Leeds United have urged supporters to show respect when players who are observing Ramadan break their fast during Sunday’s FA Cup fifth-round match against Norwich City.
Loud boos were heard when play was paused to allow fasting players to take on fluids and energy supplements during last weekend’s match against Manchester City at Elland Road.
The club said the booing was “disappointing and unexpected”, but added there were “several mitigating circumstances”, including their own failure to properly explain the interruption to fans before it happened.
“To be clear, Leeds United explicitly condemn any supporters in the home or away sections who actively boo players observing Ramadan and use the protocol in place to break their fast,” said the Premier League club in a statement issued on Friday.
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Leeds said they should have been “more proactive with our communications in advance of the Manchester City fixture, to explain to supporters that this was going to happen”, as “this was the first time a game at Elland Road has ever been paused to allow players observing Ramadan to break their fast”.
The club added: “There was a clear lack of awareness by some attending the fixture. Whilst we displayed a message on our big screen at Elland Road to explain why the game had been paused, this was not visible for approximately 25% of the stadium.”
As a further explanation to why some fans may have reacted as they did, Leeds pointed to an incident during the away fixture against Manchester City in November, when Farke accused goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to “bend the rules” and allow Pep Guardiola’s side to hold a tactical timeout on the touchline.
Leeds say it is important “for respect to be shown” when the Norwich game pauses for players observing Ramadan to break their fast – including the club’s striker Joel Piroe – following sunset on Sunday.
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Sunset, which is when Muslims break their daily fast during Ramadan, is expected to fall around the 75th minute of a game that kicks off at 16:30 GMT.
Leeds also condemned discriminatory and tragedy chanting at football grounds, as well as continuing taunts referencing Leeds-born Jimmy Savile, one of the UK’s most prolific sexual predators, aimed at the club’s supporters by opposition fans.
“Football still has a long way to go in eradicating stains on the game, including racism, homophobia, tragedy chanting and the sickening Jimmy Savile taunts our own supporters are subjected to at every match from opposition fans,” Leeds said.
“As a club, we will continue to work to ensure that in time, these issues cease to exist. On Sunday against Norwich City, there is an opportunity to show the very best of Leeds United, and that everyone is welcome at Elland Road.”
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior says striker Joao Pedro belongs in the same “category” as world‑class forwards Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe.
The 24‑year‑old Brazil international scored a hat‑trick in Wednesday’s 4-1 win at Aston Villa, taking his tally to 17 goals in all competitions this season.
None of his 14 Premier League goals this season have come from the penalty spot and only Haaland, with 19, has scored more non‑penalty goals in England’s top flight this season, while across Europe’s top five leagues Kane leads the way on that basis with 20 for Bayern Munich, and Mbappe has 15 for Real Madrid.
Asked whether Joao Pedro is operating at such a level, Rosenior told reporters: “Joao is in that category now. In the two months I’ve been here, he has consistently shown he is a world‑class striker.
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“I talk about my players; it’s disrespectful to Erling to compare them. I don’t know Erling very well, but from the outside he looks a magnificent, world‑class striker.
“I wouldn’t swap Joao for anyone at this moment – he is showing all the qualities and attributes I want to see.
“The great thing for Joao is his age – he can still improve, and I’ve already noticed several areas where he can get better. But the level he’s operating at now is world class, and it’s my job, the club’s job and his job to keep him there.”
Chelsea, who face Wrexham in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday, are looking for Joao Pedro to become their first out-and-out striker to reach 20 goals in a season since Diego Costa in 2016-17.
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They have had two players reach that tally in the intervening years, with deep-lying forward Cole Palmer scoring 25 in the 2023-24 season, five years after Eden Hazard hit 21 as a winger.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke about expectations for his team over the coming weeks and months
Pep Guardiola is backing Manchester City to be better next season – even if they beat Arsenal to the Premier League in May. While many of City’s rivals hoped that they had seen the last of the title-winning machine when they scrambled to third place last year, their manager is confident that the new side that has emerged is here to stay.
And despite the speculation that this could be the Catalan’s last year at City, Guardiola has a contract until 2027 and is already thinking about the team for next season – one that he expects will be challenging for more trophies. They could yet have cause to celebrate in the coming weeks and months with four trophies still up for grabs.
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As well as facing Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final, they are in the knockout rounds of the FA Cup and Champions League and are second in the Premier League. Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest was disappointing, yet Guardiola thinks they could still put that behind them if they respond well enough.
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“We have the ability to forget quick. It’s another competition, I would say. It’s a final. Of course, they were a little bit disappointed. But, you know, we did in everything much, much more than them,” he said.
“That game is like that. We could not win. So expected goals, 2-15 against 0.7, and we draw. But that is football. So we have to defend better in some departments.
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“We are not a complete team to compete to, you know, to be solid. That is the reality. But we are in the process of many changes. If we can learn quicker, that still is nothing lost, we can [be] quicker to arrive in the last month with the chances. But I’m pretty sure next season will be better, and the next season will be better. I don’t have doubts about that.”
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Pop culture commentator Zack Peter slammed Sheriff Chris Nanos for reportedly declining help from the United Cajun Navy in the search for Nancy Guthrie. The 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie has been missing since February 1 from her Arizona home. Amid the ongoing investigation, several third parties volunteered to help search for Nancy Guthrie.
According to media reports, the non-profit organization United Cajun Navy, which specializes in disaster relief, expressed interest in helping with the investigation into Guthrie’s disappearance. Journalist Brian Entin reported that the organization had sent a 41-page operational plan to Sheriff Nanos. However, the Cajun Navy reportedly did not receive approval from the sheriff.
Zack Peter, who has remained critical of Chris Nanos, slammed the sheriff for not accepting help. In a March 5 video posted on X, Peter reported that the nonprofit organization based in Louisiana has resources to find a “missing body.” He noted that the Cajun Navy said that they have canines, drones, and a detailed plan of action.
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“Sheriff Nanos ignored them. He left them unread. He didn’t respond. He, like, swiped left and didn’t give them an answer or a reason as to why. Sheriff Nanos is clearly incapable. Nana Nana Nanos is incapable of leading this investigation,” Peter commented.
Zack Peter alleged that President Trump sent the FBI, but Nanos “refused to work with them.” He argued that in the absence of proof that Nancy Guthrie was taken beyond the state line, the FBI couldn’t intervene on its own. Peter said it was all in the hands of Sheriff Nanos. The podcaster wondered why a professional group like the United Cajun Navy was not allowed to help.
“I understand he doesn’t want private search parties, right, but you have a dedicated team like the United Cajun Navy who is volunteering to come out here and help you solve this case with all of the resources that they have because clearly you and your team are a bunch of bozos that haven’t been able to figure this out after over a month,” Peter added.
According to local news outlet KVOA.com, the Sheriff’s Department issued a statement. Without naming any group, the PCSD, in a statement, said that Nancy Guthrie’s investigation “is best left to professionals.”
Savannah Guthrie returns to Today’s studio while Nancy Guthrie remains missing
Savannah Guthrie Greeted TODAY Staff in Studio, Is Planning to Return to Show
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Over a month after her mother’s disappearance, Savannah Guthrie visited the Today studio on March 5. She met the staff and thanked them for their support. Savannah Guthrie had previously said that she feared that her mother “may already be gone.” However, during her Thursday visit to the Today studio, she expressed optimism about finding Nancy Guthrie.
“I wanted you to know that I’m still standing, and I still have hope, and I’m still me. And I don’t know what version of me that will be, but it will be. I’m holding onto my faith. I still believe. And as my mom would say, ‘Where else would I go?’” Savannah Guthrie stated.
Reports suggested that Savannah Guthrie would soon join Today show. On Thursday, the media personality confirmed her intention to return to the show. However, she added, “I don’t know how to come back.”
Last week, Savannah Guthrie announced a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery.
West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein took to social media to express frustration over the team’s delayed return from India after their exit from the 2026 T20 World Cup, even jokingly asking football star Cristiano Ronaldo to “rescue” him. International travel has been disrupted since tensions escalated following the conflict involving the USA, Israel and Iran, leading to flight cancellations and heightened alerts at several airports in West Asia.After their T20 World Cup campaign ended in the subcontinent, the West Indies players and support staff have faced difficulties travelling back home because of cancelled flights linked to the situation in West Asia. The development came despite Cricket West Indies (CWI) stating on Thursday that it was working to arrange a charter flight for the squad that could take them home within 24 hours.“At this point, I’m better off asking Cristiano Ronaldo to send the jet and come rescue me, yes?” Hosein said on X.
The Caribbean side has been in Kolkata since their tournament ended with a five-wicket defeat to India at Eden Gardens last Sunday. Earlier on Thursday, West Indies head coach Darren Sammy also sought clarity from the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the team’s travel plans.Soon after, CWI issued a statement confirming that efforts were underway to arrange the team’s return.“During a high-level call earlier today involving CWI, ICC officials, a representative of team management, and a representative of the players, it was confirmed that a charter flight is currently being arranged for the team’s departure from India, with the expected departure scheduled within the next 24 hours,” the CWI said in a statement. The departure time remains subject to final air traffic approvals. The team remains safe and well as arrangements continue to be finalized,” the governing body added.“CWI has remained in constant dialogue with the players, team management, and the International Cricket Council (ICC) since their last match against India. While the situation remains complex and fluid due to international airspace restrictions arising from security concerns in the Gulf region, CWI assures the public that every precaution is being taken to ensure the safe return of the team to the Caribbean,” said CWI.There is also a possibility that several players may not travel back immediately and could stay in India to join their respective franchises for the upcoming Indian Premier League.
New Delhi: Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir had once famously shared his strong belief that batting orders are very overrated in white-ball cricket, drawing scrutiny. While the mentality has resulted in mixed results on other occasions, it certainly paid off handsomely in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final against England. The visitors were caught by surprise after Shivam Dube walked in at number four following Ishan Kishan‘s dismissal instead of Suryakumar Yadav or Tilak Varma. Spinner Adil Rashid was one of the top wicket-takers (11 dismissals) going into the knockout match and had tasted blood after sending Kishan back to the pavilion.
India in T20 World Cup final: Small contributions which had HUGE impact
The Indian innings was dominating proceedings at 117/2 in 9.3 overs, enjoying the pace on offer with small boundary dimensions. However, Rashid’s slow and wide deliveries, aimed at making the batters reach out, would have proved quite challenging in these conditions, holding the key to an English comeback. However, in stepped Dube when the team needed a hero, masterfully negotiating the English spinner, combining intent with risk-free gameplay. The good balls were tucked away for singles, while the deliveries bowled right in the arc found their way into the stands. ‘Shivam Dube 2.0 makes presence felt’ “Rohit Sharma gave Shivam a lot of inputs regarding the manner in which he should approach his innings. Earlier, he used to come in and simply slog. However, this is Shivam 2.0, who plays according to the situation. The maturity he obtained from the chat changed everything. Shivam now focuses on singles off good deliveries rather than simply hitting sixes, which helps him convert a quick-fire 25 into crucial 40s or 50s,” said Mumbai batter Siddhesh Lad during an exclusive interaction with TimesofIndia.com. “There was a focus on taking singles while facing Rashid rather than simply attempting to slog every delivery. That is an indication of the newfound maturity Shivam enjoys, which proved crucial against England,” he added. Dube smashed Rashid for two sixes in his third over, reducing the pressure on Sanju Samson and giving the former no scope to settle and pull off a comeback. India were well placed on a dominant scoreline of 190/4 in 16 overs at the end of the English spinner’s spell (2/41), providing the perfect platform to finish strongly in a game decided by fine margins. Captain Harry Brook was left with no choice but to bring Jofra Archer and Sam Curran into the action, playing into Team India’s hands. ‘Dube’s intent puts spinners under pressure’ “It was tougher to play strokes when the ball was coming on slowly to the bat, which is where Dube proved to be a game-changer. When Shivam comes to bat, there is pressure on the spinners because of the intent with which he takes them on,” shared Dube’s childhood coach Satish Samant. Shivam was eventually dismissed due to a miscommunication with Hardik Pandya, leaving a lasting impact with his 25-ball 43 that helped India post a mammoth total of 253. The all-rounder has been a game-changer under pressure, scoring crucial boundaries against the West Indies, and will certainly have a vital role to play in the final.
Feb 21, 2026; Syracuse, New York, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) shoots prior to the game against the Syracuse Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images
North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson will miss the rest of the season with a broken right thumb.
The Tar Heels confirmed on Friday that Wilson is done for the campaign following his non-contact injury during a drill in Thursday’s practice. Wilson was nearing a return from a six-game absence. He was on the court and pushing to be cleared to return for Saturday’s rematch with No. 1 Duke when the latest injury occurred.
The team’s leading scorer and rebounder at 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, Wilson had 20 or more points 17 times this season. He’s projected to be a lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
He fractured his non-shooting hand Feb. 10 against Miami.
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While he was not yet cleared for 5-on-5 work in practice according to head coach Hubert Davis, Wilson was on pace to play no later than next week’s ACC tournament.
Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior reacts during a Spanish La Liga football match between Real Madrid and Getafe in Madrid, Spain, Monday, March 2, 2026. (AP Photo)
UEFA has fined Spanish football club Real Madrid 15,000 euros ($17,000) after one of the club’s supporters made a Nazi salute before a recent UEFA Champions League match against Benfica. The governing body also imposed a partial stadium closure of 500 seats at the Santiago Bernabéu, suspended for one year.UEFA said the action was taken after an incident before the second leg of the play-off round between the two sides on February 25. The disciplinary board punished Madrid “for the racist and/or discriminatory behaviour of its supporters,” according to a statement issued by the European football body.The incident took place before Real Madrid’s Champions League match against Benfica. The Spanish club later said the supporter involved had been identified and removed from the stadium.“Real Madrid condemns this type of gesture and expression that incites violence and hatred in sports and society,” the club said at the time.A week before the incident at the Bernabéu, Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior alleged that he was racially abused by Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni. Prestianni has denied the allegation.Real Madrid also removed the supporter who was caught on camera making the Nazi salute before the match began. The first leg of the tie had also seen the alleged racism incident involving Vinicius and Prestianni.Real Madrid advanced to the round of 16 of the Champions League, where they will face Manchester City.
Minnesota Vikings fans react from the stands during a home game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The NFC North matchup on Oct. 20, 2024, featured a lively crowd dressed in purple and gold as supporters responded to the action on the field during a pivotal divisional contest. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Don’t expect fireworks from Minnesota Vikings’ free agency next week; they’ve already gone that route in the last two offseasons, and 2026 will be much quieter, according to interim general manager Rob Brzezinski.
The Vikings appear headed for a lower-cost plan, shifting the spotlight from splashy deals to roster discipline and draft improvement.
The club doesn’t have the funds to splash this go-round and is not interested in spending future salary caps to make 2026 more eventful.
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A Quieter March Puts More Pressure on Minnesota’s Draft Table
Minnesota Vikings executive Rob Brzezinski speaks during a sit-down interview with Vikings.com’s Gabe Henderson about the team’s organizational structure and leadership direction. The discussion on Feb. 17, 2022, covered Minnesota’s football operations philosophy, front-office decision making, and the hiring of head coach Kevin O’Connell. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Brzezinski: We Have the Core in Place
Compared to the expectation from some casual fans, next week’s free agency period will be quiet for Minnesota.
Brzezinski told ESPN: “We’ve spent a lot of money the last two years in free agency. And so our goal is going to be to keep our core in place, and that’s going to involve making some difficult decisions on some players, which you deal with on a daily basis.”
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“But I think for the most part, our goal is going to be to draft and develop and to retain our core, and supplement with free agency. It just makes logical sense that that bill’s coming due. We do have to navigate it, and navigate it responsibly.”
In theory, Minnesota could backload existing veterans’ contracts and mortgage the future. But that doesn’t seem to be a viable option this time.
Brzezinski continued, “A big part of that is balancing what we’re doing in 2026 versus the future. It’s just inherent in my role. I feel like that’s a critical part of when I talk about the guardrails and the vision and the philosophy.”
“To make sure maybe if we’re veering a little bit, to try to make a decision that maybe is not the best for the long term, maybe we can come back to what we talked about originally and say, ‘Hey, remember we talked about this is the way we’re going to do things? This is our philosophy.’ I think we can just lean on that and go from there.”
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The Bonanza in 2025
One year ago, ex-general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who was fired five weeks ago, swung for the fences in free agency, signing guard Will Fries, cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, linebacker Eric Wilson, and defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, among others.
Rodgers and Wilson emphatically worked out, but those were the affordable signings. The big-ticket acquisitions flopped, or in Fries’s case, the first year didn’t pan out so hot.
In fact, one year later, Allen and Hargrave are scheduled to be released. Minnesota signed up for mid-tier DT performance at a high price and is ready to end the experiment after one season. Per Brzezinski, the Vikings were permitted to spend big in the last two offseasons. This go-round is about scaling back — evidently.
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Must Nail the Draft
The draft should be the cornerstone of roster building. It’s the only avenue in professional sports where teams can acquire high-caliber talent without paying market value. Free agency should play a supporting role, used to fill gaps, add veteran leadership, and bolster depth once a young core is established.
The previous regime in Minnesota strayed from this philosophy, sadly. Each offseason, there was a tacit understanding from fans that free agency would have to compensate for a draft that rarely produced any contributors, inverting the traditional team-building model. That’s not how it’s supposed to be.
This inversion manifested in decisions like the 2025 3rd-Round selection of wide receiver Tai Felton, a player whose primary value was on special teams. Special teams contributors can typically be found in undrafted free agency, while 3rd-Round picks should be reserved for players with the potential to develop into starters or impactful rotational players.
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With Adofo-Mensah’s departure, the organization has an opportunity to reset. Vikings fans can now perhaps shift away from expecting draft-related disappointment, as Minnesota can reestablish the draft as the primary driver of roster construction.
Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf speaks with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell along the sideline during a playoff game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The Wild Card matchup on Jan. 15, 2023, featured the two conversing during the second quarter while the stadium crowd watched postseason action unfold. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.
Beginning with the 2025 class, Brzezinski and the front office must capitalize on productive drafts. Multiple successful draft classes are needed to replenish the roster and address the talent + age deficit.
There’s no better time to get back on track in the draft than a quiet free agency period.
Bargain-Bin Players?
Of course, free agency remains a key factor in Minnesota. It won’t be ignored or forgotten.
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During the Kirk Cousins era (2018-2023), the Vikings routinely faced familiar financial constraints each offseason, needing to create cap space to acquire new players or retain key veterans. Each year, the front office successfully generated the necessary flexibility to maintain a competitive team.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell introduces defensive coordinator Brian Flores during a media session at the TCO Performance Center in Eagan. The press event on Feb. 15, 2023, marked Flores’ arrival after previous coaching stops with the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, and Pittsburgh Steelers. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Brzezinski is usually central to this process. The long-tenured executive, with 27 years of experience with the franchise, possesses extensive knowledge of navigating cap situations and identifies viable financial solutions when the roster requires reinforcements.
This approach will likely guide Minnesota’s strategy again. Rather than pursuing the most expensive players, the Vikings can seek value-based options that address specific roster needs. For example, you may not have the money for running back Kenneth Walker III, but how about Kenneth Gainwell from free agency and a mid-round halfback in the draft?
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy drops back and delivers a first-quarter throw at U.S. Bank Stadium, Jan 4, 2026, in Minneapolis against the Green Bay Packers. The snapshot captured McCarthy operating within the structure of the offense early, as Minnesota looked to establish rhythm and tempo during a high-stakes divisional matchup. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Accordingly, Minnesota is soon to enhance the passer competition. Anything less than a minimum of one competent passer would be football malpractice. Good chance, though, that the Vikings opt for two quarterbacks. Kevin O’Connell is hoping that direct, head-to-head competition gets the best out of the kid who was drafted at No. 10 in the 2024 NFL Draft. Minnesota’s top coach acknowledged as much while articulating where Mr. McCarthy needs to go in a recent interview with Paul Allen and Pete Bercich.
J.J. McCarthy Gets Next Steps from KOC
Over on the team website, Craig Peters discusses the matter while relaying the words from O’Connell and Rob Brzezinski (the full interview is on YouTube).
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First, note Coach O’Connell’s acknowledgement that McCarthy is “hungry” and that he’s working through a “big offseason.” Basically, bland football lingo that seldom means much; except, of course, that they happen to be true for McCarthy.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) scrambles during first-half action against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Dec. 14, 2025. McCarthy moved outside the pocket to extend the play as Minnesota searched for rhythm on the road in the early stages of the matchup. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images.
There’s then some clarity about what J.J. McCarthy is doing.
The word: “He’s out in California right now working with John Beck and some of the guys that he worked with pre-draft, very detailed in what he wanted to decompress after the season and go through layer by layer: ‘What do I need to individually work on to make sure I come back ready to roll in April?’ He’s working on those things.”
Some more insight: “His continued growth in our offense and schemes will be a natural thing. He’s a really smart player. I think he’s going to be able to use a lot of that experience of those 10 games in the journey so far to get himself in position to have the best 2026 he can. We’ve talked about it, we want him to be in a competitive situation because of some of that time lost.”
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Another thought before extracting some ideas: “We’ve really got to push the gas pedal down and not replace development and coaching and teaching with anything but really enhance it with a really competitive situation that I think our whole team will benefit from. [We’re] pretty early in that process, but I’m excited about it.”
Dec 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) slaps hands with Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell after a made field goal against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images.
Digest what’s being said.
J.J. McCarthy hasn’t been good enough but he now has ten games of NFL experience. As a result, there’s a foundation to build on as it relates to his development. See what worked and continue doing those things; see what didn’t and find a solution. Mastering the scheme will result from more time chipping away.
On a literal level of where he is, McCarthy is in California working with a private quarterback coach. Think back to the in-season chatter about sanding off the rough edges of McCarthy’s mechanics. Consider, as well, the chatter about the kid developing his pitching arsenal beyond just a nice four-seam fastball. Gotta assume those same items are being addressed.
Likewise, there’s great merit in the idea that Coach O’Connell expresses: competition in the quarterback room not about replacing J.J. McCarthy. Rather, inserting high-end competition is being seen as a key component of developing the passer. The possibility — threat? — of replacement should push the quarterback to be better.
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Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy drops back to pass at U.S. Bank Stadium as the offense sets during the second quarter, with the pocket forming around him and receivers working downfield. The scene unfolded on Nov. 9, 2025 in Minneapolis during Minnesota’s matchup with Baltimore, capturing McCarthy mid-read in live game action. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
So, here is what is being told to J.J. McCarthy, more or less:
The beginning of your career hasn’t gone as anyone hoped. A major part of the issue has been injury, which is unfortunate. Take these comings months to build your body as you work away with a respected quarterback coach. Get better. Learn how to layer throws. Fix your mechanics. Be accurate.
When you come back, you’ll be sharing the room with someone who is coming for your starting job. Understand that we see the intensity of the competition as the next step in your development as we guard against what happened last year. We still believe in you and want you to be our long-term passer. Accept the challenge for what it is as you elevate.
Prove us right.
J.J. McCarthy, 23, is a great athlete who can zip the ball. Even better, he’s a leader who works hard and who has some charisma. There’s fire in him that will help him in the upcoming competition.
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McCarthy, in short, has much to work with as he marches toward being under center in Week 1 of the 2026 season.
For U.S. women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes, the task ahead of her in Saturday’s SheBelieves Cup finale against Colombia was an obvious one.
“Listen, we have to play our game. I’m interested in what we do and how we impose ourselves,” she said in a press conference on Friday. “I’ve said it before: this is a tournament. We have something to win, but for us, it’s just making sure we get all the details right in the game. If we win the game, we win the tournament, and we are absolutely approaching it with the seriousness we do everything.”
Hayes, though, is far from the only one interested in how the USWNT will impose themselves on Saturday. The team’s SheBelieves Cup journey has been marked by a unique selection of details; their wins over Argentina and Canada marked by a sense of professionalism that has ushered in a new phase of Hayes’ reinvention of the national team. Almost a year-and-a-half after she began a project to expand the player pool, Hayes said her youthful version of the USWNT is growing up by finding solutions in challenging games this month. That was especially true in the 1-0 win over Canada on Wednesday, when the U.S. handled the challenge of navigating a match in imperfect conditions.
“If I take the last game, you’ve got half the group in preseason, half the group in season,” Hayes said. “Do I think we were top fit and top fresh? Some are top fit because they’re in season. Some are less fit but maybe top fresh, and some are less fit and less fresh, right? You get the combination of those things. What I think is important in that when you’re not 100% at your top level is that you exert control and do it over the whole game, not parts of the game and I thought we did that brilliantly.
“I thought we started slowly. I stated that because I think that group hadn’t played together since last November but I thought we grew and grew and grew and I thought that was a game where we weren’t at our best level but we controlled the game in all facets and that’s what I really enjoyed about it is that we didn’t let the game get into a slunk fest or we didn’t let it get into a transition game. We kept the game up their end of the pitch, and when I talk about growing up, that’s coaching these things into this group of players, and they’re just getting so much better at it.”
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There’s a sturdiness to the USWNT during this edition of the SheBelieves Cup, players new and old demonstrating a sense of reliability regardless of the task in front of them. That will be the expectation against Colombia, too, with Hayes once again mentioning emotional control as a feature of the layered performance she hopes to see on Saturday. Who exactly will take to the pitch remains a question – the head coach has essentially split her squad into two, Wednesday’s lineup against Canada appearing more like a first-choice team than the relatively inexperienced group that started against Argentina.
“I’ve made it clear this year there will be, particularly in three-game windows, two teams per se that will play, maybe not all of the time, so we can get a chance to develop the connections for a group of players over two games and one group over one of the games,” Hayes said. That, for me, is the bigger priority, putting together situations where, in the case of the last game, Phallon [Tullis-Joyce], [Emily] Sonnett, and [Naomi] Girma develop that connection between those three. Same with Emily Fox and Trinity Rodman on the right-hand side.”
Hayes’ experimentation period has allowed her to learn as much as she can about the talent pool as possible, in some cases, discovering and developing versatility in different players. That is especially true for Ally Sentnor, one of the main beneficiaries of the head coach’s open-door policy and the lone goalscorer against Canada. The 22-year-old has played across the front line for the USWNT but has recently demonstrated her strengths in and around the box as a No. 9.
“I think I always say coming into this team, I’m willing to do whatever role is required, and I love playing any position for this team,” Sentnor said. “I think I talked a lot with Emma and my staff at home on how I can really bring my skill set into each position that I play and that I’m not going to be your typical hold-up, crosses, finishing with my head, in the air type of [No.] 9 but I can bring a lot to that position with speed and agility and turning defenders but I did grow up playing the [No.[ 9 so it feels a little bit like I’m back at home on my club team and that I’m just kind of getting those feelings back, but also adding to my game having played a lot more since then.”
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Hayes also emphasized that she has a handful of options available to her. While Claire Hutton, Sam Coffey and Rose Lavelle started in midfield on Wednesday as a deep-lying double pivot, the head coach said her roster is full of players with different profiles, arguably an ideal way to construct a squad while the USWNT use the SheBelieves Cup to simulate tournament settings.
“How many times have them two played together? Not that many times, so they’re still developing that,” she said about Hutton and Coffey, who were solid defensively but were imperfect in springing play forward. “I think sometimes we want all of it to be together all at once but I think there’s a good foundation there, two very tactically intelligent players. Two from-footed players. I think you can secure the middle of the pitch. I think we’ve still got to work the balance right between how we rotate up in those areas to give support to the front players, but listen, they’re so coachable, these two, it’d be easy to do that, but that was the decision for that.
“As always, I approach the game on what the game demands. I think with both Lily [Yohannes] and Lindsey [Heaps], we have different offerings in that area. Listen, I remember times when we talked about, well, maybe we don’t have enough midfield options. I think we’ve got plenty of midfield options. We haven’t even talked about Riley Jackson yet coming through, but I think we’ve got some really good, strong foundations to build on. Now I have to keep putting together the different combinations, so they develop relationships.”
Even during a week that seems to have answered longstanding questions about who the U.S.’ new core players are, Hayes continues to play her cards close to her chest. That may be in large part because of the one thing that is completely out of her control – the sport’s ebbing and flowing calendar, which almost always leaves her with players in varying fitness positions and will likely play a heavy hand in her team selection on Saturday, whether or not the core group is set.
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“I don’t know, the questions I get asked are like, ‘Are you getting closer to your established 11?” Hayes said. “But actually, we’re preparing players in the middle of their preseason to start their seasons with their clubs, so we have to prioritize different things in different moments.”
