Jul 29, 2025; Eagan, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell looks on during the teams training camp at the Minnesota Vikings Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
The Vikings’ QB plan involves embracing a specific strategy: welcoming a talented veteran to function as legitimate competition for J.J. McCarthy.
Former starter (and current Super Bowl winner) Sam Darnold was allowed to leave. Former backup Daniel Jones was desired, but he opted for the Colts. The lever that got pulled was to trade for Sam Howell, a decision that aged poorly in a matter of months.
Worse yet, basically all of the quarterback decisions — McCarthy, Howell, Brett Rypien, and Max Brosmer — didn’t pan out in 2025. None of those players played as well as Minnesota hoped. There was a late move for Carson Wentz, but that was an instance of too little, too late.
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So, the pivot now involves adding meaningful talent to that quarterback position. The problem is that the most coveted options — Malik Willis, Kyler Murray, and so on — could end up heading elsewhere or nowhere at all, sticking around in their current location.
The Vikings’ QB Plan: Malik Willis, Kyler Murray, and Others
The Pittsburgh Steelers look like the best fit for Malik Willis, at least to my eye.
The still-young veteran passer lands at No. 1 in the NFL list of top free agents (a cluster of talent that has a pair of Vikings). Consider what Gregg Rosenthal has to say: “I see him as the most dynamic quarterback in football as a runner, and his tape in Green Bay showed incredible growth as a passer over his two years with Matt LaFleur. Despite his limited sample size, Willis jumped to the top spot of this ranking based on the same logic that applies to the NFL draft: If a potential franchise quarterback is good enough to be ranked in the top five of a list like this, then he should be placed first, by virtue of the position. The ceiling is the roof.”
The Steelers, a great franchise, made the befuddling decision to hire Mike McCarthy as the new head coach. Did that decision set up Pittsburgh to bring in Mr. Willis?
McCarthy didn’t overlap with Willis in Green Bay. There’s nevertheless the reality that a shared history of working for Wisconsin’s NFL football team would make the transition from the NFC North to the AFC North easier. Plus, the QB1 job is open in Pittsburgh and has been unsettled for a while, making the fit look crisp and clean.
Working with Kevin O’Connell may have some appeal. Presumably, throwing to Justin Jefferson does, too. But then there’s the need to compete with McCarthy, whom Minnesota has invested a ton into. Does Malik Willis opt for Pittsburgh instead?
Feb 6, 2011; Arlington, TX, USA; Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy (right) greets Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin before Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Benjamin Solak jumped into the topic, dropping several teams in the analysis of where Willis fits. There’s a mention of a possible “bidding war” while describing the lack of QB talent in the 2026 NFL Draft. Solak brings his potential fits around to the New York Jets, the Cleveland Browns, the Arizona Cardinals, and the Miami Dolphins.
Nary a Vikings mention in sight (at least per the short clip).
Obviously, these opinions are just that: opinions. The great issue is that multiple teams all pursuing the same passer is going to involve a world where the Vikings get outmuscled quickly. Minnesota’s money isn’t ample, so Willis could need to leave money on the table if the Vikings really do want him.
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Sep 8, 2019; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) against the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
If, for the sake of argument, Malik Willis travels elsewhere early in free agency, the Vikings may turn toward Kyler Murray. Is he even on the market?
Recently, Ian Rapoport of The NFL Networkjumped into the issue. Rapoport describes the Murray rumblings as being based on assumptions rather than ironclad sources.
Sticking around in Arizona is an option, per Rapoport, while also indicating that teams in the NFL may pry him away with the belief that Murray is a cornerstone guy: “There have been many times in his career where we have seen and thought [that] Kyler Murray is a franchise quarterback.”
Digest those thoughts from Rapoport for a moment. Start off with the tidbit about there being a chance Murray continues to stick around in Arizona. Not likely, but possible. What happens if that’s not the case and teams get a shot at Murray?
If there’s a team out there that truly believes Kyler Murray is a franchise guy, then the Vikings are going to get outbid. In fact, a franchise passer who is only 28 and who could be shipped out is a very unique scenario. The Vikings can’t compete with (for instance) a Jets team that has better draft picks and way more cap space.
The Vikings’ QB plan involves added competition. Reasonable and fair. Urgently needed, in fact.
But then there’s the issue of how good that competition is going to be. Signing Malik Willis for a Sam Darnold deal — a single season at $10 million — isn’t happening if the reporting is accurate. How competent is the new passer? How much does that competence cost?
Missing on Willis and Murray means there’s a drop off in talent. Minnesota isn’t doomed to poor passer play, but the price for Mac Jones (as an example) could skyrocket even further as the market shrinks. Just takes two teams to send the trade price soaring. Furthermore, San Francisco could keep the QB2.
Stay tuned. Plenty more speculation and rumor is going to come out of the NFL combine. NFL free agency will get real on Monday, March 9th.
U.S. men’s hockey star Jack Hughes appeared to have no qualms about the potential of going to Washington for President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address.
Trump invited the men’s hockey team to his speech on Sunday after Hughes scored in the overtime period of the gold medal game, defeating Canada 2-1.
Jack Hughes (86) poses with teammates after the gold-medal game against at the Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.(AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
The players’ excitement appeared to miff critics of Trump. But while talking to reporters outside the E11EVEN nightclub in Miami on Monday night, the New Jersey Devils star said meeting the president is a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
“Everything is so political. We’re athletes. We’re so proud to represent the U.S. and when you get the chance to go to the White House, meet the president, you know, we’re proud to be Americans, that’s so patriotic. No matter what your views are, we’re super excited to go to the White House and just be part of that,” he said.
Jack Hughes, who scored the winning overtime goal, celebrates after defeating Canada at the Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Hughes was dripping in patriotism right after he scored the goal on Canadian netminder Jordan Binnington.
“This is all about our country right now. I love the USA. I love my teammates. It’s unbelievable. The U.S. are a hockey brotherhood. It’s so strong and we had so much support from ex-players. I’m so proud to be American today,” he said.
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As the team celebrated in the locker room, FBI Director Kash Patel held his phone on speaker as Trump invited the team to his State of the Union address.
“I’ll tell you what. I just told my people two minutes ago, I didn’t know they’d be calling, I said we’re giving the State of the Union speech on Tuesday night,” Trump said. “I can send a military plane or something, but if you would like to, it’s the coolest night, it’s the biggest speech …”
One player cut off Trump and said, “We’re in.”
Jack Hughes celebrates with the U.S. flag after scoring the team’s second goal in overtime to win gold on Feb. 22, 2026.(Reuters/Alessandro Garofalo)
“We’ll get Kash, and we’ll get the military to get you guys over,” Trump continued. “You won’t have to worry about the weather or landing. We don’t care if it’s snowing or if it’s the worst blizzard – we’ll be sailing through like you did on the ice.”
Following the official announcement of a rematch between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao, Mayweather’s uncle admitted he believes the fight reflects a “sad” state of affairs in boxing.
Speaking to FightHype following the fight announcement, Jeff Mayweather — who trained Floyd in the late 1990s — said boxing is in a “sad” state, with the sport relying on former stars to return and revive it.
“It is kind of sad to me, that these two guys have to come back for it to be one of the biggest fights again. With all of these great new champion that are out here, there should be some big fights but Manny and Floyd are bigger than anybody else. That is why it is happening.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say that is the fighters’ fault, that is not the fighters’ job – that is the promoters’ job, that is what promotion is. So, if you don’t have a promoter that is promoting you in the right way to make you loved and accepted by your fans, then they are not doing the right thing by you.”
As for the fight itself, Jeff Mayweather predicted a repeat victory for the 49-year-old, believing that ‘PacMan’ has severely declined.
“I think that the fight is probably going to be pretty much the same [as last time], but both of them are not the same fighters that they once was. The name are the same, but the fighters, they are not.
“They have both aged and, I’m going to be honest, the last fight with Pacquiao, when he fought Barrios, that fight looked like crap to me. He looked like crap. Even though the fight was close, and I understand that the fight was close, the greatness of Pacquiao was gone. I didn’t see it, I didn’t even see an inkling of it.”
TAPALPA, Mexico — Maria Dolores Aguirre’s corner store has lived off the tourism that flows into her cobblestoned town of Tapalpa, tucked away in the mountains of Mexico’s state of Jalisco.
Then gunshots erupted and helicopters flew overhead as the Mexican army killed the country’s most powerful drug lord Sunday just a few kilometres from her home. The killing sparked a surge in violence and put the country on edge.
Now the 50-year-old Aguirre worries that the bloodshed will deal a blow to her livelihood and change towns like hers. Many others in Jalisco are grappling with the same concerns, from the Pacific Ocean beaches to the capital of Guadalajara, which will host matches in June for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“It’s going to affect us. It’s collateral damage,” Aguirre said. “The government is going to have to have a lot of security. … The entire world just saw what happened and, of course, people are going to think twice about coming.”
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President offers ‘every guarantee’ for World Cup
In the capital, workers were busy Tuesday fixing up the exterior of the soccer stadium that will host World Cup matches. Cyclists zipped around outside the stadium as the city snapped back to its normal rhythms.
President Claudia Sheinbaum was asked Tuesday at her daily news briefing what guarantees there are that World Cup matches will be held in Jalisco. “Every guarantee,” she said, adding that there was “no risk” for fans coming to the tournament.
Also Tuesday, the Portuguese soccer federation said it was “closely monitoring the delicate situation” in Mexico. Its national team was scheduled to play Mexico’s team in a friendly on March 28 at the newly renovated Azteca Stadium, which is scheduled to host the opening match of the World Cup on June 11.
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Mexico was scheduled to play Iceland on Wednesday in a friendly in Queretaro.
Fighting between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and Mexican security forces raged on in a number of states Monday, fuelling fears that more violence is to come.
More than 70 people died in the attempt to capture Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes and its aftermath, authorities said Monday. Known as “El Mencho,” he was the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of the fastest-growing criminal networks in Mexico, known for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to the United States and staging brazen attacks against Mexican government officials.
The White House confirmed that the U.S. provided intelligence support to the operation to capture the cartel leader and applauded Mexico’s army for taking down a man who was one of the most wanted criminals in both countries. The U.S. State Department had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his arrest.
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The death of Oseguera Cervantes came as Mexico’s government has stepped up its offensive against cartels in an effort to meet demands by U.S. President Donald Trump to crack down on criminal groups. He has threatened to impose more tariffs or take unilateral military action if the country does not show results.
Mexico hoped the death of one of the world’s biggest fentanyl traffickers would ease that pressure, but many people were anxious as they waited to see the powerful cartel’s reaction.
Oseguera Cervantes died after a shootout Sunday with the Mexican military. Mexican Defense Secretary Gen. Ricardo Trevilla said Monday that authorities had tracked one of his romantic partners to his hideout in Tapalpa. The cartel leader and two bodyguards fled into a wooded area where they were seriously wounded in a firefight. They were taken into custody and died on the way to Mexico City, Trevilla said.
Unease looms over tourist towns
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In the aftermath, a sense of unease simmered in tourist towns.
The Pacific Ocean resort city of Puerto Vallarta also was hard hit by cartel reprisals, frightening tourists.
Steve Perkins, 57, was visiting Puerto Vallarta with his wife, Gayle, and some friends. They were on their hotel room’s terrace when explosions and black smoke started appearing around the city Sunday morning.
Their return to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was delayed when their flight was cancelled Monday, and they were rebooked for March 1.
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Perkins and his wife have been taking annual trips to Puerto Vallarta since 2012 and have always felt safe, until now. He said they don’t plan on returning to Mexico.
“There’s a lot of Americans trapped here,” Perkins said.
Aguirre worked next to her son in the small neighborhood shop her family has owned for 50 years. The 15-year-old’s classes were cancelled due to the violence.
Aguirre said it was unclear whether the military or the cartel was in control of the area surrounding her. The other question on her mind was if this was a one-off event, or if more violence was in store.
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“We don’t know if these people (cartel leaders) are permanently here or not,” she said. “If they really did kill this leader, it could be that they fight between each other to win control or see who will lead it.”
The Cognizant Classic 2026 is set to begin on Thursday, February 26, at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The seventh event of the season will feature 123 players divided into 41 threesomes.
The first-round action of the Cognizant Classic 2026 will begin on Thursday at 6:45 a.m. ET, with Taylor Moore, Harry Higgs and Hank Lebioda teeing off from Hole 1, while Austin Eckroat, Danny Willett and Beau Hossler will simultaneously begin from the tenth hole.
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Isaiah Salinda, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen and A.J. Ewart will tee off at 1:23 p.m. ET as the last group on Hole 1, while Zecheng Dou, David Ford and Justin Hicks will be the last group off the tenth tee at 1:35 p.m. ET
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Cognizant Classic 2026 pairings explored
Ryan Gerard is the highest-ranked player at the Cognizant Classic 2026 (Image Source: Imagn)
Here’s a look at the complete tee time details for the Cognizant Classic 2026, Round 1
Hole 1
6:45 am: Taylor Moore, Harry Higgs, Hank Lebioda
6:57 am: Matthieu Pavon, Adam Hadwin, Doug Ghim
7:09 am: Lee Hodges, Matt Wallace, Mac Meissner
7:21 am: Brendon Todd, Kevin Streelman, Vince Whaley
7:33 am: Steven Fisk, Nico Echavarria, Kevin Yu
7:45 am: Davis Thompson, Stephan Jaeger, Webb Simpson
7:57 am: Nick Dunlap, K.H. Lee, Chad Ramey
8:09 am: Adrien Saddier, Paul Waring, Christo Lamprecht
8:21 am: Jimmy Stanger, Neal Shipley, Jeffrey Kang
8:33 am: Austin Smotherman, Jordan Smith, Chandler Blanchet
11:35 am: Mark Hubbard, Eric Cole, Alex Smalley
11:47 am: Gary Woodland, Brandt Snedeker, David Lipsky
11:59 am: Emiliano Grillo, Kevin Roy, Danny Walker
12:11 pm: Michael Brennan, Ryan Gerard, Max Homa
12:23 pm: Brooks Koepka, Will Zalatoris, Daniel Berger
12:35 pm: Tom Kim, Michael Thorbjornsen, Rasmus Højgaard
12:47 pm: Patton Kizzire, Andrew Putnam, Kristoffer Reitan
12:59 pm: Haotong Li, Marcelo Rozo, Davis Chatfield
1:11 pm: Jesper Svensson, Kensei Hirata, Luke Clanton
Kirk Cousins‘ time with the Atlanta Falcons is all but over.
General manager Ian Cunningham told reporters Tuesday that the team will release the veteran quarterback once the new league year officially begins next month.
Cunningham said he had already told Cousins of the team’s decision.
Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons warms up for the Buccaneers game at Raymond James Stadium on Dec. 11, 2025, in Tampa, Florida.(Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
“Just felt that was out of respect for Kirk. What he’s done in his career, I owed that to him. We owed that to him to allow him some clarity going into free agency,” Cunningham said at the NFL Scouting Combine Tuesday.
Cousins headed to the Falcons two years ago after the Minnesota Vikings decided it was time to move on, draft J.J. McCarthy and sign Sam Darnold. Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million deal with $100 million guaranteed.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins passes against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.(Dale Zanine/Imagn Images)
However, the marriage was already soured when, roughly a month after signing Cousins, the Falcons were the biggest shockers of that year’s NFL Draft, selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick.
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Cousins struggled in his first season, prompting the team to move on to Penix earlier than expected. Penix was then the starter this year, while Cousins was the backup.
Penix was injured this season with a partially torn ACL, which left Cousins to play in 10 games, starting eight of them. In his 24 games under center with the Falcons, Cousins threw 28 touchdowns and 21 interceptions with a 65.0 completion percentage for 5,229 yards.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins walks off the field after the Minnesota Vikings game, Dec. 8, 2024, in Minneapolis.(AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Ryan Garcia dethroned Mario Barrios to become the WBC welterweight world champion on Saturday night and former WBO lightweight champion, Keyshawn Davis, has offered his thoughts on both the performance and what comes next for ‘King Ry’.
As a result, the Californian has lined himself up for a number of major fights, including but not limited to a fierce rematch with Devin Haney, a war with Conor Benn and the chance to avenge to his defeat to Rolando Romero.
Speaking to Fight Hub TV, despite being close friends with Stevenson, Keyshawn Davis credited Garcia with an ‘amazing performance’.
“I think that it was an amazing performance, so shoutout to Ryan, you a world champ.”
Although, when quizzed on what comes next for the newly crowned champion, Davis welcomed the Garcia-Stevenson fight, confidently stating his belief that the 29-year-old would get ‘whooped’ by the Newark-born sensation.
“I think that he fights Shakur Stevenson [next] and I think that he gets his a** whooped.”
Stevenson, a former featherweight, has openly agreed to the fight, even without a rehydration clause, but he has insisted that the contest takes place at a 144lb catchweight, rather than at welterweight (147lbs).
Paris Saint-Germain vice captain Achraf Hakimi is to go on trial for rape, French radio station France Info reported on Tuesday. Hakimi is also the captain of Morocco’s national squad.
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones watches from the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons on Dec. 8, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Jones observed late-game action as Minnesota managed the closing stages of the contest during the regular season matchup. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones will turn 32 during the 2026 regular season, and hypothetically speaking, if the club released him this offseason, it would save about $8 million on the salary cap. Many expect Minnesota to drop Jones in favor of a younger option, so here’s a look at where Jones may land if he hits open free agency.
Atlanta, Houston, Washington, and a few others could view Jones as a short-term RB1/RB2 jolt.
SI.com‘s Will Ragatz noted on Jones this week, “If this is it for Jones in Minnesota, his two-year tenure will be remembered fondly. Despite his age and a reputation for picking up bumps and bruises, he played in 29 of a possible 34 regular season games over the past two seasons.”
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“During that time, Jones ran for 1,686 yards on 387 carries (4.4 YPC) and added 79 catches for 607 yards. He scored 10 touchdowns. Off the field, his infectiously joyous personality quickly made him a favorite of teammates, coaches, fans, and media members. The reasons why Jones is a logical cap casualty are fairly obvious.”
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. (33) lines up during NFC Wild Card action against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium. The veteran runner handled a key offensive role during Minnesota’s postseason push, providing steady production on the ground and as a receiver. Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA: Jones carried the workload in playoff competition. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
If Jones returns to Minnesota, it will be because of his locker room leadership role.
Ragatz added, “As currently constructed, his $14.55 million cap hit for 2026 is the third-highest among all NFL running backs, behind only Alvin Kamara and Jonathan Taylor.”
“Jones is 31 years old, he missed five games last season, and his yards per carry mark in 2025 was a career-low 4.2. He’s still a good player, but the Vikings might be able to get more explosive at RB while also saving some money by parting ways.”
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But let’s pretend Minnesota moves on. The following list ranks Jones’s landing spots from least to most realistic (No. 1 = most realistic landing spot).
Seven Realistic Team Fits for Aaron Jones
Jones will have a market if Minnesota cuts ties.
7. Atlanta Falcons
Jones was born in Savannah, Georgia, and although there are no coaching or general manager ties to Jones in Atlanta, the Falcons are probably on the cusp of losing Tyler Allgeier to free agency.
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Sliding in next to Bijan Robinson, the RB1, as a dependable RB2, Jones would make sense in Atlanta to wind down his illustrious career.
6. Houston Texans
As a kid, Jones lived all over the place with his parents in the military, but for high school, he eventually settled in West Texas, playing at Burges High School. He knows Texas.
The Texans are about to lose Nick Chubb in free agency, as well as Dare Ogunbowale. Meanwhile, no one is too sure about Joe Mixon’s long-term health trajectory. Houston featured rookie Woody Marks in 2025, who performed decently, but as an RB1 or RB2, Jones in Houston would make sense next to Marks.
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5. Washington Commanders
Jones plays offense, and former Vikings defensive passing game coordinator Daronte Jones coaches defense, but the two know each other. Daronte Jones accepted a promotion to run the Commanders’ defense this offseason; he could put in a good word for his RB-needy team.
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (22) celebrates in the end zone after reaching the goal line during first-half action against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. The young runner flashed scoring ability while competing for offensive snaps in Washington’s backfield rotation. Oct 5, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA: Croskey-Merritt finished the drive with a touchdown run. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images.
Washington waltzes into free agency with just one running back under contract: the hot-and-cold Jacory Croskey-Merritt. From somewhere, the Commanders will need more running backs — probably about three or four more by the time training camp rolls around.
The Joneses can reunite in Washington.
4. Arizona Cardinals
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The Cardinals hired a new offensive coordinator last week, and that man’s name is Nathaniel Hackett. He’s most famous for flaming out as the Denver Broncos’ head coach, but before that, he led the Green Bay Packers’ offense from 2019 to 2021. These are also known as the glory years for Jones — the final two of which Aaron Rodgers won MVP.
Arizona drafted Trey Benson two years ago. His injury resume is a bit spooky. James Conner is recovering from a season-ending injury in 2025.
Jones getting back together with Hackett checks some boxes, with Benson and Jones headlining the Cardinals’ rushing offense.
3. Green Bay Packers
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This one isn’t too mysterious; Jones worked in Green Bay for seven seasons. He was beloved by fans. If he needs a new team, the Packers could easily re-up with Jones as the RB2 behind Josh Jacobs.
Not much explanation needed.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars’ RB1, Travis Etienne, is probably on the brink of signing with a new team next month. Jacksonville will presumably hand the RB1 baton to speedster Bhayshul Tuten, who flashed at times as a rookie in 2025. After Tuten on the depth chart, it’s LeQuint Allen Jr.
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Former Vikings assistant quarterback coach Grant Udinski runs the Jaguars’ offense. He crossed paths with Jones in Minnesota in 2024.
The Jaguars need a running back, and Jones might need a job. A partnership with Tuten might work.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
These men work for the Steelers or may work for the Steelers in 2026:
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Mike McCarthy: Jones’s former head coach
Aaron Rodgers: Jones’s former QB1
Brian Angelichio: Vikings TE coach turned Steelers OC
Frank Cignetti Jr.: A Packers QB coach in 2018
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) talks with Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) following an international matchup at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The veteran players shared a brief postgame exchange after a closely contested contest overseas. Oct 6, 2024; Tottenham, ENG: Rodgers and Jones met on the field after Minnesota’s loss in the NFL Global Series. Mandatory Credit: Shaun Brooks-Imagn Images.
What’s more, Pittsburgh tailback Kenneth Gainwell will test free agency in two weeks.
The Steelers are dripping with ties to Jones. If Minnesota cuts him loose, circle Pittsburgh as his top destination, especially if Rodgers returns for Year No. 22.
Although none of Germany‘s group-stage matches at next summer’s World Cup are to be played in Mexico, government officials in Berlin are already thinking about the impact the recent clashes between security forces and suspected members of a drug cartel could have on the men’s national team.
“FIFA must work with the governments of Canada, the United States, and Mexico to ensure that fans are not endangered and that the host countries comply with safety regulations,” Christoph Ploss, the German government’s tourism coordinator, told the Handelsblatt newspaper.
He also stressed that protecting German tourists was a “very high priority” for Berlin.
Germany’s Foreign Office is among the national authorities of many countries, which have updated their travel advisories for Mexico. It now urgently advises its citizens to avoid travel to affected areas in the country and calling on Germans in the country to shelter indoors.
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More than 70 killed in clashes
The advisory was issued shortly after the news broke of the killing of drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes or “El Mencho” by security forces on Monday – and the ensuing clashes that have left more than 70 people killed.
Following reports of his death, suspected cartel members also blockaded highways with burning cars and torched businesses in more than half a dozen states. No civilian deaths were reported.
Burned-out buses were used by suspected drug cartel members to set up roadblocks during the clashesImage: Arturo Montero/AFP/Getty Images
Cervantes was the head of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Carte. Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state, is slated to host four World Cup matches. Guadalajara’s Estadio Akron is one of three Mexican venues set to host World Cup matches this summer. The stadium is also to host playoff matches between Congo, Jamaica and New Caledonia from March 26 to 31.
Mexico home to 13 World Cup matches
In total, world football‘s governing body, FIFA, has scheduled 13 matches to be played in Mexico, including the prestigious opening match in the capital on June 11. The bulk of the 104 matches are to be played in the United States (78), with Canada hosting the remaining 13.
The current wave of violence has foreign governments worried about sending their teams and fans to Mexico, and has locals concerned about how the violence could impact their businesses.
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‘It will have an impact’
Maria Dolores Aguirre, who owns a corner shop in the town of Tapalpa in Jalasco state, told the Associated Press that her business is highly dependent on tourism.
“The government is going to have to have a lot of security. I think it will have an impact because everyone just saw what happened and, of course, people are going to think twice about coming,” she said. “Yes, it will have an impact.”
The violence has already had a major effect on football in the country, with four matches in the top divisions of the women’s and men’s leagues called off on Sunday.
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However, the Merida Open women’s tournament in the eastern part of the country was reportedly proceeding as planned.
The 2026 World Cup is the first to be co-hosted by three countries, the USA, Mexico and CanadaImage: Amber Searls/Imagn Images/IMAGO
“The WTA is aware of security incidents reported in parts of western Mexico,” the WTA said in a statement, adding that police presence around the tournament venue had been stepped up.
Friendly against Iceland
Meanwhile, the Mexico national team are due to face Iceland in a friendly at Queretaro on Wednesday.
The head of marketing for the Icelandic FA, Omar Smarason, told DW via email that they were keeping “well informed” about the situation on the ground.
“As far as we are concerned, the schedule for today and tomorrow remains unchanged. Security is tight as it should be, and the safety of everyone connected to the game is what is most important,” he said.
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“Our main concern is for the people here in Mexico who have been affected by this unrest.”
As for Mexico, with more than three months still to go before the World Cup kicks off, FIFA appears to be taking a wait-and-see approach.
“At FIFA Mexico, we are closely monitoring the situation in Jalisco and remain in constant communication with the authorities,” a FIFA spokesperson told Reuters.
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“We will continue to follow the actions and directions from the different government agencies, aimed at maintaining public safety and restoring normalcy, and we reiterate our close collaboration with federal, state, and local authorities.”
For now, the German Football Association (DFB) isn’t panicking either.
“Let’s hope this war-like situation calms down quickly and doesn’t escalate further,” Andreas Rettig, the DFB’s managing director told the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper. “My thoughts are with all of the Mexicans suffering due to the unrest.”
Additional reporting by Alima Hotakie. Edited by: Jonathan Harding
After President Donald Trump called the men’s Olympic hockey team to congratulate them on their gold medal, he received criticism for what’s been deemed by some as disrespect toward the women’s team that had the same fate.
Trump told the men’s team after inviting them to Tuesday’s State of the Union that he’d “have” to invite the women’s team, otherwise “I probably would be impeached.”
Gold medalists Quinn Hughes and Jack Hughes of Team United States celebrate after the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026, in Milan, Italy.(Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Hughes’ mother, Ellen, a player development consultant for Team USA women’s ice hockey, was not bothered by Trump’s comments.
“These players, both the men and women, can bring so much unity to a group and to a country,” she told “Today.” “People that cheered on that don’t watch hockey, people that have politics on one side or on the other side, and that’s all both the men’s team and the women’s team care about.”
“If you could see what we see from the inside, and the men and women sharing, you know, dorm rooms and halls and flex floors and the camaraderie and the synergy and the way the women cheered on the men and the way the men cheered on the women — that’s what it’s all about,” she continued. “And the other things they cannot control. They care about humanity. They care about unity, and they care about the country.”
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Megan Keller (5) of Team United States warms up prior to the Women’s Preliminary Round Group A match between the United States and Czechia on Day one of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 5, 2026 in Milan, Italy.(Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Hughes’ brother, Quinn, who scored an overtime goal against Sweden last week, said it was “amazing to spend some time” with the women’s team in the Olympic village.
“And then obviously watch them, me and Jack were there, we watched them win the gold medal. They came to our game and were able to watch us,” he said. “So just the support back and forth, just to get to know them a little better was special, too.”
The women’s team declined an invite to Washington, D.C., citing schedules. Several members of the men’s team will be in attendance after partying in Miami on Monday.
Brady Tkachuk, Jack Hughes, Matthew Tkachuk and Quinn Hughes attend a celebration of the USA Men’s Hockey Team’s Olympic Gold at E11EVEN Miami on Feb. 23, 2026 in Miami, Florida.(Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for E11EVEN Miami)
