Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy jogs onto the field at U.S. Bank Stadium ahead of kickoff, with the scene set on Sep. 14, 2025, as Minnesota prepared for its home matchup against Atlanta while pregame routines unfolded and anticipation built around the young quarterback’s role entering the contest. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
In perhaps days, possibly weeks, the Minnesota Vikings will reveal their main quarterback plan for 2026. Not long ago, we asked VikingsTerritory writers to predict the outcome of the offseason at quarterback; now, we’ve asked them to assume they are the general manager. You can read the predictions here.
Staff picks spotlight McCarthy up top, then rank the fallback QBs Minnesota should chase if the room shifts.
These are writers’ recommendations for the Vikings’ full QB room in 2026. The team could use free agency to add a veteran backup, make a trade, or hit the draft for another reset.
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QB Blueprint: Vikings Writers Make Their QB1 Picks for 2026
Our GM hats are on for the exercise.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy fires a deep pass during early scripted reps against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium, with the action unfolding on Nov. 16, 2025, as Minnesota assessed timing, pocket control, and decision-making within the opening series of the divisional matchup while testing protection and rhythm against a familiar NFC North opponent. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
Steven Hoikkala’s Recommendation
QB1: J.J. McCarthy QB2: Jimmy Garoppolo QB3: Zach Wilson
Honestly, this isn’t anyone’s ideal QB situation, but it is the QB room reality for 2026. There are not many feasible options for the Vikings this year worth investing in long-term, and they are not drafting high enough to get a premier rookie QB.
The club must find out what it has in J.J. McCarthy and if what we saw in weeks 14-16 of the 2025 season is a sign of what he could become, and continue to develop.
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Why Garoppolo? He is a system QB who ran the same offense the Vikings do. When he was in San Francisco and with the Niners, we saw that he was capable of doing it well.
McCarthy needs a veteran in the QB room to assist with his development, and Garoppolo isn’t going to cost us a 2nd-round pick like Davis Mills or Mac Jones might demand. Zach Wilson is a young upgrade over Max Brosmer, with upside, and isn’t the first castaway from the New York Jets the Vikings have seen develop after a change in coaching and scenery.
Janik Eckardt’s Recommendation
The inconsistent QB play, combined with injuries in the QB room, prevented the Vikings from ever entering the playoff race. This offseason, a better backup plan is needed.
Still, McCarthy should continue to have the chance to claim the starting spot, as an improved McCarthy is Minnesota’s best shot at making any noise in January over the next few years. However, the backup can’t just be unsolidified like last year. Kirk Cousins is familiar with the staff, the system, and the receivers, and he could provide solid play in case of continued struggles or injury.
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Then, the Vikings should draft a quarterback. They will enter April with three Day 2 picks, and one of them should be used to acquire Trinidad Chambliss out of Ole Miss. Chambliss displayed composure under pressure in the playoffs. He is a sweet athlete with a strong arm who could develop behind the scenes and become an intriguing option in the future.
Sean Borman’s Recommendation
QB1: J.J. McCarthy QB2: Kirk Cousins QB3: Drew Allar
If I were GM, chances are J.J. McCarthy would have backed up Aaron Rodgers last year. I still think that is the move if you want to chase a Super Bowl with the current roster, but realistically, Rodgers won’t be available.
That’s where a reunion with Cousins makes sense for a number of reasons, especially if McCarthy begins the season as a starter with Cousins as his backup. Add Allar in the draft as insurance/future trade chip.
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Tony Schultz’s Recommendation
QB1: J.J. McCarthy QB2: Kirk Cousins QB3: Max Brosmer
For me, you have to stick to your guns. While I understand we might not have all the information on whether Kwesi Adofo-Mensah forced the drafting of J.J. McCarthy or if it’s who O’Connell wanted at this stage, they can’t waiver. This is what fans wanted, and now you have to live through it. You have to keep developing him.
Yes, they still need to bring in a veteran, and Cousins should be the guy with veteran presence to teach and push McCarthy, and a fallback if he stumbles. I feel he knows his role now at his age and his proper asking price. Malik Willis would be another good addition as young competition, but he might not necessarily be an upgrade.
The third spot can be Brosmer at this point, as it should be a developmental player as the final piece. If they can get another vet there, it’s fine with Brosmer headed to the practice squad. It’s time to push through and see it to the end, no matter where that might be.
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Henrique Gucciardi’s Recommendation
QB1: J.J. McCarthy QB2: Malik Willis QB3: Max Brosmer
KOC said he wanted a “competitive situation”, so someone better than Sam Howell will be coming in the offseason. If a big trade isn’t happening, Willis is the best option and will compete with McCarthy for the QB1 job. And I still like Brosmer as a developmental backup QB.
Ali Siddiqui’s Recommendation
QB1: J.J. McCarthy QB2: Malik Willis QB3: Max Brosmer
It’s hard to see the Vikings giving up on McCarthy already. He could very likely start again, but he will be given more competition. If McCarthy struggles next season or can’t stay healthy, the Vikings will likely not start him in 2027. Willis has shown he can play from the start.
Recommendation is J.J. McCarthy at QB1/2, Justin Fields at QB1/2, and Carson Wentz at QB3 (with Max Brosmer on the PS at QB4). Doing so is a nice blend of youth and experience. In the correct environment, Fields could cook. So can McCarthy if he needs to compete for the top spot and stays healthy. That’s the recommendation. Trade for Fields and sign Wentz. Go from there.
Josh Frey’s Recommendation
QB1: J.J. McCarthy QB2: Jimmy Garoppolo QB3: Drew Allar
If one thing is evident after 2025, the Vikings need to shore things up at the backup QB spot. Jimmy Garoppolo just spent a year with Sean McVay, Kevin O’Connell’s old stomping grounds, and he has had plenty of success as an NFL quarterback.
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Then, I would have the Vikings draft a QB3 with upside on Day 3 to develop into an eventual backup. Drew Allar struggled in 2025, but he is 6’4″ and 240 pounds, has great arm strength, and can read the field. He’s certainly not a starter at the NFL level right now, but it would be interesting to see what he can become after a couple of years of development.
Adam New’s Recommendation
QB1: J.J. McCarthy QB2: Mac Jones QB3: Carson Wentz
J.J. McCarthy gets the chance to keep his job with Mac Jones breathing down his neck. Prising Jones away from San Francisco won’t be easy, but a way needs to be found. Carson Wentz to round out the QB room.
Cole Smith’s Recommendation
QB1: Mac Jones QB2: J.J. McCarthy QB3: Max Brosmer
The Vikings are going to offer us a rather unspectacular transaction at quarterback. Mac Jones is the trade acquisition and subsequent QB1, followed by J.J. McCarthy at QB2, and Max Brosmer at QB3.
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Wes Johnson’s Recommendation
QB1: Kyler Murray QB2: Trinidad Chambliss QB3: Tyrod Taylor
The QB room gets completely revamped. If the rumblings from current Vikings in San Francisco for the Super Bowl are any indication, it sounds like J.J. McCarthy’s time in Minnesota might be done. A swap of QBs between ARI and MIN would make some sense. O’Connell has had an affinity for mobile QBs since the Anthony Richardson draft; he finally gets that here, adding a mobile rookie and vet to boot.
Dustin Baker’s Recommendation
QB1: Kyler Murray QB2: J.J. McCarthy QB3: Drew Allar
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray celebrates with fans after reaching the end zone at State Farm Stadium, with the moment occurring on Nov. 12, 2023, during the first half against Atlanta as Murray energized the crowd following a scoring play that showcased his mobility and playmaking ability. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports.
If the Vikings can grab Murray for a 3rd-Rounder or so, he’d feel free because Minnesota has a compensatory pick on the way for Sam Darnold’s free agent departure. Murray has similar quarterback efficiency to Justin Herbert, but people just don’t care, as he plays for a less-than-stellar organization, the Cardinals.
Let’s be clear: if I were personally the general manager, I would probably ride it out with McCarthy as QB1. He represents the best chance at the Vikings’ quarterback of the future, especially at age 23. But Kevin O’Connell has to win now, so the Murray recommendation is partnered with that reality. For a head coach — who might be the general manager this offseason — he probably can’t afford McCarthy to play poorly, with a pivot to a veteran like Cousins or Garoppolo. O’Connell needs to win a playoff game for full job security.
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And then, because I’m greedy, I’d spend a late-round pick on Allar, who was projected as a 1st- or 2nd-Rounder one year ago at this time.
A Davis Cup tie between Columbia and Morocco recently witnessed some shocking scenes, as Colombian player Nicolas Mejia pulled out a controversial ‘shut-up’ celebration. The Moroccan audience was unimpressed by Mejia’s gestures and threw bottles on the court in retaliation.
On Sunday, February 8, Mejia took to court at the Union Sportive Marocaine Tennis Club in Casablanca against home player Reda Bennani. The match got off to an impressive start for the Colombian as he clinched an easy win in the opening set. While Bennani rallied in the second set, in the end it was Mejia who took the win 6-1, 4-6, 6-2. After his victory, the 25-year-old celebrated by shushing the crowd but the audience was quick to return fire, throwing bottles at the Columbian team.
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Watch a video of the moment below:
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The Davis Cup tie between Columbia and Morocco began on a strong note for the latter, with Rena Bennani beating Adria Soriano Barrera. However, things went downhill for Morocco from there, with Columbia clinching the next three matches to win the tie.
Nicolas Mejia defends himself after causing Davis Cup controversy between Colombia and Morocco
Mejia at the 2023 Davis Cup (Image Source: Getty)
Nicolas Mejia’s celebration at the Davis Cup caused a fair amount of controversy, but the Columbian tennis star has defended himself against allegations of disrespect. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the World No.177 stated that the Moroccan crowd had threatened him and his family while maintaining ‘zero fair play’, writing,
“You don’t know what happened. All the time people threaten me and my family. Moroccan team on my face and trying to make people scream at me more every point. Zero fair play. Better get your facts before talking what you don’t know.”
In a separate post, Mejia agreed that his celebration hadn’t been the best, but maintained that his gestures were solely in response to insults he had been receiving, explaining,
“My celebration probably wasn’t the best, but I’d been putting up with insults against me and my family the whole match from the crowd, and insults from the opposing team and captain. I let it out, and that’s it. But I didn’t insult anyone.”
Nicolas Mejia is one of Colombia’s leading tennis players at the moment. Outside of the Davis Cup, the 25-year-old, who turned pro in 2019, makes regular appearances in ATP Challenger events and has achieved a career-high ranking of World No.168 earlier this year.
City went into that game wanting to reply to Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday afternoon. But they had champions Liverpool and Anfield standing in their way.
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After a pretty uneventful first half, the game burst into life upon the restart. City found themselves a goal down after Dominik Szoboszlai’s strike in the 74th minute.
But they turned it all around in the final six minutes plus stoppage-time with Bernardo Silva finding the net, and Erling Haaland making no mistake from the spot. There was, however, time for more drama.
City thought that they had made it 3-1 with a late goal, only for VAR to rule out that goal. It was determined that Haaland had fouled Szoboszlai as the ball was making its way into the net.
The Liverpool man was, however, shown a straight red for a pull on Haaland when he was through on goal.
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The win for City moves them to within six points of Arsenal. It means that the next few weeks could be crucial in the title race. Here’s a look at what awaits for the current top-three;
Arsenal (1st place, 56 points)
vs Brentford (A) – Thursday, February 12 (8pm)
vs Wigan (H) – Sunday, February 15 (4.30pm) – FA Cup
The verdict: The standout fixture here is the North London Derby against Tottenham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It’s followed by another difficult clash against a resurgent Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium.
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Man City (2nd place, 50 points)
vs Fulham (A) – Wednesday, February 11 (7.30pm)
vs Salford City (H) – Saturday, February 14 (3pm) – FA Cup
vs Newcastle (H) – Saturday, February 21 (8pm)
vs Leeds (A) – Saturday, February 28 (5.30pm)
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vs Nottingham Forest (H) – Wednesday, March 4 (7.30pm)
The verdict: On paper, at least, City probably have the easiest of runs, with games against teams in the bottom half of the table.
vs Newcastle (H) – Saturday, February 14 (5.45pm) – FA Cup
vs Leeds (H) – Saturday, February 21 (7.30pm)
vs Wolves (A) – Friday, February 27 (8pm)
vs Chelsea (H) – Wednesday, March 4 (7.30pm)
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The verdict: Villa’s home form could be key over the next few weeks, with four of the five coming at Villa Park. They will have to make the most of that if they’re to close the gap.
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Super Bowl Sunday is upon us and the proverbial “big game” has arrived! The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots will kick off Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California on Sunday, February 8 at 6:30 p.m. ET. The Seahawks are a 4.5-point favorite against the Patriots with a total installed at 45.5. The Seahawks moneyline odds are -225, while the Patriots are +188.
The Super Bowl brings plenty of fun times with a sizable portion of the American public (and many around the world) watching the game. Whether you’re a football fan or not, there’s a good chance you’ll be watching the game either at home or at a friend’s Super Bowl party. There will be great food and commercials, but also, plenty of prop bets.
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This is the first game in four years not to feature the Kansas City Chiefs, and Seattle is coming into this with high expectations. We’ll be focused on if they finish the job or if the Patriots can spring the upset, but there will be plenty more to enjoy even if you aren’t a fan of either team. There is no shortage of bets to place on just about every possible outcome you can imagine at Levi’s Stadium. Advanced bettors may be the ones focused on the details, but plenty of folks just want to bet on the coin flip or the length of the National Anthem. There is something for everybody on Super Bowl Sunday.
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FanDuel Sportsbook has put together a list of 12 prop bets with an either/or answer on its printable prop bet tracker. The tiebreaker is the final margin of victory for the winning team. You can view the printable prop sheet below, and below that I will be updating the results as they come in before, during, and after the game.
You can use this printable prop bet tracker as part of a contest at your Super Bowl party or just among you and your friends.
If you’ve found this article, odds are you probably know what a prop bet is (pun entirely intended there). But maybe you just stumbled across this here at sbnation.com and have no idea what I’m talking about. If that’s the case, you probably do know what it is, but the term itself is what’s confusing you. A prop bet is when you bet a specific event happening within the auspices of a larger event. There is some greater nuance to it, but we’ll stick with that for now.
You can bet on whether the Seahawks or Patriots will win or lose on Sunday, but you can bet on so many more things besides that. You can bet on Drake Maye total passing yards, or if Sam Darnold will throw an interception (or even a specific number of interceptions), or if Kenneth Walker III will rush for more or less than a certain amount of yards.
We have the full printable prop bet scorecard above, and below we’ll be tracking results into the evening. Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor!
Results
National Anthem (119.5 seconds): Over/Under Coin toss: Heads/Tails More turnovers: Seahawks/Patriots First team to score: Seahawks/Patriots Team leading at halftime: Seahawks/Patriots Bad Bunny total songs (11.5): Over/Under Will Cardi B wear a Stefon Diggs jersey: Yes/No Team to start 2nd half with the ball: Seahawks/Patriots Will both teams score in the 3rd quarter: Yes/No Total points scored be odd or even: Odd/Even Will winning coach have Gatorade or water poured on him: Gatorade/Water Will QB win SB MVP: Yes/No Final margin of victory: 16
As the Super Bowl entered the fourth quarter, things got a little bit more intense on the Levi’s Stadium field.
Stefon Diggs of the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks defensive back Josh Jobe grabbed each other’s facemasks early in the fourth quarter and had to be separated, but not before a punch was thrown.
The incident came shortly after the Seattle Seahawks made it a 19-0 game.
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe leaves the field at the end of the first half against the Los Angeles Rams in the 2026 NFC Championship Game at Lumen Field.(Kevin Ng/Imagn Images)
Jobe pushed Diggs to the turf out of bounds, and Diggs got in Jobe’s face to return some pleasantries.
Diggs then grabbed Jobe’s facemask before Jobe returned with an open hand to Diggs’ head area. Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins then had to take Diggs away from the situation.
Jobe then threw a left fist at Diggs.
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Refs did not catch Jobe’s punch, so he stayed in the game.
Treveyon Henderson of the New England Patriots catches a pass against Josh Jobe of the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, California. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Perhaps the brouhaha lit a fire under the Pats, because Mack Hollins scored a touchdown shortly after to make it a 19-7 game.
For a long while, the game looked to be perhaps the first in Super Bowl history without a touchdown, but two were scored on back-to-back drives in a short time after slow offense through three quarters.
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New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (38) is tackled by Seattle Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) in the first half in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium.(Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
Agrarian Girl’s grit has been praised by Adrian Bott as her defining trait, earning her a potential entry into the Golden Slipper via a debut triumph in the Lonhro Plate at Randwick.
Jumping at $31 despite accounting for Hidrix, the Canonbury Stakes winner from last weekend in a trial, the filly set the tempo early before threatening to succumb to Spicy Miss ($3.70), who filled the minor placing.
Displaying resolve, she fought back emphatically to hit the line a half-length in front, leaving Savage Look ($61) 1-3/4 lengths adrift in third.
Bott revealed the stable held no doubts about her ability, viewing her trial efforts as part of an ongoing education process.
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“Maybe she has looked a little bit under pressure in her trials, but she has still been learning and developing, and she responded in those and that’s exactly what she did today,” Bott said.
“She has been a very talented filly all the way through. We did feel we were throwing her a little bit in the deep end, we did have her nominated for Canberra yesterday as well.
In fairness, off her trials and the way she looked, she just looked too magnificent to pass up racing here for a bit of black type on her home track.”
The result qualifies Agrarian Girl for a pathway to the Golden Slipper (1200m), with Bott to decide on the next steps.
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“I think we have to. Whether that’s through a Silver Slipper or we trial into a race like the Reisling (Stakes), she has certainly got to be in contention with that tenacity she showed today,” he said.
“I’m sure there is some really nice improvement to come.”
Jockey Winona Costin notched an early double on Agrarian Girl after landing the opener aboard Zenmaster for Craig Carmody, appreciating the stakes chance from Bott and Gai Waterhouse.
“I’ve always been able to get a fair few two-year-old winners for them so it’s good to get one in town for them,” Costin said.
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Stablemate Lady Moscato, the $3.60 market leader, ran fourth after setting the pace wide.
Resuming from a debut second at the Gold Coast last month, Bott anticipates further progress.
“She was honest. She just got a little bit keen outside the lead,” he said.
“Maybe the time between races for her, she’s still got plenty of time to keep improving.”
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Agrarian Girl’s Golden Slipper quote has contracted from $101 to $34. Bettors should review racing betting markets ahead of her anticipated campaign.
A busy and exciting round of matches took place in the Nigeria Premier Football League on Sunday, with several home teams recording important wins, while some visitors earned hard-fought draws.
Ikorodu City began the day in fine form with a 2-0 victory over Tornadoes. Joseph Arumala was the hero, scoring from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute before adding a second goal late in the game to seal the win.
Rangers and Abia Warriors played out a tight contest that ended goalless, while El Kanemi Warriors and Warri Wolves also shared points in a scoreless draw.
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Kun Khalifat continued their strong home record with a 2-0 win against 3SC. James Ekebuike opened the scoring in the 24th minute, and Blessed Iyamu added another shortly after the break to make the points safe.
Kano Pillars also made home advantage count, defeating Remo Stars 1-0. Luis Dadong scored the only goal of the match in the 57th minute.
Plateau United claimed a late 1-0 win over Kwara United, with Sadiq Yusuf scoring the decisive goal in the 88th minute.
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In Lafia, Nasarawa United and Bayelsa United played to a 1-1 draw. Victor John gave the hosts an early lead in the seventh minute, but Energy Otunuya equalised before halftime.
The most dramatic match of the day was in Bauchi, where Wikki Tourists and Katsina United played out a thrilling 3-3 draw. The game was disrupted by fan protests and was briefly stopped due to poor visibility. Katsina United also had Uche Collins sent off after receiving a second yellow card. The match is expected to resume from the 78th minute on Monday morning.
Sunday’s results showed how competitive the NPFL remains, with teams still battling hard for points as the season continues.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland scored a late penalty as his team came from behind to beat Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield.
19:48, 08 Feb 2026Updated 20:05, 08 Feb 2026
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Manchester City striker Erling Haaland told Liverpool goalscorer Dominik Szoboszlai that he didn’t want to talk to him moments before scoring the winner at Anfield. The Norwegian centre-forward had a quiet afternoon for the most part on Merseyside but with the scores level he was given the chance to win the game.
In the first minute of second half stoppage time, Matheus Nunes was brought down by Alisson to gift City a chance to win the game. Before the penalty could be taken, Nunes was receiving treatment and this gave Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister an opportunity to try and put the forward off.
Reflecting on that moment, the forward told Sky Sports: “He [Szoboszlai] started speaking with me, also Mac Allister, but I don’t remember [what he said] I was just focusing. I told him [Szoboszlai]: ‘This is the first time I don’t want to speak with you, so move away,’ but in the end I was nervous and then I am just happy that I scored.”
Haaland and Szoboszlai would then be at the centre of VAR controversy. With Alisson at the other end of the pitch as Liverpool pushed for an equaliser, City won the ball back and Rayan Cherki looked to have scored from his own half.
Both Haaland and Szoboszlai were chasing the ball as it trickled towards the goal. VAR intervened and ruled out the goal and the makeshift full-back was sent off for fouling Haaland.
Amidst that confusion, City managed to see out the game but Haaland admitted he felt sympathy for Szoboszlai, who he played alongside at RB Salzburg. “Of course the referee has to follow the rules but this will give him three games and in the end I feel bad for him because he gets three games [ban],” Haaland said.
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The Carabao Cup Final will see Arsenal v Manchester City at London’s Wembley Stadium this March.
“Just give the goal, don’t give a red card. Simple as that.”
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Moments before that disallowed goal, Gianluigi Donnarumma produced a world class save to deny Mac Allister’s long range effort and Haaland reserved praise for the Italian. He concluded: “You see in the second half they managed to play good football and we managed to keep it away.
“Look at Gigi, look at the last save he made. It was incredible, the one with Mac Allister shooting. This is, for me, out of this world and it shows why he is the best in the world.”
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Aug 24, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni speak after the game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings’ offseason is in full motion, evidenced by the termination of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah nine days ago. Things are changing. The club will embark on free agency in one month and the NFL draft in April. Expect three roster areas to get love and garner all the attention.
Minnesota’s offseason hinges on stabilizing the secondary and clarifying the QB room, with free agency and the draft both in play.
There is a litany of depth roster teams, as many teams encounter in February, but these are the biggies.
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Three Vikings Roster Areas Drawing Special Attention in 2026
It’s a three-horse race for Minnesota’s paramount roster need.
Arizona Cardinals defensive backs Jalen Thompson and Budda Baker go through pregame warmups in Glendale, with the scene set on Sept. 19, 2021, as Arizona prepared to face Minnesota while the duo loosened up, communicated alignments, and set coverage expectations ahead of the interconference matchup at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK.
1. Safety
Who’s Under Contract in 2026:
Josh Metellus
Theo Jackson
Jay Ward
Kahlef Hailassie
The 2025 campaign might have been the end of the road for Harrison Smith, and if so, the Vikings will need an immediate replacement, mainly because Lewis Cine didn’t work out four years ago.
In theory, Brian Flores might be able to get by with Metellus, Jackson, and Ward. That just doesn’t feel likely, though. From free agency or the draft, Minnesota needs a Smith replacement if he walks away.
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It’s also worth mentioning that Smith could return one more time with Flores back in the saddle as defensive coordinator, allowing Minnesota to push the safety timeline in 2027.
SKOR North‘s Judd Zulgad noted on Smith this week, “There remains no word on Smith’s plans, and that leaves the door ajar for the recently turned 38-year-old to continue playing. What could influence him? Many veterans will tell you that at the end of the season — and the few weeks that follow — that they give thought to walking away.
“This is a brutal sport, and the nearly constant in-season grind makes retirement seem attractive. Those same veterans will acknowledge that as they get into the offseason their minds drift toward what they love about the game. The camaraderie that comes from being in the locker room, the thrill of competing on game day, the ability to play a kids’ game into their 30s.”
Who the Vikings Could Target:
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Dane Belton (NYG)
Reed Blankenship (PHI)
Nick Cross (IND)
Andre Cisco (NYJ)
Alohi Gilman (BAL)
Jalen Thompson (ARI)
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Rookie, Toledo)
Dillon Thieneman (Rookie, Oregon)
The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis recommended Thompson this week: “If Harrison Smith retires, safety will be one of the team’s primary needs for 2026. Thompson is similar to Mays. He’s only 27 and has played for the Arizona Cardinals since 2019. He has the smarts to man the controls for Flores’ defense, and his athleticism would help the Vikings stick with receivers on the back end.”
“There are plenty of enticing free-agent safeties. The Los Angeles Rams’ Kamren Curl feels like a perfect player for Flores’ system, but Minnesota might be priced out of a rangy ball hawk like him.”
2. Cornerback
Who’s Under Contract in 2026:
Byron Murphy Jr.
Isaiah Rodgers
Dwight McGlothern
Zemaiah Vaughn
Vikings fans have yearned for a productive young cornerback from the draft since the days of Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander — guys drafted a decade ago. In fact, various Vikings general managers have swung and missed on virtually all cornerbacks in the draft, to the tune of eight and hopefully none counting.
The purple team limped into 2025 with an extremely skimpy CB room, got away with it, and will probably take measures to get deeper at the roster spot in 2026. Remarkably, Murphy Jr. and Rodgers didn’t miss a single game in 2025.
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New York Giants cornerback Cor’Dale Flott secures a fourth-quarter interception at MetLife Stadium, with the play occurring on Oct. 9, 2025, as Flott undercut the route and took away a throw intended for Philadelphia wide receiver Jahan Dotson during a tense late-game sequence as momentum swung sharply in the final minutes. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images.
This one is for all the marbles. Minnesota will likely enter 2026 with McCarthy somewhere on the roster, but he’s no longer guaranteed a starter’s job “just because.”
McCarthy has played in 30% of Vikings games since joining the team in 2024. That isn’t enough. He’s officially injury-prone. And in his first season as a starter, he played about five good games, missed seven due to injury, and played poorly in the other five contests.
Chicago Bears defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. brings down Minnesota quarterback J.J. McCarthy at Soldier Field, with the contact happening on Sep. 8, 2025, as Chicago’s interior pressure collapsed the pocket and ended the play during first-half action amid early drives, crowd noise, and shifting protection calls on a critical snap. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images.
Whether it’s a competition this summer or just an insurance policy, Kevin O’Connell will add a quarterback or two from this list:
Chris Gotterup is your 2026 WM Phoenix Open champion — and he earned it in unforgettable fashion.
Standing on the 13th tee, Gotterup’s chances of victory looked all but gone. After bogeying the par-3 12th, his 11-under total left him five shots off the lead. A solid top-10 finish (and a healthy paycheck) seemed likely. Taking home hardware did not.
That assumption didn’t last long.
Over the final six holes, Gotterup caught fire, carding five birdies to surge into the clubhouse lead at 16 under. The run included a clutch wedge shot from the gallery on the 18th hole that finished inside five feet, putting the finishing touches on his final-round 64.
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“I knew I’d need to make birdie on 18,” Gotterup said. “But you never know.”
Even then, his fate wasn’t fully in his hands. Hideki Matsuyama, the 54-hole leader, still sat one stroke clear, leaving Gotterup to wait on the driving range and hope for a mistake.
That blunder came on the final hole.
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Needing only a par to claim his third victory at TPC Scottsdale, Matsuyama hooked his tee shot on 18 into the church pew bunkers left of the fairway. His approach clipped the bunker’s lip and squirted into the intermediate rough more than 40 yards short of the green. When Matsuyama failed to get up and down, the two headed back to the 18th tee for a playoff.
The playoff hole unfolded eerily similar to regulation. Gotterup once again blasted his drive into wedge range, while Matsuyama again missed left, this time finding the water. Moments later, Gotterup poured his birdie putt into the center of the cup to seal the win.
“I’m just having such a good time playing right now,” Gotterup said, choking back tears. “I know everyone at home is watching, and it’s just so awesome.”
With the victory, Gotterup earns $1.7 million, moves to the top of the FedEx Cup standings and becomes the first player to win multiple events during the 2026 season, following his victory at The Sony just three weeks ago.
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“There are just so many people who believe in me,” he said. “It’s so much fun.”
Green Day rocked Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, ahead of Super Bowl LX as the NFL honors Super Bowl MVPs of the past.
The punk rock band played “Holiday” and “American Idiot” – two of their most political songs – for fans who were trickling in before kickoff. However, the band refrained from taking jabs at President Donald Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during their performance.
Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day performs in Super Bowl LX between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 8, 2026(Carlos Barria/Reuters via Imagn Images)
NFL and Green Day fans who tuned into the performance were hoping that the group would have more criticism for Trump and his administration with millions watching around the world.
One X user wrote that it was “b—h move” to avoid any politics.
“Green Day skipping the entire middle of ‘American Idiot’ with the ‘anti maga’ lyrics when they had the chance to sing it in front of millions during the current political state of our country is such a bitch move sorry,” the X user wrote.
Another X user shared similar sentiments.
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“Green Day could’ve blown that s— up more than just by doing two political songs and cutting out the sauce from them,” they wrote on X.
Green Day performs before the start of the game between New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 8, 2026.(Darren Yamashita/Imagn Images)
One user wrote that Green Day failed to do anything “meaningful.”
“Green Day turning out to be performative losers was a pretty big disappointment,” the person wrote. “They talk a whole bunch of talk but when given the opportunity to play at the biggest event in America they don’t f—ing say ANYTHING meaningful. What a complete joke of a band”
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Some BlueSky users were just as annoyed with the band.
“‘American Idiot’ still shreds but Green Day skipped the ‘sieg heil to the president’ part of ‘Holiday;’ Roger Goodell must’ve told Billie Joe there’s a sniper trained on him from the rafters,” one person wrote on the platform.
Former NFL punter Chris Kluwe added, “Green Day ruled, though I was hoping they were going to play the second verse of ‘American Idiot.’”
The band played at a pregame party Friday night at Pier 29 in San Francisco, where frontman Billie Joe Armstrong made a strong statement against ICE agents.
“To all the ICE agents out there, wherever you are, quit your s—-y-a-s job. Quit that s—-y job you have,” Armstrong said during the show.
Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day looks on from the field before Super Bowl LX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, California.(Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
“Because when this is over — and it will be over at some point in time — Kristi Noem, Stephen Miller, JD Vance, Donald Trump, they’re gonna drop you like a bad f—–g habit. Come on this side of the line.”
Armstrong also said the performance “goes out to Minneapolis” amid the protests and shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. He also changed lyrics of “Holiday” from “the representative from California has the floor” to “the representative from Epstein Island has the floor.”
Armstrong has been critical of the president in the past. He has likened Trump to Hitler, and the band frequently changes the line “I’m not part of a redneck agenda” from its 2004 hit “American Idiot” to “I’m not part of the MAGA agenda” in more recent live performances.
Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
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