A Minnesota Vikings helmet rests on the turf at TCO Performance Center during organized team activities on Jun 11, 2019, in Eagan. Images like this are common during the early offseason as players prepare for camp and roster battles begin to take shape. Mandatory Credit: Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports.
In my 20+ years as an NFL exec, I was often asked what I did in the offseason. Many fans, friends, and even some family members assumed I took several months off after the season. They thought I had a schedule similar to the players who were on vacation until offseason workouts in mid to late April, and were surprised when I said the offseason months were my busiest time as a GM or team president.
It always was extremely hectic from January until I had two weeks of vacation in late June and early July before preparing for training camp.
Franchise and Transition Tag Pressure Peaks
Immediately after our final game of the just-completed season—which was usually a playoff game—I met with the coaches to get player grades for the season and discuss team needs in advance of free agency and the draft. I was also in scouting meetings where we were starting to hone in on potential trade and free agency targets, including our own players we wanted to retain and outside free agents we were interested in.
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The salary cap was a constant focal point as I considered players likely to be released, asked to stay at a reduced salary, or strong candidates for contract restructures to lower their cap numbers in the upcoming season.
I never had to deal with a $40 million cap shortfall as the Vikings must do by the start of the new league year next month, but there were plenty of years when I had to cut or restructure several players to get under the cap. I also never had $20-30 million increases in the cap from one year to the next, as has been the case the past several years, as NFL revenues have risen significantly.
The period for teams to place franchise or transition tags on top pending free agents opens in mid-February but we were planning on possible moves and I was often in negotiations in January and February to try and sign potential top free agents who were franchise or transition tag candidates as I didn’t want to tie up excessive salary cap space with a tag if it wasn’t necessary.
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The Minnesota Vikings’ state-of-the-art TCO Performance Center is shown in Eagan, Minnesota, on Jul 28, 2018. This world-class facility serves as the team’s headquarters, featuring cutting-edge training, rehabilitation, and meeting spaces. Since its opening, it has become the central hub for all things Vikings, from offseason prep to daily operations. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
In late January, I would attend the Senior Bowl in Mobile and meet with our coaches and scouts in attendance. Upon returning home, it was an intense period in February of free agency planning and pre-Combine meetings, as is the case this week at Vikings HQ with the Combine coming up next week. At this juncture, we would identify draft-eligible players we wanted to interview at the Combine and players to closely check their physical status if they were coming off injuries, while continuing to update our draft board.
Then it was off to the Combine, where I would watch player workouts, participate in player interviews, and meet with our scouts in between numerous negotiation sessions with agents for our players. There were also discussions with agents on free agents from other teams who were on our radar.
These conversations would involve discussing parameters rather than concrete numbers, since it would technically constitute tampering before the league’s “legal tampering” period, which begins three days before the official start of free agency (those dates are March 9 and March 11 this year).
I’ll talk more in the coming weeks on the Combine, free agency and the draft including who I see as candidates from the current Vikings roster to be released, restructured, extended or re-signed and possible free agent and trade targets including a potential veteran QB to compete with or back up J.J. McCarthy (with rumors continuing on a possible Kirk Cousins return to Minnesota).
Around the NFL–Franchise/transition tag period
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The two-week window for teams to apply franchise or transition tags to players opened on Monday and runs through March 3. The tags consist of a one-year tender associated with the franchise tag (basically the average of top five cap hits at a position or 120% of the previous salary and the old team retains a right of first refusal and receives two first-round picks if a player signs elsewhere unless it’s the exclusive franchise tag that is more costly) or transition tag (average of top 10 salaries; old team retains right of first refusal and no draft choice compensation if he signs elsewhere).
Jalen Nailor lined up for the Minnesota Vikings during the NFC wild card round on Jan 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. The wide receiver, wearing number 83, faced the Los Angeles Rams in a postseason matchup that tested Minnesota’s depth and offensive playmakers under the playoff spotlight. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
It’s highly unlikely the Vikings will utilize either tag for any of their 14 pending unrestricted free agents. The Vikings’ best free agents-to-be are No. 3 WR Jalen Nailor ($960,000 salary last season; projected franchise tag $28.8 million; projected transition tag $25 million) and starting LB Eric Wilson ($2.6 million salary in 2025; $28.2 million franchise tag, $23.6 million transition tag). Punter/holder Ryan Wright is another key pending free agent, but the Vikings are not going to tag him at $6 million-plus when the league’s highest-paid punter (Seattle’s Michael Dickson) is making $4 million per year.
Around the league, the top candidates to be hit with the franchise tag include:
George Pickens (Cowboys WR, 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine TDs last season, $28.8 million franchise tag, $25 million transition tag);
Daniel Jones (Colts QB, 8-5 record in his 13 starts before tearing his Achilles, career-best 100.2 passer rating, which ranked ninth, franchise tag a pricey $47 million, transition tag would be an estimated $41 million);
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Kenneth Walker III (Seahawks RB, Super Bowl MVP after 135 yards rushing, 1,340 rushing yards last season, including playoffs; despite the relatively inexpensive $14 million RB franchise tag, Seattle is rumored not to be planning to place the franchise tag on him, perhaps they’ll use the transition tag at $11.7 million);
Jan 17, 2026; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half in an NFC Divisional Round game at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Trey Hendrickson (Bengals DE, only four sacks in seven games in an injury-hampered 2025 season, but he led the league with 17.5 sacks in 2024, $27.3 million franchise amount, and $22.9 million for transition);
Kyle Pitts (Falcons TE, 88 catches for 928 yards and five TDs in 2025, $16.3 million—franchise tag, $13.9 million transition tag);
Breece Hall (Jets RB, 1,065 rushing yards plus 350 receiving yards with five total TDs for a lousy Jets offense last season).
Jeff Diamond is a former Vikings GM, former Tennessee Titans President and was selected NFL Executive of the Year … More about Jeff Diamond
Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson is reportedly on Manchester United’s radar, and this former Premier League ace believes he’ll fetch a hefty transfer sum
Former England coach Joleon Lescott thinks Manchester United will have to shell out £100million to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest this summer. United and a number of rival clubs have been linked with a move for the 23-year-old.
Since leaving his boyhood Newcastle United for Forest, Anderson has been a revelation. He has played his way into the England frame and is one of the Premier League’s most sought-after young players.
Ex-Manchester City defender Lescott worked alongside Anderson with England’s Under-21s and has a figure in mind should the youngster leave this summer. He also agreed with a peer as to whether Anderson’s Forest will survive the drop this season.
Lescott and a guest on In The Mixer, brought to you by Sky Bet, were asked who they foresee being relegated this season alongside the current 19th- and 20th-place teams, Burnley and Wolves.
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Both agreed on one side, and Lescott said: “I think Forest. I think West Ham get out of it.” The discussion then turned to Forest star Anderson, with Lescott adding: “He’s a £100million player, isn’t he? Especially after he plays at the World Cup.
“You’re not going to sell him before, are you? You’re going to sell him after the World Cup. [If Forest go down] they have to sell. But then there are more teams interested.
“They go down, more teams come in. Because if he’s in the Premier League, it’s, ‘He’s not leaving unless it’s £100m.’ Then there are only two or three teams.”
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Having made his debut last year under Thomas Tuchel, Anderson admits he has hopes of being included in the manager’s World Cup squad. He told Sky Sports: “My dream was to play for Newcastle because I never expected to play for England but it tops everything off.
“First, I’m selected and I’m over the moon to be there, training with great players. But you want to make an impression, show the team that I am a good player. When I found out I was playing it was such a big moment.
“It’s my dream playing for England and playing with the best players brings out the best in me. England’s aim now is to win the trophies. It sounds good, doesn’t it?
“There’s a long way to go to get to the World Cup. I have to treat every game until then as a World Cup final and then hopefully I can get to one. I can’t wait. If I’m there I’ll have all of my family with me. It’s really exciting, to be honest. Very exciting.”
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ALEX MONEYPENNY EPISODE ON YOUTUBE: Subscribe now to be the first to watch the latest episodes of In The Mixer and other original shows, brought to you by Sky Bet.Watch All Out Football’s episode with Alex Moneypenny here.
The phrase: ‘There’s no rest for the wicked’ will always ring true for certain fighters, not least British and Commonwealth super-welterweight champion Ishmael Davis.
The following month, though, ‘The Black Panther’ ended his win drought in a six-round tick-over fight, before claiming a unanimous decision victory over Sam Gilley in November.
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Now gearing up to defend his domestic titles against Bilal Fawaz – featuring on the undercard of Leigh Wood vs Josh Warrington this Saturday – Davis has hardly afforded himself a moment to breathe.
Speaking with Boxing News, the Yorkshireman revealed exactly how much time he was given to rest and recover over Christmas.
“I had four days; four days until Christmas. But it was good, man. All the kids were happy.
“Being a dad [of seven] while you’re an athlete is hard, because you’re always training. And I’m proper busy, always taking fights, so it’s hard, but I spend as much time with them [his kids] as I can.”
Indeed, Davis always seems to be taking fights; and in the wake of his loss to Agyarko, the 30-year-old felt as if he had no option but to jump back on the horse.
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And while such a quick turnaround would usually present more problems than benefits, Davis insists that his ability to recover between fights is almost superhuman.
“I’m ‘The Black Panther’, man. I’m a young, strong man; I’ve still got age on my side.
“After the Caoimhin fight, I had a dip in emotions because I knew I won and got robbed, so I told myself to get straight back to training.
“Sometimes you’ve got to make sacrifices, and that’s what I did. One thing I always say to myself is: ‘at the end of the day, that day’s got to end.’ You’ve got to keep going; life goes on.”
Having previously lost to Serhii Bohachuk and Josh Kelly – both on short notice – Davis is eager to properly test himself at world level, this time with the luxury of a full training camp.
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First, he must take care of business against English champion Fawaz, a fighter he has been preparing for by sharing rounds with standout amateur John Joe Carrigan.
“I know I belong [at world level] but I know there’s still a lot of work to do, because I’m still learning.
“I’ve been sparring John Joe [Carrigan], who’s a seriously talented kid. He’s a tough battle but I keep going back, keep sparring him, because he’s so skilled.
“I’m not stupid – I understand that, to be better, you’ve got to get better opponents and better sparring partners.”
“I didn’t know him before we fought but he’s Josh Kelly – he’s flashy – so I was thinking to myself, ‘I need to beat this guy.’
“But then I’ve gone and sparred him, have had a chat with him, and he’s gone through similar things that I’ve gone through.
“So he’s an all right guy, but he’s in my weight [division] and has beaten me before, so I need to get my revenge.
“He boxed well [against Murtazaliev]. Everyone wants to see you stand and bang, but Josh Kelly can’t stand and bang with that guy. I wouldn’t even stand and bang with him. Well, I probably would, but I’m different.”
Davis suffered a majority decision defeat to Kelly in 2024 but, in the final round, was able to hurt his man with a ferocious onslaught.
We finally know the four countries that will be competing for gold on the men’s side at the Winter Olympics.
Canada’s Team Brad Jacobs fell to Norway’s Team Magnus Ramsfjell 8-6 on Thursday in what was a win-and–in game for the Norwegians to reach the semifinals. With the loss, the Canadian rink finished the 10-team round-robin at 7-2.
Canada, which was locked into second, will again face Norway in the semis on Thursday at 1:05 p.m. ET / 10:05 a.m. PT (CBC Gem, Sportsnet+).
Entering the final draw on Thursday morning, there were many different playoff scenarios to figure out who the top four teams were going to be with only Canada and Switzerland’s Team Yannick Schwaller qualified.
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Four teams, including world No. 1 ranked Great Britain’s Team-Bruce Mouat, which was idle, were gunning for the final two spots. Italy, Norway and the idle U.S. also were in the hunt.
Italy’s 9-5 loss to Switzerland sealed the final spot for Mouat, who will battle the Swiss in the other semi at the same time as the Canada-Norway game.
The first five ends for the Norwegians couldn’t have gone any better as they cruised to a 7-2 lead after Ramsfjell made timely hits to score big ends and limit Canada.
In the second half, things changed as the Norwegians played very sloppy sixth and seventh ends with poor strategic decisions to let Canada score four and make the game 7-6.
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However, Norway held on to just barely edge the Canadians.
Canadian spare Tyler Tardi played the full game to keep Ben Hebert, 42, who has been giving it his all on the sweeping front, rested for the semifinal.
In the other game of importance, Italy’s Team Joel Retornaz needed to beat Switzerland to earn its playoff spot, but a massive three-ender in the seventh end by the Swiss ruined any chance the host country had.
Semifinal winners go to the gold-medal game on Saturday and the losers will face off for bronze on Friday.
Jan 30, 2026; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in action against Alexander Zverev of Germany in the semifinals of the menís singles at the Australian Open at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
Top-seeded Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz ushered himself into the quarterfinals of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open with a straight-set romp against France’s Valentin Royer 6-2, 7-5 in the round of 16 Wednesday in Doha.
Alcaraz had a clean first set, saving the two break points he faced while breaking Royer twice. Royer jumped ahead 5-2 in the second set, but Alcaraz won 21 of the final 27 points of the match to storm back and seal the win.
Second-seeded Jannik Sinner also advanced with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Australia’s Alexei Popyrin. The Italian has yet to face a break point in his two matches. Fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev fell to Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-4 in the lone upset of the day.
Fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev, sixth-seeded Jakub Mensik, seventh-seeded Karen Khachanov, eighth-seeded Jiri Lehecka and Arthur Fils advanced as well, with all but Khachanov winning in straight sets.
Delray Beach Open
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Hong Kong qualifier Coleman Wong upset seventh-seeded American Brandon Nakashima in straight sets 6-4, 7-6 (4) in the round of 16 at Delray Beach, Fla.
Wong was lights out on his first serve, converting 32 of 38 shots (84 percent) and only dropping his serve once. Wong will face off against third-seeded Flavio Cobolli in the quarterfinals after the Italian took down France’s Terence Atmane 7-5, 6-4.
Norway’s second-seeded Caper Rudd fought back to oust American Marcos Giron 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4. Rudd rattlted home 20 aces and saved all three break points he faced after dropping the first set. In an All-American tilt, Sebastian Korda took down Alex Michelsen 6-3, 7-6 (6) as Korda converted four of his 13 break-point opportunities.
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Rio Open
Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante upset fellow countryman and top-seed Francisco Cerundolo 6-2, 3-1 after Cerundolo retired in the middle of the second set due to a back injury during the round of 16 in Rio de Janeiro.
Tirante was dominating with seven aces and breaking three times before Cerundolo was forced to pull out of the match. Tirante will face Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo, who battled back to take down Italian Francesco Passaro 4-6, 7-6 (0), 6-2.
Juan Manuel Cerundolo, older brother of Francisco, defeated Yannick Hanfmann 6-4, 6-7 (1), 6-4, while Czech Republic’s Vit Kopriva took down Argentine Roman Andres Burruchaga in straight sets 6-3, 6-1 to also advance to the quarterfinals.
Anthony Gordon scored four goals in the first half as dominant Newcastle ran riot in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 play-off tie against Qarabag in Azerbaijan (6-1).
Sep 10, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) warms up before facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sep. 10, 2023. Smith went through pregame drills near midfield as Minnesota prepared to open the regular season in front of the home crowd. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
The NFL is inching toward the 2026 NFL Combine, so you better believe mock drafts are flying all over the place. And with the Minnesota Vikings holding the 18th overall pick, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah believes Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores will scoop a Harrison Smith replacement: Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman.
NFL.com ties Minnesota to Thieneman as the Smith succession plan, signaling a 2026 secondary transition.
It’s not yet clear whether Smith will retire, but if so, Thieneman might have the juice to fill his shoes.
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Dillon Thieneman Emerges as Possible Harrison Smith Successor
Another mock draft for the Vikings — more defense.
Oregon defensive back Dillon Thieneman addresses reporters during Oregon football’s Media Day at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, on July 28, 2025, discussing preseason expectations and his transition into a leadership role within the Ducks’ secondary. Thieneman fields questions as cameras roll and teammates rotate through interview sessions. Mandatory Credit: Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Jeremiah: Thieneman to Vikings at No. 18
Because Lewis Cine didn’t pan out and the fact that Smith may indeed retire soon, Minnesota will need a safety for the long haul. Jeremiah thinks Thieneman is the right guy.
He wrote Tuesday, “After studying Thieneman’s impressive 2025 tape at Oregon, I went back and watched the film from his career at Purdue, where he played in 2023 and ’24. His range and playmaking skills were evident back then, too. He would be an excellent replacement for Harrison Smith.”
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Jeremiah continued the defensive trend for the Vikings’ spot in mock drafts. Most editions have the club selecting a defensive back or defensive lineman.
Thieneman’s Scouting Report
Thieneman is 6’0 and 200 pounds and will turn 22 in August. He’s known for his versatility at safety, which sounds like a page from the Smith playbook. His ball-tracking is elite for a rookie prospect, and he is known for high football IQ. NFL.com recently compared him to Jevon Holland, a safety for the New York Giants.
A to Z Sports‘ Rob Gregson on Thieneman: “You turn on three years’ worth of tape from Thieneman, and it just gets better and better. After bursting on to the scene as a true freshman in 2023, where he recorded six interceptions, Thieneman then led the Big-10 in tackles in 2024, before doing a little bit of everything for the Ducks in 2025.”
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“You’re betting on instincts and explosion with Thieneman. He may not be elite laterally and challenged in terms of his man coverage projection, but if you need a player who can play the high post, poach the middle as a robber, and align as a box safety for a plus one help in the run game, Thieneman is your guy.”
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein: “Savvy three-year starter with NFL size, speed and alignment versatility. Thieneman is an extension of his defensive coordinator, aligning and adjusting the secondary to motion and pre-snap shifts. He’s an instinctive, rangy safety who can roll down into big nickel or robber positioning.”
“He has a good feel for play design and route concepts in zone but has average change of direction to match breaks in man. He’s not a big thumper near the line, but he rushes into the action with a relentless pursuit that should allow him to keep stacking high scores in the tackle columns. Thieneman checks important boxes for teams looking to add versatile playmakers in the secondary.”
The 2026 Safeties + a Smith Verdict
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If one pretends that Smith will indeed retire, Minnesota’s safety group would look like this in 2026 with Thieneman:
Josh Metellus
Dillon Thieneman
Jay Ward
Theo Jackson
Kahlef Hailassie
Oregon Ducks defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) reacts on the field at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania, on Sep. 27, 2025, following a victory over the Penn State Nittany Lions. Thieneman celebrates as teammates gather nearby after securing the road win in a high-profile matchup. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
It’s also worth noting that, as of February 18th, there’s been no official retirement announcement from Smith, which is a bit odd. He can still call it quits, but with each day that passes, Smith is more likely to return for Year No. 15, especially with Flores back in the saddle as the defensive coordinator.
Other Round 1 Options
Thieneman ranks No. 37 on the Consensus Big Board at the time of this article’s publication. He might be a 2nd-Round commodity. If the Vikings don’t reach and pick him at No. 18, the team’s draftboard might resemble this, based on the best player available and long-term roster need:
CJ Allen (LB, Georgia)
Caleb Banks (DT, Florida)
KC Concepcion (WR, Texas A&M)
Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU)
Colton Hood (CB, Tennessee)
Makai Lemon (WR, USC)
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (S, Toledo)
Kayden McDonald (DT, Ohio State)
Jermod McCoy (CB, Tennessee)
Kenyon Sadiq (TE, Oregon)
Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State)
Aveion Terrell (CB, Clemson)
Jordyn Tyson (WR, Arizona State)
Peter Woods (DT, Clemson)
Vikings executive Rob Brzezinski speaks with Vikings.com’s Gabe Henderson during a sit-down discussion on Feb. 17, 2022, outlining the franchise’s organizational philosophy, front-office structure, and the hiring of head coach Kevin O’Connell. Brzezinski details Minnesota’s leadership approach and long-term roster-building strategy during the in-depth interview. Mandatory Credit: YouTube
The NFL draft is about nine weeks away. Minnesota has at least nine picks line up this cycle — four more than last year, when the club had a skimpy cupboard due to the expensive Dallas Turner trade in 2024.
American-born Team China Olympic skier Eileen continues to center herself as the most polarizing subject of the Milan Cortina Winter Games.
An interaction Tuesday with a reporter went viral after Gu responded to a question about her winning two silver medals instead of gold so far this Olympics, suggesting the question came from a “ridiculous perspective.”
Silver medalist Eileen Gu of China poses for photos after the awarding ceremony of the freestyle skiing women’s freeski big air event at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Livigno, Italy, Feb. 16, 2026.(Wang Peng/Xinhua via Getty Images)
“I’m the most decorated female freeskier in history. I think that’s an answer in and of itself,” Gu said when asked if she saw her two medals as “silvers earned” or “golds lost.”
“How do I say this? Winning a medal at the Olympics is a life-changing experience for every athlete. Doing it five times is exponentially harder because every medal is equally hard for me, but everybody else’s expectations rise, right?
“The two medals lost situation, to be quite frank with you, I think is kind of a ridiculous perspective to take. I’m showcasing my best skiing. I’m doing things that quite literally have never been done before. So, I think that is more than good enough, but thank you.”
Gu’s answer drew mixed reactions on social media after she had already been a target of immense global criticism for her decision to represent China over her home country, the U.S.
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Gu has won two silver medals in freestyle skiing in Milan Cortina in the slopestyle and big air events. She has one final event, the halfpipe, remaining Saturday and has an opportunity to add to her total.
Eileen Gu of China reacts after her first jump in the women’s freestyle skiing big air qualification during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park Feb. 14, 2026.(Joe Camporeale/Imagn Images)
Gu has been the subject of global criticism since her decision to represent China dating back to the original decision in 2019 and her first Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2022. This year, that criticism has ramped up as she has won two silver medals and even responded to a question about President Donald Trump criticizing U.S. Olympian Hunter Hess for being critical of the current state of America.
“I’m sorry that the headline that is eclipsing the Olympics has to be something so unrelated to the spirit of the Games. It really runs contrary to everything the Olympics should be,” Gu told reporters Monday.
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“The whole point of sport is to bring people together. … One of the very few common languages, that of the human body, that of the human spirit, the competitive spirit, the capacity to break not only records, but especially in our sport, literally the human limit. How wonderful is that?”
Gu also claimed she had been “caught in the crossfire” herself.
“As someone who has got caught in the crossfire before, I feel sorry for the athletes,” Gu said. “I hope that they can ski to their very best.”
Vice President JD Vance weighed in on the controversy surrounding Gu in an interview Tuesday on Fox News’ “The Story With Martha MacCallum.”
Silver medalist Eileen Gu of China attends the awarding ceremony for the freestyle skiing women’s freeski big air event at the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Livigno, Italy, Feb. 16, 2026. (Hongxiang/Xinhua via Getty Images)
“I certainly think that someone who grew up in the United States of America who benefited from our education system, from the freedoms and liberties that makes this country a great place, I would hope they want to compete with the United States of America,” Vance said.
“So, I’m going to root for American athletes. I think part of that is people who identify themselves as Americans. That’s who I’m rooting for in this Olympics.”
Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
We’ve reached the knockout phase of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League season and the 24 teams remaining the 2026 UCL Bracket will battle it out for the chance to be club champions of Europe. It’s the world’s biggest club soccer competition and the bracket goes live on February 27. Complete your 2026 Champions League brackets and enter UCL bracket pools on CBSSports.com and on the CBS Sports app.
Much like an NCAA Tournament bracket pool, you’ll pick which teams you think will advance at each stage of the Champions League bracket, and points will be awarded for each pick you get right. Create Champions League pools of your own to compete against friends and family, and enter your picks into the CBS Sports UCL Bracket Challenge for a chance to win a trip to London, including tickets to a UCL match and a tour of the UCL Today set. With the action so close, now is the time to set up your 2026 UEFA Champions League pool.
How to create a 2026 UEFA Champions League pool with friends and family
There is a CBS Sports UEFA Champions League Bracket Challenge giving you the chance to win a trip to London to watch a UCL match and tour the UCL Today set. It’s easy to qualify for this epic trip. Simply click this link, click the “Join Now” button and enter.* Fill out your UEFA Champions League bracket before Round of 16 play begins.
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Once you’ve entered CBS Sports UEFA Champions League Bracket Game, you can also set up your own 2026 UCL pools on CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports app. When you go to the website, hover your mouse over the Fantasy tab until you find the CBS Sports UCL Bracket Games logo.
Click on that logo to be redirected to the CBS Sports UCL Bracket Games page. Once you’re logged in, you’ll see a “Create Pool” button to click on and once you’ve finished choosing your UCL bracket pool settings, you’ll be able to copy the URL and send it to your friends and family.
2026 UEFA Champions League Knockout phase teams to watch
Now that you know where to play 2026 UCL Bracket Games, here are some teams to watch as the 2026 Champions League Knockout phase approaches:
Arsenal FC: The English Premier League leaders won all eight of their matches during the league phase, outscoring their opponents 23-4 in the process to produce the best goal differential in the competition. Arsenal have opened a six-point lead on Manchester City in the EPL, so they’ll still have a somewhat split focus, but this is their best chance yet at notching a UEFA Champions League title. Expect Mikel Arteta to dial in for these matchups and they should be well-rested thanks to the bye that comes with being a top-eight seed.
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Bayern Munich: The champions of the Bundesliga in 12 of the last 13 seasons, Bayern Munich has also opened up a six-point lead domestically and they’re the No. 2 seed in the UCL Knockout phase after winning seven of eight matches in the league phase. They won the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup and were also Champions League winners that same season, making them four-time champions of Europe. Harry Kane has scored 38 goals in 33 matches across all competitions this season and he’s added eight goals in eight matches for England during international play. Join the 2026 UCL Bracket Game here.
How to enter 2026 UEFA Champions League Bracket Games
Sign up now before brackets are unlocked after the Round of 16 Draw. Visit CBSSports.com/UCLBracket or play on the CBS Sports App.
NHL star Quinn Hughes became an Olympic hero for Team USA when he hit an overtime goal to lift his country over Sweden in the men’s hockey qualifying round.
His statements after the game may have made him a national hero among many Americans.
“It’s special,” Hughes told reporters of seeing American flags and hearing “U-S-A” chants in the arena.
Quinn Hughes of the United States celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in overtime during a quarterfinal playoff match against Sweden at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 18, 2026, during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
“I love the U.S., and it’s the greatest country in the world. So, I’m happy to represent here with these guys, and it was very special.”
Hughes’ overtime goal delivered the U.S. a dramatic 2-1 victory as the team continues its quest for a gold medal.
The U.S. couldn’t connect on its first five shots of overtime, but, on the sixth, Hughes rang one off the inside of the post that crossed the line to give the Americans the win.
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The Americans will take on Slovakia, while Canada, which narrowly escaped being upset by the Czech Republic earlier Thursday, will go against Finland. Canada and Finland both rallied back from deficits to win in overtime.
Quinn Hughes of the United States celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in overtime during a quarterfinal playoff match against Sweden at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games Feb. 18, 2026, in Milan, Italy.(Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Hughes’ postgame patriotism was a welcome sight for many American fans on social media.
“American Hero Quinn Hughes,” one user wrote on X in response to the star’s quotes.
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One user wrote, “This is how every member of Team USA should talk to the cynical media..”
Another user wrote, “Folks mad in the comments cause he loves his country.”
The United States’ Quinn Hughes celebrates after scoring the winning goal against Sweden during overtime of a men’s ice hockey quarterfinal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Hughes’ expression of love for his country comes during a year when other American Olympians have been openly critical of the U.S. Team USA athletes Hunter Hess, Amber Glenn and Mikaela Shiffrin have all made statements criticizing the state of the U.S. while competing in Italy.
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Hughes now joins hockey teammate Brady Tkachuk in openly praising the U.S. and expressing honor and gratitude for representing the country in Milan Cortina.
Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
Game-improvement (GI) irons, like the new for 2026 Cobra King irons, seem to get a really bad reputation, which is sad because I think they’re actually my favorite category of irons to test and talk about.
The problem with GI-style irons is that they’re big, and that hurts people’s egos. Nobody wants their buddy making fun of them on the first tee when they pull out a large and in charge 7-iron. The truth is, though, there are probably more golfers who could benefit from playing this style of iron than any other. Game-improvement irons are designed to be the most helpful and to make scoring easier. They aren’t just for slower players or beginners. They’re for anybody who just needs a little assistance. The category has also grown over the past decade, and there are actually micro-categories within the GI bucket to really make sure that players are getting the level of help they need.
The biggest problem that I see, though? We don’t talk about GI irons properly.
The Cobra King game improvement irons for 2026
Jake Morrow / GOLF
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Opportunity versus guaranteed results
What I mean when I say we don’t talk about them properly is that it’s often incorrectly stated — even by me — what they actually do. Nothing in club fitting is black and white. There aren’t magical guaranteed fixes for any club in the bag, or any category of club that they fall into.
While GI irons are typically larger designs with more forgiveness (M.O.I.), wider, higher-bounce soles, and a lower center of gravity (C.G.) position, that doesn’t mean that they are going to be super straight high-launching options for every player. Instead, the correct way to think is that they are easier to launch higher or to get away with mishits. The way they are designed gives them the chance to do those things better than other designs, but ultimately, performance is dictated by impact. Different players are going to get the club to the ball in different ways, and not everyone will have the same experience.
I tested some offerings from Cobra using my Foresight QuadMax, and this data demonstrates what I mean.
Comparing averages across 10 shots with each offering
Foresight Sports
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You can see in the data that the launch numbers don’t shift much between my Cobra 3DP MB irons and the new Cobra King GI style irons I tested. The big difference, though, is in spin and speed. Even with the Cobra King GI iron being 6.5º stronger than the 3DP MB, the launch remains about the same. The good news, though, is that’s the real point, and the one I want to drive home. There’s a miscommunication in what “higher launching” actually means.
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Topline comparison between the Cobra King GI style iron and the Cobra 3DP.MB irons currently in the author’s bag
Jake Morrow / GOLF
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Game-improvement irons and stronger lofts
This is one of my least favorite topics to discuss. The internet gets bent out of shape over it, and it’s the number one most mistalked about topic in the entire game of golf: loft jacking.
Loft jacking is the process of strengthening the lofts of an iron set. Usually, that carries a negative connotation that OEMs like Cobra are just trying to fake extra distance by giving your 7-iron the loft of your 5-iron. But that’s not the only reason they do it, which brings us back to launch. When designing a game-improvement-style iron, it’s important to give it as low a center of gravity as possible. This encourages launch, no matter who is swinging the golf club. The problem is that modern design and C.G. placement have started to launch the ball too high, to the point where other launch characteristics are negatively affected.
So how do they combat this? Strengthen the lofts. This brings the iron package down to a more usable performance window, giving the golfer who needs help the best chance of success with these offerings. So to demonstrate, I hit some 5-irons with my 3DP MB as well, which has a more similar loft package to the Cobra King GI 7-iron.
Comparing the BEST shots with the Cobra 3DP.MB 5-iron and the Cobra King 7-iron
Foresight Sports
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You’ll notice now that the King 7-iron is launching higher than the 3DP MB 5-iron at the same loft. The C.G. package of the King iron is built to launch higher. You also have to keep in mind that speed creates launch. I am not the player designed to be hitting the King iron, so my data between these two examples will be closer than that of the player who actually does need to play an iron like this. At lower speeds, the difference in launch is going to get wider between the two.
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Cobra 3DP MB Custom Irons
The 3DP MB iron combines the looks and feel of a traditional forged muscle back with the forgiveness of a cavity back iron. The most forgiving blade on the market, the MB has captivated Tour players by checking all the boxes and exceeding expectations with its exceptional stability and feel.
FORGIVING MUSCLE BACK BLADE SHAPE
A slightly revised shape from the KING MB inspired by feedback from PGA Tour player Max Homa, the MB features a thinned topline and enhanced offset. The internal 3D printed lattice and heel, toe and hosel tungsten increases MOI for stability, and positions the CG perfectly centered and lower than the KING MB to promote higher launch.
EXTREME FORGIVENESS MEETS SOFT FEEL
The 3D printed internal lattice structure not only optimizes weight savings, but also provides the stiffness and strength to support the face and fine-tune the acoustics of each iron to produce the most appealing impact sound and feel.
TUNGSTEN WEIGHTING
The discretionary weight savings from the 3D printed lattice allowed for up to 55g of tungsten to be positioned low in the heel, toe and hosel resulting in the perfect blend of a compact blade shape with a low CG and high MOI that mirrors a game improvement iron.
Take a look at the differences in spin between the King GI 7-iron, my 3DP MB 7-iron and my 3DP MB 5 iron.
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Comparing the average of the BEST three shots with each offering
Foresight Sports
Overall, the King 7-iron is definitely acting more like the 3DP MB 5-iron, and in some ways, as we’ve discussed, it sort of should. But you’ll notice that compared to the 3DP MB 7-iron, the King is in a much lower spin window, by a little over 1,000 rpms on the best swings. Again, I see this as a great thing. The player who needs all this help will be over the moon that their 7-iron is performing this well. My peak heights were getting up to 135 feet. While that is probably too high for me, the benefits for a player who struggles to get the ball up in the air are priceless.
For beginners who want to be encouraged to come back and play, or players who just want to be able to hit the ball as far as they used to, something like the Cobra King iron is perfect.
Average of the WORST three shots with each club
Foresight Sports
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Instead of comparing the club apples to apples with a head that has the same number on it, it’s better to discuss who it’s for and what it does. The best example I can give is for the player slowing down. What’s the benefit for a player who plays cavity-back irons of moving to a game-improvement iron? It’s an easier answer. Now they can play the same number club they are used to. The same CB 7-iron they used to play might be going 15-20 yards shorter and probably not getting hit high enough to produce any sort of spin or stopping power. Throw a game-improvement club in that player’s hands, and all of a sudden, they are back to their “normal” 7-iron distance, and the ball is shooting up nice and high to land softly enough on the green and help deliver a more playable golf experience on course.
It doesn’t matter that the irons have a faster face, less loft or a wider sole. All that matters is that the golfer can feel confident again and get around the golf course with ease while shooting the lowest possible score, regardless of skill, speed, or age.
Clubs like these Cobra King irons are very, very helpful designs for the right player. The problem with the internet is that arguments get lost in comparing clubs that should never be compared with players who shouldn’t be hitting them in the first place.
For someone like me, the stronger lofts, hotter face and wider sole are going to turn these irons into rocket launchers. But they aren’t built for me. They’re built for players who want to get distance back. Players who feel like they are losing out on enjoyment during their buddies match every week because they just don’t have the juice they used to. Beginners are still great options for an iron like this. It will give them the opportunity to learn the game in a more forgiving way and create a less aggressive barrier to entry into the sport.
The golf world is full of plenty of complaints about stronger lofts and hotter faces on irons, mostly from players who don’t need these types of irons. But my question to you is: Have you ever heard of a player who actually needs these irons but complains that they go too far, too high and too straight? I didn’t think so.
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