One of the top NFL storylines this offseason is the saga between the Las Vegas Raiders and their star pass rusher, Maxx Crosby. The five-time Pro Bowler was shut down by the franchise in December due to a knee injury — a decision Crosby “vehemently” disagreed with, according to Jay Glazer of Fox. After the way that situation was handled, Crosby is reportedly going to reevaluate his future with the organization. 

There has been some mixed messaging with this situation. Glazer for example believes Crosby’s time with the Raiders is over, but Crosby has not requested a trade, and is in a “great place” with the team, according to NFL Media. However, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB, the Raiders have a lot of work to do to repair their relationship with Crosby. And his frustration with the franchise reportedly goes all the way to the top.

“There’s a lot of fence-mending that’s going to need to happen if the Raiders are going to hang onto Maxx Crosby,” Breer said on NBC Sports Boston. “It goes all the way to the top of the organization with Tom Brady and Alex Guerrero. The way the communication happened with the injury in December left a mark. This is a guy who’s incredibly loyal to the Raiders organization, wanted to spend his entire career there, and is loyal to Mark Davis as well. Now, he feels betrayed.”

Maxx Crosby mock trades: Five blockbuster deals that could shake up the NFL

Tyler Sullivan

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You may recognize Guerrero’s name. He’s been connected to Brady since his New England Patriots days as a trainer and former business partner. Now, Guerrero is listed on the Raiders’ official website as the team’s wellness coordinator where he “oversees several departments to ensure and enhance the health and well-being of players, coaches, and staff.”

According to Breer, a lot of people in the organization report to Guerrero now, and he’s viewed as the “eyes and ears” of Brady.  Where he comes into the equation with Crosby is that Guerrero was apparently part of communicating to the star pass rusher that he was being shut down. This “really angered Maxx,” Breer said.  

Crosby also reportedly had a “strong suspicion” that the reason he was shut down was for the Raiders to tank for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Vegas was successful in doing so. 

Crosby has refused to address the noise surrounding him, saying recently on the “Let’s Go!” podcast that he’s focused on his family and training. 

“My focus has been on getting healthy because that’s all I can control right now,” Crosby said, via NFL.com. “That’s all that matters to me is being with my daughters and being with my wife and taking care of myself. People are gonna have rumors.

“I just looked at my phone — I’ve been working all morning. Everyone’s hitting me up, ‘Did you say this?’ I can’t control that. You earn that as a player. If I wasn’t doing the right things and if I wasn’t the person and player I was, people wouldn’t be talking about all the nonsense. But that’s what comes with it. If you have drama, if you have a losing season, they just try to throw gasoline on the fire and make things a certain way.”

New Raiders coach Klint Kubiak was introduced earlier this week, and he was able to meet with Crosby — who apparently was the first player in the building working out. Kubiak could play an important role in soothing whatever tensions may exist between Crosby and the Raiders. 

“We want him to be a part of our success going forward, theres no doubt about that,” Kubiak said. “He’s one of the best players in the NFL. That’s a no-brainer, to get to work with Maxx and see him continue to have success with this organization.”

Crosby is indeed one of the best players in the NFL regardless of position. Since entering the league as a fourth-round pick out of Eastern Michigan in 2019, he has recorded the most tackles for loss (133), the fifth-most QB hits (164) and sixth-most sacks (69.5) while playing the most snaps among all defensive linemen (6,112). Breer says a “bunch of contenders” will have interest if Crosby is made available for trade. It remains to be seen if Vegas will do that. 

Five weeks remain until the Golden Slipper, but among the two-year-olds, none has claimed the mantle of undisputed favourite for the highlight race.

Warwoven, sharing favouritism, stays sidelined after lameness diagnosis by Queensland Racing officials on the brink of the Magic Millions Classic at Gold Coast last month; Incognito, Breeders’ Plate conqueror, faltered on return due to palate displacement; Hidrix, the victor there, must match his first-up brilliance to advance his Slipper bid.

Trainer Michael Freedman, fresh off Marhoona’s Golden Slipper win last year, admits no obvious standout exists this season, yet holds hopes for Outspan’s rise after contesting Saturday’s Pierro Plate (1100m) in Randwick.

“There is no clear, dominant pick for the Slipper at this stage. It’s wide open, a little bit like last year,” Freedman said.

“He’s obviously going to have to put his hand up, but I’m happy with how he’s going.”

Twelve youngsters will assemble for the Pierro Plate, only three with pre-Christmas outings.

This trend is gaining prevalence, paralleled in the Golden Slipper’s legacy of victors.

Of the prior ten winners, six raced before Christmas, yet the last five show three postponing debuts to the New Year.

Freedman handled two: Marhoona plus Stay Inside in 2021.

“I think that’s going to be more the norm going forward,” Freedman said.

“Trainers are holding their horses back a bit longer. My two Slipper winners, neither of them started until the New Year, and I think that will become more common than not.”

In January, Outspan posted a rallying fifth to Knightsbridge across 1000m at Randwick, then notched his initial victory at Rosehill two weeks later.

Outspan follows a regimen akin to Stay Inside, who debuted winning in January, progressed through the Pierro Plate to Slipper victory. Punters should review the racing betting markets for the Pierro Plate.

The post Will Pierro Plate serve up another Golden Slipper contender? first appeared on Just Horse Racing.

Raheem Sterling has found a new club just weeks after leaving Chelsea by mutual consent.

Former Manchester City star Raheem Sterling has confirmed a move to Dutch side Feyenoord until the season’s end, following his departure from Chelsea.

The club has unveiled the signing of the England international, having outmanoeuvred other teams for his services. Reports suggest the winger held discussions with various clubs but ultimately opted for a move to the Netherlands.

The move will see him team up with former Manchester United striker Robin van Persie, who is now head coach at his childhood club.

It’s suggested that the former Arsenal and Man United star played a pivotal role in persuading Sterling to leave England, marking his first stint abroad in his career. The 31-year-old was reportedly keen to remain in London after returning to his home city to sign for Chelsea, but the mutual termination of his contract at the club has paved the way for him to play and relocate elsewhere.

After the announcement of the move, Sterling shared his thoughts on the deal via Instagram stories with a brief statement. He said: “God’s Plan. Can’t wait for this next chapter!!”

Speaking to the official Feyenoord website, he further commented: “As a free agent, I’ve had, for the first time in a long time, the opportunity to control the next step in my career. I wanted to take my time to speak with clubs and their Head Coaches to better understand the role they envisioned for me and ensure that I can add real value in this next chapter.

“Having spoken in great detail with CEO Dennis te Kloese and Robin, I’m confident that Feyenoord is a place I can be happy and establish myself as a valued member of the team. Playing abroad is a whole new challenge for me – and one I’m ready to embrace.

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“Honestly, I’m just excited to get started. To Feyenoord and particularly Robin and Dennis, thank you for your patience and professionalism as I navigated this process.”

Robin van Persie also commented on the transfer: “Naturally it’s a fantastic feat that we’ve managed to convince a player of Raheem’s calibre to sign with us,” he said.

“His football resume speaks for itself: he’s a player whose qualities can change the outcome of a game without a doubt, and I am convinced he will turn out to be a valuable addition to the team as we work towards achieving our goals in the second half of this season.”

Sterling left Man City to join Chelsea in 2022 in a £47.5million on a five-year contract.

But things didn’t work out as planned for Sterling, though, with Enzo Maresca sidelining the player from the squad early in his tenure at the club and determining he had no future role in his plans. A loan switch to Arsenal on transfer deadline day in August 2024 enabled him to remain in the capital, whilst linking up with Mikel Arteta once more – the pair having previously worked together at City

Sterling found it difficult to make a significant impression, despite the injuries affecting the forward line during that period. He featured 28 times across all competitions, netting once and providing five assists for the Gunners, before returning to Chelsea.

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The sporting directors at Stamford Bridge were unsuccessful in securing a departure for the experienced player in the summer, whilst encountering similar obstacles in January. This ultimately resulted in an agreement to terminate his contract 18 months prematurely, enabling him to seek opportunities elsewhere.

At Chelsea, Sterling featured 81 times, netting 19 goals and providing 15 assists. The forward will now be aiming to make his impact in the Netherlands, rediscovering his finest form whilst still in the prime years of his playing career.

The current DraftKings promo code gives new users $300 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins. Thursday features a three-game NBA slate that features LeBron James in action as the Los Angeles Lakers host the Dallas Mavericks at 10 p.m. ET. Although James will play in the NBA All-Star Game, he’ll have time to rest after Thursday, which could lead to more minutes and larger usage. With James active and the Mavericks without multiple players, including Cooper Flagg (foot), the SportsLine Projection Model backs the Lakers to cover as 7.5-point favorites as one of its Thursday NBA best bets at DraftKings. The over/under for Lakers vs. Mavericks is 235.5, the highest total on Thursday’s NBA odds board. 

The model is also backing the Oklahoma City Thunder to cover as 13.5-point favorites against the Milwaukee Bucks in a 7:30 p.m. ET matchup that will not feature Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal) or Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf). One of SportsLine’s top experts has also locked in a college basketball bet for Northern Iowa vs. Belmont at 9 p.m. ET. Claim the latest DraftKings promo code, where new users get $300 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins: 

Check out our DraftKings promo code review for full details.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past eight-plus seasons. The model enters the week before the NBA All-Star break on a sizzling 38-17 roll on top-rated NBA spread picks dating back to last season. Anyone following its NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.

Thursday best bets at DraftKings Sportsbook

• Thunder (-13.5) vs. Bucks (-112)
• Northern Iowa (+5.5) vs. Belmont (-118)
• Lakers (-7.5) vs. Mavericks (-112)

Combining the three picks into a Thursday parlay at DraftKings would result in a payout of +541 (risk $100 to win $541). Bet it at DraftKings here: (Odds subject to change):

Thunder (-13.5) vs. Bucks (-112)

The Thunder certainly aren’t the same team without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the lineup, but they are still 3-2 over their five games with the reigning NBA MVP out with an abdominal injury. They’ve won two of those three games by at least 27 points, with an average margin of victory of 24 points in the three wins. Oklahoma City is coming off a 136-109 win over the Suns on Wednesday to improve to 42-13 this season. Meanwhile, the Bucks are 4-4 in their eight games with Giannis Antetokounmpo out, but 1-3 against teams with a winning record. The model projects the Thunder to cover in 64% of simulations. Back the Thunder to cover at DraftKings here:

Northern Iowa (+5.5) vs. Belmont (-118)

“Belmont saw its nine-game win streak snapped in an OT loss at Bradley, and now the Bruins return home to face a Northern Iowa team they dismantled by 13 in Cedar Falls,” SportsLine expert Larry Hartstein said. “But Northern Iowa is playing much better now. The Panthers just destroyed Murray State, the MVC’s second-place team, 89-60 on the road, for their third straight win. None of Northern Iowa’s last four opponents has scored more than 60 points. While the Bruins are highly efficient offensively, the Panthers hold opponents to 26.5 percent from deep. Northern Iowa has been an underdog six times this season. The Panthers have covered five of those — the miss coming by 1.5 points at Bradley — and beaten market expectations by an average of 8.2 points.” Back Northern Iowa to cover at DraftKings here:

Lakers (-7.5) vs. Mavericks (-112)

This Dallas Mavericks lineup is certainly not what NBA fans expected to see on display at the start of the season. The Mavericks still haven’t seen Kyrie Irving this season, who remains out with a knee injury. They traded away Anthony Davis. And now, No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, who has dominated lately, is out with a foot injury. The Lakers aren’t at full strength either, with Luka Doncic (hamstring) out, but only Doncic and Deandre Ayton (knee, questionable) are on the LA injury report. Meanwhile, Dallas has eight players on its injury report as either questionable, doubtful or out. LeBron James should be additionally rested, as he hasn’t played since Monday, and could take on a larger role with the upcoming break. The Lakers are 32-21 compared to the Mavericks at 19-34 this season, and the model projects the Lakers to cover in 67% of simulations.” Back the Lakers to cover at DraftKings here:

Want more NBA, college basketball picks on Thursday?

You’ve seen some of the model’s Thursday best bets. Now, get against the spread, total and money-line picks for all games, including the NBA, college basketball, NHL, and more, all from the model that’s simulated every game 10,000 times. 

One of the most valuable freshmen in the sport may have played his last game in college.

North Carolina announced Thursday afternoon that stellar freshman forward Caleb Wilson suffered a left hand fracture during the first half of the Tar Heels’ 75-66 road loss against Miami on Tuesday.

“X-rays taken during the game were negative, and he returned to play later in the second half vs. the Hurricanes, but additional imaging done in Chapel Hill revealed the fracture,” per the school. “The evaluation process is ongoing to determine the timetable for Wilson’s return.”

Wilson played 26 minutes against Miami, his fewest against a power-conference opponent this season. He also logged a season-low 12 points.

Impact on UNC’s lineup

Broken hands can sometimes lead to extended absences, so there is no telling whether or not Wilson will be able to suit up in the near future, or if the injury and subsequent rehab will force him to sit deep into March. Wilson has been one of the best freshman performers in what’s increasingly considered the deepest one-and-done class in college basketball history. 

At 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, Wilson has doubly proven to be among the best freshmen in Carolina history. His 17 20-point outings are the most by any first-year player for the program. Wilson played all 40 minutes in UNC’s instant-epic win over rival Duke on Saturday, scoring 23 points to go with four rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. North Carolina also notes Wilson’s 66 dunks are the most of any player in college basketball. 

Without Wilson, UNC loses formidable inside defense, scoring, flexibility and recovery. There is no replacing his motor or stamina, either. UNC ranks outside the top 40 in defensive efficiency at KenPom and has relied on Wilson’s unrelenting hustle and playmaking to make a jump this season after barely making the 2025 NCAA Tournament. 

UNC has been playing an eight-man rotation for the majority of the year. The Heels’ four starters will remain Henri Veesar in the middle, Jarin Stevenson in the frontcourt (likely moving from the 3 and replacing Wilson as the 4-man), veteran shooting guard Seth Trimble and freshman Derek Dixon, a rising star running the point in the backcourt. 

The most likely tweak to keep UNC with some viable size in its most common lineup will be to inject 6-6 swingman Luka Bogavac into the starting five. The 22-year-old from Montenegro started 13 games earlier in the year.

Backup shooting guard Jonathan Powell and point guard Kyan Evans (who’s started 17 times) will see their roles increased as well. Everyone else has played spot duty. Can UNC go seven-deep as it turns toward the month-long stretch to Selection Sunday?

NCAA tourney seed outlook TBD

Thursday’s news makes North Carolina one of the most interesting teams to track over the next month. 

There’s a wide spectrum of outcomes in play because the loss of Wilson will be problematic for a 19-5 Heels crew that is ranked 11th this week but doesn’t have an NCAA seed projection that harmonizes with its AP ranking. 

The Tar Heels are currently hovering between the 6- and 7-line in CBS Sports’ most recent NCAA Tournament bracketology outlook. Depending on how the Tar Heels play in the weeks ahead without their most talented player, the committee will evaluate (but not necessarily punish) UNC with and without Wilson. Now, if UNC can win way more often than not without its most vital player, the committee will reward the Heels accordingly. 

The next game is manageable: UNC hosts lowly Pitt on Saturday, then has back-to-back road tests against North Carolina State and Syracuse. Home games against Louisville and Clemson still await (both are pacing toward healthy tourney seeds) and of course there’s the season finale at Duke.

An Atlanta native, Wilson projects as a top-five draft prospect. North Carolina hasn’t had a player drafted in the top five since Marvin Williams went No. 2 in 2005.

J.D. PicKell of On3 picked Oregon as the program best set up for success in the next 3 years in the country.

His confidence in the Ducks is well-founded, but is it too much?

On today’s episode of Locked On Ducks, I discuss incoming 5-star freshman safety Jett Washington and what his role could be.

Plus, names to know in the 2027 class. Oregon Basketball is having its worst season ever under Dana Altman, heading to a potential last-place finish in the Big Ten.

How can he avoid that next year?

06:37 Playoff Hurdle for Dan Lanning
13:19 Oregon’s Defensive Depth and Talent
14:09 Oregon Secondary Development Praised
18:09 Jett Washington vs. Kingston Lopa
26:15 Dana Altman Must Adapt
28:50 “Challenges in Oregon Recruitment.”
32:11 Facing Talent and Style Gaps

The World Baseball Classic is right around the corner, and FOX Sports just announced the broadcast schedule.

There are five teams in each pool, and each team will play four games across six days during pool play. The tournament begins on March 4 and ends on March 17.

The FOX Sports family of networks (FOX, FS1, FS2, FOX Deportes), the FOX Sports App and Tubi will combine to air all 47 games of the World Baseball Classic.

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A general view during the opening ceremonies of the 2023 World Baseball Classic championship game between Team USA and Team Japan at LoanDepot Park. The event took place in Miami, Florida, on March 21, 2023. (Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Eight of the 20 teams will advance to the quarterfinals, which are single elimination. The semifinals begin a day after the quarterfinals end, with the final on Tuesday, March 17.

Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama and Colombia are in Pool A. They will play their pool games at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The United States, Mexico, Italy, Great Britain and Brazil are in Pool B. They will play their pool games at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. Japan, Australia, Korea, Czechia and Chinese Taipei are in Pool C. They will play their pool games at the Tokyo Dome, in Tokyo, Japan.

Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Israel and Nicaragua are in Pool D. They will play their pool games at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida.

DEREK JETER RECALLS THE ONLY TIME HE PLAYED AGAINST YANKEES TEAMMATES – AS TEAM USA’S SHORTSTOP

Designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (16) of Japan celebrates hitting a three-run home run in the fifth inning during the World Baseball Classic exhibition game between Japan and Hanshin Tigers at Kyocera Dome Osaka. The game took place in Osaka, Japan, on March 6, 2023. (Kenta Harada/Getty Images)

Here is the schedule for the tournament:

Wednesday, March 4

Chinese Taipei and Australia – 10:00 PM ET – FS1/FOXD

Thursday, March 5

Czechia and Korea – 5:00 AM ET – FS1/FOXD

Australia and Czechia – 10:00 PM ET – FS1/FOXD

Friday, March 6

Japan and Chinese Taipei – 5:00 AM ET – FS1/FOXD

Cuba and Panama – 11:00 AM ET – FS2/FOXD

Netherlands and Venezuela – 12:00 PM ET – Tubi

Mexico and Great Britain – 1:00 PM ET – FS1/FOXD

Puerto Rico and Colombia – 6:00 PM ET – FS1/FOXD

Nicaragua and Dominican Republic – 7:00 PM ET – FS2

USA and Brazil – 8:00 PM ET – FOX/FOXD

Chinese Taipei and Czechia – 10:00 PM ET – FS2

Saturday, March 7

Korea and Japan – 5:00 AM ET – FS1/FOXD

Colombia and Canada – 11:00 AM ET – FS2/FOXD

Nicaragua and Netherlands – 12:00 PM ET – Tubi

Brazil and Italy – 1:00 PM ET – App

Panama and Puerto Rico – 6:00 PM ET – FS1/FOXD

Israel and Venezuela – 7:00 PM ET – FS2

Great Britain and USA – 8:00 PM ET – FOX

Chinese Taipei and Korea – 10:00 PM ET – FS2

Sunday, March 8

Australia and Japan – 6:00 AM ET – FS1/FOXD

Colombia and Cuba – 12:00 PM ET – FS2

Netherlands and Dominican Republic – 12:00 PM ET – FOX/FOXD

Great Britain and Italy – 1:00 PM ET – Tubi

Panama and Canada – 7:00 PM ET – FS2

Nicaragua and Israel – 7:00 PM ET – Tubi

Brazil and Mexico – 8:00 PM ET – FS1/FOXD

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Trea Turner (8) of Team USA hits a grand slam in the top of the eighth inning during the 2023 World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game between Team USA and Team Venezuela at LoanDepot Park. The game took place in Miami, Florida, on March 18, 2023. (Gene Wang/Getty Images)

Monday, March 9

Korea and Australia – 6:00 AM ET – FS1/FOXD

Colombia and Panama – 12:00 PM ET – FS2

Dominican Republic and Israel – 12:00 PM ET – FS1/FOXD

Brazil and Great Britain – 1:00 PM ET – Tubi

Cuba and Puerto Rico – 7:00 PM ET – FS1

Venezuela and Nicaragua – 7:00 PM ET – FS2

Mexico and USA – 8:00 PM ET – FOX/FOXD

Tuesday, March 10

Czechia and Japan – 6:00 AM ET – FS1/FOXD

Canada and Puerto Rico – 7:00 PM ET – Tubi

Israel and Netherlands – 7:00 PM ET – App/FOXD

Italy and USA – 9:00 PM ET – FS1/FOXD

Wednesday, March 11

Canada and Cuba – 3:00 PM ET – FS2/FOXD

Italy and Mexico – 7:00 PM ET – Tubi

Dominican Republic and Venezuela – 8:00 PM ET – FS1/FOXD

Friday, March 13 – Quarterfinals

Tokyo Runner-Up and Miami Winner – 6:30 PM ET – FS2/FOXD

San Juan Runner-Up and Houston Winner – 8:00 PM ET – FOX/FOXD

Saturday, March 14 – Quarterfinals

Houston Runner-Up and San Juan Winner – 3:00 PM ET – FS1/FOXD

Miami Runner-Up and Tokyo Winner – 9:00 PM ET – FOX/FOXD

Sunday, March 15 – Semifinals

Semifinal #1 – 8:00 PM ET – FS1/FOXD

Monday, March 16 – Semifinals

Semifinal #2 – 8:00 PM ET – FS1/FOXD

Tuesday, March 17 – Championship

Championship Game – 8:00 PM ET – FOX/FOXD

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