標籤: rumors

MJF was asked about the possibility of Mick Foley appearing in AEW before Double or Nothing and he responded completely in character while doing nothing to quash the speculation.

Speaking with SNY, MJF called Foley fat and ugly before comparing him to his upcoming opponent, and said that Foley was the blueprint for who Darby Allin is today – which he said made him dislike Foley even more.

When MJF was asked what he thought about the Foley-AEW speculation, he responded, “I think Mick Foley is fat and he’s ugly.” “I think he was the blueprint for who Darby Allin is now, which makes me hate him even more. That’s what I think about Mick Foley.”

MJF will face Allin in the main event of Double or Nothing this Sunday at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens. This is a Hair vs. Title match, with MJF agreeing to put his hair on the line in exchange for a rematch against Allin for the AEW World Championship.

Takedown on SI reported last week that AEW has expressed “genuine” interest in working with Foley, with Double or Nothing potentially serving as a landing spot, given that the event takes place near where Foley grew up on Long Island. Whether any appearance will be a one-time deal or the beginning of a longer arrangement has not been determined.

Foley and MJF have a history of mutual interest in working together. When Foley was considering coming out of retirement for one final match, Dave Meltzer revealed that MJF was the opponent he had in mind. That plan was shelved in 2024 after Foley suffered an injury during training. Any AEW involvement will likely involve limited or no physicality in the ring.

Foley’s WWE Legends deal is set to expire in June. He announced plans to let it go after taking issue with WWE’s relationship with the current administration. WWE Legends contracts restrict royalties, merchandising and use of likeness but do not completely prevent outside appearances – Rob Van Dam previously worked AEW matches under a similar deal. Foley has made recent appearances for OVW and GCW before any formal free agency.

The Detroit Red Wings are looking to make big moves during the 2026 NHL offseason that will get them back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. As of 2026, the Red Wings have the NHL’s longest playoff drought, so Detroit will have to make the playoffs next season. In fact, one NHL insider has labeled one of the NHL’s best free agents as a potential fit in Detroit.

The Athletic’s Max Bultmann named Seattle Kraken forward Bobby McMann as the free agent Detroit should sign this offseason. McMann, who was traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Kraken at the NHL trade deadline, scored 29 goals and 46 points in 78 games between the two organizations.

The 29-year-old forward would bring much-needed five-on-five attack to Detroit on a potentially big payday. However, who else did Bultmann suggest for the Red Wings?

Other potential NHL free agent targets for the Detroit Red Wings

While McMann was the top selection, Bultmann also suggested other players, including Buffalo Sabers forward Alex Tuch. The 30-year-old forward may be the top NHL free agent on the market, but will Buffalo really let him walk? Tuch has scored more than 30 goals in three of the last four seasons.

Meanwhile, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Mason Marchment was another option. Marchement doesn’t provide as much offense as Tuch or McMann, but he could be a cheaper option. However, if Detroit wants to add one of the top free agents, it will have to make a big move or go home.

This leads us to Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin. The Pittsburgh legend is nearing the end of his career, but he has become a Red Wings fan. Malkin can still score around 20 goals per season, and there’s a possibility he’ll get a hometown discount for his favorite team as he grows up.

At the end of the day, McMann, along with Tuch, appears to be one of the top options for Detroit. The latter will be a larger pickup; However, there are doubts that it will reach the market. In this case, McMann appears to be one of the top options left.

Either way, the Red Wings need to take a big step forward this offseason to make the 2027 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

READ MORE: Brady Tkachuk added to Florida Panthers? what will it actually take

Austin Konensky is a writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and more. His work can also…more about Austin Konensky

The Minnesota Wild need to improve after the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. After blowing a 3–0 lead in Game 5, the Colorado Avalanche swept Minnesota in five games. This was a disappointing conclusion; However, the Wild should be back on the trade market this summer. In fact, Minnesota has been linked to a surprise NHL superstar.

The Athletic’s Michael Russo and Joe Smith listed Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews as a player Minnesota should trade this summer. Matthews, who was captain of the United States at the Winter Olympics, could be on the move this offseason.

So, what does Minnesota need to see to make Matthews a realistic trade target?

Auston Matthews should request a trade with the Minnesota Wild as a destination

New Toronto general manager John Chayka will have to prove to Matthews that he can build a roster capable of returning to the Stanley Cup playoffs. Like Quinn Hughes, Matthews is also scheduled to become a free agent in two seasons prior to the 2025-26 NHL season. Therefore, the 28-year-old center has a significant advantage.

If the Maple Leafs do not convince Matthews that they can be a competitive team, he can request a trade this summer or during the 2026–27 NHL season. In this scenario, Minnesota would be one of the destinations Matthews is willing to play for moving forward.

Matthews has a no-activity clause in his contract, so he must clear a trade out of Toronto. The NHL superstar has ties to Minnesota, as Hughes, Matt Boldy and Brock Faber all played with them on the Olympic team and during the Four Nations. It would not be surprising if organization was one of their main priorities.

It’s unclear where Minnesota would have the assets to acquire Matthews after trading for Hughes in December 2025. The best scenario for the Wild would be for Matthews to request “Minnesota and only Minnesota” to play with his Olympic teammates. Either way, a trade could be a real possibility this summer.

If Matthews wants out of Toronto, the Wild should call whenever that happens.

READ MORE: NHL insider makes bold prediction on Quinn Hughes extension with Minnesota Wild

Austin Konensky is a writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and more. His work can also…more about Austin Konensky

Brady Tkachuk’s future with the Ottawa Senators is arguably one of the biggest headlines of the 2026 NHL offseason. Tkachuk has two years left on his contract, but the Senators’ struggles in the Stanley Cup playoffs have fueled trade rumors. So, what’s the latest on the 26-year-old’s future in Ottawa?

Tkachuk’s exit meeting with the Senators did not generate “mass panic” or give Ottawa fans any reason to worry about his departure, as reported by Elliotte Freedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast. Tkachuk publicly expressed his disappointment over trade rumors following the 2025–26 NHL season.

However, what if Tkachuk changes his mind after Ottawa’s offseason moves?

The top landing spots for Brady Tkachuk if he requests a trade this summer

No one has really indicated that Tkachuk will be on his way out of Ottawa this summer. The 26-year-old captain remains committed to the team as rumors regarding his future continue to make headlines. However, if Tkachuk requests a trade which team would be his top landing spot?

The Florida Panthers remain the most obvious landing spot. Brady’s brother Matthew Tkachuk was traded from the Calgary Flames to Florida in 2022. Once he joined the Panthers, Tkachuk took his game to the next level, leading the organization to three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals with two wins.

This is one reason why Tkachuk has been involved in trade rumors. Ottawa is better off than Calgary in 2022; However, many people like to compare the two because they are Canadian teams. There is a public perception among NHL fans that Tkachuk would love to join his brother in Florida.

After all, this is the same situation that Quinn Hughes is navigating right now with the Minnesota Wild. There’s no denying that both brothers Hughes and Tkachuk want to play with each other, but this may not be the right time.

For now, Tkachuk is committed to Ottawa, but if anything changes, Florida could be in first place.

READ MORE: NHL Insider gives big update on Auston Matthews’ future with Toronto Maple Leafs

Austin Konensky is a writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and more. His work can also…more about Austin Konensky

The San Francisco Giants have one of the highest payrolls in MLB this season, yet are still well below the .500 line in late May. This led to recent MLB trade rumors that the club would be sold this summer, but it may not be as aggressive as first reported.

Less than a week after USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale reported that the Giants “would love to unload” Rafael Devers, Matt Chapman, Willie Adams and Jung Hoo Lee, FanSided’s MLB insider Robert Murray has refuted that information.

RELATED: MLB Power Rankings Week 7, see where the Giants land

The Giants front office is reportedly “optimistic” about all four players getting back on track. There are already promising signs of a turnaround from Devers, who entered MLB games today with a 1.078 OPS with 3 home runs in May.

Adams, the club’s only viable option at shortstop for the foreseeable future, has also been performing better recently. He has boasted a .333/.344/.367 triple-slash line in his last 30 at-bats, recording 5 RBI in that span.

RELATED: SF Giants reportedly have bold MLB Draft strategy

That doesn’t mean the Giants aren’t willing to be sellers at the MLB trade deadline. This is an option for the ruling, but it is not possible to completely gut the roster and move players signed to long-term deals by Buster Posey.

Instead, San Francisco will likely do what other vendors do in the summer. Pending free agents, from starting pitchers Robbie Ray and Tyler Mahle to second baseman Luis Aráez, will be made available. Such teams are always in need of pitching and infield help, so the Giants will have no shortage of suitors if they decide to move all three.

RELATED: San Francisco Giants player named as Cubs trade target

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

A new rumor suggests that the Detroit Pistons are planning on making a move this summer that could ruin their roster for years.

On Friday night, the Pistons will be in Cleveland to avoid elimination for the fourth time in these playoffs and send their series with the Cavaliers to a Game 7. To be in this position again after earning the No. 1 seed in the East and barely avoiding the Orlando Magic in Round 1 is an amazing situation.

Still, that’s not the only surprising thing about this postseason for Detroit. Jalen Duren’s shocking disappearance in the first two series has confounded NBA analysts. After a breakout season that earned him first-ever All-Star honors and possibly an All-NBA berth, the center has been one of the players fans have looked to throughout the regular season.

His playoff numbers this year are worse than last year, when he got his first taste of NBA playoff basketball against the New York Knicks. Duren’s tremendous play has made it a difficult decision for the Pistons this summer when the 2022 first-round pick is a restricted free agent.

Will the Detroit Pistons be forced to give Jalen Duren a max deal?

Should they give him the maximum contract he will be eligible for? Most reports suggest this is not an option for Detroit. Still, according to a new report from ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, it’s something they’ll likely have to do this summer.

An East executive told Windhorst, “He’s not a Max player, but they probably have to give him a Max.” “because now [cap space] Teams like Chicago or Brooklyn may see him as a guy they can get with a max offer sheet, and Detroit would have to match that.

Letting Duren leave in free agency could be a huge blow to a team that made so much progress last season. In 2024–25, he had one of the best turnarounds in NBA history and gave New York a run in the playoffs. Duren helped in this. Then in 2025-26, the big man played a huge role in helping them earn the top seed in the East and the third-best record in the NBA (60-22).

Max deal risk for Jalen Duren

Losing Duren could mean a significant step back in success. A case can be made that a max deal is worth the risk as he is still only 22, and his development may not be complete. But if he peaks and continues to be a liability in the playoffs, that contract could set the Pistons back years.

“One of the biggest mistakes you can make in the NBA right now is giving a max deal to a non-max player,” a West executive told Windhorst. “In the old system, you could bet on high-level talent. Now losing one big bet can derail your entire roster.”

In today’s salary cap system, if you’re going to have two players with max deals, you have to make sure they are the core of your roster, as this severely limits further roster movement and keeps you around or above the NBA’s tax apron.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

According to Fightful Select, Jessie Jayne is influencing creative changes on WWE SmackDown.

Several people involved in the creative process have begun rearranging plans in the women’s division to feature Jane more prominently, inspired by crowd reactions to Fatal Influence since her arrival to the group’s main roster last month.

Fatal Influence made her SmackDown debut on April 24, interrupting the match of Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair. Later that night, Jayne faced WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley, losing by disqualification after stablemates Fallon Henley and Lanny Reed attacked Ripley during the match.

The group has wasted no time in establishing themselves at the top of the SmackDown women’s division, with Jayne’s history giving WWE a lot to work with. She is a two-time former NXT Women’s Champion, having won the title for the first time by defeating Stephanie Wacker in May 2025 and holding it for 151 days before losing it to Tatum Paxley at NXT Halloween Havoc. She regained the title at Gold Rush in November 2025 and held it for the next 137 days before dropping it to Lola Vice at NXT Stand & Deliver in a triple threat also involving Kendall Grey.

Jayne also has the honor of being the first wrestler to hold championships in both WWE and TNA simultaneously. She won the TNA Knockouts World Championship in a winner-take-all match against Masha Slamovich at TNA Slammiversary in July 2025 while still NXT Women’s Champion, although she lost the TNA title 36 days later at NXT Heatwave.

It is safe to say that the Chicago Bears made the right decision last season in hiring Ben Johnson as head coach and former head coach Dennis Allen as their defensive coordinator. That coaching duo led a sharp turnaround, resulting in an 11–6 record and Chicago’s first playoff win since 2010.

Now the Bears’ brand-new coaching structure is moving into Year 2 together, and this time, they have an even better handle on things. Whether it’s covering up weaknesses or making short-term improvements, the Bears still have room for growth.

One of those areas involves the pass-rusher position, where Chicago ranked near the bottom with 35 total sacks last season. As the offseason progresses, some Bears rumors have led the team to sign free agent and potential future Hall of Famer Cameron Jordan, who remains unsigned after spending the first 15 years of his career with the New Orleans Saints.

It helps that Allen coached Jordan for the first 10 seasons of his career in New Orleans. Could their relationship set the wheels in motion for a reunion in the Windy City?

Coach Allen was recently asked about the possibility of the Bears signing Jordan as a free agent. But he made it seem like the Bears coaching staff hasn’t spent much time thinking about adding the 37-year-old to their roster any time soon.

“I don’t know that there’s been much discussion about it.” [signing him]. “We feel very good about where we are and what we have,” Allen said. “Yet you never know what opportunities may arise down the road.”

While Jordan is not someone who can make a long-term impact on the field of play, he still recorded 10.5 sacks as a member of the Saints last season. This suggests he will be able to help make an impact in Chicago this season, especially since he is already very familiar with the Bears’ defensive coordinator.

RELATED: 2026 NFL QB rankings: From the NFL’s worst starting QBs to the best

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While things could certainly change, the Arizona Cardinals are set to enter training camp with low expectations. No one would have predicted they would reach the playoffs in a crowded NFC West divisional field in Mike LaFleur’s first season as head coach.

It also doesn’t help that the Cardinals don’t have a clear starting quarterback on the roster. For now, the expectation is that veteran journeyman Jacoby Brissett will take over the starting duties. But his relationship with the Cardinals has soured after leaving minicamp in search of a pay raise.

Behind Brissett, the Cardinals have free agent signee Gardner Minshew and third-round rookie Carson Beck. Still, recent rumors have linked the Cardinals to another free agent quarterback, albeit one that is much more accomplished. However, Cardinals fans shouldn’t get their hopes too high.

There is no truth, “at all,” to rumors of Aaron Rodgers eyeing a contract to play in Arizona, according to ESPN Cardinals insider Josh Weinfuss.

Thus, the Cardinals appear prepared with their QB room. Meanwhile, for Rodgers, the options appear to be either playing one more season with the Pittsburgh Steelers or enjoying retirement. Even though he is taking his sweet time, everyone expects him to play another season, but it won’t be with the Cardinals.

RELATED: Arizona Cardinals player recruiting future Hall of Famer to join team

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Max Holloway has addressed the growing speculation about being linked to a rematch with Conor McGregor at UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas, admitting that he has been appealed by the fight for personal reasons, while confirming that he has yet to receive a formal offer from the UFC.

McGregor plans to return to action for the first time in five years after suffering a broken foot in his trilogy against Dustin Poirier in 2021, with UFC 329 emerging as the most likely destination during International Fight Week. Holloway, who lost to McGregor in 2013, has been widely discussed as a potential opponent for that comeback, and he explained in an interview with Paramount that the idea of ​​settling unfinished business is attractive.

“I mean, we have the history,” Holloway said. “We fought a long time ago. I told you guys, if someone attacked me, I’d bring him back. I’d love to bring him back. There’s so much talk about him coming back, and everybody’s talking about how serious he really is. It seems like he’s been training and taking and really wants to come back to fight. It’s exciting.

He said, “He looks hungry. He looks extremely hungry. He did a boxing exhibition not too long ago, so it was great to see him. I would just like to get one back. It’s a huge fight.” “Anything with Conor McGregor is huge, but having history with that guy, it would be nice to be able to get someone back. I’ve got to get my payback on one of the guys. If I can continue to move down the list, that would be great.”

Max Holloway vs. Conor McGregor contract has not been proposed yet

Holloway’s most recent outing included a lopsided decision loss to Charles Oliveira that cost him the BMF title, and he was honest about his motivation to erase that performance from the conversation as quickly as possible.

He said, “You’re only as good as your last fight, and we’re going to make everyone forget about that last fight as quickly as we can.”

Despite mutual interest, Holloway confirmed that no contract has yet been offered.

“Maybe, we’ll see what happens,” he said when asked about UFC 329.

An unexpected reunion between the Chicago Bulls and former head coach Tom Thibodeau became a possibility after a new rumor on Tuesday.

After a fourth consecutive losing season, the Bulls decided to end the Billy Donovan era after six seasons as head coach. In their first year (2021–22), they gave Chicago fans hope as they went 46–36 and emerged as a force in the East. It seemed like they finally had a coach who could consistently make a playoff run like Thibodeau once did.

Nevertheless, he never regained that success and finished with a 226–256 record. Since Thibodeau left 11 years ago, the Bulls have had three different coaches and have reached the playoffs only twice in that time. Thibodeau oversaw the roster for five years and made the playoffs every season. Including an appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals in their debut (2010–11).

That’s why it shouldn’t be surprising that there’s been speculation around the game about an unlikely reunion (including on SportsNote). Yet that kind of thing doesn’t happen in the NBA. But that could change this summer.

Tom Thibodeau ready for Chicago Bulls reunion

According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the 68-year-old coach, who was unfairly fired by the New York Knicks a year ago, wants to return to the NBA and is open to the idea of ​​a return to the Bulls bench. That is, “if Reinsdorf and the new executive vice president of basketball operations, Bryson Graham, who was hired away from the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, were interested,” Amick writes.

It would be shocking if the Bulls decided to bring Thibodeau back. They moved on from him after the 2014–15 season with the belief that he could not lead them to the NBA Finals. Even in the years that followed he has been unable to achieve that goal. However, he has proven that he can get the franchise on the path to becoming a consistent playoff contender. He did it in Chicago and New York.

The Bulls are in a mess at the moment and need to rebuild from the ground up. Of the coaches available, Thibodeau has the track record of getting what the organization needs, while fully understanding the market pressures. Although unlikely, a reunion is much more possible than it was a few weeks ago.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The Edmonton Oilers offseason has gotten off to a rough start.

All major parties involved with the team have had a few days to reflect on the NHL season. Stan Bowman, Chris Knoblauch, Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid all shared their thoughts and feelings during their locker clean-out day.

Unfortunately, the prognosis was not good.

The Oilers should have an interesting offseason, to say the least. Here’s a guide to all things Oilers during the 2026 offseason. This one-stop shop offseason guide will find signings, draft picks, trades, rumors, salary cap deals and more.

Bookmark the Edmonton Oilers on SportsNut so you don’t miss the latest news, rumors, opinions and more.

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Edmonton Oilers salary cap space

Projected salary cap space for 2026/27: $16,488,334

salary range: $104,000,000

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Unrestricted free agents and restricted free agents

Here is a list of every unrestricted and free agent the Oilers will have to make a decision on during the offseason.

unrestricted free agent

• Adam Heinrich
• jack roslovic
• jason dickinson
• Kasperi Kapanen
• max jones
• curtis lazar
• Connor Murphy
• Connor Ingram
• james hamblin
• Samuel Poulin (Group 6)
• cam dayeen
• kelvin picard

restricted free agent

• owen michaels
• colton dutch
• spencer stastny
• josh bloom
• Matvei Petrov
• Robbie Jarventy
• Connor Unger

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Business, Signing and Contract Extension

Check out this section for updates on the latest Oilers players, coaches and management signings. Additionally, any trades or prospects that have signed the ELC will be found here.

Oilers rumors and speculation

This will be a section dedicated to rumors and speculations. Whenever a pundit or any other insider reveals a rumor or insider information, we’ll take a look at it here. Is there any substance to the rumor or is it just a thought experiment? We will give our views about it here.

Re-Oil: News related to former Oilers players, coaches and management

Whenever a former member of the Oilers organization does something newsworthy, check out updates on what happened here.

Caleb Kearney is a freelance journalist and writer who covers the Edmonton Oilers for SportsNut. Caleb Kearney Read More About Caleb Kearney

There have been some big developments in and around the Minnesota Vikings since the 2025 NFL season ended. Last year, the Vikings spent $350 million more money on their roster than any other team. It was a complete failure, as the Vikings, who had won 14 games in 2024, only won nine games and did not reach the playoffs in 2025.

This year, the Vikings have committed to a much smaller budget. For 2026, the Vikings’ budget is only $226 million, the second lowest amount of spending in the NFL.

Charlie Walters, a local insider, thanked the Vikings for giving them about $124 million less than the previous year. Pioneer PressWondered if the owners, Ziggy and Mark Wilf, were considering selling the team in the near future.

However, according to Ben Gosling Star TribuneThere is “zero truth” to the idea that the Wilfs are assessing the market for a potential Vikings sale.

In other words, the Vikings are cutting costs, not because they are desperate and have no money, but because they feel it is necessary to tighten spending limits after going overboard in 2025. Still, that doesn’t mean the Vikings don’t intend to be competitive in 2026, where they’ll be introducing another new starting quarterback in Kyler Murray.

The Vikings have cut salary significantly from last season, most notably moving on from a pair of former Pro Bowl defensive tackles. Still, they seem to have found capable replacements in the draft, adding first-round selection Caleb Banks and third-round selection Domonique Orange along with former UFL standout Jalen Redmond.

Additionally, depending on how Murray performs in 2026, the Vikings may need some additional space on their future cap sheet if they have any hope of re-signing him to an extension for 2027 and beyond. Thus, the Vikings may have felt like they had no choice but to lose some fat.

RELATED: NFL scout believes Minnesota Vikings found difference-making ‘weapon’ on Day 3 of NFL Draft

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One of the greatest tag teams of this century, the Motor City Machine Guns, is now a free agent. The former TNA, ROH, NJPW and WWE Tag Champions were surprisingly included in over 20 of World Wrestling Entertainment’s releases last weekend. However, they will not remain on the open market for long.

Both are at the end of their “wrestler prime”, Fightful reported that TNA Wrestling will welcome both of them home with open arms. However, many in the company expect him to move his talent to AEW when his 90-day non-compete clause expires.

Before the rumored move to All Elite Wrestling, let’s take a look at five matches we need to see this summer with the legendary tag team.

The Young Bucks

This is an absolute must if the Motor City Machine Guns vs. The Young Bucks joins AEW this summer. Sure, the two teams faced off a decade ago, but they were all very different back then. Although they were top teams at the time, they are now viewed as perhaps the two best tag teams of the last decade and a half.

The pairing is still going to be the high-level performer that all AEW fans need.

ftr

FTR remains the No. 1 team in AEW and has never faced MCMG. Although they have different styles, FTR has proven time and again that what makes them so great is their ability to blend in with all types of pairings. As the current AEW Champions continue to build their legacy, it makes sense to aim for a victory over “your favorite tag team’s favorite tag team.”

The Hurt Syndicate

If MCMG is to move to AEW, he will need to face another interesting duo, the Hurt Syndicate. Guns is known for his fast-paced style and innovative tag moves. Well, Syndicate is all about brutality – punching you in the mouth – with force. These four wrestling legends, combining their different approaches to tag wrestling, could deliver many show-stealing moments in 2026.

face and cage

While they’re still around, it would be awesome to see the duo of Adam Copeland and Christian Cage – FKA Edge and Christian – take on the Motor City Machine Guns. This will be a longtime dream match that will turn into reality. The pair would go down as two of the 10 best teams in the history of the industry.

With Copeland nearing retirement soon, AEW needs to make this a historic match.

Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland

Yes, we know, Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland rarely tag, and the latter has returned as a heel this year. However, when in the ring together as enemies or partners, Ospreay and Strickland make magic. If somehow they can get into the same side again next year, they will be pitted against MCMG.

This is a matchup that some people never imagined could become an absolute wrestling classic sometime in 2026 or 2027.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk has been in NHL trade rumors for a while now and it doesn’t seem to be stopping any time soon. Tkachuk’s future is a major topic of conversation after the Carolina Hurricanes defeated Ottawa in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs. Is the 26-year-old leaving Ottawa? An NHL insider has given a big update on the situation.

David Pagnotta would be “a little surprised” if Tkachuk was still a Senator for the 2026-27 NHL season, according to a Hello Hockey insider. Since Ottawa’s captain has a no-movement clause, he would have to approve any trade this summer. This means Tkachuk could essentially make his way to a specific organization.

Tkachuk has two years left on his contract and the easiest connection in a potential trade or future signing is the Florida Panthers. Tkachuk’s brother, Matthew, plays for the Panthers, and would be an excellent addition to the organization. After missing the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Florida could use a boost to its lineup.

However, this specific situation requires both Tkachuk and Ottawa to work together. If the 26-year-old forward does not plan to extend his contract, the Senators will now be incentivized to move him. Ultimately, it depends on whether Tkachuk wants to stay with the organization in the future.

Tkachuk struggled in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, scoring zero points in a four-game sweep. After entering the playoffs with a lot of momentum, Ottawa’s captain did not live up to the standards. Now, Tkachuk’s future could cast a dark cloud over the Senators’ upcoming NHL offseason.

Tkachuk is under contract for two more seasons, but finding a new position moving forward may be best for both parties.

READ MORE: Brady Tkachuk joins surprise NHL team amid trade rumors

Austin Konensky is a writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and more. His work can also…more about Austin Konensky

Kairi Sane is no longer a member of the WWE roster. Sane was among 25 wrestlers released by WWE as part of the company’s WrestleMania 42 roster cuts on April 24, and PWInsider has confirmed that his release stands and no reversal is imminent. The claims circulating on social media that his release has been canceled are false. Sane has already returned to Japan, making an appearance in WWE impossible regardless of her contractual status.

The timing of the release was immediately criticized given Sane’s active involvement in the ongoing storyline with Asuka and IYO Sky. According to Fightful Select, there was considerable shock within the company over this decision, with his departure before any meaningful outcome to the feud caused massive disappointment within WWE. The program was moving towards a resolution that would never happen again, at least not with Sen involved.

The fan reaction was equally swift. The hashtag VivantCarry circulated on social media for a long time following the news, and WWE backstage interviewer Jackie Redmond posted a public reaction to the release before quickly deleting the tweet – a moment that shows how much this decision has upset people both inside and outside the company.

Sane was in her second WWE run, after returning to the company in 2023. During that period, she won two additional reigns with the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship as the Kabuki Warriors with Asuka, adding to a legacy that also includes her first run with the company between 2017 and 2020. Her exit leaves the Kabuki Warriors story unresolved and removes one of the more established names the women’s division is now navigating. The roster changed in the post-WrestleMania season.

As for what’s next for Sen, he won’t have much trouble finding work with several promotions interested in bringing him on.

Florida coach Todd Golden has spoken for the first time since rumors of him possibly replacing Steve Kerr as head coach of the Golden State Warriors.

It’s going to be an interesting offseason for the Warriors. After starting the season as a secret horse in the West, injuries to Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry completely derailed their hopes of making a splash in the conference this season.

Last week, their season came to a sad end as they were eliminated from playoff contention in the play-in tournament and finished with their second losing record in the last 14 seasons. Change is definitely coming. It’s definitely coming to the roster, but it could also be on the bench since Kerr is no longer under contract.

After their play-in loss, Kerr suggested that he would like to continue working with Curry. However, it is not clear whether that is what he and the organization want. That is why speculation has intensified as to who could be his replacement. One notable name that has come up through rumors is Gators coach Todd Golden.

Todd Golden calms down Golden State Warriors talk

The 40-year-old has emerged as one of the elite coaches in college basketball during his four seasons at Florida. They have been taken to the NCAA Tournament each of the last three seasons, including a championship win last year. However, Golden shut down the recent rumors on Thursday.

“I definitely plan on coaching the Gators,” Golden said when asked about the rumors in his first press conference after the Gators lost in the second round of the tournament.

A recent report suggested that New York Knicks coach Mike Brown – who was Kerr’s former top assistant – and Brooklyn Nets coach Jordi Fernandez would be at the top of the Warriors’ wish list if the legendary coach does not return in 2026-27.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Aston Villa Barcelona are among the clubs put forward as contenders to sign Alejandro Balde.

On 26 March, Game Witness Covered claims from Spain Aston Villa, Manchester City and Manchester United have made contacts to sign him in the summer.

Earlier this month, we broadcast news Willans’ interest in a left-back receives further support.

He is a product of Barcelona’s youth system and has been with their first team since 2021.

The Spain international is now Hansi Flick’s first-choice pick, having made 36 appearances so far this season. The fullback’s playing time has been partially restricted due to two separate injuries.

His La Liga statistics this season are as follows:

• Appearances: 22
• Start: 19
• Total minutes: 1583
• Minutes per game: 71

Aston Villa clarify the situation

The latest claims say Unai Emery’s side are willing to spend €60m to bring him to Villa Park in the summer.

game Contacted the Premier League team to inquire about Alejandro Balde’s intentions.

Sources close to Aston Villa have wasted no time in ruling out any move to sign the 22-year-old. In fact, the English club are refusing to sign a new left-back in the next window.

Emery has Lucas Digne as first-choice left-back and 24-year-old Ian Matson as the Frenchman’s backup. Therefore, no possible move for the player to Barcelona for the summer is on the cards.

This should be enough to end Aston Villa’s claims as a replacement for Balde. It is unclear whether other contenders are willing to move forward after this season.

Barcelona, ​​for their part, are not closing the door to the Spain international’s exit and are open to listening to offers that meet their financial criteria. However, the fullback is not thinking about leaving the Camp Nou.

Our opinion: Aston Villa’s stance makes sense

Alejandro Balde has a contract until 2028 with a €1bn release clause. According to its value transfer marketis €55 million, which is €5 million less than March 2025.

Agency Gestifute, owned by super-agent Jorge Mendes, is representing the Spaniard.

Barcelona would need a concrete offer to consider sanctioning his sale.

Given that Aston Villa’s left-back position is well covered and they have other priorities, it is unlikely for the Villans to spend big on Balde. Therefore, it makes perfect sense for Unai Emery to rule out any potential move for the Barça player.

It seems Los Angeles Lakers fans can ignore past and future rumors regarding the team’s deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

A few weeks ago, the Lakers were looking like a dark-horse team in the Western Conference bracket of the NBA playoffs. Unfortunately, significant injuries to both Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves have completely destroyed their hopes of advancing to the postseason this year.

While they will be hoping that LeBron James can get them past the Houston Rockets and reach the quarterfinals, the Lakers’ front office will have to begin their pivot to tinker more with the roster they are building around Doncic. There are rumors that the team could be involved in trade talks regarding Milwaukee Bucks veteran Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Although he was not included in the discussion before the February deadline, they will have more interesting draft assets to offer the Bucks this offseason. Still, there may be one major problem. The 10-time All-Star is not a Los Angeles fan.

Giannis Antetokounmpo calls Los Angeles superficial

The Bucks were great guests on the first episode of the podcast, hosted by 15-year NBA veteran Goran Dragic. During the chat, Dragic asked Antetokounmpo where he would prefer to go on vacation, Miami or Los Angeles. And the two-time NBA MVP had a surprising opinion about LaLa Land.

“I think L.A. is superficial. I don’t like L.A.,” Antetokounmpo said.

Many believe the nine-time All-NBA honor winner will be able to choose where he goes in a potential trade, and that’s why the New York Knicks are viewed as the favorite. Since he has been on record about his appreciation for the city. If he’s not a Los Angeles fan, it wouldn’t make sense for him to approve a trade with the Lakers.

Meaning, some fans’ dreams of a potential combo of Doncic and Antetokounmpo may not be coming true this summer and perhaps ever.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

FC Groningen goalkeeper Etienne Weesen has addressed the persistent rumors surrounding his transfer wrexhamEmphasizing that they are nothing concrete.

The goalkeeper, who turns 31 this year, is openly preparing for the next stage of his career, but says some of the speculation has become “quite annoying”.

ready for a new chapter

The Suriname international is entering the final stages of his time in Groningen.

He joined the Dutch club on a free transfer in 2024 and has since made 58 appearances for them. This comes after a stint at RKC Waalwijk, where he made 210 appearances after joining in 2015.

His current deal at Groningen expires in 2027. This means the Dutch club has the option to make a deal this summer. Either extend his deal or sell him to avoid losing him on a free charge next summer.

Speaking to Matchday, he made it clear that he is keen to move on.

“I would love to go on a new adventure,” Voteable Zone reports him as saying. “Playing with Suriname, I get to see places that I go to now, it’s really beautiful, man.

“The atmosphere of football in Mexico is absolutely strange. I went to inspect the Tigres stadium; it was crazy. There were flames all over the pitch. In the Netherlands, it could have caused the match to be suspended, but not there.”

Wrexham links are not solid

Clubs rumored to be monitoring Étienne Wesson included Tigres UANL, Feyenoord and Wrexham. But the goalkeeper ruled out any possibility that the Welsh club would ever have made a move.

“That rumor was circulating at the time, but I never actually heard anything directly from them,” he explained. “The speculation just keeps going on, which can be a little annoying sometimes.”

Instead, he wishes to move to a bigger club in the Netherlands. In fact, it seems he has his sights set on Feyenoord.

“I’m thirty years old now, and I consider Feyenoord, for example, a great club,” He concluded.

what comes next?

Etienne Wesen has clearly underlined that he is ready to leave Groningen this summer. It appears that both sides are gearing up for interests.

The question is, if he gets a move, where does he go? Will he stay in the Netherlands or continue to expand his football horizons? He’s clearly fond of the latter but also wouldn’t rule out a move to a big Dutch club.

One thing is clear, the Wrexham rumors can be put to rest. As far as Vaesen is concerned, he was never solid.

The New England Patriots are not tipping their hand here. But the discussion surrounding AJ Brown’s possible move to the Philadelphia Eagles? Yep, that noise isn’t going away any time soon.

So far, nothing has been closed. And until something really hits the wire, it’s business as usual in Foxboro. That said, if Philly does open the door to a trade the Patriots are one of the most logical landing spots.

League conversations suggest it could be a later game after June 1, primarily to optimize the cap hit. But don’t rule out a pre-draft shocker either. With the NFL Draft coming up in late April, a move like this would immediately shake up the board and reset the WR market in a big way.

Patriots left the door open for AJ Brown

It wasn’t exactly shocking when AJ Brown came out during Monday’s press conference with Eliot Wolf — but if you were expecting a straight answer, you were reading the wrong playbook.

Wolf kept it in classic front-office mode: non-committal, doors open, nothing on the record. As Doug Kydd shared on X, Wolf said, “Patriots EVP Eliot Wolf when asked about AJ Brown: “As far as players on other teams, we’ll keep the door open to anything that we think can improve our roster, whether it’s with the player you mentioned or with other players.”

It’s no surprise that Wolf has avoided commenting directly on Brown and any potential negotiations. There is actual connective tissue between Patts and Brown. Mike Vrabel and the Browns go back to their Tennessee Titans days (2019-2021), which only fuels the “where there’s smoke, there’s fire” narrative.

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles have not stopped trade talks at all. If anything, their recent moves, adding Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore, and flipping for Dontavian Wicks, feel like roster insulation. Not a replacement for Brown, but enough depth to soften the blow if he gets shaken up.

From the Caps’ perspective, it has “after June 1” written all over it. Only then can Philly make the dead money hit even cleaner. But if they want maximum draft capital in return, it might make sense to pull the trigger before draft night — even if it hurts the books a little more.

Overall, nothing is imminent, and nothing is guaranteed.

But patriot? They are hidden. And if that door mentioned by Wolf remains open, don’t be surprised if AJ Brown eventually walks through it.

RELATED: 2026 NFL mock draft: Trades that captured the first round of the NFL draft

There has been much speculation as to who is a candidate for the position of general manager of the New Jersey Devils. There was some talk that Jamie Langenbrunner could be among the candidates, and New Jersey Hockey Now confirmed that is indeed the case.

In the link, why pairing the rumored president with a hot GM candidate is the right move for the Devils, another player being locked up in New Jersey, and much more.

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: We know the Devils are ready to talk to Sunny Mehta for their vacant general manager position. Rumblings suggest Brendan Shanahan could be president of hockey operations. That’s why Pat Pickens says it’s a good pairing.

More news on the injury front tomorrow. The Devils have locked up Jacob Markstrom. Nico Dodge will start tonight against the Detroit Red Wings.

📺 devil’s rink report: Greg Wyschinski returned to Devils Rink Report yesterday to discuss the firing of GM Tom Fitzgerald, how he should be replaced moving forward, and New Jersey’s ideal offseason.

Full episode here 👇🏼

Please like and subscribe our Youtube channel And turn on those notifications when we go live every Friday! At 1K subscribers, we’ll start publishing on your favorite podcast platform!

Too! Devil’s Rink Report is now on TikTok – follow us here.

sign up for new jersey hockey now Newsletter for daily Devils intel straight to your inbox.

Athletic ($): Here’s who the experts thought was the Devils’ MVP and most disappointing player in 2025-26, along with 31 other clubs.

NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

Forever Blueshirts: Could the Devils have more competition for Mehta than they think? That’s why the Forever Blueshirts say the New York Rangers should hire Florida Panthers AGM to work with Chris Drury.

Pittsburgh hockey now: The Pittsburgh Penguins added one of the NCAA’s premier blueline free agents yesterday.

Montreal hockey now: If Michael Hayes decides to turn professional, what is the ideal spot for him in the Montreal Canadiens lineup?

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

The New England Patriots are in desperate need of a No. 1 receiver for the 2026 season, and it could fall into their kitty in Round 1 of this month’s NFL Draft.

While the Patriots’ offense took a notable step forward in 2025, it was mostly due to the MVP-level play of young quarterback Drake Mays. But as the competition became tougher in the postseason, the need for the team to bring in more weapons for him became apparent.

To start the offseason, Mayes’ goal of getting more impact targets became difficult when he parted ways with Stefon Diggs, his top receiver from last season. However, in free agency, the team addressed the growing problem by signing veteran Romeo Doubs from the Green Bay Packers. But there is no clear evidence that he can be a legitimate WR1 in 2026.

With the top free agent receivers off the board, the Patriots now need to look to this month’s NFL Draft to get their budding superstar QB a better target for next season. However, the WR position is always a target for teams at the start of the event, and previous mock drafts suggested that the best three in this year’s class – Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon and Jordan Tyson – would be off the board in the first 20 selections.

Will Jordan Tyson still be on the board this late in Round 1?

Well, probably not. According to ESPN NFL expert Matt Miller, Tyson is now likely to fall out of the top 20 because “his hamstring problems are of concern to teams.” Furthermore, his eight declines in 2024 also worry interested franchises. Football Insider said Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. could surpass him and be the third WR selected in Round 1.

The Patriots should also be concerned about injury and decline issues. However, he has been in the debate as the best pass catcher in 2026 for several reasons. He is an excellent route runner who should make an immediate impact in the NFL. He is in good shape at 6 feet 2 inches and 200 pounds. Additionally, he has shown a strong ability to consistently beat defenders for balls in the air.

If Tyson is still on the board when the Patriots are on the board at 31 — which is now very possible — the Patriots should and likely will jump at the chance to select him.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The Jacksonville Jaguars already have an impact player with the surname Lawrence, who makes a big impact on offense. After the Dexter Lawrence trade rumors surfaced, some are wondering if the Jaguars are lacking on defense as well?

Ultimately, Lawrence wants a trade, but it’s possible the New York Giants find a way to commit their three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle to a new contract. But for now, teams are trying to come up with trade offers that could add Lawrence to their roster.

Does it include Jaguar? According to Jacksonville general manager James Gladstone, trading for Lawrence “isn’t something we got into.” Yet, since he is still under contract with the Giants, as Gladstone said, he is “not even free to talk about it.” In public.

In other words, even if the Jaguars are privately trying to make a trade for Lawrence, it’s not something they can really discuss freely with the media. Plus, with the 2026 NFL Draft (April 23-25) right around the corner, the Jaguars are more focused on making sure their draft board is ready to make a splash.

Who knows? If the Jaguars can’t find a defensive tackle early in the draft, perhaps they reconsider the potential cost of trading for a proven star like Lawrence. But right now, that doesn’t seem possible for Duval.

RELATED: 5 Christian Wilkins Landing Spots for 2026

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

FC Köln sporting director Thomas Kessler has hit back at Said El Mala’s claims chelsea Has been constantly linked with the 19-year-old.

Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger Report Today on the Koln Star, which also includes comments from Kessler, who appears to be frustrated by the constant transfer rumours.

Chelsea’s efforts lead to disappointment

Reports over the past few weeks have repeatedly linked Chelsea with a move for Saeed El Mala. They have come from both Germany and England.

A report from Germany last month The Blues were said to have held concrete talks about signing El Mala this summer.

A week later a second report came out in which it was emphasized that Chelsea were ready to break the asking price To secure El Mala’s signature before the competition. However, Kessler insists that this is not the case.

“We maintain a very trusting and close relationship with Said and his family,” he said.

“At the moment, we have not received any offers from other clubs that we need to seriously consider. The player has also not expressed any desire to engage in discussions with other clubs.”

He then went on to dismiss suggestions that El Mala was being positioned for a Premier League switch:

He added, “Said has made it abundantly clear that his entire focus is currently on FC Köln and his development over the season.”

no agent mandate

Reports in England had suggested that ‘super-agent’ Ali Barat was working on behalf of Koln to bring Saeed El Mala to the Premier League market.

Barat has strong links to England and indeed Chelsea. He negotiated Nicholas Jackson’s move from Stamford Bridge to Bayern Munich last summer.

However, Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger reports that this is not the case. He says club sources insist that Colon has not authorized Barrat or any other intermediary to represent him in a potential sale.

The German side is refusing to rush into the summer narrative in any way. Kessler is making that point very clear.

“The ball is in 1. FC Köln’s court. Saeed is under contract with us until 2030,” he concluded.

Auston Matthews’ future with the Toronto Maple Leafs has been in the news. The Maple Leafs missed the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, and the direction of the franchise will ultimately decide whether Matthews requests a trade or stays. If this goes the wrong direction, the Toronto star has been linked to a surprise NHL organization.

The insider said on the barn burner, Sportsnet’s Darren Dreger believes the Utah Mammoth will be a big player with Matthews moving forward. Dreger also said the San Jose Sharks would make some sense, but he wouldn’t call the organization a front-runner to acquire Matthews in the future.

Since relocating from Arizona to Utah, the organization has progressed every year. In fact, the Mammoth made a big move at the deadline, acquiring defenseman McKenzie Weegar from the Calgary Flames. Now, Utah has a very strong chance of making the Stanley Cup playoffs as the first wild card team in the Western Conference.

The Mammoth were linked to several big-name players during the NHL trade deadline, such as St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas. Utah has the assets to make a big trade this offseason, making it one of several organizations that could be in the market for Matthews.

However, that would require Matthews to make a decision and request a trade from Toronto. For now, the Maple Leafs will likely attempt to get the organization back to the Stanley Cup playoffs next season. After all, it’s hard to waste a talent like Matthews, William Nylander and Matthew Nease.

Utah is looking to make a major breakthrough in the Stanley Cup playoffs and don’t expect them to fall apart anytime soon. In fact, if everything goes in the right direction for them the Mammoth could end up with Matthews.

READ MORE: Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews undergoes surgery

Austin Konensky is a sports writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and college football. His work…More about Austin Konensky

Andrew Luck shocked the National Football League nearly seven years ago when he abruptly retired at the age of 29, walking away from his NFL career just weeks before the 2019 season. Fast forward to 2026, and one of his former teammates commented claiming to know what was causing it behind the scenes.

Former Indianapolis Colts tight end Eric Ebron, who played for the team from 2018–19, said on my soul Podcast that then-Colts general manager Chris Ballard had pressured Luck into retirement after issuing a mandate that he play despite chronic pain.

RELATED: Colts GM says team could make surprise decision on Anthony Richardson

The comments resulted in Luck, who rarely speaks publicly, sending an email to FOX 59 Indianapolis’ Mike Chappell to correct the record. He shared that he still has a strong relationship with Ballard to this day and that what Ebron said on the podcast is a lie.

“Chris and I had a wonderful partnership, especially through my decision to retire, and we remain close. Any notion of internal pressures influencing my decision is unfounded.”

Former Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck on rumors that pressure from then-GM Chris Ballard led him to retire

RELATED: Indianapolis Colts urged to trade for Pro Bowl edge rusher

It’s not entirely surprising that Ebron, who never even spent two full seasons as Luck’s teammate, might not have the most accurate information about what happened in Indianapolis. We’re also in an era where players are making podcast appearances more regularly or hosting their own, and viral clips bring attention and views to podcasts that they might not otherwise get.

Detailed reporting on Luck’s career in August 2025, primarily by Jack Keefer of The Athletic, revealed why he retired. The 6-foot-4 quarterback’s body had already begun to deteriorate rapidly, and the rigors of football and rehabilitation from all the injuries took a heavy toll on both him personally and his family. Now serving as general manager of his alma mater Stanford, Luck is happier and living the life he wants.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

A new report suggests that the New York Mets and pitcher Freddy Peralta will not agree to a contract extension during the season.

The top priority for the Mets during the offseason was to acquire a legitimate ace, if possible. A big reason for their poor performance at the end of the season in 2025 was that they had no losing-streak stopper leading their rotation.

Well, they addressed it in January when they made a blockbuster trade for Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta. 2025 was a historic year for the two-time All-Star as he posted 17 wins and a 2.70 ERA – both career bests. Unsurprisingly, shortly after the deal, speculation began regarding the impending free agent extension.

Locking the 29-year-old to a multi-year deal rather than letting him hit the open market would be a smart move. However, according to Tim Britton of The Athletic, an in-season extension is not something the Mets ever do.

Britton wrote, “The Mets’ hesitation to extend has persisted over nearly two decades of varying player cores, front offices and even ownership.” “The Mets are 27th in baseball in extensions signed this decade with three. They are 28th in extensions signed in the last decade under Wilpon ownership, with six.

“Since 2010, the Mets’ nine extensions are ahead of only the Detroit Tigers (eight) and New York Yankees (five).”

Sources suggest NY Mets will not give Freddy Peralta a season extension

Still, the club’s long history of being resistant to in-season extensions is not the only reason this is unlikely. Britton also said, “The Mets are unlikely to get deeply involved in extension talks across their entire roster, according to people familiar with the club’s thinking.”

Considering the big money the team has already invested in multiple players, it would be understandable if they would at least want to see how Peralta handles half a season in New York. Additionally, team president David Stearns has consistently shown that he is against major extensions for players 30 or older. Peralta will turn 30 in June.

However, if Peralta posts another All-Star season in 2026, the Mets are at major risk of losing his services in free agency this winter.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Could the Dallas Mavericks go back-to-back with star Duke prospects in the NBA Draft? A new rumor seems to open the door to that possibility.

After breaking their fans’ hearts by trading away face of the franchise Luka Doncic last February, the Mavericks got very lucky when a disastrous end to their 2024-25 season landed them in the NBA Draft, and then being selected No. 1 overall.

His luck came at the perfect time as one of the most touted prospects of the decade, Cooper Flagg, was ready for the job last June. Luckily for Dallas, the 19-year-old has lived up to expectations as he leads the team in scoring (20.3) and steals (1.2), while also dishing out 6.6 boards and 4.5 assists a night. Still, his impressive play during his rookie season has not stopped the Mavs from becoming a lottery team again this year.

Although the official draft order has not yet been determined, the Mavericks are likely to land anywhere from the fourth to ninth pick in Round 1. Early mock drafts have linked him to various players, including Arkansas point guard Darius Acuff, Jr. However, the door now seems open to bringing in another Duke star this year.

Could Cam Boozer fall to the Mavericks in Round 1 of the NBA Draft?

According to NBA insider Jake Fisher, “The question remains within the scouting community as to how Cameron Boozer’s play will get to the next level… NBA personnel essentially wonder if he will be able to replicate [his previous success] Among the professionals.”

After a stellar freshman season for the Blue Devils and nearly leading them to the Final Four this month, many basketball pundits think Boozer could be a top-three pick in the NBA Draft. However, this report suggests that further declines may be shorter than expected due to concerns from scouts. If Dallas gets a pick outside the top three to five, there will be an opportunity to select him.

After trading Anthony Davis before the trade deadline, and with Kyrie Irving set to return next season, the Mavericks could use more help at the swingman spot or in the front court. Boozer and a skilled rebounder and rim protector, Daniel Gafford could be a great front-court duo with Flagg and Irving in the backcourt.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Even though he’s now 48 years old and hasn’t played NFL football in three full seasons, Tom Brady still has it. He proved it during the Fanatics Flag Football Classic on Saturday.

No, Brady’s team didn’t take home a trophy or win any games. Still, it’s clear that Brady’s fastball still has plenty of juice to it.

Throughout the event, Brady showed that not only does he still have a live arm, but he’s also no statue. Heck, he even dodged a defender’s attempt to grab his flag, while later maintaining his composure to toss a touchdown.

🐐 @tombrady To Diggs! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/27dzqn84Oa

– Fox Sports (@FOXSports) 21 March 2026

While Brady’s play certainly had some people talking throughout the game, what the retired NFL pro said afterward had people talking.

After the game ended, Brady reposted the above clip with the caption, “Makes you think.”

finish the sentence! Will you be wondering? We can’t help but wonder.

Maybe this is another retired player giving another great display of his athletic abilities. but what if?

Yet, since Brady is a minority owner of the Raiders, he is not allowed to be on the team’s roster. Except the Raiders do, but they are set to select Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick. Of course, Brady could buy Mendoza a season to develop, as well as learn from behind the future first-ballot Hall of Famer.

But would Brady really interfere with the quarterback of a team in which he has a partial ownership stake? Brady himself may feel that way and wants Mendoza to have a chance to earn the starting job right away. Stepping down as a player would take away that opportunity for a Heisman-winning CFP champion.

Additionally, even if Brady is serious about returning under the right circumstances, he would still need the approval of at least 24 of the NFL’s 31 franchise owners through a voting process.

If you’re one of the owners who has to compete with Brady, why would you vote yes? Again, taking away an athlete’s last chance to play again would be against the spirit of the game and inhumane. But when competing for the Super Bowl, who’s to say pettiness won’t be involved?

RELATED: Tom Brady reveals what it takes to bounce back like Philip Rivers

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

The Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James is not part of any group bidding for an NBA expansion team in Las Vegas. The rumors arose when James’s Fenway Sports Group was initially reported to be considering a bid for a Las Vegas expansion team. The city, along with Seattle, has emerged as a leading candidate for one of two new NBA franchises.

Although FSG has rejected an extension that is reportedly set to cost up to $8 billion per team, James has publicly stated that he is not part of any group bidding for a Las Vegas team, according to a post on X by ESPN’s Tim McMahon.

“No, I’m not. Not at all,” James said.

LeBron, who has a net worth of more than $1.4 billion, will undoubtedly need a team of investors to take charge of an NBA franchise. However, with FSG reportedly backing out, it is now considered “less likely” that LeBron will pursue franchise ownership.

Regardless, as things stand, the NBA Board of Governors is continuing discussions, with a formal decision expected in 2026 and a potential launch timeline of the 2028-29 season. Las Vegas has emerged as a primary expansion market due to its established presence in major professional sports.

The city currently hosts teams in the NFL, NHL and WNBA, with an MLB franchise set to relocate there. The NBA has also had a consistent presence in Las Vegas through its Summer League, which has drawn more than 136,000 fans over 11 days.

Of course, LeBron James and FSG are no strangers to owning major sports teams. James’s association with the group has given him partial ownership in several franchises such as the Boston Red Sox (MLB), Liverpool FC (Premier League), RFK Racing (NASCAR), and the New England Sports Network (NESN).

The Lakers superstar and his partner Maverick Carter previously became partners in the group in 2021. However, James’ ambitions of owning an NBA franchise currently appear to be on hold, due to FSG reportedly refusing to meet the asking price.

Tyreek Hill is on the market, and the clock is ticking. We’re already into the second week of NFL free agency, and the market is in complete chaos. With teams plunking down $5.83 billion in the first wave alone, the front office made every effort to stack a Super Bowl-caliber roster from top to bottom.

The Kansas City Chiefs know that game better than anyone. A three-peat slipped through their fingers, and now it’s all gas, no breaks for Patrick Mahomes and company. Their mission is simple: get back to the top and bring Lombardi home.

Meanwhile, Hill has been sitting in free agency since February, and he’s still waiting for his next landing spot. Interestingly, the reunion in Kansas City may not be as crazy as it seems.

The Chiefs’ WR room has been a rollercoaster since Tyreek Hill left for Miami in 2023. Not a true field-tilter, not someone who scares defenses with two-high balls every second. And on the other hand, Hill doesn’t really have that elite, gun-toting QB who can fully unlock his game like Patrick Mahomes.

Chiefs and Tyreek Hill reunion feels closer than ever

On Tuesday, the Chiefs’ WR room emptied a bit when Hollywood Brown reached a free agent deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. This seems like it would move the team even closer to a potential reunion with one of the greatest players in team history to address their need at wide receiver.

There are question marks all over the Chiefs’ passing game this season. Rashee Rice could be facing a suspension, Xavier Worthy still feels like a work in progress, and Marquise Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster are both on the way out the door. This isn’t exactly the kind of WR room you make a Super Bowl run with.

Meanwhile, we already know what Hill looks like in red and gold—479 catches, 6,630 yards, 62 TDs. You add him back into the offense, and suddenly Eric Bieniemy’s unit gets its juice back overnight. And yes, Travis Kelce is back for one last ride — but bringing Hill home isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about fixing a real problem.

Sure, Hill is recovering from injury and has not been at the peak level of the “Cheetah” recently. But he’s still waiting for that one-play touchdown to happen. One missed coverage, one missed angle, and that’s six. Every time. Plus, that Mahomes-Hill chemistry? You don’t teach this. It’s already created, already proven, already deadly.

Can Nick and Joey Bosa finally end up on the same sideline? This could be the year it actually happens. The San Francisco 49ers have already made a splash in NFL free agency, locking up future Hall of Fame wideout Mike Evans on a three-year deal. They’ve also added some depth, but there’s still work to be done—especially on defense.

One position that suddenly looks thin is edge rusher. With Bryce Huff calling it a career this week, the position opposite Nick Bosa was dealt a blow. So why not keep it in the family? Joey Bosa is still sitting on the free-agent market.

However, there is one reason teams are hesitant—availability. Injuries have been a frequent hindrance, and Bosa has never gone through a full 17-game NFL season in his career.

Fans are debating whether the Bosa brothers pass-rush duo will dominate the NFL

NFL rumors abounded this week with talk of Joey Bosa potentially signing with the 49ers. Naturally, NFL fans wasted no time in jumping into the conversation.

One fan immediately questioned whether there would even be a reunion this season, writing,“Isn’t Nick on IR?”

The other dropped a brutal take, “Wow! Now there will be enough Bosa to play all 17 games!”

An Eagles fan said in a relieved voice: “Excellent because I definitely didn’t want him in Philadelphia.”

Meanwhile, another fan liked the idea of ​​a reunion, posting, “The league actually let the San Francisco 49ers reunite the Bosa brothers… good luck to every offensive line.”

And yes, someone did a reality check: “LOL! It doesn’t matter if they both take turns getting hit or just get hit on IR together! LOL”

From a financial perspective, this move is not out of the question. San Francisco still has some wiggle room under the salary cap, especially after restructuring Nick Bosa’s contract earlier this offseason. The adjustment reportedly freed up approximately $17.2 million in cap space for the 2026 season, giving the front office enough room to at least explore a Bosa deal.

Analysts believe that border flexibility is one of the main reasons why the reunion of the Bosa brothers in the Bay Area could indeed become a reality.

Still, there’s one main reason why Joy remains on the market: durability. Recurring hamstring problems have haunted him in recent seasons, and the injury history may be why many teams are hesitant to pull the trigger in free agency.

If that happens, it would also be a rare NFL moment. Despite the long history of the league, it is unusual to see two brothers playing for the same team. One of the most recent examples came in 2020, when TJ Watt and Derek Watt shared the field with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

RELATED: 2026 NFL Mock Draft After NFL Free Agency Negotiation Window

The Atlanta Hawks are one of the hottest teams in the league as they are riding a nine-game losing streak, their longest since the 2014-2015 season. It seems like everyone on the team is clicking at the right time, and Jalen Johnson has been the head of the snake, doing almost everything on the court.

At the beginning of the season, there were rumors about the Hawks whether they would consider Johnson for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but they were quickly shut down. Rich Paul also weighed in on the rumors and suggested that the Milwaukee Bucks should trade for Johnson.

“If I’m the Bucks, I’m looking at a young player, high character, high talent, high IQ,” Paul said on his show with Max Kellerman. “I’m calling Atlanta. I want Jalen Johnson. He’s from Milwaukee.”

Johnson claims he heard the rumors, but according to NBA insider Jake Fisher, the Hawks’ front office immediately reminded him that they were not going to trade him.

“It was probably the first time in my career [hearing] Rumors and things like that,” Johnson said. “But I got assurances from everyone here that that’s not the plan. Obviously, it means a lot… his trust in me and his belief in me.”

It seems like the Hawks did the right thing by retaining Johnson, and he’s set to be a cornerstone of the franchise for years to come. This season, Johnson averaged 23.0 points, 10.4 rebounds and 8.0 assists, and was an All-Star for the first time. It would not be a surprise if at the end of the season, he is on the All-NBA team, which would be a huge accomplishment for him.

Johnson and the Hawks still have a lot of work to accomplish as they continue to try to top the Eastern Conference during the season.

A new report from the Minnesota Vikings NFL Draft has further fueled the idea that the team could move on from 2024 first-round pick JJ McCarthy this offseason.

After a stellar performance during his sophomore season at Minnesota, speculation ran rampant shortly after the 2025 campaign that McCarthy was no longer certain to be the team’s starter next season.

Early speculation was that the team would bring in a veteran to compete with McCarthy for the QB1 spot. However, that changed when the Vikings made a splash in free agency this week by signing former Arizona Cardinals two-time Pro Bowler Kyler Murray. Although the team has not officially named him as their new QB1, only a serious injury could derail that position.

The move has sparked discussion about McCarthy’s future in Minnesota, and whether trading him to a QB-needy team would be a possibility. According to The Athletic’s Alec Lewis, the possibility “cannot be ruled out.”

“Two factors matter in the overall calculation: How upset are McCarthy and his camp with the signing of Murray? And what will other teams offer?”. Lewis wrote.

Could the Haynes Kings be the Vikings’ replacement for JJ McCarthy?

Well, this week, Minnesota was looking for a potential prospect to replace McCarthy next season. According to Tony Pauline of Essential Sports, team officials were in Georgia this week to scout Georgia Tech QB Haynes King. Additionally, they were one of four teams that had quarterback altercations this week.

Pauline wrote, “King is lauded by scouts for his leadership and toughness.”

The three-year starter had, arguably, his best season in college football. He threw for 2,951 yards and 14 touchdowns to six interceptions while completing 69.8% of his passes. However, he was one of the best dual-threat QBs in the country last season as he rushed 185 times for less than 1,000 yards on the ground and 15 TDs in 2025.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The New England Patriots have set their sights on Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver AJ Brown. After the first day of NFL free agency, the Patriots have yet to sign a wide receiver to replace Stefon Diggs. The wide receiver room is very empty; However, an NFL insider gave a big update on the Browns and Patriots trade rumors.

The trade destination list for the Browns “begins and ends with the Patriots,” as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter on the Pat McAfee Show. The 28-year-old wide receiver has been linked to several other NFL teams, like the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers, but it appears it’s New England or bust.

Brown is a perfect fit for the Patriots, serving as Drake Mays’ top target in the New England offense. The Eagles and Patriots have been in talks over a potential trade for Brown for the past few weeks, but nothing has come to fruition yet.

The Patriots need Brown and the Eagles wouldn’t be in the discussion if they didn’t want to trade him. Philadelphia’s high asking price has been a stumbling block in trade talks, as the organization wants a first-round pick and a second-round pick for the superstar wide receiver.

Several trade packages have been mentioned, but the Patriots and Eagles need to find a middle ground soon.

Potential trade package from AJ Brown to the New England Patriots

Both sides need to find a middle ground to make a trade for the Browns happen. The Bills recently traded for wide receiver DJ Moore and a fifth-round pick from the Chicago Bears, sending a second-round pick in exchange. The trade impacted the market, further emphasizing the Eagles’ high asking price for Brown.

The Patriots should offer the 31st pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and a 2027 third-round pick to Brown. The Eagles are likely more inclined to acquire New England’s 2027 first-round pick, as many believe next year’s NFL Draft is deeper. If so, the Patriots could send a 2027 first-round pick and a 2026 third-round pick to the Eagles.

New England should not offer more than two selections. There is no need to involve any other selection or player. The Patriots may have lost some gains after wide receiver Alec Pierce re-signed with the Indianapolis Colts, but it’s clear Brown is the top priority. Perhaps, New England could use a potential trade for Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. to swing a little leverage in their favor.

Either way, closing a deal is best for everyone involved. Whether it’s sooner rather than later or after June 1 when the cap hit won’t be as bad for Philadelphia, both sides need to figure out the best path forward. The Patriots are in hot pursuit of Brown, and the Eagles need to move on from the play that is hurting the organization.

Hopefully, trade talks between the Patriots and Eagles move forward quickly, or the rumors regarding Brown won’t end any time soon.

Read more: New England Patriots should make AJ Brown trade a top priority

Austin Konensky is a sports writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and college football. His work…More about Austin Konensky

The Montreal Canadiens have until 3 p.m. Friday afternoon to make a deal before the NHL trade deadline hits.

It is important to note that most rumors should be taken with a grain of salt. It is very easy to add canadiens to the bait mixture.

That being said, not every rumor is baseless.

Canadians are very active in the trading market and inquire about the potential trading costs of different players. That means there may be fire beneath the smoke, while also understanding that Kent Hughes is one of the busiest general managers in the league when it comes to completing due diligence.

Potential Montreal Canadiens trade deadline targets

The Canadiens have been linked to several forwards, including St. Louis Blues center robert thomas. Although the acquisition cost is expected to be very high, there is no doubt that Thomas will significantly improve Montreal’s top six. Click here To see the latest analysis regarding the Robert Thomas rumor.

calgary flames forward nazam qadri This is a name that has been circulating with new interest among Canadians throughout the years recently. Simply put, if the price is right, Canadians will want to acquire a premier center. Thomas would be the ideal target, but if it’s not a viable trade, Montreal will turn to players like qadri.

Keeping with the center theme, Montreal has also been linked to the New York Rangers Center Vincent Trocheck. At 32, he doesn’t necessarily fit into the age bracket of most lineups, but he has done a great job of mitigating the normal statistical decline that often occurs when a player is on the wrong side of 30. Click here Check out our latest article analyzing Trocheck’s potential impact on the Canadiens’ lineup.

Given that the Habs have struggled in the goaltending department, they have been linked to experienced netminders sergey bobrovsky And Jordan Binnington. At a glance, it would make sense to add a Stanley Cup-winning goalie to the mix, but the fact is that both goaltenders linked to the Habs have worse numbers than Samuel Montembeault, the goalie they will replace. All things considered, a trade involving Bobrovsky or Binnington It won’t mean anything to Canadians.

Recent Montreal Canadiens Trade Rumors

guard Arbor Zekaj was engulfed in flamesAn interesting development, as we know Montreal and Calgary are common trade partners, even more so when we remember the teams have discussed a potential Kadri trade.

related to Patrik LaineKings reportedly said Circled back to the 27-year-old forwardHowever, it remains to be seen whether Canadians will receive a legitimate offer. Laine’s contract expires this summer, and there’s no reason to force a trade, unless Hughes wants to free up salary cap space for another potential deal.

Elliotte Friedman: Names to keep an eye on: Oliver Bjorkstrand (TB), Michael Carcone (Utah), Paul Cotter (New Jersey), Stephen Holliday (Ottawa), Patrik Laine (Montreal), Maxim Shabanov (NYI), Luke Schenn (WPG) – Sportsnet (3/5)

– NHL Rumor Report (@NHLRumourReport) 5 March 2026

salary cap situation

The Canadiens have approximately $1.5 million in available salary cap funds, although it is important to note that players transferred at the NHL trade deadline do not carry their entire cap hit to the new team.

Salaries are based on days, and given that there will be approximately 22% of days left on the schedule, the cap hit will be only 22% of their original value.

For example, if the Canadiens are able to find a guy for the line, that team will be on the hook for about a fifth of his $8.7 million contract, or about $1.9 million.

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

The Canadiens are far from a perfect team, but they are well ahead of schedule when it comes to their long-term rebuilding goals.

With that in mind, there’s no rush to get a significant trade deadline deal done, as they’re not quite ready to compete for the Stanley Cup in the first place.

There is also the matter of a seller’s market, with bottom-six players like Nicolas Roy being selected in the first round. The price tags are far from par for the course leading up to the final day of trades in the league.

Things can change in a hurry, but all signs point to this being another quiet deadline for Kent Hughes and company.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

The fog of speculation surrounding UFC’s historic event on June 14 at the White House may have cleared after a big update from former champion Charles Oliveira. While rumors recently swirled about an interim heavyweight title match between Alex Pereira and Cyril Gane, Oliveira has dismissed those reports.

Speaking via RMC Sport Combat, the Brazilian legend claimed Pereira is not looking to make gains but is instead lining up a “very big fight” on the South Lawn. This revelation has immediately rekindled the MMA world’s collective hope for a superfight between Pereira and Jon Jones.

The momentum for this potential clash reached a fever pitch last week when Dana White officially announced that Alex Pereira has vacated his Light Heavyweight Championship. The move – a “gentleman’s release” to allow Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg to fight for the vacant belt at UFC 327 – signals that Pereira’s focus has shifted solely to the heavyweight division.

As a former middleweight and light heavyweight champion, Pereira is now on the verge of making history as the first fighter to win UFC titles in three different weight classes. While an interim belt against Gane would technically satisfy that requirement, it lacks a bout with Jones, the man many consider the greatest of all-time.

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, stories and content you may have missed Tuesday.

montreal canadiens news

It’s officially silly season! Habs-related rumors have been increasing, with one of the most recent reports linking the Calgary Flames to defenseman Arbor Zekaj. [Canadiens Rumours: Calgary Reportedly Interested in Xhekaj]

Patrik Laine’s name also came up on Tuesday. Apparently, the Los Angeles Kings have renewed interest in the power play specialist. [Canadiens Linked To Kings In Laine Trade Rumour]

While the Flames have shown interest in Zekaj, the Habs continue to kick the tires on Flames forward Nazem Kadri. [Evaluating Canadiens Rumour Linking Kadri To Montreal]

With the March 6 NHL trade deadline looming, we take a look at the most pressing needs of Kent Hughes and company. While many want the Habs to acquire a forward, the defensive situation is far more worrisome. Montreal scored a lot of goals, but struggled to keep the puck out of their own net. [Top 5 Canadiens Needs Heading Into Trade Deadline]

There were 12 goals scored in Tuesday night’s game between the Habs and Sharks! Watch highlights of the goal bonus in California that resulted in a 7-5 win for the Sharks [Canadiens Highlights: Goal Bonanza In San Jose]

One of the Canadiens’ top prospects, Bryce Pickford, refuses to stop scoring goals at will in the WHL. Pickford was voted as the No. 7 player in our annual Top 20 Habs prospects rankings. [Canadiens Top 20 Rankings – No. 7 The Extraordinary Bryce Pickford]

Don’t take your eyes off Pickford!! His 38th year has put us over 1!! 🚨🐅@CanadiensMTL | #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/OuGlGF855G

– Medicine Hat Tigers (@tigershockey) 4 March 2026

As always, phenom Lane Hutson has his eyes on the prize.

Len Hutson on this Habs squad today:

“We have a young group that is confident in what we’re doing and building. But we all bring different things and it’s fun… We all share the common goal of competing and trying to win a Stanley Cup.” pic.twitter.com/ABg2XuwBtH

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 4 March 2026

ICYMI: We’ve landed the top spot in our annual Montreal Canadiens prospect rankings, as voted on by Habs fans. Dynamic forward Michael Hayes earned the No. 1 spot because of his elite skill set, not to mention he has already established himself as one of the top players in the NCAA. It remains to be seen how long he’ll stay in the NCAA, and whether the Habs will want him to spend some time in the AHL before graduating to the NHL, but there’s no doubt that Hayes represents Montreal’s best hopes of drafting an elite player from their current prospect pool. [Canadiens Top 20 Prospects – No. 1 Dynamic Michael Hage]

Sportsknot Network

Despite some players with expiring contracts, the New Jersey Devils still have value heading into next Friday with some short-term deals and favorable cap hits. [New Jersey Devils]

The St. Louis Blues and Buffalo Sabers are working on a trade that will shock the entire NHL. As TSN’s Darren Dreger reports, trade talks between the Blues and Sabers involving Robert Thomas are “heating up.” St.Louis is serious about trading Thomas after weeks of speculation. [Buffalo Sabres]

The Carolina Hurricanes have the most points in the Eastern Conference heading into the NHL trade deadline on Friday. Carolina is speculated to acquire Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson. Peterson, who has been criticized in Vancouver, could be traded despite his $11.6 million camp hit. The 27-year-old center has 35 points in 52 games in 2025-26. [Carolina Hurricanes]

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

Ilya Topuria has caused a stir in the MMA world with a social media post indicating that his period of forced inactivity may be coming to an end. On Tuesday, the undefeated UFC lightweight champion shared a cryptic message with his millions of followers on Instagram: “Big news coming soon.”

The post, which features an eye-catching graphic from UFCStar, comes at a key moment for the 155-pound division, as the champion appears ready to reclaim his throne after an eight-month hiatus defined more by court battles than octagon wars.

The “personal matters” that sidelined Topuria following his knockout win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 have finally been resolved. Topuria was embroiled in a controversial legal dispute with his ex-wife Georgina Uzcategui, which involved serious but unfounded allegations. However, after the case was recently dismissed and the settlement signed, Topuria has turned his focus back to his MMA legacy.

His return to the gym was punctuated by a previous post declaring, “The champion is back!!!”, a sentiment that has now evolved into the promise of a concrete announcement. The “big news” could take many forms, but all signs point to the UFC’s historic event on June 14.

Topuria has long expressed a desire to compete on the “White House” card, a fitting platform for a man who considers himself the pound-for-pound king. While a unification bout against interim champion Justin Gaethje is the most logical option, Topuria has publicly flirted with an even more ambitious goal: a jump to 170 pounds to challenge Islam Makhachev.

“Maybe I’ll have another fight, and then there’ll be a date in the summer when [the UFC] Topuria recently suggested, “Let me move up to welterweight. Or maybe they’ll create a new belt called the ‘pound-for-pound title’ at catchweight and I’ll fight for it.” [it]”

Fueling the superfight rumors is Makhachev’s manager Ali Abdelaziz. In a recent post on

If Topuria and Makhachev are indeed being paired for a cross-divisional clash, it would mark a major change in the UFC’s 2026 strategy, potentially blurring the traditional lightweight title picture in which Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira currently await.

If the New York Giants really want to take Notre Dame star Jeremiah Love as their first pick in April’s NFL Draft, new reports suggest he won’t be available in time for Round 1.

The NY Giants are in an interesting position in the early rounds of the draft. Obviously, after a 4-13 finish in 2025, they could use help in various areas of the roster. However, the team feels they have a long-term option at quarterback with Jackson Dart. This means that when it’s time to choose they can take the best player available.

In early mock drafts, the team was linked to various players, including Ohio State stars Carnell Tate and Caleb Downs. However, recent rumors claimed that the organization was relying too heavily on Heisman Trophy finalist Jeremiah Love despite having Cam Scatebo as the RB1 option next season.

At last week’s combine, Love was impressive and certainly piqued the interest of the NY Giants brain trust in him. However, his performance caught the attention of the entire league, including teams ahead of Big Blue in Round 1. And now it looks like a RB won’t be on the board until New York makes their selection.

Titans are favorites to select Jeremiah Love in the 2026 NFL Draft

According to NFL Draft expert Todd McShay, Love is such a “special” talent that he doesn’t see the NY Giants going as a back five. However, it wouldn’t be “surprised” if he goes to the Arizona Cardinals (No. 2) or Tennessee Titans (No. 3).

Adding to the idea that Love won’t make it past the Titans at age three, Pro Football Talk reports that Tennessee is the current betting favorite (+200) to select the six-foot, 214-pound RB who ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the combine last week.

Last year for the Fighting Irish, Love had 199 carries for 1,372 rushing yards, 27 catches for 280 yards and 21 total touchdowns.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, stories and content you may have missed on Monday.

montreal canadiens news

We’ve landed the top spot in our annual Montreal Canadiens prospect rankings, as voted on by Habs fans. Dynamic forward Michael Hayes earned the No. 1 spot because of his elite skill set, not to mention he has already established himself as one of the top players in the NCAA. It remains to be seen how long he’ll stay in the NCAA, and whether the Habs will want him to spend some time in the AHL before graduating to the NHL, but there’s no doubt that Hayes represents Montreal’s best hopes of drafting an elite player from their current prospect pool. [Canadiens Top 20 Prospects – No. 1 Dynamic Michael Hage]

Our analyst Ronnie Hermo took a deep dive into the data prepared by Samuel Montembeault, Jacob Dobbs and Jacob Fowler and the results may surprise you! Well, sensationalism aside, Ronnie always does a great job, and in this case, he has shed some important light on the current situation. While Dobbs has managed to win more games, the statistics show that Montembeault has also played relatively well. [Canadiens Analysis: – Which Goalie Should Start Down The Final Stretch Of The Season]

The Canadiens are reportedly interested in trading for Robert Thomas, but the cost would be too high. This makes sense, because Thomas is at his statistical peak, and you rarely see a player of his talent become available for trade. According to the report, the trade package would also include top Canadiens prospect Hayes, among others.

Sources show that #GoHabsGo One of the more interested teams revolving around Robert Thomas.

That being said, the price set by Doug Armstrong is too high for the Habs at this time.

The Blues reportedly want Michael Hayes in any package for Thomas.https://t.co/GOp9eeQdP7

– Marco D’Amico (@mndamico) 2 March 2026

Laval rocket is doing its job properly. In addition to being the center of entertainment in Laval, they are set to honor firefighters with new jerseys over the weekend. They will then auction off the jerseys and the proceeds will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society. This is a great initiative that clearly deserves our support. On that note, even if they aren’t supporting any important charities, I would still suggest going to see Rocket, as it offers the best bang for your buck when it comes to the entertainment budget. In particular, families benefit from the reasonable costs, great ambiance and great facilities at Place Bell.

ready for anything
ready for everything

The Rockets will wear this uniform during the All Fire All Flame game in collaboration with the Laval Fire Department to benefit the Canadian Cancer Society next Saturday at Place Bell. Sweaters will be available here… pic.twitter.com/wp6gh57Nvx

– Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) 2 March 2026

Adam Nicholls continues to be one of the most important members of the Canadiens organization, helping young players become confident NHLers.

Besides, he also has a very good shot!

Habs give Michigan chances to score with help from Michael Hayes

pic.twitter.com/2X5RWTFlRz

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 28 February 2026

ICYMI: Netminder Jacob Fowler took the No. 2 spot in our Canadiens prospect rankings. All things considered, he has shown that he can be a dominant presence in every league from the USHL to the NHL, but we should be wary of thrusting him into the NHL spotlight too quickly. He still needs to absorb as much experience as possible in the AHL before the pressure of becoming Montreal’s starter comes. [Canadiens Top 20 Prospects – No. 2 Stoic Fowler]

Sportsknot Network

The 2026 NHL trade deadline is less than a week away. The New Jersey Devils are out of playoff position and possibly looking to prepare for next season. After all, preparing in the spring to rebuild in the summer is in GM Tom Fitzgerald’s DNA. That’s what they did when they acquired Jake Allen two deadlines ago. Despite some players with expiring contracts, the Devils still have value moving forward next Friday with some short-term deals with favorable cap hits. [New Jersey Devils]

The Toronto Maple Leafs are poised to be a very busy seller this week. The trading deadline will take effect on Friday at 3pm Eastern. The pending unrestricted free agents are most likely to be gone, although the majority of the team is available at the right price. [Toronto Maple Leafs]

The Minnesota Wild are looking for an upgrade at center by the NHL trade deadline. After trading for defenseman Quinn Hughes, the Wild hope to complete their roster to make a big push at the Stanley Cup. Now, Minnesota is being linked to a big trade of the Olympic gold medalist to Team USA. [Minnesota Wild]

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

Over the past few years, player agent Rich Paul has seen his influence grow. Many believe that his work at Klutch Sports has led him to become one of the most influential figures in the NBA, including handling Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James.

Rumors even surfaced that Paul and James are planning to purchase an expansion team in Las Vegas if approved by the NBA. Las Vegas has often been mentioned as a possible destination for the league’s 31st team due to its sports market and economic feasibility.

However, Paul flatly denied this on his podcast, “Game Over.”

Paul said, “I don’t know where any truth or merit comes from in that. But what I would say to understand the importance of buying a team is, one, I don’t have enough money to buy a team, I really don’t.”

“Today, at least last time I checked, I would have needed to pretty much zero in on what I saw. Still, no. But I would say when thinking about buying a team, and I think you mentioned Vegas, this is not a team I would want to buy.”

According to Forbes, 45-year-old Paul has a net worth of $120 million. When his co-host, Max Kellerman, asked why he did not envision forming a team in Sin City, Paul claimed “There’s no point in it.”

Paul said, “If you’re buying a team, it’s a huge asset. You want the opportunity for growth, and when I look at buying a team and most teams, people say they lose money.”

“If I owned a team, I would be one of those owners who wouldn’t mind paying taxes because paying taxes means you’re making a valiant effort to win every year.”

Currently, the average value of a franchise in the NBA is approximately $4 billion to $5 billion.

The NBA has held the Summer League in Las Vegas for the past several years and experts believe it is ripe for expansion. Las Vegas already has a team in the WNBA, NFL and NHL.

Even if Paul isn’t interested, there are certainly other wealthy people willing to take a bet on starting a team in Las Vegas.

A new report suggests a different player may have overtaken Caleb Downs and Carnell Tate on the New York Giants’ NFL Draft board. And he is a partner of both the players.

Despite their third consecutive losing season, there is new hope for the NY Giants. This is due to the hiring of former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. The one-time Super Bowl winner’s resume has given fans reason to believe that better and more competitive days are ahead for Big Blue.

Another reason for fans to be optimistic is that the organization will have premium picks in April’s NFL Draft, including the fifth overall selection. That selection has been the source of a lot of speculation over the past month. The NY Giants feel they don’t need a QB so they might as well take the best player available. But who could that be, and who is the best fit for the team?

In various mock drafts, Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate is a player often linked to the NY Giants at five. However, over the past few weeks, his teammate, Caleb Downs, has received a lot of discussion as a potential selection as Harbaugh has a history of preferring elite safeties in his defense. However, another Buckeyes star made headlines in New York, especially after an impressive performance at the NFL Combine this week.

Sonny Styles a ‘perfect’ fit for NY Giants at No. 5 in NFL Draft?

“Sonny Styles has also confirmed that he is the top pick in this year’s draft. The Giants are the surefire prospect at No. 5,” reports ESPN NY Giants insider Jordan Raanan. “Many people who worked under John Harbaugh in the past see it as a ‘perfect’ fit.”

The Ohio State linebacker looked excellent at the combine on Thursday. Posting a 4.46 40-yard dash and 43.50 vertical jump. Both were the No. 1 ranked linebackers in this year’s class. The three-year starter earned first-time All-American honors in 2025 as a key part of the Buckeyes’ elite defense last season.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

AJ Styles has officially secured his future with WWE by signing a new contract that transitions him to a backstage role in talent development.

Following his retirement following his loss to Gunther at the 2026 Royal Rumble, speculation ran rampant as to whether “The Phenomenal One” would seek free agency or potentially join AEW. However, PWInsider reports that multiple sources within the company have confirmed that Styles and WWE have agreed to a new multi-year deal focused on talent development.

The new deal effectively ends rumors of Styles continuing his in-ring career elsewhere. Instead of testing the open market, the two-time WWE Champion is potentially taking on a role overseeing the development of upcoming talent at the WWE Performance Center.

The move is in line with comments made by Styles during his retirement tour, where he said he wanted to “beat the house” and transition to being a consultant while he was still mentally and physically sharp.

News of the contract follows an emotional tribute to Styles on the February 23 edition of Monday Night Raw in his home state of Georgia. During that broadcast, The Undertaker made a surprise appearance and officially announced Styles as the second inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

Styles will be joined by Stephanie McMahon at the event, which is set to take place in Las Vegas during WrestleMania 42 week. PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that the decision to retain Styles was a priority for Triple H and Nick Khan, who see Styles’ experience in TNA, NJPW, and WWE as a huge asset to the current youth movement in NXT.

While AEW was reportedly willing to make a significant offer to get Styles back in the ring, the veteran has chosen the stability of a backstage role that allows him to spend more time with his family in Georgia.

Dejounte Murray opened the 2025-26 season with a goal in the New Orleans Pelicans’ 113-109 win over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. He appears to be dedicated to helping his team compete for a possible spot in the play-in tournament at the end of the campaign. He said this in some NSFW post on X while refusing to request a trade from New Orleans.

An account on social media claimed the 29-year-old guard requested a trade from the Pelicans before the deadline. Murray saw the post and claimed it was untrue, shutting down the rumors entirely.

“Let’s clean the air from the f*** at one source,” Murray declared. “I or my agent never requested to be traded out of New Orleans!!! Joe and the entire organization know I was locked in to come back better than ever to help grow this game and build whatever comes next!! It’s about having fun!!”

The nine-year veteran doubled down on his play-in tournament claim, and explained to a sports fan that if the Pelicans play hard in the final stretch of the regular season, they could find themselves competing for a playoff spot.

“Oh!!! Are we a contender? No. Can we finish in the top 6? No. Can we build some momentum by playing together and develop winning habits for the rest of the season? Yes. Can we treat every game like a championship game and win, win, win? Yes. Can we finish last in the play-ins??? Duhhh.”

Dejounte Murray missed most of the season after rupturing his right Achilles tendon in January 2025. In his first game in action, Murray recorded 13 points, two rebounds, three assists and one steal. He also shot 45.4% from the floor and 25.0% from beyond the three-point line.

AJ Styles has shed light on his decision to end his WWE career at the Royal Rumble rather than wait for WrestleMania 42.

After losing a career-ending match to Gunther, “The Phenomenal One” officially retired from the ring on January 31, 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. While many expected the legend to retire on the grandest stage, a new farewell vlog uploaded to WWE’s YouTube channel shows Styles explaining the emotional and logical reasoning behind his choice.

In a vlog captured moments before facing Gunther, Styles admitted that while retiring from WrestleMania is most performers’ dream, it doesn’t match his personal journey following a serious injury.

Injury scare prompts AJ Styles to retire from Royal Rumble

Styles was sidelined through October 2024 with a foot injury, which many believed would prematurely end his career. After struggling to return to health, he felt that returning for a short two-month stint leading up to WrestleMania would be bad for his legacy.

Styles said, “Everyone wants to retire at WrestleMania, the biggest show of the year. That’s exactly what I was going to do, but I just came back from an injury that made me have to retire. That’s what most retirees do. Once I recovered and was comfortable enough to run and do what I need to do to be AJ Styles, it didn’t feel right to come back for two months just to retire.”

For Styles, the Royal Rumble held a personal significance as the venue of his 2016 WWE debut. He saw the Riyadh event as an opportunity to wrap up his WWE tenure. His goal for the night was to express his hope by walking off the field under his own power after giving a final salute to the fans on his own terms.

“It didn’t feel right, and I thought, what a way to leave a pay-per-view right where you started. Hopefully, at the end of this match, I’ll be back on my feet, and I’ll throw the P1 on my gloves once again and walk away,” he continued.

The match with Gunther ended with Styles being eliminated with a sleeper hold, officially ending his full-time career. His comments should also put to rest recent speculation that he could be moving to AEW with his WWE contract expiring soon.

Early in the NFL offseason, the Miami Dolphins made a lot of noise after firing head coach Mike McDaniels, replacing him with former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, and conducting a recent roster breakdown to free up cap space for free agency.

Their decision to waive star receiver Tyreek Hill garnered a lot of attention, but a new report claims they are on the verge of moving on from another key member of their roster. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, “The Dolphins have had trade talks with teams regarding five-time Pro Bowl S Minkah Fitzpatrick.”

Miami traded Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers a year ago to acquire a 2018 first-round pick. However, they would clearly like to move on from the $15 million the 29-year-old will make in 2026.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at five teams that should target a star safety, including the Las Vegas Raiders.

cincinnati bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals’ defense was a mess this offseason and is close to losing top star Trey Hendrickson. They will certainly make some notable additions on that side of the ball through the NFL Draft. However, they still need meaningful veterans who can lead those youngsters and make plays on the field. Targeting a Fitzpatrick trade could be on Cincy’s radar this offseason if they can free up more cap space.

Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears could lose both Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard in NFL free agency this spring. If that worst-case scenario happened, or if they only lost one, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they looked at a Fitzpatrick trade. It seems like Chicago is a few touches away from becoming a serious Super Bowl contender in 2026. The five-time Pro Bowler could be one of those pieces.

Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders defense was very poor last season. That’s why improving their pass rush will be a top priority this offseason. However, achieving that kind of high-value-add is not easy. Since they struggled to prevent big plays last season, it makes sense to target proven talent in the secondary as well. Fitzpatrick is one of the most versatile safeties in the game and could be a useful weapon for head coach Dan Quinn.

las vegas raiders

Even with Max Crosby on the field, the Las Vegas Raiders defense struggled last season. After the end of 3-14 they need help in many places. They also need more proven veterans on both sides of the ball who can make an immediate impact. Because Fitzpatrick can bring so much to the defense, and since Las Vegas will have a lot of cap space available, they should consider a trade for the Dolphins’ safety.

tennessee titans

2025 was a difficult year for the Tennessee Titans and finished with a disappointing 3-14 record. A major reason for this was that the defense was the worst in the NFL. They need to add some big-name talent to the unit and will have a bunch of cap space to do so this offseason. The duo of Minkah Fitzpatrick and Amani Hooker could give Tennessee one of the best safety duos in the game next season.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

In a new interview, Athletics All-Star Brent Rucker fueled rumors that a salary cap for players will be a non-starter in the new collective bargaining agreement.

Right now, MLB players are preparing for the 2026 MLB season in either Florida or Arizona. While goals and aspirations for the new season are at the forefront of their minds, there is something dark looming in the distance. Negotiations over the next CBA between the league and the MLB Players Association.

Due to the out-of-control spending by the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets and other big-market teams over the past few years, the buzz around the sport is that many owners are willing to finally bring a hard salary cap to MLB. It’s similar to some other major leagues like the NFL, NHL and NBA or something similar.

However, it still has to make its way to MLB as the MLBPA has proven time and again that they are the strongest players union in the game. Whenever the owners push for a major change, the players push back even harder, and they have yet to break even.

Brent Rucker on hard cap: We will not tolerate it being implemented

And when it comes to the hard cap, the Athletics’ two-time All-Star Brent Rucker is the latest MLB star to make it clear that the idea is a complete non-starter for players.

“The salary cap is designed to suppress wages so owners can make more money. That’s enough. That’s the goal behind them. They’re not trying to accomplish anything else. It’s not good for the players, it’s not good for the league, it’s not good for competitive balance or equity.”

“We will not tolerate it being implemented into our game,” Rucker said when asked about the hard cap during an event on Wednesday. foul zone podcast.

It certainly seems like both sides are ready to take a deeper look at the hard cap issue. If they’re both adamant, it looks like there’ll be another work stoppage like 1994 – coming early next year.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The biggest story in the NBA has been the immediate future of Giannis Antetokounmpo, as it appears he is nearing the end of his tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks. The potential trade of Giannis Antetokounmpo caused an uproar across the league, even prompting teams to make a trade to see if the two-time MVP was available to acquire.

In the days leading up to the trade deadline, one team picked up steam as a prime destination for Giannis Antetokounmpo’s services: the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Timberwolves, led by charismatic star Anthony Edwards, have made runs to the Western Conference Finals the past two seasons, but it appears they don’t have enough runs to overcome this loss. So, the Timberwolves aggressively pursued Antetokounmpo, and it appeared that playing with Edwards was uppermost in the Bucks star’s mind.

This conversation between the Greek Freak and Ant-Man at All-Star Weekend:

Giannis Antetokounmpo: “We’re gonna go viral again, man.”

Anthony Edwards: “We’re always going to go viral, take you and me together. We’re going to go viral.”

(via @timberwolves)pic.twitter.com/DFnmFXHKc1

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 19 February 2026

Ultimately, negotiations failed as Milwaukee chose to keep Antetokounmpo through the remainder of the season and explore his future in the off-season. At the All-Star break, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Edwards fueled trade rumors.

In a video posted by the Timberwolves, the two All-Stars were seen chatting in the tunnel at the Intuit Dome and mentioned how they knew their video together would go viral.

“We’re gonna go viral again, man,” Antetokounmpo said.

Edwards replied, “We’re always going to go viral, you get me and you together. We’re going to go viral.”

These interactions between players in the All-Star Game are always seen as potential precursors to future team-ups. During the 2019 All-Star Game, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant were caught on video talking privately with each other, which many speculated at the time as possibly being the reason they were teaming up to play each other. And the speculations appeared to be true.

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving last night 👀

(@jpizzy15 sent me the video) pic.twitter.com/xKXT8MPnwm

– Ben Stinar (@BenStinar) 18 February 2019

On Kevin Durant’s Podcast ETC with Kevin Durant In September 2020, Durant indicated that the conversation solidified their intention to play with each other, although he did not know which team he would be joining.

“The All-Star Game video where they caught us in the hallway. That’s when it cemented that we were going somewhere. They didn’t really know where it was, but it was somewhere.”

Durant said the conversation at All-Star Weekend was not the first time they discussed his future.

“Like we’ll have these types of [basketball related] Conversation all day, every day. And it evolved from there. It just grew from there, it was organic, you know what I’m saying? And it wasn’t something you could point to and say, this was the moment. That’s it, that’s it.”

It’s unknown whether Edwards and Antetokounmpo were having the same conversation, and they certainly weren’t doing so in that video. But, there is a possibility that we may see two All-Stars team up together in the future.

Both the Bucks and Timberwolves are back in action on Friday night. Minnesota will host Dallas at 7:30 p.m. The game will air on ESPN. Meanwhile, the Bucks will travel to New Orleans for tip-off at 8 p.m.

The Kansas City Chiefs have taken a big step toward a rumored reunion with the greatest receiver in team history, Tyreek Hill.

KC Chiefs’ 10-year dominance may be over. For the first time since 2012, they finished with a record below .500 and missed the playoffs for only the second time during Andy Reid’s era as head coach. Patrick Mahomes suffered an ACL injury late in the season, which was the bitter cherry on top of the team’s terrible sundae of a 2025 season.

That’s why there’s definitely some roster changes coming this offseason, and the area that may receive the most attention is the offense. The unit that was once one of the most dangerous in the NFL has been overshadowed by its defensive counterparts over the past few seasons. The priority will be to return the crime to its previous form.

The nostalgia trip has already begun as the team reunited with Eric Bieniemy this offseason to once again become their offensive coordinator. Another reunion that has been a source of speculation over the past few months is bringing back eight-time Pro Bowler Tyreek Hill.

KC Chiefs commit over $40 million in cap space

Earlier this week, the receiver’s return to Kansas City became a real possibility when the Miami Dolphins made him one of their first offseason cuts. However, before the KC Chiefs could add Hill or any other players, they needed to avoid the salary cap and reduce the payroll burden. Well, they did that on Wednesday.

Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap Report said, “The Chiefs turned $54.45 million of QB Patrick Mahomes’s 2026 salary into a signing bonus to create some much-needed cap room for the Chiefs.” “The move dropped Mahomes’ salary cap number for 2026 from $78.2 to $34.65 million, opening up $43.56 million in cap room for the Chiefs.”

After a few down seasons and tearing his ACL in September, Hill is likely to come to Miami at a much lower rate than the $30 million he was making per season. So KC Chiefs now have enough cap space to sign him and one or two other impressive players this offseason.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Heading into the 2023 NFL Draft, it felt like eventual No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young was the talk of the town. CJ Stroud had a great performance in the Peach Bowl with 348 yards and four touchdowns, but he couldn’t do anything to convince the Carolina Panthers that he was more than deserving of the first pick.

Then, their NFL careers progressed, and it quickly became clear that Stroud was more equipped for immediate success than Young. He helped lead Stroud to the divisional round playoffs and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl along the way. Meanwhile, Young led his team to a 2–14 record with the second-lowest completion rate in football.

During that first season, it appeared as if the Texans had discovered their next superstar QB. If he could take a last-place team in their division and get them into the playoffs the following year, what else was Stroud capable of doing? We didn’t know it, but felt the sky was the limit.

Unfortunately, Stroud’s arrow has not been rising in the last two years. The Texans have still reached the playoffs each time, but have been eliminated in the divisional round.

However, this time, Stroud’s performance was a big reason why the Texans were unable to advance. Teams don’t win many games because their quarterback is only able to complete 42.6% of his passes while throwing four interceptions like Stroud did.

During the playoff loss, many wondered aloud whether coach Demeco Ryans should have subbed Stroud for his backup QB, Davis Mills. That never happened, but Stroud’s performance didn’t stop the NFL rumor mill from spitting out some wild ideas.

The latest example comes from NFL Draft expert Todd McShay, who suggests Stroud will be a popular trade target this offseason.

“I’m told there are some big-name QBs who are being targeted. C.J. Stroud is one of them. Does he need a change of scenery? Be prepared for that. Stroud has not been the guy he was in his rookie year the last two years in Houston. Some [teams] Looking at him and saying, ‘Can we get that rookie year guy from Stroud here?'”

After the season ended, the Texans addressed Stroud’s future with the team, and they were not able to commit to the young QB at all. Still, that doesn’t mean they’re ready to gut their roster after three consecutive playoff appearances. Still, some people, like McShay, at least believe the trade is possible, but it takes two to tango.

RELATED: Potential NFL rule change makes blockbuster trades more likely

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The Los Angeles Lakers recently endured a turbulent trade deadline, during which forward Rui Hachimura was frequently mentioned in league-wide discussions. Reports from ClutchPoints and other insiders indicate that the Lakers are engaged in direct talks with the Cleveland Cavaliers regarding a potential trade for De’Andre Hunter. Hachimura was reportedly a key part in these negotiations, as his expiring contract and high-level on-court production made him a valuable asset to teams seeking wing depth.

Despite being made available in these discussions, the Lakers’ front office maintained a firm stance: they would only move the veteran if it meant significantly upgrading the roster, refusing to part with him merely for salary relief. This strategic discipline ensured that Hachimura remained in Los Angeles as a key contributor to the team’s championship aspirations.

Addressing the continued speculation surrounding the franchise, Hachimura provided a candid assessment of the situation. “With the Lakers, we get a lot of rumors,” he told ESPN. “But a lot of times, those rumors are bullshit. Now we have a time where it can be said, ‘Okay, this is our group now.’ Because we know this now. So we are ready to move forward.”

His comments reflect a sense of relief and focus within the locker room now that the deadline has passed, allowing the team to move forward with its established core.

Hachimura’s importance to the Lakers has become clear since his return from a calf injury. He has found a distinctive rhythm recently, serving as the driving force in several key wins, including a remarkable 23-point performance against the Chicago Bulls, where he shot an impressive 9-11 from the field.

This season, he has emerged as one of the league’s premier catch-and-shoot threats, averaging a 43.9% three-point shooting percentage. By retaining Hachimura, the Lakers have kept a versatile wing who not only understands the team’s system but also actively improves their spacing and offensive efficiency.

As the team turns its attention to the playoffs, Hachimura’s presence provides the stability needed to ignore distractions and achieve another championship win.

The latest updates on the ongoing negotiations between the WNBA and its players point to a strike starting very soon.

NBA All-Star weekend is in the rearview, and there was one notable omission from this year’s event: the inclusion of WNBA stars. Typically, all women’s leagues owned by the NBA have a presence on All-Star weekend. But that didn’t happen this month as the WNBA is in the middle of negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement. An agreement that appears no closer to completion.

Even during the 2025 WNBA season, there were strong rumors that a strike or lockout was very possible. With interest in the league reaching new heights over the past two seasons, players want increased wages and feel they deserve it. However, league owners want to be cautious about the recent surge and do not want to overextend their financial capabilities if the recent growth cannot sustain itself.

Talks have been going on for several months, but little progress has been made and it could soon pass the point where the season could be delayed. According to a recent report from Front Office Sports, “If a deal is not reached within the first two weeks of February, the season will be delayed.”

More evidence emerges that WNBA strike is coming

The new season is scheduled to begin on May 8, and the league still has the expansion draft, free agency and the 2026 WNBA Draft for the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire on the offseason to-do list before the new season begins.

Adding to the idea that a players’ strike is imminent is the fact that it was actually rumored to be announced this weekend. FOS reported, “There was a rumor throughout the weekend that there would be a demonstration by WNBA players in Los Angeles to press for a better deal or declare a strike. But the weekend ended without any such event.”

There could be no better evidence that players are under the impression that a strike is going to happen than two-time WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart agreeing to a deal with Turkish club Fenerbahçe. The impending free agent will begin playing in Türkiye a few weeks before the upcoming WNBA season begins. If she thought a CBA agreement was not far off, it would be highly unlikely that she would sign such an agreement.

The league’s most recent offer is reportedly still less than 15% of total league revenue and includes a salary cap hit of $5.65 million.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos