligt.
Following a successful era led by Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool are facing an imminent change of cycle, backing Arne Slot as their undisputed leader. Despite having invested €482 million, the Reds continue to struggle to find consistency. As a result, they could look to make several changes to their roster, allowing key players to depart. In turn, the coach could receive multiple reinforcements — not just Micky van de Ven.
While Andrew Robertson and Ibrahima Konaté are set to see their contracts expire in the summer of 2026, Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker are under contract until 2027, yet all are reportedly heading toward potential exits. Alongside them, Federico Chiesa and Cody Gakpo are also being linked with departures. For this reason, the Reds could not only pursue the signing of Micky van de Ven, but also Yan Diomande, in search of an attacking boost.
Far from settling for those additions, Liverpool may even need to bring in another winger to strengthen the right flank. As a result, the Reds are reportedly targeting Michael Olise as an ideal signing, although they are considering alternative options as well. With this in mind, coach Arne Slot could receive a significant boost to his roster, aiming to lay the foundations for a winning project in the years ahead.
Kylian Mbappé has been one of the few consistent bright spots in what has been a turbulent 2025-26 season for Real Madrid, as the club prepares for a decisive UEFA Champions League showdown against Benfica. However, less than 24 hours before kickoff, the French star has reportedly suffered an injury setback, raising concern within Los Blancos ahead of the crucial fixture.
According to L’Équipe, Mbappé was unable to complete Real Madrid’s final training session after once again experiencing discomfort in his left knee. As a result of the setback, the forward is expected to be rested and will not feature against Benfica, dealing a significant blow to Madrid’s plans for the UEFA Champions League encounter.
As the French outlet reported, Mbappé underwent tests in the afternoon that revealed the knee, an area that has troubled him in recent months, is still far from fully healed. While a recovery timeline has not been determined, the Frenchman’s availability for Wednesday’s match at the Santiago Bernabéu has effectively been ruled out.
Earlier in Tuesday’s press conference, head coach Álvaro Arbeloa had said Mbappé was fit for the Champions League clash: “Kylian is ready to play Wednesday and that’s what matters most. For several weeks now, everyone has known it… And I want to highlight the dedication he shows. Toward his teammates, his team, his coach, his club, his supporters.“
This is not the first time Mbappé has been sidelined from key matches because of knee trouble. Toward the end of 2025, during a Madrid training session, the forward felt discomfort, and an MRI later revealed damage to the lateral collateral ligament in his left knee.
Because of that injury, Mbappé missed the La Liga match against Real Betis on Jan. 4 and the Spanish Super Cup semifinal against Atlético Madrid four days later. Despite not traveling to Saudi Arabia with the squad, he pushed to appear in the Jan. 11 final against FC Barcelona, playing just 14 minutes.
After that effort, and following the dismissal of coach Xabi Alonso after the lost final, Mbappé continued featuring regularly for Madrid, completing 90 minutes in eight of the club’s last nine matches across all competitions. However, the discomfort never fully subsided, and with a pivotal European showdown looming, resting the team’s star forward is viewed internally as the safest course to avoid a more serious setback.
Mbappé currently stands as Real Madrid’s leading scorer in the UEFA Champions League with 13 goals this season, which underscores how significant his absence could be. With Madrid holding only a one-goal aggregate edge over Benfica, losing their most clinical finisher represents a major blow heading into the decisive stretch of the tie.
Still, with the tournament set to kick off in less than five months, any issue involving his knee would raise serious concern for both Mbappé and the France national team. Sitting out against Benfica is therefore a decision shaped not only by Champions League priorities, but also by the long-term objective of ensuring he is fully fit for this summer’s global showcase in North America.
Vinicius was the protagonist of the first leg in the Champions League playoff against Benfica due to a controversy over an alleged racist incident involving Gianluca Prestianni. His importance makes him the focus again, as he could miss the next match through suspension if Real Madrid progress from this round.
The Brazilian scored the winning goal in Portugal to give his team the lead heading back to Spain. However, the referee deemed his celebration excessive and showed him a yellow card, putting him at risk of suspension if he receives another in Wednesday’s match.
There are five more players who are at risk of missing the round of 16. Jude Bellingham looks like the most irreplaceable on the list, but he should be available because he will not play this rematch due to injury. Rodrygo is another player at risk who will not play in Madrid. Álvaro Carreras, Aurelien Tchouameni and Dean Huijsen are the other three.
The new Champions League format raised doubts when it was announced. Using unified standings to rank all 36 teams did not seem straightforward, but it has produced exciting outcomes, such as Benfica qualifying for this round at Real Madrid’s expense.
This also produced a different type of bracket for the knockout rounds than what everyone was used to since the competition changed its structure in the 1990s. Potential opponents will be decided by a mini draw.
Real Madrid will not know who they will face in the round of 16 until the draw. The opponent will be randomly selected from two very different options. Manchester City or Sporting CP are the clubs they could play in the next round.
The rule states that after a player receives three yellow cards, he is suspended for one match. This is not usually a major focus in short series like this one, but it can influence how managers use substitutions.
Yellow card tallies are reset after the quarterfinals, but if a player receives his third booking in the second leg of that round, he will miss the first semifinal match. If Rodrygo or Bellingham pick up a yellow card in the quarterfinals, they could miss the rematch or the first leg of the semifinals.
Mexico, the United States, and Canada will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the world’s biggest sporting event. Hosting such a tournament is a great honor and could even be an advantage, but it also comes with significant challenges, as Lionel Messi explained.
The Argentine forward spoke in an interview on the Miro de Atras podcast, hosted by his former Argentina teammate Nahuel Guzman, who has been playing in Liga MX for several years. Among other topics, Leo discussed what the upcoming World Cup could mean for Mexico.
“Now there’s a nice opportunity coming for you and for the United States. Being the World Cup at home, for better or worse, it has an influence,” Messi began, speaking to the Mexican journalists who also participated in the interview. “If things go well, it can be a great opportunity, because playing at home makes a difference. Likewise, if things go badly for you, it will also be noticed.”
Messi knows what he’s talking about, as during his long international career with Argentina, he had the chance to play a major tournament at home: the 2011 Copa America. That was probably the toughest tournament of his entire national team career, largely due to fan criticism after disappointing results.
The pressure affected the team’s performance under then-coach Sergio Batista, which drew against Bolivia and Colombia in their first two matches and only secured a spot in the knockout stages in the final game against Costa Rica. The story ended bitterly, however, as Argentina were eliminated by Uruguay in the quarterfinals.
In the same conversation, Messi reflected on the matches he has played against Mexico with Argentina. “We’ve crossed paths a lot in important competitions. Aside from the last one in the group stage, the others were always knockout games,” the forward recalled.
Since Messi began his journey with Argentina in 2005, Mexico have been one of the teams he has faced most often in official tournaments. Both teams met in the 2007 Copa America and the 2006, 2010, and 2022 World Cups, all resulting in victories for Argentina.
The Qatar 2022 match was particularly important, even though it was in the group stage, because a loss would have meant Argentina’s elimination. “That game against Mexico was decisive for us and one of the ones we suffered the most. So much was at stake,” Messi recalled, scoring the opener in Argentina’s 2-0 win. Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup, he expressed his wish: “Hopefully we don’t face each other this time.”
Being the host of a World Cup can add extra pressure to a national team, as Messi noted, but historically, results have varied. In six of the 22 editions, the host nation went on to win the tournament. This happened with Uruguay in 1930, Italy in 1934, England in 1966, West Germany in 1974, Argentina in 1978, and France in 1998.
That success rate might seem low, but it’s important to consider that many host countries historically had little realistic chance of winning the tournament. Even so, host nations often performed above expectations.
In several cases, a team’s best performance came precisely when they hosted the World Cup. This includes Switzerland (fifth place in 1954), Sweden (finalists in 1958), Chile (semifinalists in 1962), and South Korea (semifinalists in 2002). The most emblematic case is Mexico, which has only reached the quarterfinals twice in its history—both times at home, in 1970 and 1986.
With Harry Kane leading the line and Jude Bellingham emerging as the heartbeat of the midfield, the national team arrived at World Cup 2026 with enormous expectations and genuine title ambitions. But months before a ball is kicked, the tournament’s preparations are already spiraling into uncertainty, and one of the national team’s key group-stage fixtures is now facing an extraordinary threat.
What makes the situation even more surreal is that the issue has nothing to do with injuries, tactical decisions, or even soccer. Instead, a bizarre off-field dispute has plunged one of England‘s matches into serious doubt, leaving fans, organizers, and the national team scrambling for answers.
The World Cup is meant to be the pinnacle of global soccer, but the build-up in North America has been riddled with unexpected complications. With just four months remaining until kick-off, organizers are facing mounting logistical headaches, political shifts, and funding disputes that threaten to derail key aspects of the tournament.
One of the most alarming developments surrounds the match scheduled at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, a venue set to host several high-profile fixtures, including group-stage clashes and a knockout game. Thousands of supporters have already booked flights, hotels, and tickets, believing the tournament would proceed smoothly. Instead, the fixture has become a symbol of the tournament’s growing instability.
In the middle of the controversy lies the core issue that could derail the national team’s fixture. Foxborough officials have warned they will refuse to issue the crucial entertainment licence required to host World Cup matches unless they receive $7.3 million in security funding to cover public safety costs, as per The Mirror and Daily Record.
Despite years of planning by local police and fire departments, the town claims it cannot afford to front the money while waiting for reimbursement from federal authorities. Without the licence, the matches could be cancelled or moved hundreds of miles away, causing chaos for fans and organizers alike.
Without the funding, vital safety equipment has not been ordered, preparations remain incomplete, and the licence deadline is looming on March 17. If the deadline passes without resolution, FIFA may be forced to relocate matches, triggering logistical nightmares.
The potential fallout for supporters is immense. Fans have already spent thousands of dollars on travel, accommodation, and match tickets, expecting to see the national team live in North America. A last-minute relocation would force them to reorganize plans at massive personal cost, with no guarantee of refunds or alternative arrangements, the Daily Express adds.
Relocating the match could also impact the tournament schedule, logistics, and competitive balance, as teams would need to adapt to new venues, climates, and travel demands. Whether Foxborough receives the funding in time remains unclear. But one thing is certain: the road to World Cup 2026 is proving to be as unpredictable and dramatic off the pitch as it will be on it.
Cristiano Ronaldo has continued to defy the standards of modern soccer, extending his legacy as the sport’s all-time leading scorer even at 41 years old, with the 2026 World Cup representing his final chance to lift the trophy. With less than five months until the tournament begins, Roberto Martinez, head coach of Portugal national team, weighed in on whether the legend needs a World Cup title to officially cement his status as the GOAT.
After being eliminated in the quarterfinals by Morocco national team at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and with Ronaldo seen in tears in the tunnel on his way back to the locker room, many expected him to step away from international duty. Instead, the striker helped Portugal capture the UEFA Nations League title and is now preparing for one last World Cup push when the tournament kicks off in North America.
Speaking on the Portugal Football Summit podcast, Martinez said a World Cup triumph would enhance Ronaldo’s legacy but isn’t required to validate it: “He will be the greatest player ever, whether he wins the World Cup or not. Our responsibility is to give ourselves the best possible chance to compete for it.“
The Spanish coach also stressed that replicating the formula that led to Nations League success will be crucial this summer. “That comes from analyzing, improving constantly, and maintaining the same mindset that helped us succeed in the Nations League,” Martinez added.
After his move to Saudi Arabia in 2022, there were expectations that Ronaldo’s influence with the national team would diminish. Instead, he has remained Portugal’s undisputed captain and is also the leading scorer of Martinez’s tenure, with 25 goals in the 36 matches the coach has overseen.
Martinez spoke candidly about the veteran’s impact during the Nations League triumph: “It was essential for our confidence and belief. When you analyse the Nations League, it is probably the most demanding format: 10 matches over 10 months, five different camps, and decisive knockout matches.“
Portugal ultimately secured the title by winning the Final Four, first defeating Germany national team in Munich and then beating Spain national team in the final, with La Roja entering as favorites after their recent European Championship triumph. “Winning in Germany, where Portugal had not won for 25 years, and facing a European champion in the final, gave the group incredible confidence for the future,” the coach added.
After finishing atop their qualifying group, Portugal have been drawn into a World Cup group alongside Uzbekistan national team, Colombia national team, and one of the intercontinental playoff winners. To prepare for the tournament, the Seleção have lined up friendlies aimed at sharpening match fitness and tactical rhythm.
Portugal’s next fixtures come during the March international window, when they travel to North America to face Mexico national team on the 28th and the United States men’s national team on U.S. soil on the 31st. Those matches will mark Ronaldo’s first appearance in Mexico and his return to the United States, where he’s widely expected to be part of Martinez’s squad as preparations for the World Cup enter their final phase.
The future of Cristiano Ronaldo has rarely been quiet, but recent weeks have seen speculation reach a new peak. Frustration, public criticism, and even a brief boycott of matches fueled rumors that the Portuguese icon could be preparing another dramatic career twist. At Al-Nassr, tensions behind the scenes had raised questions about his long-term commitment, while clubs across Europe and beyond were mentioned as potential destinations.
Yet, amid the noise, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner continued to deliver on the pitch, scoring goals and keeping himself at the center of the global soccer conversation. The speculation surrounding Ronaldo’s future intensified after reports of growing dissatisfaction with how resources were distributed within the Saudi Pro League. The Portuguese superstar reportedly accused the league of favoring certain clubs while neglecting others, leading to frustration that culminated in a brief spell out of action.
Despite the controversy, the 41-year-old returned to the pitch in emphatic fashion, scoring three goals in two matches and reminding everyone that, even at this stage of his career, he remains one of the sport’s most decisive figures.
The uncertainty sparked widespread speculation about potential next destinations. A sentimental return to Sporting Lisbon was floated as a nostalgic storyline, while domestic rivals Al-Hilal, MLS side Inter Miami, Turkish giants Fenerbahçe, and French outfit Marseille were all cited as hypothetical landing spots. Each scenario carried its own intrigue, from marketing impact to tactical reinvention and renewed trophy ambitions.
In the middle of the swirling rumors, clarity has now arrived. According to Saudi journalist Ahmed Al-Jedi, Ronaldo has made a definitive call regarding his future. “Cristiano Ronaldo will not leave the Saudi Pro League or his club, Al Nassr. A legend. Professionalism. Popularity. Influence that everyone envies. In short: Al Nassr and Ronaldo are twins, and their story will only end with championships.”
This revelation marks a decisive moment after weeks of uncertainty, signaling a renewed commitment to the project and a desire to continue building his legacy in the Middle East.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano further confirmed the superstar’s stance, shedding light on the nature of the earlier tensions and Ronaldo’s mindset. “Cristiano is happy at Al-Nassr, and now Cristiano confirms: ‘I belong to Saudi Arabia. I want to continue in Saudi Arabia.’ Cristiano is showing commitment to the project. Cristiano is absolutely determined to make history at Al-Nassr.”
Romano explained that the disputes were largely related to budget management and the Saudi Public Investment Fund rather than a breakdown in relationships with the club’s management or coaching staff. The resolution of those issues appears to have reassured Ronaldo and reinforced his belief in the project.
Şampiyonlar Ligi Son 16 play-off turunda Atletico Madrid ile Club Brugge karşı karşıya geldi. Atletico Madrid 3-3'ün rövanş maçında Club Brugge'ü 4-1 mağlup ederek adını son 16'ya yazdırdı.
UEFA Şampiyonlar Ligi play-off turu rövanş maçında Atletico Madrid, konuk ettiği Club Brugge'u 4-1 mağlup etti. Atletico Madrid, 16'ya yazdıran ilk takım oldu. Norveçli santrfor Alexander Sörloth 'hat-trick' yaptı.
Atletico Madrid son 16 turunda Tottenham Hotspur ya da Liverpool ile eşleşecek.
Kayserispor, Teknik Direktör Radomir Djalovic ile karşılıklı anlaşarak yolların ayrıldığını açıkladı.
Trendyol Süper Lig ekibi Kayserispor, Teknik Direktör Radomir Djalovic ile yollarını ayırdığını duyurdu.
Kayserispor Kulübünden yapılan açıklamada, "Teknik direktör Radomir Djalovic ile karşılıklı anlaşarak yollarımızı ayırmış bulunuyoruz. Kendisine ve ekibine bundan sonraki kariyerlerinde başarılar dileriz"denildi.
Teknik Direktör Radomir Djalovic ile karşılıklı anlaşarak yollarımızı ayırmış bulunuyoruz.
Kendisine ve ekibine bundan sonraki kariyerlerinde başarılar dileriz.
Kayserispor Futbol Kulübü pic.twitter.com/jB8FKtmYwy
Beşiktaş yönetimi, basın toplantılarını "takipçi satın alan trollerden" temizlemek için devrim niteliğinde bir adım atıyor. TSYD üyeliği ve Sarı Basın Kartı zorunluluğu getirilerek meslek onurunun korunması hedefleniyor. Türk futbolunda liyakat ve kalite standardını yeniden belirleyecek olan bu "hijyen" operasyonunu, Fotospor olarak sonuna kadar destekliyoruz.
Beşiktaş yönetimi spor medyasındaki kirliliği önlemek ve basın toplantılarını daha nitelikli hale getirmek amacıyla devrim niteliğinde bir adım atmaya hazırlanıyor. Hazırlanan yeni düzenlemenin, tüm kulüplere örnek olması bekleniyor.
Beşiktaş yönetimine yakın kaynaklardan edinilen bilgilere göre; kulüp bünyesinde düzenlenen basın toplantılarının standardını yükseltmek için düğmeye basıldı. Son dönemde dijital mecraların artışıyla birlikte ortaya çıkan "trol" hesaplar ve amacı belirsiz profillerin, gerçek basın mensuplarının önüne geçmesinin engellenmesi hedefleniyor.
Planlanan yeni düzenleme ile basın toplantılarına girişlerde ciddi bir filtreleme sistemi uygulanacak. Masadaki taslağa göre, toplantılara katılacak kişilerin şu şartları taşıması gerekecek.
- TSYD (Türkiye Spor Yazarları Derneği) Üyeliği
- Resmi Sarı Basın Kartı Sahibi Olmak
Yapılacak düzenlemenin sadece bir kural değişikliği değil, aynı zamanda meslek onurunu koruma adımı olduğunu belirten Beşiktaş profesyonelleri, bu durumu "gerçek basın mensuplarına yapılan bir haksızlık" olarak nitelendirdi. Yönetim, mikrofonun sadece işin ehli olan kişilere uzatılması konusunda kararlı.
Beşiktaş'ın bu hamlesi, spor dünyasında sadece bir kulüp kararı olarak değil, bir kalite standartı arayışı olarak görülüyor.
- Basın toplantıları daha profesyonel bir zemine oturacak.
- Manipülasyon amaçlı soruların önüne geçilecek.
- Diğer kulüplere "akreditasyon disiplini" konusunda örnek teşkil edilecek.
Son kararı Başkan Serdal Adalı'nın vermesi beklenirken, Fotospor olarak bu kararı sonuna kadar destekliyoruz.
Beşiktaş'ta Sergen Yalçın'ın savunma planları sakatlıklarla altüst oldu. Agbadou ve Emirhan hayalleri kuran Yalçın, Emirhan'ın uzun süreli sakatlığıyla sarsıldı. Göztepe maçında sürpriz bir kararla Yasin Özcan yerine, Rusya'ya gidişi son anda yatan Uduokhai'ye sarılan tecrübeli teknik adam, Alman stoperi sezonun geri kalanında savunmanın anahtarı yapmaya hazırlanıyor.
Beşiktaş’ta savunma hattı adeta "satranç tahtasına" dönüştü. Sergen Yalçın’ın planları, sakatlıklar yüzünden yeniden altüst oldu. Yalçın’ın savunma kurgusundaki kilit isim Emmanuel Agbadou. Fildişili stoperin fiziksel gücüne Yalçın'ın güveni tam. Yalçın, Agbadou ile Emirhan Topçu'nun oturduğuna inanıyordu.
Ancak Emirhan’ın yaşadığı sakatlık nedeniyle uzun süre sahalardan uzak kalacak olması bir kez daha keyiflerin kaçmasın neden oldu. Son oynanan Göztepe mücadelesinde Sergen Yalçın, Emirhan sakatlanınca yeni transfer Yasin Özcan'ı değil de Rusya’ya transferi son anda yatan Felix Uduokhai’ye tercih etti.
Sakatlığını atlatan ve takıma dönen Tiago Djalo cephesinde sevindirici haber gelse de teknik bir detay planları zorlaştırıyor. Portekizli oyuncu, tıpkı Agbadou gibi bir sağ stoper. Bu durum, savunmanın solunda kimin oynayacağı sorusunu beraberinde getiriyor.
Sezonun bu kritik virajında Beşiktaş’ın en büyük kozu, devre arasında valizini toplamışken takımda kalan Uduokhai olacak gibi duruyor. Alman stoper savunmadaki eksikler nedeniyle sezonun geri kalanında değişilmez olmaya aday.
Süper Lig'deki ofsayt tartışmalarında sular durulmuyor. Galatasaray'ın rakipleriyle kıyaslayarak "adaletsizlik" dediği pozisyonlara, eski MHK Başkanı Mustafa Çulcu'dan UEFA destekli yanıt geldi: "Karar doğru, itiraz yersiz!"
Süper Lig’de son haftaya damga vuran hakem kararları, kulüpler arasında sosyal medya üzerinden başlayan bir "çizgi" savaşına dönüştü. Galatasaray’ın iptal edilen golü sonrası başlattığı tartışmaya, eski Merkez Hakem Kurulu (MHK) Başkanı Mustafa Çulcu’dan kritik bir açıklama geldi.
Galatasaray resmi hesaplarından yaptığı bir paylaşımla hakem kararlarındaki standart sapmasına dikkat çekti. Paylaşımda; Trabzonspor, Fenerbahçe ve Galatasaray’ın benzer ofsayt tartışmaları içeren pozisyonları yan yana getirilerek şu ifadelere yer verildi:
- Hangisi ofsayt, biz anlayamadık. Siz karar verin.
Sarı-kırmızılı yönetim, rakiplerinin benzer pozisyonlarda attığı gollerin geçerli sayıldığını, ancak kendi gollerinin ofsayt gerekçesiyle iptal edilmesinin adaletsiz olduğunu savundu.
Tartışmaların odağındaki pozisyonlarla ilgili konuşan eski MHK Başkanı Mustafa Çulcu, konuyu UEFA nezdinde araştırdığını belirterek tartışmalara yeni bir boyut kazandırdı.
- UEFA'dan teyit ettim; Galatasaray maçındaki pozisyonda hakemin verdiği ofsayt kararının doğru olduğunu söylüyorlar. Trabzonspor maçındaki pozisyon için ise 'gol' diyorlar.
Ligde oynanan son maçlarda, üç büyük kulübün benzer hücum varyasyonlarında VAR çizgileri ve yardımcı hakem kararları farklılık göstermiş; Galatasaray cephesi, kendilerine uygulanan standardın rakiplerinden farklı olduğunu iddia ederek tepki göstermişti.
Trabzonspor'un Gaziantep FK galibiyetine gölge düştü! Sağlık Kurulu Başkanı Prof. Dr. Ahmet Beşir, sakatlanan Tim Jabol Folcarelli'nin son durumunu açıkladı. Fotospor'un işaret ettiği gibi yapılan MR kontrollerinde korkulan senaryo gerçek oldu. Yıldız oyuncunun bağlarında yırtık tespit edildi.
Trabzonspor’un Gaziantep FK ile oynadığı maçta sakatlanarak teknik heyeti korkutan Tim Jabol Folcarelli’den korkulan kötü haber geldi. Fotospor’un dün işaret ettiği endişeler, bugün yapılan resmi açıklamayla kesinleşti.
Trabzonspor Sağlık Kurulu Başkanı Prof. Dr. Ahmet Beşir, oyuncunun durumu hakkında yaptığı açıklamada taraftarları üzen detayları paylaştı. Beşir, yaptığı bilgilendirmede şu ifadeleri kullandı:
- Gaziantep FK maçında sakatlanan futbolcumuz Tim Jabol Folcarelli’nin yapılan muayene ve görüntülemeleri sonucunda sol ayak bileği dış yan bağlarında yırtık ve kanama tespit edilmiştir. Oyuncumuzun tedavisine sağlık ekibimizce başlanmıştır.
Kulüp doktorlarından alınan ilk bilgilere göre Folcarelli’nin önünde iki farklı senaryo bulunuyordu. Yapılan tetkiklerde "yırtık" tespit edilmesi, oyuncunun sahalardan uzak kalma süresini uzattı.
- Mevcut tabloya göre oyuncunun rehabilitasyon sürecinin 1.5 ile 2 ay arasında sürmesi bekleniyor.
Galibiyetin ardından düzenlenen basın toplantısında üzüntüsü yüzünden okunan teknik direktör Fatih Tekke, Folcarelli’nin takımdaki önemine vurgu yapmıştı.
- Tim bizim için çok değerli bir parça. Ancak her ne olursa olsun, eksiklere takılmadan yolumuza devam edeceğiz. Elimizdeki malzemeyi en iyi şekilde kullanmaya çalışacağız.
Beşiktaş yönetimi bilet fiyatlarında indirime gitti, siyah-beyazlı taraftarlar Dolmabahçe'yi bayram yerine çevirdi. Göztepe galibiyetiyle moral bulan camiada yeni hedef 7 Mart: Galatasaray'ı cehennem gibi bir baskı bekliyor!
Beşiktaş tribünleri yönetimin hamlesiyle küllerinden doğdu. Göztepe galibiyetiyle moral bulan camia şimdi 7 Mart’taki Galatasaray derbisini bekliyor. Takım, yönetim ve taraftar arasındaki buzların erimesiyle birlikte, Galatasaray maçı öncesi Dolmabahçe’de "cehennem" hazırlıkları başladı.
Beşiktaş yönetimi, Göztepe maçı öncesi taraftarın çağrısına kulak vererek bilet fiyatlarında ciddi bir indirime gitti. Bu hamle meyvesini anında verdi. Aynı saatlerde Sinan Erdem’de Fenerbahçe Beko ile oynanan Türkiye Kupası finaline rağmen, siyah-beyazlı futbolseverler stadı hınca hınç doldurdu.
Göztepe karşısında tribünlerin uzun süre sonra ilk kez bu kadar dolması ve coşkusu dikkat çekti. Maçın başından sonuna kadar susmayan taraftarlar, adeta "12. adam" etkisini sahaya yansıttı.
Göztepe takımı tezahüratlarla adeta boğuldu. Tribünlerin sadece izleyici değil, maça doğrudan müdahale eden enerjisi galibiyette kilit rol oynadı. Uzun süreli durgunluğun ardından gelen bu kenetlenme, camiada "eski ruh geri dönüyor" yorumlarını beraberinde getirdi.
Sosyal medyada birleşen Beşiktaşlı taraftarlar, Göztepe maçındaki atmosferin kalıcı olması için yönetime seslendi. Biletlerdeki uygun fiyat politikasının devam etmesi durumunda Dolmabahçe’nin her maç kapalı gişe olacağının garantisini verdi.
Motivasyonun asıl hedefi ise 7 Mart’taki Galatasaray derbisi. Göztepe maçındaki enerjiyi bir "prova" olarak gören siyah-beyazlılar, lider Galatasaray’ı Tüpraş Stadyumu’nda yoğun bir baskıyla karşılamaya hazırlanıyor.
Şampiyonluk ve Avrupa'da gelen başarılar bir sonuç değil, 40 yıllık bir adanmışlığın hikayesi. Derwall ile atılan tohumlardan Fatih Terim'in 'alfa' liderliğine, Kalli'nin kısıtlı imkanlarla yazdığı destanlardan Okan Buruk'un zafer koşusuna... Galatasaray'ın 'winner' kimliği gökten inmedi.
Türk futbolunda başarı söz konusu olduğunda sıkça telaffuz edilen "winner" kimliği, tesadüflerin değil, on yıllara yayılan bir adanmışlığın eseri olarak yeniden sahnede. Galatasaray, 2024-25 sezonunda taktığı 5. yıldızla ve İstanbul'da Juventus gibi bir dünya devine 5 gol atına bu tartışmaları teknik bir boyuttan çıkarıp bir "doktrin" haline getirdi. Her şeyin başında, 80’lerin ortasında Jupp Derwall’in Florya’ya attığı o modern tohumlar var. Analizlere göre, rakiplerin en büyük eksiği taktikten ziyade bir "Derwall figürünün" olmayışı. Galatasaray, sadece kupalar kazanmadı. Derwall’in kurduğu felsefeyi her nesilde güncelleyerek bir genetik miras haline getirdi.
Fatih Terim, Türk futbol tarihinin en büyük "alfa" figürü olarak bu kimliğin bayraktarlığını yaptı. Bugün rakiplerin Terim modelini taklit etme çabaları olarak görülüyor. Galatasaray ise içinden yeni liderler çıkarmayı sürdürüyor.
Emre Belözoğlu, Volkan Demirel veya İsmail Kartal gibi isimler üzerinden kurulan Fenerbahçe denklemlerinin aksine; Galatasaray’da Arda Turan, Selçuk İnan veya Albert Riera gibi isimler pişiyor. Okan Buruk ise bayrağı 4. kez göndere çekmek ve Avrupa'yı sallamak için için koşuyor.
Galatasaray’ın en zor dönemlerinde bile (Kalli’nin 75 yaşında inşa ettiği Uğur Uçar’lı, Barış Özbek’li kadro veya Gerets dönemi) şampiyonluğa ulaşması, başarının sadece cüzdanla ilgili olmadığının kanıtı olarak sunuluyor.
Bu yaklaşım, sarı-kırmızılıların Victor Osimhen veya İlkay Gündoğan gibi dünya yıldızlarını transfer ederken bile, bu isimleri "yıldız" olmaktan öte "takımın bir parçası" haline getiren o görünmez gücü açıklıyor.
Galatasaray'ın bugün bu haldeyse bu bir transfer başarısı değil; Derwall ile atılan temelin, Terim ile büyüyen gövdenin ve Okan Buruk ile taçlanan modern vizyonun bir sonucu olarak kabul ediliyor.
Galatasaray'ın milli yıldızı Barış Alper Yılmaz, Juventus karşısında Avrupa devlerinin merceği altında! Vincenzo Montella'nın 'modern futbolcu' övgüleriyle taçlandırdığı genç yetenek için Premier Lig devi Chelsea devreye girdi. Montella ile Maresca arasındaki 'özel referans' hattı, Barış Alper'i sezon sonunda Londra'ya taşıyabilir.
Bu akşamki dev Juventus karşılaşması öncesinde tüm gözler Galatasaray'ın "joker" oyuncusu Barış Alper Yılmaz'ın üzerinde. Milli yıldız için Torino tribünlerine scout akını olacak.
Juventus mücadelesi, Barış Alper için Avrupa kariyerinde bir kırılma noktası olabilir. İtalyan devlerinin yanı sıra, başta Premier Lig ekipleri olmak üzere Avrupa'nın pek çok önemli kulübü, milli oyuncuyu canlı izlemek için tribündeki yerini alacak.
A Milli Takım Teknik Direktörü Vincenzo Montella da tam da maç öncesi Tuttosport'a verdiği demeçte Barış Alper'in modern futbolun en önemli örneklerinden biri olduğunu vurguladı:
- Barış Alper Yılmaz'ın fiziksel olarak inanılmaz bir gücü var. Her pozisyonda oynayabiliyor. Santrfor, bek, sağ açık ve hatta sol açık oynadı. Gerçekten tam anlamıyla modern bir oyuncu.
Transfer kulislerindeki en heyecan verici iddia ise Londra'dan geldi. Chelsea Menajeri Enzo Maresca, Barış Alper Yılmaz için eski dostu ve çalışma arkadaşı Montella ile iletişim halinde. Montella, daha önce Maresca'nın çalıştırdığı Leicester City'ye Yunus Akgün'ü önererek transferde kilit rol oynamıştı.
Montella'nın, eski yardımcısı Maresca'ya bu kez de "şiddetle" Barış Alper Yılmaz'ı önerdiği belirtiliyor. Eğer Chelsea cephesinden nihai karar çıkarsa, İngiliz devinin sezon sonunda Barış Alper için Galatasaray'ın kapısını resmen çalması bekleniyor.
Şampiyonlar Ligi'nde devler sahnesine yürüyen Galatasaray, bu akşamki Juventus sınavının ardından gözünü Cuma günkü kuraya çevirecek. Sarı-kırmızılı camiada tek bir soru var: Liverpool mu, yoksa eski teknik direktör Igor Tudor'un çalıştırdığı Tottenham mı?
Bu akşam Juventus'a 5-2'nin rövanşında konuk olacak Galatasaray bir gözünün ucuyla da Cuma günü Nyon’da çekilecek son 16 turu kuraları için tercih aşamasında.
Sarı-kırmızılı ekibin muhtemel rakipleri arasında İngiliz futbolunun iki devi, Liverpool ve Tottenham yer alıyor. Ancak kuranın en "hikayeli" eşleşmesi kuşkusuz Igor Tudor’un çalıştırdığı Tottenham olacak.
Galatasaray camiası için Tudor ismi, hem modern futbol arayışlarını hem de tartışmalı taktiksel tercihleri anımsatıyor. 2017 yılında Cenk Ergün’ün yürüttüğü operasyonla Karabükspor’dan getirilen Hırvat teknik adam, İstanbul macerasında ilginç izler bırakmıştı.
Galatasaray’ın başında çıktığı 34 maçta 19 galibiyet, 4 beraberlik ve 11 mağlubiyet alarak 1.79 puan ortalaması yakaladı. Tudor denilince akla gelen en büyük eleştiri, büyük maçlarda takımın alışık olmadığı 3-4-3 veya 3-5-2 dizilişlerini denemesiydi.
Tudor, Galatasaray'ın başındayken şu anki teknik direktör Okan Buruk (o dönem Akhisarspor'daydı) ile karşı karşıya gelmiş ve Buruk’un öğrencileri sahadan 4-2 yenik ayrılmıştı.
Galatasaray, muhtemel rakiplerine karşı son dönemde kurduğu psikolojik üstünlükle dikkat çekiyor. Sarı-kırmızılılar, bu sezon Liverpool’u mağlup ederek rüştünü ispatlarken, geçtiğimiz sezon da Tottenham’ı dize getirmeyi başarmıştı.
Juventus’u da çalıştırmış olan ve şu an Tottenham’ın başında bulunan Tudor, Galatasaray'a rakip olması durumunda sadece taktiksel bir savaş değil, aynı zamanda bir iade-i itibar mücadelesine çıkacak.
Galatasaray taraftarı ise sosyal medyada şimdiden "Tudor’un Tottenham’ı mı, yoksa Liverpool mu?" sorusunu tartışmaya başladı. 27 Şubat’taki kura, sarı-kırmızılıların Avrupa hayallerindeki yeni durağı belirleyecek.
UEFA Çempionlar Liqasının pley-off mərhələsi çərçivəsində keçiriləcək “Nyukasl” – “Qarabağ” matçının start heyətləri bəlli olub.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, sözügedən komandalar arasındakı cavab oyunu bu gün Nyukasldakı “Sent Ceyms Park” stadionunda baş tutacaq.
Görüşü İtaliyadan olan hakimlər briqadası idarə edəcək. Matçın baş hakimi FIFA referisi Davide Massa olacaq.
UEFA Çempionlar Liqası
Pley-off mərhələsinin cavab oyunu
24 fevral
“Nyukasl” – “Qarabağ”
Hakimlər: Davide Massa, Filippo Meli, Stefano Alassio, Luka Payretto (İtaliya).
VAR: Daniele Kiffi (İtaliya).
AVAR: Kristian Dingert (Almaniya).
Nyukasl. “Sent Ceyms Park” stadionu. Saat 00:00.
İlk oyun – 6:1.
Nyukasl: 32. Aaron Ramsdeyl, 2. Kiran Trippyer (k), 4. Sven Botman, 7. Joelinton, 8. Sandro Tonali, 11. Harvi Barnes, 18. Uilyam Osula, 23. Ceykop Mörfi, 27. Nik Voltemade, 33. Dan Börn, 37. Aleks Mörfi.
Ehtiyat oyunçular: 1. Nik Pope, 26. Con Ruddi, 58. Aydan Harris, 3. Lyuis Holl, 9. Yoan Vissa, 10. Antoni Qordon, 20. Antoni Elanqa, 28. Co Uillok, 61. Leo Şahar, 62. Şon Niv.
Baş məşqçi: Eddi Hau.
Qarabağ: 99. Mateuş Koxalski, 2. Mateus Silva, 8. Marko Yankoviç, 9. Xoni Montiel, 10. Abdullah Zubir, 17. Kamilo Duran, 18. Dani Bolt, 35. Pedro Bikalyo, 44. Elvin Cəfərquliyev, 55. Bədavi Hüseynov (k), 81. Kevin Medina.
Ehtiyat oyunçular: 89. Amin Ramazanov, 97. Fabian Buntiç, 11. Emmanuel Addai, 15. Leandro Andrade, 20. Kadi Borges, 21. Aleksey Kaşuk, 22. Musa Qurbanlı, 27. Toral Bayramov, 30. Abbas Hüseynov, 32. Hikmət Cəbrayılzadə.
Baş məşqçi: Qurban Qurbanov.
Ronaldo was back at San Siro for Inter’s Champions League play-off with Bodo/Glimt, but was shocked by the worst possible question from Fabio Capello. ‘No more!’
It kicks off at San Siro at 20.00 GMT (21.00 CET).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.
The Nerazzurri need all the help they can get to overturn a 3-1 first leg defeat to the Norwegians, especially as captain Lautaro Martinez and midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu are out of action.
They hope to get some inspiration from the presence before kick-off of former Inter legends Ronaldo and Christian Vieri, who were awarded special edition jerseys.
“It’s wonderful to be back here, to feel the emotion of these fans, who are so important for me,” the Brazilian told Sky Sport Italia.
“Those fans can also make their impact felt and help Inter to win tonight.”
"[Inter] have to, I hope it will all be alright."
Ronaldo backing Inter to get the job done tonight
— CBS Sports Golazo
His old Real Madrid coach Capello was in the studio and asked just one question of his former player: How much do you weigh now?
“Still with the weight? No more!” replied Ronaldo with a laugh.
Much to the amusement of the rest of the panel, the now retired coach revealed he had weighed Ronaldo every single day in Madrid to make sure he kept in shape during the 2006-07 season.
Capello also explained in the Sky Sport Italia studio that Ronaldo was “the most talented player I ever worked with, but when it came to his lifestyle, he left rather a lot to be desired.”
No words. Just O Fenômeno
— Inter
Inter President Beppe Marotta laughed off ‘fake news’ about approaching Diego Simeone, assuring Cristian Chivu ‘is proving himself worthy’ regardless of the Champions League play-off with Bodo/Glimt.
It kicks off at San Siro at 20.00 GMT (21.00 CET).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.
There is a mountain to climb if the Nerazzurri are to stay in the competition after losing the first leg of this play-off 3-1 in Norway.
That defeat on the artificial pitch was doubly painful, as Lautaro Martinez also sustained a soleus injury and is expected to be out of action for a month.
“Anything is possible in sport. They have a big advantage, but it is not insurmountable,” Marotta told Sky Sport Italia.
“This is why I have faith in our team, their determination, the support of all these fans. We must have respect for our opponents, but never fear, and we have the strongest motivation.”
There are quite a few special guests in the stands this evening, including ex-Inter hero Ronaldo, and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
“Being able to emulate Ronaldo even just a little bit would be a dream for our young players,” smiled the President.
Hakan Calhanoglu is also on the treatment table, though Denzel Dumfries is back on the bench for the first time since November 9 after ankle surgery.
Davide Frattesi has been chosen for the midfield instead of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, partly for his history of scoring big Champions League goals to eliminate Bayern Munich and Barcelona last season.
Spanish media claimed yesterday that Inter have an agreement with Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone to take over from Cristian Chivu next season.
“It’s absolutely fake news, it’s not even worth talking about. We are extraordinarily happy with Chivu,” shrugged Marotta.
“Luck is a part of football, but the coach is proving himself worthy of the Inter job.”
Inter reached the Champions League Final twice in the last three years, so how would going out before the Round of 16 affect the club’s finances?
“In all honesty, it’s important, but not all that relevant. This is a night of sport, we want to honour it in the best possible way. If we were to miss this objective, obviously we’d have to make some adjustments, but it’s not a problem, certainly.”
Inter coach Cristian Chivu explains why he chose Davide Frattesi to start in the Champions League play-off with Bodo/Glimt and assures ‘it can be done, it’s up to us.’
It kicks off at San Siro at 20.00 GMT (21.00 CET).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.
It is a huge task to overturn a 3-1 first leg defeat in the Champions League play-off, made even tougher by the absence of star players Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu.
“Everything is feasible, it’s up to us, our determination, attitude and balance, because it can be done,” Chivu told Sky Sport Italia.
Francesco Pio Esposito scored in Norway and starts upfront this evening alongside Marcus Thuram, but the surprise is Frattesi in midfield rather than Hakan Calhanoglu.
The Italian has a remarkable record of scoring decisive Champions League goals, last season striking late to eliminate Bayern Munich and Barcelona on Inter’s way to the Final.
“Like all the others, he is a valuable member of the group. He showed that last season and at times this term, he overcame the difficulties that he had in the early part of the campaign.
“We need everyone to give their contribution to the cause,” concluded Chivu.
There are quite a few special guests in the stands this evening, including ex-Inter hero Ronaldo, and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
Matteo Darmian insists Inter must ‘score as early as possible, but not make it an obsession’ in their Champions League play-off against Bodo/Glimt. ‘We will get chances.’
It kicks off at San Siro at 20.00 GMT (21.00 CET).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.
The first leg was disastrous for two different reasons, as it was a 3-1 defeat in Norway, but they also lost captain Lautaro Martinez for approximately a month to a soleus injury that was blamed on the artificial pitch.
As the away goals rule was abolished, it means any win by two clear goals would prompt extra time and potentially even penalties.
“We must have the right focus and spirit, it’s not easy to overturn a two-goal deficit, but over the years we’ve shown that we know what to do in the Champions League. We need the best version of ourselves to overturn this result,” Darmian told Sky Sport Italia.
The Nerazzurri reached the Champions League Final in two of the last three seasons, but here risk going out before the Round of 16, as they fumbled precious points in the league phase against Atletico Madrid and Liverpool.
“I remember very few performances where we got the wrong approach this season. We need to score as early as possible, but it also mustn’t be an obsession, because it is a long game and we will get chances,” insisted Darmian.
“We must simply be aware of our strength and not let that slip over into arrogance. We must be ourselves and prove it tonight.”
Inter look to Marcus Thuram, Francesco Pio Esposito and Davide Frattesi against Bodo/Glimt, needing to win by at least two clear goals to stay in the Champions League.
It kicks off at San Siro at 20.00 GMT (21.00 CET).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.
The 3-1 play-off defeat in Norway was doubly painful for the Nerazzurri, as it also saw Lautaro Martinez sustain a calf injury on the artificial turf, which has ruled him out for approximately a month.
Hakan Calhanoglu has also struggled with muscular issues in recent weeks, and straight after making his comeback, is again out of action.
Denzel Dumfries is on the bench for the first time since November 9, as he is finally back in the squad after ankle surgery.
The big surprise is Frattesi chosen in place of Henrikh Mkhitaryan in midfield, as he has a strong record of making the difference in the Champions League with late goals against Bayern Munich and Barcelona last season.
Fresh from a 2-0 win away to Lecce that put them 10 points clear at the top of the Serie A table, Inter must pour all their resources into turning this around and staying in the Champions League.
Bodo/Glimt don’t resume their domestic campaign until March 6, so the only games they’ve played since September 26 have been in the Champions League, spending weeks at a training camp in Spain.
This has seen them notch up a 2-2 draw at Borussia Dortmund and three consecutive victories over Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Inter.
They used to be a much weaker side away than at home, but have corrected that recently.
The Norwegians have a full squad to choose from, including former Milan winger Jens-Petter Hauge, who is therefore no stranger to playing at San Siro.
Kasper Hogh was a nightmare for the Inter defence in the first leg, scoring a goal and providing two assists.
Nobody has overturned a two-leg deficit in the Champions League knockout ties since Liverpool against Barcelona in the 2018-19 semi-final.
However, Inter were in the Champions League Final for two of the last three years, so have pedigree in this tournament.
Inter: Sommer; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Luis Henrique, Frattesi, Zielinski, Barella, Dimarco; Thuram, Esposito
Inter bench: Di Gennaro, J Martinez, Dumfries, De Vrij, Sucic, Bonny, Acerbi, Diouf, Mkhitaryan, Carlos Augusto, Darmian, Lavelli
Bodo/Glimt: Haikin; Sjovold, Bjortuft, Gundersen, Bjorkan; Evjen, Berg, Brunstad Fet; Blomberg, Hogh, Hauge
Bodo/Glimt bench: Faye Lund, Sjong, Nielsen, Aleesami, Auklend, Saltnes, Helmersen, Klynge, Riisnaes, Bassi, Maatta, Mikkelsen
Ref: Hernandez (ESP)
| 58' | Jens Petter Hauge (Assist: Ole Didrik Blomberg) | |||
| 67' | |
Jostein Gundersen | ||
| 72' | Hakon Evjen (Assist: Jens Petter Hauge) | |||
| Alessandro Bastoni (Assist: Ange-Yoan Bonny) |
|
76' |
Raffaele Palladino admits Atalanta have ‘a difficult mission’ to overturn a 2-0 Champions League play-off defeat to Borussia Dortmund, but ‘dreams can come true and we believe.’
The second leg kicks off at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo on Wednesday at 17.45 GMT (18.45 CET).
La Dea saw their mood boosted over the weekend by a 2-1 comeback victory over Napoli to put them right back in the race for a top four finish in Serie A.
That kind of confidence will be necessary if they are to turn this play-off around against German giants Borussia Dortmund.
“It’s certainly a difficult mission, we know that, but we must give it our best,” Palladino told Sky Sport Italia.
“It will be tough, but we’ll try with everything we’ve got, with great enthusiasm, awareness of our capabilities. We must play with quality, our style of football, and have faith in ourselves. I want to see us push from the first minute to the last.
“We’ve got so much enthusiasm and positive energy, things we need tomorrow. The game with Napoli was a comeback victory, so we must learn from that too. The tie is open, as 2-0 is hard to overturn, but with 90 and maybe more minutes, we can try to cause problems for a team with strong individuals and accustomed to playing at this level.
“We need to be focused, aware, sharp for the full match, and make the most of the fact we’ve got 20,000 fans behind us.”
Atalanta have achieved great things in Europe under Gian Piero Gasperini, but it is a new tournament for Palladino, who took over from Ivan Juric in mid-November.
“We face everyone with the right spirit, we’ve got to enjoy this match, as it is very important in a fascinating competition. We want to carry on playing in Europe, and it’s a valuable experience to play in these knockout fixtures.
“It is a dream to get through to the Round of 16, but dreams can come true, so we’ve got to give it our best.”
Charles De Ketelaere and Giacomo Raspadori are still out of action, but the good news for Atalanta is the return of midfielder Ederson, who was rested against Napoli with a twinge.
“We’ve got an important player back, we’ll see. So many are hungry to play, they made it difficult for me today with a strong training session, and those who come off the bench will be just as important. It’ll be 100 minutes and we need to play them to the best of our capabilities.”
If Atalanta do manage to turn this 2-0 deficit around, will Palladino reward the squad with a special dinner?
“I haven’t thought about it, but if it did happen, we’d perhaps do more than just buy the team dinner! The lads always give their all, they know that when they deserve rewards, I give them.”
It would not be the first time that Atalanta caused an upset in Europe, as they famously beat Liverpool at Anfield Road.
“We hope this dream can come true, we know it’s not easy to overturn a 2-0 deficit against such a strong team, but I see so much positive energy, I believe, the lads believe, the fans believe, so we need a fiery atmosphere in our home stadium. We can’t wait to get on the pitch,” concluded Palladino.
Victor Osimhen gives an update on his knee injury and warns Galatasaray will ‘take the fight’ to Juventus despite their 5-2 Champions League play-off advantage. ‘Defence starts from the attack.’
It kicks off on Wednesday at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin at 20.00 GMT (21.00 CET).
The Bianconeri have a mountain to climb after losing the first leg 5-2 in Istanbul, despite having taken a 2-1 lead going into half-time, as the Juan Cabal red card proved disastrous.
Osimhen did not score in that first leg, but he rested over the weekend due to a knee issue.
“My knee is fine, thank you,” Osimhen told Sky Sport Italia.
“I have a little pain in my knee, that is the reason why I didn’t play the last league game, but thanks to the medical team, I am back with the squad and looking forward to facing Juve.”
Galatasaray are aiming to make history by eliminating Juventus from the Champions League, and Osimhen denies suggestions they are a completely different team in his absence.
“It’s a huge responsibility, but it’s not just about Osimhen. I have to give props to the rest of the squad, as they’ve been really been helpful putting this club where it should be,” continued the Nigeria international.
“This club is huge, we’ve seen multiple times that even with legends in the past who played for this club, it is the only Turkish side that has done really well in Europe. We’ve been doing that for so many years, when you mention a big club, we’ve done so well in the Champions League.
“We also have the opportunity tomorrow to write history for the club, so it’s not just about one player. Of course, I appreciate all the support from the fans, the coach, the confidence he has in me. If I don’t have these guys around my back, I don’t think they can listen to me when I try to charge them forward. Everything can be made possible, kudos to them, we’re going to lead each other hand in hand and try to make sure we get the maximum result.”
Although he did not score in the first leg, his high pressing game saw him steal the ball twice and provide assists, constantly harassing the Juventus defenders.
“One thing about me is if I’m not seeing an opportunity to score, I am trying to help my team,” added Osimhen.
“Juventus always start from the back, so t was important to press them, I try to call my teammates forward too, so we don’t let them start that play from behind. Juventus have a lot of quality, when they manage to get the ball to Kenan Yildiz, he’s a very dangerous player, so is Conceicao, so we must try to block their passes.
“Defence starts from the attack, so me and the other forwards have to start the press. It was just the right thing to do, and of course the instructions from the coach. I did my duty and I’m glad I did it diligently.”
Despite such a big advantage from the first leg, Galatasaray and Osimhen have no intention of sitting back in Turin.
“Tomorrow too I don’t think we’re the kind of squad who is going to lie back, because Juventus are a really big team, but we’ll come out and take the fight to them. It’s going to be a really tough game, I’m looking forward to it.”
Serie A giants Juventus are in hunt of a new goalkeeper and have identified Tottenham star Guglielmo Vicario as a target.
According to The Standard, the “Old Lady” is looking to bring the 29-year-old back to Serie A as they weigh up a major change between the sticks for the 2026-27 season.
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While Juventus have yet to finalise their summer budget, they have identified Vicario as a high-priority target to provide elite competition for, or potentially replace, the struggling Michele Di Gregorio.
As per the report, while Vicario is not a primary target, if budget allows they will look to make a move for him as well.
It is further reported that the representatives of Vicario have already held talks with Juventus ahead of a potential summer move.
Vicario joined Spurs from Empoli in 2023 and initially became a fan favorite. however, his desire for a return to his homeland has intensified as Tottenham’s season has unraveled.
Juventus are reportedly keen to beat rivals Inter Milan to his signature, with both clubs viewing him as a long-term solution.
The reported fee of €25-30 million (£21.7m-26.1m) is seen as a bargain for a player of his pedigree, and it’s a figure that fits comfortably within Juventus’ financial guidelines.
The willingness to sell Vicario isn’t just about the player’s desire to leave. Tottenham are reportedly preparing for a brutal squad overhaul this summer.
With the club currently sitting 16th in the Premier League and facing a genuine threat of relegation, the hierarchy is planning to “rip up” the existing wage structure and move on from several high-earning stars.
It has been reported that Tottenham would be open to a sale depending on the fee offered and Vicario’s own desire for a return to Italy.
The post Report: Tottenham star’s camp has already held talks with Juventus ahead of potential summer move appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Arsenal may have secured a dominant 4-1 victory over Tottenham on Sunday, but Manchester United legend Paul Scholes was far from impressed with Declan Rice’s temperament during the North London derby.
Despite the convincing scoreline, Scholes believes Rice’s lack of “calmness” in high-pressure situations could hurt Arsenal’s Premier League title ambitions.
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Speaking on the Good, the Bad and the Football podcast alongside Nicky Butt, Scholes took aim at Rice’s behavior just moments before a critical error allowed Tottenham back into the contest.
The incident occurred shortly after Eberechi Eze had given Arsenal the lead.
Rice was captured on camera vigorously gesturing to his teammates to maintain their focus.
However, less than two minutes later, Rice was caught in possession by Randal Kolo Muani, whose clinical finish leveled the game at 1-1.
Scholes was unimpressed by the midfielder’s animated approach. He said:
“I don’t like all that [Rice geeing up the crowd]. When I look at Declan Rice, he almost looks too emotional. He’s lively, he’s, ‘Come on! Come on! Come on!’ and then he makes his mistake.
When you’re going for a league title, when you’ve got tough games, there has to be a calmness about you.”
Scholes compared Rice’s leadership style to that of his former captain, Roy Keane, noting that the legendary Irishman led with a sense of “calmness” rather than frantic animation.
“People will call me a miserable b******, but game-management in game situations needs a calmness,” he added.
The mistake was rare for Rice, a moment reminiscent of a “Steven Gerrard slip”, but it did not prove costly in the end.
Arsenal scored three in the second half to make a statement win and the celebration showed how much the result meant to them.
Since his £105 million move from West Ham in 2023, Rice has been instrumental under Mikel Arteta.
He transformed Arsenal’s midfield almost immediately, winning the club’s Player of the Season award last year and registering eight goal contributions this campaign.
Arsenal maintained their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table following the win over Tottenham, keeping their title challenge firmly on track.
Arteta was quick to defend his midfielder after the match, praising Rice’s “courage to stand up” following the error and emphasising his influence across the season.
However, with Manchester City still looming in the title race, it will be important for Rice and others to remain calm amid the mounting pressure.
The post “I don’t like all that” – Scholes slams Arsenal star for what he did during the 4-1 win vs Tottenham appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Real Madrid return to the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday evening aiming to protect a narrow advantage in their Champions League knockout round playoff. Los Blancos carry a 1–0 lead into the second leg thanks to Vinícius Júnior’s strike in Lisbon, though the fallout from that match has ensured this tie remains fraught with additional tension. […]
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Returning to the French capital holding a slender advantage on Wednesday night, PSG will welcome domestic foes Monaco to the Parc des Princes for what could be another Champions League thriller. Mounting an iconic first-leg comeback on their travels last week, the reigning European champions will certainly be hoping for smoother sailing here as they […]
The post PSG vs Monaco Bet Builder Tips – 6/1 Champions League Special, Analysis & Predictions appeared first on Soccer News.
The post PSG vs Monaco Bet Builder Tips – 6/1 Champions League Special, Analysis & Predictions appeared first on Soccer News.
Manchester United booked important three points as they aim to qualify for next season’s Champions League by beating Everton away on Monday evening. The only goal of the game was the work of Benjamin Sesko, but goalkeeper Senne Lammens certainly played his part, denying the Toffees on numerous occasions. Speaking to the press after the […]
The post Everton boss David Moyes lauds “brilliant” goalkeeping performace of Senne Lammens in defeat to Manchester United (Video) appeared first on Soccer News.
The post Everton boss David Moyes lauds “brilliant” goalkeeping performace of Senne Lammens in defeat to Manchester United (Video) appeared first on Soccer News.
According to Fichajes, Manchester United are considering a move to bring Scott McTominay back to Old Trafford from Napoli, and the Serie A champions are open to the idea of cashing in on his services. The figure of €80million is mentioned as a potential fee. McTominay made the move from United to Napoli in 2024, […]
The post Manchester United consider McTominay return appeared first on Soccer News.
The post Manchester United consider McTominay return appeared first on Soccer News.
Ed Skrein, who you might recognize as the main antagonist in the first Deadpool movie or as the antagonist in Zack Snyder's ridiculous Rebel Moon films has been tapped by Amazon and PlayStation Productions to play Baldur in the upcoming God of War TV series. Skrein is the latest to join the cast, taking up one of the last major characters whose casting had yet to be revealed. We know who is playing Kratos, Atreus, Brok, Sindri, Mimir, Thor, Heimdall, Sif, and Odin, and we now know who will be stepping into Baldur's numb feet. Announced in a new report […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/god-of-war-tv-amazon-series-rebel-moons-ed-skrein-will-play-baldur/
We’re launching a new agent step in Opal, available for all users today.
Google Ad Grants accounts can now optimize for real-world foot traffic. If you use the nonprofit program, you can set “shop visits” as an account-level goal, allowing your campaigns to optimize for in-person visits.
Driving the news. Previously, if you tried to mark shop visits as a goal in Ad Grants, you’d get an error. That restriction appears to be lifted, allowing eligible accounts to include store visit conversions in their primary goal configuration.
Why we care. If you run a nonprofit, museum, place of worship, community center, or other location-based organization, digital engagement doesn’t always translate into mission impact. Optimizing for shop visits bridges that gap, tying ad performance directly to foot traffic.
What to do. If you use Ad Grants, review your account-level goals and confirm shop visits are enabled where eligible. Optimizing for foot traffic could materially improve your local impact — especially if you rely on in-person engagement.
Between the lines. As Google continues to emphasize local intent and Maps-based discovery, bringing store visit optimization to Ad Grants expands your ability to compete for nearby audiences. It shifts the focus from clicks and website traffic to measurable offline action.
First seen. Google Ads expert Jason King spotted this update and shared it on LinkedIn.
Google’s unified video manager in Merchant Center is no longer empty. After months of showing up in accounts without visible content, the Video Assets section is now automatically populating with sourced videos.
Driving the news. Videos are now automatically pulled in, including content from external sources like YouTube.
Why we care. This confirms Google is moving ahead with its plan to make Merchant Center a central hub for commerce-ready creative — not just product feeds. With videos now auto-populating, you may gain additional visibility across Shopping and Performance Max without extra upload work, but you’ll also need to ensure your YouTube and site videos are optimized for commerce. In short, video is becoming embedded in retail ad delivery, and if you manage it proactively, you’ll have a competitive edge.
Between the lines. By centralizing videos from your website, social platforms, and potentially AI-generated sources, Google is turning Merchant Center into a more comprehensive creative hub—not just a product feed manager. That aligns with the broader shift toward video-first shopping experiences across Search, Shopping, and Performance Max.
What to watch. It’s still unclear how performance reporting, optimization controls, and editing tools will evolve in the Video Assets section. But the shift from an empty placeholder to a populated library shows the infrastructure is now active.
First spotted. PPC News Feed founder Hana Kobzová first spotted this update.
“Qarabağ” Çempionlar Liqasının pley-off mərhələsinin cavab oyununda bu gün “Nyukasl”ın qonağı olacaq.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, saat 00:00-da start götürəcək oyuna komandalar aşağıdakı heyətlə çıxacaqlar…
Nyukasl: Aaron Ramsdeyl, Kiran Trippye, Sven Botman, Joelinton, Sandro Tonali, Harvi Barns, Ceykob Mörfi, Villiam Osula, Nik Voltemad, Den Börn, Aleks Mörfi
Qarabağ: Mateuş Koxalski, Mateus Silva, Marko Yankoviç, Joni Montiel, Kamilo Duran, Abdullah Zubir, Dani Bolt, Pedro Bikalyo, Elvin Cəfərquliyev, Bədavi Hüseynov, Kevin Medina.
According to Fichajes, Manchester United are considering a move to bring Scott McTominay back to Old Trafford from Napoli, and the Serie A champions are open to the idea of cashing in on his services. The figure of €80million is mentioned as a potential fee. McTominay made the move from United to Napoli in 2024, […]
The post Manchester United consider McTominay return appeared first on Soccer News.
The post Manchester United consider McTominay return appeared first on Soccer News.
Coby White is set to make his Charlotte Hornets debut on Tuesday night against his former Bulls team.
The Hornets announced that White, who was acquired in a trade with Chicago on Feb. 4, has been upgraded to available and will play against the Bulls at the United Center. White has been sidelined for the Hornets since the trade while recovering from a left calf strain.
It's expected that White will come off the bench and serve as Charlotte's backup point guard behind LaMelo Ball, who is coming off a 37-point game in a win over the Washington Wizards on Monday night in which he made a career-high 10 3-pointers.
White, who spent 6 1/2 seasons with the Bulls, was averaging 18.6 points, 4.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds this season before the trade while playing in 29 games for Chicago. He shot 34.6% from behind the 3-point line for the Bulls.
While last played in an NBA game for the Bulls on Feb. 3.
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Manchester United kept their third clean sheet of the Michael Carrick era on Monday night as they battled past Everton 1-0 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
United have managed this feat in six games, already more than the two they managed under former head coach Ruben Amorim.
Clearly, Senne Lammens and the backline are doing their job despite the rising injuries. However, it is also clear that the Red Devils need backup at the back in the summer.
Matthijs de Ligt’s injury problems are getting worse, while Lisandro Martinez’s body is frequently breaking down following a couple of serious injuries.
Luke Shaw’s record is well known at this stage, while Harry Maguire’s future remains up in the air. His current deal ends in the summer and so far, INEOS are yet to offer him an extension as multiple clubs circle.
INEOS would prefer a defender with Premier League experience, and according to multiple reports, they could go shopping in North London.
Tottenham Hotspur are dangerously close to getting dragged into a relegation battle. As a result, their best centre-back — Micky van de Ven has stalled all contract extension talks with the club.
As per Teamtalk, he will leave irrespective of whether Spurs remain in the Premier League, with Liverpool, Real Madrid joining United in the race.
“TEAMtalk understands that Tottenham Hotspur are NOT close to agreeing a new deal with defensive star Micky van de Ven, with contract talks on hold until the summer as the club battles through a turbulent period on and off the pitch.
“Dutch centre-back Micky van de Ven is expected to depart regardless of survival, with the 24-year-old eager for regular Champions League football.
“Manchester United have joined Liverpool and Real Madrid in showing strong interest in the composed defender, who has been a standout despite the team’s struggles.”
Hooligan Soccer have further revealed that the Old Trafford side are desperate to win the race and have already started negotiations over a summer deal.
“Liverpool was apparently van de Ven’s preferred landing place according to our initial report, but recent news indicates a different red team is now looking to nab him: Manchester United.
“Sources inside Old Trafford have confirmed officials from the club are in London and negotiations are happening, with an eye to lock a deal down for the summer transfer window.”
Only 24, the Dutchman is a monster at the back, winning duels with ease while possessing pace to burn. An incredible combination that would elevate United’s backline instantly.
Having the Netherlands international play in tandem with either De Ligt or Lisandro Martinez would make United one of the title contenders heading into the new season. Now it is up to INEOS to pull it off.
Feature image George Wood via Getty Images
The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
Sport has outlined Barcelona's need for a centre-back. They're after something relatively specific, however - a centre-back with plenty of pace to play in a high line.
Well, there happens to be one very adept at that coming to the end of his contract this summer. Konate has pace and he's got a wealth of experience in that kind of system.
Under two managers, no less.
No. 22 Tennessee (20-7, 10-4 SEC) will travel to Missouri (18-9, 8-6 SEC) on Tuesday in Southeastern Conference basketball play.
Tipoff between the Vols and Tigers is slated for 9 p.m. EST at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri. SEC Network will televise the matchup with Dave Neal (play-by-play) and Jon Sundvold (analyst) on the call.
Tennessee leads the all-time basketball series against Missouri, 13-10, dating to Dec. 20, 1961. Rick Barnes is 8-5 against the Tigers as Tennessee's head coach.
Missouri joined the SEC during the 2012-13 basketball season.
Ahead of Tuesday's game, Tennessee has a 67.0 percent chance to defeat the Tigers, according to ESPN's Matchup Predictor. Nolan Analytics projects the Vols to defeat Missouri, 76-72.
Tennessee is playing to reach 11-plus SEC wins for a fifth season in a row. The Vols have won five consecutive road games against Missouri.
More: Tennessee-Missouri basketball game injury report
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Tennessee at Missouri basketball game score prediction
The first multiplex of this European week will start at 9 PM, featuring three matches in the second leg of the Champions League playoffs.
Inter Milan will be the center of attention: the Nerazzurri will need to overturn the situation at San Siro against Bodo/Glimt, following their 3-1 defeat in the first leg.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.
Kentucky men’s basketball coach Mark Pope was fined $25,000 by the SEC on Tuesday after the microphone at the podium in Auburn picked up comments he made to athletic director Mitch Barnhart following the Wildcats’ loss to the Tigers on Saturday.
“Mitch, if those mother f****** try to fine me, screw ‘em because I did not say a word about how they cheated us all night,” Pope said.
Sure enough, a fine happened a few days later. The SEC said that Pope violated the league’s rule that says “coaches, players and support personnel shall refrain from all public criticism of officials, which shall include making public any specific communications with the conference office and/or officiating coordinators related to officiating.”
Auburn won the game 75-74 on a tip-in by Elijah Freeman with 1.1 seconds to go. Kentucky’s Collin Chandler was called for an offensive foul with 14 seconds to go and the Wildcats leading by one. The foul gave the ball to Auburn with a chance to win the game, and Freeman tipped in a miss at the rim from KeShawn Murphy.
"Well we're not allowed to talk about the referees but you guys saw it and I think sometimes it's just super personal," Pope said Saturday when asked about the foul on Chandler. "So I’m not allowed to comment on the referees, I won’t comment on the referees. It’s unfortunate. It’s just unfortunate. It didn’t cost us the game. We’re in control of the game so we’ll find ways to go win.”
The loss dropped Kentucky to 17-10 overall and 8-6 in the SEC. It was also the third straight loss for the Wildcats after they lost by nine at Florida and fell by eight points at home to Georgia.
The Georgia loss was Kentucky’s second home SEC loss of the season after the Wildcats lost their home-opener to Missouri. It was the first time the Tigers had ever won at Rupp Arena.
Ahead of Tuesday night’s game at South Carolina — who is tied for 13th in the conference at 3-11 — Kentucky is tied for sixth in the SEC with Vanderbilt, Missouri and Texas.
The 2026 NFL combine has kicked off in Indianapolis, Indiana, with Cleveland Browns GM Andrew Berry speaking to the media on Tuesday. New HC Todd Monken will follow suit early Wednesday afternoon. With NFL free agency right around the corner and the Browns having two picks in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, the focus has been on Cleveland’s offensive line.
OL Wyatt Teller has said his goodbyes, OL Joel Bitonio is still deciding what his future might hold, while OTs Cam Robinson and Jack Conklin join C Ethan Pocic to complete an entire offensive line hitting free agency this offseason.
The line wasn’t very good last year as injuries and poor play ravaged the Browns performance.
During Monken’s introductory press conference, he noted that he does not run a specific offensive system. Cleveland’s new head coach, who will also call plays on that side of the ball, noted that he plans his system around the talent on the field. With the Browns potentially replacing the entire offensive line, Berry and the front office could be in a unique position trying to build the right combination.
Berry does not see the options as either/or when it comes to man/power blockers versus zone/movement-oriented players. Instead, Berry quickly rattled off what Monken worked with on the Baltimore Ravens offensive line to show how variety can work well together:
I asked Berry about Coach Monken’s plan to fit a system to the talent and how that could impact OLine additions. He’s obviously been studying the Ravens, rattles off names. (Later he did similar with Bears OL) pic.twitter.com/TtKkfDnFEV
— Jared Mueller (@JaredKMueller) February 24, 2026
Berry brought up Linderbaum’s name twice during his time with the media at the Combine.
He also referenced how the Chicago (soon to be Indiana) Bears rebuilt their offensive line on the fly last offseason:
Here is AB talking about the Bears approach to OL last year pic.twitter.com/6lDTTTy1nU
— Jared Mueller (@JaredKMueller) February 24, 2026
When it comes to internal development, Cleveland’s roster has a couple of players who could fit the Darnell Wright role that Berry mentioned. OT Dawand Jones, who has been injured each of his first three seasons, and Luke Wypler and Zak Zinter, who have seen minimal time on the field, could make sense. Berry noted that Wypler should be ready to go off of his late-season injury and gave an update on Jones’ health and future:
Dawand Jones is progressing and seems likely to have a role on the Browns line pic.twitter.com/DtFRPvumEs
— Jared Mueller (@JaredKMueller) February 24, 2026
Using the Ravens and Bears as models for Cleveland’s offseason, the Browns offensive line will not be pigeonholed into just one type of lineman or just acquiring players in the draft.
Projecting off of Berry’s comments, Monken’s new offensive line could look like this next year:
LT: First round draft pick (Francis Mauigoa/Spencer Fano/Monroe Freeling)
LG: Joel Bitonio or solid/cheap free agent
C: Tyler Linderbaum
RG: Teven Jenkins (re-signed)
RT: Dawand Jones
How do you read into Berry’s comments about the Browns offensive line from the NFL combine? How would you feel about the above offensive line if it were to happen?
Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below
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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Cabinet and Gov. Ron DeSantis agreed Tuesday to give Hillsborough College a 22-acre (49-hectare) plot of state land in Tampa to use for a proposed ballpark for the Rays.
Last month, the Rays ownership entered a memorandum of understanding to build a stadium and mixed use entertainment district on the college campus, and to renovate some of the college's buildings.
A small section of the property, which is next to the New York Yankees’ spring training facility and across a highway from Raymond James Stadium, was owned by the state of Florida.
The state holds the right to take back the land if the “components” of the new stadium do not exist within five years of the land transfer, according to the Cabinet's agenda item.
“This is undoubtedly a big moment for Tampa Bay, and the Rays are fully in this moment to bring this vision to life, and serve our region for generations to come,” Rays Chief Executive Officer Ken Babby said in a statement.
Earlier this month, DeSantis and Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred held a news conference in Tampa to support the Rays stadium effort. The Rays have said they hope to have the stadium built within three years.
The Rays have said they would pay a minimum of 50% of the cost of the new ballpark, and the remainder of the funds would have to come from the city of Tampa and Hillsborough County. DeSantis said this month the state will not contribute direct funding to the stadium.
Since taking the field in 1998 the team has played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, except for moving home games to the Yankees' Steinbrenner Field in 2025 following hurricane damage at the Trop. The Rays lease runs through at least the 2028 season. The team returns to the Trop this season.
A proposed $1.3 billion redevelopment deal for a new ballpark adjacent to the Trop fell through last year, raising new questions about the future of the team, which was bought last September by Patrick Zalupski’s ownership group.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
The boys and girls Bayside Conference Championship Basketball Games have been postponed again, and their locations have also been adjusted following the recent snowfall.
The Boys Basketball Championship Game between Wicomico and Colonel Richardson is now set to take place on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. at Easton High School. And the Girls Basketball Championship Game between Kent Island and Stephen Decatur will take place on Thursday, Feb. 26 at p.m. at Parkside High School.
Both games were originally set to take place on Tuesday at the Wicomico Civic Center, but were postponed on Monday and and were slated to be played on Wednesday. Now both have been postponed to Thursday, with the location of both games also changing.
More: Bayside basketball championships moved to Wednesday after big snowfall
More: Vote for the EZ Cash of Delaware, Inc., Athlete of the Week for Feb. 16-22
This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Bayside basketball championships: New dates, venues
Team USA goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has an interesting tie to West Texas oil town Odessa originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
It’s not every day you associate ice hockey with Texas, especially oil-country West Texas made famous by the TV show Landman. But for Team USA goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, that unlikely backdrop was briefly part of his rise to stardom.
The Michigan native was overlooked in high school, passed over as a goalie after finishing his career at Walled Lake Northern in 2011 with a 6-16-1 record, despite posting an impressive .93 save percentage. With no buzz during the draft and few offers from major colleges, he decided to head 1,400 miles southwest to Odessa, Texas. There, he earned a tryout with the junior-level Odessa Jackalopes of the North American Hockey League.
It's a rink better known to locals as a converted rodeo arena than as a springboard to Olympic fame. Hellebuyck played 53 games in 2011-12, led the NAHL in appearances, minutes, and total saves, and was named the league’s co-Rookie and co-Goaltender of the Year.
The story of how Connor Hellebuyck's path to the NHL began in Odessa, Texas.
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) April 18, 2021
Story courtesy of @Sportsnet. pic.twitter.com/iDMLJwEJ1x
In Milan, Hellebuyck transformed a lifetime of unlikely twists into a defining moment. He made 41 saves in the gold-medal game against Canada, setting a new record for an Olympic final featuring NHL players. His performance was crucial in the 2-1 overtime victory that secured the United States' first men's hockey gold medal since 1980.
He was named the tournament's best goaltender and a media all-star, with former U.S. greats describing his performance as "beyond belief" and a defining moment in an already illustrious career. Hellebuyck is in the second year of a seven-year, $59.5 million extension, which includes an $8.5 million cap hit and a no-move clause at the start. On the Jets' depth chart, he is the clear No. 1, carrying one of the heaviest workloads in the league.
The Premier League has barely provided a relegation battle over the past two years, with all six promoted sides going straight back down to the Championship.
This season, however, is offering up a tense and tight struggle between several clubs down at the bottom of the table. We’ve looked at each of the teams involved and tried to assess which ones will stay up and who will go down.
Leeds are so close to safety they can almost smell it. A terrific mid-season run of form has lifted them to the top of the bottom rung of the table, six points above the dropzone.
The Whites still need about three more wins before they can relax, but their fixture schedule is pretty kind after they host Manchester City this weekend. Intriguingly, they play all of their relegation rivals, bar Nottingham Forest, in the final month of the season.
Any notions that Tottenham Hotspur are ‘too big to go down” were thoroughly dispelled at the weekend. Losing to champions-elect Arsenal was no great shock, but the manner of it was alarming.
Spurs easily have the best squad of the teams in the bottom six, but look like they have absolutely nothing left in the tank. They are yet win a Premier League game in 2026 and don’t appear capable of changing that record. Their next two games – Fulham away and Crystal Palace at home – appear winnable, but no one would be surprised if they lost both of them.
Igor Tudor has come in as a firefighter, but he may have underestimated the task ahead of him.
Forest are now on their fourth head coach of the season, which is never a sign of good health at a football club. Vitor Pereira saved Wolves from the drop last year, but can he repeat the trick again?
The Reds have a talented squad of players and they almost took a point from Liverpool at the weekend. But they also have the toughest run-in of their rivals; they still have to play City, Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Manchester United before closing the season at the City Ground against Bournemouth.
Next month’s trip to Tottenham will prove crucial in their bid to stay up. Indeed, the loser may be the one exiting through the trap door.
This season has been a grim spectacle for so long for West Ham fans, but the last month has given way to hope. They have lost just one of their last six matches in the Premier League, a 3-2 turnover at Chelsea from which they arguably deserved at least a point based on their first-half display.
The Hammers have secured crucial wins over Spurs and Burnley in that period, and probably should have beaten United and Bournemouth in their most recent outings. Their run-in is a mixed bag, as they still have to face Liverpool, City, Villa, Arsenal and Newcastle, but they also play Fulham, Wolves, Palace, Everton and Leeds, who they host on the final day.
The vibes have definitely improved at the London Stadium, but they may have left it too late.
This always felt like a one-and-done season for Burnley, but in fairness to them they have continued fighting for survival. This calendar year, they have managed to snag points from United, Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea, and they staged a remarkable comeback to beat Palace earlier this month.
The Clarets still have to play Forest and Leeds, both away, before hosting Wolves on the final day, but even if they win those games the gap is simply too large.
A miserable year for Wolves will end in their inevitable relegation from the Premier League. Their only goal for the rest of the season is to avoid breaking Derby County’s record low points total of 11.
Verdict: Wolves, Burnley and West Ham to go down.
Read – Everton set to launch £30m move for Chelsea star
See Also – Liverpool consider Leeds centre-back as Konate replacement
In a recent report, the Daily Mail stated that Leeds United are facing stiff competition for Olympique Lyonnais playmaker Pavel Sulc. It has been mentioned that the Whites would have to compete with Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and other Premier League clubs in the race to land the Czech attacker next summer.
Sulc has enjoyed a good run of form for Lyon this season as he has put in a handful of impressive displays for them in the final third. The 25-year-old has found the back of the net 14 times and secured ten assists in 35 matches for the French outfit in this campaign across various competitions.
The Czech talent is currently among the best wingers in Ligue 1. Thus, the Whites would do well to lure him to Elland Road next summer.
His current contract at Lyon will run out in the summer of 2029, which could make it difficult for Leeds to sign him on the cheap later this year.
HAMBURG, GERMANY – NOVEMBER 28: Pavel Sulc of Viktoria Plzen celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between FC Dynamo Kyiv and FC Viktoria Plzen at Volksparkstadion on November 28, 2024 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Sulc excels at finding a yard of space for himself to get a few strikes in at goal. He has got the vision to create some inviting chances in the final third and is a good dribbler with the ball at his feet.
The Czech sensation can contribute by scoring and creating his fair share of goals up top. Sulc mainly operates in the number ten position but can also function as a box-to-box midfielder or as a centre-forward up top if needed. However, it remains to be seen whether he can make a smooth transition to life in the Premier League if the Whites manage to get him on board this summer.
Sulc would add more firepower to Leeds boss Daniel Farke’s frontline. He is good enough to challenge for a regular first-team spot at the West Yorkshire club in the coming years.
At 25, Sulc has his peak years ahead of him, which makes him a worthy target for the Whites to consider at the end of this campaign. All in all, Farke would be wise to go for a player of his skill set later this year.
Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images
The Premier League have confirmed their match official appointments for Matchweek 28, with Arsenal playing in the final game of the round at home to Chelsea in the 16:30 GMT kick-off on Sunday, March 1st.
Darren England will referee the contest, with Scott Ledger and Akil Howson acting as his assistants. Tom Bramall will be the fourth official for the game.
John Brooks will be on VAR, with Dan Robathan acting as the assistant VAR on this occasion.
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
England hasn’t been a hugely regular referee for Arsenal matches in the past, only taking charge of eight games involving the Gunners so far in his career. Similar is true of Chelsea, as he’s refereed seven of their matches.
Looking at the positives, Arsenal have won six and drawn one of those eight games, only losing against Newcastle United back in May 2022. That’s a better record than Chelsea have, winning three, drawing three, and losing one with England refereeing.
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
On the other hand, Arsenal have received one penalty and given one away in England’s games, with no red cards shown, whilst Chelsea have been awarded three penalties, given zero away, and seen two red cards given to their opponents.
Mikel Arteta was particularly unhappy with the one penalty England gave against the Gunners for Everton last April, arguing: “It’s for me never a penalty.”
So England’s officiating has done a lot more for Chelsea than Arsenal, despite their respective win rates. We can only hope Chelsea are due a big decision against them from the referee.
San Diego Padres at Chicago Cubs, February 24, 2026, 12:05 p.m. PST
Watch: None
Location: Sloan Park – Mesa, AZ
Listen: 97.3 The Fan
Rise & Shine ☀️ pic.twitter.com/OLRyMYH9Sl
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) February 24, 2026
Sho-time in Mesa. 😌 pic.twitter.com/NEMfKcCBVv
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) February 24, 2026
Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines.
GB community, this is your thread for today’s game. Enjoy!
Steve Tisch Epstein files, explained: What we know about Giants co-owner's emails with sex offender originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch is shown to have been connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to newly released emails, per The Athletic.
Tisch is said to have received “scouting reports” on women from Epstein. The reports assessed whether they were “pro or civilian” or a “working girl.”
The emails are reported to have been sent in 2013 and were made public as part of the latest batch of more than 3 million Epstein-related documents released by the Department of Justice on Friday, Jan. 30.
Here is what we know about Tisch’s connection to Epstein.
Tisch is an American film producer and businessman. He was born on February 14, 1949, and is 76 years old. Tisch's biggest movie was 1983's "Risky Business," which he helped produce and in which Tom Cruise starred. He was also a producer on "Forrest Gump," "American History X," and "Snatch," all of which received critical acclaim.
Tisch is the son of former Giants co-owner Preston Robert Tisch. He now serves as the chairman, co-owner and executive vice president of the Giants. Tisch is the only person in history to have earned a Golden Globe, Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy nomination and a Super Bowl ring.
Tisch's name appears more than 440 times in the 3 million released documents, per ESPN. The emails concerning Tisch range from the "mundane" to more profane. Most of them refer to Tisch setting up "dates" with women through Epstein. There is not enough information available to determine whether any legal issues exist at this time.
Hours after the publication of The Athletic's story on the emails, the New York Giants provided a statement from Tisch acknowledging the existence of some emails about adult women. Tisch denied that anything further happened, however.
"We had a brief association where we exchanged emails about adult women, and in addition, we discussed movies, philanthropy, and investments. I did not take him up on any of his invitations and never went to his island. As we all know now, he was a terrible person and someone I deeply regret associating with.”
The NFL released its first statement on Monday, February 2.
“The league is aware of the reports and Steve’s response. Our office will look into the matter to understand the facts.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell answered questions from the media during his annual press conference ahead of Super Bowl 60. He discussed Tisch's involvement in the Epstein files and whether or not the Giants owner would be subject to discipline under the league's personal conduct policy.
"I would say that absolutely we are going to look at all the facts. We're going to look at the context of those, we're going to try to understand that, and we'll look at how that falls under the policy. But I think we take one step at a time. Let's get the facts first." Goodell said during the press conference.
John Harbaugh, who was hired as the Giants' new head coach after the 2025 season, was asked at the NFL Scouting Combine about his views of the franchise's ownership following the developing situation with Tisch.
“I have great respect for the ownership," Harbaugh said. "I have had nothing but great conversations, great interactions."
According to Ralph Vacchiano, away from the podium, Harbaugh then addressed the Tisch-Epstein reports further, saying: "Steve put out a statement where he expressed regret. That’s where it stands for me. That’s where I’m at."
The first email released so far was from May 2013. According to The Athletic's report, Epstein emailed Tisch, who said he was still in an NFL meeting. Once Tisch was free, Epstein suggested a Russian woman could meet, and Tisch immediately replied, asking if she was “fun.”
The next email is from June 2013. Tisch reached out asking about a specific woman, Epstein responded, "(Tahitian) speaks mostly french exotic." Tisch asked if she was a working girl, and Epstein responded, "Never."
Later in June, Tisch emailed Epstein, "Is my present in NYC?" Epstein replied "Yes" to which Tisch asked the next morning, "Can I get my surprise to take me to lunch tomorrow?”
Epstein reached out to Tisch in another exchange, "Did you contact the great a-- fake tit (name redacted) she’s a character, short term, has an older boyfriend going to acting school, a 10 a--.” Tisch responded, "Thanks Jeffrey. Curious to know about (name redacted). I will contact (name redacted) … pro or civilian?” Epstein responded, "civilian, but Russian, and rarely tells the full truth, but fun.”
Epstein later followed up with Tisch after he'd connected with one of the women and let him know, "report just in, you did very well, she wants to go to the play, she is a little freaked by the age difference but go slow … i will try to convince her not to return to Ukraine. having her crying worked.” Tisch replied, "Nice report … Funny comment on crying!!!”
Per The Athletic, other emails are between Epstein and women about Tisch. One referenced that the producer would be able to get her in movies saying, "Gonna meet Steve Tisch next week for a dinner, He said that he gonna work on 3 movies starting June. So I’ll ask if I can read scripts and maybe audition for some part.”.
In September 2013, according to The Athletic, Tisch offered Epstein two tickets to Giants games, and to other games. Epstein is shown having offered Tisch to visit the private island in the Caribbean, but it is not clear whether Tisch took him up on the offer ever.
Another email touched on the subject the duo's relationship. Epstein and Tisch were discussing a date Tisch had been on and Epstein wrote, "I am happy to have you as a new but … shared interest friend.”
Tim Mara helped found the Giants in 1925. He then passed the team to Jack Mara and Wellington Mara, who became co-owners in 1939. Tim J. Mara became a co-owner in 1965 and held a stake in the team until 1990. The following year, Bob Tisch took his place as co-owner.
Wellington Mara and Bob Tisch were co-owners through 2004. In 2005, the current co-owners, John Mara and Steve Tisch, took over. The pair has served as co-owners of the franchise for the past 20 years.
Gianluca Prestianni will not be suiting up for Benfica in its Champions League playoff second leg against Real Madrid.
The two teams will square off on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at the Santiago Bernabéu, with Real Madrid carrying a 1-0 advantage after last week's first leg in Lisbon.
That match was marred by accusations that Prestianni directed a racial slur toward Real Madrid star Vinícius Jr.
After Vinícius opened the scoring in the second half, Prestianni covered his mouth with his jersey when approaching the Brazilian. Nearby Real Madrid players signaled that the Argentine had made a racial insult, and Vinícius also said after the game that he'd been racially abused.
Referee François Letexier halted the match for 11 minutes under FIFA's anti-racism protocol.
Amid an investigation into the incident, UEFA announced this week that it had provisionally suspended Prestianni for one match. The suspension will see the 20-year-old sidelined for Wednesday's return leg.
Prestianni has denied using a racial slur, saying that Vinícius "misinterpreted what he thought he heard."
Should UEFA find Prestianni guilty of using the slur, he could be facing a suspension of 10 games.
Benfica, which has strongly backed its player, released a statement saying it was disappointed with UEFA's decision.
"The club regrets being deprived of the player while the process is still under investigation and will appeal this UEFA decision, even though the deadlines in question are unlikely to have any practical effect on the second leg of the Champions League playoff," the Portuguese club said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Gianluca Prestianni playing for Benfica today vs. Real Madrid?
Landing blue-chip offensive lineman hasn’t been easy for Texas Longhorns offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Kyle Flood since inking a marquee, program-changing class in 2022, increasing the importance of signing 2026 North Crowley standout John Turntine III in December.
A consensus four-star prospect ranked as the No. 82 player overall and the No. 9 offensive tackle in the 2026 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Turntine is only the second offensive lineman considered a top-100 prospect that Flood has inked in the last five cycles, joining 2024 signee Brandon Baker.
Misses on lower-ranked players have only increased the pressure on Flood to ensure that Turntine matures into a contributor for the Longhorns, a developmental process complicated by his lack of ideal height to play tackle at 6’3.5 and a lean frame that makes his physical projection more difficult.
Not only was Turntine listed at 270 pounds when he signed with the Longhorns in December, a picture posted by his father at the Cotton Bowl two months earlier provided a sober assessment of where the offensive lineman was in his physical development.
#HOOKEM Thank you @taylor_searels & @TexasFootball for an amazing day.!!! All we’re eating is W!!! @TurntineJohn@Tylin_Turntine@KJJFlood @CoachGat3wood @ChrisGilbert_1pic.twitter.com/rWkhRDLWBY
— John Turntine JR (@JohnTurntine) October 12, 2025
So it was heartening to see how much Turntine has grown physically since arriving on the Forty Acres last month as an early enrollee.
My son @TurntineJohn been at UT for a month and two weeks. He is stacking days and learning the college system on and off the field. I’m so proud of him. Keep stacking days and believing in yourself. Stay strong and tune into GODplans for you. #TINE@NorthCro_FBpic.twitter.com/fl8Ezu05RB
— John Turntine JR (@JohnTurntine) February 23, 2026
For an offensive lineman, Turntine still has extremely low body fat, but given his lack of overall mass and difficulties anchoring in high school, the increases in his upper and lower body strength are apparent, evidence that Turntine is capable of quickly adding strength to a frame that is suddenly starting to look like that of college offensive lineman.
So it will be interesting to track Turntine’s listed weight on the spring roster set for release before the start of practice on March 19, and to see how the most important member of Flood’s 2026 signing class looks in person during open portions of practice.
But what already seems apparent is that Turntine is beginning to answer some of the biggest questions he faced as a prospect.
Recently, the Los Angeles Rams announced their coaching staff for the 2026 season and how Sean McVay aims to navigate the franchise to Super Bowl LXI. Sometimes, a coaching hire is just a schematic fit. But it also affords the opportunity to sign or acquire players based on player-coach connections around the league. Here is a comprehensive look at whether the Los Angeles Rams could realistically attract 2026 NFL free agents based on their recent coaching hires — specifically the addition of Kliff Kingsbury (Washington Commanders) as Assistant Head Coach and Bubba Ventrone (Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland Browns) as Special Teams Coach — and which free agents from the Washington Commanders, Indianapolis Colts, and Cleveland Browns might draw interest.
Based on the 2026 free agent lists from Spotrac and offseason projections:
Von Miller is on a tear right now registering 6 sacks in the last 5 games pic.twitter.com/OCFR7WoVnI
— RAMS ON FILM (@RamsOnFilm) January 18, 2022
The Colts’ pending free agents may not be headline stars, but there are value pieces:
Rodney Thomas II was drafted with pick 239 of round 7 in the 2022 draft class. He scored a 9.24 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 67 out of 863 SS from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/qImpJeCfDe#RAS#Coltspic.twitter.com/vVXwqh1i63
— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 30, 2022
Given the Rams’ existing core offensive line, adding a player like Smith could solidify a unit destined to protect Stafford and open lanes in the run game.
Cleveland is experiencing a substantial roster turnover, with multiple veterans hitting free agency:
JOEL BITONIO, @Browns OG
— Pro Football Hall of Fame Ambassador (@PFHOFAmbassador) February 23, 2026
In 2025, Bitonio, in his 12th season, allowed 1 QB Hit and 2 Sacks and was called for 1 Penalty across a total of 1081 Offensive Snaps played (Per @PFF) #DawgPound#Browns#Cleveland#NFL#nflx#NFLDraft#NFLNews#SuperBowlLXI#NFLUK#NFLPlayoffspic.twitter.com/rbP8SnoGjM
Which of these free agents would you consider signing?
Inter Milan faces one of its toughest challenges of the season this Tuesday: overturning the 3-1 deficit against Bodo/Glimt to reach the Champions League round of 16. The Nerazzurri, solid leaders of Serie A, will have to rely on the mystique of San Siro to overcome a Norwegian side that arrives with the “giant-killer” label after defeating teams like Manchester City and Atlético.
Cristian Chivu faces the challenge without his influential captain, Lautaro Martínez, who was injured in the first leg. However, he regains Hakan Çalhanoğlu and celebrates the return of Denzel Dumfries after three months out. Meanwhile, Kjetil Knutsen’s team arrives with a full squad and sky-high confidence, led by an attacking trio (Hauge, Høgh, and Blomberg) that already demonstrated its lethality in the first encounter.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.
The ACC Men’s Basketball tournament tips off in Charlotte on Tuesday, March 10th, but despite just four games remaining in the regular season there’s still a wide range of possibilities for Florida State’s seed. Such is life in a conference with a jumbled mess in the middle. But before we dive into what’s still possible, let’s eliminate what we know is not possible. To help me out, I used this fantastic scenario generator maintained annually by someone named “mred.” It’s truly a great way to kill 15 (or 45) minutes.
Yes, you read that heading correctly. As improbable as it would be, Florida State can still finish as high as the three seed. Obviously this requires a very specific—and unlikely—set of circumstances, but with UNC’s win over Louisville last night, it remains a mathematical possibility.
Obviously, FSU would have to sweep their remaining four games against Miami, @GT, @Pitt, and then SMU on Senior Day. This would move them to 11-7. From there, if UNC, Clemson, Cal, and Miami also all finished tied at 11-7, Florida State would win the round-robin tiebreaker with a 4-1 record among the tied teams.
Want an even crazier outcome? If FSU, NC State, Cal, Louisville, Clemson, Miami, and UNC all finish 11-7, FSU earns the three seed based on that round-robin too, largely because FSU and UL didn’t play. (The order I typed those teams is the order of seeds, 3-9, in that scenario. Of course, achieving these 3-seed outcomes takes some highly unlikely outcomes to occur. Things like Cal winning out, Notre Dame beating NC State, Va Tech beating UNC in Chapel Hill, and Syracuse beating Louisville. In other words, we’d need some Lloyd Christmas type of luck here.
Strangely enough after the UNC win over UL, I couldn’t find a scenario where FSU finishes 4th. The tiebreakers just don’t seem to workout that way. However, I didn’t test every possibility of every game outcome, so perhaps a community member can discover one and post it in the comments?
While a double-bye is possible if FSU extends their winning streak to seven, most of the scenarios would give FSU either the 5 or 6 seed. For example, if you just picked all teams ranked higher on KenPom to win, with the exception of splitting SMU’s California swing, FSU ends up the 6 seed.
And candidly, the 6 seed isn’t a bad place to be. You avoid Duke until the Finals, still get a bye, and your first game is against the winner between the 11 and 14 seed (in that specific example it’s Virginia Tech and Syracuse). Win that first game and FSU would play the 3 seed in the quarterfinals, which in this example was NC State.
This seems to be the result most fans I talk with feel might happen. But the reality is, how FSU gets to 3-1 makes a big difference.
Beating Miami gives FSU a season sweep and the tiebreaker. Plus the 2—0 record becomes quite handy in all those round-robin tiebreakers. However, because Miami already has 10 wins, and they face Boston College at home, it’s unlikely that FSU and Miami finish tied if the ‘Noles finish 3-1.
SMU (8-6), on the other hand, is very possible to finish with the same record as FSU. The Mustangs close the season with the California duo on the road, Miami in Dallas, and then FSU in Tally. That screams 2-2 finish, which would give them a 10-8 league record. Here’s the problem: SMU already beat FSU. So if FSU drops the regular season finale, SMU has the sweep and the tiebreaker. If FSU is victorious on Senior Day, the teams split and the tiebreaker will depend on if any other team shares the same record. If not, it will be decided by record against opponents at the top of the standings, descending down until it’s broken. SMU beat UNC and UL, two teams likely to be in the top 4 or 5 seeds, so they are likely to win a two-team tiebreak against FSU even if the team’s split.
But here’s where the universe plays a trick. In most scenarios where FSU finishes 3-1, but loses the tiebreaker to SMU, the ‘Noles finish in the 10 seed, while the Mustangs grab the 9 seed. SMU’s reward for winning the tiebreaker is a bye…but a quarterfinal date with Duke.
The highest FSU can finish if they finish 3-1 (that I’ve been able to find) is the 7 seed. This would be a fantastic outcome, as you get both the bye and to avoid Duke. But it requires Clemson losing all three of their remaining games, which means losing to Georgia Tech on Senior Day. Seems unlikely, but I suppose if there is a team out there that could “Clemson,” Clemson would be a good bet.
If Florida State wraps up Loucks’ first regular season as head coach with a 9-9 record, a first round bye is definitely still on the table. In fact, the 9 seed would be the most likely scenario. (The 8 seed is also possible, but requires UL losing out. But what’s the difference between 8 and 9 anyway).
FSU could be the 10 seed if Wake Forest were to win out (would require beating UVA in Charlottesville), or even drop to the 11 seed if Virginia Tech won out (would require winning in both Chapel Hill and Charlottesville), but both scenarios are much less likely.
Some, who prefer a first round bye, might see that as a good thing. Whereas, if you prefer to avoid the best team the longest, this might be bad news.
I’m not going to do a full breakdown of what happens if FSU goes 1-3 or 0-4 to close out the regular season. At that point I’m not sure it would even matter. But anywhere from the 11 seed to the 15 seed is on the table.
Are you a first round bye at all costs type? Or do you think avoiding Duke in hopes of staying alive longer and hoping for chaos happening around you is better?
What outcome feels most likely?
Can you find FSU landing in the mythical 4 seed?
*Here’s the math on FSU locking up a tournament spot:
Wisconsin's NCAA Tournament resume has been getting better.
The Badgers' recent 84-71 win over Iowa was their fifth Quad 1 win of the season. Seven of their eight losses are Quad 1 losses, and the one exception was at home against USC.
It is an encouraging development for a UW team that did not have any Quad 1 wins until the Jan. 10 upset over Michigan – the No. 1 team in the USA TODAY coaches poll at the time.
Here is a closer look at Wisconsin's place in the Big Ten standings and March Madness projections after the Iowa win and before UW's games against Oregon and Washington:
Wisconsin is sixth in the Big Ten with an 11-5 record. If the regular season ended now, it would be good enough to have a bye in the first two rounds of the Big Ten men's basketball tournament. UW would need to rise to the top four to have a bye in the first three rounds.
Full Big Ten standings (with ties listed alphabetically):
ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi has Wisconsin as a No. 7 seed in his Feb. 24 bracket projection. The Badgers would face 10th-seeded Texas in the first round in Oklahoma City, with second-seeded Houston likely awaiting the winner.
USA TODAY’s Feb. 24 bracketology update also projects the Badgers as a No. 7 seed in Oklahoma City. UW would face 10th-seeded SMU in the first round and presumably second-seeded Houston in the second round.
CBS Sports’ Feb. 24 bracket projection lists Wisconsin as a No. 6 seed. The Badgers would face 11th-seeded Miami (Ohio) in the first round and most likely third-seeded Gonzaga in the second round. (UC Irvine is the No. 14 seed in the projection.)
While not assigning a matchup, site or region, the college basketball analytics site Bart Torvik has the Badgers slotted as the last No. 6 seed in its Teamcast projections on Feb. 24.
Wisconsin is at No. 32 in the NCAA's NET rankings following college basketball games on Feb. 23. That is up from No. 33 a week earlier and No. 37 a month earlier.
Big Ten teams ahead of the Badgers in NET include Michigan at No. 1, Illinois at No. 4, Purdue at No. 6, Nebraska at No. 11, Michigan State at No. 12 and Iowa at No. 28. UW has wins over four of those six teams.
Here is Wisconsin's record in each quadrant:
Here are Wisconsin's remaining games, broken down by quadrant:
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Where Wisconsin ranks in standings, latest March Madness bracketology
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch takes the podium at 5:30 PM EST in Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine to address media members. Coming off a very successful 12-win season, especially considering the injury circumstances, Lynch should have a sizable crowd and will have to answer some difficult questions.
What are some of the burning questions on the minds of 49ers fans and media members?
The Brandon Aiyuk saga
Lynch and Shanahan discussed the baffling Aiyuk situation, but another update will be asked for. The question that should be asked is the specific timeline of the deteriorated relationship. For those that don’t remember, before training camp, the 49ers staff, in particular, wide receivers coach Leonard Hankerson, applauded Aiyuk’s involvement in the meeting room and even referred to him as a “coach” to the other receivers. Before a preseason game, Aiyuk was on the field running routes, also. We’re unsure if that was even permitted by league rules, but he was out on the field.
So what happened? What was the event timeline that went from Aiyuk being completely involved to someone who ghosted the entire organization and presented the situation that Shanahan says he’s never seen before in his time in the NFL? There had to be an event or issue that led to Aiyuk’s decision to leave it all behind and put the 49ers in this situation.
What to do with Mac Jones?
The 49ers know all too well about the value of a backup quarterback. Has any team benefited more from backup quarterbacks than the 49ers recently? Funny enough, the best backup the 49ers employed was never needed in 2023, as Sam Darnold only played in the season finale, and Brock Purdy and the team were minutes from a Super Bowl.
What about Mac Jones? The team says they have no intention of trading him, but reading between the lines, it can be interpreted as meaning the team needs to up its offers for the former Alabama quarterback. Do the 49ers truly value Jones enough to let him walk next season for nothing, or should the 49ers make a move to add draft picks for a team with many holes? Also, is the team confident in Kurtis Rourke as the primary backup in 2026 after selecting him with their final pick last season?
The 49ers’ free agency and trade deadline plan from 2025
Yes, the 49ers won 12 games and a playoff game last season, but the pass rush suffered once Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams were injured. In fact, there’s no way to say whether either would have been that much better if both were healthy. Yes, it would have been better, but by how much? The team added Keion White and Clelin Ferrell, but shied away from pass rushers at the deadline and opted to roll with their rookies and veterans on the roster, keeping their draft picks.
Does Lynch regret that decision? Would trading for a pass rusher have made a difference in Seattle in the divisional round? Probably not, but will the 49ers change their free agency approach this offseason? Have they learned a lesson about depth? Are they set with their second-year defensive lineman and adding rookies this draft, and in a position of security at the position?
What about other positions? It will be interesting to hear the 49ers’ thought process on spending heading into the draft and free agency.
Carolina Panthers president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan isn't ruling out any additions, especially off the edge.
Morgan talked with reporters from the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Ind. on Tuesday afternoon. He was asked about newly-available outside linebacker Bradley Chubb, who was released by the Miami Dolphins a little over a week ago.
"I don't think anything's gonna be off the table," Morgan said on the potential of signing Chubb. "We'll explore that, we'll talk to his agent. But I wouldn't say anything's upcoming. But we'll definitely stay in that and see where it goes."
Chubb, a North Carolina State University product and former fifth overall pick, spent the last four years in Miami. He started and played in all 17 games for the Dolphins in 2025—totaling 47 tackles, 8.5 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles.
The two-time Pro Bowler should be of interest to the Panthers, who have mustered up one of the worst pass rushes in the NFL. Carolina, this past season, accounted for the second-lowest pressure rate (16.5 percent) and the third-fewest sacks (30).
Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers to 'explore' signing free-agent OLB Bradley Chubb
Former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson was nothing short of elite during his one and only year as the Tide’s starter last season.
Simpson recorded 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns last year, as the redshirt junior played a crucial role in the Tide’s success throughout the entire campaign. Simpson is widely regarded as one of the top quarterback prospects available during the upcoming NFL draft in April. The playmaker could quickly begin to thrive at the professional level following an excellent season in Tuscaloosa, as many believe Simpson could be selected in the first round of this years’ draft.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah recently revealed his thoughts on Simpson’s draft status ahead of the NFL scouting combine, as the analyst believes the former Alabama quarterback is emerging as the No. 2 quarterback available on the board.
“For me, he’s in the 30's-40's range for me. That’s just a pure grade,” Jeremiah said. “I wouldn’t be stunned if he ended up going in the first round, because there’s enough teams in need of the position, and I do think he’ll be impressive going from this point forward.”
Simpson spent a total of four seasons with the Tide in Tuscaloosa. The star quarterback was extremely patient in waiting his turn to become Alabama’s starter, as Simpson served as the primary backup to Jalen Milroe and the third-string option behind Bryce Young during his first seasons with the Tide.
Simpson continues to emerge as one of the top quarterback prospects available during April’s draft, as the Alabama quarterback has officially seen his time in Tuscaloosa come to an end.
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: 2026 NFL draft projection on Alabama football quarterback Ty Simpson
It appears the Los Angeles Rams will have an updated logo in the very near future. A photo shows what seems to be their leaked draft hat for this year, and on the front is an all-yellow “LA” logo. No gradient. No white. No blue.
Granted, the team has sold hats with a solid-colored logo on the front before, but this leak coincides with what Zach Cohen of FanDuel has reported this offseason: That the Rams are tweaking their logos.
Cohen posted a video on X Tuesday confirming that the Rams’ primary logo will no longer have gradient colors and will be solid moving forward. Also, no changes are coming to their helmet or the split horns on it.
My video recapping all my Rams reports & speculation since November 🎥
— Zach Cohen (@ZachCohenFB) February 24, 2026
Including new confirmation of the Rams plans for:
- Updated primary logo
- No changes to their primary helmet
I’ve seen many people ask about the split horns, they ARE staying https://t.co/iBgc6GAsGBpic.twitter.com/6jrsbWlum1
The draft hats haven't officially been released by New Era yet, but they will be soon. And though this logo by itself doesn't confirm the removal of the gradient, Cohen's report is a good indicator that it's likely to be true.
Additionally, Cohen is reporting that the Rams are ditching their secondary logo of the ram head and will replace it with a vintage one, similar to the one seen on the shirt below.
EXCLUSIVE: Sources tell me the Rams infamous ram head logo will (thankfully) be replaced by a vintage-looking ram head as their secondary logo 🚨
— Zach Cohen (@ZachCohenFB) February 13, 2026
So to recap my reports about Los Angeles
- October: filed for new uniforms with expectation of small tweaks
- January: new alternate… https://t.co/LxMwQFH6Xcpic.twitter.com/AB7iH1cS82
Again, this is only a rumor and it hasn't been confirmed by anyone besides Cohen, but it's something to keep an eye on leading up to the draft. Teams will want any logo changes to be made official before the draft, not only for merchandise reasons, but also for the graphics that will be shown on TV.
It might not be long before we find out if these rumors are true and the Rams are making adjustments to their complete rebrand from 2020.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: LA Rams 2026 draft hat leaks, shows rumored logo change
Piero Hincapie is currently on loan at Arsenal from Bayer Leverkusen, but supporters can take comfort in the likelihood that he will remain with the club next season. The Ecuadorian defender has impressed since he arrived at the Emirates, excelling both at centre-back and left-back, two positions that have been pivotal to Arsenal’s defensive strength this season.
Signed late in the transfer window following Jakub Kiwior’s move to FC Porto, Hincapie was initially expected to serve as a backup option. However, his consistent performances have forced Mikel Arteta to grant him significant game time in recent weeks, reflecting the trust the manager places in his abilities. The defender has adapted quickly to life in North London, and his displays have drawn attention that could have made him a target for other clubs at the end of the season.
Hincapie’s versatility and composure have been critical to Arsenal’s success. By performing reliably in multiple positions, he has strengthened the defensive unit and contributed to the team’s overall consistency. His rapid integration into Arteta’s system demonstrates both his talent and his readiness to assume responsibility at the highest level of English football.
(Photo by Ion Alcoba Beitia/Getty Images)
Arsenal secured an option to make Hincapie’s loan move permanent at the end of the season, a provision that now appears set to be activated. According to Team Talk, the club have been delighted with his performances so far and is keen to retain him for the long term. The process to formalise his permanent transfer is expected to be completed in the coming weeks, ensuring that Hincapie remains a central figure in Arsenal’s defensive plans moving forward.
With his form continuing to impress, Hincapie’s permanent acquisition represents a major boost for Arsenal, providing stability and quality in defence as they aim to sustain their strong performances in domestic and European competitions.
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Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers meet Jose Ramirez and the Cleveland Guardians in today’s Spring Training matchup, giving both teams the chance to start to find a groove before heading into the 2026 MLB regular season.
MORE:Three MLB teams that will be surprisingly bad in 2026
Mar 11, 2024; Goodyear, Arizona, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Goodyear Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Dodgers have gotten off to a strong start in 2026 Spring Training, riding a 3‑0 win streak that includes a recent 3‑0 shutout of the Seattle Mariners. Los Angeles has been boosted by contributions from Andy Pages, who has already accumulated multiple hits and is hitting over .650 this spring, while the pitching staff has delivered scoreless innings collectively.
The Dodgers will see the spring debut of Gavin Stone, who is pitching for the first time in over a year following right shoulder surgery, a storyline fans and evaluators alike will be watching closely in today’s matchup.
The Cleveland Guardians come into this game riding positive momentum of their own, having extended their Spring Training success with a recent 9‑5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in which several key players showed strong offensive prowess. Cleveland’s camp has featured contributions from young hitters and steady outings from pitchers like Tanner Bibee, giving Guardians fans encouraging signs as they look toward regular‑season competitiveness.
Today’s matchup will feature a rare spring pitching duel between Gavin Williams for Cleveland and Gavin Stone for Los Angeles, making it not just a preview of each club’s Opening Day rotation depth but also a chance to see how each team’s rising talent and veteran contributors are shaping up as Spring Training hits the midpoint.
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It is the week of the NFL combine which means information about the upcoming months is going to be passed around all over the place. What happens in Indianapolis will certainly impact the way that the NFL draft goes. Information is the most important commodity this time of year and that spirit applies to mock drafts from the league’s top insiders.
Mel Kiper certainly qualifies for that criteria and any time he mocks it is worth paying attention to. He released his second of the season and has the Cowboys going defense with both of their first-round picks.
12. Dallas Cowboys
Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
No team gave up more passing plays of 25 or more yards last season than the Cowboys (46). Trevon Diggs was cut at the end of the season, and DaRon Bland is coming off his second surgery on his left foot in two years. If there weren’t already enough signs for Dallas, the entire cornerback class is still available at No. 12 here. Delane can shut down opposing receivers while also making a bunch of plays on the ball. He broke up 11 passes and pulled down two interceptions last season.
20. Dallas Cowboys (via GB)
Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami
It’s an all-defense first round for Dallas — first cornerback (Mansoor Delane at No. 12), now edge rusher. Of course, Mesidor wouldn’t be a one-for-one replacement for Micah Parsons, who was sorely missed in Dallas last season. But with 12.5 sacks in the final season of a six-year college career, Mesidor would at least jump-start the pass rush and start to build that unit back up. Jadeveon Clowney was the lone Cowboys player to crack six sacks in 2025 (8.5), and he’s a free agent. Jerry Jones has to commit to using premium picks on the edge, especially with one of the league’s tighter cap situations.
There is no denying that the Cowboys could stand to improve their defense in every aspect. Adding Delane to the secondary and Mesidor to the pass rush group is a very solid infusion of talent that the team is in sore need of.
There are several fans who are against Mesidor given that he is set to be 25 years old this season. It is very fair to want your rookie to be young enough to where you can envision a second contract for them, and given that he will be around the 30-mark when his rookie deal fully expires that hesitation is understandable.
Mesidor is a popular name for the Cowboys and who Kiper slotted to Dallas at number 20 in his initial mock of the year. He had Sonny Styles as the pick at 12 originally and has flipped that to Delane, and given that he now has Styles going seventh overall to the Washington Commanders a pivot is necessary.
Names are going to rise and fall throughout the cycle and this week is going to be a big part of that. For now, what do you think of these two players potentially joining the Cowboys?
Newcastle United are preparing for another busy summer window as they look to build on domestic progress and, hopefully, a deep Champions League run.
Several key players have drawn attention from rival Premier League clubs during the past few months, and according to TEAMtalk, Newcastle have made it clear that Anthony Gordon will not leave unless an “extraordinary offer” is submitted.
The club’s stance comes amid reported interest from Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal, with the Reds having already tried to snatch the former Liverpool academy player and Everton winger from Tyneside.
Gordon has become one of Newcastle’s most productive attacking players this season, particularly in European competition. The England international has scored 10 goals in the Champions League, placing him second in the tournament scoring charts behind only Kylian Mbappé of Real Madrid, and he out four goals past Qarabag in the first leg of the play-in round las week.
Gordon’s output in high-profile fixtures, while has elevated his status across England, has also only strengthened Newcastle’s negotiating position and his perceived price tag.
Liverpool are understood to hold long-term interest in Gordon, and with growing questions surrounding Mohamed Salah’s future, the Magpies’ winger is viewed as a potential option to fill the impending vacant.
Manchester United and Arsenal have also been linked as both clubs continue evaluating attacking reinforcements ahead of next season, but those two look like long-shit options to approach a transfer at this point.
Despite the speculation, Newcastle are not actively seeking a sale, as is obvious. Gordon remains under contract and is considered central to the club’s plans as they aim to compete consistently in domestic and European competitions.
By publicly emphasizing the requirement of an “extraordinary” bid, Newcastle have effectively set a premium threshold for any potential suitor, but you know what happened just last summer with a certain Sweden striker….
The final Victory Bell game for the foreseeable future has an unexpected home. Charlie Clifford of WLWT 5 NBC reported Sunday night that Cincinnati and Miami’s long-standing rivalry game would move from Paycor Stadium, home of the Cincinnati Bengals, to FC Cincinnati’s home stadium, TQL Stadium, for what will be the final scheduled game in the rivalry.
The game is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19th, 2026.
It may be a tough pill to swallow, but the last decade of Victory Bell games at Paul Brown/Paycor Stadium shows this may be the right move.
The 2014 Victory Bell game was the first played at the Cincinnati Bengals’ home stadium since 1990. The thrill of the first neutral site Victory Bell game in 24 years and Miami’s second game at Paul Brown Stadium ever led to an impressive crowd of 41,926 (65 percent of the venue’s 65,000+ seat capacity). The next two games at Paul Brown/Paycor Stadium never reached these heights.
A torrential downpour scared fans away from Miami and Cincinnati’s return to Paul Brown Stadium in 2018. Only 16,062 fans— less than a quarter of the stadium’s capacity— saw a forgettable 21-0 Cincinnati win. The two schools tried again four years late in 2022. While attendance naturally improved with better weather, Paycor Stadium was less than half full. 30,109 fans saw Cincinnati beat Miami 38-17.
TQL Stadium at max capacity seats 2,000 less fans than Miami’s Yager Stadium, and is eclipsed by Nippert Stadium’s 38,000+ seats, but this could ultimately be the wisest decision given the past turnouts and politics at play. There seems to be an underlying reluctance from Cincinnati to play Miami at Yager Stadium. The Bearcats have made the trip just once since 2016.
Perhaps, this led to Miami preemptively canceling their 2025 and 2027 visits to Nippert Stadium. It seems the game had to be played at a neutral site in Cincinnati or not at all. The RedHawk athletic department probably looked at the past attendance and came to this decision.
It is not a stretch to say this could be the end of college football at Paul Brown Stadium for the foreseeable future.
Miami does not have any future Power Four home games scheduled, and the optics of Cincinnati moving a Big 12 game from Nippert Stadium to Paycor are poor. The venue was never much of a college football venue anyways. With the exception of Cincinnati playing its six-game home slate at Paycor Stadium in 2014, the venue has hosted seven college games in its 26-year history.
Last season, fans were treated to a kicking clinic across the league, as kickers were put into focus more than ever before. The UFL announced that field goals of 60+ yards will be worth four points, a rule change the NFL should consider in the near future.
The UFL has announced new rules for its upcoming spring season:
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) February 24, 2026
• Tush Push is banned
• 60+ yard FGs worth 4 points
• No punting from inside opposing territory pic.twitter.com/SGfy35rAPh
This is how UFL Head of Officiating Dean Blandino explained the reasoning behind the change:
“Kicking a 65-yard field goal is a lot harder than one from 35. Why should they count the same? So it promotes excitement. Those are really, really exciting plays, whether it’s an end to half or end of game, and it’s also going to change the strategy of the game as well.”
Long field goals have brought plenty of excitement to a part of football that most fans can do without.
According to NBC Sports, NFL kickers went 12-for-22 on field goals of 60 yards or longer in 2025. Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey hit three field goals beyond 60 yards last season, while Jaguars kicker Cam Little booted two of the longest field goals in league history.
CAM LITTLE FROM 67 YARDS ARE YOU KIDDING 😱
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 4, 2026
HE NOW OWNS THE LONGEST (68) AND SECOND LONGEST (67) FIELD GOALS IN NFL HISTORY 🤯
(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/viHNKNcQ8f
Blandino is also correct that it would change the strategy of the game. For example, do you think Broncos coach Sean Payton would’ve taken the points early in the AFC Championship then, rather than going for it? What about earlier in the season, when Sean McVay went for it against the 49ers in overtime, losing his team the game?
If the NFL were to implement this change, everything we know about special teams and even offensive strategies would be tossed out the window. Plus, it would force more teams like the Rams to make changes focusing on improving their special teams. Teams with poor ST play, as Los Angeles has had for years, would be left behind, assuming they did nothing to emphasize getting better at the kicker spot sooner.
Implementing such a change would reward the teams with great kickers, and punish those who don’t.
With more kickers entering the league with strong enough legs to drill 60-yard field goals easily, it’s past time for the NFL to follow in the UFL’s footsteps. A 20-yard field goal should not be scored the same as a 60+ yarder, and it’s time to stop equating them. The league should jump at any chance to turbocharge offensive gameplay league-wide to keep fans engaged, and this would be another step towards doing just that.
When the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Kaleb Johnson in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, many expected him to play a vital role in the offense behind Jaylen Warren. Instead, veteran Kenneth Gainwell became a focal point, earning team MVP after a tremendous season, while Johnson’s season was defined by a Week 2 special teams gaffe that cost the Steelers a win over the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
Johnson finished the year with just 69 yards on 28 carries. Needless to say, that’s not what Pittsburgh had in mind when they took him out of Iowa. General manager Omar Khan was asked about Johnson’s performance, noting that it was a disappointing rookie year.
“Obviously, what you guys saw on the field was disappointing,” Khan said via Nick Farabaugh. “It’s got to be better, but we see it on the practice field. We knew what he did in college, and I’d expect Kaleb to turn the corner.”
Omar Khan on Kaleb Johnson:
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) February 24, 2026
"Obviously what you guys saw on the field was disappointing. It's got to be better, but we see it on the practice field. We knew what he did in college and I'd expect Kaleb to turn the corner."
The jury is still out on Johnson, as he is only entering his second season. Should the Steelers be unable to bring Gainwell back, Johnson would likely jump to the No. 2 spot and be given the chance to prove he is a capable back.
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!
Paddy Pimblett says he plans to return a lot sooner than people think.
Pimblett lost a decision to Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title in the main event of UFC 324 in January. Gaethje delivered an outstanding performance, hurting “The Baddy” multiple times en route to his second interim title win.
One thing that has frustrated Pimblett since the loss was watching Benoit Saint Denis leapfrog him in the rankings following his stoppage win over Dan Hooker at UFC 325 a week after his fight.
“To be honest, I’ll be honest with you all, it pissed me off that Saint Denis has moved above me for beating that bum Dan Hooker,” Pimblett said on his YouTube channel. “Why has Saint Denis moved above me for beating the bum Dan Hooker, who’s f*cking shit? What’s going on there?”
While many believe a fight between Pimblett and Hooker makes the most sense due to their ongoing heated rivalry, Pimblett doesn’t care who the UFC offers him following his first octagon loss. The 31-year-old is 9-1 in the promotion, including stoppage wins over King Green and Michael Chandler.
Pimblett knows when he wants to return to action, and has a list of fighter’s he’d like to face if he had the choice.
“I’ll fight anyone,” Pimblett said. “I just know whatever name gets sent to me on a contract, I sign it and I fight them. But Saint Denis sounds like a good fight to me. Europe’s two best lightweights going at it against each other. Or, I won’t get the winner, but the loser of Max [Holloway]-Charles [Oliveira]. F*ck, I’ll fight Arman if you’s want me to. I don’t give a f*ck. I’ll fight anyone.
“But I’ll be back in the summer. Just let me know when and where, Hunter, Dana, Sean, and I’m ready to go. I haven’t got any injuries. People keep going on, ‘Oh, the damage he took, he’s going to have to take months off.’ … I didn’t even have a concussion. I never had no headaches after it. All I had was a marked face and sore eye balls after getting poked in them.”
Young winger outlines his ambition under Slot
Liverpool youngster Rio Ngumoha sends message to Arne Slot after Forest cameo
Liverpool youngster Rio Ngumoha asked Arne Slot for more playing time after his strong cameo against Nottingham Forest in Premier League.
Young Liverpool player Rio Ngumoha made his point after positive appearance against Nottingham Forest in Premier League.
Liverpool visited Forest at the City Ground in matchday 27 of 2025 /26 season and secured narrow 1-0 win.
Ngumoha came on in the 77 minute as substitute for Mohamed Salah and helped change the tempo in Liverpool’s favor during the closing stages.
Speaking to ESPN, Ngumoha explained his mindset when given minutes with first team. He said he knows he must make an impact, whether on or off the ball, by pressing, defending, crossing, shooting or taking on defenders.
The young winger said his main goal is to show what he can do every time he is called upon. He made it clear that he hopes to earn more minutes soon and is ready to work hard to gain the trust of head coach Arne Slot.
Ngumoha stressed that regular playing time is important for his progress. He said he feels that limited game time can slow his development which is why he is open to playing matches at u18 or u21 level if needed.
The Denver Broncos will definitely need to address the situation at inside linebacker in free agency. With two of their three regular contributors heading to unrestricted free agency in Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad and their third an oft-injured Dre Greenlaw, the situation at the position appears to be dire here in February. Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if they address their needs in both free agency and the draft.
One guy that could be on their radar would be Jonah Elliss’ older brother, Kaden. The former seventh-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints, he would reunite with the head coach that drafted him if he were to sign with Denver.
Linebacker | Kaden Elliss | Atlanta Falcons
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 240 pounds
Age: 30 years old
Experience: 7 NFL seasons
2025 stats: 17 games played with 17 starts. 107 total tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, 10 quarterback hits, six passes defensed, one interception and one forced fumble.
The Broncos need to get younger at the position and that likely means drafting some inside linebacker talent this year. However, that means they’ll likely need a veteran signing to help fill the gap while the rookie works towards an NFL starter.
That brings a guy like Kaden Elliss into the picture for the Broncos. He is already 30 years old and a deal would need to be a 1-2 year type of offer, because this would truly be a rental type situation. It would ultimately come down to the type of market Elliss sees when free agency begins. If he makes it into the tier 2 or 3 group, then his value might make more sense for Denver.
Age.
That’s my main issue with this free agent and why I think the Broncos will not try to sign Kaden Elliss. They will look to get younger at the position, but a veteran rental for the next year or two would make a lot of sense too. That could be the only reason why Elliss would make sense.
I like the idea of pairing the brothers on the field, but I also think Jonah Elliss could be a guy the Broncos try to move for picks at some point. He’s just too good to sit behind the starters. The greedy part of me wants to keep all of the depth, because its nice to have great players everywhere.
The other issue I have is Elliss’ age. He is 30 and turns 31 this year. We all know how hard it is to maintain starter-level play at most positions into your 30s at the NFL level. The drop-off may not some this year for Elliss, but its certainly close enough to be concerned about. And trading a 32-year-old Alex Singleton for a 31-year-old Elliss also doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Might as well try to re-sign Singleton at that point.
How do you feel about Kaden Elliss and his fit with the Denver Broncos?
Kyle Whittingham was immediately tasked with retaining the leftover roster from the previous regime, making the beginning to his tenure as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines a challenging one to navigate. When the dust cleared, most of the important players on the roster were retained, while a small handful of guys like linebacker Cole Sullivan (Oklahoma) and defensive back Elijah Dotson (Missouri) transferred out.
It wasn’t easy, but keeping a significant portion of the roster intact — especially all the playmakers on offense and several key pieces in the secondary — was a fantastic way for Whittingham to begin his time in Ann Arbor. And one of the first ones to verbalize his commitment to the program for 2026 was quarterback Bryce Underwood.
In a story written by ESPN’s Max Olson regarding the most important player returning to each of the network’s preseason top-25 teams, Michigan’s selection was an easy choice.
New Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham prioritized retaining Underwood as soon as he got the job and met with him before his introductory news conference to seek his feedback on the program and sell him on the new offensive vision. The former No. 1 overall recruit stuck with the Wolverines and stayed out of the portal after a promising debut season in which he produced 2,820 total yards, 17 touchdowns and 11 turnovers over a nine-win season. Whittingham and his coaches had several more critical retention wins in January with running back Jordan Marshall returning and OL Andrew Sprague, OL Jake Guarnera, DL Enow Etta and DB Zeke Berry all withdrawing their names from the transfer portal.
Underwood was the clear answer here, but let’s pretend he didn’t count in this exercise. Who WOULD be the best pick at that point?
Olson also brought up running back Jordan Marshall, and a few guys who initially entered the portal in offensive linemen Andrew Sprague and Jake Guarnera, defensive back Zeke Berry and defensive lineman Enow Etta. I think that all five of those guys are excellent options, as they were key pieces in 2025 and will continue to be important contributors in 2026.
Out of those players, I actually think the most important to get back was Guarnera. He played a crucial role on the offensive line last season, playing in all 13 games (10 starts) at right guard. He also played significant snaps at center in the Citrus Bowl, which is where he is expected to play moving forward.
As a redshirt freshman playing his first meaningful snaps of his career, Guarnera had the third-most snaps (710) along the offensive line and had the second-best offensive grade on Pro Football Focus (71.4). As soon as initial starting right guard Brady Norton went down with an injury early in the year, Guarnera took over and never relinquished his starting role; he was that good.
Furthermore, the center position is among the most important along the offensive line, and assuming that’s where Guarnera plays next year, it couldn’t have been more crucial for Whittingham and new offensive line coach Jim Harding to get him out of the portal and back in Ann Arbor. Without Guarnera, there’s no telling who would be the starting center in 2026 — perhaps one of the guys via the portal or one of the players already on the roster. No matter who that would have been, they very likely would not provide the ceiling and level of experience that Guernera already possesses.
What do you think? Is Underwood — or Guarnera — Michigan’s most important returning player? If not, then who? Let me know what you think down in the comments below!
Alexandra Eala has been a sensation on the WTA Tour so far this season.
The Filipina has amassed the one of the most dedicated fanbases on the planet, despite being ranked outside the world’s top 30 players.
Recently, Eala competed at the Dubai Tennis Championships, where she reached the quarter-finals following victories against Hailey Baptiste, Jasmine Paolini and Sorana Cirstea.
Following her most recent performance in the United Arab Emirates, Manny Pacquiao has offered his support for Eala and her achievements.
“When I watched her [Eala] playing… I’m so proud of her,” Pacquiao told Filipino television broadcaster ABS-CSN.
“Carrying the flag of the Philippines, and then when I look at her, it seems like… oh my, I’m so proud of her because of course she’s a Filipino. We need more of that.
“So, keep it up. Keep it up. Work hard. That I can say.
“Winston Churchill’s quote: ‘you will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks.’ Don’t pay attention to all the people who have, although we cannot place even one.
“So, just focus on our goal, to give honour to our country. And then, there would be more Filipinos who would give honour to our country.”
Pacquiao, a professional boxer and former member of the Philippine Senate, is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional boxers of all time.
He is the only eight-division world champion in boxing history.
On Tuesday, Manny Pacquiao’s rematch against Floyd Mayweather was confirmed.
Pacquiao, 47, and Mayweather, 48, will contest the professional match on September 19 at Sphere in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao retired from the sport in 2021, choosing to focus on his political career in the Philippines. However, he returned to boxing last year, drawing with WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios.
Mayweather has not fought a professional contest since beating mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in 2017.
Pacquiao and Mayweather first fought in 2015, with Mayweather emerging the winner by unanimous decision.
Colorado women's basketball is peaking at the right time, knocking off No. 20 Texas Tech last weekend, putting them on the cusp of the national polls.
On Monday's AP poll, J.R. Payne's squad came in at No. 26 overall, seven points behind the No. 25-ranked Princeton. It was the Buffaloes' first time receiving votes this season, and that trend continued Tuesday morning with the release of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
The Buffs received six votes from the list of 31 Division I head coaches, placing them fourth in the rankings at de facto No. 29 in the country. At 20-8 and 11-5 in the Big 12, the Buffs are well-positioned to secure a four-seed and bye in the Big 12 tournament. ESPN's latest bracketology has Colorado as one of the NCAA tournament's "last four in," playing as a 12 seed against Mississippi State.
CU has two games left in the regular season: Tuesday night against Utah, wrapping up the regular season in Provo against BYU on Saturday.
Here is a complete look at this week's coaches' poll featuring five Big 12 teams:
| Rank | Team | Record | PTS | 1st | Prev | Chg | Hi/Lo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UConn | 29-0 | 775 | 31 | 1 | - | 1/1 |
| 2 | UCLA | 27-1 | 741 | 0 | 2 | - | 2/4 |
| 3 | South Carolina | 27-2 | 716 | 0 | 3 | - | 2/3 |
| 4 | Texas | 26-3 | 680 | 0 | 4 | - | 2/5 |
| 5 | Vanderbilt | 25-3 | 646 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 4/21 |
| 6 | LSU | 24-4 | 617 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 5/12 |
| 7 | Oklahoma | 21-6 | 552 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 5/16 |
| 8 | Michigan | 22-5 | 543 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 5/15 |
| 9 | Iowa | 22-5 | 526 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 8/23 |
| 10 | TCU | 25-4 | 511 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 7/14 |
| 11 | Louisville | 24-5 | 467 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 6/22 |
| 12 | Ohio State | 23-5 | 425 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 8/NR |
| 13 | Maryland | 22-6 | 396 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 6/19 |
| 14 | Duke | 20-7 | 360 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 6/NR |
| 15 | Michigan State | 22-6 | 339 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 13/NR |
| 16 | Baylor | 24-6 | 285 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 10/21 |
| 17 | West Virginia | 22-6 | 276 | 0 | 19 | 2 | 17/NR |
| 18 | Kentucky | 20-8 | 240 | 0 | 18 | - | 7/20 |
| 19 | North Carolina | 23-6 | 200 | 0 | 22 | 3 | 8/23 |
| 20 | Ole Miss | 21-8 | 194 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 13/20 |
| 21 | Texas Tech | 24-5 | 191 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 18/NR |
| 22 | Minnesota | 21-7 | 128 | 0 | 23 | 1 | 22/NR |
| 23 | Alabama | 21-7 | 93 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 21/NR |
| 24 | Georgia | 21-7 | 74 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 24/NR |
| 25 | Iowa State | 21-7 | 32 | 0 | NR | 1 | 10/NR |
Others Receiving Votes
Princeton 29; Tennessee 12; Rice 11; Colorado 6; Rhode Island 4; Washington 3; North Dakota State 2; Notre Dame 1;
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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado women's basketball receives votes in USA TODAY Coaches Poll
The Atlanta Braves announced they are officially launching “BravesVision,” their own broadcast network for the 2026 season.
The decision comes following the franchise’s split with Main Street Sports Group, which aired Braves games on FanDuel Sports Network.
“Generations of Braves fans were raised watching games on a network that shared ownership with the baseball team. With BravesVision, we believe that we can present Braves baseball in new and innovative ways allowing us to expand and elevate our storytelling capabilities across all platforms,” Braves president and CEO Derek Schiller said.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
BravesVision will handle production for at least 140 games during the season and there are several ways that fans can watch.
The first is with a Braves.TV subscription through MLB’s streaming platform. Fans will purchase a subscription that will be available for those who live in the Braves “home market:” Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina. Fans who live outside the market will be able to still watch with a standard MLB.TV package.
There will also be a direct-to-distributor model where the Braves will partner with cable and satellite channels and other streaming services.
Subscription packages and pricing will be available in March. The Braves have posted a FAQ page on how streaming will work here.
RELATED STORIES:
The Boston Celtics will make the trip to the state of Arizona to face the Phoenix Suns in their home arena of Mortgage Matchup Center this Tuesday (Feb. 24) evening. In that contest, the Celtics will be looking to keep their current win streak alive. On the other side of the court, the Suns are going to be looking to secure a victory after a recent stumble at home.
We expect the Celtics to win this road game, but the Suns are not the pushovers many expected even with several players out, so this is not a game Boston can mail in, especially with a key player potentially a scratch.
At present, the Celtics have a 37-19 record and a three-game win streak, which has them second in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Suns are the owners of a 33-25 record, good enough for seventh place in the West.
Boston beat the Los Angeles Lakers 119-89 on the road.
Phoenix lost to the Portland Trail Blazers 92-77 at home.
For Boston, Jayson Tatum (Achilles) is out, and Jaylen Brown (knee) is questionable.
For Phoenix, Cole Anthony (not with team), Devin Booker (hip), Dillon Brooks (hand), Jordan Goodwin (calf), and Haywood Highsmith (knee) are out, and Grayson Allen (knee, ankle) is questionable.
Here's when you should tune in to see the game:
Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKp
iTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47
YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics at Phoenix Suns: Stream, lineups, injury reports, broadcast (2/24)
With no right-front fender, Tyler Reddick won last weekend's NASCAR Cup race in Atlanta, going back-to-back to open the 2026 season.
While impressive, it's not unprecedented. NASCAR is a full-contact sport in the end and we've seen plenty of race winning cars take the checkered flag in less-than-ideal shape.
So, let's take a look at some of the most beat up cars to win at the highest level of NASCAR. And no, crashing across the line doesn't count, so don't expect to find Terry Labonte's 1995 Bristol car or Davey Allison's 1992 All-Star car here! Though we did have a spirited debate over Jeff Burton slamming the wall as the rain came and ended Darlington in 1999...
But honestly, we could never highlight them all -- NASCAR races can get pretty wild with the checkered flag in sight. But here's some of the more famous moments where a wrecked or damaged car still won the day:
Photo by: Jeff Robinson / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Photo by: David Rosenblum / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Photo by: Jonathan Daniel via Getty Images
Photo by: Jeff Robinson / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Photo by: ESPN broadcast
Photo by: ISC Archives
Photo by: SC Images & Archives via Getty Images
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There are only five players left to list in our annual Montreal Canadiens top-20 prospect rankings, with exciting defenceman Adam Engstrom taking the No. 5 spot, as voted on by Habs fans.
N.B.: To qualify for the project, prospects must be 23 years old or younger and currently playing outside the NHL. In other words, even though Canadiens players such as Lane Hutson, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Ivan Demidov are young enough to qualify, they’ve already established themselves as NHL players and are no longer considered prospects.
Canadiens Prospects Who Just Missed the Cut
Canadiens Prospects Ranked 20-16
Canadiens Prospects Ranked 15-11
No.10 – Towering Hayden Paupanekis
No. 9 – Truculent Florian Xhekaj
No.8 – Highly Skilled L.J Mooney
No.7 – Extraordinary Bryce Pickford
5. Defenceman, Shoots Left, 22, Laval Rocket (AHL), 6’2″, 190 lb. Picked 92nd overall in 2022.
The first thing that stands out from Adam Engstrom’s skill set is his ability to open up passing and shooting lanes in the offensive zone due to his elite skating. And while many young players are described as good skaters, Engstrom is one of the few prospects that can legitimately take over a game with his silky-smooth crossovers and impressive offensive instincts.
We’ve seen it time and again in Laval.
When the Rocket desperately need a goal, Engstrom will go out of his way to create chaos in the offensive zone, driving the net with the greatest of ease before either taking a high-danger shot, or setting up his teammates with a tap-in, goalmouth pass.
Adam Engstrom scores a very nice goal to open the scoring for the Laval Rocket. #GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/L40rTRRraf
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) November 20, 2025
In fact, five of Engstrom’s 10 goals this year have been game winners, a testament to his value in the Rocket lineup.
On that note, Engstrom has already doubled his goal output this season, and is on pace to score 15 goals in 59 games, which is a significant uptick on the five goals in 66 games he produced as a rookie.
He was named to the AHL All-Star Team for the second consecutive season since arriving in North America, a good reminder that some players thrive when they’re given enough time to develop in Europe. After all, Engstrom spent parts of three seasons playing professional hockey in Sweden before crossing the pond. This included three playoff runs as well, crucial experience for a young defenceman who quickly learned how to absorb a heavy dose of minutes while serving as a reliable source of secondary offence.
In other words, even though David Reinbacher’s European development was considered a failure by most, the same cannot be said about Engstrom’s path to the AHL.
Engstrom skates with a level of grace that would evoke envy from a swan landing on a lake. At times, it seems that he’s skating on a silk cloud, filled with velvet, and wrapped in suede.
But he’s far from the first elite skater to make his way to the AHL.
The most important factor that distinguishes Engstrom from the rest is that he uses his elite skating to generate offence, while also keeping a close eye on his defensive assignments. He’s not just a one-trick pony, relying on above-average skating mechanics to mask liabilities.
Engstrom does a good job covering for the Struble giveaway. #GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/6Pxh5trSvO
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) December 12, 2025
To put a fine point on his solid overall game, we can simply look at his underlying numbers during his short, but encouraging stint with the Canadiens earlier in the season.
On the surface, it seems like Engstrom did not accomplish much. He played 11 games, and was returned to the AHL without registering his name on the scoresheet.
However, he managed to control over 51% of the shots in that stretch, trailing only Lane Hutson (52.2%) when it comes to his impact on the team’s shot share. It’s also important to note the Habs outscored their opponents 6-2 with Engstrom on the ice, further evidence that he isn’t just projected to make a positive impact in the NHL one day, but rather, he’s already reached that level to a certain extent.
To make matters more interesting, he managed to control 50% or more of the high-danger scoring chances (22-22), one of only two Montreal Canadiens defencemen to achieve that feat. Once again, only Hutson (51%) has done a better job in that department.
Of course, we must acknowledge Engstrom’s assignments were a little easier than many of his counterparts, but the fact of the matter remains that he quickly adapted to life in the NHL, after establishing himself as a dominant force in the AHL.
Like many young defencemen, particularly those tasked with carrying the puck with a high frequency, Engstrom is prone to giveaways.
We saw it occasionally in Montreal, though we should guard against labelling him as a player who turns over the puck more often than others. If we even the playing field by judging giveaways per 60 minutes of 5v5 ice time, Engstrom ranks as the second-most reliable Canadiens defenceman, with just 2.65 turnovers per 60.
Similar to most rookies, Engstrom was sheltered by head coach Martin St-Louis, with the vast majority of his zone starts taking place in the offensive zone.
To become a permanent fixture in the top four, Engstrom will have to learn how to thrive while facing a heightened quality of competition. In that vein, his greatest weakness is his lack of experience in the NHL, a situation that can only be rectified with further use in the best hockey league on earth.
He could also stand to improve his gap control, as well as his defensive positioning, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention he’s improved both by leaps and bounds since arriving in North America.
Engstrom is clearly Laval’s best defenceman, which means he’s in a curious situation in respect to his value to the Canadiens. Seeing as he can play on both sides of the ice, he’s the ideal target for a call-up should the injury bug hit. In the meantime, he serves as an elite powerplay partner for Reinbacher in the AHL, while playing on Pascal Vincent’s top pairing on most nights.
In other words, if he’s called up to the NHL, the Canadiens are severely hampering the Rocket’s ability to win games.
But such is life for an AHL club. Success almost always leads to a loss of talent.
Seeing as his underlying numbers suggest Engstrom enjoyed an underrated audition in the NHL, not to mention his elite play in the AHL, he joins Owen Beck as a prospect who will assuredly make his way to the NHL in a permanent fashion at some point in his career.
Given his excellent play in various hockey leagues throughout his career, that point may come sooner than later.
Montreal Canadiens player statistics via Elite Prospects.
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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek never uttered the name Fernando Mendoza while speaking at the NFL's annual scouting combine Tuesday.
He didn't need to.
As Spytek ran through the list of traits he needs in a franchise quarterback — humility, selflessness, a relentless student of the game, capable of setting the tone in the locker room — it seemed he was using the same words and phrases so often used to describe Mendoza by his college teammates during last season's Heisman Trophy campaign.
And for the team holding the No. 1 pick in April's NFL draft, selecting Mendoza only seems natural.
"It's such a hard game, your competitive spirit has to run really high,” Spytek said. “You've got to be willing to play through, you know, tough circumstances and to me, it always goes back to the love of the game. The guys that truly love football, they love to practice, they love to prepare, they love to watch film, they love to play hurt, so I think those things are kind of uncompromising.”
Mendoza showed all that and more in his only season at Indiana. He demonstrated his moxie with an incredible last-minute throw to beat Penn State; missed only one play of the Big Ten championship game after getting injured on his first throw; and twisted his way into the end zone for the decisive score in the national championship game at Miami.
The Raiders certainly could use some of that magic after using 10 different starting quarterbacks over the past four seasons. They haven't had a clear-cut franchise quarterback since Derek Carr was released in February 2023.
Geno Smith was supposed to fill the void after being acquired in a trade last offseason, but a 10-game losing streak sent the Raiders spiraling to a 3-14 mark, putting Smith's future with the franchise in peril.
Now, Las Vegas is looking for a fresh start.
The Raiders fired coach Pete Carroll and replaced him with Klint Kubiak, the offensive coordinator for Super Bowl champion Seattle, and now have a chance to find the perfect pairing for running back Ashton Jeanty, last year's first-round pick.
"I think you want to limit the amount of pressure you have on that guy from the start,” Spytek said. “I'm not necessarily in favor of running him out there right away, either. So, you know, having another quality player that can play the quarterback position could help. You have a young quarterback, you want to have a great offensive line, a run game, all the things that can like really limit his chances to have him really get killed — and a great defense, too.”
The Raiders believe the centerpiece of their defense will continue to be Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby, who has been the subject of trade speculation this offseason. Spytek said Tuesday he speaks routinely with Crosby as he rehabs at team headquarters and that he expects Crosby to be in a Vegas uniform next fall.
But will he be joined by Mendoza, who led what had been the losing-est program in FBS history to Indiana's first national championship in a season filled with highlights?
While Spytek said he will listen to trade offers and won't put need ahead of value, it sure seems like Mendoza would be the perfect match for Las Vegas — right down to Mendoza's Boston roots and his embrace of Raiders co-owner Tom Brady, who played for both the Patriots and in Florida, where Mendoza attended high school.
“I think whoever is playing quarterback for the Raiders has a unique opportunity to learn from the best,” Spytek said. “You know, Tom's got a lot of humility to him, and just because he did it a certain way, he doesn't have expectations that you do it that way. too. But there are some things he's uncompromising on, and I think that whoever the quarterback is for the Raiders, I think Tom is a great resource.”
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Defenders Nico Schlotterbeck and Emre Can are in contention to return from injury in Borussia Dortmund's Champions League play-off return leg at Atalanta on Wednesday.
They trained on Tuesday and were included in the squad. Dortmund, the 1997 European champions and twice runners-up, won the home leg 2-0.
"We are delighted that our two captains are back on board for what is sure to be a very intense game. They are fit to play and will help us," coach Niko Kovač told a news conference.
"We need to think about their availability and discuss whether we do it and how we do it."
Can has been out since January due to adductor issues, while Schlotterbeck missed the 2-2 Bundesliga draw with RB Leipzig last weekend due to muscle problems.
Injured defenders Niklas Süle and Filippo Mané remain sidelined.
The winner of the match-up will advance to the last 16 and face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich.
Some Dortmund fans have been stopped from attending the game by Italian authorities worried about clashes. Nevertheless, Kovač expects a good atmosphere in northern Italy.
"It is a shame some fans have been excluded. But we will still have great support to get through this difficult match," he said.
Dortmund, second in the Bundesliga, host leaders Bayern Munich on Saturday knowing defeat will all but end their title bid.
Whether the upcoming game influences Kovač's plans for Atalanta remains to be seen.
Full back Julian Ryerson is suspended for the Bayern match so seems certain to start in Italy after a flurry of recent assists.
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Tonight, the No. 11-ranked Virginia Cavaliers aim to secure their ninth consecutive win as they host the NC State Wolfpack.
The Hoos defeated the Woflacps 76-61 in Raleigh on January 3, and my NC State vs. Virginia predictions expect a similar outcome.
Here are my top free college basketball picks for this ACC matchup on Tuesday, February 24.
NC State vs Virginia best bet: Virginia 1H -3.5 (-110)
The Virginia Cavaliers are 13-1 at home, boasting an average first-half margin of +12.6. While the NC State Wolfpack are coming off a blowout win against an injury-depleted UNC squad, they had failed to cover in their previous four games.
NC State’s biggest strength is its perimeter shooting (39.6% 3PT), but UVA ranks 19th nationally in 3-point defense (30.1%).
Virginia also holds the advantage inside, with Thijs De Ridder averaging 15.9 points per game, while Johann Grunloh and Ugonna Onyenso control the glass and protect the rim.
Wolfpack guard Quadir Copeland (14.0 ppg) has finished with fewer than 12 points in four of his last six games. With UVA ranking sixth in the country in opponent effective field goal percentage (45.2%) and able to slow down foes, fade Copeland on his points total.
Dallin Hall has knocked down a triple in 18 of 27 games this season, and NC State sits outside the top 300 in threes allowed per game (8.9).
Freshman forward Thijs De Ridder leads UVA, averaging 15.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. If he can exploit NC State’s soft interior, the Hoosiers should cover both the full-game spread and the first-half line.
The Hoos have covered the first half spread in 10 of their last 15 home games (+4.40 Units / 26% ROI). Find more college basketball betting trends for NC State vs. Virginia.
| Location | John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville, VA |
| Date | Tuesday, February 24, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN Unlimited |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Los Angeles Dodgers utility infielder Miguel Rojas celebrates his 37th birthday today, and in celebration of the World Series hero, we’ll be looking at the best moments from his Dodgers’ career.
Happy birthday, Miggy! pic.twitter.com/wE7rtR7nc7
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) February 24, 2026
Rojas began his career with the Dodgers in 2014, but L.A. traded him to the Marlins after just one season. The Marlins returned Rojas to Los Angeles ahead of the 2023 season, and he has played an important role with the team since.
He has had his best moments in MLB with the Dodgers since his return, and has cemented himself as a hero in L.A. with some of his recent performances.
The veteran’s best moment by far is his solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2025 World Series.
He stepped up to the plate with one out in the top of the ninth inning in Game 7, and hit a historic, game-tying homer to even the score after the Dodgers trailed by three runs earlier in the game.
Rojas isn’t exactly a home run hitter, as he only hit seven homers in 114 games in 2025 and hadn’t hit one for nearly two months before his legendary bomb.
His home run led to the Dodgers’ World Series win in 2025, and has set up a historic three-peat for the upcoming 2026 season.
He did far more than just hit in the World Series, though, as his defense during the Fall Classic was just as important.
In Game 6, Rojas made a brilliant pick at second base to catch Addison Barger off the bag to win the game for the Dodgers, and he came through in an even bigger way the following night during Game 7.
With a runner on third in the bottom of the ninth, Rojas fielded a ground ball and fired it to catcher Will Smith, who put his foot down on home plate to record an out and keep the game level.
Rojas has received the Roy Campanella Award — an award given to the Dodgers player who “best exemplifies the spirit and leadership” of Dodgers Hall of Famer Roy Campanella.
Miggy Ro has proven himself time and time again as a great teammate and leader, notably giving up his No. 11 to Roki Sasaki to make the rookie feel more welcomed after the Dodgers signed him ahead of last season.
He has also set the Dodgers up for the future, teaching shortstop Mookie Betts the nuances of playing the position as he adjusts to the infield.
Rojas’ important to the team can’t be understated, and the Dodgers clearly realize his value as well. They signed Rojas to a one-year deal, and he will end his career as a Dodger following the coming season.
His job is’t done yet, though, as the Dodgers are still chasing history and looking to win the first three-peat in Dodgers history.
What is your favorite Miguel Rojas moment?
Pretty much everyone who isn't trying to get clicks from you expects the Raiders to take Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza with the number one overall pick in April's draft. The Raiders aren't saying that's who they will pick, but, again, the choice is about as much of a no-brainer as it comes.
With that expectation in mind, the question becomes if Mendoza would be pegged to start right away for the Raiders. And GM John Spytek made it clear that, in a perfect world, that would not be his preference.
"I think you want to limit the amount of pressure you have on that guy from the start. Now, if you have a young quarterback, I'm not necessarily in favor of running him out there right away either," said Spytek. "So another quality player that can play the quarterback position if you have a young quarterback. And obviously, a great offensive line, a run game, all the things that can limit his chances to really get killed. And a great defense too, because if he doesn't feel like he's got to go out there and score 35 points every week, I think that's helpful."
The ideal here, as Spytek explains, is to have an established veteran quarterback on the team who could start for the team until the young QB is ready. That isn't always possible. And it isn't always necessary. But as an option, that would be ideal.
Having young quarterbacks sit behind a veteran used to be more common than it is in today's game. Aaron Rodgers sat behind Brett Favre. Tom Brady sat behind Drew Bledsoe. Then again neither of those quarterbacks were the number one overall pick and therefore seen as the savior of the franchise. Brady was far from it.
The flip side is someone like Sam Darnold who started right away as a rookie and struggled so much he didn't really find his way until his seventh season and his fourth team. And last season led the Seahawks -- his fifth team -- to the Super Bowl.
The Raiders don't want that to happen. They want the guy they draft to have his success with them, preferably in the short term.
One way to help that to happen is to let him sit behind a veteran. Barring that, the solution would be to use their near $100 million in available cap space to fill the myriad of holes on the team to give Mendoza the best chance to succeed.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: John Spytek's stance on Raiders starting Fernando Mendoza right away
On Tuesday, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes took the podium at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis to field questions from reporters and writers from across the NFL. While Holmes addressed a variety of topics, he began by discussing the status of left tackle Taylor Decker and the possibility of his retirement this offseason.
“Obviously, Taylor, he’s earned the right to have as much space as he needs to reflect on a long season, and we respect him; we give him that,” Holmes told the media. “But obviously, with the start of the new League year coming, you want as much clarity as possible. So, within these next couple of weeks, we’ll make sure that we have that clarity.”
While the Combine is underway, and on-field drills take place from Thursday through Sunday, it’s just a week after this event concludes that the next begins. The NFL free agency tampering period is set to begin on Monday, March 9, at noon EST, with the official start of the NFL New Year kicking off on Wednesday, March 11, at 4 pm EST.
With the Lions needing to have a firm grasp of their upcoming positional needs and available salary cap space by the start of the new year, Decker’s status is an important component they need to fully understand. Currently, Decker is set to count for roughly $21 million against the salary cap, but if he retires, the Lions will free up $11.6 million in new cap space and may need to utilize those extra funds to find Decker’s replacement in free agency or the NFL Draft.
While the Lions, nor Decker, will be obligated to address this topic ahead of free agency, we hope to also gain clarification soon.
Linux 7.0 is officially taking shape with the release of the first release candidate. The new kernel lays the groundwork for upcoming distros like Ubuntu 26.04 LTS and Fedora 44, while delivering broad hardware enablement for Intel's next-gen CPUs, AMD Zen 6 and new GPUs, and expanding support for Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms. Beyond hardware, Linux 7.0 brings meaningful file system and performance improvements, continued Rust integration, and a long list of under-the-hood optimizations.
In the world of global healthcare, a significant shift is taking place. While we often hear about Americans traveling abroad for more affordable dental work or prescriptions, there is a massive, high-value movement flowing in the opposite direction. By 2034, the United States medical tourism market is projected to reach a staggering $51.76 billion, growing at a steady compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.76%.
This isn’t just a story about numbers; it’s a story about human hope, cutting-edge science, and the relentless pursuit of the best possible care. For thousands of international patients, “Made in America” is the gold standard for life-saving surgeries and transformative aesthetic procedures.
Recent market data from 2025 valued the U.S. medical tourism sector at approximately $31.27 billion. The leap to over $50 billion by 2034 reflects a world that is becoming more mobile and a healthcare system that is becoming more specialized.
Unlike some “budget” medical destinations, the U.S. market thrives on quaternary care—the most advanced, specialized, and complex levels of medicine. Whether it’s a revolutionary oncology treatment in Houston or a complex heart transplant in Cleveland, the U.S. remains the “North Star” for patients who have exhausted options in their home countries.
Several pillars are supporting this $51.76 billion forecast. It isn’t just about the doctors; it’s about the entire ecosystem surrounding the patient.
The U.S. is home to some of the world’s most prestigious medical institutions—the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and Johns Hopkins, to name a few. These centers aren’t just hospitals; they are global hubs of innovation. Patients travel here for treatments that simply don’t exist elsewhere, particularly in genomics, oncology, and robotic surgery.
In 2026, the “medical journey” starts long before the patient boards a plane. Over 78% of U.S. hospitals have now integrated advanced telemedicine solutions. This allows international patients to have “virtual consults” with world-class specialists, review their digital imaging, and finalize their treatment plans from their living rooms in Dubai, London, or Mexico City.
The industry has moved toward a “humanized” hospitality model. Premium medical travel packages now include:
While complex surgeries lead in revenue, the Cosmetic and Aesthetic Treatment segment currently holds the largest market share. Why? Because global patients are seeking the precision and safety of board-certified American surgeons.
Other high-growth areas include:
If you’re looking for the heart of U.S. medical tourism, look to the South. Representing a 31% market share, states like Florida and Texas are the current champions.
These regions have perfected the “medical hub” model, combining elite clinical care with easy international flight connectivity and a bilingual workforce.
While the global medical tourism market is often driven by “cost-arbitrage” (finding the cheapest price), the U.S. market is driven by “quality-arbitrage.” Patients coming to the U.S. are often willing to pay a premium for the certainty of outcome, the transparency of safety standards, and the hope of a second chance.
As one market analyst put it: “You don’t come to America because it’s the cheapest; you come because it’s the best. In 2026, people are increasingly viewing their health as the ultimate investment.”
The road to $51 billion isn’t without its speed bumps. The high cost of U.S. healthcare remains the primary barrier for many. Additionally, the complex insurance landscape and the need for rigorous post-operative follow-up across borders require a level of coordination that many smaller facilities still struggle to provide.
The 2034 forecast of $51.76 billion is a testament to the U.S. healthcare system’s ability to innovate and attract the world’s most discerning patients. By combining artificial intelligence, telemedicine, and a deep focus on the patient experience, the U.S. is not just treating illnesses—it is defining the future of global healthcare mobility.
For the international patient, the message is clear: The best care in the world is just a flight away.
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The new route will help boost tourism in both cities, which will help the local economies as more people will be traveling between these two exciting cities. Allegiant Air is helping to develop the tourism infrastructure in the region by providing a reliable service that will give people the opportunity to visit Fort Lauderdale’s beaches, nightlife, and attractions, as well as Rochester’s historical attractions, culture, and scenic spots in the Finger Lakes region.
This new service enhances accessibility between two diverse tourism hubs. Fort Lauderdale, a prominent tourist destination known for its coastal beauty, luxury resorts, and vibrant culture, will now have more direct connections to Rochester, famous for its rich history, museums, and natural attractions like Lake Ontario and the Finger Lakes wine region.
The introduction of this direct flight will encourage leisure travelers to visit Rochester’s rich cultural attractions while also providing Rochester residents with an easier way to explore the beaches, shopping, and entertainment options in Fort Lauderdale. The direct flight connection will not only increase the flow of visitors to both cities but also drive regional tourism by facilitating shorter, more affordable travel experiences.
The Fort Lauderdale to Rochester route is an example of Allegiant Air’s continued commitment to expanding its network and providing affordable travel options for key tourism markets across the United States. By introducing 2 flights per week, Allegiant is supporting tourism growth and contributing to the regional economies of both South Florida and New York State. This new route allows visitors from the Northeast to easily access Fort Lauderdale, a major gateway for international travelers and cruise tourism, while also attracting Florida residents to visit the attractions of Rochester and the Finger Lakes.
As both cities see an increase in tourist traffic, local businesses, including hotels, restaurants, and tour operators, will benefit from the influx of visitors. Allegiant’s expansion of its network to include more destinations like Rochester directly supports economic growth through tourism development, creating jobs and increasing revenue for hospitality sectors in both cities.
The introduction of this direct route is expected to enhance the travel experience for visitors, reducing the time and cost of traveling between South Florida and New York’s Finger Lakes. Allegiant Air offers affordable fares, making it an attractive choice for budget-conscious travelers. This helps make tourism more accessible to a wider audience, contributing to the growth of the domestic travel market in the U.S.
With the addition of the 737-8 aircraft, which is known for its fuel efficiency and passenger comfort, the service ensures that travelers enjoy a smooth and affordable journey. The impact on tourism will be especially significant in Fort Lauderdale, as the increased accessibility will support both leisure tourism and business tourism, including the Miami cruise market, which relies heavily on tourism from visitors arriving by air.
The Fort Lauderdale to Rochester route is part of a broader trend in the aviation industry to enhance connectivity between smaller cities and larger travel hubs. This development directly impacts tourism growth by improving access to regions that may not always be easily reachable by other means of transportation.
As Rochester continues to position itself as an emerging tourism destination in New York State, this route will help showcase the city’s historical sites, festivals, and the natural beauty of the Finger Lakes. Similarly, Fort Lauderdale’s tourism will benefit from attracting new visitors who might have previously considered traveling to other destinations in Florida.
The new route opening by Allegiant Air from Fort Lauderdale to Rochester is an exciting new development for tourism between these two vastly different cities in the U.S. With the airline’s commitment to operate 2 flights per week from February 12, 2026, Allegiant Air is not only giving people access to new destinations but also injecting tourism revenue into both Fort Lauderdale and Rochester.
This new route will have a positive effect on the economy of both cities as well as their tourism sectors, which will continue to flourish as more people visit Fort Lauderdale for its beach activities and Rochester for its points of interest. This will ensure that the economic well-being of South Florida and New York State is taken care of.
Image Source: Allegiant Air
The post Allegiant Air Launches New Route from Fort Lauderdale to Rochester, Enhancing their Travel and Tourism Opportunities with Two Weekly Flights appeared first on Travel And Tour World.ECBYO collaborates with Tripshock to unveil a dedicated online platform for Gulf Coast activities, centering Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Pensacola to streamline tourism planning along the Alabama-Florida shoreline. This initiative centralizes bookings for parasailing, dolphin cruises, fishing charters, and eco-tours, eliminating fragmented searches and projecting surges in adventure tourism participation. By offering real-time availability and secure reservations, the site positions these beach havens for exponential tourism growth, channeling millions more visitors into high-value experiences amid annual twenty-two million regional arrivals.
The platform enhances accessibility for spontaneous travelers, fostering extended stays that amplify tourism spending on accommodations and dining. Gulf Shores‘ white sands, Orange Beach‘s marinas, and Pensacola‘s emerald waters gain seamless promotion, countering seasonal dips with year-round tourism appeal.
Gulf Shores headlines with instant bookings for kiteboarding lessons and sunset cruises, supercharging tourism through user-friendly interfaces that convert browsers into participants. State park kayaking and bonfire beach parties integrate effortlessly, drawing families for multi-day aquatic immersions. The platform’s mobile optimization projects thirty percent booking uplifts, revitalizing local operators from surf schools to seafood shacks.
This tech infusion diverts mass tourism toward guided pursuits, preserving dunes while boosting eco-levies for conservation. Gulf Shores‘ fishing piers and bird sanctuaries thrive on curated packages, extending tourism beyond high-rise condos.
Orange Beach excels in parasailing towers and deep-sea charters targeting marlin runs, where the booking engine revolutionizes tourism logistics for high-adrenaline seekers. Paddleboard yoga and glass-bottom boat tours to artificial reefs diversify offerings, encouraging hybrid wellness-adventure tourism. Marina integrations ensure fluid transitions from docking to departures, projecting doubled charter revenues amid Gulf’s dollar eighteen billion economic footprint.
Sustainability filters promote reef-safe operators, aligning luxury tourism with marine protection. Orange Beach‘s back bays gain visibility, nurturing quiet-water tourism for novices amid rapid regional growth.
Pensacola spotlights naval aviation simulators and snorkel trails at Pensacola Beach, igniting heritage-adventure tourism via one-click reservations. Fort Pickens ruins and dolphin encounter pods blend Civil War lore with wildlife, drawing history buffs for immersive day trips. The platform’s review aggregation builds trust, spurring repeat tourism from national seashore visitors contributing dollar five hundred forty-two million locally.
Barrier island hopping extends explorations, mitigating overcrowding while funding dune restorations. Pensacola‘s Blue Angels air shows sync with bookings, amplifying event-tied tourism.
Tripshock’s engine delivers live inventory across one hundred plus operators, eliminating phone tag and sold-out frustrations to democratize tourism in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Pensacola. Secure payments and group discounts incentivize larger parties, projecting twenty-five percent volume increases for sunset sails and jet ski rentals. Mobile wallets streamline impulse tourism, capturing millennials during beach scrolls.
This frictionless model counters aggregator dominance, empowering independents with direct visibility. Tourism dwell times lengthen via bundled combos, optimizing coastal itineraries.
High-flying parasailing over Gulf Shores sugar sands and dolphin cruises in Orange Beach calm bays headline offerings, fueling thrill-based tourism with tandem flights and narrated encounters. Pensacola‘s triple-decker boats add sunset options, blending romance with marine education to captivate couples. Platform analytics forecast peak-season rushes, prompting operator scaling.
Family-oriented formats sustain multi-generational tourism, with safety certifications building confidence. Gulf’s biodiversity hotspots benefit from awareness-driven conservation donations.
Deep-sea charters from Orange Beach marinas target red snapper quotas and inshore speckled trout, positioning the platform as angling tourism HQ for Gulf Coast enthusiasts. Half-day bay trips and overnight bluewater hunts cater to novices and pros, with gear-inclusive packages simplifying prep. Gulf Shores party boats aggregate crowds affordably, amplifying social tourism.
Seasonal migrations align bookings with peaks, sustaining captain incomes year-round. Pensacola‘s offshore rigs draw trophy hunters, enhancing tourism multipliers through tackle shops.
Kayak eco-tours through Gulf Shores coastal impoundments and Pensacola sea turtle patrols educate on habitats, pioneering green tourism amid platform’s sustainability badges. Orange Beach birding floats spotlight migratory shorebirds, channeling eco-travelers to low-impact pursuits. Guided wetland walks reveal saltmarsh ecosystems, fostering stewardship that funds restoration projects.
This curation diverts volumes from fragile reefs, balancing tourism growth with preservation. Certifications attract premium demographics, elevating per-visitor spends.
Custom group modules facilitate family reunions and corporate retreats across Gulf Shores bonfire beaches and Pensacola naval history sites, igniting event tourism with tailored logistics. Wedding parasailing add-ons and festival shuttles integrate seamlessly, projecting uplifts in group tourism tied to Mardi Gras surges nearby.
Bulk discounts spur bachelor escapes, diversifying tourism beyond couples. Orange Beach marinas host regattas, syncing with platform promotions.
Responsive design ensures beachgoers in Gulf Shores book jet skis mid-stroll, revolutionizing on-the-go tourism with geofenced deals and weather-tied suggestions. Pensacola sunset chasers snag last-minute cruises, capturing impulse revenues. Push notifications sustain engagement, converting one-offs into regulars.
This agility counters weather volatility, stabilizing tourism amid hurricanes. Operators gain predictive tools, optimizing staffing dynamically.
ECBYO’s collaboration extends to Biloxi casinos and Dauphin Island ferries, weaving Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Pensacola into pan-coastal tourism webs. Cross-promotions with state parks bundle activities with camping, fostering multi-destination tourism. National seashore tie-ins leverage eight million annual visitors for inland diversions.
Joint marketing elevates profiles, drawing fly-drive circuits from Atlanta hubs. Tourism boards forecast dollar twenty billion impacts, funding infrastructure.
Platform commissions recirculate into marketing grants, empowering small operators in Orange Beach and Pensacola to compete nationally. Job growth in guiding and hospitality sustains communities, with Gulf Shores benefiting from high-spend adventure niches. Fiscal 2026 outlooks signal stability amid flat volumes, prioritizing quality tourism.
Visitor analytics inform trail expansions, ensuring resilient tourism ecosystems. Gulf Coast’s 21 million arrivals gain experiential depth, prolonging legacies.
AI personalization and VR previews loom for 2027, tailoring tourism to preferences across Gulf Shores watersports and Pensacola histories. Loyalty programs reward repeaters, locking in tourism loyalty amid competitive beaches. ECBYO-Tripshock blueprint inspires peer coasts, redefining activity tourism standards.
Sustained innovation positions the Gulf for enduring tourism prosperity, blending tech with timeless sunsets.
The post Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Pensacola Transform Tourism with ECBYO and Tripshock’s New Gulf Coast Activities Booking Platform: What You Need to Know appeared first on Travel And Tour World.The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum will present its new exhibition, The Walt Disney Studios and World War II, which demonstrates how Disney Studios supported US military operations during World War II. The exhibition, which opens on March 13 2026, and will operate until September 10 2026, will show how Disney used its animation and creative work to create military support during World War II.
Organized by The Walt Disney Family Museum, the exhibition highlights over 500 rare objects, film clips, and historical artifacts, demonstrating how The Walt Disney Studios contributed to the war effort with more than 90% of its output devoted to creating original artwork, training films, and public service media. The exhibition will also feature Disney’s iconic characters, such as Donald Duck, as part of military insignias, war bond campaigns, and other wartime efforts.
When the United States entered World War II following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Walt Disney immediately pledged his studio’s support to the war effort. Disney’s lot in Burbank, California, was even converted into an Army anti-aircraft base. Despite the war’s many challenges, Disney’s studio produced more than 1,200 insignia for military units, as well as animated short films, instructional media, and government educational films, all produced without profit.
Walt Disney himself saw the potential for animation to uplift spirits during the war, understanding its ability to communicate war-related issues and provide an uncomplicated way for civilians and troops alike to engage with the ongoing conflict. Disney’s characters, from Donald Duck to Goofy, were featured on military aircraft, ships, and vehicles, spreading messages of solidarity and hope. This exhibition will bring these historical pieces to life, showcasing Disney’s immense contribution to the war effort.
Set within the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum’s rotating special exhibition gallery, the immersive exhibition will provide visitors of all ages a chance to step into the world of Disney’s wartime efforts. Visitors will encounter a range of exhibits, including visually stunning lantern displays, a community photo experience, and rare memorabilia such as wartime posters and films that tell the story of Disney’s dedication to uplifting morale through creativity.
The exhibition also underscores Disney’s role in shaping public perception through popular culture, with Disney characters featured in magazine ads, posters, and campaigns promoting food recycling, rationing, and war bonds. The exhibit will give a detailed look into how these efforts helped not only soldiers but also civilians on the home front.
Mary Pat Higgins, President and CEO of the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, emphasized the exhibition’s significance, saying, “The Walt Disney Studios and World War II tells a powerful story of creativity, resilience, and courage during one of the most challenging times in history. By showcasing Disney’s extraordinary contributions, we inspire visitors to recognize the impact of using creativity and compassion to stand against injustice.”
The exhibition serves as both a historical showcase and a reminder of how creativity can serve as a powerful tool for change, even in the most difficult circumstances. Disney’s ability to engage with and uplift both soldiers and civilians through its animation and media was vital during the war, and the exhibition will highlight the lasting impact of these efforts.
The exhibition, which runs through September 2026, is part of the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum’s mission to educate visitors about the importance of standing against injustice and prejudice. It offers a unique opportunity for audiences to reflect on the moral courage and contributions of individuals like Walt Disney and his studio. It aims to inspire all generations to become “Upstanders” who take action and make a positive difference in the world.
The Walt Disney Studios and World War II exhibition shows how a worldwide entertainment company supported one of modern history’s most important periods. The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum shows visitors an interactive experience, which displays Disney’s artistic talents that he dedicated to World War II service. The exhibition will attract Disney enthusiasts while also appealing to history enthusiasts and families who want to discover how creativity functions during wartime.
The post The Walt Disney Studios and WWII: A Unique Exhibition at the Dallas Holocaust Museum appeared first on Travel And Tour World.Travelers were grounded in Costa Rica today as Juan Santamaria International Airport and Guanacaste Airport recorded a combined 11 cancellations and 25 delays. JetBlue (8 cancellations) and United (3 cancellations, 1 delay) were the most impacted carriers, while SANSA Airlines (13 delays) led delay counts. Other major airlines including American Airlines (2 delays), Delta Air Lines (1 delay), WestJet (2 delays) and Porter Airlines (2 delays) also reported operational issues. Juan Santamaria International Airport and Guanacaste Airport were two of the most affected hubs in Costa Rica connected to the US as millions across the United States remain under winter alerts and blizzard warnings.
JetBlue faced 8 cancellations, accounting for the majority of disrupted flights across both Costa Rican airports. All of its affected services were tied to U.S. routes, reflecting the impact of winter storm conditions in the northeastern United States.
United recorded 3 cancellations and 1 delay, making it the second most affected airline overall. Its disruptions were also connected to U.S. operations amid blizzard-related constraints.
SANSA Airlines reported 13 delays, the highest delay count among all carriers. While it did not record cancellations, operational flow was significantly affected.
American Airlines reported 2 delays at Guanacaste, contributing to broader operational strain tied to U.S. winter conditions.
Delta Air Lines recorded 1 delay, reflecting moderate operational impact.
WestJet and Porter Airlines each reported 2 delays, showing spillover effects on North American connectivity.
Flight operations across Juan Santamaria International Airport and Guanacaste Airport were disrupted as severe winter weather swept across parts of the United States. Millions remain under winter alerts and blizzard warnings, including New York City, which is experiencing its first blizzard warning in nine years. States of emergency had been declared in New Jersey, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, where travel restrictions were in force.
The storm’s ripple effect has impacted major airlines such as JetBlue, United, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, WestJet and Porter Airlines. Costa Rica–U.S. connections were particularly affected, with every recorded cancellation tied to U.S. routes.
The situation highlights how winter weather in the northeastern United States can disrupt international air travel, affecting airports in Costa Rica and travelers moving between North America and Central America. Airlines continue adjusting schedules as winter alerts remain active across multiple U.S. states.
Source: Different airports and FlightAware
The Tehri Lake Festival 2026 is recognized as one of the most significant tourism events in North India, specifically within the picturesque state of Uttarakhand. This four-day event is organized annually to showcase the immense potential of the Tehri Dam reservoir as a premier destination for adventure sports and cultural tourism. Through this festival, the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board aims to draw global attention to the region, blending the thrill of modern athletics with the deep-rooted traditions of the Himalayan people.
A grand stage is provided by the emerald waters of the Tehri Lake for a diverse array of activities that cater to both adrenaline seekers and those interested in heritage. It is observed that the festival serves as a strategic initiative to boost the local economy and provide a platform for regional artisans and performers. The geographical significance of the Tehri Dam, which is one of the tallest dams in the world, is leveraged to create a unique environment where nature and engineering marvels coexist. By inviting visitors from across the globe, the state government ensures that the beauty of the Garhwal Himalayas is shared with a wider audience.
A wide variety of water-based and aerial activities are featured during the four-day extravaganza. It is reported that the skies above the lake are frequently filled with paragliders, providing a bird’s-eye view of the expansive reservoir and the surrounding peaks. On the water, competitions involving jet skiing, kayaking, and canoeing are conducted with great enthusiasm. The lake is transformed into a hub of high-speed movement where professional athletes and enthusiasts alike are given the opportunity to test their skills.
Furthermore, white-water rafting and surfing demonstrations are organized to captivate the crowds gathered along the banks. It is noted that safety protocols are strictly followed, with expert instructors stationed at various points to ensure a secure environment for all participants. The integration of land-based adventure is also seen through mountain biking and trekking expeditions that are mapped out around the perimeter of the lake, allowing visitors to explore the rugged terrain of the Tehri Garhwal district.
While adventure remains a primary draw, the cultural fabric of Uttarakhand is woven deeply into the festival’s programming. Traditional folk dances, such as the Jhora and Choliya, are performed by local troupes in vibrant attire. These performances are intended to preserve the ancient customs of the hills and pass them on to the younger generation. The sound of traditional instruments like the dhol and damau echoes across the water, creating an atmosphere that is both festive and spiritual.
A dedicated space is provided for local craftsmen to display their wares. Hand-woven woolens, intricate wood carvings, and organic products from the mountain farms are made available to the public. It is believed that by facilitating this direct interaction between tourists and artisans, the authentic heritage of the region is promoted effectively. Culinary stalls are also established where traditional Garhwali and Kumaoni delicacies are served, offering a taste of the unique flavors found only in this part of the world.
The sanctity of the Ganges river, which feeds the Tehri Lake, is respected through various ceremonies. Each evening, a grand Ganga Aarti is performed at the water’s edge. This ritual involves the lighting of lamps and the chanting of prayers, creating a serene environment that contrasts with the high energy of the daytime sports. It is emphasized by the organizers that the festival is conducted with a focus on ecological balance. Efforts are made to ensure that the pristine nature of the lake is maintained, and waste management practices are strictly implemented throughout the venue.
The spiritual aura of the region is further enhanced by the presence of ancient temples nearby. It is often recommended that visitors take the time to explore the historic town of New Tehri, which was constructed following the creation of the dam. The resilience of the local community is reflected in the way the new settlement has been developed, making the festival not just a celebration of sports, but also a tribute to the spirit of the people of Uttarakhand.
The impact of the Tehri Lake Festival on the local hospitality industry is profound. Hotels, homestays, and campsites in the vicinity are usually occupied to full capacity during the event. It is observed that the festival provides a much-needed stimulus to the livelihoods of taxi drivers, guides, and small business owners. Through the promotion of the lake as a year-round destination, the seasonal nature of mountain tourism is being addressed, encouraging a steady flow of visitors even outside the festival dates.
Infrastructure improvements are often prioritized in the lead-up to the event. Roads leading to the Tehri Garhwal region are maintained, and facilities at the lakefront are upgraded to accommodate the influx of tourists. It is envisioned that Tehri will eventually be recognized on par with international lake destinations, attracting investments in luxury resorts and sustainable tourism projects.
For those planning to attend, the festival is accessible via several routes. The nearest airport is located in Dehradun, from which a scenic drive through the hills leads to the venue. Alternatively, the railway station at Rishikesh serves as a convenient transit point. It is suggested that travel arrangements be made well in advance due to the high demand for accommodation during the festival period.
The Tehri Lake Festival 2026 stands as a testament to the harmonious blend of modern recreation and traditional values. As the sun sets behind the Himalayan peaks, the lights of the festival reflect on the still waters, signaling the successful conclusion of another day of celebration. It remains a cornerstone of the Uttarakhand tourism calendar, promising an unforgettable experience for every traveler who makes the journey to this majestic mountain retreat.
The post Tehri Lake Festival 2026: A Grand Celebration of Adventure and Culture with Water Sports in Northern India appeared first on Travel And Tour World.China has witnessed a significant surge in holiday tourism and consumer spending during this year’s extended Lunar New Year break. Millions of domestic travelers flocked to scenic landmarks and dining establishments across the country, contributing to a substantial boost in the economy. Several factors played a role in this remarkable growth, including the extended nine-day holiday, which provided ample time for people to travel and indulge in leisure activities. As pandemic restrictions eased, many Chinese citizens eagerly embraced opportunities to explore new destinations, revisit popular sites, and enjoy festive events that celebrate their cultural heritage. Additionally, the thriving dining industry, particularly with the rise of popular hotpot chains, further fueled the boost in consumer spending. This holiday period’s success highlights the country’s economic recovery and renewed consumer confidence, signaling a strong demand for travel and entertainment experiences nationwide.
According to a report from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, domestic trips during the holiday reached 596 million, a considerable rise compared to previous years. This spike in travel activity indicates the growing confidence of Chinese consumers in both traveling and spending on leisure activities after the challenging years of the pandemic.
Tourism spending during the festive period also soared, reaching 803.5 billion yuan (approximately $116.81 billion). This marked an impressive 19% increase compared to the same period last year, despite the holiday being one day shorter in 2023. The figures were based on official ministry data and highlight the strong recovery in the tourism sector.
While overall tourism spending saw a significant rise, there was a slight dip in domestic tourism spending per trip, which fell by 0.2%. Despite this minor decrease, the overall trend in both domestic travel and tourism spending indicates a positive trajectory for China’s economy as consumer confidence continues to rebound.
Famous scenic sites around the country, such as the Great Wall in Beijing and the Danxia landform in Guangdong, experienced a surge in visitors. These iconic locations were filled with tourists eager to enjoy the cultural significance of the holiday. The festive atmosphere extended to smaller, more remote regions, including villages in Fujian, where traditional folk activities like the “you shen” parade, honoring local deities, attracted large crowds. This demonstrates the growing interest in more traditional and culturally rich experiences during the holiday period.
The high demand for travel experiences was reflected in individual accounts of tourists struggling to secure tickets for popular events. For example, a Beijing resident noted her difficulty in obtaining tickets for a molten-iron fireworks display in Tangshan, a city located about two hours away from the capital. Tickets for this special event, which were priced at 98 yuan—significantly higher than the usual price of 38 yuan—sold out immediately, underscoring the overwhelming popularity of limited-time, festival-specific events.
In addition to the major tourist destinations, scenic areas such as Jiuzhaigou in Sichuan province also reported impressive numbers. The Jiuzhaigou scenic area welcomed 182,700 visitors through February 23, marking a 17.7% increase in visitor numbers from last year. Similarly, Zhangjiajie, a renowned mountain park in central China, saw a 10.27% year-on-year increase in visitors during the first five days of the break.
Large cities such as Shanghai and Beijing also saw strong tourism performance. Shanghai authorities reported that the city welcomed 21.67 million visitors during the holiday, an 8.36% increase from last year. Tourism-related spending in Shanghai reached 25.6 billion yuan, a jump of 20.9% compared to the previous year. In Beijing, the capital city, 19.84 million visitors arrived, and tourism spending hit 33.14 billion yuan. These figures suggest that the nation’s largest cities continue to play a major role in driving the country’s tourism growth.
Travel platforms also indicated that lower-tier cities and county-level destinations saw a notable uptick in tourism. Many people were seeking a more traditional holiday atmosphere, which has contributed to the popularity of smaller towns and rural areas. This shift reflects a growing desire for less commercialized, more authentic cultural experiences that contrast with the urban-centric tourist attractions.
In addition to travel, the catering industry performed well during the holiday. Sales revenue at key catering businesses monitored by the Ministry of Commerce rose by 5.2% compared to last year’s holiday. One notable performer was the popular hotpot chain Haidilao, which reported serving over 7 million customers nationwide in the first five days of the holiday. The number of customers visiting Haidilao increased by more than 10% on Lunar New Year’s Eve and the first day of the new year, compared to the same period last year. These numbers highlight the growing appetite for dining out as part of holiday celebrations.
However, not all sectors saw positive results. The box office, a key barometer of discretionary spending, experienced a significant downturn. Several new movie releases faced poor reviews, leading to a 39.5% decrease in box office revenue, which totaled 5.75 billion yuan. Total cinema admissions also fell by 35.8%, amounting to 120 million. The drop in cinema attendance, despite the festive season, reflects shifting entertainment preferences and the growing dominance of other leisure activities over traditional movie-going.
In summary, the Lunar New Year holiday served as a major boost for domestic tourism and consumer spending in China, with both sectors showing strong year-on-year growth. While some sectors, like the box office, saw a decline, the overall economic activity demonstrated a strong recovery following the pandemic. The holiday period highlighted the diverse ways in which people are choosing to spend their time, from exploring iconic landmarks to enjoying traditional festivities and dining out.
The post China Sees Massive Growth in Holiday Tourism and Spending as Millions Hit Scenic Spots and Dining Venues Over Lunar New Year appeared first on Travel And Tour World.Mexico, February 24, 2026 – The U.S. Mission in Mexico has issued an update following recent law enforcement operations across various regions in the country. Public transportation and businesses have resumed regular operations, and U.S. citizens are no longer required to shelter in place, as the situation stabilizes. However, U.S. government staff in specific cities remain subject to curfews and restricted movement.
The situation arose after a significant operation conducted on February 22, 2026, which involved law enforcement agencies across multiple states. The operation has now concluded, and life in most areas is slowly returning to normal. However, travelers are still urged to stay informed and vigilant as some regions, particularly in Jalisco State, continue to experience minor disruptions.
Air travel has seen improvements, with flights returning to normal schedules in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. Travelers in Puerto Vallarta can expect additional flights to accommodate the surge of passengers who were affected by recent disruptions. Both Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) and Guadalajara International Airport (GDL) have been cleared for operations, with security being reinforced.
“We are seeing a steady return to normalcy, with airlines resuming schedules as planned. Extra flights have been arranged to assist those who were previously unable to depart due to cancellations,” the U.S. Mission in Mexico stated. “Both airports remain secure, and facilities are fully operational.”
If your direct flight to the United States is canceled due to the disruption, the U.S. Mission advises travelers to book connecting flights through other airports in Mexico or the United States. Customers should check with their airlines for the latest flight schedules and rebooking options.
While most roads in Mexico are operating normally, some areas in Jalisco, particularly between Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, are still experiencing limited access. These road closures are not mandated by local authorities but are the result of ongoing recovery efforts and security operations.
Travelers are advised to avoid unnecessary travel in these affected areas and to follow any road closure or detour signs issued by local authorities. For those planning to drive, it is essential to monitor local media channels for updates on road conditions and safety alerts.
Although the situation in Mexico is gradually returning to normal, certain restrictions remain in place for U.S. government staff. Those stationed in Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Ciudad Guzman, and Tijuana are still under curfew during nighttime hours. Additionally, U.S. government staff in Jalisco and Monterrey have been directed to remain within their metropolitan areas for safety.
“The curfew restrictions are designed to ensure the safety of government personnel, but U.S. citizens in these regions are not currently facing these same limitations,” the U.S. Embassy said in a statement. “We encourage everyone to remain cautious and to stay updated on the latest security developments.”
Travelers are reminded to always follow the directions of local authorities, especially in areas that might still be experiencing heightened security measures.
For U.S. citizens currently traveling in Mexico, the U.S. Embassy provides the following guidance:
The U.S. Mission advises all American citizens in Mexico to prioritize their safety and monitor any changes to travel conditions. As the situation continues to evolve, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico will provide ongoing updates.
While disruptions are still present in some areas, Mexico remains a popular destination for tourists and travelers. With the return of normal flight schedules and the resumption of public services, the situation is expected to stabilize further in the coming days.
In conclusion, Mexico remains open for travel, but the recent unrest underscores the importance of staying informed and vigilant while visiting. With flights now back on track, affected travelers should contact their airlines for assistance and proceed with caution as the country works toward recovery.
The post Security Alert Update: US Mission in Mexico Provides Travel Advice Following Law Enforcement Operation appeared first on Travel And Tour World.Spartanburg emerges as a rising tourism hotspot in South Carolina for 2026, showcasing Croft State Park, Hatcher Garden, and cultural landmarks that promise transformative visitor experiences in the Upcountry. This historic Hub City blends Revolutionary War heritage with modern trails and festivals, positioning the area for surged tourism through accessible outdoor adventures and arts immersions. Enhanced connectivity via expanded trails and events projects substantial increases in overnight stays, revitalizing local economies with high-spend leisure travelers.
The temperate climate supports year-round tourism, from autumn foliage at Croft State Park to spring blooms in Hatcher Garden, drawing families and nature enthusiasts seeking authentic Southern escapes. Spartanburg‘s downtown evolution amplifies tourism appeal, channeling visitors into vibrant Main Street dining and boutique shopping districts.
Croft State Park headlines outdoor tourism with eighteen miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails amid seven thousand acres of rolling terrain, set to skyrocket Spartanburg’s active visitor numbers in 2026. Lake Craig boating and rifle range activities cater to diverse thrill levels, fostering multi-day tourism packages that extend beyond day trips. Civil War-era remnants add historical layers, blending recreation with education to captivate history buffs and fitness seekers alike.
Park expansions enhance accessibility, projecting twenty-five percent tourism growth through group events and adaptive programs. Croft State Park diverts crowds from coastal hubs, promoting sustainable inland tourism that preserves ecosystems while boosting nearby campground revenues.
Hatcher Garden captivates with more than ten thousand trees, shrubs, and flowers across woodland preserves, revolutionizing botanical tourism via free-admission trails and wildlife spotting in Spartanburg’s urban oasis. Pond-side lounging and interpretive paths inspire photography and mindfulness retreats, encouraging prolonged tourism engagements. Seasonal displays align with festivals, amplifying footfall from trail users transitioning to downtown arts scenes.
This community-supported haven counters urban sprawl, channeling eco-conscious tourism to under-visited green spaces. Hatcher Garden synergies with nearby preserves sustain biodiversity education, drawing school groups and seniors for tailored tourism experiences.
Hub City Railroad Museum illuminates Spartanburg‘s rail legacy, positioning industrial tourism as a 2026 draw through interactive exhibits on the town’s nickname origins. Locomotive displays and model trains engage all ages, spurring heritage walks that interconnect with the Spartanburg Music Trail. This venue elevates tourism narratives, linking past innovations to contemporary revitalization efforts.
Museum upgrades facilitate group tours, projecting uplifts in educational tourism from regional schools. Spartanburg‘s transportation heritage inspires railfan pilgrimages, enhancing downtown hotel occupancy.
Walnut Grove Plantation transports visitors to 1765 backcountry life, anchoring Revolutionary War tourism with period furnishings and reenactment grounds in Spartanburg County. Living history demonstrations showcase colonial crafts, drawing genealogy enthusiasts for immersive day-long tourism. Proximity to trails enables hybrid history-nature packages, diversifying visitor profiles.
Preservation efforts ensure authentic tourism, mitigating development pressures while funding artifact acquisitions. Walnut Grove’s role in Spartan Regiment lore sustains patriotic tourism, particularly around Independence Day.
Spartanburg Art Museum at Chapman Cultural Center features rotating exhibits and permanent collections, igniting creative tourism through classes and performances in 2026. Black box theater and interactive science zones appeal to families, blending arts with STEM for broad tourism appeal. Mayfair Art Studios complement with pottery workshops, fostering hands-on cultural immersions.
Gallery expansions project doubled attendance, channeling tourism into studio trails and pop-up events. Spartanburg positions as an arts hub, rivaling Charleston while nurturing local talent ecosystems.
Mary Black Rail Trail connects over fifty miles of paths via the Daniel Morgan system, supercharging cycling and skating tourism across Spartanburg landscapes. Dining hubs along routes sustain energy for multi-segment explorations, promoting wellness tourism amid urban greenery. 2026 enhancements add connectivity, easing access from Croft State Park to downtown festivals.
Trail usage as the community’s top amenity forecasts thirty percent tourism influxes, supporting bike rentals and shuttle services. Sustainable designs preserve riparian habitats, exemplifying green active tourism.
Hub City Spartanburgers return to Fifth Third Park on April 3, 2026, electrifying sports tourism with high-energy minor league games and playoff chases. Family-friendly spectacles blend athletics with fireworks, drawing regional fans for weekend tourism packages. Venue upgrades enhance tailgating and premium seating, amplifying game-day economies.
Baseball fervor sustains off-season events, positioning Spartanburg for tournament hosting. Tourism operators bundle tickets with trail access, merging sports with outdoor pursuits.
Spartanburg International Festival showcases global cultures from seventy-five countries countries, revolutionizing multicultural tourism through food stalls and performances in 2026. Downtown venues pulse with diversity, attracting foodies and families for immersive ethnic experiences. This event underscores the city’s international business hub status, fostering inclusive tourism narratives.
Festival growth projects record attendance, boosting artisan sales and cultural exchanges. Spartanburg leverages diaspora ties to market authentic global flavors, elevating ethnic tourism.
Spartanburg Music Trail audio tours and Main Street venues host Jazz on the Square and Music on Main, igniting nightlife tourism with local talent showcases. Culinary diversity spans international bites to Southern staples, encouraging food trail tourism from farm-to-table spots. Morgan Square events sustain evening vibrancy, extending daytime explorations.
2026 lineups promise viral moments, drawing millennials for Instagrammable nights. Tourism dwell times lengthen via concert-hotel bundles, revitalizing hospitality sectors.
Daniel Morgan Trail expansions unite Croft State Park, Hatcher Garden, and rail paths, pioneering connected eco-tourism across fifty miles. PAL initiatives promote advocacy, ensuring low-impact usage that preserves Upcountry biodiversity. Equestrian and adaptive features broaden inclusivity, projecting family tourism surges.
Green certifications attract responsible travelers, funding conservation amid growth. Spartanburg models balanced tourism, diverting coastal pressures inland.
Hub City Hog Fest, dinosaur exhibits at Science Center, and aviation playgrounds fill 2026 calendars, diversifying tourism beyond peaks. Land of Ice and Fire habitats engage kids with T-Rex digs, complementing cultural staples. Chimney Rock proximity adds day-trip tourism to Carolina adventures.
Year-round programming mitigates seasonality, sustaining revenues through themed packages. Spartanburg emerges as a versatile tourism destination, blending education with excitement.
2026 initiatives forecast millions in tourism spend, funding trail maintenance and arts grants while creating jobs in guiding and hospitality. Upcountry positioning rivals Greenville, channeling interstate traffic to Spartanburg hotels. Multiplier effects touch farms and breweries, fortifying community resilience.
This blueprint inspires South Carolina peers, collectively uplifting inland tourism standards for enduring prosperity.
The post Spartanburg Set to Transform Tourism with 2026 Top Experiences Spotlighting South Carolina’s Upcountry Gem: What You Need to Know appeared first on Travel And Tour World.Increased risk of wildfires will remain in Oklahoma due to strong winds and low humidity throughout Tuesday. Wildfires will spread quickly due to high winds above 20 miles an hour. Along with high temps in the upper 60s and low 70s, these conditions, coupled with dormant vegetation, create the perfect fire ignition mixture. It is imperative that residents in Oklahoma use caution when outdoors. A fire started in East Tulsa near Harvey Young Airport at around 10:30 am on Tuesday. It spread rapidly, and law enforcement was notified. However, they were able to control the fire. Containment was a possibility, but they were unable to control the spread due to volatile dry vegetation and windy conditions.
Fire Weather Outlook for Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Daytime highs are predicted to be in the upper 60s to lower 70s range. With the addition of strong winds from the Southwest, this is a recipe for elevated fire hazards. Burning of any kind is prohibited, and spark-causing sources such as power tools and machinery must not be used. Residents are asked to be extremely cautious during this time period. A wildfire is not a Red Flag warning, and people are urged to pay close attention to fire danger levels.
Unpredictable Weather for the Middle of the Week
The weather for Wednesday and Thursday is expected to change as a developing storm system crosses the Central Plains. Although there is a chance of light precipitation, estimated as less than 10% for the time being, there may be a small amount of precipitation, which may be helpful. However, the amount of precipitation expected is unlikely to make a significant change to the conditions concerning the fires.
Expected Warm Weather for Wednesday and Thursday
Temperatures early Wednesday will be a little lower than 45°F, and it is expected to be a little above 70°F later in the day. Fire danger will exist for a little less time than on Tuesday. Light winds and low levels of humidity will help reduce the chance of fires.
Changing Conditions in Oklahoma
The mid-week forecast provides a little better chance of light winds, and greater levels of humidity, but Oklahoma residents cannot count on any of these things to provide better conditions. Fires will continue to be a danger, and weather conditions will continue to be monitored by the authorities. An update to the Red Flag Warnings will be sent as the firefighters and the notifications to the Oklahoma Emergency Management Department change.
If you live near wildfires, it is best to keep emergency items in the house. Fire is not possible, and well-maintained equipment is less likely to cause it to ignite. For outdoor activities, especially in the fields and forests, the greatest care is needed.
Fire Prevention and Safety in Oklahoma
During a Red Flag Warning, the risk of fire is high, and prevention is important. It has been recommended to follow all fire safety precautions. No grilling, no smoking, and no use of open areas that could start a fire. The same goes for cars in dry grass. The fire department is ready for any issues. They will get a call for any fire.
The rest of the Oklahoma fire risk depends on the forecast. Fire and brush will show vegetation that has not been broken. An increase in the wind will bring the formation of fire. The vegetation must not grow again for the Fire Season to be serious. It will remain a threat.
The post Red Flag Warnings Issued Across Oklahoma Amidst High Fire Danger: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on Travel And Tour World.Samsung’s Galaxy Book 6 series is getting great reviews for being fast, reliable, and easy to use. People say it is one of Samsung’s best laptops. The laptops are light, thin, and stylish, so you can carry them anywhere.
The Galaxy Book 6 is praised for its strong performance. Both the Pro and Ultra models run programs quickly and smoothly, even when many applications are open at the same time. Reviewers say the laptops are fast and dependable, able to handle heavy tasks without slowing down.
The laptops are also very versatile. The Pro model is the laptop star for its speed and quality. The Ultra model is praised for being able to manage work and creative projects easily. Experts agree that these laptops are among Samsung’s best so far.
For the battery, reviews say the laptops can last all day without charging. This makes it easy to work, study, or create anywhere. You can use them at home, school, or on the move without worrying about power.
The screen is bright and clear. The Pro and Ultra models have a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with sharp, vivid colors. It is great for creative work, watching movies, or browsing the web. The display shows accurate colors.
The Galaxy Book 6 series is fast, powerful, and reliable. With long battery life, a sharp and colorful display, and smooth performance, it is perfect for everyday use, work, and creative tasks.
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It appears that a vivo phone may soon join the growing list of smartphones featuring 10,000mAh or larger batteries. According to a tipster, the company is currently testing such a device. Tipster Digital Chat Station revealed in a Weibo post that vivo is testing a phone equipped with a 10,000mAh silicon-carbon battery. According to the tipster, the device uses a 4.53V single-cell silicon battery that has a rated capacity of 10,000mAh. Meanwhile, its typical capacity is said to range between 11,000mAh and 12,000mAh. The vivo phone is unlikely to launch anytime soon, as it will...
Throughout the 2025–26 season, Barcelona have established themselves as one of the most dynamic attacking teams. Not only have Lamine Yamal and Raphinha excelled, but Marcus Rashford has also stepped up, shining both as a scorer and a creator. Despite this, the Englishman seemed to drift away from a permanent move, but Hansi Flick’s team has reportedly taken a step forward to secure his talent.
According to Nicolò Schira on X, formerly Twitter, Barcelona have already met with Marcus Rashford’s agent in an effort to bring positions closer regarding a permanent transfer from Manchester United. Following this, the Englishman would have reached an agreement with the Blaugranas on a contract running until 2030, making it clear that this is the player’s priority. However, the Spanish side are still seeking to reach an agreement with the Red Devils.
Holding an option-to-buy valued at around €30-35 million, the Blaugranas have a unilateral chance to secure a permanent move, but they are reportedly trying to reduce the amount. Nonetheless, Rashford’s impressive performances are catching Manchester United’s attention, as they consider either giving him a role within the team or pursuing a higher transfer to another team like PSG. For that reason, the Spanish side may be forced to pay the full amount.
Marcus Rashford has established himself as one of Barcelona’s best players, scoring 10 goals and providing 12 assists in 34 matches. Despite this, his permanent signing reportedly does not fully convince the front office, as they are also looking to pursue a younger alternative such as Jan Virgili. However, the Englishman appears to be gaining ground thanks to his immediate impact on the team, something that is far from easy to achieve.
With Raphinha established as the option on the left wing, Barcelona are looking to secure a reliable backup in order to better manage his physical workload. While Rashford has fit perfectly into the team’s system, doubts are emerging over whether he represents a long-term solution, as he is 28 years old and may not be the best choice to build the club’s future around. With this in mind, they could be forced to decide whether to prioritize experience or youth.
In the 34 matches he has played this season, Marcus Rashford has managed to place himself among the team’s top scorers and top assist providers. Alongside this, the Englishman has delivered an immediate impact, adapting to Hansi Flick’s ideas. While a bet like Jan Virgili could be ideal for the future, he would represent uncertainty in terms of performance. He could even take time to contribute in the same way as the Englishman.
According to Sergi Capdevila of Diario Sport, the Blaugranas have already decided to go all in for Marcus Rashford, having reached the conclusion that there is no player who can offer the same on-field performance for that price. Because of this, they could look to Barcelona Atlètic for a future-oriented bet, with Toni Fernández, Dani Rodríguez, and Shane Kluivert emerging as the leading candidates to gain prominence in the coming seasons.
In modern soccer, careers are rarely linear, and narratives can shift within weeks. Christian Pulisic finds himself at the center of a growing storm of speculation, while Mohamed Salah remains the benchmark that clubs and fans continue to measure elite wingers against. At Milan, the American star has built a reputation as a key attacking force, yet questions are now quietly emerging about what comes next. Meanwhile, in England, Liverpool is monitoring a familiar name as they begin to imagine life after their iconic Egyptian forward.
For much of his time in Italy, Pulisic has been hailed as a renaissance figure, a player who rediscovered his best form after an inconsistent spell in England. His contributions in Serie A have been significant, establishing him as one of the club’s most reliable attacking outlets. Yet the latest reports suggest his future is no longer straightforward, with decisions looming that could shape the next phase of his career.
According to Corriere dello Sport, the American forward is approaching a crucial moment in his contract cycle, with discussions over renewal underway. While the club is eager to secure his long-term commitment, the player is taking a cautious approach, evaluating every detail of his professional trajectory. The uncertainty comes at a delicate time, with his recent form and fitness raising questions about his immediate trajectory, while interest from abroad continues to grow.
The forward’s current deal runs until 2027, but the timing of negotiations has made his future a hot topic within the club hierarchy. The management sees him as a central figure in their sporting project and wants to avoid losing him amid growing international interest. However, Pulisic’s camp is reportedly weighing several factors before committing to a new agreement. The decision is not just financial; it is also sporting, strategic, and personal. The allure of new challenges in different leagues, coupled with his international profile, has complicated the renewal process.
The club’s coach, Massimiliano Allegri, is believed to be a major admirer of the American winger, viewing him as a tactical cornerstone. Despite recent physical issues, Allegri reportedly values his versatility and experience, considering him indispensable for the team’s ambitions, especially if they return to the Champions League. Beyond sporting reasons, the club also recognizes his commercial impact, particularly in North America, making him a valuable asset both on and off the pitch.
The uncertainty around Pulisic’s contract has sparked speculation about a potential attacking overhaul. Italian journalist Peppe Di Stefano of Sky Italia recently hinted that changes could be on the horizon, suggesting that even key stars might not be guaranteed to stay. “A revolution in attack wouldn’t surprise me, especially since I see difficulties renewing some contracts, like Pulisic’s, for example,” Di Stefano said.
Pulisic and his attacking partner, Rafael Leao, have struggled with injuries, limiting their time together on the pitch, which has further fueled speculation about the club’s long-term planning.
While the Italian club navigates contract negotiations, interest from England is intensifying. Liverpool is reportedly monitoring Pulisic as a potential successor to Mohamed Salah, whose long-term future remains uncertain. The parallels between their careers are striking. Salah left Chelsea, rebuilt his reputation in Italy, and returned to England to become a Premier League legend. Pulisic followed a similar path, struggling for consistency in London before flourishing in Serie A.
This season, the American star has delivered strong numbers, with double-digit goals and consistent attacking output, reinforcing his status as one of Europe’s most productive wide players. Analysts have noted that his efficiency per minute is approaching the levels Salah displayed during his peak years at Liverpool.
Former Reds’ striker Emile Heskey has openly backed the American as a viable option for the Reds. “I actually quite like Christian Pulisic. He is very direct. He probably didn’t get as many goals as I would have liked him to get at Chelsea, but I thought he gave defences problems,” Heskey said, before adding, “Mo left Chelsea to go to Italy and look at what he’s done for Liverpool. I think it’d be great to see someone like Pulisic come back into the Premier League in the same way.”
Amid Christian Pulisic’s dip in form, AC Milan have managed to remain competitive by relying on midfield solidity. Massimiliano Allegri has succeeded in bringing out the best version of Adrien Rabiot, while also giving significant minutes to youngsters Samuele Ricci and Ardon Jashari. Nevertheless, the coach could lose Luka Modrić, as he has not yet renewed his contract. In addition, the veteran is reportedly edging closer to an unexpected team.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Luka Modrić is considering not renewing his contract with AC Milan. Instead, he could be close to returning to Dinamo Zagreb after the 2026 World Cup. Far from being a settled decision, the Croatian also has a potential professional retirement on the table. With this in mind, the Rossoneri have only a few months to try to convince the veteran to extend his contract by at least one additional year.
Despite being a 40-year-old veteran, he is the fourth player with the most minutes played under coach Massimiliano Allegri. Moreover, Luka has established himself as the central axis of the Rossoneri, dictating play and organizing the team. For this reason, AC Milan have made it a priority to secure his continuity for one more season, aiming for Ardon Jashari to gradually take over his role.
Modrić might find an open door to stay with the Rossoneri, but a return to Dinamo Zagreb is gaining significant traction. With his childhood idol, Zvonimir Boban, serving as the club president, he could feel tempted to join as a free agent. As the 2026 World Cup looms as a crucial reference point, the Croatian might base his decision on his performance in the tournament. This means his future might not be settled anytime soon.
Massimiliano Allegri has successfully transformed AC Milan’s midfield into a major strength. With Modrić as the central axis, they consistently maintain balance and control during matches. Although the Rossoneri possess quality alternatives in case Luka decides to leave, such as Samuele Ricci and Jashari, they might need to sign a star midfielder to sustain their high level of performance.
Throughout the season, coach Allegri has attempted to elevate the roles of Ricci and Jashari. Although they have impressed, their performances as central midfielders have raised several organizational questions. As a result, AC Milan might consider signing a world-class midfielder, with names like Mateo Kovačić, Leon Goretzka, or Bernardo Silva being mentioned as potential targets.
dethroned to become the WBC welterweight world champion on Saturday night and former WBO lightweight champion, Keyshawn Davis, has offered his thoughts on both the performance and what comes next for ‘King Ry’. At the third attempt, Garcia was finally able to find become a world champion, dictating the entirety of his showdown with ‘El […]
The post Keyshawn Davis sums up Ryan Garcia’s performance against Mario Barrios appeared first on Boxing News.
Following the official announcement of a rematch between and , Mayweather’s uncle admitted he believes the fight reflects a “sad” state of affairs in boxing. Last night, the world of boxing was left shocked by the unveiling of Mayweather’s rematch with Pacquiao, 11 years after the pair initially met in a clash for three of […]
The post Jeff Mayweather delivers honest verdict on ‘sad’ Floyd vs Pacquiao rematch appeared first on Boxing News.
UEFA Şampiyonlar Ligi son 16 play-off turu rövanş maçında yarın deplasmanda Juventus ile karşılaşacak. Teknik direktör Okan Buruk mücadele öncesi konuştu.
Temsilcimiz Galatasaray, UEFA Şampiyonlar Ligi son 16 play-off turu rövanş maçında yarın deplasmanda Juventus ile karşılaşacak. Mücadele öncesi düzenlenen basın toplantısında Okan Buruk açıklamalarda bulundu.
Okan Buruk'un açıklamaları şöyle:
-Osimhen son iki gün bizimle idmana çıktı. Oynayabilecek durumda.
-Osimhen bizim için değerli. Sadece golcü olarak değil takım oyuncusu olarak oynaması önemli. Takımı hep yukarı çekiyor. İlk maçta gol atmadı ama üç golde de büyük etkisi vardı. Maçın adamı Sara oldu ama Victor da maçın yıldızlarındandı. Barış gibi, o da ilk maça damga vuran oyunculardan biriydi. Takım için oynayan oyuncularım var.
-Çok önemli iki santrfora sahibiz. Birçok takımda bir santrfor bulmak zorken biz çok önemli iki santrfora sahibiz. Yarın Türk futbolu için çok önemli bir gece olacak. Dileğimiz ülke puanına katkı yapmak hem de Galatasaray'ın hedefleri doğrultusunda ileriye doğru çok önemli bir adım atmak.
-İkinci maçı oynayacağız ve aynı tutkuyu yaşıyoruz. Sanki ilk maçı hiç oynamamış gibi bu maça çıkmamız gerekiyor. Skor avantajı çok önemli ama konsantrasyonumuzdan ödün vermemek gerekiyor.
-Bu maçı oynamadan turu geçtiğimizi söyleyemeyiz. Çok kritik ve zor bir maça çıkacağız, bunu biliyoruz.
İstanbul'da elde edilen 5-2'lik tarihi skorun ardından tüm gözler Torino'ya çevrildi. Teknik direktör Okan Buruk, dev avantajına rağmen savunmaya çekilmeyi reddediyor. Allianz Stadium'da rakibi ön alanda karşılamaya hazırlanan sarı-kırmızılılar, yüksek pres ve hızlı geçiş hücumlarıyla Juventus'un tur umutlarını erkenden bitirmeyi hedefliyor.
Galatasaray'da gözler bu akşam Allianz Stadium’unda 5-2'nin rövanşında Galatasaray'ın oyununa ve Okan Buruk'un tercihlerine çevrildi. İlk maçta sergilenen muazzam performansın ardından 3 farklı galibiyetin cebinde olması sarı-kırmızılı camiada büyük bir özgüven yaratırken, teknik direktör Okan Buruk’un maç planı netleşti.
Genelde bu tarz skor avantajlarında takımların savunmaya çekilmesi beklense de Okan Buruk, taktik idmanlarda tam tersi bir sinyal verdi. Buruk, "Juventus gibi bir dev karşısında 90 dakika savunma yaparak bekleyemezsiniz" mottosuyla bu akşam takımını sahaya sürecek.
Galatasaray, maçın başlama düdüğüyle birlikte Juventus’un oyun kurmasını engellemek için ön alanda pres yapacak. Torino’da bulunacak bir golle, Juventus’un tur umutlarını tamamen bitirmek isteyecek.
Lucas Torreira’nın yanına daha dirençli bir isim monte edilerek orta saha geçişleri kapatılacak. İtalyan ekibinin merkezden delme çabalarına karşı Galatasaray, "ısırgan" bir orta saha kurgusuyla cevap verecek.
Okan Buruk, Juventus’un gol bulmak için savunma çizgisini öne çıkaracağını öngörüyor. Bu noktada Barış Alper’in fiziksel gücü ve hızı, kontra ataklarda Galatasaray’ın en büyük kozu olacak.
Torino cephesinde ise hava oldukça karanlık. İtalyan basını, Galatasaray’ın hücum gücünden çekinirken, Juventus’un 3 farklı yenilgiyi çevirmesi için "mucize" gerektiğini yazıyor. Ancak Okan Buruk, rehavete yer olmadığını her fırsatta oyuncularına hatırlatıyor.
Abdullah Kavukçu, kulüpte ödeme krizi yaşandığı iddialarına sert çıktı: - Avrupa'nın önündeyiz, primleri bekletmeden yatırıyoruz. Sıkıntı olsa 15 Ocak'ta UEFA'dan borçsuzluk kağıdı alamazdık! Galatasaray'da 'ödeme krizi' tartışması ise büyüyor. Kavukçu 'para sorunu yok' dese de, borçsuzluk kağıdı için yerli oyunculara çek ve senet verildiği iddiası gündeme bomba gibi düştü.
Sportif AŞ. yöneticisi Abdullah Kavukçu, Galatasaray'da ödemelerin aksadığı yönündeki iddialara yanıt verdi. Kulübün mali disiplini konusunda iddialı açıklamalarda bulundu. Ancak Kavukçu’nun açıklamaları, özellikle yerli oyuncuların ödeme yöntemi ve UEFA "borçsuzluk kağıdı" konusundaki soru işaretlerini tamamen gidermeye yetmedi.
Başkan Dursun Özbek'in gayri sözcüsü aracılığıyla açıklamalarda bulunan Kavukçu, Galatasaray’ın bir para sorunu olmadığını vurgulayarak şu ifadeleri kullandı:
- Avrupa'da ödemeler 3 ay geriden gelirken, bizde bir önceki ayın alacağı takip eden ayda hemen ödeniyor. Bu konuda Avrupa standartlarının bile önündeyiz.
- Başkan Dursun Özbek’in talimatıyla oyuncu primlerini asla biriktirmiyoruz, hak edildiği an hesaplara yatırıyoruz.
- Bu haberler Galatasaray’ı karıştırmak için kasıtlı yapılıyor. Ödeme yapılmadığı iddiası koca bir yalan.
Kavukçu, kulübün mali durumuna kanıt olarak 15 Ocak tarihinde UEFA'ya sunulan borçsuzluk kağıdını gösterdi. "Sıkıntı olsa bu kağıdı alabilir miydik?" sorusunu soran Kavukçu'nun bu savunmasına karşın, kulislerde farklı iddialar konuşuluyor.
Özellikle yerli oyuncuların borçsuzluk kağıdına imza atması için nakit yerine çek ve senet formülünün devreye sokulduğu öne sürülüyor. UEFA kriterleri gereği Aralık ayı ödemelerinin tamamlandığına dair dekontların yeterli olduğu, ancak Kavukçu'nun bu teknik ayrıntıya ve ödeme yöntemine dair bir açıklama yapmadığı dikkat çekti.
Kavukçu'nun bu kritik açıklamaları basın mensuplarının karşısına çıkarak yapmak yerine, Başkan Özbek'in gayri resmi sözcüsü üzerinden servis etmesi de dikkat çekici. Kavukçu'nun muhabirlerden gelecek doğrudan soruları yanıtsız bırakması, "şeffaflık" tartışmalarını da beraberinde getirdi.
Fenerbahçe'de Lookman transferinin fiyaskoyla sonuçlanması, yönetim içindeki "teminat mektubu" krizini yeniden gündeme getirdi. Salar'ın "itibar" gerekçesiyle reddettiği prosedür, Yıldırım'ın Van Persie örneğiyle yalanlandı. Asıl bomba Kante inadı yüzünden patladı. Transferde strateji hatası mı yoksa liyakat sorunu mu yaşandığı camiada sert tartışmalara yol açtı.
Fenerbahçe camiasında son günlerde yaşanan bu "transfer ve yönetim" kaosu, kulübün finansal yapısı ile sportif hedefleri arasındaki gerilimi net bir şekilde ortaya koyuyor.
Başkan Vekili Murat Salar, Ademola Lookman transferinin neden gerçekleşmediğine dair yaptığı açıklamada, Atalanta kulübünün banka teminat mektubu istemesini bir "itibar meselesi" haline getirdi.
- Fenerbahçe tarihinde hiçbir kulübe teminat mektubu vermemiştir. Bunu hakaret kabul ettik. Hangi bankanın itibarı 120 yıllık Fenerbahçe’den büyüktür?
Transferden vazgeçiliş nedenini kendince anlattı. Kulübün kurumsal onurunun herhangi bir oyuncudan daha önemli olduğunu savundu.
Salar’ın "tarihimizde hiç vermedik" açıklamasına, eski başkan Aziz Yıldırım’la son dönemde yakınlaşan Hakan Safi'den sert bir yanıt geldi. Sosyal medyada sözcüsü olan hesaplar üzerinden Yıldırım döneminde Robin van Persie transferi için bizzat mektubu verildiğini söylettirdi. Salar’ı "bilgisizlik" ve "popülizm" ile suçladı.
Bu çıkışla birlikte, Fenerbahçe’nin geçmişte sadece Van Persie değil, birçok yıldız isim için teminat mektubu prosedürünü uyguladığı belgeleriyle tartışılmaya başlandı.
İddiaların en can alıcı noktası ise transfer bütçesinin yönetimiyle ilgili. Yönetimin N'Golo Kante transferini bir "prestij hamlesi" ve "hayat memat meselesi" olarak görmesi, tüm enerjinin ve eldeki nakit kaynağın oraya kaydırılmasına neden oldu.
Lookman tarafının 2 gün boyunca "olumlu" haber beklediği, ancak Kante süreci netleşmediği ve ödeme planı yapılamadığı için Nijeryalı yıldızın elden kaçtığı öne sürülüyor. Eğer Kante için ayrılan kaynak Lookman için kullanılsaydı, oyuncunun şu an Samandıra'da olacağı camia içinde yüksek sesle konuşuluyor.
Murat Salar’ın profilindeki değişimler de eleştiri oklarını üzerine çekiyor. Önce Aziz Yıldırım’ın listesinde yer alacağı konuşulurken, seçim sürecinde Sadettin Saran ile hareket etmesi "taraf değiştirme" eleştirilerine yol açtı. Ali Koç yönetimine karşı daha önce "Mimovic ve Diego Carlos transferlerindeki para akışları" üzerinden getirdiği sert eleştirilerin ardından, yönetim mekanizmasına dahil olunca sergilediği "uyumlu" tavır taraftar nezdinde tutarsızlık olarak yorumlanıyor.
Fenerbahçe şu an sadece sahada değil, "itibar mı, doğru finansal yönetim mi, yoksa sportif başarı mı?" üçgeninde büyük bir yönetsel kriz yaşıyor. Murat Salar’ın "teminat mektubu vermeyiz" çıkışı, Aziz Yıldırım’ın tecrübesi ve arşiv bilgisiyle çarpışınca yönetim ciddi bir güven kaybına uğramış görünüyor.
UEFA Şampiyonlar Ligi son 16 play-off turu rövanş maçında yarın deplasmanda Juventus ile karşılaşacak. Mücadele öncesi düzenlenen basın toplantısında Victor Osimhen açıklamalarda bulundu.
Temsilcimiz Galatasaray, UEFA Şampiyonlar Ligi son 16 play-off turu rövanş maçında yarın deplasmanda Juventus ile karşılaşacak. Mücadele öncesi takımın başarılı yıldızı Osimhen açıklamalarda bulundu.
Victor Osimhen'in açıklamaları şöyle:
-İlk maçta ne oynadıysak bu maçta da onu oynamalıyız. Şu anda tek eksiğimiz RAMS Park olacak ama bir yandan da taraftarımıza sonuna kadar güveniyoruz, burada da bize destek olacaklar.
Biz takım olarak ayakları yere basan bir takımız. RAMS Park'ta yaptığımız gibi devam etmemiz gerektiğini biliyoruz. Şampiyonlar Ligi'nde yolumuza devam etmek istediğimizi çok net biliyoruz.
Hiçbir maç kolay değildir artık. Hatta onların favori olduğunu da söyleyebilirdik. Şu anda da 90 dakika çok uzun sürecek. Ama herkes hazır bir şekilde bu maça çıkacaktır.
Ligde aldığımız kötü sonuçtan sonra da burada iyi bir sonuç almamızın ayrıca böyle bir önemi de var.
"JUVENTUS'TAN KORKMUYORUZ"
-Ben nerede olursa olsun takıma öncülük yapmaktan sorumluyum. Hocamın bana verdiği görev bu. Kendi stadımızda nasıl oynadıysak burada da öyle oynayacağız. Buradaki taraftarların da ne kadar tutkulu olduğunu çok iyi biliyorum. Karşı taraftan korkmuyoruz ancak saygı da duyuyoruz aynı zamanda. Skor farkından dolayı rahatlamıyoruz.
"KAYBETMEYİ SEVMİYORUM!"
-Ben çocukluğumdan beri futbolu meslek olarak seçtiğimden beri sahadayım. Ben kendimi en çok eleştirenlerdenim. Sinirlendiğim ve düştüğüm de oluyor. Her zaman gerek kendimi, gerek takım arkadaşlarımı motive etmeye çalışıyorum.
Onlara söylediğimi de örnek olarak sahaya yansıtmaya çalışıyorum. Takım arkadaşlarıma söylüyorsam, kendim de örnek olmalıyım. Yetenek hiçbir zaman tek başına yeterli değildir. Çok çalışmanız gerekir. Bunun için çok çalışıyorum. Takımıma yardım etmeye çalışıyorum. Açık olacağım; kaybetmeyi sevmiyorum. Kaybetmeyi seven biri değilim. İstediğimizi sahaya dökemediğimiz her durumdan sonra ben üzülüyorum ve etkileniyorum. Kazanma fırsatımız varsa bunu değerlendirmek istiyorum!
-"Victor, İtalya için sizde açık bir kapı var mı hala?"
-Galatasaray devreye girmeden önce İtalya'da da oynayabilirdim. Eğer benim için İtalya'ya gelmek mümkün olursa Juventus oynamaktan çok keyif alacağım bir kulüp. Kendimi ait hissedebileceğim birkaç kulüpten bir tanesi. Ancak ben şu anda Galatasaray'da çok mutluyum. Galatasaray'ı çok seviyorum. Çok keyifliyim. Kalpten bağlı olduğum bir kulüp için ter döküyorum. Tabii ki gelecekte ne olacağı tabii bilinmez. Dünyadaki oyuncuların %90'u Juventus'ta oynamak ister. Neden olmasın diyebilirim.
İstanbul'daki 3-0'lık skorla yetinmeyen Türk düşmanı Nottingham Forest'ın sahibi Koca Sakal Marinakis, rövanş öncesi 'tarihi fark' için kesenin ağzını açtı. Skandal prim vaadiyle ortamı geren Yunan iş insanına cevabı; sakatlıklar ve cezalar nedeniyle sadece 14 as oyuncusu kalan Fenerbahçe, City Ground çimlerinde vermeye hazırlanıyor.
İstanbul'da oynanan ilk maçta Nottingham Forest'a 3-0 mağlup olan Fenerbahçe yarın akşam rövanşa çıkacak. Takım hem skoru çevirmek hem de saha dışındaki gerilime cevap vermek için sahada olacak.
Türk düşmanlığı ile bilinen Nottingham Forest'in Yunan sahibi Evangelos Marinakis, İstanbul'daki galibiyetin ardından tansiyonu yükseltecek bir hamle yaptı.
Daha önce Kadıköy'deki bir maçın ardından İstanbul için sarf ettiği "Kendi şehrimizde kazandık" sözleriyle büyük tepki çeken "Koca Sakal" lakaplı Yunan patron, bu kez İngiltere'deki rövanş için oyuncularına kesenin ağzını açtı. Marinakis'in, Fenerbahçe karşısında tarihi bir fark elde edilmesi durumunda takıma ekstra prim vaat ettiği bildirildi.
Sakatlıklar ve cezalar Fenerbahçe'nin elini kolunu bağlamış durumda. Teknik direktör Domenico Tedesco'nun elinde A takımdan sadece 14 sağlam oyuncu kalırken, İngiltere yolculuğu öncesi liste şu şekilde şekillendi:
Kaleci: Tarık Çetin
Defans: Mert Müldür, Nelson Semedo, Yiğit Efe Demir, Archie Brown, Levent Mercan
Orta Saha: İsmail Yüksek, N’Golo Kante, Mattéo Guendouzi, Kerem Aktürkoğlu, Oğuz Aydın
Hücum: Marco Asensio, Nene, Sidiki.
Sarı-lacivertli ekipte eksiklerin listesi adeta as kadroyu oluşturuyor:
Sakatlar: Ederson (Kaleci), Jayden Oosterwolde, Milan Skriniar, Çağlar Söyüncü, Edson Alvarez, Anderson Talisca.
Cezalı: Fred (Sarı kart cezalısı).
Listede Olmayanlar: Mert Günok, Anthony Musaba, Emre Mor.
İlk maçı 3-0 kaybeden temsilcimizin turu geçebilmesi için deplasmanda en az 4 farklı galibiyet alması gerekiyor.
Fenerbahçe, santrfor eksikliğinin faturasını sadece gol yollarında değil, revire dönen sağlık merkezinde de ödüyor. Agresif oyun arzusu, bilimsel verilerin önüne geçmiş durumda.
Fenerbahçe’de üst üste gelen sakatlıklar, Samandıra’da "beklenen kriz" olarak yorumlanıyor. Edinilen bilgilere göre, yaşanan bu tablo sadece şanssızlık değil; teknik heyet, yönetim ve sağlık ekibi arasındaki stratejik bir uyuşmazlığın sonucu.
Sağlık heyeti, teknik direktör Tedesco ile bir araya gelerek bir rapor sundu. Heyet, modern futbolda esas olanın "sakatlık sonrası tedavi" değil, "sakatlık önleyici antrenman" olduğunu vurguladı. Ancak mevcut oyun tercihi bu prensibi imkansız kıldı.
Oyuncuların her antrenman ve maçta anlık olarak takip edilen GPS verileri; kat edilen toplam mesafe, sprint sayıları, yüksek nabız aralığında kalma süreleri tek tek analiz edilerek Tedesco’ya iletildi. Sağlık ekibi, bu verilerin oyuncuların kas limitlerini zorladığını ve sakatlıkların "geliyorum" dediğini raporladı.
6 oyuncunun birden devre dışı kalması, gözleri teknik heyete çevirdi. Sağlık ekibinin "yorgun ve riskli" olarak raporladığı oyuncuların buna rağmen ilk 11’de oynatılmaya devam etmesi, Samandıra’da bir iletişim kopukluğu olduğunu kanıtlar nitelikte. Ancak gelen bilgiler, sağlık ekibinin görevini eksiksiz yaptığı, kararın teknik tercihlerle alındığı yönünde.
Fenerbahçe’nin yaşadığı bu krizin temelinde, aslında transfer döneminde bir santrfor daha alınamamış olması yatıyor. En-Nesyri, sahada olduğu her dakika ön alanda yaptığı agresif baskıyla savunmanın üzerindeki yükü tek başına göğüslüyordu. Onun yaptığı pres, takımın geri kalanının daha az "ekstra" koşu yapmasını sağlıyordu.
Gerçek bir pres gücü olan santrforun yokluğunda, üçüncü bölgede baskı kurulamıyor. Bu durum, pres yükünün orta saha ve defans oyuncularının üzerine binmesine neden oluyor. Yönetimin "önde ve baskılı oyun" konusundaki ısrarı, kadro derinliği ve oyuncu tipiyle birleşince fiziksel iflas kaçınılmaz oldu.
Fenerbahçe'de şampiyonluk yolunda "kas krizi" alarmı yaşanıyor. Kasımpaşa maçının ardından savunma hattı tamamen çöktü. Ederson, Skriniar, Çağlar, Oosterwolde ve Talisca aynı anda sakatlandı. Savunmanın merkezi boşalırken, dev revir listesi Samandıra'daki antrenman metotlarını ve yoğun maç trafiğini tartışmaya açtı.
Fenerbahçe şampiyonluk yolunda vites artırması gereken son virajda üst üste gelen sakatlık haberleriyle sarsıldı. Takımın omurgasını oluşturan as oyuncuların aynı anda devre dışı kalması, Samandıra’daki antrenman metotlarını ve yoğun maç trafiğini tartışmaya açtı.
Fenerbahçe sağlık heyetinden alınan bilgilere göre, takımın savunma ve orta saha kurgusu ağır darbe almış durumda.
Skriniar'dan hemen sonra Çağlar Söyüncü'nün de gitmesi sağ stopere darbe vurdu. Ederson'un adale zorlanması yaşaması, Kasımpaşa maçındaki kaygan zemine ve ani hamlelere bağlanıyor. Oosterwolde ise aşırı yüklenme sonucu kasık bölgesinde zorlanma tespit edildi. Talisca'da yaşadığı arka adale sakatlığı nedeniyle kritik haftalarda takımı yalnız bırakacak.
Analizler bu toplu sakatlık krizinin temel nedeni olarak teknik heyetin sürekli ön alan baskısı istemesi gösteriliyor. Savunma oyuncularının her maç 10-12 km mesafe kat etmek zorunda kalmaları kasların iflas etmesine neden olduğu iddia ediliyor.
Alman teknik adam sürekli ön alan baskısı ve yüksek tempo istiyor. Oyuncuların kaslarına binen yük standart bir oyunun çok üzerine çıktı. As oyuncular da bu tempoya uyum sağlamak için her maç limitlerini zorladı. Kaslar, "akut yüklenme"ye hazır olmadığı için özellikle 60. dakikadan sonra kas sakatlıkları kaçınılmaz olur.
Tedesco as oyuncular ile yedekler arasında profil farkı yüksek olduğu için sakatlık riskini de göz önüne alarak as oyuncuları dinlendirmekten kaçındı. Sakatlıklar göz göre göre geldi.
Fenerbahçe'de revir doldu taştı! Kasımpaşa maçı sonrası sakatlıkları açıklanan 4 as oyuncunun sahalardan ne kadar uzak kalacağı netleşirken, Fotospor uzmanlarının hemen maç sonrasında yaptığı değerlendirme bir kez daha net olarak ortaya çıktı.
Fenerbahçe’de üst üste gelen sakatlık haberleri moralleri alt üst etti. Kasımpaşa maçı sonrası derinleşen krizde, sarı-lacivertli ekibin birçok as oyuncusu haftalarca sahalardan uzak kalacak.
Fotospor Çağlar Söyüncü için şu haberi yaptı:
- Yapılan ilk kontrollerde 2. derece (grade-2) yırtık şüphesi üzerinde duruluyor. MR sonuçlarının bu teşhisi doğrulaması halinde, tecrübeli stoperin sahalara dönmesi 4 ile 8 haftayı bulabilir.
Fenerbahçe'den şu açıklama geldi:
- Futbolcumuz Çağlar Söyüncü’nün sağ arka adalesinde kısmi yırtık...
Fotospor Ederson için şu haberi yaptı:
Domenico Tedesco, Kasımpaşa maçını tamamlamasına rağmen Ederson’un sakatlık yaşadığını ve yaklaşık 3 hafta sahalardan uzak kalacağını açıkladı.
Fenerbahçe'den şu açıklama geldi:
- Futbolcumuz Ederson’un sol arka adalesinde zorlanma...
Fotospor Oosterwolde için şu haberi yaptı:
- Karşılaşmanın henüz ilk yarısında, sağ üst baldırını tutarak kendini yere bırakan Oosterwolde, kasık bölgesine yakın bir noktada acı hissettiğini işaret etti. Oosterwolde'nin ani bir ters hareket sonrası yere yığılması, özellikle 2. Derece (Kısmi Yırtık) ihtimalini güçlendiriyor. Eğer bu teşhis doğrulanırsa, oyuncunun sahalardan en az 1 ay uzak kalması bekleniyor.
Fenerbahçe'den Oosterwolde için şu açıklama geldi:
- Futbolcumuz Jayden Osterwolde’nin sağ kasık bölgesinde zorlanma tespit edilmiştir.
Fotospor, Talisca ile ilgili haberinde şu bilgileri verdi:
- Bağların bir kısmı yırtılmış olması muhtemel. Eklemde belirgin bir gevşeklik olduğu şüphesi var. Şiddetli ağrı, morarma ve üzerine basamama olur. Talisca'nın dünkü görüntüsü buna en yakın. 3-6 hafta sahalardan uzak kalma ihtimali muhtemel.
Fenerbahçe'den Talisca için şu açıklama geldi:
- Futbolcumuz Anderson Talisca’nın sol arka adalesinde kısmi yırtık.
Sakatlık fırtınasının estiği Kadıköy’de tek iyi haber genç oyuncudan geldi. Yiğit Efe Güvenç’in durumunun ciddi olmadığı ve herhangi bir olumsuzluğa rastlanmadığı bildirildi.
TFF, Süper Lig'de son oynanan haftanın VAR kayıtlarını açıkladı.
TFF, Süper Lig'de son oynanan haftanın VAR kayıtlarını açıkladı. Kayıtlarda Konyaspor - Galatasaray maçında iptal edilen goldeki konuşmalar yer aldı.
AFFA prezidenti Rövşən Nəcəf Canni İnfantinoya FIFA prezidenti seçilməsinin 10 illiyi münasibətilə təbrik ünvanlayıb.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə AFFA-nın mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb.
“Hörmətli Prezident Canni İnfantino, Azərbaycan Futbol Federasiyaları Assosiasiyası adından sizi FIFA prezidenti seçilməyinizin 10 illiyi münasibətilə səmimi-qəlbdən təbrik edirəm. Son on il ərzində sizin liderliyiniz futbolun qlobal liderliyini daha da möhkəmləndirmiş və dünya üzrə üzv assosiasiyalar üçün əhəmiyyətli inkişaf imkanlarını genişləndirmişdir. FIFA ilə əməkdaşlığımız Azərbaycan futbolunun inkişafında real və ölçülə bilən irəliləyişlərlə nəticələnmişdir”, – deyə Rövşən Nəcəf təbrik videomüraciətində bildirib.
Xatırladaq ki, əslən İtaliyadan olan isveçrəli Canni İnfantino 2016-cı ilin fevral ayından FIFA-nın prezidenti kimi çalışır.
Basketbol üzrə kişilərdən ibarət Azərbaycan millisinin baş məşqçisi Tahir Baxşıyev qarşıdakı rəsmi oyunlardan gözləntilərini bölüşüb.
Arena.az xəbər verir kİ, millinin çalışdırıcısı bununla bağlı Azərbaycan Basketbol Federasiyasının mətbuat xidmətinə açıqlama verib.
Tahir Baxşıyev milli komandamızın Avropa çempionatının (AÇ-2029) ilkin seçmə mərhələsindəki şanslarını belə dəyərləndirib:
Baş məşqçi əsas diqqətin İrlandiya ilə ilk qarşılaşmaya yönəldiyini vurğulayıb:
“Əsas diqqətimiz İrlandiya ilə matça yönəlib. Rəqibin oyunlarını təhlil etmişik. Milliləşdirilmiş oyunçumuz da birbaşa orada komandaya qoşulacaq. Orada da iki məşqimiz olacaq. İnanırıq ki, gücümüz var. Əgər yaxşı mübarizə aparsaq, səfərdən qalib qayıdacağıq”.
Mütəxəssis hazırlıq üçün vaxtın az olmasına baxmayaraq, basketbolçuların durumunun yaxşı olduğunu söyləyib:
“Vaxtımız azdır. Uşaqların vəziyyəti normaldır, yaxşı məşqlər keçmişik. Heyətdə yalnız Əkbər Məmmədov və İsmayıl Abdullayev zədə səbəbindən bizə kömək edə bilməyəcəklər. Digər oyunçularla bağlı hər şey qaydasındadır. Bilirik ki, İrlandiya ilə oyun çətin keçəcək. Onlar da bizim kimi iki məğlubiyyətlə başlayıb. Bundan əlavə, öz meydanlarında oynayacaqlar. İndidən heç nə deyə bilmərəm. Qarşıda 4 oyun var. Lüksemburqun öz meydanında necə oynayacağını bilmirik. Biz öz oyunlarımız barədə düşünməliyik”.
Xatırladaq ki, Azərbaycan millisi seçmə mərhələ çərçivəsində növbəti matçlarını fevralın 27-də İrlandiya, martın 2-də isə Şimali Makedoniya yığmasına qarşı keçirəcək.
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Gianluigi Buffon has commented on Michele Di Gregorio’s difficult recent spell at Juventus, urging the club to rally around their goalkeeper rather than pile on the pressure during a challenging period.
Writing in La Gazzetta dello Sport, via CalcioMercato, the Juventus legend and current Italy national team delegation chief was measured but supportive in his assessment of the former Monza stopper, who has come under intense scrutiny, including on social media, following a string of unconvincing performances.
“Last season he was a pleasant surprise, decisive in securing Champions League qualification,” Buffon said. “Lately things haven’t been going as expected, but these are phases that can happen to anyone.”
Rather than calling for Di Gregorio to be dropped, Buffon framed any potential rest as a tool rather than a punishment.
“The manager and the club must close ranks, stay close to him and work out the best thing to do,” he said. “If a goalkeeper is given a break, it doesn’t mean he’s being written off, it can help him rediscover his composure and distance himself from certain pressures.”
Buffon then turned his attention to the broader landscape of Italian goalkeeping, and his verdict was emphatic.
With the likes of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Guglielmo Vicario, Alex Meret, Marco Carnesecchi and Elia Caprile all operating at the highest level, he believes the Azzurri are uniquely well-stocked between the posts.
“The only problem Italy won’t have is the goalkeeper position, we have three or four among the best twenty in the world,” he said.
It was Carnesecchi, currently at Atalanta and a name repeatedly linked with Juventus in recent transfer windows, who drew the most personal praise. “I see myself in him in the way he approaches a game,” Buffon said. “He is bold, a bit swashbuckling. But everyone must make their own path.”
Manchester United have firmly distanced themselves from reports linking them with a sensational move to re-sign Scott McTominay as Napoli look to wrap up a contract extension before the 2026 World Cup begins.
TEAMtalk are reporting, via IlNapolista, that the Scottish midfielder’s name has never even been raised in internal discussions at Old Trafford, despite speculation from Spain suggesting the Red Devils were weighing up an £70 million move for their former player.
The reports had gathered momentum given McTominay’s outstanding form since his £25 million move to Napoli, where he has established himself as one of the most influential midfielders in Serie A.
While United’s interest has been categorically denied, the more significant development is what is happening at Napoli’s end.
According to TEAMtalk, McTominay’s entourage has already opened talks over a contract extension, with the club keen to tie him down well beyond his current deal, which runs until 2028.
Crucially, Napoli are said to want the renewal wrapped up before McTominay departs for North America this summer for the World Cup, a timeline that underlines just how highly Antonio Conte’s club regard him.
McTominay himself has done little to fuel any exit talk. Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, he was unequivocal.
“My agent has not spoken to anyone about my future,” he said, before adding that he could see himself staying at Napoli for a long time.
For a player who has reinvented himself so emphatically since leaving English football, there appears to be little appetite for a return, and Napoli are doing everything they can to make sure it stays that way.
Luciano Spalletti has offered a glimpse into his thinking ahead of Juventus’ Champions League last-16 second leg against Galatasaray, with selection decisions across several key positions still yet to be finalised.
The Juventus head coach spoke to Sky Sport in the build-up to the tie, with his side needing to overturn a 5-2 deficit in the return fixture.
The contest promises to be a tense affair, and Spalletti’s team news will be closely scrutinised given the stakes involved and a number of fitness doubts hanging over the squad.
Perhaps the most eagerly anticipated update concerned Kenan Yildiz, and Spalletti’s words will delight supporters.
“Yildiz wants to be involved, all the signals he has sent point in that direction,” he said, with quotes via Alfredo Pedulla.
“He could start from the first minute.”
The Turkish forward has been one of Juventus’ most important players this season, and his potential return to the starting lineup will provide a significant lift ahead of such a crucial European night.
At the back, however, there is more uncertainty.
Spalletti confirmed that Gleison Bremer remains a doubt, with a final assessment planned for the morning of the match.
“There is a degree of risk with Bremer, we will evaluate carefully tomorrow morning,” he said, leaving his defensive options open.
In midfield, Spalletti indicated that either Teun Koopmeiners or Weston McKennie could operate on the left side, describing it as one of the likely options without fully committing to either.
There was also the suggestion that Mattia Perin could start in goal, potentially ahead of regular number one Michele Di Gregorio.
“There is a need to protect certain situations, but in this case it could be that way,” Spalletti said carefully.
Whatever the starting eleven, Spalletti left no doubt about what he demands from his players. “I will never be satisfied if we do not qualify,” he said plainly.
Parma’s late 1-0 victory against Milan at San Siro has continued to generate significant debate in the days that followed, with the goal that settled the match, scored by Troilo in the closing stages, at the centre of a storm of controversy.
Milan were upset, pointing to what they believed was obstruction by Valenti on goalkeeper Mike Maignan, as well as a foul by Troilo on Bartesaghi in the build-up.
The incident was reviewed at length by VAR, with referee Piccinini eventually reversing his original decision to disallow the goal, a call that has divided opinion sharply among analysts and former officials.
One of the most respected voices in Italian refereeing, Dino Tommasi, addressed both incidents on Open VAR, and his assessment largely vindicated the officials on the day.
On the question of Valenti’s positioning in front of Maignan, Tommasi was clear, with quotes via Di Marzio.
“Piccinini initially whistled for obstruction by Valenti on Maignan, but in reality the Parma player does not move toward Maignan,” he said.
“Not whistling was the correct decision.” It is a view that contrasts sharply with Luca Marelli, who argued earlier in the week that Valenti’s block was deliberate and in breach of Rule 12.
On Troilo’s challenge on Bartesaghi, Tommasi was equally unconcerned. “Troilo does not foul, he simply wins the jump before Bartesaghi,” he said.
“He leans on him, but that is a natural, physiological movement.”
Tommasi also weighed in on the collision between Corvi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, which resulted in the Milan midfielder suffering a fractured alveolar bone, an injury that required surgery.
Despite the seriousness of the outcome, Tommasi maintained there was nothing untoward about the challenge.
“The on-field decision was correct. It was an accidental clash. Corvi was going for the ball but was beaten to it by his own teammate.”
His comments are unlikely to fully satisfy Milan supporters, for whom the defeat, and the manner of it, remains a deeply contentious subject.
But from an officiating standpoint, Tommasi’s verdict is clear: the right calls were made.
Chelsea are interested in signing the Independiente Del Valle midfielder Patrik Mercado at the end of the season.
According to a report from Spanish publication AS, Sevilla secured a verbal agreement to sign the player at the end of the season, but the deal is not yet complete.
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The Spanish club are hoping to secure his signature for a fee of €6 million. However, Chelsea have expressed interest in signing the player in recent hours and are hoping to seal the move. It will be interesting to see if they can get the deal done.
The talented young midfielder has done quite well for Independiente Del Valle, and he could be attracted to the idea of joining Chelsea. They are among the biggest clubs in the world, and the opportunity to play for them will be quite exciting.
They have the resources to pay the asking price, and they should be able to convince the player as well. The midfielder registered 18 goal contributions last year, and he has the quality to develop into an important player for Chelsea. They could use more creativity and goals from the middle of the park, and the 22-year-old would be the ideal long-term investment. It remains to be seen whether they can wrap up the move at the end of the season.
Sevilla will be an exciting destination for the player, but Chelsea are one of the biggest clubs in the world. He will find it hard to turn them down if there is a concrete proposal on the table. Chelsea are looking to build a formidable team for the future, and signing the talented young midfielder could be a step in the right direction.
The post La Liga club has verbal deal, but Chelsea want 18-G/A creative wizard now appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Liverpool and Manchester United are interested in signing the Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba.
The 27-year-old has done quite well in the Bundesliga, and he could prove to be a useful addition for the two Premier League clubs. They will look to tighten up at the back, and they need a quality central defender. The player could be available for a fee of €60 million in the summer, and it will be interesting to see which of the two clubs can get the deal done.
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Liverpool and Manchester United have the finances to sign the player. They are among the biggest clubs in the world, and the opportunity to join them will be exciting for Tapsoba. The 6ft 4in defender will look to establish himself as an important player in the Premier League if the move goes through.
Tapsoba could help both teams improve. He has been linked with a move to the Premier League before, and the player will certainly hope to complete one this time around.
The defender is at the peak of his career, and he will look to hit the ground running in the Premier League. It will be interesting to see if he can adapt to English football quickly and justify the asking price.
According to German outlet Fussball Daten, clubs like Real Madrid are also monitoring his situation. Liverpool and Manchester United should act quickly in order to get the deal done.
Liverpool will need a replacement for Ibrahima Konate, who will be a free agent at the end of the season. At Manchester United, he could be the ideal long-term replacement for Harry Maguire. It will be interesting to see where he ends up eventually.
The post Liverpool and Man Utd chase 6ft 4in defensive powerhouse at peak of his career appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Manchester United are interested in signing the Villarreal midfielder Papa Gueye.
According to a report from Fichajes, the 27-year-old La Liga midfielder has attracted the attention of the Premier League club with his impressive performances, and they are hoping to secure his signature in the summer.
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The report further claims that the Premier League side would be willing to pay €60 million in order to get the deal done. It is no secret that they need no more physicality and defensive steel in the middle of the park. After Casemiro’s departure, they will need to find a reliable midfielder, and Gueye could be the ideal acquisition.
The Senegalese international has had an impressive season with the Spanish outfit, and he has the physicality and technical attributes to succeed in the Premier League as well. He will help protect the defensive unit and win the ball back for his team in the middle of the park. Apart from that, he’s excellent at driving the team forward with his dribbling and distribution.
The opportunity to join Manchester United will be exciting for him. It would be a major step up in his career. It will be interesting to see if he can secure a move to the Premier League in the summer. The Spanish outfit could be tempted to sell him if an offer of €60 million is presented. It is a substantial amount of money, and they will be able to improve multiple areas of the team.
Convincing the player to join Manchester United will not be difficult either. They are among the biggest clubs in the world, and he will be tempted to take on a new challenge if they come calling.
The post Man Utd ready to drop €60m on Casemiro successor from La Liga appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Piero Hincapie joined Arsenal on loan at the start of the season, and they have an option to sign him permanently in the summer.
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal could now look to make the move permanent in the coming months after the defender impressed with his performances in the Premier League.
A source informed TEAMtalk: “Piero has settled so well into the squad and the club as a whole. The staff are very happy with him, and he has just been getting better and better.”
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Arsenal can make the move permanent for £45 million, and Mikel Arteta has made his intention clear to the club hierarchy that he wants the deal triggered. It remains to be seen whether Arsenal can wrap up the move quickly.
The 24-year-old could be a very useful player for Arsenal going forward. He can operate as a central defender and a full back. His versatility will be a huge bonus. He has shown that he has the quality to do well in the Premier League, and he could be an asset for the club.
Arsenal certainly have the financial muscle to get the deal across the line, and it remains to be seen whether they are prepared to pay up. They are one of the biggest clubs in the world, and the opportunity to join them permanently will be exciting for the South American defender as well. He will look to establish himself as a key player for them in the coming seasons.
However, he is not a guaranteed starter for the North London club, and it remains to be seen whether he is prepared to join them permanently without any assurances of game time. He needs to play more often at this stage of his career.
The post Arteta tells Arsenal to seal £45m transfer after verdict from coaching staff appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha is determined to showcase his talent on a regular basis, having helped his team to victory over Nottingham Forest on Sunday. The Reds won 1-0 at the City Ground on Sunday thanks to Alexis Mac Allister’s 97th-minute winner, with the Argentine having seen an earlier effort disallowed for a handball. In the […]
The post Ngumoha: I want to show everyone at Liverpool what I can do appeared first on Soccer News.
The post Ngumoha: I want to show everyone at Liverpool what I can do appeared first on Soccer News.
With the new GPU sales strategy, we are seeing a sudden shift in popularity for some GPUs and the latest retailer data reveals the most popular cards. AMD Radeon RX 9000 Series Maintains its Dominance on Mindfactory, While NVIDIA RTX 5080 Leads NVIDIA's RTX 50 Lineup The latest GPU sales data for Mindfactory is out, revealing what has changed in the past few weeks. Keep in mind that this doesn't represent the exact global GPU popularity and is specific to Germany. With this retailer's sales data, we still get an idea of what users are buying the most these days. […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/german-retailer-shows-rtx-5080-is-now-the-most-popular-gpu-in-nvidia-rtx-50-series/
Insomniac Games was done letting us wait, as it announced in a short and to-the-point post on its official social channels that Marvel's Wolverine will release on PS5 this coming September 15, 2026. "Let's cut to the chase" writes Insomniac, before announcing the release date. While it's great to no longer be in the dark on the release date for what is arguably the most anticipated game coming to PS5 for PlayStation players this year, it is a little curious as to why we didn't get this news two weeks ago, when Sony held its first State of Play event […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/marvels-wolverine-release-date-revealed-insomniac-games-september-2026/
Intel's SambaNova acquisition was seen as a way to spearhead the company's AI strategy in inference, but it appears Team Blue has settled for much less. Intel's CEO Now Intends to Invest Directly in SambaNova's Funding Round After Previously Backing It Through Walden Capital When we talk about Intel, the company is one of the only compute providers that hasn't managed to capitalize on the AI frenzy at all, and this has been a persistent problem for several quarters. Intel's former CEO, Pat Gelsinger, has acknowledged the lack of intent in AI, and it appears that missing out on the […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/intel-misses-another-ai-opportunity-with-sambanova/
It's that time of year again, as we're back to yet another Steam Next Fest filled to the brim with demos of upcoming games, some of which could be some of the year's biggest games when they finally arrive. As I have done previously, I've gone through a slew of demos that are available as part of the festival, and curated my findings into a list of a few that I highly recommend you spend some time playing throughout the festival's remaining run time. It's also worth noting that even if you don't catch this list until after the festival […]
Read full article at https://wccftech.com/steam-next-fest-february-2026-edition-jumping-into-2026/
Learn more about our latest Demand Gen Drop and ways to maximize campaign performance in Demand Gen campaigns.
The post Top 5 Crypto PR Agencies for AI Discovery [With Verified LLM Visibility] appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
For years, the logic of brand discovery in crypto was straightforward: more placements, more exposure, more chances to be found. That logic is changing. Discovery now increasingly happens inside AI-generated summaries produced by large language models (LLMs), search overviews, and conversational AI tools. Instead of listing dozens of links, these systems compress information from trusted sources into short explanations, mentioning only a limited set of brands.
That’s why competition is shifting from pure exposure to inclusion. Companies are striving to become one of the few examples an AI system names when summarizing a category. That means moving away from pay-to-play coverage toward deliberate visibility engineering through PR designed specifically for AI discovery.
PR for AI discovery operates differently from traditional PR or SEO. LLMs learn from repeated patterns across public information and tend to reference brands that appear consistently in credible sources with clear, stable associations to a topic. Over time, those patterns determine which projects become default examples in AI-generated answers.
Visibility inside LLMs is typically influenced by:
As AI becomes a primary interface for research and comparison, PR agencies that understand these mechanics are shaping which brands get recognized in this new reality.
This ranking evaluates crypto PR agencies based on how strongly their work influences AI discovery. The shortlisted teams demonstrated either:
Beyond that, the key indicator was how their own brands are referenced and positioned inside LLM-generated answers and AI search environments.
Outset PR was a visible driver of the shift toward data-driven crypto public relations in 2025. The agency treats PR as a verifiable system in which visibility is measured through distribution depth, syndication quality, and consistent narrative formation across outlets.
This model maps cleanly onto AI discovery, since LLMs tend to reuse contextual patterns. Outset PR reinforces the same interpretation through different angles across the sources that carry weight for AI models and trigger secondary reprints that amplify original signals.
A key tool is the agency’s internal syndication map, which tracks how coverage moves from primary publications into syndication networks and high-distribution platforms. This helps identify which outlets act as sources for LLMs and which placements are most likely to compound into long-term discoverability, including AI outputs.
The methodology is documented in Outset PR’s topical authority case study, showing how engineered narrative density around “data-driven crypto PR” translated into broader LLM visibility. By applying the framework to itself and publishing the results, the agency demonstrated a scalable way to become a reference point in AI summaries.
ICODA offers AI SEO as part of its broader digital marketing services, including dedicated optimization for ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews. Its approach addresses challenges unique to AI-mediated search: limited platform visibi₹lity beyond Google, dynamic conversational responses, and the need for multi-source authority.
ICODA’s services include AI-powered content optimization, Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). The team also publishes case studies focused specifically on AI SEO performance.
In addition, ICODA provides AI search performance tracking across platforms, measuring citations, impressions, and AI-driven referral traffic. For brands prioritizing direct optimization for generative search interfaces, it represents an explicitly AI-oriented agency focused on technical alignment and cross-platform authority building.
SEO G.O.A.T. offers AI search placements designed to improve visibility across AI-driven search environments. The service is positioned primarily for agencies, SaaS companies, and growing brands seeking scalable authority-building through high-quality editorial placements.
Their model is built around strict site selection criteria that focuses on coverage in established domains with strong authority metrics. The agency prioritizes tier-1 geographies, avoids PBN-style networks (low-quality link farms designed purely for SEO manipulation), and emphasizes contextual relevance.
In addition, SEO G.O.A.T. highlights structured backlink profile vetting, a replacement guarantee, and publishes case studies where it outlines AI-focused visibility campaigns and their outcomes.
Coinbound builds its AIO services around helping Web3 brands become “referenceable” inside AI-generated answers. Its framework combines AI query research, answer-first content creation, and entity authority reinforcement. The focus is on building category-defining pages, clarifying positioning, and strengthening third-party credibility so LLMs can correctly interpret and associate the brand.
The agency also incorporates technical optimization and AI-focused reporting, tracking brand mentions, category inclusion, and referral lift from generative search interfaces. This positions Coinbound as a Web3-native player approaching AI discovery through narrative control and credibility layering.
MarketAcross operates at ecosystem scale, with documented work for major blockchain platforms such as Binance, Polygon, and Polkadot. Similar to SEO G.O.A.T., its footprint spans tier-1 crypto and business publications, placing client narratives inside high-authority media frequently referenced in industry coverage.
Although the agency does not explicitly market AI optimization services, its large-scale distribution model can influence AI discovery indirectly. Consistent placements across widely cited outlets increase the likelihood that brand narratives are picked up, repeated, and incorporated into the broader information layer that AI systems draw from when generating summaries.
AI discovery has become a new competitive arena, where inclusion inside AI summaries increasingly shapes how categories are defined and which brands become default reference points. The abovementioned agencies – from Outset PR to MarketAcross – operate with this shift in mind, each through its own operational model.
In this environment, PR functions as infrastructure, influencing how brands are described, repeated, and reused across authoritative sources. The advantage will belong to those who understand how AI systems structure information and build visibility accordingly.
HOUSTON — Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkić will miss the rest of the season after undergoing nasal surgery on Tuesday.
Team sources confirmed the news after it was first reported on Monday night by Chris Haynes.
“He’s had a really bad deviated septum, he’s gotten hit in the face four or five times this year,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “His recent sickness has pushed that forward. It’s something that he’s needed to get done for a while now, so he’s going to get that taken care of.”
“I can’t really stress enough how patient he was with me. Through my whole career, I didn’t have a coach like that. I’ve been in some rough spots through my career, but never had that support like he does for me.”
Jusuf Nurkić on Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy
Over the course of the season with the Jazz, Nurkić has played a number of roles and has done so with a lot of success.
He came in expecting to be a bit of a veteran mentor and play backup to Walker Kessler. Shortly after the season began, Kessler had season-ending shoulder surgery and that pushed Nurkić into a much larger role as a mentor and as a starter.
As the season progressed he helped stabalize the Jazz’s young roster and especially give the young guards a seasoned presence to play off of. Additionally, his work as a facilitating five has given Hardy a lot to think about in terms of what is possible with the rest of the roster in the future.
“His passing has been elite this year,” Hardy said. “His ability to fight for space, offensively, and get his catch, allows us to put the ball in a variety of places. He’s allowed us to continue to tinker with some of our off-ball actions ... and we’ve done a couple of things this year that we haven’t done in the past, and he’s allowed us to believe in it because of some of the passes that he’s made and reads he’s made.”
The success of Nurkić’s season, that included a stretch of games in which he had three consecutive triple-doubles, had many wondering if the Jazz would look to flip him at the trade deadline. But when that didn’t happen, the narrative turned to what would happen at the end of the year.
With news that Nurkić’s season is finished, it’s time to wonder what will become of the Bosnian big man.
The choices are pretty simple. He can either cash in on a successful season by signing a deal elsewhere, or he can re-sign with the Jazz — assuming the Jazz would want to re-sign him.
There are many in the Jazz organization that would like to see Nurkić return next season, albeit on a smaller, more manageable salary, and with the understanding that he would again be slated to be Kessler’s backup (if the Jazz retain Kessler, who is entering restricted free agency).
Nurkić has many times expressed how much he’s enjoyed the season with the Jazz. He has been quick to extol the Jazz as an organization and has been impressed with how they welcomed him and how they’ve treated him. The same goes for his feelings about Hardy.
Numerous times he’s explained feeling disillusioned over the last couple of years, but then felt like he was able to level with and really talk about things with Hardy in a way that he hadn’t experienced with a coach previously.
“I can’t really stress enough how patient he was with me,” Nurkić said of Hardy back in December. “Through my whole career, I didn’t have a coach like that. I’ve been in some rough spots through my career, but never had that support like he does for me.”
If the Jazz are willing, it’s just going to come down to what Nurkić wants. There could be a bigger pay day waiting for him with another team, but there could be some stability and a build toward something exciting if he were to stay with the Jazz.
The Cactus Crew still hasn’t been able to get their first win of spring training after losing a late lead against the Padres on Monday. Today they’ll be traveling again to face the not-Oakland-not-Las-Vegas-but-not-Sacramento Athletics.
Lefty Rob Zastryzny will get the start today for the Brewers. Righty Mason Barnett is the scheduled starter for the Athletics.
The lineup once again has a mix of some of the big league regulars and some minor league fillers. Sal Frelick is leading off at DH followed by Brice Turang. Then Akil Baddoo, Blake Perkins, Tyler Black, and David Hamilton fill out the middle of the order while Reese McGuire, Luke Adams, and Greg Jones round out the bottom of the lineup. The Athletics will have a bunch of their starters in there, including Tyler Soderstom and Jacob Wilson, who both were recently extended by the A’s.
New challenge unlocked
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) February 24, 2026
📻: https://t.co/Nvy2XgTrpf#ThisIsMyCrewpic.twitter.com/RFrrnwoAff
Today's 9 🙂↕️ pic.twitter.com/zyKlIZfMHT
— Athletics (@Athletics) February 24, 2026
Today’s game is available to watch as a webcast on Brewers.com for free.
Last year, the Yankees were ousted by the Blue Jays in the ALDS, after having finished second behind them in the AL East on tiebreakers alone. You’d hope that this season they have some revenge on their minds when it comes to Toronto. They probably don’t need to go all out to show it today, considering this is a spring training game.
While these two teams may have some battles later this year, today’s Yankees-Blue Jays game is about continuing the prep to the 2026 regular season.
On the mound today, we’ll see the spring training debut of Will Warren. Last season, Warren showed flashes of being a very good pitcher, he just couldn’t string together consistency. His final memory of 2025 was a tough one at the hands of these Blue Jays, who homered four times off Warren in relief of Max Fried in ALDS Game 2. Especially with some Yankees’ starters still recovering from injury to start the season, the team will probably be relying on him again this season, so we’ll see if he can show any good signs today.
Despite this being a road spring training game, the Yankees are actually sending out quite the strong lineup. Eight of the nine in the lineup will probably make the Opening Day roster, led by Aaron Judge, who’s playing right and hitting second today.
Toronto’s lineup is not as star-studded, but will include a couple names you know. They’ll send pitching prospect Grant Rogers to the mound to face the Yankees’ lineup.
Here’s everything you need to know on how to catch today’s action!
How to watch
Location: TD Ballpark — Dunedin, FL
First pitch: 1:07 pm ET
TV broadcast: Sportsnet (Toronto broadcast), MLB Network (out of market only)
Radio broadcast: Sportsnet.ca (Toronto broadcast)
Online stream: Gotham Sports App, MLB.tv
Heading to Dunedin for the Day 🌴#RepBXpic.twitter.com/9sg6UbZsXJ
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) February 24, 2026
Blue Jays vs. Yankees, anyone?
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) February 24, 2026
📺 @Sportsnetpic.twitter.com/hn0OP0GSpc
The Tampa Bay Rays announced a statement from Chief Executive Officer Ken Babby following today’s meeting of Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet:
“The Tampa Bay Rays are grateful for the approval granted today by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet for the conveyance of state land to Hillsborough College for the purpose of redeveloping the Dale Mabry Campus site for our proposed new ballpark, reinvented campus, and live, work, play, and learn district to open in 2029.
The support by Governor DeSantis and the Cabinet today underlines our belief in the power of this generational project, and the many lasting benefits it will deliver. Our momentum is real and growing, thanks to the remarkable spirit of community and statewide partnership that our ownership group has been privileged to experience from the start.
This is undoubtedly a big moment for Tampa Bay, and the Rays are fully in this moment to bring this vision to life, and serve our region for generations to come.”
This conveyance of land essentially gifts the north west parcel of land toward the overall Rays stadium project, with a five-year use clause, per the Tampa Bay Times, which reviewed the cabinet agenda and spoke to DeSantis on the matter:
DeSantis expressed his support for the project this month and said the state is “looking to help” fund new college buildings.
“At the press conference, I was asked: ‘How much is this land worth?’ Honestly, I don’t know that it’s worth very much outside of this proposal,” DeSantis said. “Because a home builder would not put a subdivision there, no way. People would do commercial buildings right there now. In order to make this something that’s special, it really has to be something unique like this.”
By partnering with Hillsborough College, the Rays new ownership group has clearly found a winning strategy toward finding funding and support for a new stadium that previously faced impassible hurdles. Time will tell if the public funding they are requesting coalesces.
The Dodgers on Wednesday take a trip across the valley to play the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
Roki Sasaki makes his first start of spring training, trying to get off to a better start in his second year in MLB.
Zac Gallen, who re-signed with Arizona this month on a one-year deal, starts on Wednesday for the D-backs.
Tennessee (16-10, 8-6 SEC) enters its final week of the 2025-26 basketball season. The Lady Vols will play one road contest and one home game to conclude regular-season play.
LSU will host Tennessee on Thursday. Tipoff between the Lady Vols and Tigers is slated for 6 p.m. EST at Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. ESPN will televise the matchup.
Tennessee will host Vanderbilt on March 1. The in-state contest will tip off at 2 p.m. EST at Food City Center (ESPN).
The SEC Tournament will be contested March 4-8 at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.
On Tuesday, the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll was released. Tennessee is unranked for the first time this season.
More: 2025-26 Lady Vols basketball schedule, TV, tipoff times
| Rank | Team | Record | PTS | 1st | Prev | Chg | Hi/Lo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UConn | 29-0 | 775 | 31 | 1 | - | 1/1 |
| 2 | UCLA | 27-1 | 741 | 0 | 2 | - | 2/4 |
| 3 | South Carolina | 27-2 | 716 | 0 | 3 | - | 2/3 |
| 4 | Texas | 26-3 | 680 | 0 | 4 | - | 2/5 |
| 5 | Vanderbilt | 25-3 | 646 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 4/21 |
| 6 | LSU | 24-4 | 617 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 5/12 |
| 7 | Oklahoma | 21-6 | 552 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 5/16 |
| 8 | Michigan | 22-5 | 543 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 5/15 |
| 9 | Iowa | 22-5 | 526 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 8/23 |
| 10 | TCU | 25-4 | 511 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 7/14 |
| 11 | Louisville | 24-5 | 467 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 6/22 |
| 12 | Ohio State | 23-5 | 425 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 8/NR |
| 13 | Maryland | 22-6 | 396 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 6/19 |
| 14 | Duke | 20-7 | 360 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 6/NR |
| 15 | Michigan State | 22-6 | 339 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 13/NR |
| 16 | Baylor | 24-6 | 285 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 10/21 |
| 17 | West Virginia | 22-6 | 276 | 0 | 19 | 2 | 17/NR |
| 18 | Kentucky | 20-8 | 240 | 0 | 18 | - | 7/20 |
| 19 | North Carolina | 23-6 | 200 | 0 | 22 | 3 | 8/23 |
| 20 | Ole Miss | 21-8 | 194 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 13/20 |
| 21 | Texas Tech | 24-5 | 191 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 18/NR |
| 22 | Minnesota | 21-7 | 128 | 0 | 23 | 1 | 22/NR |
| 23 | Alabama | 21-7 | 93 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 21/NR |
| 24 | Georgia | 21-7 | 74 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 24/NR |
| 25 | Iowa State | 21-7 | 32 | 0 | NR | 1 | 10/NR |
No. 21 Tennessee
Princeton 29; Tennessee 12; Rice 11; Colorado 6; Rhode Island 4; Washington 3; North Dakota State 2; Notre Dame 1
The USA TODAY Sports Board of Coaches is made up of 31 head coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. The board for the 2025-26 season: Octavia Blue, Kennesaw State; Ashleen Bracey, Illinois-Chicago; Jen Brown, Queens; Dan Burt, Duquesne; Jeff Cammon, Saint Mary’s; Fred Chmiel, Bowling Green; Janell Crayton, Bethune-Cookman; Denise Dillon, Villanova; Carrie Eighmey, South Dakota; Dalila Eshe, Yale; Heather Ezell, Wyoming; Bill Fennelly, Iowa State; Aqua Franklin, Lamar; Ty Grace, Howard; Hana Haden, Georgia Southern; Corry Irvin, Chicago State; Renee Jimenez, UC-Santa Barbara; Chris Kielsmeier, Cleveland State; Mike Lane, NJIT; Amy Mallon, Drexel; Kristen Mattio, Northern Colorado; Mike McGuire, Radford; Kim McNeill, East Carolina; Dan Nielson, Utah Valley; Shawn Poppie, Clemson; Terry Primm, Siena; Samantha Quigley Smith, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville; Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt; Jonathan Tsipis, Western Carolina; Coquese Washington, Rutgers; Trevor Woodruff, Bucknell.
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Tennessee basketball drops out of top 25 rankings
For long spells of the 2025 sormula 1 eason, Oscar Piastri looked the man to beat while team-mate Lando Norris struggled with his car and Red Bull was all at sea.
A combination of an off-weekend in Azerbaijan and low-grip struggles in Austin and Mexico then opened the door for his rivals to swoop past, with the Australian now keen to perform at his scintillating best for the entire season.
Read Also:
Oscar Piastri’s road to F1 2026: In pictures
Piastri has shown impressive progress over the past seasons, a trend that is highly likely to continue in 2026. The Australian experienced his first title fight last year, and that experience will undoubtedly benefit him in the seasons ahead.
As for the ratings, I have been slightly more critical across the board than most of my colleagues, which means my numbers are generally a bit lower. In terms of pure pace, I have ranked Piastri behind Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and (very marginally) Lando Norris – which results in a 91.
His racecraft sits at roughly the same level, partly because Piastri produced several impressive overtakes around the outside last year – including one that has largely flown under the radar, but still deserves to be mentioned: his pass on Lewis Hamilton in the closing stages of his Melbourne home race.
Based on the second half of 2025, only consistency leaves room for improvement. Yes, there was a lot going on behind the scenes at McLaren and the papaya rules did not always work in his favour, but with Baku and the low-grip conditions in Austin and Mexico, Piastri himself had a few more difficult weekends. Consistency can still improve, although given his development rate there is little doubt that he will make that step sooner or later.
If pre-season race simulations are anything to go by, McLaren and Red Bull should have their moments of being evenly matched across 2026. Piastri, after seeing the title slip through his fingers in the final third of last year, will have processed the more unpalatable lessons from 2025 – but the jury remains out on how he'll contend with the lower-grip cars.
While more able to deal with the apparent lack of cueing from the McLaren car last year, particularly in high-speed corners, Piastri will have to adapt to the flightier, looser '26 machines – something that Norris and Verstappen have historically been handy at dealing with. Will he be able to get on top of the new cars?
At his brilliant best, Oscar Piastri proceeds like a swan gliding across the water; beneath the surface those legs might be paddling furiously but, above, nothing disrupts the picture of disdainful hauteur. Still, over the disastrous course of a handful of races late last season he shipped over 100 points to Max Verstappen.
This disconcertingly peculiar slippage of form, mostly but not completely at tracks where circumstances had combined to deliver sub-optimal grip, left a few question marks where none had hovered before. Piastri has changed his entourage last year – probably for the best if fewer people are whispering darkly in his ear that the team is favouring his team-mate – so hopefully the combination of mind coach and pragmatic engineering support will enable him to expunge such errors.
Still, if he can't up his game in low-grip conditions, he's going to find the looser 2026 F1 cars a struggle.
Learn more about Oscar Piastri and his road to F1 through his career in pictures.
To set the drivers apart, we have taken inspiration from the official F1 game to attribute scores in four different categories, out of a maximum of 100.
Experience (EXP): An objective score simply based on the driver's experience level through total race starts Racecraft (RAC): The driver's ability to race wheel to wheel, either to defend a position or pull off a decisive overtake, without landing themselves in trouble with the stewards Consistency (CON): The driver's ability to keep clean, avoid unforced errors while being consistently quick in a race Pace (PAC): Reflects a driver's pace over one lap, largely in relation to their team-mate Overall Rating (OVR): The four above categories will be combined into an overall rating, weighted towards Pace.To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.
Braves predicted to make blockbuster trade for $100M Silver Slugger, Gold Glover, hometown hero originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Braves spent all of last season trying to get as healthy as possible, which was a major issue throughout the year. So when Spring Training began, it wasn’t much of a surprise that injuries started to surface again. First it was Spencer Schwellenbach, then it was Hurston Waldrep.
“The Atlanta Braves' rotation took another hit Sunday when manager Walt Weiss said right-hander Hurston Waldrep may need surgery to remove "loose bodies" found in his arm. Waldrep complained of discomfort after throwing batting practice. Weiss said an MRI showed no ligament damage, but the team is waiting to learn more after Waldrep has additional tests,” ESPN wrote.
The Braves are in need of pitching, but FanSided’s Mark Powell believes they should go all-in on a trade to acquire Byron Buxton.
“However, this is a team that doesn't value its assets. Buxton is just one player, and the Twins don't seem any closer to winning today than they were a few years ago. Minnesota could very well dump Buxton and Joe Ryan by this time next year. The Braves need outfield help. Without Marcell Ozuna, they're lacking a big bat at DH, as well. Buxton's contract isn't all that attractive, but it also isn't bad. Assuming Atlanta can use Buxton's rather consistent injury concerns as a negotiating tactic, they should add him while he's affordable,” Powell wrote.
This offseason has been rather interesting for Buxton, as he and the Minnesota Twins have not been seeing eye to eye.
“It's been months of upheavals for the Minnesota Twins and, because of roster changes, turnover in the dugout and front office, and an uncertain commitment level from ownership, the future is uncertain. That uncertainty hasn't sat well with franchise cornerstone Byron Buxton, especially insofar as his future with the Twins is concerned,” CBS Sports’ Dayn Perry wrote.
Adding Buxton would give the Braves a solidified outfield and another power bat in the lineup. The concern, however, is his injury history, which has not typically worked in Atlanta’s favor.
General manager Alex Anthopoulos has never been shy about acquiring high-level talent — just look at Michael Harris, Sean Murphy and Matt Olson. Buxton certainly fits the profile of the type of player the Braves would target.
More MLB news:
Texans General Manager Nick Caserio did his best on Tuesday to shut down chatter about the team considering a trade involving quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Stroud is heading into his fourth NFL season and the Texans have advanced to the divisional round in each of his first three years, but Stroud performed poorly while throwing four interceptions in Houston's playoff loss to the Patriots last month. That helped fuel talk about a possible trade that Caserio emphatically refuted while in Indianapolis for the Scouting Combine.
Caserio said, via multiple reporters, that speculation about the Texans trading Stroud is "moronic" and that the quarterback is "not going anywhere" ahead of the 2026 season.
The Texans will have choices to make about how long they want to commit themselves to Stroud this offseason. He is eligible for a contract extension, but the team could opt to exercise their option on his contract for 2027 while waiting to make moves toward a longer deal at some point in the future.
What a week, and it’s only Tuesday! This Tuesday morning was a momentous one within Braves Country as the team made back-to-back huge announcements. The first was that the long-rumored Braves TV network is real and figures to be spectacular. BravesVision will, in fact, be ready to go for the 2026 regular season and beyond.
On top of that huge news, the Braves proceeded to announce that they’d come to an agreement with Chris Sale on a contract extension that guarantees that he’ll be around here for 2027 along with a club option for 2028. Sale will now be getting paid $27 million for 2027 and then potentially $30 million for the season after that if all goes well.
Between the fact that the Braves are now once again masters of their own domain when it coms to TV and streaming and also the fact that they just made Chris Sale the highest-paid player on the team for 2027 (and very likely for 2028 if all goes well over the next two seasons), it’s pretty clear that we’ve entered into a new era when it comes to the Atlanta Braves and their position in baseball. The Battery has clearly worked out very well for this ballclub, and now they’ll have a self-owned and operated TV product to sell to distributors.
It’s pretty clear that finances won’t be a major issue for this franchise going forward. Now granted, it won’t be like they’re the Dodgers or the Mets where they can just hand out a blank check to anybody they want. If that was the case then we would’ve seen either Chris Bassitt or Lucas Giolito wearing a Braves uniform by this time during spring training. However, it does mean that if they want to go after someone in free agency and it makes even a moderate amount of sense, it’s totally feasible that this team could go out and make some splashes in free agency.
With that being said, it also means that their resources for keeping any of their core players via contract extensions should be expanded going forward. I think y’all know where I’m going with this.
The Braves still have some time left between now and the season where they’ll ultimately have to make sure this gets done, as they have a club option on Ronald Acuña Jr.‘s contract for both 2027 and 2028. With that being said, I do feel like any time before that 2028 season would be a great time to strike while the iron is hot and make sure that this guy stays here for as long as both parties deem it possible. I also know that this would be a very tricky undertaking, what with Acuña’s injury concerns and also the fact that he’ll be in position to try to maximize his earnings after taking the extremely team-friendly contract extension that he’s currently on. It’s not going to be as simple as “He’ll give the Braves a hometown discount” or “The Braves’ll just give him what he wants” and that’s something that needs to be acknowledged in any speculation that’s going on.
With that being said, the (well-earned) contract extension for Chris Sale raised an eyebrow from me for one reason and one reason alone (well, aside from the fact that Sale will be knocking directly on the door of Age-40 once 2028 rolls around): They’re going to be paying him $27 million for 2027 and potentially $30 million for 2028. As our friends over at Braves Today pointed out, the Braves have usually used $22 million as a sort of ceiling when it comes to their contract dealings. That number didn’t come out of nowhere, either — the one thing that Matt Olson, Austin Riley and Spencer Strider all have in common is that they’ll be getting paid $22 million for 2027 and 2028.
So, the fact that the Braves have broken that ceiling by $5 million for 2027 and $8 million by 2028 seems to indicate that that “ceiling” may no longer exist. Between that and the fact that the team only has $59 million committed to payroll (outside of team options) for the 2029 season, it feels like they could be eying that year as the one where they could potentially start Acuña’s contract extension and begin paying him what should/would be a substantial pay raise from what he’s currently bringing in. So really, 2028 could be the actual make-or-break year when it comes to either making sure Acuña stays around for a long, long time or if they’ll have to wave farewell to him like the handful of other former Braves stars who made their name here and made their real money elsewhere.
While those decisions in the past were painful, they were understandable in their own ways. Well, maybe the Freddie Freeman situation was the only one where it was truly a debacle but every other decision ultimately came down to dollars and cents. Again, this is purely speculation on my end but I do feel like the timing of the Chris Sale contract extension announcement immediately after the BravesVision announcement felt like a statement of intent from the franchise.
We’re still a bit away from when this needs to be a super pressing issue for both the Braves and Ronald Acuña Jr. but for now at least, I feel like there’s more hope of both parties being able to make some serious headway on any potential contract extension now than there was before. It also feels like something that’s actually tangible especially if the TV network takes off like the Braves figure it could. If they’re essentially printing money from The Battery and any TV distribution deals then the money should be there. It all comes down to whether both parties want it to happen.
We’ll see what happens down the road — things could certainly get complicated if Acuña suffers another serious injury between now and serious contract talks or he has another monster season that causes tomorrow’s price to no longer be yesterday’s price. There’s no telling what the future holds but at least for now, Atlanta’s future with Acuña may not have as many financial hurdles as previously anticipated.
The Chicago Bears dealt with injuries throughout the 2025 season, including losing promising rookie left tackle Ozzy Trapilo to a ruptured patellar tendon during a wild-card playoff win against the Green Bay Packers.
It's a potential career-altering injury for Trapilo, who looked poised to shore up that left tackle spot on one of the NFL's best offensive lines. The expectation was always that Trapilo would miss a significant amount of time, and general manager Ryan Poles' latest update confirms it. But he sounds encouraged about his recovery.
"He'll miss most of the year," Poles said at the NFL Scouting Combine, via CHGO. "...But we expect him to be back and be himself."
According to Jason Lieser, the Bears are exploring options for left tackle internally, in free agency and the NFL draft. But that won't include moving All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney to left tackle. That's a short-term option, as seen in the divisional playoffs against the Los Angeles Rams.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears GM Ryan Poles shares Ozzy Trapilo injury update
Members of the United States men's hockey team are expected to attend Tuesday night's State of the Union at the Capital.
After the team defeated Canada on Sunday in the gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, President Donald Trump invited the men's team to attend his State of the Union address.
While the women's team was also invited but declined the offer, some members of the men's team should be in attendance for Trump's address to the nation. However, some players might not be there with NHL commitments.
The State of the Union invitation comes at the same time as an ongoing controversy over Trump's phone call to the men's team after Sunday's win.
Players like Jack and Quinn Hughes have responded with praise for the women's team after President Trump cracked wise about having to invite the women's team to the State of the Union, which drew some laughter from the men's locker room alongside cheering. Trump has not responded to his comments.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why is the U.S. men's hockey team attending the State of the Union?
Justin Thomas made his return to televised golf Monday night.
The two-time major winner, who underwent back surgery in November, returned during Atlanta Drive's TGL victory over Boston Common. Thomas, who said after the match he has been practicing normally for about a month, will make his PGA Tour return next week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, his first start since the Procore Championship last September.
Thomas underwent a successful microdiscectomy, a procedure to remove a bulging or damaged disc in the lower spine.
"I've done a lot of reading and research and understanding that a lot of golfers have a very similar situation, but it affects everybody totally differently," Thomas said of his recovery. "Some people have no nerve pain. The fact that my dad has no nerve pain, I can't believe I got a back surgery before my dad did with how his back is. But it's one of those things that it's not nerve-related for him, and it was for me. So it's just strange."
Thomas was cleared earlier this month to return, choosing to wait to do so until the Florida Swing, which begins at this week's Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches. He will make consecutive starts at the Arnold Palmer and Players and likely play at least once more before the Masters.
Making his return at one of the Tour's most difficult courses, Thomas is keeping his expectations low for next week, knowing he needs to be patient as he gets back into a groove.
"I've been able to practice pretty normal for at least a month I feel like, or maybe not quite that much, so I'm trying to play a lot more, but I'll still run into stuff here and there of just situations I haven't been in in a while," Thomas said. "It was my first time playing, hitting it in a fairway bunker, and I'm like, 'I haven't hit a fairway bunker shot in like four months or something like that.' Just trying to play and get out there as often as I can. Different winds, different grasses, different lies, different scenarios.
"Look, I obviously want to and would love to play well next week, but I'm also understanding that it'll be, what, almost five, six months since I've played a competitive tournament, so I'm not exactly expecting anything great. But at least everybody else will be struggling with me at Bay Hill, so that'll make me feel a little bit better hopefully."
Thomas said there are a couple of swing changes over the last couple of years that could've potentially caused his injury. He hasn't made any major swing changes heading into 2026, though he knows injury management needs to become a bigger part of his routine.
"It's just I have to do the little things and stay on top of it, and playing injury-free is my main goal and always hasbeen," Thomas said. "It was unfortunate, but it is what it is, and I'm just going to make the best out of it and do the right things. I still have another 12, 15 years of great golf ahead of me. There's no reason to look backward, just look forward."
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Justin Thomas set to return from back surgery at Arnold Palmer
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell signed a one-year, $1.79 million contract with the Steelers last March. It seemed like Gainwell would be a distant third in a running back room that included newly-extended Jaylen Warren and rookie third-round pick Kaleb Johnson. That could not have been further from what happened, as Gainwell became the most productive player on the Steelers’ offense and was eventually voted as team MVP by his teammates.
When asked about Gainwell’s future with the Steelers as a pending free agent at the NFL Combine, Steelers general manager Omar Khan said he has spoken with Gainwell’s agent and had a simple response about his possible future in Pittsburgh.
“He knows we want him back.”
Omar Khan said he’s spoken with Kenneth Gainwell’s agent and “he knows we want him back.”
— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) February 24, 2026
Gainwell led the Steelers in receptions this past season with 73 catches for 486 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 537 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Gainwell significantly outperformed his contract and will certainly be getting a raise from someone when the legal tampering period opens on March 9th.
According to Spotrac, Gainwell’s market value is three million dollars per season. Coming off the best season of his career and his close relationship with likely starter for 2026, Aaron Rodgers, all signs are pointing towards Gainwell getting a contract extension from the Steelers.
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!
The United States stunned Canada with a 2–1 overtime victory to win men’s Olympic hockey gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics, delivering one of the most memorable moments in modern U.S. hockey history. It marks the Americans’ first Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey since the legendary “Miracle on Ice” in 1980 and just the third in program history.
Fans can now commemorate this victory with the official Team USA champions gear now on Fanatics.
MORE: Jack Hughes goes viral with bloody postgame Olympic gold medal interview
Feb 22, 2026; Milan, Italy; Jack Hughes (86) of the United States celebrates after defeating Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
The Americans struck first when Matt Boldy scored just six minutes into the opening period, sending early energy through the U.S. bench. Canada answered late in the second period when Cale Makar tied the game, setting up a tense third period filled with near misses and elite defensive stands.
With regulation ending 1–1, the gold medal game moved to sudden-death 3-on-3 overtime.
Just 1:41 into OT, Jack Hughes became an Olympic hero. After receiving a pass from Zach Werenski, Hughes ripped a shot past Canada’s goaltender to secure gold and ignite a celebration that will live in U.S. hockey lore.
At the heart of the victory was Connor Hellebuyck, who delivered one of the greatest goaltending performances in Olympic history. Hellebuyck stopped 41 shots against a relentless Canadian attack, including multiple breakaway saves and crucial penalty-kill stops that kept the Americans alive through regulation.
Without his composure and elite shot-stopping ability, this game likely never reaches overtime.
Instead, it became a defining chapter in the USA–Canada rivalry.
The victory also completed an Olympic sweep for the United States, as the U.S. women’s team captured gold earlier in the Games. The 2026 Winter Olympics will now be remembered as a defining moment for USA Hockey across both programs.
For fans, this wasn’t just another win; it was redemption, rivalry, and history wrapped into one unforgettable finish.
Championship moments deserve championship gear.
Officially licensed 2026 Team USA Winter Olympics gold medal merchandise, including t-shirts, hoodies, player jerseys (sold out currently), autographed memorabilia, and more, is now available at Fanatics.
Whether you’re looking for a Jack Hughes jersey (currently sold out), commemorative gold medal apparel, or limited-edition collectibles, Fanatics has the official gear to celebrate Team USA’s return to Olympic glory.
Click any link to shop now and secure your 2026 Team USA gold medal merchandise before it sells out.
This is a moment USA Hockey fans waited more than four decades for. Don’t miss your chance to own a piece of it.
The post Team USA gold medal gear: Official 2026 USA Hockey Olympic champions apparel now available appeared first on The Big Lead.
SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Texas Rangers shortstop prospect Sebastian Walcott had elbow surgery on Monday and could return to play before the end of the 2026 season.
The club said the 19-year-old Walcott had an internal brace placed on his right elbow, a procedure considered less severe than a full elbow reconstruction. The Rangers estimate Walcott will be out five-to-six months, leaving the possibility of him being able to play at some point this year.
Walcott is the No. 7 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. He hit .255 with 13 home runs, 59 RBIs and 32 stolen bases at Double-A Frisco last year.
He was a non-roster invitee to spring training before reporting elbow discomfort that led to the surgery.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Tipoff Time: 7:00PM ET
Location: Gallagher-Iba Arena — Stillwater, Oklahoma
Channel: CBS Sports Network
Announcers: Jordan Kent and Mike O’Donnell
Radio: Mountaineer Sports Network (Radio Affiliates) | SiriusXM Channel 382 and Streaming Channel 972 | WVU Gameday App (Apple | Android)
Radio Announcers: Tony Caridi and Brad Howe
Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
Get in on the action with our friends at FanDuel Sportsbook.
(As of 12:30PM ET/February 24, 2026)
West Virginia heads to Stillwater this evening looking to snap a two-game skid and keep themselves in the NCAA tournament conversation.
The Mountaineers (16–11, 7–7) are coming off a 60–54 loss at TCU, a game that followed a frustrating script. WVU held a 52–48 lead with 5:42 remaining before the offense stalled. The Mountaineers managed just one field goal the rest of the way, turning the ball over four times in their final 10 possessions. Honor Huff led WVU with 13 points, while Brenen Lorient added 10. The loss marked the eighth time in conference play that West Virginia failed to reach 60 points.
Rebounding and free throws were the difference. TCU shot 27 free throws to WVU’s 12 and finished with 19 offensive rebounds. Combined with Utah’s 12 offensive boards last week, West Virginia has allowed 31 second-chance opportunities across their last two games — a notable shift for a team that had been among the league’s better defensive rebounding teams most of the season.
Oklahoma State (16–11, 4–10) enters on a five-game losing streak, most recently falling 83–69 at Colorado. The Cowboys have been more effective at home, going 13–4 at Gallagher-Iba Arena, including conference wins over UCF, Kansas State, and BYU.
Offensively, Oklahoma State prefers a quicker tempo than West Virginia. The Cowboys rank among the faster teams in the league in possessions per game and look to take shots early in the clock. Anthony Roy leads the team at 17 points per game and shoots 41 percent from three at home. Parsa Fallah, a 6-foot-10 senior forward, averages 14.5 points and gives the Pokes a physical presence inside, while Vyctorius Miller adds 12 points per game.
Defensively, the Cowboys have struggled in conference play, allowing opponents to score from the perimeter and in transition. That presents an opportunity for a West Virginia offense that has cooled from three in recent games, shooting 20.2 percent (18-for-89) over their last four outings.
The matchup shapes up as a contrast in styles. Oklahoma State will look to speed the game up and create extra possessions. West Virginia, as it has most of the season, will try to control tempo, limit turnovers, and turn the game into a half-court battle.
| Category | West Virginia | Oklahoma State |
| Record | 16-11 (7-7 Big 12) | 16-11 (4-10 Big 12) |
| Points Per Game | 69.0 | 83.6 |
| Points Allowed Per Game | 63.5 | 81.4 |
| Field Goal % | 44.2% | 46.0% |
| 3PT FG % | 33.1% | 33.8% |
| Free Throw % | 67.5% | 73.4% |
| Rebounds Per Game | 34.7 | 37.8 |
| Assists Per Game | 12.7 | 15.1 |
| Turnovers Forced Per Game | 11.6 | 12.7 |
| Turnovers Committed Per Game | 11.2 | 12.4 |
| Leading Scorer | Honor Huff – 15.4 ppg | Anthony Roy – 17.0 ppg |
| Leading Rebounder | Harlan Obioha – 5.0 rpg Brenen Lorient – 5.0 rpg Chance Moore – 5.0 rpg | Parsa Fallah — 6.0 rpg |
| No. | Player | Position | Height | Class | Stats |
| 1 | Jasper Floyd | G | 6-3 | Sr. | 7.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg |
| 3 | Honor Huff | G | 5-10 | Sr. | 15.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg |
| 52 | Treysen Eaglestaff | G | 6-6 | Sr. | 9.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg |
| 0 | Brenen Lorient | F | 6-9 | Sr. | 11.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg |
| 55 | Harlan Obioha | C | 7-0 | Sr. | 5.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg |
This evening’s matchup will be the 27th all-time meeting between the Mountaineers and Pokes, with the series tied 13-13. West Virginia won the last game, 69-50, in Morgantown on January 4, 2025.
Gallagher-Iba Arena has been a tougher trip for West Virginia in recent seasons. The Mountaineers have dropped their last three there, with their last win in Stillwater coming in January 2021 (87–84).
West Virginia has defended well enough to win their last two games but has been undone by second chances and late turnovers. If the Mountaineers rebound the way they have for most of the season, they should be able to escape Stillwater with the win.
Expect a competitive game that stays within a possession or two down the stretch. This time, West Virginia finishes.
West Virginia 69, Oklahoma State 65
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The Houston Astros will return from an off day Monday to take on the New York Mets in another Grapefruit League matchup. The Astros dropped their first two spring matchups, falling to the Nationals and the Cardinals. Right-hander Jason Alexander will make his spring debut for Houston in Tuesday’s matchup. Righty Jack Wenninger will get the start for the Mets.
Alexander is a 32-year old right-hander who saw action with the Athletics and Astros last season. The Astros claimed him off waivers in May from the Athletics and he went on to make 14 appearances for Houston where he posted a 3.66 ERA and a 4.65 FIP in 71.1 innings. He’s in camp competing for an Opening Day roster spot.
Game Date/Time: Tuesday, February 24, 12:10 p.m. CST
Location: Clover Park, Port St. Lucie, FL
TV: No Local Broadcast
Streaming: MLB.tv
Radio: KBME 790 AM / 94.5 FM HD-2
Up in Port St. Lucie.
— Houston Astros (@astros) February 24, 2026
⚾️: 12:10 PM CT | 1:10 PM ET
🎙️: @SportsTalk790#ChaseTheFight x @PalmBeachesFLpic.twitter.com/YjcJGtHaL7
This afternoon’s starters! ⚾️ #LGMpic.twitter.com/FJds68v6bW
— New York Mets (@Mets) February 24, 2026
Of note, Cam Smith will play centerfield today, with Joey Loperfido in right field. Shay Whitcomb will play 2B and Nick Allen will play 3B. 2B has been Whitcomb’s best position thus far, and Nick Allen has only played 5 career games at 3B. It would appear Astros giving Allen a look at 3B to see how well he can handle the position.
Everyone starting today at least has a realistic shot of being on the Opening Day roster except 1B CJ Alexander. Alexander is a 29-year old career minor leaguer with 25 MLB ABs. In seven minor league seasons, he is a .254 hitter with a .321 OBP and .776 OPS. Last season, he hit a combined .254 with a .335 OBP and .783 OPS across stints with the Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders (IL – NYY), Las Vegas Aviators (PCL – ATH) and Oklahoma City Comets (PCL – LAD).
Atletico Madrid captain Koke Resurreccion has claimed that their inability to put together a consistent run of victories is down to the busy fixture list they are facing. The growing concern over the build up of games in recent years is not just a physical issue, but a mental one in Koke’s eyes.
Los Rojiblancos go into the second leg with Club Brugge level after a 3-3 draw in Belgium last week. Atletico took a 2-0 lead in the first half, but Brugge put in a rousing effort to make a comeback on two occasions. Manager Diego Simeone was not banking on anything in the second leg.
“The match is unpredictable; things don’t always go as planned. We’ll approach the game in a way that we believe will be effective. We need our fans, their energy that flows down and fuels us, and we have to give it back to them,” Simeone told the press.
Brugge travel to Madrid with the prize of an historic result on the line, and the confidence they can go head-to-head with Los Colchoneros. Simeone was asked if he feared the fact that their opposition had nothing to lose, and how he was dealing with the favourites tag.
“I’m not thinking that way. I see a team that plays well, is brave, and competes very well, with a coach who is doing his best.”
“We are clear about our role in tomorrow’s game, the opponent will not change and it will be a similar game to the other day.”
At the weekend Atletico Madrid returned to form, with Alexander Sorloth having one of his best games of the season. He did so alongside Antoine Griezmann rather than Julian Alvarez though.
“Are they compatible? They’ve played a lot of games together. They’re compatible for tomorrow and for any game.”
Simeone has admitted in recent weeks that his side struggle against low-blocks, and he was asked if they were a side that liked to play on the break.
“The players we have lead us to that position; with more attacking players we’ve improved in that aspect, and we need to recover our defensive strength, although it’s not too bad in the league, and even so, we’re far from where we should be. We need the balance we always need.”
“I don’t know if we’re similar [to Club Brugge] or not. I do know that they’ve always played well whenever we’ve faced each other, whether there or at home.”
Image via Football España.
Before Simeone appeared, captain Koke Resurreccion spoke to the media. He gave little away about their strategy for the second leg.
“In the first leg we played a great first half, then they equalised, and then again after going 2-3 down, when they had nothing to lose. We need to be strong both offensively and defensively; when we concede few goals we achieve great things.”
One of the frustrations of the Metropolitano has been the inconsistency of Atletico, something that Koke put down to the heavy calendar Los Colchoneros are dealing with.
“We have increasingly larger squads and rotations. But the players’ level drops because they can’t maintain peak performance for so many matches. It’s not just the physical aspect, it’s also the mental one. But until we all sit down together and say ‘enough is enough,’ this will continue to happen with the schedule.”
FanGraph Depth Chart projections show two Diamondback outfielders with above average power: Corbin Carroll and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (proj-SLG>.404 and proj-HR/PA>.031). Because they are injured, their above-average power is not assumed. What is assumed is they will play on the outfield corners when they return from the injured list. The biggest question is who will play center field.
Ryan Waldschmidt and Jordan Lawlar are probably not ready to play full-time center field due to youth (each is 23 years old) and lack of experience in center field (Waldschmidt had 38 games at the AA level, and Lawlar had 3 games in the offseason).
On the other end of the age spectrum, this season may be the last chance for Jorge Barrosa and Alek Thomas to have a breakthrough performance.
Jorge Barrosa has good plate discipline but hits below his potential, especially last season. His defense at center field is above average (2 OAA last season).
In the last four seasons, Alek Thomas had below average batting except for 2024 (when he had only 103 PAs). His defense at center field was great in 2022 and 2023, then average and terrible in the last two seasons.
The expectation is that Tim Tawa’s most valuable role is as a utility player off the bench. Last season, he played 20 games at first base, 23 games at second base, 3 games at third base, 14 games at left field, 18 games at center field, and 3 games at right field.
The following table shows FanGraphs Depth Chart projections for these outfielders.
Corbin Carroll. The foundation of exceeding expectations is that his defense continues to be exceptional (10 OAA last season).
Three projections predicted regression for Corbin Carroll’s batting. They each projected his homers and hits to drop (the one exception expected him to have 5 more hits than last season).
My 2026 Outlook was more optimistic. One reason was that Carroll, at 25 years old, was younger than the typical peak in batter performance, which occurs between age 27 and 29. My projection was 34 homers and 160 hits. See this player review.
Then Corbin Carroll broke his hamate bone. He may not be ready by opening day. Also, his injury could possibly lower his batting power for months after his return. If he exceeds his projection AND reaches my optimistic outlook, then he will have definitely have exceeded expectations. If he again wins a Silver Slugger (like he did last season), he will have been truly extraordinary.
Ryan Waldschmidt.
Among the six players, his batting projection is second best. Especially noteworthy is his projected on-base-percent. Despite an unorthodox swing, if his batting in the Majors reaches his high potential, that will be the foundation of exceeding expectations. Building on that foundation, if despite his very limited experience in center field, his defense in center field is at least average (and perhaps above average), that will be the capstone in his exceeding expectations.
“Along with assigning him a 50 FV, our prospect team wrote that the 23-year-old outfielder in the Arizona Diamondbacks system “does just about everything you want at the plate and he looks the part of a bat-first future regular in the box.” — David Laurila
Jordan Lawlar.
Last season, he injured his hamstring. In the last couple seasons, he played fewer games than most prospects, which raised doubts about his ceiling. Can he avoid injury? Avoiding injury will be a third of him exceeding expectations.
Last season in the Majors, in 28 games his batting was poor (OPS+ of 51). If his batting in the Majors reaches above average, that will be a third of him exceeding expectations.
He has near-zero playing time in center field. If he can quickly learn the new position if he can almost reach average defense, while showing progress, that will be a third of him exceeding expectations.
“I’ve heard Lawlar described as prospect bust, but I vehemently disagree with calling any player a bust based on a 108 game sample spread out over 2¼ seasons , especially a player with Jordan Lawlar’s prospect pedigree and strong track record in the Minor Leagues.” — C Wesley Baier
Jorge Barrosa. The foundation of exceeding expectations is that his defense continues to be great (2 OAA last season).
Last season, he made an adjustment to his swing. His FanGraphs projection for batting is the lowest of the outfielders that we are considering. If he gets his swing right, and his batting reaches league average, that would be the main part of exceeding expectations.
“In Reno, Barrosa is a borderline full-time starter with a high walk rate (11.8%) and a serviceable strikeout rate (20.8%). This sort of plate discipline and Barrosa’s acuity with the glove will almost certainly get him another look in the Majors in 2026.” — James Attwood
Alek Thomas.
He does not have a trend of improving every season. If Alex Thomas bats like he did in 2024, and if he defends center field like he did in 2022 and 2023, then he will have exceeded expectations.
“At this point, expecting Thomas to anchor center field for a competitive Diamondbacks club feels optimistic. His tools suggest upside, but four seasons of stasis on offense and regression on defense tell a different story.” — Jeff Irving
“While his [Thomas] OPS+ of 82 was a personal high, it still ranked Thomas 163rd of the 177 players to receive 450+ PA in 2025. With his defense also less impressive – there was no Gold Glove nomination for Thomas this season -he ended up basically at replacement level.” — Jim McLennan
Tim Tawa. If he can bat so far above average that the Diamondbacks need him as an everyday player, he will have exceeded the expectation that he is most valuable as a utility player off the bench.
As an everyday outfielder, any of these six players could most exceed expectations.
Corbin Carroll seems the most likely to most exceed expectations. And I’d be thrilled if Ryan Waldschmidt was promoted this season and exceeded exectations. With good fortune, maybe two of these players could most exceed expectations.
WWE Superstar Trick Williams has delivered a sharp response to Tom Brady’s reported “cute” remarks about professional wrestling.
The former South Carolina wide receiver, whose real name is Matrick Belton, addressed the comparison during an appearance on ESPN’s First Take.
Drawing from his experience in both football and wrestling, Williams explained why the physical demands of WWE should not be underestimated.
Trick Williams addressed remarks suggesting that what he does in WWE is “cute” when compared to football while on First Take.
The WWE performer leaned on his own time on the field to explain why that characterisation misses the reality of physical competition.
“I saw some podcasts and everything where people were saying what I’m doing now as a WWE Superstar is cute. But you got to understand, Stephen A. Smith, playing football, you know, we went through a lot of hard things.”
“You know, you call the play, and then you’re going across the middle, you’re going to get hit. And just because things are predetermined doesn’t mean that it don’t hurt.”
“And what we do now as WWE Superstars, some things are predetermined. But, hey, if you got to sit in that pocket and throw that Cover Two post across the middle? You’re about to get hit.”
“Just because you drew the play and knew what was going to happen doesn’t mean that it doesn’t hurt. You know what I mean?”
“And that’s what we do now. Hey, we draw the play and get the job done. At the end of the day, you gotta get the job done. And you got to do it with the bright lights on.”
Before becoming Trick Williams, Matrick Belton began his college football career at Hampton University before transferring to South Carolina.
As a walk-on wide receiver in 2015, he played in every game for the Gamecocks and recorded 11 receptions for 121 yards.
He appeared in nine games during his final season in 2016, contributing primarily on special teams and earning SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll recognition.
Years later, Belton rebranded as Trick Williams and rose through WWE’s NXT before earning a place on the main roster.
Now a regular presence on SmackDown, Williams has used his football experience to reinforce his message that both sports demand toughness and execution under bright lights.
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Following a 12-win season and a Wild Card round victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, the San Francisco 49ers find themselves in an arms race with the Los Angeles Rams and Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Seattle may lose a piece or two, but it has shown how quickly it can retool in the draft, and the Rams have a shot as long as Matthew Stafford keeps playing at a high level. The 49ers will return Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, but the team has a few positions of need to keep up with their division rivals.
Which is the biggest positional need?
EDGE/Defensive Line
The 49ers ranked at the bottom of the NFL in sack production. Losing Bosa and Mykel Williams didn’t help, but there is an argument that even with both of their services, the 49ers would have struggled to generate consistent pressure. As a result, Bryce Huff was forced into an every-down role as opposed to a situational pass rusher and was overused and lost effectiveness.
Alfred Collins and C.J. West are part of the future for the defensive line, but the 49ers will certainly have to address the defensive line with several picks. Keion White is under team control, as is Huff, but adding an immediate impact pass rusher would work wonders for the defense in 2026.
Wide Receiver
Jauan Jennings is likely on the move. The same goes for Brandon Aiyuk. Ricky Pearsall hasn’t been able to complete a full season. Jordan Watkins got very little run in 2025, and Jacob Cowing is a complete unknown. The wide receiver issue reared its head in the divisional round, facing Seattle’s fast secondary.
Of the eight picks in the draft, one will have to be a receiver, but the 49ers would be wise to add a free-agent receiver to rely on. The receiver room will look completely different next season.
Offensive Line
Trent Williams is back. Colton McKivitz is the other bookend. Dominick Puni is part of the future. Left guard is a question mark, and will the 49ers stick with Jake Brendel at center? The offensive line got beat up in Seattle and will struggle against defenses that can get home with a four-man rush and speed up front. Will the 49ers look for Williams’ replacement in the draft?
Tyler Linderbaum is an option at center, but he will have a significant market. The 49ers have to look to upgrade the line for today and plan for the future in the draft and free agency.
Which position is the biggest need this offseason for the 49ers? Let us know in the comments!
Atlanta Braves fans will have a new viewing experience this season after the team ended their broadcasting contracts with no clear next step.
The Braves were one of nine Major League Baseball teams to terminate their deals with FanDuel Sports Network after the parent group Main Street Sports Group failed to make a payment in December.
"The Atlanta Braves are aware of the reports regarding Main Street Sports Group. While disappointed with this development, we have been actively preparing for this outcome and are well on our way towards launching a new era in Braves broadcasting," the team said in a Feb. 2 post on X. "To our fans, we want to assure you that we will be ready for the 2026 season, and all Atlanta Braves games will be broadcast across the entirety of Braves Country. We look forward to sharing our path forward in the coming weeks."
The Milwaukee Brewers, Miami Marlins, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds and Tampa Bay Rays decided to partner with MLB to produce their games for the 2026 season as soon as the split was announced, but it was unclear what the other teams would do.
Now, the Braves have announced their own media platform called "BravesVision."
"The Atlanta Braves today announced the launch of BravesVision, a multimedia platform owned and operated by the organization that will become the official local television home of the Braves beginning with the 2026 baseball season," the organization said in a Feb. 24 announcement. "BravesVision will usher in a new era of broadcasting, where the Braves organization will have full oversight of the production, sales, marketing, and distribution of its telecasts."
BravesVision will produce games for its six-state territory "without blackouts," the organization said. The 2026 season will include 140 games with extensive pre-game and post-game programming.
The platform will have streaming options, as well as ways to watch games over-the-air.
"BravesVision will be available on Major League Baseball's streaming platform - Braves.TV. With a subscription, all regular season non-national exclusive Braves games will be available to fans everywhere and without blackouts. Fans will have the additional option to purchase an out-of-market package to view every MLB team," the organization said.
On television, the Braves are once again partnering with Gray Media to broadcast select games for free in Atlanta and across Gray's southeastern network broadcast stations.
"Additionally, Gray Media will feature an expanded Braves Spring Training Broadcast offering in 2026, bringing 15 Spring Training games to fans across Braves Country," according to the organization. "All Spring Training broadcasts will also be streamed live for free on Braves.TV. Fans simply need to visit Braves.TV to create a free account."
Games will also be streamed by MLB's broadcast partners including FOX/FS1, ESPN, TBS, NBC/Peacock and Apple TV+.
According to the Gray Network, Braves games will be shown in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi and North Carolina.
To wrap up the month, the Braves have five more games in February.
Irene Wright is the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Atlanta Braves announce their own streaming platform for 2026 season
T20 World Cup, Super 8 Group 2, Pallekele
Pakistan 164-9 (20 overs): Farhan 63 (45); Dawson 3-24
England 166-8 (19.1 overs): Brook 100 (51); Shaheen 4-30
England won by two wickets
Harry Brook's sensational century under pressure led England into the T20 World Cup semi-finals with a two-wicket victory over Pakistan in Pallekele.
The England captain promoted himself to number three after Phil Salt was dismissed first ball and made exactly 100 in a chase of 165.
It was the first time Brook had batted first drop in his T20 international career but he played the situation perfectly, going up and down the gears as wickets fell around him.
Jos Buttler failed again - out for three in the third over - while Jacob Bethell fell for eight and Tom Banton two as England slipped to 58-4.
But Brook hit 10 fours and four sixes - once again delivering on his undeniable talents.
He was bowled by Shaheen Afridi a ball after reaching his hundred - the first of his T20 international career - in 50 balls but by then only 10 runs were needed from the last three overs.
Brook's team-mates still threatened to throw all of his good work away as the wickets of Will Jacks and Jamie Overton followed, leaving it to Jofra Archer to swing away the winning runs with five balls to spare.
It means Brook's side return to India for a semi-final on either Wednesday or Thursday next week, with their opponents and the venue still to be confirmed by the remainder of the Super 8 stage.
They are there without ever really convincing - here they were sloppy in the field when restricting Pakistan to 164-9 - but are the first team to secure their spot in the last four.
'Clocked' by a bouncer in Wellington, as culpable as anyone in the dismal Ashes defeat in Australia, pictured drinking in Noosa and found to have lied when apologising in Sydney.
Brook has had quite the winter.
This, though, was everything good about England's white-ball captain. He batted at his destructive best.
Surprise greeted the sight of Brook walking down the steps rather than Bethell after Salt nicked off to Shaheen but the thinking was smart.
It kept the right-hander away from Pakistan's five spinners on a turning pitch at the start of his innings and allowed him to take advantage of the powerplay fielding restrictions.
Brook faced three dots in his first five balls but then took left-armer Salman Mirza for a four and six in the second over.
He muscled a brutal straight six over long-on off while hitting spinner Mohammad Nawaz for 17 in the sixth, before nudging singles after Banton nicked off to Usman Tariq. The mystery spinner was Pakistan's major threat.
At halfway, Brook kicked on again, crashing leg-spinner Shadab Khan for a perfect straight six. He scored all around the ground but those straight hits and his drives through the covers were particularly eye-catching.
He reached three figures with two more hits over mid-off - one for six and another a one-bounce four.
It made him the third man to score centuries in all three formats for England, after Jos Buttler and Dawid Malan, but more importantly it keeps them on course for a third T20 title.
The win means England qualify before their final Super 8 game against New Zealand on Friday. They can use that match to try and fine tune.
Buttler's form remains a major worry. One of England's all-time greats, who has scored 15 runs in his last five innings and got a bottom edge on a cut here, is struggling.
Before that, England's fielding, which had remained strong through the tight wins against Nepal, Scotland and Italy in the group stage and Sri Lanka on Sunday, faltered.
Bethell let two regulation stops through his hands on the boundary and Brook dropped Shadab on four before he made an important 23. There was also the careless moment of a no-ball for one too many fielders outside the 30-yard circle.
Sahibzada Farhan was Pakistan's highest scorer with 65 but he and Babar Azam batted too slowly in a partnership of 46 in 44 balls.
Liam Dawson and Jamie Overton did well to restrict Pakistan in the second half of the innings. Left-arm spinner Dawson took three wickets and a fine high catch while Overton bowled Babar and had Farhan lbw, also taking an excellent diving catch of his own.
They ensured Pakistan did not kick on from their platform and, along with Brook, were the other major plusses for England.
Arthur Fils took a heavy defeat to Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the Qatar Open.
Fils was beaten by Alcaraz, 6-2 6-1, in his first final since returning to tennis after recovering from the back injury that saw him out of action for six months.
The singles final in Doha lasted just 50 minutes and was the quickest final Alcaraz has ever played in his career.
Fils has now reflected on his defeat to Alcaraz as he revealed if the Spaniard is the best player he has ever faced.
Speaking to Tennis TV while in Dubai, Fils reflected on his match against Alcaraz, although he later pulled out of the event before his opening round. Looking back on the final, he said it might have been the toughest anyone’s played against him.
“Yeah, I think so,” Fils said. “I mean, I’ve never had a really tough loss, I don’t remember. Sorry for the word but I never got my a– kicked that much. Two days ago was, he played pretty good (smiles).”
Their first encounter came at last year’s Monte Carlo Masters, where Fils took the opening set before Alcaraz turned things around to win.
It was still an encouraging week for Fils despite coming up short in the final. Doha marked just his third tournament back since returning from injury.
“Well you know, I know I can play some great tennis,” answered Fils. “I’ve been 14 in the world and I was playing pretty good before I got injured, so I know that I can play.
“I think that now I’m playing pretty good, it’s always taking a bit of time to hit my level especially with his level and my level especially but it’s getting better and better.
Fils’ run to the Qatar Open final wasn’t the only notable development last week, as he also introduced his new coach.
The world number 34 has started working with former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic, whose recent coaching experience includes stints with Stefanos Tsitsipas, Elena Rybakina, and Novak Djokovic—the latter of whom he helped guide to nine Grand Slam titles.
There’s been plenty of interest in how the partnership will unfold, but Fils sounded relaxed and upbeat when describing Ivanisevic’s personality.
“Yeah it’s pretty nice,” said Fils. “We just started working five days ago or one week ago, but it’s very nice. I really enjoy, he’s pretty funny
“…He has a lot of experience, so whatever I feel, he’s already felt it. At least it’s pretty good, so he knows what I’m going through, so he can give me some advice and he can help me, and it’s very nice to talk with him.”
After deciding not to play in Dubai, Fils now has more than a week before his next tournament gets underway.
The Frenchman will head back into action at Indian Wells next month—a tournament where he made a quarterfinal appearance last season.
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The Kansas City Chiefs will almost certainly look to add an electric pass-catcher to their receiving corps during the 2026 offseason, and DraftKings Sportsbook seems to have an idea of one player who could pique the team's interest.
According to the oddsmakers at DraftKings, the Chiefs are currently the favorites to sign superstar wideout Tyreek Hill, who was recently released by the Miami Dolphins.
Hill entered the NFL as one of Kansas City's fifth-round picks in the 2016 NFL Draft and rose to prominence as the league's most exciting receiver during a six-year tenure with the Chiefs that saw the former West Alabama Tiger earn a championship ring in Super Bowl LIV.
Tyreek Hill Next Team Update @DKSportsbook
— DK Insights (@DKInsights_) February 24, 2026
Odds Movement (Open➡️Last Week➡️Now):
KC Chiefs +300➡️+225➡️+150
BUF Bills +600➡️+650➡️+600
BAL Ravens +800➡️+650➡️+700
Most Bet Teams:
1. KC Chiefs
2. BUF Bills
3. BAL Ravens
4. LV Raiders
5. LA Chargers
There's 11x more $ on the… pic.twitter.com/Ih58YUPUyb
While Kansas City has a clear need for a dynamic wide receiver, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach will need to get creative with his team's finances to ensure it has the money that will be needed to sign Hill in free agency.
Stay tuned to see if Hill will find his way back to Kansas City in the coming weeks, or if the oddsmakers were off base with their assessments about the likelihood of a potential reunion.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Chiefs, Tyreek Hill to reunite? Here's what sportsbooks have to say
England have qualified for the semifinals of the T20 World Cup with a nervy two-wicket win in their Super Eight match against Pakistan, who inched closer to exiting the tournament in Sri Lanka.
Captain Harry Brook scored a sublime century under pressure as his side chased the 165-run target in 19.1 overs at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday and became the first team to enter the knockouts.
Brook formed a 52-run partnership with in-form allrounder Will Jacks, who scored 28 runs in the winning cause.
England’s win, though, began with a tumble and ended with a wobble as their top and lower-middle-order batters slumped in the face of a par total of 164-9 set by Pakistan.
The two-time champions went through to the last four by winning their second game of the Super Eight stage to bag four points, while Pakistan remain on one point after two games.
England’s run-chase got off to a horrible start when Shaheen Shah Afridi removed opener Phil Salt off the first ball of the innings. Salt edged a length delivery to wicketkeeper Usman Khan, who obliged with a diving catch.
Afridi, who was dropped from the Pakistan team for their washed out match against New Zealand, carried on his dream return with a wicket in his second over as former captain Jos Buttler was dismissed in similar manner.
Jacob Bethell, caught in the deep off Afridi, and Tom Banton, caught behind off Usman Tariq, were the next two wickets to fall as Pakistan seemed to have the upper hand in the second innings.
However, Brook’s measured yet attacking onslaught combined with some poor fielding by Pakistan to help England revive their innings in the middle overs.
Just as his team looked certain of victory, Brook fell after scoring his 100, triggering a late batting collapse that gave Pakistan some hope before it was crushed by a Jofra Archer boundary on the first ball of the 20th over to seal England’s win.
Earlier, Sahibzada Farhan continued his imperious run-scoring form to score 63 runs off 45 balls that became the cornerstone of Pakistan’s innings.
The opener was briefly supported by Babar Azam, who fell for 25 runs.
Fakhar Zaman’s 25 and Shadab Khan’s 23 runs helped Pakistan cross the 160-run mark in a must-win game.
Spin bowler Liam Dawson’s figures of 3-24 in four overs were supported by two wickets each from pacers Jofra Archer and Jamie Overton as England made it four wins in their last four games in the tournament.
They will face New Zealand in their last Super Eight fixture on Friday, while Pakistan will play against hosts Sri Lanka the following day.
The sixth edition of the World Baseball Classic takes place in March, with 20 countries vying to claim bragging rights in the sport's premier international tournament.
The 20 countries were broken into four pools in different locations, with each team playing the other four in the group. Pool A will be played in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Pool B in Houston; Pool C in Tokyo and Pool D in Miami.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, which will be held in Miami and Houston. The semifinals (March 15-16) and championship game (March 17) will also be played in Miami at LoanDepot Park, home of the Marlins. The tournament's first games will be played in Tokyo on Thursday, March 5, with Team USA beginning its campaign on Saturday, March 6 against Brazil in Houston. Defending champion Japan's first game is Friday, March 6 against Chinese Taipei.
Here's a look at the 2026 World Baseball Classic pools and schedule
Pool A schedule
Pool B schedule
Pool C schedule
Pool D schedule
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Baseball Classic schedule, 2026 pools and game locations
Ernie Johnson says March Madness scale back wasn't forced originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Ernie Johnson is stepping back from the early rounds of the NCAA Tournament, and says the move came at his request.
CBS and TNT Sports announced earlier this month that Johnson would not host studio coverage during the first two weeks of March Madness. As of now, Nate Burleson will take over those duties, marking his first time leading NCAA Tournament coverage. Johnson will return to host coverage of the Final Four in Indianapolis.
“At my request, I will take a step back from working the first two weeks of March Madness,” Johnson told NJ.com in a statement. “I appreciate the support from TNT Sports, along with my CBS Sports colleagues. We have a tremendously talented broadcast team, and I look forward to hosting our studio coverage from the Final Four in Indianapolis.”
Johnson assumed the lead host role last year following the death of Greg Gumbel in December 2024. Now in the later stages of his career, Johnson is balancing an expanded workload that includes increased appearances on TNT’s NBA studio coverage and ESPN platforms.
More:Michael Jordan has been interviewed on FOX more than NBC this year
His schedule could make him the first broadcaster since Brent Musburger in 1984 to host both the NCAA men’s Final Four and the NBA Finals in the same year.
While viewers will miss Johnson during the tournament’s opening rounds, the shift provides a significant opportunity for Burleson, who has expanded his role at CBS Sports and said basketball was his first love. For what it's worth, Johnson will still be front and center when a national champion is crowned in Indianapolis.
Ethan Ampadu’s journey back to Chelsea in 2023 ended with a decision that set his career on a new path, as Leeds United stepped in to sign him permanently.
The Welsh international, who had already made 12 senior appearances for Chelsea, had spent time on loan at RB Leipzig, Sheffield United, Verona, and Spezia. Following consecutive relegations in Serie A, he returned to London facing an uncertain future.
There were three paths open to him: fight for a place at Stamford Bridge, head out on another loan, or look for a permanent exit. In the end, it was the latter that happened.
Ampadu joined Leeds in 2023 for around £7m and was Daniel Farke’s first signing. Since then, he has become one of the most popular players among supporters.
Two years on from leaving Chelsea, Ampadu now captains a Premier League side and has proven to be an absolute bargain. He has become a crucial part of the team, operating from midfield and embodying everything good about this Leeds side.
On the Leeds podcast, Ampadu spoke about his loan experiences and his subsequent transfer to Elland Road.
He also weighed in on his relationship with Carlo Cudicini, and why he ultimately chose to make the switch.
The 25-year-old said: “The team would speak to Chelsea first. I was close with Carlo Cudicini. He was in the loan department at Chelsea, I always felt like I could have stayed and been a fourth-choice midfielder. But you never know what could happen with that. For my development, it was better to play.
“I was never really fazed or bothered if it was abroad, the lifestyle, culture. Languages, I wish I did better. I did Covid in Germany. It wasn’t just Chelsea pushing; it was an open conversation over what was best.”
Ampadu added: “Before I joined, I heard how big Leeds were but I never really understood it. It would be weird for me to say, because of how big Leeds are, because I didn’t really understand it.
“The project they had, the boss told me where I could improve. It felt right, it felt like it fit after speaking to him. It might not have worked out three years down the line but I like to think it has. It feels like home.”
When Ampadu made the switch to Leeds, Mauricio Pochettino had already decided he was not part of Chelsea’s plans.
Todd Boehly’s first year in charge saw more than £600 million spent on new signings, leaving the squad overloaded with players.
Moving him on seemed the obvious choice, and there has not been any talk since about a buyback clause being included in his deal at Leeds. Even if one existed, it is likely no longer active.
But there is thought to be a sell-on clause in place, similar to the one Exeter City benefited from when Chelsea first brought Ampadu in. These clauses typically range between 15 and 25%.
If Leeds ever do decide to cash in on him – which seems unlikely given his importance – Chelsea would be entitled to a share of any profit the club makes from the sale.
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I want to start by thanking you from your support in recent games. We’ve travelled 8000 miles over the last eight games, and you’ve been with us all the way. Our support home and away is always amazing, but especially knowing that there are people who were in Baku last week and will have also been there at Manchester City on Saturday, it’s a testament to the club and how much people of Newcastle love the club.
It’s honestly amazing, and we know we’ve probably not always got the results this season that have warranted the amount of money you have spent to follow us away. Hopefully the last few games have made some amends to that a little bit and we’ll hopefully do that more.
We spoke as a group after the Brentford game that we really wanted to focus and put in the work for each other – and the manager as well. We were all disappointed as a team and we felt like we let him down, so we owed it to him to put in the work and turn it around. I don’t think we’ve played unbelievably in all of the games since but we’ve shown a lot more character and a much better mentality to get through those different circumstances away from home.
Last week at Qarabağ, we knew the first leg would be a tough game knowing how well they had done at home against Chelsea and against other clubs in Europe. So it makes all the travelling and preparations sweeter with how we played. We’re really happy with how we performed, especially the first half.
It’s a cliché but we also know that the tie isn’t over. We know that Qarabağ can cause us problems and we have to be professional tonight. It’s always great going into any second leg with the type of lead that we have, but we’re not naïve to think that we can turn up and expect to win this game.
And I know us as a group, we’re not like that. We’re very professional and we’ve got a good mentality so I’m confident that we’ll be ready to go tonight. Anything can happen in knockout football, but we feel as though we can compete with anybody. We’ve shown that, especially against Paris Saint-Germain, how good we can be. I think we elevate our game going into those games because there are bigger, better teams at this stage of the competition.
Of course, knockout football in the Champions League is something we’ve never done before in our history. Once you’re in the competition, you don’t really come out and look at how big an achievement it is. We know the fans will come out push us along in the stands to help us get through.
We always fancy ourselves at home. We’ve lost more home games than we’d like this season but we are always very confident going into these games, knowing that the fans can help us. I’m always told that it’s such an intimidating place to come from players I know, so let’s continue that into this run of home games together over the next few weeks.
Dan Burn.
Hull FC full-back Will Pryce has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury.
The 23-year-old sustained the injury late on in last weekend's Super League defeat by Wigan Warriors.
Scans revealed a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and Pryce is set to undergo surgery, Hull have confirmed.
Hull, who are only two games into the new league campaign, signed Pryce from NRL side Newcastle Knights last March on a three-and-a-half year contract.
Injuries restricted him to 10 appearances last season, but he had started this year strongly with a man of the match performance against Bradford Bulls in round one.
Hull next face York on Friday at the MKM Stadium.
Texans' C.J. Stroud declaration stinks for Steelers, Vikings, Dolphins and Jets originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
There has been no shortage of speculation surrounding the idea that perhaps the Houston Texans would be open to trading C.J. Stroud.
Stroud had a phenomenal rookie campaign in 2023, but he just hasn't been the same since then and concerns about his future only got worse after his abysmal playoff showing last season.
As a result, speculation has run rampant about the possibility that the Texans could move on from the former No. 2 overall pick, although there has been nothing to suggest the Texans are even considering it.
And we got confirmation of that on Tuesday, when Texans general manager Nick Caserio called the idea that the team could trade Stroud "moronic" and said there aren't any plans for the team to make that move.
"He's not going anywhere," Caserio said of Stroud, per ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime.
The fact that Caserio left zero room for interpretation means there is zero chance that Stroud is moved, which is bad news for quarterback-needy teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets and Miami Dolphins.
The Jets and Dolphins are back to the drawing board at quarterback after the failures of Justin Fields and Tua Tagovailoa, respectively, and the Vikings at the very least need competition for J.J. McCarthy.
In Pittsburgh, the Steelers are waiting on Aaron Rodgers and if he doesn't come back, more help will be needed for a quarterbacks room that currently includes Will Howard and Mason Rudolph.
Despite his down stock, all four teams almost certainly would have had interest in Stroud, as each doesn't have a sure long-term solution at the position.
But Stroud being available via trade was always a pipe dream.
A former Spartans legend will be looking for a new NFL team next year.
Atlanta Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham confirmed earlier reports that the Atlanta Falcons will release former Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins on the first day of the new league year next month. It was reported earlier this month that the Falcons intended on releasing Cousins, but now that has been confirmed by the team's general manager.
Cousins spent only two seasons with the Falcons after building a name for himself in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings for a bulk of his career. Cousins appeared in 24 games with the Falcons, serving as a replacement quarterback for Atlanta this past season after starter Michael Penix Jr. suffered a season-ending injury.
It's unclear at this time if Cousins will continue his NFL career with a new team in 2026 or if he'll hang it up and retire. Cousins has played 14 seasons in the NFL, throwing for nearly 45,000 yards and just under 300 touchdowns across 167 starts. Should Cousins want to continue to play, he will be one of the more coveted quarterbacks on the free agent market.
GM Ian Cunningham says Falcons plan to release QB Kirk Cousins on first day of new league year. pic.twitter.com/jOcFq85oEW
— NFL (@NFL) February 24, 2026
Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Atlanta Falcons to release former MSU QB Kirk Cousins next month
Luciano Spalletti has offered a glimpse into his thinking ahead of Juventus’ Champions League last-16 second leg against Galatasaray, with selection decisions across several key positions still yet to be finalised.
The Juventus head coach spoke to Sky Sport in the build-up to the tie, with his side needing to overturn a 5-2 deficit in the return fixture.
The contest promises to be a tense affair, and Spalletti’s team news will be closely scrutinised given the stakes involved and a number of fitness doubts hanging over the squad.
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Kenan Yildiz of Juventus FC in action during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Como 1907 at on February 21, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
Perhaps the most eagerly anticipated update concerned Kenan Yildiz, and Spalletti’s words will delight supporters.
“Yildiz wants to be involved, all the signals he has sent point in that direction,” he said, with quotes via Alfredo Pedulla.
“He could start from the first minute.”
The Turkish forward has been one of Juventus’ most important players this season, and his potential return to the starting lineup will provide a significant lift ahead of such a crucial European night.
At the back, however, there is more uncertainty.
Spalletti confirmed that Gleison Bremer remains a doubt, with a final assessment planned for the morning of the match.
“There is a degree of risk with Bremer, we will evaluate carefully tomorrow morning,” he said, leaving his defensive options open.
PARMA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 01: Bremer of Juventus celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Francisco Conceicao during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and Juventus FC at Stadio Ennio Tardini on February 01, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
In midfield, Spalletti indicated that either Teun Koopmeiners or Weston McKennie could operate on the left side, describing it as one of the likely options without fully committing to either.
There was also the suggestion that Mattia Perin could start in goal, potentially ahead of regular number one Michele Di Gregorio.
“There is a need to protect certain situations, but in this case it could be that way,” Spalletti said carefully.
Whatever the starting eleven, Spalletti left no doubt about what he demands from his players. “I will never be satisfied if we do not qualify,” he said plainly.
Champions League bracket, explained: Possible knockout opponents for every team in Round of 16, playoffs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The change in UEFA Champions League format has altered the way the knockout stage is structured in a significant way.
After the thrilling conclusion to the 2025/26 league phase, which saw clubs jockeying for position until the final kick of the final match, the spotlight now turns to the knockout stage where 24 teams will battle for European supremacy.
The top eight finishers in the league phase advance straight to the Round of 16, while the sixteen teams below them will contest a two-legged playoff round to determine the other eight qualifiers.
The Sporting News details exactly how the matchups are decided, who can play who, and where each team's pathway to Champions League glory can be drawn.
FOLLOW LIVE:Real Madrid face rematch with Benfica in UCL knockout playoff round
In the new Champions League format, which follows what is known as the Swiss Model, the knockout-stage bracket is largely predetermined by final league-phase positions, although not entirely.
There was a draw following the league phase (taking place on Friday, January 30 this year) to set the playoff-round matchups, and there will be another draw prior to the Round of 16 to set the entire rest of the bracket.
In both the knockout playoffs and the Round of 16, each qualifier has only two possible opponents against whom they can be drawn.
MORE:Mbappe chasing Chrstiano Ronaldo's single-season Champions League goal-scoring record
In the Champions League knockout playoffs, the top qualifiers from the league phase are drawn against the lowest-finishing qualifiers, and so on.
The matchups are as follows:
The table below shows how the ties were drawn.
League-phase position in brackets
| Real Madrid (9th) vs. Benfica (24th) | |
| Inter Milan (10th) vs. Bodo/Glimt (23rd) | |
| Paris Saint-Germain (11th) vs. Monaco (21st) | |
| Newcastle United (12th) vs. Qarabag (22nd) | |
| Juventus (13th) vs. Galatasaray (20th) | |
| Atletico Madrid (14th) vs. Club Brugge (19th) | |
| Atalanta (15th) vs. Borussia Dortmund (17th) | |
| Bayer Leverkusen (16th) vs. Olympiacos (18th) |
In the Champions League Round of 16, the eight winners from the knockout playoffs are drawn against the top eight finishers from the league phase, again according to those final positions.
The matchups are as follows:
The table below shows how the seeding works in the Champions League Round of 16 for the 2025/26 season.
| Team (league-phase pos.) | Possible opponents |
| Arsenal (1st) | Atalanta/Borussia Dortmund or Bayer Leverkusen/Olympiacos |
| Bayern Munich (2nd) | Atalanta/Borussia Dortmund or Bayer Leverkusen/Olympiacos |
| Liverpool (3rd) | Juventus/Galatasaray or Atletico Madrid/Club Brugge |
| Tottenham Hotspur (4th) | Juventus/Galatasaray or Atletico Madrid/Club Brugge |
| Barcelona (5th) | Monaco/Paris Saint-Germain or Newcastle United/Qarabag |
| Chelsea (6th) | Monaco/Paris Saint-Germain or Newcastle United/Qarabag |
| Sporting CP (7th) | Inter Milan/Bodo/Glimt or Real Madrid/Benfica |
| Manchester City (8th) | Inter Milan/Bodo/Glimt or Real Madrid/Benfica |
The schedule and matchups for the 2025/26 Champions League knockout playoffs were set at the draw on Friday, January 30.
Following that round, the schedule and matchups for the rest of the Champions League knockout phase will be determined at the Round of 16 draw on February 27. There will be no further draws from that point on, as the entirety of the bracket will be set at that point.
Playoff Round — 1st leg
| Date | Time (ET) | Match |
| Feb. 17 | 12:45 p.m. | KO5: Galatasaray 5-2 Juventus |
| Feb. 17 | 3 p.m. | KO1: Benfica 0-1 Real Madrid |
| Feb. 17 | 3 p.m. | KO3: Monaco 2-3 Paris Saint-Germain |
| Feb. 17 | 3 p.m. | KO7: Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Atalanta |
| Feb. 18 | 12:45 p.m. | KO4: Qarabag 1-6 Newcastle United |
| Feb. 18 | 3 p.m. | KO2: Bodo/Glimt 3-1 Inter Milan |
| Feb. 18 | 3 p.m. | KO6: Club Brugge 3-3 Atletico Madrid |
| Feb. 18 | 3 p.m. | KO8: Olympiacos 0-2 Bayer Leverkusen |
Playoff Round — 2nd leg
| Date | Time (ET) | Match |
| Feb. 24 | 12:45 p.m. | KO6: Atletico Madrid vs. Club Brugge |
| Feb. 24 | 3 p.m. | KO8: Bayer Leverkusen vs. Olympiacos |
| Feb. 24 | 3 p.m. | KO4: Newcastle United vs. Qarabag |
| Feb. 24 | 3 p.m. | KO2: Inter Milan vs. Bodo/Glimt |
| Feb. 25 | 12:45 p.m. | KO7: Atalanta vs. Borussia Dortmund |
| Feb. 25 | 3 p.m. | KO3: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Monaco |
| Feb. 25 | 3 p.m. | KO5: Juventus vs. Galatasaray |
| Feb. 25 | 3 p.m. | KO1: Real Madrid vs. Benfica |
Round of 16 — 1st leg
| Date | Time (ET) | Match |
| Mar. 10-11 | M1: Winner KO8 vs. Arsenal or Bayern Munich | |
| Mar. 10-11 | M2: Winner KO7 vs. Arsenal or Bayern Munich | |
| Mar. 10-11 | M3: Winner KO6 vs. Liverpool or Tottenham | |
| Mar. 10-11 | M4: Winner KO5 vs. Liverpool or Tottenham | |
| Mar. 10-11 | M5: Winner KO4 vs. Barcelona or Chelsea | |
| Mar. 10-11 | M6: Winner KO3 vs. Barcelona or Chelsea | |
| Mar. 10-11 | M7: Winner KO2 vs. Sporting CP or Man City | |
| Mar. 10-11 | M8: Winner KO1 vs. Sporting CP or Man City |
Round of 16 — 2nd leg
| Date | Time (ET) | Match |
| Mar. 17-18 | M1: Arsenal or Bayern Munich vs. Winner KO8 | |
| Mar. 17-18 | M2: Arsenal or Bayern Munich vs. Winner KO7 | |
| Mar. 17-18 | M3: Liverpool or Tottenham vs. Winner KO6 | |
| Mar. 17-18 | M4: Liverpool or Tottenham vs. Winner KO5 | |
| Mar. 17-18 | M5: Barcelona or Chelsea vs. Winner KO4 | |
| Mar. 17-18 | M6: Liverpool or Tottenham vs. Winner KO3 | |
| Mar. 17-18 | M7: Sporting CP or Man City vs. Winner KO2 | |
| Mar. 17-18 | M8: Sporting CP or Man City vs. Winner KO1 |
Quarterfinals — 1st leg
| Date | Time (ET) | Match |
| Apr. 7-8 | QF1: Winner, M1 vs. Winner, M8 | |
| Apr. 7-8 | QF2: Winner, M2 vs. Winner, M7 | |
| Apr. 7-8 | QF3: Winner, M3 vs. Winner, M6 | |
| Apr. 7-8 | QF4: Winner, M4 vs. Winner, M5 |
Quarterfinals — 2nd leg
| Date | Time (ET) | Match |
| Apr. 14-15 | QF1: Winner, M1 vs. Winner, M8 | |
| Apr. 14-15 | QF2: Winner, M2 vs. Winner, M7 | |
| Apr. 14-15 | QF3: Winner, M3 vs. Winner, M6 | |
| Apr. 14-15 | QF4: Winner, M4 vs. Winner, M5 |
Quarterfinals — 2nd leg
| Date | Time (ET) | Match |
| Apr. 14-15 | QF1: Winner, M1 vs. Winner, M8 | |
| Apr. 14-15 | QF2: Winner, M2 vs. Winner, M7 | |
| Apr. 14-15 | QF3: Winner, M3 vs. Winner, M6 | |
| Apr. 14-15 | QF4: Winner, M4 vs. Winner, M5 |
Semifinals — 1st leg
| Date | Time (ET) | Match |
| Apr. 28-29 | SF1: Winner, QF1 vs. Winner, QF4 | |
| Apr. 28-29 | SF2: Winner, QF2 vs. Winner, QF3 |
Semifinals — 2nd leg
| Date | Time (ET) | Match |
| May 5-6 | SF1: Winner, QF1 vs. Winner, QF4 | |
| May 5-6 | SF2: Winner, QF2 vs. Winner, QF3 |
Champions League final
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location |
| May 30 | 3 p.m. | SF1: Winner, SF1 vs. Winner, SF2 | Puskas Arena (Budapest, Hungary) |
C.J. Stroud didn’t play well in the playoffs. That doesn’t mean the Houston Texans are trading their quarterback.
Texans general manager Nick Caserio probably didn’t need to end the trade speculation involving Stroud, but he did so at the NFL scouting combine on Tuesday.
Caserio called the trade speculation “moronic,” according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC. He made it clear Stroud will not be moved.
“He’s not going anywhere,” Caserio said.
Stroud has become an interesting case. He had a historic rookie season after he was the second pick of the 2023 NFL Draft and seemed to be on a sure track to stardom in the NFL. He didn’t replicated that stellar rookie production in his second or third NFL season, though injuries have played a part in that as did the Texans’ poor job of putting an above-average offensive line in front of him.
Stroud’s four-interception game in a divisional round loss to the New England Patriots created a discussion about what’s next for him. Despite that poor game, the Texans are far from making a big move at quarterback.
“We're glad he's our quarterback,” Caserio said, via Wilson.
With the NFL scouting combine on the schedule for this week, the entire football world can no longer resist its tempting calls; NFL Draft season has begun.
As we officially turn the page to the extended process that seemingly gets elongated every year, I’m ready to rip off some early — I cannot emphasize that word enough — thoughts on the crop of wide receivers in the 2026 NFL Draft class.
The wideouts in this class are a fascinating bunch. While I’m still searching for an elite option to emerge from my charting process like the ones we saw at the top of the draft two years ago, there is real appeal to the top options this season. Better yet, the top-five guys, in my view, are all of completely different archetypes and flavors. That will make for some circuitous and needless preference debates from those of us on the outside, but could provide some real clarity for teams when they go to make selections that benefit their individual rooms early in the draft. Remember, at wide receiver, particularly, intra-positional archetypes matter so much, and destination can so often be destiny. This is especially true if you’re trying to forecast their production in the first three seasons of their career. While we won’t know those destinations until the end of April, it benefits us to get an early understanding of what types of wideouts these five are as we prepare to rank them pre- and post-draft.
Again, all of these views and opinions are not conclusions, yet, but a rough draft written merely in pencil. It’s February. I’m still working through my charting process for these players using Reception Perception, and we have months to go before we need to file final answers. For now, let’s dive into an early primer on the class, including the group of five prospects at the top who, based on what I’ve studied thus far, I’m comfortable taking in the first round.
Makai Lemon is just a downright baller. He has elite ball-skills, tracking ability down the field, and is as tough a receiver as you’ll find. The key for Lemon will be getting confirmed measurables on him, as he primarily ran out of the slot for USC. Teams are hesitant to take a slot-only option high in the draft, especially in a league that’s playing more 12-personnel and other heavier packages.
Yet, I personally don’t think Lemon has to be limited to an interior menu as a receiver. He beats man coverage and wins down the field, both as a separator and in tight coverage. I particularly love the way he throttles down and works back to the quarterback in man-to-man reps. He explodes out of cuts to create separation and can adjust to the ball in the air if it’s an errant throw. It’s both just a two-horse race and an ultra-close call between Lemon and the next player on this list as to who has the best hands in the class.
Makai Lemon's tape vs. Iowa this season is sublime. Tons of great routes and feel for space, but what showed up constantly were the many high-degree-of-difficulty tight coverage hands catches that he makes away from his frame.
— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) January 23, 2026
Hell of a wide receiver.
Just a few of the 10… pic.twitter.com/xv0jfRfjin
From a production standpoint, I think Lemon has the highest ceiling in the class because he could go absolutely insane in the proper environment. Not only should he be a high-end starter as a slot option from Day 1 with the ability to get open and be a trusty target, the right coaching staff could also use him as a flanker in two-receiver sets, or even a condensed X-receiver to mimic slot situations. This is how the Seahawks took Jaxon Smith-Njigba from being a slot-heavy receiver to the most productive downfield outside option in 2025. It should also be noted that there is some risk if Lemon goes to a team that is a little less progressive in its offensive structure, he might be limited to more of an old-school bunny-hop slot route tree. That’s a floor outcome, and it’s pretty unlikely, but something to consider throughout the process.
Carnell Tate is the latest in a long line of excellent receiver prospects to come out of Ohio State. Like many before him, there is a ton to admire about his profile.
Unlike Lemon, Tate is a perimeter wideout who shows all the classic X-receiver traits, with potential to blend his game into a more diverse pre-snap option. He’s at his best when working against man coverage on the outside. He has an extremely vertical route tree and you just get rep after rep of him eating up man coverage on downfield patterns.
Unpacked some early thoughts on prospects in this month's edition of The RP Mailbag and highlighted why Carnell Tate is so appealing, not only because his charting data is awesome, but he's also the archetype of a WR who can fit every single offense. https://t.co/V7MSMiSIZYpic.twitter.com/94hnWxpBMC
— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) February 22, 2026
Tate is a pro-ready starter who has a refined game as a route runner and a sense of how to get open with both savvy and athleticism. He can fit into any NFL offense.
While Tate shows plenty of potential to shine as a separator, his best trait may be his hands. He simply doesn’t drop passes and is as dominant as any prospect in this class, or the last few, at winning contested catches. Tate isn’t a huge wideout but he fully extends his hands and has an elite sense of positioning that allows him to play bigger than his size.
The negatives with Tate are mostly due to his lack of yards after the catch and good but not great ability to settle down against zone coverage. Some of that is just due to his near-exclusive outside alignment and downfield-heavy route tree; we often forget YAC metrics are dependent on deployment.
To be fully transparent here, wide receivers with KC Conception’s game are easy for me to fall in love with as someone who charts them on a route-by-route basis. He’s a special separator who demolishes corners at all levels of the field.
Concepcion knows how to toy with corners against man coverage, bringing both explosive movement skills and advanced craftsmanship to the table. His zone coverage recognition is of high caliber as well. There are plenty of reps on film where he faces press coverage as a perimeter option and fights through it with well-executed releases. Texas A&M used him as a motion receiver at the snap, so his next team even has an easy set of film to watch to project his role as a weapon in the pros, where so many teams have layered those wrinkles into their offense.
Long story short: The guy gets open at will from every alignment, at all levels of the field and across the entire route tree. Sounds like a pretty awesome player to me.
While I feel pretty settled that Concepcion is my favorite wide receiver after Tate and Lemon, we should hit on what could be two stumbling blocks in his development. The first could, in part, be assuaged by his measurables later this week in Indianapolis; a handful of teams may not think he has the frame to be an outside receiver in the league. If he gets labeled as a slot-heavy option, he could struggle to find the field in two-receiver sets, which would ultimately limit his production-based upside. I personally think there is ample evidence that he can win outside but this would not be the first time the league disagreed with my conclusion and labeled a smaller receiver who separates as a slot merchant. Yet shaper coaches are now using condensed splits with great success to mimic slot spacing for their outside receivers, allowing former interior players to thrive at Z or even X, as we saw last year with Klint Kubiak and Smith-Njigba.
KC Concepcion-> Raiders-> JSN?
— SūmerSports (@SumerSports) February 12, 2026
Hear @lindsay_rhodes & @mattharmon_byb out pic.twitter.com/R5wowc33wv
Ultimately, we won’t know if that is an issue until Concepcion gets drafted, but if he’s closer to 6-foot and 195 pounds than 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, a wider variety of teams’ minds might be more open than closed, right or wrong.
The other concern in Concepcion’s profile is a way-too-high rate of annoying drops. He’s one of those frustrating wideouts who will make the outstanding catch in tight coverage but let the “easy ones” clank off his chest. There’s no doubt that’s frustrating. However, I tend to think right now, based on the games I’ve charted, that his issues are more focus-related rather than based on poor attack or technique screwups. We tend to overstate the risk that a good wide receiver is going to get benched or doghoused because of drops, anyway, and the rest of his profile is way too good to hyper-fixate on this likely correctable problem. Still, it’s been an issue, and he does need to fix it at some point.
The opinions on Jordyn Tyson are seemingly all over the map and based on folks I’ve talked to so far, there’s likely to be a pretty significant divide between the rankings for him based on your methodology of scouting. JJ Zachariason is the best data-based prospect analyst in the business and his model loves Tyson — I would venture to say this is the player he and I have compared notes on most over the last month. However, that’s not even to say that Tyson is purely a data vs. film debate because there’s not really a consensus among tape-watchers on his game.
For me, I’ll say that he’s the player I’ve struggled most to figure out among the likely Round 1 picks through my early charting.
Tyson has pretty easy traits and skills to like, as he’s a fluid mover who can uncover with ease in the intermediate area when he’s decisive at the break point. He adjusts to the ball well in flight to win off-frame passes. He’s a smart player who is one of the better zone-beaters that I’ve seen so far.
However, I find his overall ability to win against man and press coverage to be inconsistent. At times, I think the community mistakes twitchy moves in a phonebooth for quality route running. We call this the Jerry Jeudy phenomenon in this house, and we’ve already seen that be a comparison for Tyson. I don’t think it’s a perfect comp by any means — Tyson doesn’t have the same mental lapses against zone or at the catch point — but they both have a tendency to oversell their routes and don’t play with enough strength through contact.
Just like Jeudy, that doesn’t make Tyson a bad player, just a little frustrating, and if he doesn’t improve those details as a route runner, it will limit his path to being a WR1 in the league. I've always felt this type of receiver was best as a downfield Z across from a strong high-volume X and that's sort of where I'm at with Tyson right now.
Lastly, and this seems to be where some film-based analysts are hedging bets against Tyson, he has an extensive collegiate injury history. That includes a multi-ligament knee tear in 2022 and a hamstring injury that dogged him through 2025. That hamstring injury, which last acted up months ago, is still keeping him from participating in drills at the scouting combine this week.
Sources: Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson won't be doing any on-field workouts or testing at the NFL Combine.
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) February 24, 2026
He continues to work his way back from his in-season hamstring injury.
My current feeling is that Tyson is best bucketed with guys like Concepcion, Denzel Boston, etc. — not with Tate or Lemon. He definitely presents a ton of variance, with the upside to hit big if he stays healthy and irons out some of the frustrating wrinkles in his game, or gets with a coaching staff that’s able to craft a perfect role for his strengths.
Boston looks every bit his listed size of 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds on film. He’s a massive wideout who isn’t close to a complete zero as a separator. He may not have elite straight-line speed but he eats up ground with long strides to get down the field and makes big plays. I’m not saying he’s Mike Evans, maybe like a “Diet Coke” version at best, but the way he gets open with his strides and length as an X-receiver does remind me of the early years of the Bucs wideout’s career. The key for Boston will be to develop into a smooth separator along the full route tree, as Evans did, rather than just a big body.
Boston’s ability to work against zone coverage and position his body on horizontal-breaking routes makes him a candidate to not just be stuck at X-receiver, which is a big appeal to his profile in today’s game. This is especially true in his case because his press coverage ability probably isn’t yet strong enough compared to X-receivers taken in the top-15 of the draft. Yet, when you can give him a free release and a full head of steam, he’s a tough cover.
Overall, I came away with a positive view of Boston but I hope his next team shares my vision for him as a multi-position, move-around receiver, not just a static X. Tetairoa McMillan was a slightly better prospect, in my opinion, but we saw how he was best maximized when the Panthers moved their rookie WR1 around the formation last year.
Tetairoa McMillan walks me through his thoughts on how your WR1 being a multi-alignment player at receiver can help crack coverages and prevent defenses from taking that guy out of the game. pic.twitter.com/eVo8HYXsRy
— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) February 23, 2026
Boston looks like a guy who can play a role early for his next team and watch his assignments grow with time. The right team could really send his stock rising after the draft if we’re projecting his early production.
Here’s a look at some, but not all, other relevant names, in no particular order.
Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. has a ton of fans out there; some of them are among my most trusted sources and colleagues alike. I’ll admit that I’m still working through his profile and, so far, have found some of his route nuances and zone coverage recognition in the intermediate area to be just acceptable rather than special. That said, he’s extremely physical both at the catch point and with the ball in his hands. My suspicion is that his easily projectable application to an NFL offense as a dynamic YAC threat in a league that’s trying to hunt explosives more so in that fashion, as opposed to vertical shots outside, is a big part of his fast rise. Think what the Bears got from Luther Burden III as a rookie last year. Altogether, I need to do a lot more work on Cooper before settling on his exact ranking in the class.
Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell has real fluidity to his game, listed at 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds. He demonstrates an ability to sink his hips and get open on big-boy routes over the middle in the intermediate area of the field. However, like all of these Tennessee wideouts, he’s extremely raw, mostly lines up on one side of the field, and will take some seasoning before he’s ready to become a high-usage player, if it ever happens.
Alabama WR Germie Bernard is the definition of solid but not spectacular. He’s a physical wideout who has great vision for finding creases with the ball in his hands. While he may not have the gear to get loose against man coverage consistently, he shows a real ability to sift through zone coverage. Bernard looks like a great glue guy who could be a WR3 for a team early, thanks to his ability to work out of multiple positions.
Louisville WR Chris Bell is a tough prospect to rank thanks to an ACL tear late in the 2025 season. He’s also not the cleanest technician and needs a good bit of development as a route runner. The vast majority of his patterns I charted were slants and quick in-breaking routes.
Indiana WR Elijah Sarratt grew his notoriety with a strong finish to the season for the National Championship Indiana Hoosiers squad. However, he’s not much of a separator at all at any level of the field as a pure perimeter option. He’s tough and adjusts well to the ball in-flight. He needs to convert to a big slot if he’s going to make it in the NFL, and that is merely a projection.
Notre Dame WR Malachi Fields is a hulking X-receiver who played for Notre Dame last year after beginning his career at UVA. The production profile won’t “wow” you but Fields has some real skills to translate to a starting X in the pros. His route running is rock solid, particularly against zone coverage, and he can come down with catches in traffic. Fields may not be fast enough to have a WR1 ceiling but I can see him becoming a nice complementary option at X-receiver to complete a room.
George State WR Ted Hurst reminds me a lot of Seahawks rookie WR Tory Horton, who I loved in last year’s class. He’s a lanky wideout with speed and acceleration who gets in and out of his breaks with precision. Hurst is coming from a low level of competition at Georgia State but he stands out on film and has the traits worth taking on Day 2.
Georgia WR Zachariah Branch is going to get hype based on his ability to make explosive plays in space. Teams need to be careful with these created touch types at wide receiver, rather than slot options that get open on their own. Branch could get a boost thanks to speed with so many teams simply looking for a body to create leverage off motion at the snap, and special teams ability.
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