Drake Maye’s Super Bowl performance was not what he envisioned, throwing two interceptions and was sacked six times. Sunday’s game at Levi’s Stadium turned into one his worst outings.
Fox Sports’ Henry McKenna posted Maye’s comments on X on Monday. The quarterback said his wife was who he was looking forward to spending time with in the offseason. Fans reacted to it, especially after Tom Brady‘s statement about not backing the Patriots before reversing course.
Thanks for the submission!
Advertisement
“No wonder Tom Brady refused to root for him,” one fan tweeted.
•
Advertisement
@henrycmckenna No wonder Tom Brady refused to root for him
Looking to predict NFL playoff Scenarios? Try our NFL Playoff Predictor for real-time simulations and stay ahead of the game!
Advertisement
“Should focus on not turning it over 10 times in the playoffs or not having the worst performance in SB history,” a fan wrote.
Brady didn’t pick between New England and Seattle. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy ripped him on social media, while his former teammates called him out.
He changed his tune on Friday and said Patriots owner Robert Kraft had his back and wanted New England to win its seventh Super Bowl. However, Brady also said he’d give his MVP vote to Matthew Stafford instead of Maye if he could.
Mike Vrabel won’t let anyone blame just Drake Maye for Super Bowl disaster
NFL: Super Bowl LX-Seattle Seahawks at New England Patriots – Source: Imagn
Mike Vrabel spoke to reporters after the loss and shut down any attempt to make Drake Maye the scapegoat. The coach said it starts with the staff and goes through every position on the field.
Protection broke down and running backs couldn’t get anything going. Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson managed just 42 yards on 13 attempts, whlle wide receivers didn’t help out.
Vrabel stressed that he’s excited to get back to work with Maye. He told his team they’re 307 days into building something and that it’s fine to feel disappointed. Maye will enter his third season and the Patriots believe he has a lot more to prove after the Super Bowl heartbreak.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard celebrates with teammates Eric Wilson and Andrew van Ginkel during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Dec. 14, 2025. The trio gathers after a defensive stop as the Vikings defense rallies during the NFC matchup on the road. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images.
Last week, the who’s who of NFL reporting announced that Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard could be on the move via trade. Fast forward to Wednesday, and Greenard’s availability moved to the forefront after the Maxx Crosby trade between the Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens fell through, which prompted the Ravens to sign Trey Hendrickson in free agency, who plays Greenard’s position and represented the top EDGE on the free-agent market.
Greenard may be back in play as the trade market shifts again.
With Hendrickson unavailable and Crosby’s short-term health in doubt, EDGE-needy teams are evidently pivoting to Greenard’s trade optionality.
Advertisement
Fresh Trade Buzz Surrounds the Vikings Pass Rusher
Greenard may be on the move after all.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown secures a catch while Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard closes in during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich., Nov. 2, 2025. St. Brown fights through contact near the sideline as Greenard attempts to disrupt the play in the divisional matchup. Mandatory Credit: Junfu Han-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images.
Ravens Cancel the Crosby Trade
Crosby will not be a Raven.
A trio of reporters from The Athleticwrote Wednesday, “The deal to send star defensive end Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens is off, with the Las Vegas Raiders announcing in a stunning statement Tuesday evening that the Ravens ‘backed out of our trade agreement.’ The trade was scuttled after Crosby, who has been in Baltimore since earlier this week, failed his physical, league sources told The Athletic.”
Advertisement
“In a statement, the Raiders said they would have no further comment. The Ravens did not immediately comment. Crosby, who turns 29 in August, is recovering from surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee, which ended his 2025 season but was not expected to impact his availability for the 2026 season. Teams that were interested in trading for Crosby, including the Ravens, had conversations with his surgeon, Neal ElAttrache, and the Raiders’ medical staff before making trade offers.”
The Ravens were widely panned for backing out of the Crosby trade because the defender’s health was not mysterious. He’s recovering from an injury, and it’s common sense that he would not be 100% in March. Most have settled on the assumption that the Ravens got a case of buyer’s remorse and reneged on the trade while it was still legal.
Hendrickson to BAL
Then, to add fuel to the fire, the Ravens signed Hendrickson.
Advertisement
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson celebrates as the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare to punt during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., Jan. 4, 2025. Hendrickson reacts after a key defensive sequence as Cincinnati holds its lead late in a 19-17 win to close the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Sam Greene-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images.
Two days passed in free agency before Hendrickson signed, and based on his talent level and historical production, he should’ve been one of the first free agents off the board. Baltimore landed Hendrickson, a big fish, for $112 million over four years, instantly solving its EDGE problem after cancelling the Crosby trade.
Outside of older EDGEs like Joey Bosa and Leonard Floyd, there are no more premium players available at that position, rocketing Greenard’s allure to the heavens.
Renewed Interest in Greenard
With Crosby back in Las Vegas, at least temporarily, and Hendrickson in Baltimore, Greenard has fresh sizzle.
NFL writer Evan Sidery tweeted Wednesday, “With Trey Hendrickson now off the board, teams who were pursuing him now plan to pivot towards a trade for Jonathan Greenard. The Colts, Cowboys, Eagles, and Seahawks figure to be in the mix with the price being a 2026 Day 2 pick.”
Advertisement
The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis, who covers the Vikings, posted on the same day: “Definitely worth watching Vikings edge Jonathan Greenard with Trey Hendrickson off the board. Multiple NFC teams have been in the market for edge rushers. Vikings haven’t wanted to trade Greenard unless they get a premium return that meets their price tag.”
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert added, “Amid the Maxx Crosby-Trey Hendrickson news, a reminder that the Vikings have been open to trading their top pass rusher, Jonathan Greenard. Doesn’t necessarily have to happen by today’s 4 p.m. ET start of the new league year, or at all, but it’s a timeframe worth watching.”
A short list of teams eyeing Greenard might include:
Atlanta Falcons
Dallas Cowboys
Indianapolis Colts
New England Patriots
Philadelphia Eagles
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks
Washington Commanders
The Trade Price
So, what can Minnesota get for Greenard? Well, for starters, interim general manager Rob Brzezinski reportedly does not want to trade him, though it may be inevitable with Greenard’s thirst for a contract extension. Former Vikings OLB Danielle Hunter fetched a one-year extension last week worth over $40 million. It would not be strange one iota for Greenard to ask for $35 million annually, especially when Micah Parsons in Green Bay brings home $47 million per year.
Advertisement
If Minnesota cannot accommodate Greenard’s demands, a fair price for a trade is probably the equivalent of a 2nd-Round pick — a 3rd-Rounder if the Vikings decide they’re desperate.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby warms up on the field before kickoff against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., Oct. 20, 2024. Crosby goes through pregame drills as the Raiders prepare for the NFC-AFC matchup during the regular-season contest. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images.
Meanwhile, the Eagles are reportedly hesitant to spend big on DT Jalen Carter’s impending extension, which could lead to a deal between Minnesota and Philadelphia that swaps Greenard and draft picks for Carter.
Still, Minnesota likely won’t trade Greenard for anything less than a 2nd-Rounder. Why would it? Greenard is a Top 15 EDGE defender, and teams seeking playoff contention are usually in the business of keeping pass rushers, not offloading them.
If Greenard is traded, third-year OLB Dallas Turner would be promoted with the snap of two fingers, Andrew Van Ginkel would remain in place, and the Vikings would need a credible OLB3 from free agency, perhaps a player like A.J. Epenesa or the aforementioned Leonard Floyd.
Finally, the Vikings haven’t spent much in free agency after clearing a boatload of cap space. Perhaps they’ll just extend Greenard and call it good.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones delivers a pass from the pocket during the first half against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., Oct. 19, 2025. The wide stadium view captures Jones surveying the field as the Colts offense settles into rhythm beneath the venue’s sweeping roof. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images.
Last offseason, Daniel Jones had a choice: return to the Minnesota Vikings for a training camp battle with J.J. McCarthy or sign with the Indianapolis Colts, where he might more easily win a QB1 job. He made the right decision. Jones signed a meaty contract extension on Wednesday, locking him in as the Colts’ quarterback for the next two seasons at a price point of up to $50 million per year.
Indianapolis made its choice, and Minnesota’s quarterback picture may have shifted with it.
The Colts hinted in the last four months that they wanted Jones for the long haul, and they were not bluffing.
Advertisement
Daniel Jones’s Deal Could Clarify the Vikings’ Next Move
Cross the Colts off the quarterback carousel list.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daniel Jones runs onto the field before kickoff against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC Wild Card matchup at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., Jan. 13, 2025. Jones prepares for postseason action as Minnesota opens its playoff run against Los Angeles in the NFC’s opening round. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
Jones Secures $50 Million Per Year in IND
Jones, indeed, got his bag after betting on himself. It’s a done deal.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweeted Wednesday, the third day of free agency, “The Colts and QB Daniel Jones are finalizing a two-year, $88 million deal that can be worth up to $100 million with incentives, sources tell me and Ian Rapoport. Originally on the transition tag, Indiana Jones gets over $60 million guaranteed on a deal done by AthletesFirst.”
Advertisement
Bleacher Report‘sAndrew Peters added, “Per Spotrac, the Colts had $280.32 million counting toward the cap prior to the deal. That gave them $31.6 million in space to work with. Jones, who was released by the New York Giants during the 2024 campaign, signed with the Colts last offseason after spending the latter half of the previous season with the Minnesota Vikings.”
The Colts will now consider themselves contenders for at least the next two years.
The Updated QB Carousel
Another piece of the NFL offseason quarterback puzzle has snapped into place. Here’s a look at the landscape:
Advertisement
Browns: TBD Cardinals: Gardner Minshew Colts: Daniel Jones Dolphins: Malik Willis Falcons: Tua Tagovailoa Jets: Geno Smith Raiders: 99.9% Fernando Mendoza Steelers: TBD but Aaron Rodgers Expected Vikings: TBD but Kyler Murray Expected
This leaves quarterbacks like free-agent-to-be Kirk Cousins and perhaps Mac Jones in San Francisco looking for QB1 jobs in a now-skimpy market.
Jones’ 2025 Performance
Even prior to the Achilles tear in December, Jones’ performance was trending downward, a fact largely unnoticed nationally, though efficiency metrics clearly indicate a drop-off.
Advertisement
Daniel Jones’ NFL Ranking, per EPA+CPOE, in 2025:
Before Week 9: 4th After Week 9: 28th
The first half of the season was a different story altogether. Throughout September and October, Jones led Indianapolis to an 8–2 start, fueling MVP consideration.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones drops back to pass during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., Oct. 19, 2025. Jones scans the field while setting up a throw as the Colts offense begins its early drives in the AFC matchup. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images.
Before the injury, Jones was on pace for the following season-end stats:
4,055 Passing Yards
31 Total TDs
10 INTs
68.0% Completion
7th in EPA+CPOE Ranking
Fans even labeled him “Indiana Jones.” Then, in December, everything changed. Jones tore his Achilles, causing the Colts’ season to collapse, and Indianapolis struggled through the remaining weeks. In a desperate attempt to salvage the season, the front office even coaxed Philip Rivers out of retirement, but the move failed to revive the offense, and their playoff hopes vanished.
ESPN added context to Jones’s new contract Wednesday: “Jones, recovering from a torn Achilles, is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season and one source told Schefter he ‘absolutely’ expects him to be ready for training camp. The Colts had placed the rarely used transition tag on Jones before the March 3 deadline. That allowed the Colts to match any offer sheet he might have signed.”
Advertisement
“If he had played on the tender, he would have been paid $37.833 million this season. That decision allowed top wide receiver Alec Pierce to test free agency, but the Colts were able to re-sign him to a four-year, $116 million contract at the start of the free agent negotiating period. They then traded wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers, saving $24 million against the salary cap.”
Path Cleared for Kyler Murray to MIN?
How do the Vikings factor into this development, aside from one of their own hitting it big? Well, the Colts were a theoretical landing spot for Murray, who is on the verge of a roster release by the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona has visited the postseason just once in seven seasons with Murray at the helm, and a new coaching staff evidently wants a clean slate at quarterback.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray looks across the field during pregame warmups at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., Aug. 8, 2019. Murray surveys the stadium atmosphere before Arizona’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers as the rookie quarterback prepares for early NFL action. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.
Murray should be officially a free agent soon, and any minute now, based on the above quarterback carousel, his choices appear to be down to the Vikings and Steelers.
As a kid, Murray cheered for the Vikings, and he has never been shy about announcing it. With Rodgers probably heading back to Pittsburgh — his longtime head coach, Mike McCarthy, is now in charge — Murray to Minnesota feels inevitable, especially with the Colts no longer seeking a QB1 alternative.
Advertisement
Jones will turn 29 in May, and Indianapolis will hope his midseason decline in 2025, along with the busted Achilles, don’t matter.
In what will likely be the first of several instances of players challenging NIL rulings by the College Sports Commission (CSC), 18 Nebraska players are going to arbitration after NIL deals with a combined value in excess of $1 million were rejected, Yahoo Sports reports.
The NIL deals — made with Nebraska media rights partner Playfly — were rejected due to a practice called “warehousing,” in which an entity buys a player’s NIL rights for all future partnerships and endorsements. In order to comply with CSC guidance and get the green light from the NIL Go clearinghouse, deliverables like TV commercials and autograph signings must be listed in the contracts.
Husch-Blackwell will represent the players in the arbitration case, and the law firm has experience with cases related to college sports.
This will likely not be the only time that players reach arbitration with the CSC over rejected NIL deals. Per Yahoo, athletes at several universities are mulling the possibility of challenging an NIL Go ruling.
Advertisement
As reported by CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello, the CSC is already having trouble keeping up with the amount of NIL deals that have been submitted for review. In January and February, 3,704 NIL deals worth a total of $39.29 million were approved. Meanwhile, another 187 deals worth $14.36 million were rejected.
“I don’t think the system was designed with this amount of associated deals in mind,” CSC CEO Bryan Seeley told CBS Sports.
At the time, Marcello reported that 18 NIL deals had reached arbitration, and we now know that all those involved Nebraska players. They were all consolidated into one arbitration case because the deals were so similar.
“In general, in arbitration, deals are consolidated because the issues are essentially the same,” Seeley said. “And what that often looks like is they are different student-athletes, but it’s the same or identical deal, or similar or identical deal, and they’re all from the same school.”
Advertisement
Because of that volume, the turnaround time on reviews has increased. Seeley downplayed the idea that the staff shortages at the CSC are the main factor in the slow review process. Instead, he argued that the nature of the deals, as well as a lack of information from entities involved in the deals, were the biggest problems.
The CSC launched NIL Go last June, and since then, more than 21,000 deals totaling around $16.5 million have been submitted as schools try to find ways to spend above the revenue-sharing cap.
The PGA Tour’s best have made their way to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, for the 2026 Players Championship, the most significant event ahead of major championship competition. The Tour’s flagship event always seems to deliver drama thanks to the unique test of TPC Sawgrass, and The Players has produced a tremendous list of recent winners, including the top two players in the world currently.
Rory McIlroy enters as the reigning champion after winning in a playoff over J.J. Spaun, adding a second Players title to his résumé; however, his status for the week is up in the air due to lingering back spasms. Scottie Scheffler also has a pair of Players Championships, winning back-to-back at Sawgrass in 2023-24. Those two are trying to join Jack Nicklaus as the only three-time winners at The Players, but they’ll face stiff competition from a group of contenders that seems to be growing by the week.
This season has seen some resurgent veterans and emerging young stars rise to the top of the game, and the result is a field deep with talented players that seem capable of winning at the Tour’s biggest events.
Collin Morikawa is third on the odds sheet this week after winning at Pebble Beach and keeping his strong play going with top 10 finishes at the next two signature events. Chris Gotterup has cooled off a bit since his red-hot start, but he’s still the only two-time winner on the PGA Tour this season. Akshay Bhatia, like Morikawa, was a frequent loiterer near the top of the leaderboard in big events this year and finally cashed in with a win last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Other names to watch throughout the week include Xander Schauffele, Tommy Fleetwood, Min Woo Lee and Ludvig Åberg, who have each flashed at times from the end of 2025 into early 2026.
Advertisement
With so many players seemingly rounding into top form — amid questions lingering about Scheffler coming off a rough start at Bay Hill and McIlroy withdrawing last week with back spasms — the 2026 Players is setting up to be a fascinating tournament.
Here’s how you can watch all of the action this week at TPC Sawgrass as the PGA Tour’s best battle it out for the biggest purse in golf.
Costelow has remained with the Wales squad to recover from an ankle injury suffered against Scotland.
He is in camp ahead of the Principality Stadium fixture against Italy along with hooker Ryan Elias, flanker Josh Macleod, centres Hawkins and Eddie James and Ellis Mee, Blair Murray and Tom Rogers in the back three.
Scarlets are stretched, but have been boosted by the return of centre Johnny Williams, who missed the trip to Edinburgh with a calf injury.
“Almost two thirds of our team are away with Wales at the moment, but I am really happy with the side that we are able to select,” added Davies, who names his team at midday on Thursday.
Advertisement
“It’s a really competitive team with some exciting players in it, so I am not dismayed. We have a strong squad and these boys are capable of fronting up.”
Scarlets would climb above Dragons into 14th place with victory in Galway.
Connacht would leapfrog Ospreys into ninth and a bonus-point victory would move them level with Bulls in the last play-off spot.
Uncapped Billy Bohan was this week called into the Ireland squad to join fellow prop Finlay Bealham, back row forward Cian Prendergast and centre Bundee Aki.
NEW DELHI: The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru is set to host matches in the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 season, but there is a significant condition attached.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday announced the schedule for the first phase of IPL 2026, which will run from March 28 to April 12. The 19th edition of the tournament will begin with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Gautam Gambhir reflects on India’s World Cup win and backing Sanju Samson in the tournament
However, the matches scheduled at the iconic venue are subject to approval from a government-appointed expert committee.“As three states are scheduled to undergo State Assembly elections during this period, the full schedule of the tournament will be announced once the poll dates are announced,” BCCI said in a release.A total of 20 matches will be played across 10 venues in the first phase — Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, New Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad.BCCI also clarified that the matches in Bengaluru will depend on a final safety clearance from the authorities.“The matches scheduled in Bengaluru are subject to clearance from the Expert Committee constituted by the Government of Karnataka. The committee will conduct a meeting and inspection of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 13, 2026, during which a full-scale mock demonstration of match-day arrangements will be carried out to assess the stadium’s preparedness for hosting IPL matches,” BCCI said.During the first phase, the tournament will feature four double-headers, with afternoon games starting at 03:30 PM IST and evening matches at 07:30 PM IST.
IPL 2026: Schedule
Advertisement
MATCH
DATE
DAY
TIME
VENUE
RCB vs SRH
28-Mar-26
Sat
Evening
Bengaluru
MI vs KKR
29-Mar-26
Sun
Evening
Mumbai
RR vs CSK
30-Mar-26
Mon
Evening
Guwahati
PBKS vs GT
31-Mar-26
Tue
Evening
Mullanpur
LSG vs DC
1-Apr-26
Wed
Evening
Lucknow
KKR vs SRH
2-Apr-26
Thu
Evening
Kolkata
CSK vs PBKS
3-Apr-26
Fri
Evening
Chennai
DC vs MI
4-Apr-26
Sat
Afternoon
Delhi
GT vs RR
4-Apr-26
Sat
Evening
Ahmedabad
SRH vs LSG
5-Apr-26
Sun
Afternoon
Hyderabad
RCB vs CSK
5-Apr-26
Sun
Evening
Bengaluru
KKR vs PBKS
6-Apr-26
Mon
Evening
Kolkata
RR vs MI
7-Apr-26
Tue
Evening
Guwahati
DC vs GT
8-Apr-26
Wed
Evening
Delhi
KKR vs LSG
9-Apr-26
Thu
Evening
Kolkata
RR vs RCB
10-Apr-26
Fri
Evening
Guwahati
PBKS vs SRH
11-Apr-26
Sat
Afternoon
Mullanpur
CSK vs DC
11-Apr-26
Sat
Evening
Chennai
LSG vs GT
12-Apr-26
Sun
Afternoon
Lucknow
MI vs RCB
12-Apr-26
Sun
Evening
Mumbai
The first double-header of the season is scheduled for April 4, when Delhi Capitals face Mumbai Indians in the afternoon at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, followed by Gujarat Titans taking on Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.Rajasthan Royals will start their home campaign in Guwahati, where they will host Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. Punjab Kings, meanwhile, will play their early home matches at the PCA Stadium.As per the current plan, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play five home matches in Bengaluru and two in Raipur. Punjab Kings will play four home games in New Chandigarh and three in Dharamsala, while Rajasthan Royals will split their home fixtures between Guwahati and Jaipur.However, the final confirmation for the Bengaluru matches will depend on the outcome of the inspection and clearance by the Karnataka government’s expert committee.
RCB Schedule IPL 2026: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their first match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season on Saturday, March 28, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The Chinnaswamy hasn’t hosted a high-profile match since 11 people died in a nearby stampede during IPL’s title-winning celebrations in June 2025. As a result, RCB’s matches in Bengaluru are subject to a BCCI clearance, which will take place on March 13. Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar and co. enter IPL 2026 after guiding RCB to their first-ever title in the 2025 season. (IPL 2026 FULL SCHEDULE)
Here is Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)’s IPL 2026 schedule in full:
RCB vs SRH – 7:30 PM IST – March 28 – M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Advertisement
RCB vs CSK – 7:30 PM IST – April 5 – M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
RR vs RCB – 7:30 PM IST – April 10 – Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
MI vs RCB – 7:30 PM IST – April 12 – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Cal Quantrill committed to pitching for Canada before he signed a minor-league deal with the Texas Rangers on Feb. 1, and he reported to spring training determined to make a team.
That priority, however, doesn’t need to be mutually exclusive from participating in the World Baseball Classic, which is why the right-hander from Port Hope, Ont., didn’t waver and is set to start Wednesday’s win-and-advance, lose-and-go-home Pool A finale versus Cuba (Sportsnet, 3 p.m. ET).
Watch the World Baseball Classic on Sportsnet
The World Baseball Classic is back for its sixth edition, running from March 5-17 in Miami, Houston, San Juan and Tokyo. Catch all the action on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
“You only have so many opportunities in this sport to represent your country,” Quantrill said ahead of the outing. “I’ve played in the big-leagues for a long time now. They’re well aware of what I’m capable of. Any risk of coming here is outweighed by the joy of getting to wear that Team Canada on my chest. In the end, this is extremely competitive baseball, and in a lot of ways, it’s far more competitive than spring training. It’s not like they’re not able to watch and see. We can talk about how the outing went later on.
“I wasn’t going to miss this opportunity,” he added, “and I think the Rangers were understanding of that when they signed me. There was no problem.”
Advertisement
The Canadians lined Quantrill up for the Cuba contest after projecting earlier in the tournament that it would end up being the game they needed to win to advance. That’s exactly how it played out, as a 4-3 loss to Panama on Sunday removed any secondary pathways to the quarterfinals.
Both teams are 2-1, behind 3-1 Puerto Rico, which has already clinched.
Quantrill made two starts for the Cleveland Guardians in the 2022 American League Division Series versus the New York Yankees and he said pitching in the Classic “is a little like the playoffs.”
“You really can’t afford to take a game off,” he continued. “That being said, there are all these rules about how much you can pitch, so it’s kind of a blend. In terms of preparation, it doesn’t change much. You have a routine. It’s the same routine as it is for a playoff game, as it is for a spring training game, as it is for the WBC. I’ll go through my regular approach, and I think that’s the best you can do to be prepared for something like this.”
Advertisement
Quantrill planned to do some game-planning for Cuba prior to Tuesday’s 3-2 win over Puerto Rico and a little more Wednesday morning. He isn’t familiar with many of the Cuban hitters, “so I’ll be relying on some of the data we’re able to provide.”
The Canadians have Minnesota Twins scout Walt Burrows doing advance work while Christian Conforti, the Toronto Blue Jays’ advance information coordinator, is doing both pre-game work and handling video reviews.
Cuba is starting NPB star lefty Livan Moinelo, who is pitching in the round for a second time, benefitting from the four days of rest between outings. Blue Jays reliever Yariel Rodriguez, who’s already logged 4.1 innings in two outings, is expected to follow.
“We’re looking forward to it,” said outfielder Tyler O’Neill. “It’s going to be a dogfight out there. Looking forward to doing my part and playing as hard as we can collectively.”
Advertisement
Josh Naylor was hit on the back of the right elbow Tuesday and writhed in pain but remained in the game. Manager Ernie Whitt said the impact radiated through the ulnar nerve in the area and “you’d think it knocked your arm off, it’s very painful.”
Whitt checked if Naylor needed to come out, but “he said no and I said, OK,” and he is expected to be in the lineup again Wednesday.
Quantrill pitched for Canada in the last World Baseball Classic, when he couldn’t escape the first inning of an eventual 18-8 win over Britain, allowing three runs on two hits and four walks.
That experience has helped him be “more prepared for this type of tournament this early in the season.”
Advertisement
“At the time, I was coming off a ton of innings (186.1 innings with Cleveland) and probably wasn’t where I needed to be,” said Quantrill. “I’m ready to rock this time. I got started earlier. I know this is a big opportunity for Baseball Canada and want to put our best foot out there. Ready to go, and it will be a blast.”
During this iconic era, all four of champions competed at the highest level for a number of years, with Leonard, Hearns and Duran campaigning across multiple weight classes.
During his near seven-year reign, though, ‘Marvelous’ scored a unanimous decision victory over Duran and stopped Hearns in the third round of a firefight which, for many, stands alone as the greatest of all time.
As for the other Four Kings, who also campaigned at welter, super-welter and super-middleweight, it could be said that their careers are closer aligned with that of Crawford’s.
Regardless of the weight class, though, former heavyweight champion Tyson has told Ring Magazine that Crawford would have shone brightly in the Four Kings era.
Advertisement
“That would have been some beautiful fighting. There were people back then that weren’t as good as [Crawford] was, [but they] were champions.
“He would’ve done good [in that era].”
Despite never previously fighting at super-middleweight, Crawford was able to dethrone Canelo Alvarez and become a three-division undisputed champion last September.
His greatest success, however, arguably came at 147lbs, where the American halted seven opponents before engineering a destructive ninth-round finish over Errol Spence Jr in 2023.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Adrian Autry has been fired as head basketball coach at Syracuse after three largely unsuccessful seasons.
The school announced the decision Wednesday, one day after the Orange lost 86-69 to SMU in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. Syracuse lost its final six games and 12 of the last 15 under Autry to finish 15-17.
Autry was 49-48 over three seasons after replacing Jim Boeheim and failed to reach the NCAA Tournament.
“Adrian first came to Syracuse as a student-athlete in 1990, and this program has been a constant in his life ever since: as a player, assistant coach, associate head coach and ultimately as head coach,” Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack said in a news release. “His dedication to our student-athletes on and off the court never wavered throughout his time here, and we are grateful for his service and commitment to Orange Basketball.”
Advertisement
Autry said Tuesday after the loss that “ I didn’t get the results that we wanted.”
“It has been an honour to coach at my alma mater, ” Autry said in a statement Wednesday following the firing. “I want to thank Chancellor Syverud, John Wildhack, Jim Boeheim, my team and my staff for their support.”
The four-year Syracuse starter under Jim Boeheim and later his associate head coach took over for the retiring Hall of Famer in 2023, only to fail to gain any traction in carrying the program into its post-Boeheim era.
Last spring, Wildhack didn’t lay out specifically what Autry had to do to keep his job. He did, however, lay out clear expectations: “The goal of this program is we should be playing meaningful games in March.”
Advertisement
Wildhack already has announced he is retiring in July, and replacing Autry will be among his final responsibilities. A national search will begin immediately.
Autry failed to get the Orange to March Madness, the place where Boeheim routinely led them while building a nationally relevant program. Instead, Syracuse finished with consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1968-69.
Going back to NCAA Tournament expansion to 64 teams in 1985, Syracuse won the 2003 championship, reached the finals in 1987 and 1996, reached two other Final Fours in 2013 and 2016, and reached the second weekend 11 other times under Boeheim. Yet this year marks the fifth straight season without a bid, continuing a string of mediocrity across Boeheim’s final two years at the helm.
Autry was 24-34 in league regular-season play in his three seasons.
Advertisement
The Orange have lost 27 games by double-digit margins while managing just four Quadrant 1 wins that top a post-season résumé.
The nadir for Autry came on Feb. 16 with a 37-point loss to Duke, the Orange’s worst ACC loss since joining the conference 13 years ago and tied for the fifth-worst loss in program history. The game symbolized how far the program has drifted, with the Orange overwhelmed in talent and athleticism.
Autry seemingly had an improved roster heading into the season. He retained his two best players in J.J. Starling and Donnie Freeman, while the transfer portal yielded a six-player haul that including ACC assists leader Naithan George. Syracuse also landed a quality recruiting class highlighted by consensus top-40 prospects Sadiq White and Kiyan Anthony, son of 2003 title winner Carmelo Anthony.
But the team failed to find any consistency. A defensive intensity preached by Autry peaked in a win over Tennessee in early December, then vanished. The trademark 2-3 zone that once frustrated opponents had been replaced by a unit that too often looked disorganized and vulnerable. Stretches of that isolation offense, inconsistent guard play and limited interior toughness undermined late-game execution.
Advertisement
Starling and Freeman, who missed nine games because of injury, mostly struggled. The Orange rarely played to maximum “Level 5” effort and too often had prolonged “dips” — words that became part of the Autry vernacular. Near-upsets of Houston and Kansas were followed later by inexplicable losses to Hofstra and Boston College.
As the program changed hands over to Autry in October 2023, he had preached Syracuse was striving to return to the “Orange Standard.”
“I think we all know where we want to be as a team, what we want to be as a program,” Autry said at his introductory news conference.
At the end of the Autry era, Syracuse stood the furthest it’s been from that standard in a long while.
