An eight-year NFL veteran who started 16 games last season has shockingly called it quits for his career.
Los Angeles Chargers center Bradley Bozeman announced his decision on Instagram on Monday, saying he is “ready for my next chapter.”
“This game has given me so much – lessons, lifelong friendships, and memories my family will carry forever. I’ve poured everything I had into this journey, and I walk away grateful and proud.”
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Bozeman, 31, shared pictures from his time with the Chargers, Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens over his eight years in the league. He saw many different coaches and teammates across three franchises, and he acknowledged them all as well as their fans.
Bradley Bozeman of the Los Angeles Chargers looks on during the national anthem prior to an NFL wild card playoff game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 11, 2026 in Foxborough, Mass.(Michael Owens/Getty Images)
“Thank you to every teammate, coach, and fan I was blessed to cross paths with along the way,” he wrote.
Bozeman also showed his love for his family, including his three children: Brody, Bailey and Boone. He also called his wife, Nikki, “unbelievable,” calling her his “ride or die from the very beginning,” and adding “I couldn’t have done any of this without you!”
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Bozeman finished off his post with a quote he heard during his career.
“’Every career – no matter how decorated – ends in a trash bag,’” he wrote. “The game moves on. Someone fills your spot. I’m just thankful God gave me the chance to take the ride.”
Bradley Bozeman of the Los Angeles Chargers lines up during an NFL wild card playoff game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 11, 2026 in Foxborough, Mass.(Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Bozeman said that the next chapter will be “life at the farm,” as the Alabama native and former Crimson Tide lineman completed his caption with “Roll Tide.”
Bozeman was drafted by the Ravens in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, where he played in 14 games in Baltimore with one start. Then, head coach John Harbaugh gave him the nod as the team’s starting left guard for the next two seasons, starting all 16 games in each of them, before shifting to center in 2021.
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With his rookie deal up after that season, Bozeman landed with the Panthers, spending the 2022 and 2023 campaigns with the franchise, where he was the team’s starting center.
Finally, Bozeman teamed up with his old coach’s brother, Jim Harbaugh, as he signed with the Chargers to revamp their own line. He signed a two-year, $6.5 million deal with the team in 2025, but he won’t be seeing that through now.
Bradley Bozeman of the Baltimore Ravens looks on during warm-up before the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on Dec. 12, 2021 in Cleveland.(Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Instead, the Chargers will have a spot to fill on an offensive line that struggled mightily after losing star tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt with season-ending injuries in 2025.
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Tyler Linderbaum, an ex-Ravens center, will be a hot commodity on the free agent market, and could see interest from Los Angeles now that Bozeman has retired.
Mar 22, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Rebeka Masarova (SUI) hits a forehand against Danielle Collins (USA)(not pictured) on day five of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Swiss qualifier Rebeka Masarova overpowered third-seeded Xinyu Wang of China 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the ATX Open on Monday in Austin, Texas.
Masarova won 85.7% of her first-serve points (30 of 35) and saved four of the five break points she faced. She avenged a loss to Wang three weeks ago in the second round at Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
The only other seeded player in action on Monday, No. 7 Anna Bondar of Hungary, lost to Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova 6-3, 7-5.
In a matchup of U.S. qualifiers, Whitney Osuigwe rallied past Elizabeth Mandlik 2-6, 6-3, 6-1.
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Taylor Townsend of the United States edged the Czech Republic’s Linda Fruhvirtova 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5, but two other U.S. players lost. Czech qualifier Nikola Bartunkova beat Katie Volynets 6-4, 7-5, and Russia’s Oksana Selekhmeteva defeated Alycia Parks 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
Merida Open Akron
Marina Stakusic, a 21-year-old Canadian ranked 142nd in the world, upset fifth-seeded Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine 6-4, 6-3 in the first round at Merida, Mexico.
The result was the first tour-level win for Stakusic this year. She fell in the first round at Canberra, Australian, then qualified for the Australian Open before losing in the first round at Melbourne. Stakusic was aided on Monday by Yastremska’s six double faults.
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Great Britain’s Katie Boulter and Colombia’s Emiliana Arango earned straight-set wins, while Andorra’s Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva eked out a 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 victory over Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva.
Dynasty ranking changes from January to February are generally pretty minimal. They are mostly influenced by the smattering of news we get and my first run at 2026 Fantasy Football projections. This year, at quarterback, the changes in the rankings are almost completely nonexistent. Just don’t get used to this static situation because before I release my March rankings, there are at least eight quarterbacks who could change uniforms and their Dynasty outlook radically altered.
My way-too-early 2026 quarterback projections are here.
The first two obvious names are Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa. Both of their respective teams have new coaches and have expressed at least some interest in moving on from their very expensive quarterbacks. The risk of them not finding starting jobs has already been factored in to some degree, but it could be worse. For either of these quarterbacks, if their situations are unresolved a month from now, I will be more nervous. At the same time, if they find a new home as a starter in March, they could be risers. I am more optimistic both about Murray’s chances of finding a starting job and his Fantasy upside if he does, which is why he is ranked considerably higher than Tagovailoa.
Earlier in February, I had Jay Felicio from QB List on Fantasy Football Today Dynasty to discuss the state of the quarterback position. Check it out:
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The free agent I am most interested in monitoring in the next month is Malik Willis. From my view, those two teams we just talked about, the Dolphins and the Cardinals, are the two most likely to give Willis a starter’s contract in 2026. The path to him being a riser in the next month is if Willis receives a contract that offers him more long-term security than what Justin Fields received last year. These two coaching staffs have close connections to the Packers, so if anyone is willing to take that risk, it should be them. Over the past two seasons, Willis has thrown 89 passes and averaged 10.9 yards per attempt with six touchdowns and zero interceptions. Combine that with his rushing upside, and if Willis gets a three-year deal, he could vault into the top 20 in the rankings below.
Other quarterbacks who could see the biggest gains or losses in the next month are Jacoby Brissett, Aaron Rodgers, Daniel Jones, and Geno Smith. Of course, we have no reason to expect Rodgers to make a decision that fast, and we’ll have to wait until August at least to see how Jones’ rehab is coming. One thing is for sure: We should expect far more changes in the Dynasty QB rankings next month than we got this month. We may even get to add Derek Carr back in if he decides to return to the NFL.
I don’t rank rookies until they are drafted, but I have already started to think about where I will put them. Assuming Fernando Mendoza is taken first overall by the Raiders, I anticipate he will rank somewhere between QB15 and QB18 in the rankings below. I would be surprised if any other rookie cracks the top 25.
The World No. 4 German is the top seed in Acapulco, and the ATP 500 hardcourt event will mark his first competitive outing since his heartbreaking loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals of the Australian Open. Zverev finished as the runner-up in Acapulco back in 2019, but two years later, managed to win the title by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final.
Moutet, the World No. 35 from France, like Zverev, was beaten by Alcaraz in Melbourne. The crafty Frenchman then took a short break before featuring in ATP Tour-level action once more at the recently-concluded Delray Beach Open. Here, eventual runner-up Tommy Paul dashed his hopes in the very first round.
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Alexander Zverev vs Corentin Moutet head-to-head
Moutet in action at the 2026 Delray Beach Open (Source: Getty)
Zverev and Moutet have locked horns twice in the past and on both occasions, the German has come out on top. Their first meeting, at the ATP 250 tournament in Stuttgart last year, resulted in a straight-set win for Zverev. However, their second clash, at last year’s China Open, went the distance, with the German ultimately downing the Frenchman 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.
Alexander Zverev vs Corentin Moutet odds
Player Name
Moneyline
Handicap Bets
Total Games
Alexander Zverev
-500
-4.5 (+105)
Over 21.5 (-125)
Corentin Moutet
+340
+4.5 (-150)
Under 21.5 (-115)
(Odds via BetMGM)
Alexander Zverev vs Corentin Moutet prediction
Zverev is a heavy favorite to defeat Corentin Moutet in their upcoming first-round match at the 2026 Mexican Open. The German, the 2021 champion in Acapulco, has started 2026 strongly, reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open and boasting a 5-1 record in his recent matches.
Conversely, Moutet has struggled with form, losing four of his last six matches, and has never defeated the German. Zverev’s superior power, consistent serving, and experience on the hard courts of Mexico make him far too strong for the Frenchman.
While Moutet is talented, he is unlikely to break through Zverev’s defense. Expect a dominant performance from Zverev, cruising to a straight-sets victory.. The match should confirm Zverev’s status as a top contender for the 2026 Acapulco title.
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Pick: Zverev to win in straight sets.
Alexander Zverev vs Corentin Moutet betting tips
Tip 1: An upset is possible given Zverev’s return from a break, making ‘Corentin Moutet +4.5 Games’ a potential alternative for those expecting a closer contest than the straight-set prediction.
Feb 23, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) grabs a defensive rebound against Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams (5) in the second quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
Jabari Smith Jr. scored a game-high 31 points, Kevin Durant and Tari Eason chipped in double-doubles and the Houston Rockets rolled to a 125-105 victory over the visiting Utah Jazz on Monday.
Smith shot 12 of 17, drilled six 3-pointers and grabbed nine rebounds to ignite the Rockets, who won for the fourth time in six games. Durant paired 18 points with a season-high 12 assists while Eason logged 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Amen Thompson added 20 points on 8-for-9 shooting and pulled down seven rebounds for the Rockets, who dominated the glass with a plus-16 margin.
Houston’s Alperen Sengun flirted with a triple-double (16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists). Reed Sheppard tallied 15 points on five 3-pointers off the bench.
Lauri Markkanen scored 29 points but missed 9 of 10 from behind the arc for the Jazz, who played without Keyonte George (ankle), their second-leading scorer. Brice Sensabaugh posted 26 points and four treys as Utah took its third loss in a row.
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Behind Smith, the Rockets erased an early turnover-fueled deficit with a hail of 3-pointers. Utah, courtesy of its full-court pressure, seized a quick 9-6 lead before Smith caught fire. Smith scored 14 first-quarter points on four 3-pointers and a fastbreak dunk, and Houston carried a 38-22 lead into the second period after drilling 8 of 13 from behind the arc.
Durant, who nailed a 3-pointer just before the period expired, and Sheppard hit two 3-pointers each in the first.
The Rockets missed all three of their 3-point tries in the second but countered with a whopping 26 points in the paint. The Jazz opened the second with a 13-2 blitz that shaved the deficit to 40-35, only for the Rockets to respond with a flurry of transition baskets.
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Durant was the catalyst of the fastbreak attack. He recorded six assists in the second quarter, and Houston scored 14 fastbreak points in the period. Thompson sank a floater in the lane off a Sengun screen for a 58-37 lead with 3:58 to go in the second, and Houston took a 68-47 lead into halftime.
Smith gave the Rockets an 86-56 advantage on a fadeaway jumper with 5:22 left in the third quarter.
Houston eventually led by as many as 33 points. On the plus side for the Jazz, they converted 27 Rockets turnovers into 34 points.
North Carolina passed a significant test without star forward Caleb Wilson on Monday night, as the No. 18 Tar Heels toppled No. 24 Louisville 77-74. The win improved the Tar Heels (22-6, 10-5 ACC) to 3-1 since Wilson suffered a fractured hand in a Feb. 10 loss at Miami.
Between the uncertainty around Wilson’s potential return and a subsequent injury to starting center Henri Veesaar, UNC’s trajectory seemed uncertain less than a week ago. Those concerns were laid bare in blowout loss at NC State on Feb. 17.
But Veessar’s return in Saturday’s win at Syracuse, Monday night’s victory over a quality ACC foe and Wilson’s apparent progression have steadied the waters in Chapel Hill. North Carolina hopes to have Wilson back for its regular-season finale against Duke on March 7, ESPN reported during the broadcast of the game .
The Tar Heels are squarely in the hunt for a double-bye at the ACC Tournament and expected to remain a No. 6 seed in CBS Sports Bracketology on Tuesday following their sixth Quad 1 win.
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Seth Trimble paced North Carolina with a career-high 30 points as UNC kept Louisville at arm’s length for most of the second half. The Cardinals closed within a possession on two occasions in the final minute, but a pair of Trimble free throws with nine seconds left helped UNC escape.
In his second game back since a two-game absence due to a lower-extremity Veesaar added 12 points for North Carolina. Mikel Brown Jr. paced Louisville (20-8, 9-6) with 24 points for the Cardinals.
Games against Virginia Tech and Clemson still await before Wilson’s expected return. But the light is now at the end of the tunnel, and the Tar Heels are proving they can manage without their leading scorer and rebounder. Wilson, who is a potential top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, averages 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 blocks.
In his absence, UNC has leaned more on junior forward Jarin Stevenson and Montenegrin import Luka Bogavac. Both carried their weight against Louisville by combining for 21 points on 4 of 9 shooting from 3-point range.
Seth Trimble’s star gear
While having Veesaar back and getting Wilson healthy are pivotal for North Carolina’s aspirations, UNC’s ceiling may ultimately be determined by the sort of guard play it gets in March. Trimble showed he can put UNC on his back, if needed, by turning in the best offensive game of his four-year Tar Heels career.
His steal and breakaway dunk at the 13:38 mark gave North Carolina its biggest lead at 56-40. Trimble outplayed Louisville’s formidable star tandem of Brown and Ryan Conwell, which was an accomplishment considering those two combined for 47 points. Once Wilson is back, less will be required of Trimble offensively. But this game was a reminder of his capabilities and could be a confidence booster for the team’s third-leading scorer.
Jack Draper recorded his first tour-level win in 182 days as he defeated French qualifier Quentin Halys in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championships, while unveiling a new buzz cut.
He made his comeback in the Davis Cup last week as Great Britain defeated Norway, but Draper’s victory in Dubai was his first on the ATP since the US Open in August, where he withdraw after beating Federico Agustin Gomez in the first round.
Draper, who remains ranked 15th in the world despite his long absence, required one hour and 39 minutes to defeat the 68th-ranked Halys 7-6 (10-8), 6-3.
The 23-year-old was forced to save two set points in the first-set tiebreaker, before finding the only break of serve of the match midway through the second set.
“It feels so good, honestly. To be out here, to be competing in front of people. I’ve been craving the feeling of competing for, for a very long time,” Draper said.
“It just felt normal. It felt like, I was coming back to doing what I love, which is, which is being out here competing and having that adrenaline winning and losing points.
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(REUTERS)
“A lot of people have helped me to get back to this position after a lot of down moments in the last eight months. It’s really not been easy to be back here, that’s something I can be really proud of and long may it continue.”
Draper said he had been hitting a “sh*tload” of serves over the past eight months and has looked to change part of his service motion since he started working with new coach Jamie Delgado.
“It’s more serving than I’ve ever done in the past because I’ve had to get my arm back to being 100 per cent and that takes time.”
He will face either Fabian Marozsan or Arthur Rinderknech in the second round.
My heart remains at Riviera Country Club, but my body is in a middle seat en route home. What better time to reflect on the PGA Tour’s West Coast Swing — the good, the bad, the rumored, the mysterious.
Here are some winners, losers and questions from the opening stretch of the 2026 PGA Tour season.
WINNER: The 26-year-olds
Chris Gotterup won two of the first four events on this year’s calendar (given unusual circumstances, we’re treating the Sony as a half member of this year’s West Coast Swing), playing his best when things got most chaotic at the WM Phoenix Open and establishing himself as a fan favorite, a proven winner and arguably the best player on Tour 26 years old or below.
His current competition for that extremely unofficial title includes the guy who just won at Riviera; Jacob Bridgeman, like Gotterup, is 26. And while Gotterup took the weekend off (he missed the Genesis cut) Bridgeman beat everyone’s doors off for three days and hung on on Sunday to establish that he, too, has what it takes.
Is the PGA Tour headed back to Hawaii? Next year? Ever? It skipped Kapalua this year under controversial circumstances. Its Sony sponsorship just ran out. As the powers that be continue to reimagine the Tour’s optimal schedule, Hawaii remains a logistical challenge lacking a “big market.” How highly will Rolapp and Co. value continuity, tradition and nostalgia? We’ll see.
QUESTION: Where are the 25-year-olds?
Speaking of age, it’s jarring to browse whichever version of the world rankings you’d prefer and marvel at the lack of young stars. The 26-year-olds may be having a moment, but we’re still waiting for the emergence of the next young wave. There’s no reason to despair: Akshay Bhatia (24), the Hojgaard twins (also 24) and the Michaels (Brennan and Thorbjornsen, each 24) could all be on the brink of a breakthrough. But with Tom Kim in a bit of a rut, it feels like we’re searching for Who’s Next. (Shoutout also to Blades Brown, who stole the show for much of the week in Palm Springs.)
WINNER: The 45-year-olds
OK, I promise this whole list won’t be about age. In fact, lemme start with some hypocrisy: I wish when we talk about Justin Rose and Adam Scott that we’d focus less on their age. But it’s a useful way to pair two particularly impressive West Coast showings; Rose’s blowout win at Torrey Pines is worth extra points, of course, but Scott’s Sunday 63 to finish fourth at Riviera was nothing to scoff at, either. These guys are remarkably similar ages, they’ve had remarkably similar careers and they’re performing at remarkably similar levels at the moment. Let’s get ’em on a remarkable leaderboard at the Masters.
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LOSER: The Scandinavians
While athletes from Norway and Sweden were dominating the Winter Olympics, their PGA Tour counterparts were having a slightly tougher time on the West Coast. Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg are among the Tour’s biggest talents and fan favorites — but neither has had his best thus far this year.
Hovland had a strong start at the WM Phoenix Open (T10) but less so at Pebble Beach (T58) and Riviera (T41), where talk turned more to his training aids than his scores.
And Aberg got severely ill for a second consecutive West Coast Swing — though if there’s good news, it’s that he seems to be trending up. Going WD-MC-T37-T20 means I guess he’s headed for a Masters victory?
(In other Scandinavian news, Alex Noren went MC-MC in Palm Springs and San Diego, but his T12 at Riviera was encouraging, too. And representing Denmark, the Hojgaard twins have each showed encouraging signs; Nicolai finished T3 at the WM and was one blowup hole from contending to win.)
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QUESTION: Will Tiger Woods play the Masters?
Tiger Woods hinted that he’ll try. Then he hinted that he’ll try a second time. I don’t know if he will, but I think he’s told us the truth — if he can, he’ll do it.
LOSER: Scottie Scheffler’s Thursdays
Scottie Scheffler’s first Thursday of the season was a 63 at the American Express. So it’s particularly jarring that he’s just No. 116 on Tour in Round 1 Scoring Average. And it was strange to see him in last place when play was halted this past Thursday. Still …
WINNER: Scottie Scheffler’s other days
Considering he was in last place on Friday morning and needed to make a seven-foot curler on 18 just to stay inside the cut line, Scheffler’s T12 was another remarkable display of skill and determination. Sure, it snapped his streak of 18 consecutive Tour top-10s. But it only reinforced the idea that if you play enough rounds of golf, eventually Scheffler will rise to the top. Four tournaments in, here’s how his scoring average looks by round:
Round 1: 70.50 (116th)
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Round 2: 65.75 (2nd)
Round 3: 67.00 (7th)
Round 4: 64.50 (2nd)
(If you were wondering who could possibly beat that 64.5, Will Zalatoris has played one fourth round this year and shot 64.)
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QUESTION: So what the heck is going on with Scheffler on Thursdays?
My best guess is still some version of “nothing, really; this has just been a weird blip on the radar.” He led the Tour in first-round scoring last year, after all, and has had some funky starts in strange conditions. Let’s wait for a bigger sample size before we get panicky here.
WINNER: California kids
I’m thinking of two in particular: Collin Morikawa, who won for the first time in too long at Pebble Beach, and Jake Knapp, who just quietly put together the best stretch of golf of his life. Knapp hasn’t finished worse than T11 in five starts this year. Morikawa’s win was meaningful on several levels — because of how long it had been, because of where it took place, because of everything that went into it, because he and his wife have a baby on the way. It’s good to see West Coast kids eat up the West Coast Swing. And then of course there was another California sensation in the winner’s circle …
LOSER: Anthony Kim’s haters and doubters
I write this tongue in cheek; I think Anthony Kim‘s win showed just how many people have been on his side this entire time, rooting for something special. But he’s used a chip on his shoulder to get this far, and his shot at the haters showed he’ll keep drawing on that. Mostly it’s worth acknowledging that one of golf’s biggest moments this month happened on LIV Golf, with a one-of-a-kind comeback story capped off with an electric finish to a story a dozen years in the making.
QUESTION: What’s next for Jon Rahm, LIV and the DP World Tour?
Big picture, this is one of pro golf’s most compelling questions moving forward; LIV and the DP World Tour still seem in an uneasy coexistence and I’m curious how that will resolve. For now the DPWT has reached a temporary truce with several of its LIV members, allowing them to play both circuits and maintain Ryder Cup eligibility. But why isn’t Jon Rahm one of the players taking that deal, and is there any chance in the world he doesn’t play on next year’s European Ryder Cup team?
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WINNER: CBS golf coverage
These courses look awesome in person, they look incredible on television and CBS continues to innovate in order to dial in their coverage.
CBS is done until Augusta.
So they’ll go Pebble-Riviera-Augusta-Hilton Head. Might be the last time it happens.
Also, the little stuff continues to go a long way.
With Justin Rose up 6, shoutout to CBS going into commercial with ‘Ramble on Rose’ by the Grateful Dead. Good stuff on a few levels. The little things go a long way
There’s been plenty of discussion about moving these marquee West Coast stops to later in the PGA Tour schedule. A cold, soggy Pebble Beach followed by a cold, soggy Riviera made that case much more appealing, with fans shivering on the rope lines and golf balls plugging in greens. Two perfect weekend days capped the Genesis off in style, and wet and windy can be entertaining at Pebble, but each was still missing some of the firm, fast character it has at its best.
QUESTION: So are we doing the August West Coast thing?
I leave California more confused than I arrived. On paper it seems smart to have the best courses in the biggest spots on the PGA Tour calendar; what could be cooler than Pebble and Riviera as playoff venues? But there are issues with both sites that time of year. Pebble has a car show and a full tee sheet and it’s not near enough of a population center to draw a playoff-worthy crowd. In L.A., locals suggested that the golf-going crowd would be out of town in August and that its current spot on the calendar is actually optimal for getting people to actually attend.
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If I was in charge, my top priority would be to remove the playoff events from the hellish August humidity of Atlanta and Memphis. I don’t need them in California, though — Boston, Chicago and Seattle are calling, as are a dozen other medium-to-large cities with ideal summer days. I’m curious where they’ll land, though.
And what the West Coast Swing will look like next year, and the year after that, and when we’ll be gazing at golf’s glorious coastlines again.
The 2026 season is still young, but Carlos Alcaraz has already created distance at the top of the ATP Race to Turin.
After winning the Australian Open and lifting the Doha trophy, Alcaraz leads the standings with 2,500 points in the battle to qualify for the ATP Finals, which will be held from 15 to 22 November at the Inalpi Arena.
Novak Djokovic remains second on 1,300 points despite not playing since the Australian Open final. Alex de Minaur sits third with 985, while Ben Shelton is fourth on 950 following their ATP 500 title runs earlier this month.
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Two-time defending ATP Finals champion Jannik Sinner moved up to fifth with 900 points after reaching the quarter-finals in Doha. Alexander Zverev is sixth on 840, while Tomas Martin Etcheverry climbed to seventh with 725 after his title in Rio. Jakub Mensik holds eighth place with 695.
Outside the current qualification spots are Alexander Bublik on 650, Taylor Fritz and Felix Auger-Aliassime on 615, and Lorenzo Musetti with 565.
Only the top eight at season’s end qualify automatically for Turin, with a Grand Slam champion ranked between ninth and 20th eligible to claim the final place.
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There is still a long way to go this season, but Alcaraz has set the early pace and placed immediate pressure on the rest of the people.
Manchester United are set for an interesting summer as the club aim to finish in the Champions League places
Manchester United face several pivotal decisions this summer. While the club pursues a Champions League place in the Premier League, United must also address off-field matters that will shape next season.
The encouraging start that interim boss Michael Carrick has enjoyed at Old Trafford means United remain in contention for the top four. With just their remaining 11 league fixtures to concentrate on, the club is targeting a return to Europe’s elite competition.
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Carrick will aim to utilise the remaining matches to persuade the United hierarchy to award him the manager’s position permanently. Numerous coaches have been linked with the vacancy, though the club legend could secure the role for himself.
It has been claimed that Zinedine Zidane is nearing a return to management, while Carrick has highlighted one of the obstacles United will encounter this summer. Here, MEN Sport examines some of the stories surrounding the club.
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.
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Michael Carrick issues transfer warning
Michael Carrick has indicated that Manchester United are poised to lose a key player in the upcoming transfer window. This follows the announcement that Casemiro will leave the club at the end of his contract, despite the seasoned midfielder experiencing a resurgence this season, and he could prove challenging to replace.
“Yeah, well, listen, it’s an important position, I think,” said the United boss. “Not being biased, obviously, as being a midfielder, but I think it is an important position to try and tie everything together.
“You’re connected to the whole team, and that’s sometimes emotionally, a little bit mentally, and showing that composure and understanding of the game a little bit. And Case’s had a big influence within the group on that.”
Zinedine Zidane has been linked with the Manchester United job on multiple occasions since leaving Real Madrid. The 53-year-old secured three Champions Leagues and two La Liga titles during two stints managing Los Blancos, but has remained out of the dugout since stepping down in 2021.
It has been reported by journalist Fabrizio Romano that Zidane has verbally agreed to take over as France manager following this summer’s World Cup. Didier Deschamps’ reign as head coach is set to end after the tournament.
Zidane has not been linked with the United position since Carrick’s appointment as temporary boss. However, Zidane closing in on a new role would improve Carrick’s prospects of retaining his position, with a prominent coach removing himself from possible contention for the job.
Oct 16, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Fan a Kyle Pitts jersey in the stands during the game between the San Francisco 49ers against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings may or may not be in the market for a new tight end, depending on T.J. Hockenson’s contractual status, but if the franchise wanted to shoot for the stars with Hockenson’s replacement, Atlanta Falcons playmaker Kyle Pitts is no longer an option, at least not in 2026.
Pitts is off the board, so Minnesota’s tight end options tighten while Hockenson’s contract remains the pivot point.
The Falcons will franchise-tag Pitts, wiping him off the free-agent wire with two weeks to go before legal tampering.
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What the Pitts Tag Means for Minnesota’s FA Tight End Plan
The best names always seem to return to their current employers.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts secures a touchdown reception during the first quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 27, 2024, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Pitts finished the drive with a scoring catch as Atlanta pushed early momentum in the NFC South matchup. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images.
ATL to Franchise-Tag Pitts
If you had big dreams of Pitts in purple and gold clothing, cancel those for at least one year.
ESPN’s Marc Raimondi wrote Monday, “The Atlanta Falcons plan to place the franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., likely keeping one of the top tight ends in the league under contract for at least one more season, a source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Monday. Franchise tag contract numbers are based on the top five annual salaries at each position.”
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“Pitts stands to make about $16,319,000 in 2026, the franchise tag salary this year for tight ends, according to OverTheCap.com. Pitts and the Falcons will have until July 15 to agree to a long-term contract or else he will have to play the 2026 season under the franchise tender. The deadline for teams to use the franchise or transition tag is next Tuesday with free agency beginning the week after.”
The wage is actually quite appealing for a tight end, so Pitts is unlikely to protest the arrangement, despite wanting a long-term contract.
Vikings May Not Have the Money for Pitts Anyway
Soon, Minnesota will be cap-compliant, but Monday, February 23rd, was not that day. The club must clear around $43 million in cap space by releasing veteran players or restructuring contracts just to get into the green. Before too long, you will see a flurry of tweets indicating that interim general manager Rob Brzezinski has cut players and restructured deals. They’re coming.
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Still, the Vikings may not be in the market for big fish like Pitts. That was last year’s free agency, when the books were clear, and former boss Kwesi Adofo-Mensah chose to spend big on Wil Fries, Javon Hargrave, and Jonathan Allen.
To put it plainly, Brzezinski may not have had $16 million lying around for a luxury tight end.
FA Options at TE without Pitts
The franchise tag on Pitts suddenly makes the tight end market in free agency feel skinny. Per possible big-name breakouts, Isaiah Likely now leads the way, and after him, not too many players would seem like a serious upgrade over Hockenson.
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Here’s the list, nevertheless:
Austin Hooper
Cade Otton
Chig Okonkwo
Dallas Goedert
David Njoku
Isaiah Likely
Jake Tonges
Kyle Granson
Noah Fant
Tyler Conklin
Tyler Higbee
Likely isn’t an adept run- or pass-blocker, and it’s unclear if the Vikings would sign a player without that tool in his cabinet.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts celebrates after a touchdown catch during the first quarter against the Washington Commanders on Oct. 15, 2023, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Pitts reacted to the early score as Atlanta’s offense gained momentum in front of the home crowd. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports.
Too, the draft is about eight weeks away. There’s a world where Minnesota severs ties with Hockenson as a cap casualty and drafts Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq, who is considered by leaps and bounds the best tight end in this class and the only one commanding Round 1 stock.
Hockenson’s Future
Brzezinski faces a crucial salary cap decision regarding Hockenson, whose contract ranks him among the highest-paid tight ends. Releasing Hockenson after June 1st would free up nearly $16 million, potentially enabling the Vikings to acquire multiple quality starters at other positions.
However, Hockenson’s role evolved in 2025 due to injuries on the offensive line and J.J. McCarthy’s pass distribution, resulting in increased blocking responsibilities. Consequently, Minnesota was essentially paying a premium for a tight end primarily utilized for blocking and run support.
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Ultimately, the decision hinges more on the team’s overall construction strategy than on Hockenson’s individual performance. He remains a reliable veteran, and the Vikings could retain him, anticipating a greater role in the passing game as the offense returns to full strength.
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson secures a reception while New York Jets linebacker Kwon Alexander defends during the first quarter on Dec. 4, 2022, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Hockenson worked the middle of the field as Minnesota moved the ball through the air against New York’s defense. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.
Brzezinski must determine whether allocating those cap savings to other areas would be more beneficial or if retaining a high-priced tight end aligns with the long-term vision. The choice will significantly affect Minnesota’s offense in 2026 and beyond.
Minnesota also has three more tight ends in the 2026 roster orbit: Josh Oliver, Gavin Bartholomew, and Ben Yurosek.
Pitts will trend for free agency again in 2027 if the Falcons cannot work out a long-term extension. He’s still just 25 years old.
;)
