Football News

Newport County will continue to call Rodney Parade home regardless of whether they drop out of the English Football League this season, the ground’s rugby tenants, the Dragons, have confirmed. The Exiles have occupied the city-centre stadium since 2012 and operate under a rolling 10-year lease that is renewed annually in accordance with EFL regulations. With 13 League Two fixtures remaining, the club sit bottom of the table, three points from safety, and face a genuine threat of relegation to the National League. Although the lease agreement contains no provision to lower the rent if County slip into non-league, Dragons chief executive Rhys Blumberg told supporters this week that the rugby region will work with the football club to ease the financial burden if the worst happens. “Legally Newport County are tied in long-term, but relegation would have an impact,” Blumberg said during a supporters’ forum. “They are optimistic about staying up, but should that not work out then we will have to think about what comes next. They won’t go anywhere; they will still play here, but it would just be about how we operate their games and how it works commercially.” The pledge offers a measure of stability to a club that has spent much of the past 12 months confronting balance-sheet pressures. Owner Huw Jenkins, who completed his takeover in January 2024, has repeatedly highlighted the club’s financial constraints, prompting officials to open the north terrace only when anticipated crowds justify the additional operational costs. While County battle to preserve their league status, the Dragons are navigating their own period of uncertainty. The Welsh Rugby Union intends to reduce the number of professional teams from four to three, with one of the remaining sides to be based in east Wales. Dragons, who along with Cardiff signed the Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA25) last year, believe their five-year deal provides a degree of protection. “There is a lot going on with the other teams, but we’re still in the background poking the bear around what the next five or 10 years looks like for the Dragons,” Blumberg said. “It’s not panic stations because we have PRA locked in with a five-year term and know our funding for the next two years. We are recruiting and retaining players on a budget we know we have got under PRA25.” The WRU must serve a two-year notice period by 1 June should it wish to terminate the Dragons’ PRA, a scenario Blumberg insists the governing body is keen to avoid. “The Union desperately need us to be stable and involved in the future plans. We have a solid foundation and they don’t want us to go off track.”

Chelsea head into Sunday’s capital-city showdown at Arsenal knowing that anything less than a result will leave their top-four hopes hanging by a thread, and Premier League record scorer Alan Shearer believes interim boss Liam Rosenior has one non-negotiable issue to solve: a defence that “has to change” if Champions League football is to remain a realistic target. The Blues, winless against Arsenal since 2021, have already faced the Gunners three times this term – a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge and Carabao Cup semi-final defeats home and away. With back-to-back league slips against Leeds and Burnley fresh in the memory, Chelsea enter the weekend fifth, level on points with Liverpool and three behind fourth-placed Manchester United. Reece James returns from injury to bolster Rosenior’s options, yet Marc Cucurella and teenage winger Estevao are ruled out, thinning a back line that has shipped preventable goals all season. Shearer, writing in Metro, sees little evidence of improvement. “I’m still really not convinced by Chelsea at the back,” the former Newcastle striker said. “Defensively, Rosenior keeps picking different personnel and they haven’t been great defensively, which has to change if they’re going to get into the top four.” Shearer expects Arsenal to replicate the high-tempo, high-press approach that swept aside Tottenham and predicts Mikel Arteta’s side will “overpower them all over the pitch” unless Chelsea find immediate stability. Club legend John Terry echoed the sentiment, stressing that nicking the first goal could tilt momentum in a fixture where Chelsea have struggled for psychological edge. With Aston Villa looming on Wednesday, the next seven days represent either a springboard or a slide in the race for Europe’s premier competition. Rosenior’s team-selection conundrum is stark: keep rotating and risk further disorganisation, or settle on a back four and hope cohesion trumps individual errors. For Shearer, the answer is simple – fix the defence, or forget the Champions League.

Indianapolis — While hundreds of prospects sprint, lift and interview at the NFL Scouting Combine, Tennessee Titans scouts are already sketching out the franchise’s next blueprint. According to Pro Football Focus analyst Bradley Locker, that plan should stay locked on three names through the opening night of the 2026 draft. Locker’s ideal three-round haul for the Titans begins at No. 4 overall with Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. Despite last week’s trade for New York Jets defensive end Jermaine Johnson II, Tennessee still lacks a long-term alpha off the edge. Bain, who posted elite pass-rush metrics in college, would also reunite with former Hurricanes teammate Cameron Ward, now the Titans’ quarterback of the future. At 35th overall, Locker projects Western Michigan wide receiver Chris Bell as the target. Bell’s 83.3 PFF receiving grade last season underscores his ability to separate on intermediate routes and win vertically—traits Tennessee’s offense has lacked outside the numbers. The third-round pick, No. 68, would return to the defensive side with Ohio State cornerback Davison Igbinosun. The 6-foot-2 cover man owns an 81.5 overall PFF grade and brings the press-man skills defensive coordinator Robert Saleh covets. Igbinosun’s arrival would address a secondary that finished 28th in PFF coverage grade a year ago. All three selections hit Tier-1 needs for a roster still in transition. The open question, Locker notes, is availability: Bain could be gone inside the top three, while Bell and Igbinosun have both seen their draft stock fluctuate throughout the pre-draft circuit. If the board falls Tennessee’s way, however, the trio would supply immediate impact and long-term upside. With free agency still weeks away, the Titans retain flexibility to supplement the roster, but Locker’s mock provides an early snapshot of how the front office can maximize its premium capital in April.

Indianapolis — While the Tennessee Titans’ brain trust has spent the week at the NFL Scouting Combine fielding questions about edge rushers and wide receivers, a different name keeps echoing through the hallways of Lucas Oil Stadium: Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. General manager Mike Borgonzi and head coach Robert Saleh have both gone out of their way to praise Love’s “elite skill set,” with on-the-record comparisons to some of the league’s top backs. The chatter reached another level late Tuesday when veteran fantasy analyst Matthew Berry said he heard a far bolder assessment inside the building. “I was at the NFL Combine last night, talking to a bunch of people, hearing a lot of rumors,” Berry told NBC Sports. “Some about free agents, some about trades, some about the draft. But the craziest rumor I heard? Of all the ones, this was the most surprising. The rumor I heard last night … the Titans think Jeremiyah Love is the best player in the draft.” Tennessee currently holds the fourth-overall selection and, on paper, appears well-stocked in the backfield. Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, and Kalel Mullings are all under contract through 2026, making running back one of the roster’s most stable positions. Still, whispers persist that Pollard could become a salary-cap casualty before the new league year opens, potentially opening a door—however unlikely—for a first-round investment at the position. Borgonzi, in his first offseason steering the Titans, has kept the team’s draft intentions opaque. Publicly gushing over Love could be standard pre-draft gamesmanship, or it could signal genuine interest in the Notre Dame standout. Either way, the buzz inside Indianapolis suggests Tennessee’s decision-makers see Love as more than just another name on their board. With free agency looming and the draft still two months away, the Titans have time to reshuffle the depth chart. For now, the only certainty is that Love’s name will follow Borgonzi and Saleh everywhere they go—whether it’s the interview podium or the war-room whiteboard.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The celebration began the moment the horn sounded, echoing through the tunnels of State Farm Center after No. 3 Michigan’s 84-70 dismantling of No. 10 Illinois clinched the program’s first outright Big Ten regular-season title since 2021. Coach Dusty May chest-bumped anyone within arm’s reach. Seven-foot-three center Aday Mara galloped toward the locker room, tapping his ring finger and demanding championship jewelry. Illinois transfer Morez Johnson, who had spent the week absorbing taunts and torrents of angry texts after his phone number leaked, hoisted the gleaming trophy and marched it straight into enemy territory. Above the din, guard Nimari Burnett kept repeating the mantra plastered on every wall inside Michigan’s practice facility: “Those who stay will be champions.” The words, immortalized by legendary football coach Bo Schembechler, have become the heartbeat of a roster that two seasons ago staggered to an 8-24 record and a 97-68 humiliation in this very building. “We have a lot of memories in that locker room; none of them good,” forward Will Tschetter said, recalling the nadir of the Juwan Howard era. “To come back, get this dub and clinch the thing outright—means the world.” When May arrived last spring, neither Tschetter nor Burnett knew whether they would be part of the rebuild. “You think, ‘Oh man, they might want to clear house,’” Tschetter admitted. Instead, May told them he needed their experience and their buy-in. Both stayed. Both sacrificed. Burnett, once the primary ball-handler, accepted a 3-and-D role and has started all 29 games. Tschetter has oscillated between seventh and ninth man without complaint, knocking down second-half triples Friday that sealed Illinois’ fate. “We kept those guys because we believed in who they are as people,” May said. “They dove in from Day One. Nimari played point on that 8-24 team; now he’s probably our fifth playmaker. Will’s been a star in the role we asked him to play.” The on-court dividends were impossible to miss. Johnson, tormented all week by Illini fans, responded with 19 points and 11 boards against his former program. Mara added 19 after halftime, rattling the rim with a succession of dunks that turned the arena into a mausoleum. Michigan outmuscled, outran and outworked Illinois on both ends, reinforcing its new identity as the bully of the Big Ten. Burnett sensed the transformation back in September, when the roster’s size and physicality first came together. “Easy to say now,” he joked, cradling the championship net. “But I stayed for days like this—believing in Coach May, believing in the plan.” The plan has delivered. From 8-24 to outright Big Ten champions, Michigan’s worst-to-first ascent was engineered by stars who arrived as role players, by transfers who absorbed venom and answered with venomous play, and by a coach who convinced a fractured locker room that staying was the first step toward history.

England defender Leah Williamson has told BBC reporter Kelly Somers that every member of the Lionesses squad recognised the magnitude of last summer’s UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 triumph, saying everybody involved understood the wider significance of the tournament success. Speaking on The Football Interview, the Arsenal centre-back reflected on the shared sense of purpose that underpinned England’s run to the trophy, which was clinched with a 2-1 victory over Germany in front of a record crowd at Wembley. Williamson, who captained the side throughout the competition, emphasised that the awareness stretched beyond the pitch. “Everybody knew what they were part of,” she said, highlighting how the collective mindset contributed to both the on-field performances and the off-field impact on women’s football in the United Kingdom. The interview, conducted by Somers for the BBC’s dedicated football discussion programme, offered a rare insight into the squad’s mentality during a landmark month for the sport. Williamson’s comments underline the deliberate effort by players and staff to harness the momentum of home advantage and convert it into a legacy that would extend well beyond the final whistle. While the conversation covered the tactical and emotional demands of leading a host nation to its first major women’s title, the defender repeatedly returned to the theme of unity, crediting the cohesion inside the camp for enabling the players to thrive under intense scrutiny. The full discussion is available on The Football Interview, providing fans with further context on how the Lionesses navigated pressure, expectations and history to secure England’s first senior European Championship.

Tuscaloosa—The volume outside the program has never been higher. In the first blush of the Kalen DeBoer era, skeptics are crowing, headlines are skeptical, and timelines are ablaze with declarations that Alabama’s reign has finally softened. Inside the football complex, the directive has not changed: ignore the noise and trust the process that brought DeBoer to the Capstone in the first place. The résumé is impossible to ignore. DeBoer did not stumble into one of college football’s most scrutinized jobs; he earned it by winning—consistently, decisively, and frequently in programs far less stable than the one he now inherits. His track record for constructing sound rosters, developing overlooked talent, and engineering offenses that stress defenses to the breaking point traveled with him to Alabama. Still, Alabama is not merely another destination. It is the standard against which every modern dynasty is measured, and the standard is unforgiving. Dominance is the baseline, so any moment that falls short feels like regression rather than transition. The result is a chorus of outside commentary—some from analysts who have waited years to pronounce the Tide finished, much of it from social media voices calibrated for outrage rather than nuance. DeBoer’s response has been quiet but pointed: championships are not captured in February headlines; they are forged in the months when cameras are absent, when culture is reinforced, when recruiting pipelines are maintained, when players mature within a system that demands relentless detail. He understands that sustainable success is built on layered foundations, not quick fixes. History inside Bryant-Denny Stadium supports patience. Every championship surge under previous regimes featured junctures when outsiders predicted decline. What distinguished Alabama was an internal belief shared from locker room to grandstand. The stadium’s reputation as one of the sport’s most intimidating venues was earned through decades of fans arriving early, staying late, and sustaining energy through imperfect moments. That collective faith has long functioned as an extra gear for the team on the field. DeBoer is not asking for blind loyalty; he is asking for the reasonable window every proven builder deserves. Constant second-guessing from corners hoping for failure only complicates construction already underway. The Tide has thrived for decades on proving doubters wrong, and those inside the program believe the current climate will ultimately fuel another surge. When the wins begin stacking up—and players, coaches, and recruits insist they will—the same voices forecasting decline will fall silent. By then, the work that created the success will have been long complete, fashioned in the quiet months when only the faithful were paying attention.

London — Ten years ago this week, Tottenham Hotspur were the talk of English football. A dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Swansea City on 28 February 2016 lifted Mauricio Pochettino’s vibrant side to within two points of shock leaders Leicester City and, crucially, three clear of arch-rivals Arsenal. Bookmakers for the first time installed Spurs as favourites to lift the Premier League trophy. The swagger around White Hart Lane felt justified: young, ferocious pressing, a British core and a manager who had captured imaginations. Fast-forward a decade and the same club spent last weekend digesting a sobering north-London derby defeat to Arsenal, a result that left them mired in the relegation zone. One prominent firm now quotes Tottenham at 9-2 to drop into the Championship — the same firm that priced them at 7-2 to win the title on that heady late-winter afternoon in 2016. How did a model organisation praised for punching above its financial weight fall so far, so fast? A forensic examination of the past decade points to a cascade of strategic mis-steps that turned promise into paralysis. The first fracture came in the transfer market. Pochettino had built a thrilling team on a comparatively modest budget, but by 2017 the squad’s internal chemistry was fraying. Staff inside the training ground likened the atmosphere to a swimming pool that desperately needed fresh water. Only Kyle Walker was cashed in, joining Manchester City for £50 million. Offers for Danny Rose, Dele Alli and Toby Alderweireld were entertained yet never completed; chairman Daniel Levy resisted selling core assets for fear of signalling a “selling club” mentality. Christian Eriksen eventually departed for Inter Milan in January 2020 for a cut-price fee with six months left on his deal. The refusal to cycle personnel, sources say, allowed staleness to seep through the dressing room and simultaneously starved the recruitment department of liquidity to regenerate the squad. The 18-month transfer hiatus that followed Lucas Moura’s arrival in January 2018 crystallised the stagnation. Spurs chased Jack Grealish that summer, yet Levy’s opening gambit of £3 million plus Josh Onomah for the Aston Villa prodigy was dismissed as derisory; by the time Tottenham raised their offer, new Villa owners had closed the door. No senior signings were completed for a full year, and when reinforcements finally appeared in summer 2019, the momentum of Pochettino’s project had already ebbed. November 2019 brought the brutal coda to the Argentine’s reign. A Champions League final defeat to Liverpool four months earlier had sapped morale; three wins from the first 12 league fixtures proved the tipping point. Levy turned to José Mourinho, a serial trophy-winner but an ideological antidote to the high-octane blueprint that had revived the club. The appointment prioritised global brand recognition over coherent football identity, a trend that intensified when Fabio Paratici arrived from Juventus in 2021 with unprecedented personnel power. Though Paratici mined his contact book for Cristian Romero and Dejan Kulusevski, Tottenham also accumulated expensive, mid-tier Premier League talent: Richarlison (£50 m), Brennan Johnson (£47.5 m), Dominic Solanke (£55 m) and Mohammed Kudus (£55 m) have produced respectable, not transformational, returns. Throughout the revolving-door era, the club’s wage bill flat-lined. UEFA’s latest benchmarking report shows Arsenal out-spent Spurs by €95 million on salaries last season; Liverpool’s outlay exceeded Tottenham’s by €191 million. A 42 per cent wages-to-revenue ratio, once hailed as prudence, now reads as parsimony when Aston Villa and Newcastle United have leap-frogged the club both on wages and in the table. The exit of Harry Kane to Bayern Munich in 2023 and Son Heung-min’s departure to LAFC two years later severed the final links to a lineage of world-class attackers that stretched back through Gareth Bale and Luka Modric. No succession plan was enacted; instead, Spurs scrambled for quick-fix goal-scorers at premium British-market prices. Identity, meanwhile, became a moveable feast. Nuno Espírito Santo’s brief tenure contradicted Levy’s public proclamation of “free-flowing, attacking and entertaining” DNA; Antonio Conte’s demand for experienced winners was only half-met; Ange Postecoglou’s high-possition style morphed into Thomas Frank’s set-piece maximalism after last season’s Europa League triumph. Each philosophical pivot required a different squad profile; none were seen through. The consequence is a club that enters March 2026 second-bottom of the Premier League, five points from safety, with a squad lacking peak-age stars and a support base fearing the unthinkable. Ten years ago, Tottenham were favourites for the crown; today, they are odds-on candidates for the drop. The plummet is not bad luck but the cumulative effect of missed windows, muddled strategy and an identity auctioned to the highest concept. Unless the next board, manager and recruitment team address structural flaws at pace, the memories of 2016 may recede into an era that feels more mirage than milestone. SEO keywords:

Sioux Falls, S.D. — Dale Weber, the man affectionately dubbed “Mr. Amateur Baseball” across South Dakota, died unexpectedly Friday at his Sioux Falls home, according to Kinzley Funeral Home in Salem. He was 86. A 2019 inductee into the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame, Weber spent nearly five decades shaping the state’s sports landscape. After graduating from Delmont High School in 1957 and Yankton College in 1961, he starred in multiple sports before embarking on a 20-year amateur-baseball career with Delmont, Colton, Mount Vernon and Stickney from 1955-75. Weber’s influence extended well beyond the batter’s box. He taught, coached and served as an administrator in Colton, Mount Vernon and Salem, while also officiating more than 2,000 high-school basketball games—34 of them state tournaments—over 30 seasons. On the gridiron, he whistled 44 seasons of football, including five state-title contests. Yet it was the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Association that defined his legacy. Weber served as SDABA president for 37 seasons and as an officer for 47, capping his tenure at the organization’s annual meeting on Feb. 15. Visitation begins at 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Salem, followed by a 7 p.m. prayer service. A funeral mass is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 5, at the same church.

Lucas Oil Stadium has seen its share of combine fireworks, but few moments have reverberated through draft rooms as quickly as Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq’s 4.40-second 40-yard dash. At 6-foot-3 and 241 pounds, the Idaho native became the fastest tight end to sprint down the Indianapolis turf since Vernon Davis blazed a 4.38 in 2006, instantly transforming an under-the-radar junior into a potential first-round commodity. Until the stopwatches clicked, Sadiq was largely an unknown outside Pac-12 scouting circles. Raised by a single mother in McCammon, Idaho, he began playing football in fourth grade as a running back before settling at tight end at Marsh Valley High. By his junior season he had posted 79 receptions for 1,166 yards and 19 touchdowns, emerging as a four-star recruit and the top prospect in the state. Oregon beat out Iowa State, Washington and Michigan for his signature, and after a five-catch freshman cameo Sadiq averaged 446 receiving yards, 40 receptions and five touchdowns over his final two collegiate seasons, adding a handful of rushing attempts to underscore his versatility. The combine performance crystallized that athleticism. NFL.com now assigns Sadiq a 6.42 prospect grade—translation: “will become a good starter within two years”—while NFL Next Gen Stats tags him with a 93 overall score, labeling him “elite.” The numbers place him alongside Davis and Dorin Dickerson as the only tight ends to break 4.40 since the league began publishing official times. Scouts are suddenly projecting the 20-year-old into the opening night of the 2026 NFL Draft, a meteoric rise for a player who entered the week hoping simply to secure a draftable grade. After a lifetime spent far from the national spotlight, Kenyon Sadiq made the league’s most-watched drill his personal stage—and in 4.40 seconds, ensured everyone now knows his name.

STRASBURG — Basketball is known for being a game of runs. That was on full display on Friday night as the Rams secured a Class 2 state tournament berth with a dramatic victory over the Panthers. The back-and-forth contest showcased the ebb and flow typical of postseason play, with momentum swinging wildly until the final buzzer. The win caps a hard-fought regional campaign for the Rams and sends them into the state bracket with confidence riding high.

Phoenix — The Washington Huskies have been on Jeremy Adeyanju’s trail longer than most, and the 2027 three-star running back from Sandra Day O’Connor High School is ready to return the favor this spring. Rated No. 84 nationally at his position by 247Sports and as high as 17th by On3, the 6-foot, 215-pound back is fresh off a 1,167-yard, 15-touchdown junior campaign and holds a growing offer sheet that includes Arizona, Arizona State, Florida, Michigan and Washington. “I definitely like Coach Graham,” Adeyanju told UW Draft Preview on Friday evening, referencing the Huskies’ assistant who has spearheaded his recruitment. “We just went over some scheme stuff at Washington.” That early, consistent contact has kept UW near the top of his list as attention has surged. “Definitely been a blessing having all these schools reach out to me,” he said. Adeyanju plans to narrow the field this spring with visits to Montlake and USC, trips he hopes will clarify the blend of academics and coaching he is seeking in a future program. “I’m looking for great academics and great coaching as well,” he said. Asked to size up his own game, the Arizona product did not hesitate: “I would describe myself as a physical RB with the breakaway speed that allows me to make home-run plays.” Washington, which is aiming to sign at least one running back in the 2027 cycle, views Adeyanju as one of the top options on the West Coast. With spring visits on the horizon, the Huskies’ long-standing pursuit could soon face its stiffest test.

Every NFL offseason spawns a parade of hypothetical trades, but Bleacher Report’s latest offering involving Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff has left league observers shaking their heads. The suggestion: ship Goff to the Las Vegas Raiders for the No. 1 overall selection in the 2026 draft, giving Detroit a chance to “reset” under center. The concept collapses under the weight of basic roster logic. Goff, fresh off guiding the Lions to their most successful stretch in decades, signed a four-year, $212 million extension that runs well beyond 2025. Front offices do not commit that level of guaranteed money to a quarterback they intend to flip a year later, nor do they tear up the playbook while positioned to contend. Proponents of the phantom deal point to roughly $26 million in cap relief, yet cap space is meaningless without a proven signal-caller to spend it on. Goff’s contract—structured to keep him in Honolulu Blue—reflects “build-around” numbers, not “move-on” money. Trading a top-five quarterback in his prime would qualify as front-office malpractice for a franchise that believes its Super Bowl window is open now. The rationale also cites Detroit’s playoff absence in 2025 as evidence the roster is “headed in the wrong direction.” In reality, injuries on both sides of the ball, defensive inconsistency, and late-game collapses doomed the season. The Lions responded by hiring Drew Petzing as offensive coordinator, a move designed to accentuate Goff’s strengths rather than audition his replacement. Organizations do not redesign an offense around a quarterback they intend to trade. Ownership, coaches, and teammates have repeatedly endorsed Goff as the engine of the current push. His deal, his fit within the scheme, and the team’s timeline all point in one direction: Detroit is all-in on winning with Jared Goff, not starting over at the sport’s most important position. Bleacher Report’s exercise may have been intended as a creative thought experiment, but it reads as noise—an idea detached from contract realities, roster timelines, and the basic principles of team-building. In a league where quarterback stability is currency, the Lions have no interest in cashing out.

Atlanta, GA—Less than three weeks after hiring LaTroy Lewis as their assistant defensive-line coach, the Atlanta Falcons terminated the 33-year-old assistant late Tuesday after disturbing sexual-assault allegations surfaced while he was in Indianapolis for the NFL Combine. The club’s move came roughly two hours after the franchise acknowledged it was “gathering information” regarding claims first reported by Darko State Media’s Justin Spiro on “The Spiro Avenue Show.” Lewis, who had been on the job only 17 days, was dismissed without additional public comment, according to Fox Sports’ Greg Auman. The accusations stem from Lewis’s previous tenure as a University of Michigan graduate assistant. An unnamed woman told Spiro she met Lewis through a dating app, after which he allegedly sent threatening messages demanding money and items valued at about $25,000. The two had not yet met in person. Weeks later, while the woman was in Ann Arbor for work, Lewis allegedly arrived under false pretenses and physically and sexually assaulted her. Photographs provided to Spiro purport to corroborate portions of her account. The woman subsequently contacted then-Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore—whom she knew independently—rather than law enforcement, saying she feared reprisal. Moore, a mandatory reporter under federal Title IX guidelines, declined to escalate the complaint and instead recommended Lewis for the defensive-line coaching post at Toledo, per Spiro’s reporting. Moore has since been dismissed by Michigan and faces criminal stalking and breaking-and-entering charges unrelated to the Lewis matter. Lewis spent one season at Toledo before moving to UConn and ultimately accepting the Falcons position in early February. Ann Arbor police have now opened an investigation, and detectives are expected to seek an interview with the former NFL assistant. Lewis’s brief stint at the highest level of professional football is over almost as quickly as it began.

Indianapolis—For weeks the conversation around Ohio State safety Caleb Downs has been simple: lock-in top-15 pick, move the tape to the next prospect. Downs, fully healthy after a 90-tackle, five-interception season, elected to wait for Ohio State’s Pro Day rather than take the Lucas Oil Stadium field, a decision that felt harmless when the combine began. Forty-eight hours later the calculus has shifted. A historic wave of speed swept through the defensive back workouts, turning the safety group into the star attraction. Lorenzo Styles Jr., transitioning from nickel corner to safety, blazed a 4.27-second 40-yard dash, the fastest time of the entire combine. Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman answered with a 4.35 at 201 pounds and added a 41-inch vertical. South Carolina’s Jalon Kilgore, all 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds of him, posted a 4.40 and led all safeties with a 10-foot-10 broad jump. Even Texas safety Michael Taaffe, whose 4.50 was the slowest among the headline group, would have been the envy of many cornerback classes. The numbers forced a re-evaluation of the pecking order. Thieneman, Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and Downs had been viewed as a tiered-but-interchangeable top trio. After Thursday, two of them have fresh 2026 combine data points; Downs does not. NFL evaluators now face a two-track debate. Track one is medical and psychological: does skipping an optional but highly publicized stage signal a lack of competitive fire, or is it prudent risk management? Track two is contextual: when a position group sets combine records, the absence of a marquee name becomes a data point in itself. Downs’s camp argues his film, size (6-0, 205) and verified athleticism from last year’s Ohio State testing leave little to gain. Critics counter that the safety market just recalibrated upward, and a 4.35-4.40 from Downs could have stamped him as the clear CB1/S1 hybrid in a league desperate for matchup defenders. History offers mixed precedent. Last year a pair of highly graded edge rushers waited for pro days; one remained a top-10 selection, the other slid to the back of the first round after teammates posted elite numbers in Indianapolis. The difference was one or two impactful snaps on Thursday night tape watched by every general manager. The Giants, repeatedly mentioned in league circles as hunting secondary help, now have an even wider menu. Charles Demmings of Stephen F. Austin used a 4.41 forty, 40-inch vertical and 11-foot broad jump to go from small-school curiosity to likely Day 2 pick. Toriano Pride Jr. improved his 40 from 4.38 to 4.32 on the second attempt, cementing status as the class’s fastest nickel candidate. Daylen Everette’s 4.38 and Washington’s Tacario Davis (4.41 at 6-4 with 33-inch arms) give defensive coordinators rare length-speed prototypes. Meanwhile Downs will spend the next four weeks preparing for a pro-day workout that now carries outsized importance. A blistering forty in Columbus could re-secure his spot atop the board. Anything less and the combine’s rocket-fueled safeties will continue to close the gap—if they haven’t already passed him. The question isn’t whether Caleb Downs is still a first-round talent; it’s whether the 2026 combine just turned his presumed slot into a wide-open race.

Milan—Inter Milan’s domestic supremacy has not dulled continental ambition. After cruising through Serie A yet stumbling against Bodo/Glimt in Europe and still smarting from last season’s Champions League final loss to Paris Saint-Germain, the Nerazzurri are plotting a statement summer 2026 rebuild centred on two of La Liga’s most electric prospects: Nico Paz and Nico Williams. According to Tuttosport, sporting directors have briefed staff that the club wants a faster, more athletic squad capable of sustaining the high-intensity style favoured by incoming coach Christian Chivu, with a possible shift to a 3-4-2-1 system designed to maximise vertical transitions. The search for difference-makers has zeroed in on Paz, the 20-year-old Madrid academy graduate who has torn up Serie A on loan at Como, single-handedly propelling the Lombard minnows toward an unlikely Champions-League berth. Inter view the attacking midfielder as the marquee piece of the new project, but accept the deal is fantasy football for now: Real Madrid hold a cut-price buy-back clause and are determined to re-integrate their jewel, while president Florentino Pérez is said to be unmoved by even an “unreasonable” external bid. Attention therefore swings to Athletic Club’s Nico Williams, a Spain international whose explosive dribbling from the left flank has long attracted Premier League giants Arsenal and Chelsea, plus a Barcelona side desperate for fresh wide talent. Williams’ 2025-26 dip in Bilbao—mirroring the Basques’ underachievement—has cooled his market valuation just enough for Inter to sense an opportunity. Yet hurdles remain: the Basque winger is an orthodox inverted winger, a profile that does not cleanly fit Inter’s current wing-back or striker-heavy front line, and competition from cash-rich English clubs is expected to be fierce. Still, Inter believe their recent track record of turning elite prospects into European champions, coupled with guaranteed Champions League football and a clear pathway into the first XI, could tip the scales should Williams seek a new challenge. The message from headquarters is unambiguous: domestic dominance is no longer sufficient; the club’s target is to lift the European Cup again, and landing one—or both—of Spanish football’s next superstars is viewed as a critical step toward that goal.

Carrollton High School’s athletic department is set to benefit from the 39th annual Ben Scott Sports Auction, scheduled for March 13. Organizers describe the event as the year’s biggest opportunity for sports enthusiasts to expand their memorabilia collections while directly supporting local high-school athletics. With the dual purpose of fundraising and community engagement, the auction has become a staple on the local sports calendar, drawing bidders eager to secure unique items and experiences tied to their favorite teams and athletes.

Indianapolis — Garrett Nussmeier stepped to the podium at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday carrying more than a laminated name tag; he carried the weight of a season that never felt quite right. The former LSU quarterback, once projected to challenge for the top tier of this quarterback class, revealed that a core/abdominal injury suffered on only the second day of 2025 fall camp hijacked his final year in Baton Rouge and, until recently, clouded his draft outlook. “I really wasn’t able to throw the football,” Nussmeier told reporters. “I had a stabbing pain in my ab every time I went to throw the football. We weren’t able to figure out what it was… It was a rare deal. We didn’t find out what it really was until two months ago.” The delayed diagnosis helps explain the sharp drop-off in production. After a breakout 2024 campaign in which he threw for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while completing 64.2 percent of his passes, Nussmeier labored through pain in 2025 and ultimately missed LSU’s final three games. His last appearance—an abbreviated second half against Alabama on Nov. 8—ended with him on the sideline, the offense operating under backup orders. Nussmeier finished his LSU career with more than 7,000 passing yards, but NFL evaluators have spent the winter dissecting how much of the 2025 tape was compromised by injury. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound signal-caller believes he can now supply a cleaner evaluation. “Feeling much more like myself, which is exciting,” he said. The 2026 quarterback board appears top-heavy. ESPN analyst Field Yates projects California’s Fernando Mendoza as the sure-fire No. 1 passer and Alabama’s Ty Simpson as the likely second quarterback selected. After that, the hierarchy is murky. Nussmeier’s performance this week—both in athletic testing and in Sunday’s throwing session—could determine whether he secures the QB3 label and a potential Day 2 draft slot. “Senior Bowl week, for guys like Garrett Nussmeier, is going to influence that race for the third quarterback taken,” Yates noted. Nussmeier elected to skip the Senior Bowl, placing even greater emphasis on his combine numbers and LSU’s upcoming Pro Day. Scouts want to see whether the zip and accuracy that defined his 2024 film have returned now that the core pain has subsided. If the medical checks confirm full healing and the on-field workout mirrors the pre-injury form, Nussmeier could see his name rise rapidly across draft boards starved for quarterback depth. For one of the Southeastern Conference’s most prolific passers of the past two seasons, the next 48 hours represent a chance to flip the narrative from what might have been to what still lies ahead.

Indianapolis—When the NFL Scouting Combine opens its doors each February, the invitations serve as a de-facto report card for college football’s most efficient talent factories. This year’s guest list once again underscores a familiar truth: certain universities don’t just win games—they systematically manufacture pro-ready athletes. Alabama, Ohio State, LSU, Georgia, Florida, USC, Oklahoma, Miami, Michigan, and Notre Dame headline the 2026 invite tally, combining for the largest single-year contingent of prospects slated to run, jump, and interview in front of all 32 franchises. Their dominance is neither accidental nor cyclical; it is the product of layered infrastructures that merge elite recruiting with year-round development calibrated to NFL standards. Alabama’s invitation count reinforces its reputation as a player-development machine. The program’s competitive depth means even second-stringers enter the pre-draft process with polished technique and elite measurables, a testament to the Crimson Tide’s culture of internal competition and meticulous strength training. Ohio State again ranks near the top, parlaying consecutive top-five recruiting classes into a pipeline of explosive testers. Buckeyes prospects frequently register among the combine’s most athletically impressive performers, reflecting a pro-style scheme that demands both versatility and precision. LSU’s invitees highlight the program’s defensive-back and receiver incubator. The Tigers’ emphasis on one-on-one skill mastery and physical practices translates into strong showings in agility drills and position-specific workouts, key markers for evaluators. Georgia’s recent national success coincides with a surge in combine participation, particularly from a defense lauded for its speed and discipline. The Bulldogs’ roster depth ensures that rotational players arrive in Indianapolis carrying starter-level film and verified athletic markers. Florida’s invite sheet spans multiple position groups, continuing a tradition of skill-position explosiveness and defensive versatility. Even amid coaching transitions, the Gators’ recruiting footprint across the Southeast has kept NFL interest steady. USC maintains its West Coast prominence by again sending a cluster of prospects, most notably from the offensive perimeter and secondary. When the Trojans field nationally competitive rosters, their combine presence typically mirrors that momentum. Oklahoma’s invitations center on technically advanced playmakers groomed in one of college football’s most productive offenses. Quarterbacks, receivers, and linemen alike arrive with extensive high-volume game tape, easing projection to Sunday schemes. Miami’s legacy of speed and swagger shows up in testing numbers. The Hurricanes’ invitees often post top-tier forty-yard dash times and vertical jumps, reinforcing the program’s historic brand of athletic intimidation. Michigan’s balanced roster construction yields invitations along both lines, where strength and fundamentals are paramount. The Wolverines’ resurgence on the national stage has re-energized their pipeline to Indianapolis. Notre Dame rounds out the top ten, combining national recruiting reach with a curriculum that prizes consistency and character. Offensive linemen, tight ends, and front-seven defenders from South Bend routinely grade highly in interview sessions and on-field drills. Collectively, these ten programs account for a disproportionate share of the 2026 combine roster, illustrating how sustained investment in facilities, sports science, and schematic alignment with the NFL keeps their alumni returning to Indianapolis year after year. For scouts and general managers, the invitation ledger is more than a headcount—it is a roadmap to the campuses where potential most reliably becomes production.

By releasing center Tyler Biadasz with a post-June 1 designation, the Washington Commanders will free up $8.2 million against the 2026 salary cap while absorbing $2.7 million in dead money this year and $4.5 million in 2027. The move is officially framed as a cap-saving maneuver, yet it clashes with the front office’s recent public praise of Biadasz and raises immediate questions about the team’s priorities. Biadasz, who carried a manageable 2026 cap hit of $10,985,294, had been repeatedly lauded by coaches and executives over the past two seasons. General manager Adam Peters, however, has simultaneously committed to keeping defensive tackle Daron Payne, whose 2026 cap charge sits at $27,950,000—more than double Biadasz’s figure. Releasing Payne with the same June 1 treatment would have created $22.35 million in cap room, fueling speculation that the decision runs deeper than simple accounting. On-field indicators may have influenced the front office. Observers noted that Biadasz, who suffered an injury in the Christmas Day loss to Dallas, appeared less stout in 2025, occasionally being driven backward into the backfield. Whether the center’s recovery has stalled or whether new medical data emerged remains undisclosed. Internal evaluations could also be shifting opinions. Quarterbacks coach David Blough, offensive line coach Darnell Stapleton—promoted after two seasons as assistant O-line coach—and head coach Dan Quinn now form a revamped brain trust. If that group believes a better option is available in free agency, the organization may feel comfortable moving on despite Biadasz’s continuity with third-year franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels. The ripple effect is immediate. Washington already faces uncertainty at left guard with starter Chris Paul unsigned, meaning Daniels could lose two opening-day starters from the unit that graded out as the team’s most consistent in 2025. The Commanders must now weigh potential replacements against both salary demands and the risk of disrupting chemistry in front of their young signal-caller. While the front office hopes the savings will be reinvested wisely, the decision leaves fans and analysts asking why a proven, affordable center was deemed expendable while a higher-priced defensive tackle—whose production has been questioned—remains off-limits. Until Peters clarifies the long-term plan, the release of Tyler Biadasz will linger as one of the offseason’s most puzzling choices.

Nyon’s glass walls will decide more than match-ups at midday. When the Champions League round-of-16 draw begins at 12:00 CET, Europe’s heavyweight clubs will discover whether their spring is paved with possibility or peril. Real Madrid, fresh from topping their group, could face either Manchester City’s star-studded line-up or Sporting Clube de Portugal’s giant-killing ambition. Atlético Madrid brace for an English assault, with Liverpool or Tottenham ready to visit the Metropolitano. Across the Spanish corridor, FC Barcelona wait anxiously for either Newcastle’s physical stampede or a reunion with Luis Enrique’s resurgent Paris Saint-Germain. While the balls tumble in Switzerland, Barcelona’s camp received grim news. Midfield metronome Frenkie de Jong will miss the next five to six weeks after sustaining an injury in Thursday’s training session. The Dutchman’s absence leaves Hansi Flick without one of his primary engines just as La Liga and European stakes sharpen. In Madrid, another curtain prepares to fall. According to L’Equipe, Antoine Griezmann’s storied second spell at Atlético is nearing its finale, with Orlando City poised to welcome the French forward to Major League Soccer this winter. Club officials had hoped to retain him until June, but the 33-year-old appears set for a new chapter across the Atlantic. Spain’s European momentum is not confined to the Champions League. At a raucous Balaídos, Celta de Vigo edged PAOK 1-0 courtesy of a solitary strike from Williot Swedberg, sealing passage to the Europa League round of 16. The Sky Blues now watch Olympique Lyon and Aston Villa battle for the right to face them in the next phase, a tie overseen by the tactical mastery of Unai Emery. South American football provided the week’s most dramatic narrative. In Rio de Janeiro, Lanús overturned Flamengo 3-2 at an incandescent Maracanã to claim the Recopa Sudamericana, the continent’s super-club trophy. The defeat sparked fury among Flamengo supporters, many of whom directed blame at former idol Lucas Paquetá for the Brazilian side’s collapse. From Swiss boardrooms to Brazilian cauldrons, Friday’s headlines prove once again that football never sleeps.

United States hockey forward Brady Tkachuk has labeled a recent White House TikTok post “clearly fake” after the video appeared to show him making an anti-Canada remark. The short-form clip, circulated on the official White House account, prompted swift reaction from the Ottawa Senators captain, who disputed both the authenticity of the audio and the implication that he targeted Canada with derogatory language. Tkachuk, whose family has deep roots in North American hockey, offered no further elaboration but emphasized that the recording does not accurately reflect his views or comments. SEO keywords:

Tottenham Hotspur are preparing to fast-track a summer swoop for 23-year-old England goalkeeper James Trafford after growing indications that the Manchester City youngster is unsettled at the Etihad, sources have told To The Lane And Back. Spurs have identified goalkeeping reinforcements as a priority ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, with current No.1 Guglielmo Vicario open to a return to Serie A after a string of inconsistent displays that have eroded supporter confidence. Inter Milan and Juventus are already circling for the Italian, clearing the path for Tottenham to target a long-term successor. Trafford, who re-joined boyhood club City last summer hoping to compete with Ederson, has seen his pathway blocked by the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma on deadline day. The former Burnley stopper has started only three Premier League fixtures, all in the opening weeks, and has since been restricted to domestic-cup duty, prompting a frank post-match admission of frustration after the FA Cup fourth-round victory over Salford City. Former Tottenham scout Mick Brown confirmed the North London club are monitoring Trafford’s situation. “Tottenham are looking at a few new goalkeepers,” Brown exclusively told Football Insider. “One who I think is going to be high up on their list is James Trafford. He’s not happy at Manchester City and he’s made that pretty clear; he doesn’t want to be a number two. A move to Tottenham could be a good opportunity.” Brown added: “Trafford is still very highly rated. He showed what he can do at Burnley, he’s an England international and he’s still only young, so it’s more of a long-term investment. If City are willing to let him go, he’s going to be a top target for Tottenham.” Any deal hinges on Manchester City’s willingness to cash in on the highly-rated prospect, but with Donnarumma firmly established as Pep Guardiola’s first choice, Trafford is expected to push for a permanent exit to secure regular first-team football. Tottenham view the 23-year-old as an ideal candidate to anchor their goalkeeping department for the next decade and believe a formal approach could be enough to persuade both player and selling club this summer.

Arsenal have emerged as genuine contenders in the race to prise Sandro Tonali away from Newcastle United this summer, according to renowned transfer insider Fabrizio Romano. Speaking via DailyAFC, Romano confirmed that the Gunners are “right there” alongside Manchester United and Juventus among Europe’s elite clubs monitoring the Italy international’s situation, with a “strong possibility” of a move materialising once the window opens. While Newcastle have received no indication that Tonali is pushing for an exit, Romano’s assertion that a transfer is plausible has shifted attention toward the Premier League’s top end. Juventus are already viewed as outsiders; Tonali’s preference is to remain in England’s high-intensity environment, effectively narrowing the contest to English suitors. Arsenal’s appeal is obvious. Mikel Arteta’s side were Champions League semi-finalists last campaign and currently sit atop the domestic table, offering the 23-year-old midfielder the prospect of continued elite-level football. Technical director Edu is expected to refresh the engine room despite the formidable partnership of Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice. Behind that duo, Arsenal’s depth consists of ageing options, and none replicate Tonali’s blend of athleticism and creative distribution. Romano stressed that “it’s not only Arsenal” still in the picture, yet the north Londoners believe their sporting project and guaranteed Premier League exposure give them an edge over Manchester United. Whether Tonali can be convinced to leave Tyneside remains the pivotal hurdle, but Arsenal are preparing to test Newcastle’s resolve with a formal approach when the market opens.

Teamworks, the billion-dollar sports software and analytics conglomerate, is finalizing a deal to acquire Pro Football Focus in a transaction that values the veteran grading service between $130 million and $140 million, according to multiple sources familiar with the negotiations. The agreement, which could be announced as early as this week, would fold PFF into a growing stable of analytics properties now controlled by Teamworks. The purchase price represents a steep retreat from PFF’s 2021 peak valuation of roughly $223 million, erasing nearly $100 million in paper value for the company and its backers. Silver Lake, the private-equity firm that invested $50 million in PFF several years ago at a $160 million valuation, had hoped to diversify the firm beyond its core business-to-business revenue—reported to be in the low eight figures annually—and into the consumer space. That expansion never gained traction, leaving the company exposed to intensifying competition on its primary B2B front. Silver Lake’s exit follows a turbulent stretch for PFF that saw several high-profile departures. Analysts Sam Monson and Steve Palazzolo, along with key operational staffers Austin Gayle, Rick Drummond, and Ian Perks, have all left within the past three years, thinning the bench that once underpinned the brand’s credibility with NFL clients. Teamworks, backed by Dragoneer Investment Group, has quietly assembled a portfolio of analytics providers that now includes direct PFF competitors Sumer Sports and Telemetry. Bringing PFF under the same umbrella would consolidate much of the league-facing data market under a single corporate roof, potentially streamlining sales and product development across overlapping customer bases. When reached for comment, a PFF spokesperson declined to confirm the impending transaction. “As a company, we do not speculate on market rumors,” the spokesperson said. Representatives for Teamworks and Dragoneer did not respond to inquiries. The deal, once signed, will mark the latest chapter in the rapid consolidation of sports-tech firms seeking scale to offset rising development and customer-acquisition costs.

Washington — President Donald Trump will chair a closed-door White House roundtable next week aimed at stabilizing a college-athletics industry roiled by name-image-and-likedompensation deals, transfer-portal chaos and conference realignment, according to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and New York Yankees president Randy Levine will serve as vice chairs of the session, which is expected to gather university presidents, commissioners, athletic directors, coaches, business leaders and sports executives. While the full attendee list has not been released, Trump’s invitees include former Alabama coach Nick Saban, two Heisman Trophy winners and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, giving the meeting star power that underscores the cultural and economic weight of collegiate sports. Agenda items, Dellenger reports, will range from the role of athletics within higher education to widening financial gaps between programs and the legal and marketplace forces reshaping rosters almost overnight. Supporters hope the high-profile discussion will produce consensus solutions and head off further court battles, though skeptics question whether a single summit can yield enforceable policy. Notably absent from the preliminary roster is NCAA president Charlie Baker, raising questions about the association’s influence as the White House wades into reform talks. With the college model at an inflection point, all eyes will be on whether the president’s roundtable can convert dialogue into tangible next steps for schools, athletes and the billions-of-dollar industry built around them.

Santos, Brazil — Neymar responded to months of doubt in the only language he knows best, burying two goals to propel Santos past Vasco da Gama 2-1 on Thursday night and, in the process, ending a goalless run that stretched back to December 2025. The 34-year-old forward, making just his third competitive appearance of an injury-interrupted 2026 campaign, opened the scoring in the 25th minute at Estádio Urbano Caldeira. After wheeling toward the corner flag, he performed the same samba-inspired dance Vinícius Júnior unveiled against Benfica in the Champions League playoff, a nod of solidarity after the Real Madrid winger endured racist abuse in Portugal earlier this month. “I told him, ‘If I score, I’ll do the same,’” Neymar explained to SporTV. “Vini, it’s for you.” Vasco equalized before the interval, but Neymar struck again after the break to secure a vital fourth-round Brasileirão victory for the Peixe and remind Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti of his enduring quality. Ancelotti has maintained that a fit Neymar will be in the conversation for the upcoming men’s World Cup, and the striker’s first brace since surgery in early 2026 could hardly have been timed better. “Last week they said I was the worst player in the world,” Neymar said. “Today I scored two goals, and that’s what matters. One day you’re ‘retired’; the next, people want you at the World Cup.” The night was not without flashpoints. A second-half clash with Vasco midfielder Thiago Mendes—whose 2020 tackle left Neymar with a serious injury during their PSG-Lyon days—reignited old tensions. “He always wants to cause trouble,” Neymar said. “He already broke me once at PSG, and he threatened me again today. It’s always the same with him.” Despite cramping in the dying minutes, Neymar completed his second full 90-minute outing of the year, underlining the progress of a rehabilitation process that has limited him to sparse minutes since his December brace against Juventude. For now, Santos climbs the table buoyed by their returning star, while Neymar turns his focus to consistency and fitness, eager to let his football answer the critics who had written him off.

Indianapolis—While 40-yard dash times and bench-press reps grab the headlines, the Los Angeles Chargers are treating the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine as a clandestine job fair, using their 45 allotted formal interviews to probe the football soul of this year’s draft class. Head coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz arrived in Indianapolis with a sizeable contingent of scouts, medical staff and assistant coaches, intent on confirming—or challenging—months of background work already compiled by the scouting department. Formal 18-minute interviews began as early as Monday and will continue through the weekend, sandwiched around on-field testing that kicked off Thursday. The Chargers, like every club, can speak informally with almost every prospect in hallway encounters or at nightly social events, but the formal sit-downs are the chess pieces that can shape draft boards and undrafted-free-agent recruiting. Memphis right tackle Travis Burke and Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood have already confirmed they will use one of those precious slots with Los Angeles. Burke, an 11-game starter for the Tigers in 2025, has interviews locked in with five clubs: the Chargers, Jaguars, Cardinals, Colts and one yet-to-be-revealed team. Hood’s dance card is even fuller—he met the Cowboys on Thursday night and has visits scheduled with the Steelers, Saints, Dolphins, Giants and Chargers. Why these two? The team isn’t saying. Hortiz, schooled in the secrecy-first culture of the Ravens front office under Eric DeCosta and Ozzie Newsome, has made it clear the franchise will not tip interest levels. Both of last year’s first-round picks, Joe Alt and Ladd McConkey, later admitted they had virtually no contact with Los Angeles before hearing their names called, underscoring the franchise’s preference to keep intentions cloaked. Formal interviews are equal parts psychological evaluation and film-room pop quiz. Coaches may diagram blitzes on a whiteboard, challenge a prospect to a competitive game, or simply ask, “How much do you really love football?” The answers, Harbaugh believes, reveal whether a player will thrive in the ultra-competitive environment he is building. For small-school or off-radar prospects, the combine interview can serve as a first handshake that blossoms into an undrafted-free-agent deal come late April. Every conversation is archived; if the draft doesn’t break their way, the Chargers already have a relationship to leverage when the phones open for free-agent signings. With only 45 interviews available and 32 teams vying for intel, the Chargers’ itinerary inside Lucas Oil Stadium is guarded like a playbook. Burke and Hood are the first names to surface; expect more prospects to leak their meetings in media sessions as the weekend unfolds. Until then, the Chargers will keep asking questions—18 minutes at a time—searching for the next core piece of their roster.

Tallahassee, Fla. — Florida A&M head football coach Quinn Gray Sr. has strengthened his staff with a hire that bridges both the state capital and South Florida: former Miami Dolphins standout Sam Madison. Madison, a familiar face in Tallahassee and a celebrated figure in South Florida football circles, joins the Rattlers as an assistant coach. His NFL pedigree and regional ties are expected to aid Gray’s program as FAMU prepares for the upcoming season. The move reunites Madison with collegiate football in the state where he first rose to prominence before embarking on a decorated professional career. Details of Madison’s specific coaching role have not yet been released. Quinn Gray Sr. continues to shape his staff ahead of fall camp, aiming to build on last season’s momentum and elevate the Rattlers within the Southwestern Athletic Conference. SEO keywords:

The 2025-26 UEFA Champions League is about to unveil its knockout roadmap as the competition enters its decisive phase. After a dramatic league phase and playoff round that produced seismic shocks, the 16 remaining contenders will learn their Round of 16 opponents when the draw is conducted Friday at 6 a.m. ET, live on the CBS Sports Golazo Network and streaming on Paramount+. The playoff round delivered two of the tournament’s biggest upsets: Inter and Juventus, both Italian powerhouses, were sent packing after two-leg defeats to Bodo/Glimt and Galatasaray respectively. In contrast, Real Madrid eliminated Jose Mourinho’s Benfica to secure their place among the final 16. Those results set the stage for a seeded draw in which the top eight finishers from the league phase will each be paired with one of the eight playoff victors, who placed between ninth and 24th in the standings. All ties from this point forward will be played over two legs, with aggregate score determining the winner. The away-goals rule has been scrapped; if the aggregate is level after 180 minutes, matches will go to extra time and, if required, penalties. The Round of 16 first legs are scheduled for March 10, launching the sprint toward the May 30 final in Budapest. Viewers in the United States can follow every moment of the draw and all subsequent matches live on Paramount+. CBS Sports will also host an interactive Bracket Challenge, allowing fans to create pools, compete against friends, and vie for a grand prize that includes a trip to London, two Champions League match tickets, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the UCL Today set. With 36 teams trimmed to 16, Europe’s premier club competition is down to its heavy hitters. Friday’s draw will finalize the bracket and set the narrative for a spring packed with high-stakes drama.

INDIANAPOLIS — The NFL scouting combine is a parade of 40-yard dashes, bench-press reps and carefully rehearsed sound bites, but Caleb Downs and Kenyon Sadiq arrived in Indianapolis this week carrying a quieter confidence. Neither feels compelled to campaign for draft-night fireworks; both believe their tape already screams value at positions the league chronically waits to select. Downs, the versatile safety who closed his college career at Ohio State after starring at Alabama, is widely viewed as the draft’s top player at his spot. Across three seasons he logged nearly 250 tackles, six interceptions, three forced fumbles and a recovery, punishing anyone who tested the middle of the field. Former Alabama coach Nick Saban called him “one of my favorite all-time players,” praising the maturity and preparation Downs displayed as a freshman. Buckeyes teammates from the 2024 national-title roster echo the sentiment, with several insisting he could be the best defensive prospect available in April. Yet safeties seldom hear their names called in the top 10, a reality Downs accepts without complaint. “I feel like my mind really puts me above a lot of people in terms of how I process the game and play with instincts,” he said Thursday. “You’re getting a really talented player, a smart player who can make an impact on the field and in the facility to make a culture change.” Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta, whose club used first-round picks on safeties Kyle Hamilton in 2022 and Malaki Starks in 2025, believes the position’s draft slide can create windfall opportunities. “We didn’t go into the 2022 draft thinking Kyle Hamilton was going to be the best player available when we picked, and he happened to be the best player available, and thank God he was,” DeCosta said. Kenyon Sadiq faces a similar market dynamic at tight end. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Oregon product plans to run the 40-yard dash Friday night, unusual for a prospect projected to come off the board in Round 1. His combination of size, speed and athleticism could stress defenses the way Colston Loveland—last year’s first tight end selected at No. 10 overall—already has. Sadiq says he is intent on refining both route-running and run-blocking, the sort of self-critique coaches love to hear. He also believes the position’s stock is rising. “There’s been more credit going to tight ends, and you see the market being reset by guys every year,” he said. “It creates a lot of mismatches on the defensive side … so I think if you have a great tight end or a couple great tight ends, it really helps out your offense.” Neither Downs nor Sadiq spent combine week lobbying for early draft slots. Their message is simpler: wherever they land, the team that calls their name will get immediate impact at positions still hunting for respect on draft boards league-wide.

Indianapolis — The Giants’ front-office structure is drawing quiet attention at the NFL Combine, where senior vice president of football operations and strategy Dawn Aponte is running the club’s free-agent meetings. Aponte, who reports directly to John Harbaugh, has been tasked with overseeing the franchise’s initial evaluations and contract discussions with prospective free agents inside the Indiana Convention Center this week. The arrangement places Aponte at the center of the Giants’ offseason planning and signals the organization’s emphasis on a collaborative, top-down approach before the market officially opens.

The Bulls have confirmed that Ancer Simons played with a fractured wrist during his time with the Celtics. According to Bulls coach Billy Donovan, Simons sustained the injury during training camp with the Celtics and has been dealing with it since. Donovan noted that the fracture has not fully healed and that Simons has been playing through pain. Despite the injury, Simons has been effective for the Bulls, averaging 14.2 points per game off the bench while shooting 39.5 percent from three point range. The Bulls have been struggling as of late, with a 10 game losing streak, and Simons has been missed as they try to right the ship. Simons has missed three straight games and remains out indefinitely. The Celtics have also been struggling, losing nine of their last 11 games. Simons has been effective for the Bulls despite the injury, averaging 14.2 points per game off the bench while shooting 39.5 percent from three point range. The Bulls have been struggling as of late, with a 10 game losing streak, and Simons has been missed as they try to right the ship. Simons has missed three straight games and remains out indefinitely. The Celtics have also been struggling, losing nine of their last 11 games. Simons has been effective for the Bulls despite the injury, averaging 14.2 points per game off the bench while shooting 39.5 percent from three point range. The Bulls have been struggling as of late, with a 10 game losing streak, and Simons has been missed as they try to right the ship. Simons has missed three straight games and remains out indefinitely. The Celtics have also been struggling, losing nine of their last 11 games. Simons has been effective for the Bulls despite the injury, averaging 14.2 points per game off the bench while shooting 39.5 percent from three point range. The Bulls have been struggling as of late, with a 10 game losing streak, and Simons has been missed as they try to right the ship. Simons has missed three straight games and remains out indefinitely. The Celtists have also been struggling, losing nine of their last 11 games. Simons has been effective for the Bulls despite the injury, averaging 14.2 points per game off the bench while shooting 39.5 percent from three point range. The Bulls have been struggling as of late, with a 10 game losing streak, and Simons has been missed as they try to right the ship. Simons has missed three straight games and remains out indefinitely. The Celtics have also been struggling, losing nine of their last 11 games. Simons has been effective for the Bulls despite the injury, averaging 14.2 points per game off the bench while shooting 39.5 percent from three point range. The Bulls have been struggling as of late, with a 10 game losing streak, and Simons has been missed as they try to right the ship. Simons has missed three straight games and remains out indefinitely. The Celtics have also been struggling, losing nine of their last 11 games. Simons has been effective for the Bulls despite the injury, averaging 14.2 points per game off the bench while shooting 39.5 percent from three point range. The Bulls have been struggling as of late, with a 10 game losing streak, and Simons has been missed as they try to right the ship. Simons has missed three straight games and remains out indefinitely. The Celtics have also been struggling, losing nine of their last 11 games. Simons has been effective for the Bulls despite the injury, averaging 14.2 points per game off the bench while shooting 39.5 percent from three point range. The Bulls have been struggling as of late, with a 10 game losing streak, and Simons has been missed as they try to right the ship. Simons has missed three straight games and remains out indefinitely. The Celtics have also been struggling, losing nine of their last 11 games.

With the 2026 NFL Draft still months away, the New York Jets have already mapped out a blueprint that could accelerate the rebuild under second-year head coach Aaron Glenn. In A to Z Sports’ updated three-round projection, Gang Green walks away with four potential impact players inside the top 45 selections, the bulk of the haul concentrated on a defense still searching for an identity. The mock begins at No. 2 overall, where the Jets bypass quarterbacks and edge rushers in favor of Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese. The 6-3, 240-pound Reese is viewed as a chess piece who can line up at off-ball linebacker, edge, slot, or even safety in sub-packages. “No easier solution than a player who can play four different positions and be a Pro Bowler at three of them,” the analysis notes, suggesting Reese could become the face of Aaron Glenn’s unit the moment he steps on the field. New York’s second first-round pick, No. 16 overall, produces the first steal of the simulation. Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, projected by many as a top-ten talent, slips through the cracks and into the Jets’ lap. The 6-2, 205-pound outside threat profiles as a more explosive version of veteran Robert Woods, giving the offense a legitimate perimeter weapon who can win vertically and after the catch. Day 2 turns into a defensive double-dip. At pick 33 the Jets again benefit from a perceived overthink, landing Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks. Listed at 6-6 and 330 pounds, Banks is a space-eating presence who can two-gap in the run game and collapse the pocket with surprising burst for his size. The selection addresses one of the roster’s thinnest spots and should free up linebackers to flow freely to the football. The third round closes with San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson, a 6-0 cover man with 32-inch arms and a 4.4-second 40-yard dash on his résumé. Johnson’s blend of length, speed and ball skills could push him into a starting role opposite the Jets’ incumbent boundary corners sooner rather than later. If the board breaks this way next April, New York would exit the draft with four immediate contributors, three on defense and one explosive playmaker for the passing game—exactly the kind of talent infusion Aaron Glenn needs as he attempts to establish a long-term culture in Florham Park.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — With the 2026 league year set to open in less than two weeks, the Buffalo Bills enter free-agency season facing a familiar reality: limited salary-cap space and a roster that still needs meaningful upgrades. While Brandon Beane is unlikely to chase every headline, the Bills can still be surgical, landing value deals that address glaring holes at wide receiver, linebacker, defensive line and along the interior offensive line. Here are 10 names—ranging from splashy to shrewd—that make sense for Buffalo’s 2026 blueprint. 1. Mike Evans, WR A future Hall of Famer coming off an injury-marred 2025 campaign, Evans would arrive as the instant WR1 Josh Allen has lacked since Stefon Diggs was traded. Critics point to age (32 in August) and health, yet a one- or two-year pact keeps risk minimal while preserving flexibility to double-dip at receiver in April’s draft. Evans’ 6-foot-5 frame and red-zone dominance would diversify an offense that finished 18th in touchdown rate inside the 20. 2. Alec Pierce, WR The Colts hope to re-sign their 25-year-old deep threat, but if Pierce reaches the open market he instantly becomes the top available wideout not named George Pickens. His 2025 line—47 catches, 1,010 yards—averages 21.5 yards per reception and hints at untapped upside. Projected annual price: $20 million-plus. Buffalo would have to creatively restructure contracts, yet the Allen-to-Pierce vertical element could resurrect the NFL’s 14th-ranked passing DVOA. 3. Romeo Doubs, WR Green Bay’s 24-year-old X-receiver posted 55-724-6 last season, out-gaining Bills leader Khalil Shakir (719). Doubs wins at the catch point, blocks with edge and would slot in as an immediate No. 2, allowing Buffalo to hunt alpha traits early in the draft. 4. Wyatt Teller, G If veteran David Edwards prices himself out of western New York, Beane could reunite with the guard he once traded to Cleveland. Teller, 30, is no longer All-Pro caliber but remains a powerful run blocker who enjoys a pre-existing rapport with Allen. A hometown-discount scenario could land him for roughly half of Edwards’ projected $9 million AAV. 5. Shelby Harris, DE/DT Versatility is currency under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, and Harris’ ability to kick inside on passing downs would give Buffalo a different look than last year’s base-heavy fronts. His 7.5 sacks in 2025 were a career best. 6. Leo Chenal, LB Leonhard coached Chenal at Wisconsin and trusts his instincts against the run. The 24-year-old Chiefs ‘backer has a Spotrac valuation of $4.6 million, but market competition could drive the figure higher. Chenal’s downhill style addresses Buffalo’s leaky run defense (4.7 yards per carry allowed, 25th) without asking him to cover slot receivers. 7. Trey Hendrickson, EDGE The ultimate boom-or-boomer. Hendrickson logged 17.5 sacks and All-Pro honors in 2024, then battled injuries and managed only four sacks in seven games last fall. Still two years younger than Von Miller when Buffalo signed the future Hall of Famer in 2023, Hendrickson could command $30 million per year. The front office must weigh that against Miller’s disappointing 36-game tenure, yet the pass rush finished 22nd in pressure rate—evidence that a difference-maker is needed. 8. Boye Mafe, EDGE Seattle’s 26-year-old rotational terror tallied modest sack totals but ranked top-15 in pass-rush win rate. Mafe’s projected $12 million AAV fits the budget better than Hendrickson, and his relentless motor aligns with Leonhard’s culture. 9. D.J. Reader, DT A longtime Bills nemesis during his Houston and Cincinnati days, Reader turns 32 this summer and profiles as a situational run stuffer. With DaQuan Jones, Larry Ogunjobi and Jordan Phillips all ticketed for free agency, Buffalo needs bodies beside Ed Oliver. Reader on a short deal keeps the cupboard stocked without blocking 2024 third-rounder DeWayne Carter’s eventual return. 10. Kaden Elliss, LB Atlanta’s signal-caller on defense amassed 107 tackles, 3.5 sacks and an interception in 2025, then victimized Buffalo with a forced fumble on Monday Night Football. Falcons GM Ian Cunningham stopped short of guaranteeing Elliss’ return, citing cap constraints. Elliss, 29, isn’t a youth movement, but his leadership and three-down versatility could stabilize a linebacker room currently penciling in second-year convert Joe Andreessen. Conclusion Buffalo’s championship window remains open as long as Josh Allen is upright, yet the margins are shrinking. By blending calculated gambles (Evans, Hendrickson) with high-floor complements (Doubs, Chenal, Reader), the Bills can stretch every cap dollar and enter the draft free to take the best player available rather than reaching for need. Free agency officially opens March 16; the clock is ticking on Beane to turn fiscal restraint into roster reward.

Signal Iduna Park will stage the 24th match-day of the 1. Bundesliga 2025/26 on Saturday evening when Borussia Dortmund welcome runaway leaders Bayern München for the latest instalment of Der Klassiker. Sky Sports Football’s live coverage begins at 17:30 GMT. Niko Kovac’s Dortmund, second in the table on 52 points, need a statement result after a bruising 4-1 home defeat to Atalanta in the UEFA Champions League on 25 February. The Schwarzgelben have nevertheless been formidable on their own patch, winning their last three league fixtures at the Iduna Park and scoring in six consecutive competitive matches. Their only domestic loss in the previous nine home games came back in November, while they have conceded just once in the league since Christmas. Vincent Kompany’s Bayern arrive in the Ruhr valley sitting pretty on 60 points and chasing a fourth straight championship. The Bavarians edged Eintracht Frankfurt 3-2 last weekend, extending an eye-catching sequence of just two defeats in their last 36 competitive outings. Away from the Allianz Arena, the record champions have tasted defeat only once in 19 assignments, scoring in every one of those contests and avoiding defeat in the most recent eight. Team news Kovac is expected to stick with the XI that began against Atalanta, fitness permitting. Captain Emre Can will screen a back four of Julian Ryerson, Waldemar Anton, Ramy Bensebaini and Julian Brandt, while teenage midfielder Jobe Bellingham again partners Felix Nmecha in the double pivot. The attacking quartet of Daniel Svensson, Maximilian Beier, Serhou Guirassy and Brandt will be tasked with unsettling Bayern’s high line. Kompany, meanwhile, has no fresh injury concerns. Jonas Urbig continues in goal behind a back four of Josip Stanisic, Dayot Upamecano, Kim Min-jae and Alphonso Davies. Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic anchor midfield, with Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala and Luis Díaz supplying ammunition for Harry Kane, who has already struck 21 league goals this term. Head-to-head Saturday’s meeting will be the 139th competitive clash between the clubs. Bayern hold the overall edge with 67 wins to Dortmund’s 34, but the Westphalians can take heart from the Signal Iduna ledger: each side has prevailed 21 times in 63 league visits for the Bavarians. In the Bundesliga alone, Bayern have won 55 of 113 fixtures, with 26 victories for BVB and 32 draws. Kovac’s personal record against Bayern makes grim reading – one win, two draws, eight defeats in 11 attempts – while he has yet to overcome Kompany, drawing one and losing one. The Belgian coach, for his part, has faced Dortmund three times as a coach, winning once and drawing twice. Key numbers • Bayern have lost only twice in their last 36 competitive matches. • Dortmund have scored in six successive games but have gone two without a victory. • Bayern have scored in 19 consecutive away fixtures. • Dortmund have won their last three home league games; Bayern have won eight of their last nine on the road. Predictions Bayern’s relentless consistency and Kane’s hot streak make them favourites, yet Dortmund’s resurgent home form and the cauldron-like atmosphere of a sold-out 81,000 capacity arena ensure a tight contest. Expect goals: both sides have found the net in 11 of the last 13 Klassiker league encounters. A high-tempo, end-to-end affair should finish with the champions elect extending their lead at the summit, but only after a stern examination from the hosts.

Sunderland midfielder Enzo Le Feé has revealed that representing France at the World Cup is one of his career ambitions. The 26-year-old described the prospect of competing in the World Cup with the French national team as his ultimate goal. Speaking to beIN Sports, Le Feé said he is not thinking about it for this year or this summer, but playing in a World Cup with his national team is one of his career goals. He added that playing in the Premier League could help him achieve it. Le Feé believes that performing in the Premier League could help him earn his first cap for Les Bleus. He said that if he can perform in the Premier League, then why not. The French midfielder has made 47 appearances for Sunderland, scoring six goals and providing seven assists. He joined the Black Cats in the winter of 2025 and has established himself as a key player in Régis Le Bris's team. Le Feé has started in 27 of the 29 matches he has played since the start of the season. He has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 2024-5 campaign. Le Feé has not earned his first cap for Les Bleus yet, but he believes that performing in the Premier League could help him achieve it. He said that if he can perform in the Premier League, then why not. Le Feé has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 2024-5 campaign. He has made 47 appearances for Sunderland, scoring six goals and providing seven assists. Le Feé has been a key player in Régis Le Bris's team, starting in 27 of the 29 matches he has played since the start of the season. Le Feé has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. He has been a key player in Régis Le Bris's team, starting in 27 of the 29 matches he has played since the start of the season. Le Feé has made 47 appearances for Sunderland, scoring six goals and providing seven assists. He has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. Le Feé has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. He has been a key player in Régis Le Bris's team, starting in 27 of the 29 matches he has played since the start of the season. Le Feé has made 47 appearances for Sunderland, scoring six goals and providing seven assists. He has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. Le Feé has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. He has been a key player in Régis Le Bris's team, starting in 27 of the 29 matches he has played since the start of the season. Le Feé has made 47 appearances for Sunderland, scoring six goals and providing seven assists. He has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flow at the end of the 4-5 campaign. Le Feé has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. He has been a key player in Régis Le Bris's team, starting in 27 of the 29 matches he has played since the start of the season. Le Feé has made 47 appearances for Sunderland, scoring six goals and providing seven assists. He has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. Le Feé has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. He has been a key player in Régis Le Bris's team, starting in 27 of the 29 matches he has played since the start of the season. Le Feé has made 47 appearances for Sunderland, scoring six goals and providing seven assists. He has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. Le Feé has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. He has been a key player in Régis Le Bris's team, starting in 27 of the 29 matches he has played since the start of the season. Le Feé has made 47 appearances for Sunderland, scoring six goals and providing seven assists. He has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. Le Feé has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. He has been a key player in Régis Le Bris's team, starting in 27 of the 29 matches he has played since the start of the season. Le Feé has made 47 appearances for Sunderland, scoring six goals and providing seven assists. He has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. Le Feé has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. He has been a key player in Régis Le Bris's team, starting in 27 of the 29 matches he has played since the start of the season. Le Feé has made 47 appearances for Sunderland, scoring six goals and providing seven assists. He has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. Le Feé has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. He has been a key player in Régis Le Bris's team, starting in 27 of the 3 matches he has played since the start of the season. Le Feé has made 47 appearances for Sunderland, scoring six goals and providing seven assists. He has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. Le Feé has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. He has been a key player in Régis Le Bris's team, starting in 27 of the 29 matches he has played since the start of the season. Le Feé has made 47 appearances for Sunderland, scoring six goals and providing seven assists. He has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. Le Feé has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. He has been a key player in Régis Le Bris's team, starting in 27 of the 29 matches he has played since the start of the season. Le Feé has made 47 appearances for Sunderland, scoring six goals and providing seven assists. He has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. Le Feé has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. He has been a key player in Régis Le Bris's team, starting in 27 of the 29 matches he has played since the start of the season. Le Feé has made 47 appearances for Sunderland, scoring six goals and providing seven assists. He has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. Le Feé has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. He has been a key player in Régis Le Bris's team, starting in 27 of the 29 matches he has played since the start of the season. Le Feé has made 47 appearances for Sunderland, scoring six goals and providing seven assists. He has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. Le Feé has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. He has been a key player in Régis Le Bris's team, starting in 27 of the 29 matches he has played since the start of the season. Le Feé has made 47 appearances for Sunderland, scoring six goals and providing seven assists. He has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. Le Feé has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign. He has been a key player in Régis Le Bris's team, starting in 27 of the 29 matches he has played since the start of the season. Le Feé has made 47 appearances for Sunderland, scoring six goals and providing seven assists. He has been a key player in Sunderland's promotion to the top flight at the end of the 4-5 campaign.

Every August drafters recite the same mantra—“this is the year I don’t chase last year’s points”—and every November they stare at a roster dotted with red “Q” tags and wonder where it all went wrong. The 2025 season produced its usual crop of busts, but history reminds us that one down year is not always a death sentence. Josh Jacobs’ roller-coaster ride from 1,653-12 to 805-6 and back to 1,329-15 between 2022 and 2024 is the template for the rebound story. The names below may never match Jacobs’ peaks, yet every metric, contract situation and depth-chart vacuum points toward a 2026 revival. Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens The box score says 16.5 fantasy points per game, the worst mark of Jackson’s career outside his rookie year. A deeper cut says the decline was injury-forced: through Week 4 he trailed only Josh Allen in weekly scoring, averaging 217.3 passing yards, 41.5 rushing yards and 1.1% interceptions. After the ailment the splits collapsed—186.7 yards, 20.3 rush yards and 2.9% picks. Baltimore had no alternative but to trot out a diminished MVP. Even if Jackson’s rushing volume never returns to the 9-carry baseline he held through 2023, a healthier season and a career 0.8% interception pedigree make him a screaming value at a position that perennially overpays for last year’s stats. Bucky Irving, RB, Buccaneers The rookie renaissance of 2024 (5.4 yards per attempt, league-best 3.5 yards after contact per carry) gave way to a seven-game absence and a 3.4-YPA thud in 2025. Yet attrition is about to become Irving’s best blocker: Rachaad White and Sean Tucker are poised to leave, and Tampa Bay’s long list of defensive needs makes a high-priced backfield addition unlikely. Even a modest efficiency rebound should pair with 250-plus touches, turning last year’s one-score campaign into bankable counting stats. Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seahawks Yearly totals can lie. Walker posted nearly identical PPR outputs in each of his first four seasons, but 2025 was the first time he played 17 games. The cost was a career-low 13.0 attempts per game and only eight goal-line carries. With Zach Charbonnet expected to miss most or all of 2026, Seattle—or any team that signs Walker in free agency—will treat him as a true bell cow. Touchdown regression and goal-line monopoly are coming. Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings Jefferson did not suddenly forget how to separate. A carousel of J.J. McCarthy, Max Brosmer and Carson Wentz delivered the league’s most quarterback-agnostic receiver a 58.9% catchable target rate, per StatsHub. Minnesota will add competition under center this off-season, either through a reclamation project or a veteran bridge. Jefferson’s target volume and Kevin O’Connell’s play-action scheme remain elite; even marginal quarterback improvement should push the 26-year-old back into the overall WR1 conversation. Malik Nabers, WR, Giants An ACL tear in Week 4 derailed Nabers’ sophomore campaign, yet the calendar works in his favor: ten months of rehab plus the likely exit of slot target-hog Wan’Dale Robinson frees an extra 90-100 looks. Rookie-year explosiveness (17.2 yards per reception) and contested-catch polish make Nabers the odds-on favorite to lead New York in every receiving category if health cooperates. Garrett Wilson, WR, Jets The Jets’ offense is perennially a punch line, but Wilson has produced three 1,000-yard seasons and was pacing a career-best 76.4 yards per game before injuries in 2025. Assuming full health, his target share remains locked in regardless of who is under center. Terry McLaurin, WR, Commanders History sides with players one year removed from a holdout. McLaurin’s 582-yard nadir came after a camp absence, mirroring post-holdout dips by Melvin Gordon, Chris Johnson and Larry Johnson—each of whom rebounded the following season. Expect Washington to feature its alpha wideout early and often as it breaks in a new quarterback. Isaiah Likely, TE, Free Agent Stuck behind Mark Andrews in Baltimore, Likely posted career lows across the board (36 targets, 27 catches, 307 yards, 1 TD). Now set to sign elsewhere, he inherits the same path that turned Gerald Everett, Evan Engram and Dalton Kincaid into weekly starters once freed from a timeshare. A 2024 stat line of 42-477-6 on only 58 targets offers a glimpse of his floor as a primary tight end; the ceiling is top-five at a position starved for difference-makers. Draft rooms will overreact to 2025 scars. Savvy gamers will remember that blips are not obituaries and will roster the bounce-back class before the market corrects.

Tallahassee, Fla. — When the Savannah Bananas bring their circus-style brand of Banana Ball to Florida’s capital next week, they will find at least one avid fan on the Florida State campus: Seminoles head coach Link Jarrett. “I think what the Bananas organization has done for the game … appeals to a wide variety of people that may not be as into baseball as the fans at our games every night,” Jarrett said Wednesday after FSU’s 14-9 win over North Florida. “The young kids enjoy the music and the dancing, and there are antics with it. It’s fun, and it’s got a good pace and a rhythm to it. I think they’ve just opened up the world to what baseball can be.” The exhibition barnstormers open their 2026 World Tour with three sold-out nights in Tallahassee, Feb. 26-28. Games on Feb. 26 and 27 will be played at Dick Howser Stadium, while the Feb. 28 finale shifts to Doak Campbell Stadium — the first non-football event in the venue since its $265 million facelift. Crews have spent the week converting the football cathedral into a baseball coliseum. Home plate will sit just in front of the renovated west sideline club, with second base near midfield’s iconic Seminole head logo. The dimensions will not resemble a standard park, but innovation is the Bananas’ calling card. FSU leadership pushed for the stadium to host non-football events during planning for the renovation, adding an accessible loading dock and tunnel specifically for occasions such as this. After the Bananas depart, Professional Bull Riding will be the next tenant. “This is going to be cool, to see Doak turned into a baseball facility — it’s going to be really neat,” Jarrett said. “There’s people here, not just here locally, but all over the country coming to get a chance to watch this.” The Tallahassee stop is more than a novelty for local baseball alumni. Seven players or coaches with ties to area programs will wear Bananas-affiliated jerseys: former Florida A&M outfielder Ty Jackson (Bananas), ex-Godby and Tallahassee State College third baseman Logan Lacey (Firefighters), former FAMU outfielder Malachi Mitchell (Clowns), former TSC pitcher Christian Dearman (Firefighters), former TSC outfielder Tanner Thomas (Party Animals), ex-TSC assistant and current Chiles head coach Corey Pye (Firefighters pitching coach), and former Thomas University coach Errick Fox (Clowns manager). Merchandise tents and pre-game entertainment zones have already sprouted around Howser and Doak, turning the Seminoles’ athletic complex into a carnival midway. With every ticket long gone, Jarrett and company will be among the curious spectators taking in a spectacle few traditional baseball venues ever see. Thursday, Feb. 26: Firefighters vs. Coconuts, Howser Stadium, 7 p.m. (sold out) Friday, Feb. 27: Party Animals vs. Clowns, Howser Stadium, 7 p.m. (sold out) Saturday, Feb. 28: Bananas vs. Tailgaters, Doak Campbell Stadium, 7 p.m. (sold out)

Tallahassee, Fla. – When Florida State coaches mapped out their off-season plan to re-tool the front seven, Southern Miss transfer Chris Jones, Jr. quickly rose to the top of the board. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker, who signed with the Seminoles after initially pledging to Ole Miss, says the coaching staff has already informed him that versatility will be his ticket onto the field in 2026. “I’m trying to learn both positions: the Mike and the Will,” Jones said following Wednesday’s practice. “I’m a sideline-to-sideline backer, so I feel like they’re going to put me in positions to make plays in that aspect.” Jones’ desire to master multiple spots aligns with defensive coordinator Tony White’s 3-3-5 scheme, a system predicated on speed and disguise that asks linebackers to cover ground from hash to hash. After logging 135 tackles—among the top 10 in the FBS last season—9.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble at Southern Miss, the three-star transfer believes he can replicate that production inside the ACC. “Coach Sims doesn’t want me to just learn one position; he wants me to learn both,” Jones said of new linebackers coach Ernie Sims, the former FSU All-American and first-round draft pick. “With White’s defense, it allows you to run sideline to sideline. He can put me at Jack, he can put me at Mike, he can put me at Will, and just give me a chance to be all over the field and make plays.” The Seminoles parted ways with longtime assistant John Papuchis this off-season, promoting Sims to oversee the linebacker room. Jones cited his fast-developing relationship with Sims and head coach Mike Norvell as the primary reason he flipped from his home-state Rebels to the ‘Noles. “I felt like Florida State was home, and Coach Ernie Sims is a legend here,” Jones said. “We built a great relationship, and that’s really the main reason I came here.” In two seasons with the Golden Eagles, Jones appeared in 22 games with 13 starts, flashing the instincts and acceleration Florida State lacked during a disappointing 2025 campaign. If the junior can translate his FBS-leading tackle numbers into consistent impact plays, FSU’s front seven could rebound in a hurry. For a defense built on pressure, pace, and multiplicity, a hybrid linebacker who refuses to be boxed into a single role may be exactly what the Seminoles ordered.

INDIANAPOLIS — Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden arrived at the NFL Scouting Combine with a blunt diagnosis of the unit he oversaw in 2025: the pass rush was the weakest he has ever coached, and the front office must treat the problem as a top priority when the market opens next month. “Oh we have to build,” Golden told reporters. “This was the least amount of pressure that I’ve had in forever — and by a long margin, the least amount of line stunts.” The numbers back up the urgency. Even with Pro Bowl defensive end Trey Hendrickson on the field for only seven games, his 21.5 percent pass-rush win rate dwarfed the rest of Cincinnati’s defensive line. Second-year edge Myles Murphy checked in at 12.1 percent, and rotational rusher Joseph Ossai posted 10.7 percent. No other Bengal who took significant snaps on the edge cracked double digits. Director of player personnel Duke Tobin has already signaled that reinforcing the defensive line will headline the club’s offseason agenda. Golden, retained along with the rest of Zac Taylor’s staff to maintain continuity between the coaching and personnel departments, echoed that sentiment inside Lucas Oil Stadium. “Finding capable rushers is a must this offseason,” Golden said. “I have my eyes on developing the building blocks we already have, but we need more to execute the vision.” Versatility remains the cornerstone of that vision. Golden’s first season back in Cincinnati featured a scheme designed to deploy hybrid fronts and position-less defenders, and he has no intention of abandoning that philosophy. “I’m a defensive coordinator, so I like toys,” he said. “You need force multipliers. You need somebody in the defensive-end room that can play outside linebacker. You need linebackers that can play on and off the line of scrimmage. If you can do it without substitution, that’s what makes you dangerous.” The Bengals finished 6-11 and out of the playoffs last season, with many of the losses featuring an inability to affect opposing quarterbacks. Golden’s public candor underscores a franchise-wide acceptance that the current roster, as constructed, is not ready to return to January football. Free agency opens in four weeks, and Cincinnati owns ample cap space to chase upgrades. Whether Hendrickson re-signs or walks, Golden’s marching order is clear: add players who can collapse pockets and create negative plays. “We’ll see where we go here in terms of identifying those things,” Golden said, “but you have complete faith in Zac and Duke and what we’re going to acquire here in the next month — and then, obviously, three months.” The defensive coordinator has laid down the gauntlet. The onus now shifts to the front office to deliver the toys he believes can transform one of the league’s least disruptive fronts into a legitimate postseason weapon.

By every traditional measure, the Chicago Bears belong to Chicago. Their navy helmets carry the city’s initial, their fight songs name-check the lakefront, and their lineage traces back to Decatur before the franchise helped build the NFL itself. Yet after 53 seasons as tenants at Soldier Field—renting, never owning—the Bears are preparing to do the unthinkable: leave Illinois altogether. Last week Indiana lawmakers unanimously approved an amendment authorizing a Lake County stadium authority, clearing a legislative path for the Bears to relocate 30 minutes southeast to Hammond. The reaction was swift and visceral. An Axios poll found 74 percent of fans ready to “carry a grudge” if the team skips town; former Pro Bowlers James Harrison and Joe Haden decried another cash grab; Fox analyst Rachel Nichols urged the McCaskey family to sell if they “don’t have the resources to keep the Bears in Chicago.” But resources are precisely the issue. The McCaskeys, whose wealth is concentrated in the franchise itself, have offered roughly $2 billion toward a new stadium—about what they would have spent in Arlington Heights. The rub is the total price tag: a SoFi-style $5 billion complex that would require $3 billion in additional public or private financing. Illinois balked at the subsidy request, leaving the team to renegotiate an onerous Soldier Field lease that still demands hundreds of millions in maintenance on the league’s smallest, oldest venue. Indiana’s pitch is simpler. The same $2 billion from the Bears unlocks a state-backed authority able to finance, build and control a year-round football palace in Hammond, a community already woven into Chicago’s orbit. No cornfield exurb, Hammond sits inside the crescent of industrial lakefront towns that stretch from Wisconsin to Gary; commuters already cross the state line for cheaper gas, and Power 92, Chicago’s hip-hop mainstay, has broadcast from Hammond studios for 20 years. By car or Metra, the trip is shorter than the 49ers’ ride to San Francisco or the Giants’ and Jets’ slog from Manhattan to the Meadowlands. For Northwest Indiana, the upside is existential. Since the 1970s, the closure of steel mills and auto plants hollowed out cities like Hammond and Gary, turning once-thriving corridors into rust-belt relics. A publicly funded stadium—Indiana’s third after Lucas Oil Stadium and Gainbridge Fieldhouse—could anchor mixed-use redevelopment, reverse population loss and reconnect the region to the economic engine of Chicago. Critics call it sports welfare, and history is on their side: American and Canadian taxpayers have sunk more than $33 billion into stadium construction since 1970. Yet proponents argue that capturing a flagship tenant like the Bears concentrates the cost on the fan base most willing to bear it, while spilling benefits—hotels, restaurants, infrastructure—across a depressed area that state incentives have failed to revive. Politically, the clock is ticking. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker promises to keep negotiating with team president Kevin Warren, and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson insists “Arlington Heights and Indiana ain’t Chicago.” But the Bears have already signaled they are moving somewhere; Arlington Heights remains viable, though Hammond now offers a faster, cheaper, state-sanctioned runway. What fans fear losing is less geography than identity. The team’s heritage, however, has always been portable. Founded in Decatur, the Bears shared Wrigley Field with the Cubs for half a century before the league’s 50,000-seat mandate pushed them to Soldier Field in 1971. Even then, they spent the 2002 renovation season 140 miles south in Champaign, going 3-5 while fans made the pilgrimage. Relocating to Hammond would keep every ritual intact—navy and burnt-orange crowds, skyline B-roll, Bear Weather debates—inside a modern venue the franchise finally owns. In the end, the question is not whether the Bears leave Chicago; it is where they land. If the answer is an Indiana lakefront 30 minutes away, the team will still play under the same emblem, backed by the same metropolis, chasing the same championship. The address changes. The identity doesn’t. And for a region left behind by the post-industrial economy, the so-called Indiana Bears might deliver something Soldier Field never could: a genuine home, and a shared future worth cheering.

Miami Gardens, FL — When the Dolphins walk to the virtual podium with the 11th overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, they will do so with a rebuilt edge room but a glaring vacancy at outside corner. According to The Athletic’s consensus mock draft, that vacancy will be filled by one of the most traveled and technically refined cover men in the class: Virginia Tech-to-LSU transfer Mansoor Delane. “I was tempted to go with an edge rusher here after the Dolphins traded Jaelan Phillips last season,” wrote The Athletic’s Manny Navarro, “but it made more sense to take one of the top two corners in the draft. Delane is an elite, scheme-versatile playmaker who did not blink against SEC competition after three years at Virginia Tech.” Delane’s résumé backs up the praise. Over 29 consecutive starts for the Hokies he logged 1,826 defensive snaps, recording 146 tackles, 22 passes defended and six interceptions while earning Third-Team All-ACC honors in 2024. Rather than declare as a likely mid-round pick last winter, he bet on himself, transferring to LSU for a single season under renowned secondary coach Corey Raymond and daily battles against Heisman-candidate quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and a loaded Tigers receiver room. The gamble appears to have paid off. A 2025 core-muscle injury that would have sidelined most players never forced him to miss time, and his tape still flashes lockdown traits: textbook press-coverage punches, fluid hip turns and the processing speed to drive on routes in off-man or zone looks. While he can improve locating the football vertically and adding bulk to handle bigger targets, his instincts and competitive makeup have remained constant since the first collegiate snap of his career—a run stuff against North Carolina’s Drake Maye. NFL scouts view Delane as a rare chess piece who has cross-trained at corner, nickel and safety this spring, a versatility Miami’s multiple-front defense covets. The Dolphins have historically asked their corners to play sides, not roles; Delane’s pattern-matching acumen and zone awareness could allow him to contribute immediately in sub-packages before growing into a full-time boundary role. The pick also reflects value. In a cornerback-rich draft, landing a technician who has already proven he can excel in both the ACC and SEC gives Miami flexibility to address pass-rush depth on Day 2. Should Delane’s physical maturation match his mental approach, the Dolphins may have secured a shutdown cornerstone without trading up. For now, the 11th slot is penciled in beside Mansoor Delane’s name—an investment in coverage that Miami hopes will pay dividends when the division-rival bills and jets come calling next fall.

Nashville’s skyline has become a teaser board for Tennessee Titans fans. Just days after cryptic billboards bearing three stars and the date 3.12.26 appeared across the city, the franchise moved from roadside hints to direct outreach. A segment of season ticket holders received an invitation heralding “a new chapter begins” and offering access to an exclusive event at The Pinnacle on March 12. The gathering, capped at approximately 4,500 attendees to match the venue’s capacity, will be free but ticketed on a first-come, first-served basis. Each eligible account may secure up to two tickets. Although the announcement stopped short of confirming a uniform unveiling, the combination of offseason rebranding whispers and the carefully staged marketing rollout strongly suggests fans will receive their first look at updated Titans threads. Organizers promise additional information, including a claim link, with tickets becoming available Thursday, February 26, at 10 a.m. CT.

FORT MYERS, Fla. — When a reporter handed Liam Hendriks a photocopy of his 2011 Baseball America scouting report, the veteran Twins reliever didn’t flinch. He rattled off the synopsis before reading a word. “I’m assuming there is a little bit of short motion with a quick arm, 88-92 mph, with a little bit of arm-side run,” Hendriks said. “Good changeup. Breaking ball needs some work. Slider can play at times. Curveball when located is good. Athletic body. Pitchability is good, concerns about stuff in zone.” He was essentially correct. The report, compiled one year before Hendriks reached the majors, described a compact right-hander with four fringe-average pitches and a knack for throwing strikes, but little that projected as plus. Twelve years later, Hendriks dissected the evaluation with the precision he now brings to late-inning situations. The Australian native, signed for $170,000 out of Perth in 2007, originally saw baseball as a secondary pursuit behind Australian Rules Football, the sport his father played professionally. “Baseball, if you get to a certain point, it’s pretty much a goner for you if you don’t do baseball now,” he explained of his teenage decision to focus on the diamond. Health issues quickly complicated his new path. Hendriks underwent a second knee surgery before signing, then missed the entire 2008 season after back surgery to relieve a pinched ulnar nerve. He returned in 2009, climbing from the Gulf Coast League to Class A Beloit, and by 2010 led the organization with a 1.74 ERA—falling four outs short of qualifying for the minor-league ERA crown. That summer an emergency appendectomy scuttled his invitation to the Futures Game. “It ended up bursting in the ER while I was in the hospital,” he recalled. The lost innings also cost him the ERA title; Brandon Beachy took the honor at 1.73. The 2011 report praised Hendriks’ sinking fastball at 86-91 mph, noting the velocity spiked to 90-93 after his return from surgery. He laughs now at the modest velocity range, but confirms the assessment of his secondary arsenal. “Four quality pitches, that’s a stretch,” he said, chuckling. Originally armed with a four-seam fastball, curveball and changeup, Hendriks added a two-seam and slider during his first U.S. off-season. The curveball—once considered his best offering—gave way to the slider after the 2008 back surgery. “My changeup was far and away my best pitch the entire time,” he said, though elbow chips removed in 2013 robbed him of the feel for that grip. Despite the pedestrian scouting grades, Hendriks advanced quickly. He opened 2011 in Double-A, earned a spot in the Futures Game, and received a September call-up to Minnesota. The initial big-league stint produced a 6.06 ERA across three seasons, but he salvaged confidence with strong Septembers, a pattern he attributes to inconsistent off-season preparation. Now established as one of baseball’s most reliable high-leverage arms, Hendriks credits persistence—and a few timely injuries ahead of him on the depth chart—for his ascent. “It was just one of those years that the injuries happened at just the right time for me and I lucked out,” he said. The old report closes by projecting Hendriks as “the best product of the Twins’ extensive Australian scouting efforts.” Reflecting on the journey from 88-mph pitchability arm to All-Star closer, Hendriks offers a simpler summary: “I always finished well, though. I always had a better September than anything else.”

Tottenham Hotspur have identified Crystal Palace and England goalkeeper Dean Henderson as a prime candidate to succeed Guglielmo Vicario, sources have confirmed, with the Italian expected to leave North London this summer. Vicario, signed two-and-a-half seasons ago, has failed to convince supporters or coaching staff of his reliability, with lapses in command and composure blamed for dropped points. The 28-year-old is reportedly open to a move to Inter Milan once the current campaign closes, forcing Spurs into the market for a new first-choice keeper. Former Tottenham chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Henderson’s form since the start of last season has put him on the club’s shortlist. “He’s really upped his game for Palace and has become a crucial part of the success he’s had. He’s become a really top-class goalkeeper,” Brown said. “Tottenham have been impressed by him.” Henderson left Manchester United in 2023 in search of regular football and has since established himself as Palace’s undisputed No. 1, seeing off competition from Sam Johnstone and summer signing Walter Benitez. The 28-year-old, capped four times by England, was recently handed the club captaincy after Marc Guehi’s departure to Manchester City. Palace are understood to be reluctant sellers, regarding Henderson as a key figure on and off the pitch. Yet with Oliver Glasner set to step down at season’s end and the club mired in poor form, the goalkeeper could reassess his future if a top-six side firm up their interest. Any deal would hinge on Tottenham’s own circumstances. The club remain in danger of relegation, and their league status could determine both transfer budget and appeal to prospective signings. Should they survive and receive a fee for Vicario, Spurs are expected to test Palace’s resolve with an official approach for Henderson, viewing him as an immediate upgrade between the sticks.

Randy Orton has officially placed seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady atop his infamous “RKO list.” The playful declaration came after Brady dismissed WWE as “cute” during a recent appearance on Logan Paul’s podcast, igniting a cross-sport war of words that has since lit up social media. The exchange began when Brady joined Paul to discuss the upcoming Fanatics Flag Football Fest in Saudi Arabia. As the conversation shifted toward athletic credentials, Brady waved off Paul’s WWE résumé and high-flying repertoire, labeling professional wrestling “cute” while insisting flag football is “real football with real competition.” The quip did not escape Orton’s attention. Appearing later on a WWE program, the 14-time world champion said he had watched the clip and immediately added Brady to the list of celebrities he would love to surprise with his signature move. “I’ve never met Tom Brady,” Orton quipped, “but I’d love to—just to hit him with an RKO.” He added that the quarterback now sits “on top of the list,” punctuating the remark with a grin. For the uninitiated, the RKO is Orton’s sudden, spring-loaded neck-breaker that has floored everyone from John Cena to Brock Lesnar. Popularized by viral videos in 2014 touting the maneuver as coming “outta nowhere,” the move has become synonymous with Orton’s initials—Randal Keith Orton—and remains one of wrestling’s most recognizable finishers. Online reaction was swift. One fan joked, “7 rings can’t protect you from an RKO outta nowhere,” while another countered, “Why are we acting like Tom wasn’t getting hit by 300-plus-pound linemen?” A third post summed up the sentiment: “Brady calling wrestling ‘cute’ and now Orton wants to RKO him—this content writes itself.” Detractors also weighed in, questioning the legitimacy of scripted entertainment, but supporters were quick to note the physical toll WWE performers endure. Whether the feud remains verbal or escalates into something more theatrical, one thing is clear: Tom Brady has unwittingly secured the top spot on Randy Orton’s hit list, and wrestling fans are ready to see if the GOAT can dodge an RKO should the two ever cross paths.

Porto, Portugal – When the clock struck 100 minutes and Sporting CP were awarded a penalty that could tilt the Primeira Liga title race, Estádio do Dragão turned its collective gaze toward one man: Diogo Costa. No water bottle covered in scribbled notes, no last-minute flick through mental video reels. Just the 26-year-old goalkeeper, eyes locked on Luis Suárez, sniffing for intention. Costa guessed correctly, diving low to his left, but the rebound fell kindly for Suárez to tap in and salvage a 1-1 draw. The ricochet was cruel, yet the moment encapsulated why Costa has become Europe’s most feared penalty stopper. The near-miss was the 14th penalty Costa has kept out of 50 faced in normal time, a 28% success rate that borders on the absurd. Last year he became the first Champions League keeper to save three spot-kicks in succession—four if you count the original and retake against Club Brugge. Months later he replicated the feat for Portugal, denying three Slovenian penalties in the same European Championship shoot-out. In June his stoppage-time save from Álvaro Morata clinched the Nations League title over Spain. Despite the highlight reel, Costa insists his edge is not forged on the training ground. “I used to train for them when I was 18, 19, 20, but today I don’t like to work on them,” he told The Athletic. “It’s about instinct, about reading how your opponent approaches the ball… feeling what a player is going to do.” Video analysis, he argues, can blind as often as it informs: players know they’re being studied and adapt. “I prefer to have nothing… I like to feel the game, to feel what my opponent is saying with his body language. A lot of the time I choose a side based on his eyes.” That old-school approach belies the modern numbers behind Porto’s season. Opta credits Costa with preventing 5.4 goals from the quality of chances faced, second-best in the league even though he has seen only 43 shots. Porto have conceded seven goals in 23 league matches—the stingiest record among Europe’s top 20 divisions—and carry a four-point lead at the summit. Costa’s résumé already bulges: 230 club appearances, 42 caps, two league titles, three Taças de Portugal, three Portuguese Super Cups and three Primeira Liga Goalkeeper of the Year awards. A fourth gong feels inevitable. Signed to a new deal in December that runs until 2030, he became Porto’s top earner even as his release clause dipped from €75 million to €60 million—an inviting figure for Premier League suitors. “If I had to stay here for the rest of my career, I would be extremely happy every day,” he said, while acknowledging English football’s allure. “If you asked every player in the world if they would like to play in the Premier League, I don’t think a single one would say no.” Porto’s current project is overseen by head coach Francesco Farioli, himself a former goalkeeping coach. Farioli’s build-up philosophy demands a keeper comfortable as an 11th outfielder, a requirement Costa relishes. “Against certain teams the goalkeeper is the free man and receives the ball a lot… you have to read the game, interpret it.” Distribution drills date back to his academy days under mentor Wil Coort, yet Costa stresses shot-stopping remains paramount. “Above all, we are goalkeepers. Our biggest concern should always be the goal.” Leadership now comes naturally too. The armband sits on Costa’s arm, and veteran defender Thiago Silva, 41, has become another sounding board. “It’s up to me to take the best of what he can teach me about leadership,” Costa said. Farioli has married Silva’s polish with Porto’s working-class ethos—pressing opponents before slicing through midfield lines. “We’re running three, four, five, six kilometres more than our opponents… talent alone is not enough to bring success. You have to want it more than everyone else.” Costa’s next quest is the World Cup in June, likely Cristiano Ronaldo’s last and perhaps the final chance for Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes to propel Portugal beyond the quarter-finals. Motivation will be laced with emotion: the squad still mourns the loss of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who died in a car crash last summer. “We really want to honour him by winning this trophy,” Costa said. “He will be with us in the dressing room. I hope he will be guiding us from up above.” Whether saving penalties or carrying the hopes of a nation, Diogo Costa continues to trust the instincts honed since boyhood. No cape, no cheat sheet—just a goalkeeper who believes the ball will tell its story if you watch closely enough.

Cincinnati has filed a federal lawsuit against former quarterback Brendan Sorsby, demanding the payment of a $1 million exit fee the university says he owes after transferring to Texas Tech. The suit, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, claims Sorsby breached an 18-month name, image and likeness agreement that was scheduled to cover the 2025 and 2026 seasons. According to court documents, the NIL contract required Sorsby to remain with the Bearcats for two seasons and included a liquidated-damages clause triggered by an early departure. University officials contend they paid the quarterback a significant sum in 2025 “with the express expectation that it would realize the majority of the benefits during the following season, 2026, after Sorsby’s play developed and his brand grew.” Sorsby entered the transfer portal on Jan. 2 and subsequently appeared on a Times Square billboard announcing his commitment to Texas Tech, an act Cincinnati argues violated the exclusivity provisions of the deal. The university states that representatives for the quarterback “advised that Sorsby refuses to pay the University anything.” During the 2025 campaign, Sorsby threw for 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns against only five interceptions while completing 61.6 percent of his passes. He added 580 rushing yards and nine scores on the ground. Reports indicate his new NIL agreement with Texas Tech will pay between $4 million and $6 million for the 2026 season. In a statement released to ESPN, Cincinnati Athletics emphasized its obligation to protect university resources: “As stewards of the university’s resources, the Athletics Department has a duty to do so. We thank Brendan for his time at Cincinnati and wish him success in the future.” The case now heads to federal court, where a judge will determine whether the liquidated-damages clause is enforceable and whether Sorsby must remit the $1 million sought by his former school.

Oshkosh, Wis. – History was made Wednesday evening when the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh women’s flag football team stepped onto the field for its first-ever sanctioned game, hosting Aurora University before a crowd of several hundred students, families, and community supporters at a campus venue. The Titans’ program, the newest addition to Titan Athletics, was assembled at breakneck speed. Head coach Deante Jefferson, hired only a few months ago, pieced together the roster entirely from current UW-Oshkosh students after putting out an open invitation to campus. “We just said ‘hey if you want to come play, we’ll take you, and we’ll build with you,’” Jefferson explained. “We started practicing in the last week of January at 6 in the morning, so we just said ‘hey we’ll take what we have and we’ll go from there.’” That abbreviated timeline—roughly three weeks between the first practice and opening kickoff—showed on the scoreboard, as Aurora University emerged with a 34-0 victory. Yet within the lopsided result, the Titans found validation for the culture they have already forged. “The way I can call each one of those girls my sisters, and the way I can lean on every single one of them, and I’ve only known them for a month is insane,” said junior Ashlyn Clemens. “What we showed today is that we don’t quit and we’re never going to quit.” Junior teammate Paige Vitek echoed the sentiment, emphasizing effort over outcome. “We went out there, we fought the whole time, we tried our best. It isn’t the result we wanted, but we seriously put some great grit and perseverance out there and I’m so proud of all these girls.” Jefferson pointed to the stands as proof that the program has already succeeded in one crucial respect. “That felt good, and it means we have the support we know we already have, but also for the young women in our program it kind of solidified that people care about you and they see you,” he said. “It’s more just for the girls, getting the opportunity to do this, and play this sport, and we’re still excited; a lot of building is going to happen.” With the inaugural game behind them, the Titans will look ahead to a March 22 doubleheader against Marian University and Illinois Wesleyan. For a roster that has already bought into the long-term vision, the next chapter can’t come soon enough. “There’s no where to go but up from here and I’m excited to see where this program goes, and I’m so excited to be part of this history,” Clemens added.