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‘We just have to be stubborn’: Paras Dogra’s 24-year wait finds meaning as J&K reach historic Ranji Trophy final

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A long domestic career and years of persistence came together for Paras Dogra as he led Jammu and Kashmir cricket team into their first-ever Ranji Trophy final with a six-wicket win over Bengal on Wednesday.

“Cricket tests you far more than it rewards you,” he said, as cited by news agency PTI, after guiding the team to its first Ranji final following a 67-year wait.

“We just have to be stubborn,” he added.

The 41-year-old captain’s words reflected not just the match but a long career built over many seasons, during which he helped change a side long seen as underdogs.

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Dogra began his domestic career with the Himachal Pradesh cricket team in 2001. He later played for the Pondicherry cricket team from the 2018-19 season to 2023-24 before joining Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Since his debut in 2001, he has scored 10,517 runs in 152 first-class matches at an average above 48, including 34 centuries and 36 half-centuries, with a highest score of 253.

A former India A batter, he also played unofficial Tests against the West Indies A in 2013. Over the years, he has remained among domestic cricket’s consistent run-scorers.

At Jammu and Kashmir, he joined a dressing room looking for belief, and this season that belief led to a place in the final.

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“We have to keep going. So, God has written that we will play in the final,” he said after the team reached the title clash, ending a wait that goes back to their debut in 1959-60.

During the semifinal, Dogra also became only the second batter after Wasim Jaffer to cross 10,000 Ranji Trophy runs.

“Kabhi socha nahin tha (never thought I will get to this milestone). Khelna pasand hai, baaki uparwala ne 10,000 run bana diya (I just love playing and by the grace of God I could make 10,000), so I’m really very happy,” he said, as quoted by news agency PTI.

He called the milestone special but said the team’s goal remained more important. He also thanked teammates and support staff for backing him late in his career.

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“Thank you very much for that. It felt good. I never thought I would do this. But I love this game. I just like to play.

“Definitely, I am very happy and I am also very happy that I got to play with such amazing guys. The coaching staff. The management. They are supporting me in everything.

“So, I think we have been talking about it from the first day, so, hopefully we will do it.”

Jammu and Kashmir had given away a 26-run first-innings lead after being bowled out for 302, but Dogra said the team stayed calm.

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“There was still two-and-a-half-days game was left so the lead of 26 runs doesn’t matter that much.

“Because it was a five-day game. So, we were still positive. That we will chase as many runs as possible. But we were not expecting that Bengal will fold so quickly.”

Asked whether the result had sunk in, he said: “Yes, it has sunk in, we were in a good position. So, yes, definitely.”

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NFL Insider Drops Another Kirk Cousins Clue for Vikings

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Kirk Cousins plays in the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium.
Oct 1, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) surveys the field during the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium on Oct. 1, 2023. Cousins stood in the pocket as Minnesota pushed through the final minutes of a road contest, directing the offense late in the NFC matchup. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports.

Reports of Kirk Cousins’s possible 2026 reunion with the Minnesota Vikings have swung back and forth through seven weeks of the offseason, and the latest clue leans heavily in favor of a partnership. Jason La Canfora spilled his version of the beans this week, insinuating that Cousins could indeed be back to work alongside J.J. McCarthy.

The latest buzz suggests Minnesota could revisit Cousins, but the real story is what job he’d hold.

Cousins worked for the Vikings from 2018 to 2023, helping the club reach the playoffs twice in six years and earn one postseason win.

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Cousins Reunion Buzz Gains Momentum

The rumor saga continues.

Kirk Cousins warms up for the Falcons in Charlotte. Kirk Cousins Vikings Rumors.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) goes through warmups at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sep. 21, 2025, preparing for kickoff as cameras track his pregame routine. The veteran signal-caller loosens his arm and scans the field ahead of another regular-season road assignment. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

La Canfora: Cousins to MIN Is Real

La Canfora wasn’t shy this week about banging the drum of a Cousins reunion. He wrote, “Despite interest from other teams, a reunion with Minnesota seems likely due to Cousins’ fit and affection for the city. The NFL moves in mysterious ways, and just two years after Kirk Cousins left Minnesota for a hefty contract in Atlanta.

“There is now a growing sentiment among NFL executives in the market for quarterbacks that Cousins could very well end up back with the Vikings.”

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Minnesota has made it crystal-clear that another quarterback to accompany McCarthy is on the way; it’s just a matter of who and what that man’s role will be.

“McCarthy has proven to be difficult to be develop, according to multiple league sources, with his erratic play playing no small role in the franchise recently moving on from its general manager,” La Canfora continued.

“Cousins finally began to play better football late last season after an Achilles injury, and a poor fit in Atlanta’s offense, led to basically two lost seasons with the Falcons. In a very weak free-agent class, he stands out as a legit stop-gap option.”

McCarthy started 10 games in 2025, the first batch of his career, and ranked dead last leaguewide in EPA+CPOE.

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Cousins’s Role?

Imagine a Cousins reunion in Minnesota gaining traction, as La Canfora suggests. The appeal extends beyond mere nostalgia. Cousins previously held the undisputed QB1 position for the Vikings. A return, however, wouldn’t automatically reinstate him.

Kevin O’Connell would face three plausible options: immediately name him the Week 1 starter in 2026, conduct a genuine training camp competition with McCarthy, or assign Cousins to a true QB2 backup role, similar to his anticipated situation in Atlanta in 2025.

Statistical context is key to evaluating Cousins’s potential. In 2023, his last full season as Minnesota’s starter, Cousins ranked fifth in the league in EPA+CPOE. In 2025, that figure plummeted to 30th out of 35 qualifying players. An Achilles tear and the passage of three years separate the potential 2026 version from the 2023 version. While his past accomplishments still hold value, realistic projections require caution. The Vikings won’t get the prime version of Kirko.

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La Canfora’s also noted on his source’s intel, “That GM was fairly adamant about a Cousins reunion with Minnesota, though there will clearly be other interested parties. Cousins and his family loved being in Minnesota, he fits the system, they are loaded with skill player talent on the roster.”

“It just may be too good a fit for the team or player to neglect. In other news, quarterbacks Kyler Murray and Malik Willis are also viewed by league insiders as potential movers this offseason.”

A Forgettable 2025 Campaign

The aforementioned stat: in 2025, 35 quarterbacks matched or exceeded Cousins’ passing volume. Of those 35, he ranked 30th in EPA per play.

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Kirk Cousins drops back to pass against the Chiefs.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) drops back to pass against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Oct. 8, 2023. Cousins surveys the pocket as protection forms around him in a tightly contested nonconference matchup. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Should Minnesota reconsider signing him, the front office would be betting on a quarterback who, among qualifying players, ranked as the league’s fifth-worst the previous season. Expecting him to lead them to Super Bowl contention would require a significant leap of faith. Almost a comical leap.

The physical aspect further complicates the situation. McCarthy’s most effective plays in 2025 occurred when he improvised outside of structured plays, scrambling and resetting. This type of flexibility isn’t merely an option in O’Connell’s offense; it’s integral.

Cousins, on the other hand, operates almost exclusively from within the pocket. This has been his established style for years, and at 38, it’s unlikely to change. While his arm remains strong, his mobility is stinks.

Minnesota’s offense, as of late, requires an adaptable and nimble quarterback; Cousins offers inflexibility.

McCarthy v. Cousins in the Summer Somewhat Poetic

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No matter one’s opinion of Cousins, the camp battle between him and McCarthy would be one for the ages, at least per the public opinion spectacle. The Vikings would showcase a competition — a real one — of its past and future, with most probably cheering for McCarthy to win the QB1 job along the way.

J.J. McCarthy practices before a Vikings home game.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) participates in pregame drills at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Dec. 7, 2025, getting in reps before kickoff. McCarthy works through throws and footwork as the Vikings finalize preparations for their home matchup. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

The optics might be weird and awkward — crawling back to Cousins after a tumultuous early experience with McCarthy. But in the grand scope of Vikings history, the two duking it out in Eagan would be rather fascinating.


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Mark Clattenburg admits he ‘got it wrong’ over reaction to Vinicius Jr racism allegations

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The former Premier League referee faced backlash over his remarks on the situation

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Matchroom and DAZN sign new five year deal

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Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing has secured a new five-year deal with DAZN in the United States and the United Kingdom

Matchroom signed a major deal with DAZN back in 2021 for the same term, moving its entire stable from Sky Sports. In the time since, the streaming platform has continued to build its boxing output, having partnered with Golden Boy Promotions in 2018 and, more recently, signing up Queensberry as well as a link up with BOXXER, which also broadcasts on the BBC in the UK.

Shay Segev, DAZN Group CEO, said:

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“Our new five-year deal with Matchroom Boxing builds on the success of our longstanding partnership and reaffirms DAZN as the global home of boxing. Matchroom Boxing trusts DAZN to deliver the best experiences for the biggest fights for boxing fans everywhere. Together, we’ll continue to raise the bar.”

Hearn echoed the statement.

“DAZN is the only partner that matches our ambitions for boxing. Their global platform, investment, passion and commitment to boxing make them the perfect partner for Matchroom Boxing’s fighters and events. This new, five-year deal in two of the world’s most important boxing markets reinforces our belief and trust in DAZN, and the scale of what we can achieve together.”

Next up on Matchroom’s schedule is the rematch between Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington in Nottingham this coming Saturday night.

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Former Viking Dropped by Super Bowl Champion Seahawks

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Drake London catches a pass while defended by Shaquill Griffin at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Dec 8, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) secures a catch while Minnesota Vikings cornerback Shaquill Griffin (1) defends during the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on Dec. 8, 2024. London extended through contact to complete the reception as Griffin contested the throw in tight coverage. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

February 2026 is a bittersweet month for ex-Minnesota Vikings cornerback Shaquill Griffin. He won a Super Bowl a week and a half ago — and was not retained by the 2026 Seattle Seahawks this week.

Seattle moved on from Griffin, and the veteran corner now hits free agency as teams ponder depth charts.

The veteran defender must now contemplate retirement or hope to latch onto a different squad sometime before the start of Week 1.

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Seattle Moves On From Shaquill Griffin

The Seahawks have begun post-Super Bowl roster tweaks.

Shaquill Griffin greets fans before a game in Seattle. Shaquill Griffin Released.
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin (26) greets fans prior to kickoff at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington, on Nov. 4, 2018, soaking in the pregame atmosphere before taking the field. The moment captures Griffin interacting with the crowd during his early years as a key contributor in Seattle’s secondary. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.

Griffin Out in SEA

Griffin was not immediately retained by Seattle this week, and this would’ve been the time to re-up the relationship.

NFL writer Erik Anderson noted, “The NFL’s daily personnel notice shows the Seahawks had four practice-squad contracts expire, including Pro Bowl defensive backs Quandre Diggs and Shaquill Griffin, a quiet but telling move that leaves both veterans free to sign elsewhere as Seattle heads into the free-agency window. Even though this is mostly a procedural transaction, Diggs and Griffin are recognizable because they’ve been real NFL starters.”

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“Griffin is a former Seahawk starter and past Pro Bowler who also cycled back into the organization during the season. So when their practice-squad deals expire, fans see the names and assume a major “parting ways” moment. The more accurate framing is: Seattle didn’t immediately lock them into the offseason roster via futures contracts, at least not yet.”

Luckily for Griffin, his 2025 decision to join the Seahawks’ roster included Lombardi trophy smiles.

A Small Role in 2025

The Seahawks signed Griffin in 2026 primarily for practice squad duty — so, insurance. He wound up playing 77 defensive snaps and was targeted 8 times by opposing quarterbacks. Griffin didn’t play in the postseason, either, but the man still earned a Super Bowl ring as part of the 2026 roster.

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Seattle drafted Griffin in Round 3 nine years ago. He brought his career full circle by getting a ring with the team that brought him into the business — even if he rarely played. Call it bittersweet for a well-respected veteran defender.

Career with the Vikings

In his only season with Minnesota in 2024, Griffin provided steady and dependable play, even if he wasn’t a dominant force. His 75.8 passer rating allowed led the team, indicating that quarterbacks struggled to complete passes when targeting him.

Griffin appeared in all 17 games, starting three, and played 572 defensive snaps, representing approximately 50% of the team’s defensive workload.

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Shaquill Griffin celebrates an interception for the Vikings.
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Shaquill Griffin (1) celebrates an interception against the Arizona Cardinals during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Dec. 1, 2024, energizing the home crowd after the pivotal takeaway. Teammates begin to converge as Griffin punctuates the late-game defensive stand. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

His best season came in 2019, his third year in the NFL, when he earned a Pro Bowl selection after performing as one of the league’s top cornerbacks.

Griffins’ full NFL resume:

  • Seattle Seahawks (2017–2020)
  • Jacksonville Jaguars (2021–2022)
  • Houston Texans (2023)
  • Carolina Panthers (2023)
  • Minnesota Vikings (2024)
  • Seattle Seahawks (2025)

And his Pro Football Focus grades:

  • 2017: 65.3
  • 2018: 50.7
  • 2019: 78.0
  • 2020: 64.6
  • 2021: 72.0
  • 2022: 61.8
  • 2023: 67.0
  • 2024: 63.7
  • 2025: 52.8

Griffin said about being back in Seattle a few months ago, “It felt like old times. I think the last person that was here when I was here that is still on the team is Jarran Reed. The defense they embrace me with open arms, and that’s all I can ask for. I was going to go out there and play my heart out for them, and it worked out.”

“So funny thing, I had a couple people here, but since I found out that I was playing so late, I didn’t have to buy that many tickets. It wasn’t weird. I’ve been here before. The last time I was here was with Houston. We made sure we put the belt on them then and put the belt on them now, so it felt great. It’s no love lost from those guys. I have a lot of guys that I played with over there.”

What’s Next?

Griffin will likely encounter a 2026 offseason similar to last year — no real interest in the first few waves of free agency due to his age. He’ll probably audition for a team or two this summer, hoping to latch onto a 90-man roster and then vie for a spot when 53-man trimdowns are announced.

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Shaquill Griffin reacts during a Jaguars game in London.
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Shaquill Griffin (26) reacts following an NFL International Series matchup against the Miami Dolphins at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, on Oct. 17, 2021. The Jaguars secured a 23-20 victory, and Griffin’s visible emotion reflects the significance of the overseas win. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.

In all likelihood, assuming he doesn’t retire with his shiny finger hardware, Griffin will end up on a team’s practice squad again and battle for placement on gameday rosters — just like in 2025. It might even be the Seahawks again when the dust settles.

He’ll turn 31 this summer.


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Anthony Kim’s coach, and how an early-2000s swing set Sunday’s win in motion

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David Benavidez offered new world title shot if he can beat Zurdo Ramirez: “That’s the one I want”

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David Benavidez is set for his toughest test yet as he steps up to cruiserweight to challenge Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez for the unified titles at 200lbs, should he be successful, there is another champion that is keen to face him.

Benavidez became the youngest super-middleweight champion in history when he defeated Ronald Gavril for the WBC strap as a 20-year-old back in 2017.

He then headed to 175lbs and claimed the WBC interim light heavyweight title, before being upgraded to full champion and making one defence of his belt, halting Anthony Yarde after seven rounds in November.

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Now the 29-year-old is scheduled to move up in weight once again, as he bids for Ramirez’s WBA and WBO cruiserweight world titles in May.

Speaking to FightHype.com, IBF cruiserweight ruler Jai Opetaia made his intentions clear on facing the winner.

“Definitely, that [winner of Ramirez-Benavidez] is the main fight that I am chasing. I want the winner out of Zurdo and Benavidez. I want that winner, that is my goal right now.

“Until I win that WBO and that WBA, WBC, as well, that is my goal. Anyone that says anything else is f***ing lying. I want to become undisputed in the cruiserweight division.”

The Australian champion was full of praise for both men as he looked ahead to the fight.

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“It’s a good fight, they have both got high work rates, you can tell that they have both got heart, they both want to win and the Mexican way, you have got to respect that.

“Two Mexicans going out and putting it on for their countries, that’s what it’s about at the end of the day, doing it for your people.”

Opetaia fights for the inaugural Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight title when he takes on Brandon Glanton on Sunday, March 8, in his debut with Dana White’s polarising promotional outfit. However, it is unknown whether the IBF title will also be on the line or not.

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Plans for AJ Styles tribute on WWE RAW

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AJ Styles officially retired from WWE back at The Royal Rumble when he came up short against Gunther in their retirement match.

It was announced this week on RAW that a tribute to Styles will take place in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, next week. However, it seems that the plans have now been leaked.

Bryan Alvarez noted on the most recent episode of the Wrestling Observer that there are SmackDown stars who are being flown in for RAW to be part of the tribute.

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Styles has a lot of friends in WWE and a lot of stars who want to thank him for the impact he has had on their careers. It seems that many of these stars will come from SmackDown, and there could be some crossover with this being the final RAW before Elimination Chamber.

AJ Styles is expected to be in attendance for WWE RAW next week

AJ Styles is expected to be part of the show next week, since they are in his hometown, and it seems that it could be an emotional one.

The former World Champion has already confirmed that he will walk away from WWE, and that the plan was always for him to retire at The Royal Rumble, but this tribute could allow Gunther to continue his story with Styles if he shows up to not only crash the tribute but also to send a message to Dragon Lee who cost him his Elimination Chamber qualifying match.

It will be interesting to see what WWE’s official plans are for the tribute itself and which stars are included. Styles spent a decade in WWE, and in that time he worked with just about every star on the roster and left an impression on the WWE Universe whenever he stepped into the ring.

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