With a belated decision, the Minnesota Vikings fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on Friday, January 30th, causing confusion with the timing and questions about the franchise’s immediate direction. What are the questions? Well, we have those for you.

Minnesota now faces a compressed offseason with big decisions piling up, from quarterback direction to who ultimately runs the roster.

Free agency is one month away, and the draft six weeks after that. Here’s what to ponder regarding the Vikings.

Key Questions the Vikings Face After Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s Termination

The offseason has changed for the purple team.

1. Is J.J. McCarthy’s Off-Ramp Now on the Way?

Righteous or not, the Vikings now have a clean avenue to wind down the McCarthy era if they’re not overly inspired about his injury trajectory and performance. Think of this way: if Minnesota wants a quarterback like Kyler Murray or Mac Jones via trade, they can somewhat easily trade for him and sell the story as, “Well, McCarthy was Kwesi’s guy.” They’ll never expressly say that, but you get it — through implication.

Had Adofo-Mensah remained, Minnesota had a vested interest in enabling him to succeed. Now, they can straightforwardly opt for a different quarterback and claim (through their actions) the old general manager got the McCarthy pick wrong.

2. Who Will Take Over for Adofo-Mensah after the Draft?

Curiously, the Mark and Zygi Wilf won’t hire an Adofo-Mensah replacement until after the draft. It’s unclear why they’ll wait, perhaps to give Rob Brzezinski an extended, fair trial for the big job.

But then what?

The organziation could keep Brzezinski in place, interview someone with previous ties to the Vikings like George Paton, or consult an outsider like Ed Dodds from the Indianapolis Colts.

Still, the new general manager’s identity will remain a mystery for a few months.

3. Who Calls the Shots for Personnel?

When a single general manager is in the saddle, the buck stops with him or her — all final personnel calls. Outwardly, that’s no longer the case.

Maybe Kevin O’Connell will pick the offensive players, Brian Flores will be in charge of defensive personnel, and Brzezinski will manage the money. Until a new boss takes over, onlookers won’t have any idea who’s picking what and will merely hope everyone is on the same page for collaboration.

4. Will O’Connell Shoot for the Stars at QB?

The Vikings have already stated they’ll add another quarterback or two this offseason. That’s a given — the no-brainer to end all no-brainers this go-round.

Will O’Connell choose a journeyman insurance policy like Jimmy Garoppolo? An upside youngster via trade like Anthony Richardson? Kirk Cousins? Another crack at empowering a former high-round pick to succeed like Kyler Murray? Or sell everything imaginable for Joe Burrow or Lamar Jackson if those men are available?

With Adofo-Mensah gone, O’Connell can basically do whatever he wants at quarterback. And he must get the decision right for his job security. The onus is all on him.

NFL.com’s Kevin Patra wrote about the Vikings’ quarterback situation last month, “There is little question that the Vikings need a reliable veteran to buffer McCarthy. There was discussion about bringing back Sam Darnold last offseason, but he found a home and a bigger deal in Seattle. Minnesota also attempted to retain Daniel Jones, who opted for Indianapolis. When a trade for Sam Howell went sideways, it left the Vikes with Wentz and Brosmer.”

“The veteran free-agent market will be dotted with the likes of Marcus Mariota, Russell Wilson, Jimmy Garoppolo and Kenny Pickett. One potential name to watch: Kirk Cousins, the former Vikings QB who reworked his deal in Atlanta, making him a likely free agent this offseason.”

5. Why Did the Vikings Wait until 3.5 Weeks into the Offseason to Fire KAM?

This is the one that will confuse fans indefinitely.

Adofo-Mensah’s draft record alone warranted his termination on Black Monday (the day after Week 18). But the Wilfs held off.

Then, after the firing, they insisted that no single decision had pushed them over the edge. Five days prior, though, former Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold reached the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. There’s just no way that didn’t serve as the final smoking gun.

Wide Left‘s Arif Hasan also noted last week, “The failure to re-sign Sam Darnold, who is about to make his Super Bowl debut with the Seattle Seahawks, appears in much of the reporting we see about the Vikings’ GM decision. More prominent, however, is the inability to re-sign Daniel Jones, who left for the Colts and produced an outstanding season before his injury.”

No matter, Adofo-Mensah’s termination occurred about 3.5 weeks late.

The NBA was shaken up at the trade deadline with the Los Angeles Clippers moving future Hall of Famer James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for All-Star Darius Garland. On the surface, this felt like a fantastic deal for the Clippers.

Despite Los Angeles going on a big run once Kawhi Leonard returned from injury, it never really felt like this team was a serious contender for the Finals. Leonard is great when he plays, but he is rarely available. Harden was once again looking for greener pastures, and aside from Ivica Zubac, the Clippers severely lacked depth.

Moving Harden for a two-time All-Star who’s 10 years younger is something we haven’t seen much in the NBA. It was a no-brainer for Clippers GM Trent Redden.

But what if this move isn’t as smart as it seems?

If you’ve watched the Cavs over the last four seasons, when Garland is healthy, they can reach offensive highs that match any team in the league. But that “when” is doing a ton of heavy lifting in that sentence.

The Garland-for-Harden trade was announced on Wednesday, and it wasn’t made official until just hours before tip-off. Getting official physicals can take some time, but Garland had been on the Clippers’ sideline since Wednesday. I wonder if Los Angeles was more concerned with the results of Garland’s medical report than with what they thought they were getting.

Since Garland returned from his offseason toe surgery, there have been many points in the season where he’s favored his right side. Then, before he was traded, he injured his big toe on his right foot.

This trade seemed like it came somewhat out of nowhere. I think the Cavs were nervous about the extent of this injury. The Clippers have the luxury to let Garland take his time recovering, as this season is mostly down the drain, but his last toe surgery took him six months to recover from. Not only that, but he never seemed like he had the same shiftiness that Cleveland was used to.

With Garland being a more undersized guard who relies on his quick first step to get by his defender, his jumper also seemed affected as defenders were able to play further up on him. He is shooting the second-lowest percentage of his career from three, and I think the toe has something to do with that.

These types of injuries can build up quickly for a player, and if Garland loses a step, his value plummets as the playoffs get more physical. Harden has his flaws, but he’s a historically durable lead guard. He’s not as dominant as he was during his time in Houston, but for a team looking to at least “soft rebuild”, I’m shocked to see the Clippers move on from Harden so quickly.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is one of 11 political leaders in The Great North mayoral-led collaboration calling for an Olympic Games across Northern England

Andy Burnham wants any future UK-hosted Summer Olympic Games to happen across Northern England.

The mayor of Greater Manchester believes another London bid “wouldn’t be fair or right”. Burnham is one of 11 political leaders, alongside London 2012 gold medallist and current Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, Luke Campbell, backing the proposal.

Sir Brendan Foster, founder of the Great North Run and former Olympic long-distance runner, is another ex-athlete supporting the politicians’ cause. A mayoral-led initiative named ‘The Great North’ has penned a letter to Lisa Nandy, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who was in Italy this weekend for the Winter Olympics.

Northern leaders are now expressing their desire for any future Summer Games to be outside the capital. The Sunday Times claims their letter says: “A northern-based Olympic Games is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to accelerate regeneration, rebalance the economy, and reset international perceptions of England.”

It continues: “This is also a question of fairness and credibility. If the UK is serious about rebalancing growth, a Games hosted in and across the north would send a clear signal – domestically and internationally – that opportunity, ambition and national pride are shared.”

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The Times also cites a source involved in the bid, who stated: “It’s time that people stop thinking about the north as a post-industrial bleak landscape. It’s not.

“It’s full of vibrant, amazing cities, and beautiful settings and landscapes, which could be used to host the biggest sports event on earth and showcase the north of England to the world.”

North East mayor Kim McGuinness is chair of The Great North. She said: “The North of England has a sporting history and prowess like no other place, and we are united in our belief that our region could host a box office, world-leading Olympic Games.”

Burnham also commented: “A lot of work and thought has gone into this, and it feels very of the moment. There has been some suggestion that the country was looking at another London bid, but that wouldn’t be fair or right.

“And that’s nothing against the capital. It hosted an unforgettable Olympics, and I look back at it quite wistfully, actually, remembering what the country used to be like and how much it has changed.

“It’s about recapturing that for the north of England, that vibrancy and positivity. That’s what Britain needs right now. If you set this ambition, the north will rise to it in the most breathtaking way.”

Campbell holds a similar view, recalling how London 2012 “brought the country together”. The former bantamweight boxer stated: “Everything in this country is so focused on London, but England isn’t just about red buses and telephone boxes; this is our chance to show us off to the world.”

Foster, who secured bronze in the 10,000 metres at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, agrees. He said: “It’s time the north stops getting the crumbs and gets the cake instead.”

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard also also backing the move. He claims: “The north can put on a show, we can take on the world’s biggest cultural festival and make a success of it.”

Manchester City are at serious peril of their Premier League title challenge from becoming too far gone as they travel to Liverpool in a must-win clash.

City were held at Tottenham last week, something that seemed inconceivable at half-time with Thomas Frank’s struggling Spurs two goals down and looking lifeless, only for Pep Guardiola to watch a Dominic Solanke deprive his side of two invaluable points.

They are now six points adrift of leaders Arsenal, who will be hoping Liverpool – their title rivals of last year – can become the latest to do them a huge favour in the title race.

The Reds ended a five-game winless run in the league by emphatically dispatching Newcastle in a 4-1 win last week, with Arne Slot’s men finding form at possibly the worst time for City.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Is Liverpool vs Manchester City on TV?

Liverpool’s clash with Manchester City kicks off at 4:30pm GMT on Sunday 8 February at Anfield.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the UK can watch the game on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage starting at 4pm. Subscribers can also stream the action online via NOWTV.

If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.

Team news

Both teams go into the clash ravaged by injuries, with Liverpool potentially without five first-team players. The big question mark relates to Joe Gomez, who has missed the last two games with a hip problem after colliding with Alisson against Bournemouth, but could yet return this weekend. Jeremie Frimpong is out for the next couple of weeks, while Conor Bradley, Alexander Isak and Giovanni Leoni remain sidelined with long-term problems. Deadline day signing Jeremy Jacquet will arrive in the summer – he is not an option for this weekend, nor this season.

City, meanwhile, are also deadling with something of an injury crisis with Josko Gvardiol and John Stones out. Jeremy Doku, Mateo Kovacic and Savio are also doubts.

Predicted line-ups

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.

Manchester City XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rodri; Silva, Foden, Cherki, Semenyo; Haaland.

India vs USA (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag praised Suryakumar Yadav for playing a match-winning innings against the USA in India’s opening game of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium on February 7. India won the match by 29 runs, thanks largely to their captain’s calm and powerful batting under pressure.India had a shaky start while batting first and were struggling at 77 runs for 6 wickets. At that point, things could have gone badly, but Suryakumar held his nerve and played a brilliant unbeaten knock of 84 runs off 49 balls, hitting 10 fours and 4 sixes. His innings helped India reach a respectable total of 161/9 in 20 overs.

Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma also chipped in with quick runs, while USA bowlers Shadley van Schalkwyk and Harmeet Singh impressed with the ball.Sehwag called Suryakumar’s knock one of the best of his career, explaining how important it was in the match situation. He said, “Imagine if the Indian team had been all out for just 100, we wouldn’t have said that a weak team like the USA beat India. They have also qualified for the World Cup. That’s why I feel it was one of the best knocks of Suryakumar Yadav’s career. I always say, focus on the ball and not the bowler, because if it pitches in the right area, you have to respect it. If you go for your shots on a good ball, you might get out.”Sehwag also praised the USA bowlers for putting India under pressure, saying, “Take this USA team, we had heard very little about some of these bowlers, but they were able to reduce India to 77 for 6, which I don’t think any other team has managed in the last two to two-and-a-half years. So, hats off to Suryakumar Yadav, he played extremely well.”In reply, the USA scored 132/8, with Milind Kumar, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, and Shubham Ranjane putting up a fight. Indian bowlers Mohammed Siraj, Axar Patel, and Arshdeep Singh took key wickets to seal the win.

Lindsey Vonn’s sister was emotional as she described watching the Olympic star suffer a hard crash during her run at the Milan Cortina Games on Sunday.

Vonn was in the first sector when she lost her balance and fell hard. She writhed in pain as medical professionals came over to check on her. A medical helicopter flew to carry Vonn off the mountain. It’s unclear what led to the crash.

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Lindsey Vonn of the United States during women’s alpine skiing downhill training at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre on Feb. 7, 2026. (Michael Madrid/Imagn Images)

“That was definitely the last thing we wanted to see,” her sister, Karin Kildow, told NBC Sports. “It happened quick. So, when that happens, you’re just immediately hoping she’s OK. It was scary because when you start to see the stretchers being put out, it’s not a good sign. But we were just saying, like, ‘The Man in the Arena.’ Like, she just dared greatly and she put it all out there, so, it’s really hard to see but we just really hope she’s OK.”

Kildow added that Vonn, who was dealing with a ruptured ACL days before the Olympics, was going to give it her all, knowing that the result could have been disastrous.

“She always goes 110% and there’s never anything less. I know she put her whole heart into it and sometimes things happen,” she said. “It’s a very dangerous sport and there’s a lot of variables at play. I don’t really know exactly what happened. It did look like a pretty rough fall. We’re just hoping for the best.”

A helicopter air lifts Lindsey Vonn of the United States after a crash in the women’s downhill alpine skiing race during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre on Feb. 8, 2026.  (Eric Bolte/Imagn Images)

MIKAELA SHIFFRIN SAYS IT’S ‘TOUGH TO RECONCILE’ VIOLENCE IN WORLD WHILE REPRESENTING USA IN OLYMPICS

Kildow, like the rest of the crowd, was in shock as Vonn crashed.

The Olympic legend was attempting to medal in the event despite a devastating knee injury she suffered while at the World Cup. She made clear in subsequent social media posts that her ACL was “100% gone.”

An ACL tear normally involves a recovery that lasts about a year, but Vonn planned to fight through it.

She had a successful training run and it appeared the momentum was behind her to at least finish the run.

The Team USA legend is the second-most successful woman in World Cup history with 84 wins. She has won eight World Championship medals.

United States’ Lindsey Vonn crashes during an alpine ski women’s downhill race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026.  (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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Vonn won a gold medal in the downhill and a bronze medal in the super-G at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games and a bronze medal in the downhill at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Games.

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Nigeria’s Rivers United are not mathematically out of the CAF Champions League yet, but they will need a miracle and a lot of hard work as they prepare to face Pyramids FC today at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

The Nigeria Premier Football League leaders have struggled in Africa this season and sit bottom of Group A with just one point from four matches. However, football is full of surprises, and qualification is still possible, though very unlikely.

If Rivers United can beat Pyramids today and then record another big win away to RS Berkane in Morocco, they could still finish with seven points. In that case, they would also need Pyramids to beat Power Dynamos in Egypt, which could see three teams finish on seven points and Rivers United progress on goal difference. It is a difficult path, but not impossible.

Despite the tough situation, head coach Finidi George has urged his players to show pride and fight for the club. Speaking before the match, he said his team must start strongly and play with aggression and responsibility.

“So, we just play for our pride this time around. We still have to continue and change our attitude, especially in the first half,” Finidi said. “In a game like this, we have to be very aggressive in the first 20 minutes.”

Group A is still competitive. Pyramids lead with 10 points, while RS Berkane and Power Dynamos both have seven points. Rivers United are bottom with one point, but their remaining matches could still affect who qualifies for the quarter-finals.

Finidi admitted the challenge will be huge, as Pyramids are the reigning African champions and are eager to secure their place in the next round. Still, he believes his players must give everything for the badge.

“We want the players to do their utmost best to make sure we get our first victory. I know it’s not going to be an easy match,” he said. “We know we have to play for our pride, the players’ pride, and the club’s pride.”

For Rivers United, today’s match is about belief, effort, and dignity. A big win against Pyramids would keep their slim hopes alive and send a strong message that they are ready to fight until the end.

READ MORE: Pyramids of Egypt Officials Hail Godswill Akpabio Stadium Turf as One of Africa’s Best

Following a whip overuse offence on Fireball in the Inglis Millennium, James McDonald faces time out from the Silver Slipper program via suspension and fine.

The elite jockey exceeded regulations by whipping nine times prior to the 100m under Australian Rules of Racing—four over the cap—and reached 20 in all.

Racing NSW chief steward Tom Moxon announced the 10-day riding prohibition and $20,000 levy at Randwick Saturday, factoring in McDonald’s clean slate lately for that rule while stressing the breach’s occurrence in a $2 million feature.

He shared his upset with stewards regarding the penalty’s intensity, terming it “harsh”.

Prior to his suspension starting—ending February 25—McDonald will have rides next Saturday at Randwick, such as emerging star Autumn Glow in the Apollo Stakes (1400m).

McDonald is set to bypass the Silver Slipper (1100m), an essential Golden Slipper (1200m) trial, plus the Hobartville Stakes and Millie Fox Stakes (1200m). The racing betting markets offer plenty for Silver Slipper punters.

The post James McDonald suspended at Randwick first appeared on Just Horse Racing.

Connections of glamorous three-year-old Tempted hold high hopes that she could outshine Bella Nipotina, who amassed almost $19 million and a memorable Everest victory over her exceptional career.

“She is pretty special,” trainer Ciaron Maher’s assistant, Johann Gerard-Dubord said.

“I would quote Craig Williams when he jumped off her after the Everest. He said, ‘I love Bella (Nipotina), but she might be even better’. That’s how good she could be.”

Her return triumph left little room for debate as the filly crushed her opposition in Saturday’s Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, following the leaders before powering away in a stylish manner.

Chad Schofield, aboard the $1.60 elect, geared back the filly late to claim victory by 1-1/4 lengths margin over Napoleonic ($6.50), as Wodeton ($5) charged home for third spot, beaten by another 1-3/4 lengths.

Tempted is yet to capture Group 1 glory but ended second to champion Ka Ying Rising in last spring’s The Everest (1200m), and according to Gerard-Dubord, she has come back in peak form.

“When you run second in the Everest as a spring three-year-old, and running through the line, you know you’ve got a pretty special horse,” he said.

“She came back looking magnificent. Last prep, it took her a couple of runs to clean up in the coat but this time, from day one when she came back, she couldn’t look any better.

“Everything has been very smooth. Her target is the Surround (Stakes) in three weeks, which is why we elected to run this week. She would have been better placed against the fillies next week, but the three-week gap works out better.”

After contesting the Surround Stakes (1400m), paths for Tempted are fluid, with the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) a prominent choice under discussion.

“All options are open. She is just so talented, and she relaxes so well, distance won’t be an issue,” Gerard-Dubord said.

For his initial race mount on the filly, Chad Schofield recognised the small lineup could turn tactical and positioned to avoid any traps right away.

“My two dangers were drawn to my inside, and I knew they were not going to let me in easily. So, I pinged her out (of the barriers), got her across and I was able to just control the race,” Schofield said.

“That was a lot of fun. She’s an aeroplane, really.”

Her impressive result tees up a blockbuster encounter with leading filly Apocalyptic at the Surround Stakes. Punters can find value via the racing betting markets on the Eskimo Prince Stakes.

The post Tempted lays ominous autumn carnival marker first appeared on Just Horse Racing.