Canada wraps up round-robin play in men’s curling with a game against Norway at the Winter Olympics. First shot is scheduled for 3:05 a.m. ET / 12:05 a.m. PT on Thursday.
A Minnesota Vikings helmet rests on the turf at TCO Performance Center during organized team activities on Jun 11, 2019, in Eagan. Images like this are common during the early offseason as players prepare for camp and roster battles begin to take shape. Mandatory Credit: Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports.
In my 20+ years as an NFL exec, I was often asked what I did in the offseason. Many fans, friends, and even some family members assumed I took several months off after the season. They thought I had a schedule similar to the players who were on vacation until offseason workouts in mid to late April, and were surprised when I said the offseason months were my busiest time as a GM or team president.
It always was extremely hectic from January until I had two weeks of vacation in late June and early July before preparing for training camp.
Franchise and Transition Tag Pressure Peaks
Immediately after our final game of the just-completed season—which was usually a playoff game—I met with the coaches to get player grades for the season and discuss team needs in advance of free agency and the draft. I was also in scouting meetings where we were starting to hone in on potential trade and free agency targets, including our own players we wanted to retain and outside free agents we were interested in.
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The salary cap was a constant focal point as I considered players likely to be released, asked to stay at a reduced salary, or strong candidates for contract restructures to lower their cap numbers in the upcoming season.
I never had to deal with a $40 million cap shortfall as the Vikings must do by the start of the new league year next month, but there were plenty of years when I had to cut or restructure several players to get under the cap. I also never had $20-30 million increases in the cap from one year to the next, as has been the case the past several years, as NFL revenues have risen significantly.
The period for teams to place franchise or transition tags on top pending free agents opens in mid-February but we were planning on possible moves and I was often in negotiations in January and February to try and sign potential top free agents who were franchise or transition tag candidates as I didn’t want to tie up excessive salary cap space with a tag if it wasn’t necessary.
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The Minnesota Vikings’ state-of-the-art TCO Performance Center is shown in Eagan, Minnesota, on Jul 28, 2018. This world-class facility serves as the team’s headquarters, featuring cutting-edge training, rehabilitation, and meeting spaces. Since its opening, it has become the central hub for all things Vikings, from offseason prep to daily operations. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
In late January, I would attend the Senior Bowl in Mobile and meet with our coaches and scouts in attendance. Upon returning home, it was an intense period in February of free agency planning and pre-Combine meetings, as is the case this week at Vikings HQ with the Combine coming up next week. At this juncture, we would identify draft-eligible players we wanted to interview at the Combine and players to closely check their physical status if they were coming off injuries, while continuing to update our draft board.
Then it was off to the Combine, where I would watch player workouts, participate in player interviews, and meet with our scouts in between numerous negotiation sessions with agents for our players. There were also discussions with agents on free agents from other teams who were on our radar.
These conversations would involve discussing parameters rather than concrete numbers, since it would technically constitute tampering before the league’s “legal tampering” period, which begins three days before the official start of free agency (those dates are March 9 and March 11 this year).
I’ll talk more in the coming weeks on the Combine, free agency and the draft including who I see as candidates from the current Vikings roster to be released, restructured, extended or re-signed and possible free agent and trade targets including a potential veteran QB to compete with or back up J.J. McCarthy (with rumors continuing on a possible Kirk Cousins return to Minnesota).
Around the NFL–Franchise/transition tag period
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The two-week window for teams to apply franchise or transition tags to players opened on Monday and runs through March 3. The tags consist of a one-year tender associated with the franchise tag (basically the average of top five cap hits at a position or 120% of the previous salary and the old team retains a right of first refusal and receives two first-round picks if a player signs elsewhere unless it’s the exclusive franchise tag that is more costly) or transition tag (average of top 10 salaries; old team retains right of first refusal and no draft choice compensation if he signs elsewhere).
Jalen Nailor lined up for the Minnesota Vikings during the NFC wild card round on Jan 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. The wide receiver, wearing number 83, faced the Los Angeles Rams in a postseason matchup that tested Minnesota’s depth and offensive playmakers under the playoff spotlight. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
It’s highly unlikely the Vikings will utilize either tag for any of their 14 pending unrestricted free agents. The Vikings’ best free agents-to-be are No. 3 WR Jalen Nailor ($960,000 salary last season; projected franchise tag $28.8 million; projected transition tag $25 million) and starting LB Eric Wilson ($2.6 million salary in 2025; $28.2 million franchise tag, $23.6 million transition tag). Punter/holder Ryan Wright is another key pending free agent, but the Vikings are not going to tag him at $6 million-plus when the league’s highest-paid punter (Seattle’s Michael Dickson) is making $4 million per year.
Around the league, the top candidates to be hit with the franchise tag include:
George Pickens (Cowboys WR, 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine TDs last season, $28.8 million franchise tag, $25 million transition tag);
Daniel Jones (Colts QB, 8-5 record in his 13 starts before tearing his Achilles, career-best 100.2 passer rating, which ranked ninth, franchise tag a pricey $47 million, transition tag would be an estimated $41 million);
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Kenneth Walker III (Seahawks RB, Super Bowl MVP after 135 yards rushing, 1,340 rushing yards last season, including playoffs; despite the relatively inexpensive $14 million RB franchise tag, Seattle is rumored not to be planning to place the franchise tag on him, perhaps they’ll use the transition tag at $11.7 million);
Jan 17, 2026; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half in an NFC Divisional Round game at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Trey Hendrickson (Bengals DE, only four sacks in seven games in an injury-hampered 2025 season, but he led the league with 17.5 sacks in 2024, $27.3 million franchise amount, and $22.9 million for transition);
Kyle Pitts (Falcons TE, 88 catches for 928 yards and five TDs in 2025, $16.3 million—franchise tag, $13.9 million transition tag);
Breece Hall (Jets RB, 1,065 rushing yards plus 350 receiving yards with five total TDs for a lousy Jets offense last season).
Jeff Diamond is a former Vikings GM, former Tennessee Titans President and was selected NFL Executive of the Year … More about Jeff Diamond
We’ve reached the knockout phase of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League season and the 24 teams remaining the 2026 UCL Bracket will battle it out for the chance to be club champions of Europe. It’s the world’s biggest club soccer competition and the bracket goes live on February 27. Complete your 2026 Champions League brackets and enter UCL bracket pools on CBSSports.com and on the CBS Sports app.
Much like an NCAA Tournament bracket pool, you’ll pick which teams you think will advance at each stage of the Champions League bracket, and points will be awarded for each pick you get right. Create Champions League pools of your own to compete against friends and family, and enter your picks into the CBS Sports UCL Bracket Challenge for a chance to win a trip to London, including tickets to a UCL match and a tour of the UCL Today set. With the action so close, now is the time to set up your 2026 UEFA Champions League pool.
How to create a 2026 UEFA Champions League pool with friends and family
There is a CBS Sports UEFA Champions League Bracket Challenge giving you the chance to win a trip to London to watch a UCL match and tour the UCL Today set. It’s easy to qualify for this epic trip. Simply click this link, click the “Join Now” button and enter.* Fill out your UEFA Champions League bracket before Round of 16 play begins.
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Once you’ve entered CBS Sports UEFA Champions League Bracket Game, you can also set up your own 2026 UCL pools on CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports app. When you go to the website, hover your mouse over the Fantasy tab until you find the CBS Sports UCL Bracket Games logo.
Click on that logo to be redirected to the CBS Sports UCL Bracket Games page. Once you’re logged in, you’ll see a “Create Pool” button to click on and once you’ve finished choosing your UCL bracket pool settings, you’ll be able to copy the URL and send it to your friends and family.
2026 UEFA Champions League Knockout phase teams to watch
Now that you know where to play 2026 UCL Bracket Games, here are some teams to watch as the 2026 Champions League Knockout phase approaches:
Arsenal FC: The English Premier League leaders won all eight of their matches during the league phase, outscoring their opponents 23-4 in the process to produce the best goal differential in the competition. Arsenal have opened a six-point lead on Manchester City in the EPL, so they’ll still have a somewhat split focus, but this is their best chance yet at notching a UEFA Champions League title. Expect Mikel Arteta to dial in for these matchups and they should be well-rested thanks to the bye that comes with being a top-eight seed.
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Bayern Munich: The champions of the Bundesliga in 12 of the last 13 seasons, Bayern Munich has also opened up a six-point lead domestically and they’re the No. 2 seed in the UCL Knockout phase after winning seven of eight matches in the league phase. They won the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup and were also Champions League winners that same season, making them four-time champions of Europe. Harry Kane has scored 38 goals in 33 matches across all competitions this season and he’s added eight goals in eight matches for England during international play. Join the 2026 UCL Bracket Game here.
How to enter 2026 UEFA Champions League Bracket Games
Sign up now before brackets are unlocked after the Round of 16 Draw. Visit CBSSports.com/UCLBracket or play on the CBS Sports App.
NHL star Quinn Hughes became an Olympic hero for Team USA when he hit an overtime goal to lift his country over Sweden in the men’s hockey qualifying round.
His statements after the game may have made him a national hero among many Americans.
“It’s special,” Hughes told reporters of seeing American flags and hearing “U-S-A” chants in the arena.
Quinn Hughes of the United States celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in overtime during a quarterfinal playoff match against Sweden at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 18, 2026, during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
“I love the U.S., and it’s the greatest country in the world. So, I’m happy to represent here with these guys, and it was very special.”
Hughes’ overtime goal delivered the U.S. a dramatic 2-1 victory as the team continues its quest for a gold medal.
The U.S. couldn’t connect on its first five shots of overtime, but, on the sixth, Hughes rang one off the inside of the post that crossed the line to give the Americans the win.
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The Americans will take on Slovakia, while Canada, which narrowly escaped being upset by the Czech Republic earlier Thursday, will go against Finland. Canada and Finland both rallied back from deficits to win in overtime.
Quinn Hughes of the United States celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in overtime during a quarterfinal playoff match against Sweden at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games Feb. 18, 2026, in Milan, Italy.(Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Hughes’ postgame patriotism was a welcome sight for many American fans on social media.
“American Hero Quinn Hughes,” one user wrote on X in response to the star’s quotes.
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One user wrote, “This is how every member of Team USA should talk to the cynical media..”
Another user wrote, “Folks mad in the comments cause he loves his country.”
The United States’ Quinn Hughes celebrates after scoring the winning goal against Sweden during overtime of a men’s ice hockey quarterfinal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Hughes’ expression of love for his country comes during a year when other American Olympians have been openly critical of the U.S. Team USA athletes Hunter Hess, Amber Glenn and Mikaela Shiffrin have all made statements criticizing the state of the U.S. while competing in Italy.
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Hughes now joins hockey teammate Brady Tkachuk in openly praising the U.S. and expressing honor and gratitude for representing the country in Milan Cortina.
Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
Game-improvement (GI) irons, like the new for 2026 Cobra King irons, seem to get a really bad reputation, which is sad because I think they’re actually my favorite category of irons to test and talk about.
The problem with GI-style irons is that they’re big, and that hurts people’s egos. Nobody wants their buddy making fun of them on the first tee when they pull out a large and in charge 7-iron. The truth is, though, there are probably more golfers who could benefit from playing this style of iron than any other. Game-improvement irons are designed to be the most helpful and to make scoring easier. They aren’t just for slower players or beginners. They’re for anybody who just needs a little assistance. The category has also grown over the past decade, and there are actually micro-categories within the GI bucket to really make sure that players are getting the level of help they need.
The biggest problem that I see, though? We don’t talk about GI irons properly.
The Cobra King game improvement irons for 2026
Jake Morrow / GOLF
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Opportunity versus guaranteed results
What I mean when I say we don’t talk about them properly is that it’s often incorrectly stated — even by me — what they actually do. Nothing in club fitting is black and white. There aren’t magical guaranteed fixes for any club in the bag, or any category of club that they fall into.
While GI irons are typically larger designs with more forgiveness (M.O.I.), wider, higher-bounce soles, and a lower center of gravity (C.G.) position, that doesn’t mean that they are going to be super straight high-launching options for every player. Instead, the correct way to think is that they are easier to launch higher or to get away with mishits. The way they are designed gives them the chance to do those things better than other designs, but ultimately, performance is dictated by impact. Different players are going to get the club to the ball in different ways, and not everyone will have the same experience.
I tested some offerings from Cobra using my Foresight QuadMax, and this data demonstrates what I mean.
Comparing averages across 10 shots with each offering
Foresight Sports
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You can see in the data that the launch numbers don’t shift much between my Cobra 3DP MB irons and the new Cobra King GI style irons I tested. The big difference, though, is in spin and speed. Even with the Cobra King GI iron being 6.5º stronger than the 3DP MB, the launch remains about the same. The good news, though, is that’s the real point, and the one I want to drive home. There’s a miscommunication in what “higher launching” actually means.
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Topline comparison between the Cobra King GI style iron and the Cobra 3DP.MB irons currently in the author’s bag
Jake Morrow / GOLF
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Game-improvement irons and stronger lofts
This is one of my least favorite topics to discuss. The internet gets bent out of shape over it, and it’s the number one most mistalked about topic in the entire game of golf: loft jacking.
Loft jacking is the process of strengthening the lofts of an iron set. Usually, that carries a negative connotation that OEMs like Cobra are just trying to fake extra distance by giving your 7-iron the loft of your 5-iron. But that’s not the only reason they do it, which brings us back to launch. When designing a game-improvement-style iron, it’s important to give it as low a center of gravity as possible. This encourages launch, no matter who is swinging the golf club. The problem is that modern design and C.G. placement have started to launch the ball too high, to the point where other launch characteristics are negatively affected.
So how do they combat this? Strengthen the lofts. This brings the iron package down to a more usable performance window, giving the golfer who needs help the best chance of success with these offerings. So to demonstrate, I hit some 5-irons with my 3DP MB as well, which has a more similar loft package to the Cobra King GI 7-iron.
Comparing the BEST shots with the Cobra 3DP.MB 5-iron and the Cobra King 7-iron
Foresight Sports
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You’ll notice now that the King 7-iron is launching higher than the 3DP MB 5-iron at the same loft. The C.G. package of the King iron is built to launch higher. You also have to keep in mind that speed creates launch. I am not the player designed to be hitting the King iron, so my data between these two examples will be closer than that of the player who actually does need to play an iron like this. At lower speeds, the difference in launch is going to get wider between the two.
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Cobra 3DP MB Custom Irons
The 3DP MB iron combines the looks and feel of a traditional forged muscle back with the forgiveness of a cavity back iron. The most forgiving blade on the market, the MB has captivated Tour players by checking all the boxes and exceeding expectations with its exceptional stability and feel.
FORGIVING MUSCLE BACK BLADE SHAPE
A slightly revised shape from the KING MB inspired by feedback from PGA Tour player Max Homa, the MB features a thinned topline and enhanced offset. The internal 3D printed lattice and heel, toe and hosel tungsten increases MOI for stability, and positions the CG perfectly centered and lower than the KING MB to promote higher launch.
EXTREME FORGIVENESS MEETS SOFT FEEL
The 3D printed internal lattice structure not only optimizes weight savings, but also provides the stiffness and strength to support the face and fine-tune the acoustics of each iron to produce the most appealing impact sound and feel.
TUNGSTEN WEIGHTING
The discretionary weight savings from the 3D printed lattice allowed for up to 55g of tungsten to be positioned low in the heel, toe and hosel resulting in the perfect blend of a compact blade shape with a low CG and high MOI that mirrors a game improvement iron.
Take a look at the differences in spin between the King GI 7-iron, my 3DP MB 7-iron and my 3DP MB 5 iron.
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Comparing the average of the BEST three shots with each offering
Foresight Sports
Overall, the King 7-iron is definitely acting more like the 3DP MB 5-iron, and in some ways, as we’ve discussed, it sort of should. But you’ll notice that compared to the 3DP MB 7-iron, the King is in a much lower spin window, by a little over 1,000 rpms on the best swings. Again, I see this as a great thing. The player who needs all this help will be over the moon that their 7-iron is performing this well. My peak heights were getting up to 135 feet. While that is probably too high for me, the benefits for a player who struggles to get the ball up in the air are priceless.
For beginners who want to be encouraged to come back and play, or players who just want to be able to hit the ball as far as they used to, something like the Cobra King iron is perfect.
Average of the WORST three shots with each club
Foresight Sports
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Instead of comparing the club apples to apples with a head that has the same number on it, it’s better to discuss who it’s for and what it does. The best example I can give is for the player slowing down. What’s the benefit for a player who plays cavity-back irons of moving to a game-improvement iron? It’s an easier answer. Now they can play the same number club they are used to. The same CB 7-iron they used to play might be going 15-20 yards shorter and probably not getting hit high enough to produce any sort of spin or stopping power. Throw a game-improvement club in that player’s hands, and all of a sudden, they are back to their “normal” 7-iron distance, and the ball is shooting up nice and high to land softly enough on the green and help deliver a more playable golf experience on course.
It doesn’t matter that the irons have a faster face, less loft or a wider sole. All that matters is that the golfer can feel confident again and get around the golf course with ease while shooting the lowest possible score, regardless of skill, speed, or age.
Clubs like these Cobra King irons are very, very helpful designs for the right player. The problem with the internet is that arguments get lost in comparing clubs that should never be compared with players who shouldn’t be hitting them in the first place.
For someone like me, the stronger lofts, hotter face and wider sole are going to turn these irons into rocket launchers. But they aren’t built for me. They’re built for players who want to get distance back. Players who feel like they are losing out on enjoyment during their buddies match every week because they just don’t have the juice they used to. Beginners are still great options for an iron like this. It will give them the opportunity to learn the game in a more forgiving way and create a less aggressive barrier to entry into the sport.
The golf world is full of plenty of complaints about stronger lofts and hotter faces on irons, mostly from players who don’t need these types of irons. But my question to you is: Have you ever heard of a player who actually needs these irons but complains that they go too far, too high and too straight? I didn’t think so.
Mike Wagner, a former Pro Bowl defensive back and a key member of the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ famed “Steel Curtain” defense, has died at the age of 76.
Wagner spent his entire 10-year career with the Steelers. Over that span, he was named to two Pro Bowls and helped Pittsburgh win four Super Bowls over a six-year span. He was inducted into the Steelers Hall of Honor in 2020.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Mike Wagner, a tremendous player and an integral part of some of the most successful teams in Pittsburgh Steelers history,” team president Art Rooney II said in a statement. “As a member of four Super Bowl-winning teams, his toughness and consistency were paramount to our secondary. His contributions on the field were significant, but it was also his steady presence and team-first mentality that truly defined him.”
An 11th round pick in the 1971 NFL Draft, Wagner was part of a notable Pittsburgh draft class that also included future Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Ham and fellow future starters in defensive linemen Ernie Holmes and Dwight White, offensive lineman Gerry Mullins, tight end/offensive lineman Larry Brown and receiver Frank Lewis.
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Despite his low draft stock, Wagner cracked the Steelers’ lineup as a rookie and a year later finished second on the team with six interceptions. A year later, he led the entire NFL with eight interceptions.
In 1974, Wagner helped the Steelers win the franchise’s first Super Bowl, recording one of Pittsburgh’s three interceptions during Pittsburgh’s 16-6 win over the Minnesota Vikings. A year later, he was named to his first of two consecutive Pro Bowls while helping Pittsburgh repeat as champions. His fourth quarter interception of Roger Staubach in Super Bowl X set up a field goal and helped the Steelers record a 21-17 win over the Cowboys.
In 1976, Wagner was one of a staggering eight Steelers defenders who were selected to the Pro Bowl. That season, Pittsburgh’s defense recorded five shoutouts and allowed just 28 points over a nine-game span.
Wagner remained a key component of the Steelers’ defense when they won two more Super Bowls to close out the decade. In 1978, he filled the stat sheet with two interceptions, three forced fumbles and two sacks as Pittsburgh finished the season by defeating the Cowboys in the Super Bowl for a second time.
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In 1979, Wagner recorded four interceptions despite only playing in eight regular season games. The Steelers finished that season with a 31-19 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl XIV.
He retired after the 1980 season with 36 career interceptions, 12 fumble recoveries and five sacks.
“He will always be remembered as a champion,” Rooney said, “a great teammate, and a proud member of the Steelers family.”
Chelsea ace Cole Palmer was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United last month even though a transfer never really came close to happening in January
One of Cole Palmer’s close friends has insisted the Chelsea midfielder will one day become a Manchester United player.
The speculation surrounding United, the club he followed during his childhood, became so persistent Rosenior felt compelled to address it during a press conference. His Stamford Bridge deal runs until 2033, which would make any move for Palmer an expensive and difficult proposition.
Yet this hasn’t deterred his pal, rap star Tunde Olayinka from launching a United-themed campaign to win Palmer over. He shared a photograph of himself alongside the Chelsea star during a holiday in Dubai.
His caption read: “One day, I will get CP (Cole Palmer) to Utd, back home where he belongs. Go ask him who his favourite team is,” accompanied by a Red Devil and football emoji.
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football.london report that Chelsea regard Palmer as an “untouchable” player, who is not for sale at any price. Given that Palmer’s contract doesn’t expire for another seven years, the Blues are in a position to dictate any transfer fee to potential buyers.
Rosenior has also asserted Palmer’s sole focus is on his career at Chelsea. In January, the Blues’ head coach stated: “Is he untouchable, is he happy? Yes and yes.
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“It’s simple, Cole Palmer is an incredible player like many players in the group. Cole is here, he’s very happy and I can’t wait to see him back on the pitch.
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“Our thoughts are on how we can make this team better, how he can improve and how I can help him. He loves being here and he wants to be a Chelsea player.”
Following his hat-trick in the 3-1 away win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, the former Manchester City star also dismissed rumours linking him with a move away. He said: “Everyone loves to chat rubbish, don’t they?
“I don’t pay too much attention to it. You see things. But I feel like I’ve come from a strong place anyway so I don’t pay attention to it.”
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When asked about Rosenior, he added: “Life under Liam is amazing, he gives us all confidence. Lets us be ourselves, play free. I’m sure when I’m back proper fit you’ll see the best of me.
“Him and all the staff give us all confidence on the training pitch, with his strategies, the way we play. I really like it.”
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.
The future of Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has come under fresh scrutiny after reports emerged that he asked for a major pay rise from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Chelle is said to have submitted a proposal in January 2026, requesting an increase in his monthly pay from $50,000 to $130,000. The request was meant to cover his salary, technical crew, and personal assistant.
The NFF reportedly rejected the proposal, describing the demand as too high, especially with ongoing financial challenges and debates over coach salaries in Nigerian football. The rejection is said to have left Chelle unhappy and open to other opportunities.
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Following the disagreement, Chelle was linked with a possible move to French club Olympique de Marseille. He is also reported to have changed his agent in a bid to secure the job.
However, Marseille later appointed another coach, ending Chelle’s chances of joining the club. Despite this, the former Mali international is said to be considering other opportunities in Ligue 1.
Chelle remains under contract with the NFF, but the salary dispute has raised questions about his long-term future with the Super Eagles.
Most golfers never think about where their swing actually begins.
They might focus on a single aspect of their takeaway like their hands, the club or their wrists — but Erika Larkin, a GOLF Top 100 Teacher, says the real motion starts much higher up. And understanding the start of your swing is key to improving your low-point control and becoming a better ball-striker.
“The golf swing is a lot like a pendulum swinging motion,” Larkin says. “If you take a smaller motion, the pendulum is swinging with our arms and the club together really from a point higher in our body than a lot of people visualize.”
When you start your swing with your chest, Larkin says, everything moves together like one smooth, controlled pendulum. But if you start your swing further down, like with the handle, this can result in a wristy swing that makes it difficult to dial in your swing’s low point.
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Create your pendulum
To create this pendulum, you first need to rethink how you approach the swing. Most amateurs picture the club or hands as the center of motion, which often leads to inconsistency. Instead, Larkin says to visualize the club as an extension of your sternum. This simple shift allows your arms, body and club to move together in unison.
Start small, Larkin says. Rather than try to incorporate this new feel into your full swing, begin with a shorter, controlled motion. Remember, the motion should originate from your sternum.
“Think about the extension of the club pointing up toward the mid-section, sternum area of your chest and body, and try to move the pendulum as if it’s swinging from that upper moment,” she says.
Once you feel the pendulum in smaller swings, gradually extend it into longer, full swings.
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“As you grow it, it doesn’t really change. It’s still moving from that taller, top point in your body,” Larkin says. “It’s connecting your arms and the club movement, swinging around you from a very stable point.”
With your pendulum anchored at the sternum, your swing should become smoother, more connected and easier to repeat, which Larkin says will translate to better low-point control.
Think of it as one long, graceful pendulum: arms and club moving together from the chest, wrists hinging freely, hands relaxed. It’s a subtle shift in how you think about your swing, but one that can immediately improve timing, consistency and power.
Sometimes, swinging smarter really is that simple.
Our focus this morning is on the men’s curling competition but after that we’ll turn our attention to the women’s tournament, where Team GB kept their slim hopes of qualification alive with a brilliant Wednesday.
“The shot of her life” from Rebecca Morrison snatched an unlikely 8-7 win over USA in the morning session, as GB stole two in the final end, before they followed that up with a 9-3 thrashing of Japan.
GB now need to beat hosts Italy from 1.05pm and hope other results go their way. It’ll be nervy!
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Curling clutch shot! 🥌🙌
Rebecca Morrison plays “the shot of her life” on the final stone of the match, to seize victory from the jaws of defeat for Team GB.
The shot sealed a must-win meeting with USA, keeping GB’s hopes alive in the women’s curling at the Winter Olympics. pic.twitter.com/PZjiyG9eqR
Men’s curling: Norway v Canada and Italy v Switzerland updates
Right, the final set of men’s curling round robin matches at this Winter Olympics are about to get underway.
Team GB did their job yesterday and now can only watch, hoping either Norway or Italy lose to send them through to the semi-finals.
We’ll be bringing you regular updates from Norway v Canada and Italy v Switzerland, which are about to get underway. Je suis Swiss-Canadian…
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Luke Baker19 February 2026 08:05
What do Team GB need to qualify for semi-finals this morning?
After Team GB beat USAin their final round robin game yesterday to end with a 5-4 record they now need either Norway to lose their final match to already-qualified Canada or Italy to lose their final match to unbeaten Switzerland. Both those games are on this morning from 8.05am GMT.
If either of those two teams get a win, they will finish on 5-4, the same as GB, and would move above the Brits as they hold the head-to-head advantage.
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Hammy McMillan of Britain and Bobby Lammie of Britain react during the match against United States (Reuters)
Luke Baker19 February 2026 08:01
Bruce Mouat: ‘This is a horrible position to be in’
Things couldn’t have gone much better for Team GB’s men’s curlers yesterday afternoon, beating USA and having two other results go their way.
GB skip Bruce Mouat discussed the victory and admitted to feeling helpless as they watch on this morning.
“It was a bit of a scary first end,” Mouat told the BBC. “But we just turned the momentum straight away and then we forced them into some tricky shots, and he [US skip Daniel Casper] was a bit heavy on a few draws, so we got a few breaks which we probably haven’t seen all week. It was nice.
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On needing other results to go your way: “This is a horrible position to be in, honestly! Just having to watch other games and hope that the results are going our way is not the ideal position to be in.
“But so far so good and we obviously need tomorrow probably to be the same. We’re just gonna have to sit and keep our fingers and our toes crossed and see what happens.”
(Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)
Luke Baker19 February 2026 07:52
The curling twist giving Great Britain hope of Winter Olympics great escape
Great Britain are on a knife edge between curling catastrophe and the great escape – and there is nothing more they can do about it.
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Just as their Winter Olympics dreams were circling the drain after a shocking collapse in form, Bruce Mouat’s rink played like the world champions they are to keep their medal hopes alive for at least another day.
They finished their round-robin campaign with the kind of confident and dominant victory they were expected to produce consistently in Cortina, wiping the floor with the USA 9-2, to finish with a 5-4 record from nine games.
It was a timely reminder – both to themselves, their doubters and their rivals – that they are still a world-class team capable of blowing all the others out of the water.
The understated and often underappreciated Shivam Dube produced another heroic effort with the bat in India’s final T20 World Cup 2026 group stage clash against the Netherlands in Ahmedabad on February 18. The 32-year-old scored a brilliant 31-ball 66 when India were in trouble at 69/3 in nine overs.
Dube is enjoying an excellent start with the bat this year, averaging 38.83 at a strike rate of 208.03 in nine T20Is. The tall left-hander has been a regular in the Indian T20I side since 2024, when the side triumphed in the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA.
He has been impressive in the ongoing edition, averaging 29 at an average of over 178 in four matches.
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While consistency and versatility haven’t always been Shivam Dube’s calling cards, his unique skillset against spin in the middle-order has made him an irreplaceable force. More recently, since becoming a regular in the playing XI, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) left-hander has also evolved as India’s savior when the team is in trouble.
His most recent heroics against the Netherlands aside, Dube has bailed India out of dire straits frequently in the past.
Here, we look at three such instances when Shivam Dube saved Team India from the blushes in a tricky situation in T20Is.
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#1 Asia Cup 2025 final
The first thing that comes up when Team India fans discuss Shivam Dube is his pivotal knock in the Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan in Dubai. The Men in Blue were red-hot favorites entering the game, having won all six of their previous matches in the tournament.
Yet, come the big occasion against their arch-rivals, India found themselves in trouble, chasing 147 on a tacky wicket. Dube walked into bat with the score reading 77/4 in the 13th over and the contest hanging in the balance.
Unfazed by the situation, the 32-year-old remained calm and exploded at the end, finishing with a crucial 22-ball 33 to help India pull off a thrilling five-wicket victory in the last over.
Before his batting heroics, Dube also bowled an invaluable spell of 0/23 in three overs in the first innings, with veteran all-rounder Hardik Pandya injured.
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#2 IND vs ENG, 2025
Shivam Dube may have endured a mixed bag with the bat in T20Is last year, but the start of the season was anything but. The tall left-hander produced a series-winning knock against England with the side in trouble in January 2025.
With the five-match series hanging by a thread at 2-1 to India, the hosts suffered an early collapse in the fourth T20I in Pune to be reduced to 57/4 in the eighth over.
However, Dube changed the course of the game with a sensational 53 off 34 deliveries at No.6, including seven boundaries and two maximums. The southpaw curbed his natural six-hitting instincts for most of the innings, helping India post a respectable 181/9 in 20 overs.
Dube’s knock proved to be the difference between the sides as India completed a 15-run win and took an unassailable 3-1 series lead.
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#3 IND vs USA, T20 World Cup 2024
Several questions were raised over Shivam Dube’s inclusion in the Indian squad at the start of their victorious T20 World Cup 2024 campaign. Yet, the big-hitting batter answered his skeptics early in the tournament with a crucial knock against the USA in the group stage in New York.
On a bowler-friendly pitch, the Men in Blue restricted the co-hosts to a below-par 110/8 in 20 overs. Yet, in response, the Indian batters found the going difficult, slipping to 39/3 in the eighth over.
With an improbable defeat facing them, India were saved by Shivam Dube, who produced an uncharacteristic knock at No.5. The veteran batter scored an unbeaten 31 off 35 balls with only a boundary and a maximum, propelling India to a seven-wicket victory.
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