The Washington Commanders hired Minnesota Vikings defensive passing game coordinator Daronte Jones to be their next defensive coordinator last week, and based on how the NFL usually works, a handful of purple free agents could follow Jones to the nation’s capital: Eric Wilson, Ivan Pace Jr., and Fabian Moreau.

Washington’s interest looks plausible with Jones in town, so Vikings fans should be prepared for some Commanders’ signings.

Adding those free agents certainly isn’t a foregone conclusion, but add Wilson, Pace Jr., and Moreau as possible Commanders’ free-agent signees in 4.5 weeks.

Washington Emeres as a Real FA Threat

Free agency is just around the corner, believe it or not.

Eric Wilson (LB)

Wilson will turn 32 during the 2026 regular season, and based on his 2025 performance, he may simply reunite in Minnesota. But what if the age scares away the Vikings’ brass? Wilson would need a new NFL home. Jones running the show in Washington makes sense in that example.

Minnesota signed him as depth, a rotational linebacker slotted behind Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr. He entered 2025 as a backup and special teamer, barely part of the defensive conversation.

By December, Wilson was a bona fide starter. He turned into a true disruptor, collapsing offensive lines and appearing behind the line with startling consistency. He finished the season leading all off-ball linebackers in sacks and pressures, hovering near the top of the league in forced fumbles.

The impact reshaped how the defense felt when he wasn’t on the field. At 31, Wilson authored the best season of his career, even if it arrived later than expected.

Now, free agency brings the business side again. Wilson can sign with any NFL team when that process opens on March 9th, and league expectations point toward Minnesota prioritizing a return. Given the breakout and the age curve, a deal in the $5–7 million range makes sense.

If the Commanders pay more than the Vikings, it could be a no-brainer for Wilson.

CBS Sports‘ David Harrison on Wilson as a Commanders’ free-agent target: “Fans of the team are going to flinch at the idea of the oldest team in the NFL last year adding a 32-year-old linebacker this offseason, but not only should Eric Wilson be a priority target, but he might also be the most important addition of the year if general manager Adam Peters can bring him in.”

“Coming to Washington, Wilson would become an immediate translator between Jones and his new roster of players, and could also play a pivotal role on the defense itself were he thrust into increased action like he was in Minnesota. Even if he is in his 30s.”

Ivan Pace Jr. (LB)

Pace Jr. had a rough year. Let’s just get that out in the open.

He began the 2025 campaign as a starter, and within six weeks, Wilson snatched his job. As mentioned above, Wilson was too good to sit on the bench. Meanwhile, the timing was flat-out terrible for Pace Jr., as he’ll hit restricted free agency in March. He was supposed to spend all of 2025 as a starter and cash in big with the Vikings or a new team.

Now, Pace Jr. will basically start from scratch, hoping to prove he has the juice of an NFL starter. Missed tackles plagued his first six games, and Minnesota evidently soured on his snap count.

In Washington, the off-ball linebackers aren’t young: Frankie Luvu (29) and Bobby Wagner (35), if Wagner re-signs. Pace Jr., on the other hand, won’t turn 26 until December.

Fabian Moreau (CB)

Minnesota entered the 2025 season with concerns about cornerback depth. Isaiah Rodgers, Byron Murphy Jr., and Jeff Okudah were the only viable starters, while Dwight McGlothern and rookie Zemaiah Vaughn remained on the practice squad. Depth appeared dangerously thin, leaving little room for error.

A bit of panic set in when Okudah suffered multiple concussions. The Vikings promoted Fabian Moreau from the practice squad, opting for him over McGlothern, and quietly filled a void that could have crippled the secondary. The results then exceeded expectations. Moreau earned a 70.9 PFF grade and allowed a 47.4 passer rating on 19 targets, providing consistent production in a role that was overlooked and deprioritized during Minnesota’s 2025 offseason.

Looking forward for the Vikings, Moreau would be a sensible CB3-CB4 option for 2026, assuming interim general manager Rob Brzezinski acquires a true CB1 through free agency or the draft. While he will turn 32 this offseason, his performance suggests he has another year or two left. In effect, he gave the Vikings what they had hoped to receive from Okudah. It worked out.

Or — Moreau could follow Jones to Washington. Moreau spent his entire rookie contract in Washington, drafted in 2017 as a 3rd-Round pick by Jay Gruden’s Commanders.

Pep Guardiola said that Manchester City would be writing to the EFL in a bid to ensure Marc Guehi could play for the club in their Carabao Cup final against Arsenal

EFL sources have firmly stated that Marc Guehi will not be permitted to participate in the Carabao Cup final, even if they receive a formal request for a rule change from Manchester City.

Following last night’s 3-1 (5-1 aggregate) semi-final second leg triumph over Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium, Pep Guardiola indicated that City were planning to write to the EFL to discuss Guehi’s ineligibility.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “Hopefully we can convince the Carabao Cup that Marc can play in this competition [in] the final. It’s difficult to understand that the club makes a big investment to take one player, [he] belongs to us and I don’t understand why he cannot play in the final. Honestly.

“Hopefully we make a letter and hopefully the Carabao Cup can understand. Once you buy a player for a lot of money and he’s not able to play (because of) a rule that I don’t understand why. Hopefully they can change it and he can play.”

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Ahead of the 2025/26 season, the EFL actually revised their rules to allow players who have already participated in early rounds of the competition to play for their new clubs (following a January transfer), as long as they signed before the first leg of the semi-final.

For instance, in past seasons, Antoine Semenyo would have been ineligible to play due to the cup-tied rule, but this time he was able to take to the pitch for City against Newcastle, even scoring in the 2-0 first-leg triumph at St James’ Park.

Eddie Howe voiced his disapproval of the rule change prior to the match, stating: “It was nice to find out that rule had changed after finding out they had signed him,” he said during his pre-match press conference. “I have to say that’s one rule change I probably wouldn’t be supportive of at this current moment.”

While City have already reaped the benefits of the rule change, Guardiola still believes that Guehi should also be allowed to play against Arsenal at Wembley next month.

The first leg of the semi-final against Newcastle took place on January 13, but the England international didn’t finalise his move to the Etihad Stadium from Crystal Palace until January 19.

When approached by football.london, the EFL made it clear that they will stand their ground even if City make a request, meaning Guehi will have to watch his team-mates vie for the season’s first trophy from the stands in London.

The central defender is also unlikely to receive a medal if City clinch the competition, as he will not have played for his new club during the tournament.

The winners of the Carabao Cup are assured a play-off spot for next season’s UEFA Conference League – although Arsenal and City are still on course to qualify for the Champions League – in addition, they will also pocket £100,000 in tournament prize money.

SAN FRANCISCO – It does not sound like Puka Nacua and Sydney Sweeney will be getting together any time soon.

Sure, Sweeney has long been rumored to be dating music manager Scooter Braun, but that did not stop the Los Angeles Rams wide receiver from shooting his shot last week.

Sweeney talked about her type of man in a recent interview with Cosmopolitan, saying he should be “athletic and outgoing and funny” and someone who needs to “go skydiving with me.”

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(Left) Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) leaves the field following a game against the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Jan. 4, 2026. (Right) Sydney Sweeney attends the Variety and Golden Globes Pre-Golden Globes Party, presented by Morgan Stanley, at the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on Jan. 9, 2026. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images;Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)

Nacua is obviously athletic, but he tried to make a play for Sweeney, saying on X that he “love[s] skydiving.”

Nacua was asked Wednesday if he believed he had a chance with Sweeney, but he actually let out the truth.

“I have an actual fear of heights, so it’ll be interesting,” Nacua said.

Another reporter asked Nacua who the last person to slide into his direct messages was. After pondering, he gave the answer.

Puka Nacua (12) of the Los Angeles Rams reacts after a catch during the third quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on Dec. 18, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.  (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

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“The NFL is the last verified DM I had because they told me I didn’t get tickets to the Warriors game, and I was pretty sad,” he said.

Nacua and Hallie Aiono were in a long-term relationship before a highly public breakup. Aiono later became pregnant and underwent paternity testing to determine whether Nacua was the father of her son, Kingston.

She filed court documents in June to determine the parental relationship after testing confirmed Nacua was the father.

Actress Sydney Sweeney speaks onstage at the Gala Screening of “Christy” and Award Presentation to Sydney Sweeney for the Spotlight Award during the 28th SCAD Savannah Film Festival on Oct. 27, 2025, in Savannah, Georgia. (Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

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Sweeney and ex-fiancé Jonathan Davino called off their engagement in March 2025. She has been seen with Braun since the breakup.

Fox News’ Ryan Canfield contributed to this report.

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It’s been five long years in Golden State, and the Jonathan Kuminga saga is officially over. The Golden State Warriors are reportedly trading Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks for Kristaps Porziņģis. 

This deal seemingly puts an end to Golden State’s pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to Charania. Reports had indicated that the Warriors hoped not to include Jimmy Butler‘s max contract in a deal, which would have meant using contracts like Kuminga’s, Hield’s and Draymond Green‘s to make a deal. With this deal now made and the Bucks having turned down Golden State’s picks-based offer, the Warriors moved on to another target.

The Hawks, meanwhile, continue their retool by trading away their second former All-Star of the season. With Trae Young gone as well, the Hawks no longer have a single fully guaranteed contract on their books for next season belonging to a player above the age of 27. The youth movement is fully on, so let’s grade this deal for both sides.

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Golden State Warriors: B

After five years of inconsistent playing time in a system that he didn’t fit within, Kuminga no longer held meaningful trade value. There were reports over the summer that Sacramento was willing to give up a lottery-protected first-round pick for him, but any hope of a deal there seemingly passed when the Kings landed De’Andre Hunter. He had essentially become little more than matching salary, and with the odds of an Antetokounmpo deal seeming low, the Warriors moved on.

Now, if this were a healthy Porziņģis, Golden State would get an A+. The Warriors have spent years looking for this sort of player. Part of the motivation of signing Al Horford this offseason was the need to pair Draymond Green with a center who can shoot. Golden State has never really had a gigantic, stationary rim-protector before, and his size near the rim gives them a dimension they’ve largely lacked as well.

Of course, this is not a healthy Porziņģis. Even if this was the standard, “misses games due to injury, but is great when he plays” Porziņģis the Warriors would come away as clear winners, Instead, he’s struggled with POTS, an autoimmune disorder with a number of troubling symptoms including rapid heart rate, dizziness and lethargy. Porziņģis was spectacular in his first 11 games in October and November, averaging over 18 points and posting spectacular on-off splits. He’s played six times since, mostly ineffectively. It is not clear when or if he will ever be able to play at 100% again, and that doesn’t even factor in the other injuries he’s dealt with for most of his career.

The version of Porziņģis Golden State is getting, at least for now, is a compromised one. Yet it’s still a gamble worth taking for a number of reasons. The risk, for example, was minimal. Porziņģis is on an expiring contract. The Warriors gave up no draft picks to get him. If they have him in the building for three months and decide they don’t trust his health, they can wash their hands of this relatively easily. They even got off of the $3 million guaranteed to Hield for next season, so it’d be a minor win.

But more likely, they look to re-sign Porziņģis to a team-friendly deal. If he can be had for $10-15 million instead of the $30 million he’s making now, the risk-reward calculus shifts quite a bit. The stakes aren’t especially high here. Golden State isn’t betting a championship core on his health. They know they need to hit a home run if they’re going to win anything in the near future, so it made sense to take a high-reward swing. Generally speaking, low-risk, high-reward moves make sense.

And then there are the optics here. It’s no secret that the Warriors are near the end of a legendary run. Stephen Curry is about to turn 38. The only reason they ever seemingly had a chance at landing Antetokounmpo was that their post-Curry future is so bleak their draft picks held theoretical value. Given how little else they have in the cupboard, one could argue that an all-in push for Giannis represented far greater risk than reward. Yet the Warriors had to try. They owe it to Curry. A player of his stature deserves to end his career at least competing in the playoffs, if not for a championship.

The Porziņģis trade isn’t nearly as exciting as an Antetokounmpo deal, but it shows Curry and their fans that they’re trying. He’s a respectable name, someone who has a chance to be very helpful for them, but like Jimmy Butler, doesn’t come at an exorbitant cost. Truthfully, those are the sort of players they should be targeting right now. The goal should be to retain as much of their draft capital as possible to ensure they’re capable of rebuilding once Curry is gone, but still at least making some attempt to give Curry a competitive roster now. This deal straddles that line. It creates hope without a major cost looming down the line, and it relieves the locker room of all lingering Kuminga-related tension. So it makes sense even if this isn’t the best version of Porziņģis.

Atlanta Hawks: B

The Hawks and Warriors are operating one different timetables. They genuinely hoped Porziņģis could form a center tandem with Onyeka Okongwu that they could build around moving forward. That didn’t happen. They simply couldn’t justify paying Porziņģis on a long-term deal. They need certainty at the center position, and he couldn’t provide it. So moving on made sense.

Could they have gotten, say, a meager draft capital return? Sure, but it likely would have been attached to unsavory salary. Atlanta has very valuable first-round picks coming from the Pelicans or Bucks both this summer and next. Maintaining financial flexibility is far more important to them than accumulating draft capital. They need their money to both find a reliable center and look for a shot-creating guard to replace Trae Young.

So, like Golden State, the Hawks took a low-risk, high-reward flyer. Hield is only guaranteed $3 million next season, but because he has two years left on his deal, that can even be stretched across five years if he’s waived. That’s an easy enough contract to dispose of. And Kuminga has a $24.3 million team option for next season. If they need to use him as matching salary in a summer trade, they can. If they want to just get off of the contract for whatever reason, they can do so as well.

If we’re operating under the assumption that Atlanta did not plan to re-sign Porziņģis, turning him into a different potential expiring contract makes plenty of sense. Why not give Kuminga a two-month audition and see if he looks better away from the Warriors? Atlanta does run a system somewhat similar to Golden State’s. The Warriors lead the league in passes every year and in 3s this season. The Hawks are 10th in passes and 11th in 3-point attempt rate. Quin Snyder wants the ball zipping around the court and the 3-pointers flying. But nobody really plays the way Golden State does. 

The Hawks are closer to a normal NBA ecosystem, and it’s worth seeing how Kuminga might fit into one. He does still have stellar athletic traits, after all. We’re talking about someone who just faced Minnesota in a playoff series and averaged 24 points on 55-49-72 shooting in the four games in which he played significant minutes last year. There is clearly something here. The Hawks love their big wing ball-handlers. They already run plenty of offense through Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels, though all three have pretty distinct offensive strengths and weaknesses.

Snyder is a creative offensive coach. You can never have enough wings. And the Hawks have made no real commitment here. Considering they’re only giving up a player they seemingly didn’t plan to keep, this is a solid lottery ticket. They were only a Play-In Tournament team anyway, so there’s no harm in devoting a few months to seeing if you can unlock a former high draft pick so that next year you might be something more.

Wales: Rees-Zammit; Mee, James, B Thomas, Adams; Edwards, T Williams; Smith, Lake (capt), Griffin, D Jenkins, Beard, Mann, Macleod, Wainwright.

Replacements: Belcher, Carre, T Francis, Carter, Plumtree, Deaves, Hardy, Grady.

England: Steward; Feyi-Waboso, Freeman, Dingwall, Arundell; Ford, Mitchell; Genge, George, Heyes; Coles, Chessum; Pepper, Underhill, Earl

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Rodd, Davison, Itoje, T Curry, Pollock, Spencer, M Smith

Italy has foiled “Russian origin” cyber-attacks targeting the Winter Olympics, says Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.

He said websites linked to the Games, hotels in host town Cortina d’Ampezzo and foreign ministry facilities, including an embassy in Washington, were targeted.

Cortina d’Ampezzo, one of five host clusters for the Olympics, will stage alpine skiing, biathlon, curling, and sliding events.

“We prevented a series of cyber-attacks against foreign ministry sites. These are actions of Russian origin,” said Tajani.

The Games officially begin on Friday, although the first action got under way on Wednesday.

Man Utd are set to try and sign a left-winger in the summer and RB Leipzig teenager Yan Diomande is a player they are interested in.

Manchester United are interested in RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande as they consider attacking reinforcements this summer, but they will face serious competition for the Ivory Coast star. United missed out on a January move for Antoine Semenyo, with the forward joining Manchester City for £62.5million, and opted not to pursue any other targets during the window.

While central midfield is a major priority heading into the summer, United will also try to sign a left-winger and Diomande is a player they have monitored and someone who is of interest.

The 19-year-old has had a breakthrough season for RB Leipzig, registering eight goals and six assists in 21 games in Germany. Diomande only turned 19 in November but is already attracting the attention of some of Europe’s biggest clubs. The right-footed attacker can play on both wings but would be seen as an option on the left at Old Trafford.

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United have monitored Diomande’s emergence this season and after staying at RB Leipzig in the January window, there is now an expectation that he will leave the club in the summer.

He was in the Ivory Coast squad for the Africa Cup of Nations alongside Amad and played in all five of his country’s games in Morocco. He has three goals in his nine caps so far.

Liverpool have also been linked with a move for Diomande and Paris Saint-Germain are expected to challenge for his signature in the summer. Reports in Germany have suggested Leipzig have slapped a €100million price tag on the player, but the teenager is likely to leave the club for a fee lower than that.

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United intended to use Semenyo as a left-wing option had they signed the 26-year-old. Patrick Dorgu has since impressed in that position for Michael Carrick and Matheus Cunha played there against Fulham, but both are versatile players who could be needed elsewhere.

Dorgu can also play on the right wing, and with Tyrell Malacia leaving the club this summer, he might be needed as cover at left-back. Cunha can play as a false nine and has done so off the bench in Carrick’s first two games, while he can also fulfil the No.10 role.

United are set to see two left-wingers depart this summer. Jadon Sancho is out of contract and will leave the club, while Marcus Rashford will aim to complete a permanent transfer to Barcelona.

Youtuber and inventor Colin Furze explains the facintaing science behind the Winter Olympics halfpipe, where athletes perform freestyle tricks at heights over 40ft in the air.

Follow the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics across the BBC from Friday, 6 February.

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Great Britain goes again in the curling in the Winter Olympics 2026 with Milano-Cortina offering up genuine medal opportunites.

A gold and a silver in both the women’s and men’s tournaments at Beijing 2022 set the bar for British hopes in Italy.

But Team GB’s hopes start in the mixed doubles pair with Bruce Mouat and Jen Dodds in action early on

The sport has captivated British fans for years, with its peculiarities proving captivating through the Games.

For example, during games, fans will see lights on top of the stones. Here is what they mean:

What are the lights on curling stones?

The lights are a tracking system to ensure the athletes release the stone before the first hog line – the red line at both ends, where both teams must release the stone before passing it.

A heat sensor is embedded into the ice and will be triggered if your hand continues to hold onto the handle while breaching the line, meaning each stone has batteries to power these sensors.

Failure to release your hand before the line will turn the lights red and that team will be forced to remove it from play.

It rarely happens at this elite level, but such is the pressure at the Winter Olympics, it can occasionally happen.

How much does the stone weigh and what is it made of?

The official USA Curling rulebook states that each curling stone cannot be greater than 44 pounds (19.96kg) in weight, and no less than 38 pounds (17.24kg). The handle is included as part of the weight.

The stone’s circumference cannot exceed 36 inches (91.4cm) and cannot exceed 4.5 inches (11.43cm) in height.

The stones are made of a special type of granite, which is found on the island of Ailsa Craig in Scotland.

The hammer is a crucial part of curling. The team that has the hammer is able to throw the final stone of each end, generally a significant advantage, with all other stones thrown and the current scoring situation clear.

Whichever team doesn’t score during an end will get the hammer in the next round – this sometimes causes teams to avoid scoring just a single point, instead preferring to retain the hammer and score more heavily in the next end.

It is retained if neither team scores.

Before a game of curling begins, teams decide who will have what is also known as Last Stone Advantage. In championship curling the hammer is decided by a draw to the button with two players from each team delivering a stone as close as possible to the centre of the house – one stone is delivered clockwise and the other counter-clockwise – and the distance from the stone to the centre being measured.

This process is called the Last Stone Draw or LSD.

In the men’s and women’s events, the final two stones of each end are generally thrown by the skip.

This is the de facto captain of each rink, who shapes their team’s strategy and must execute calmly under pressure.

In mixed doubles, in which five stones are played, the same team member throws the first and last stones of each end.

Their teammate throws the middle three stones: teams begin every end with one stone, per team, pre-placed therefore it’s possible to score six points in an end.