Minnesota Vikings Kevin O’Connell received a bump in leaguewide prestige Thursday, promoted to the NFL’s Competition Committee, along with Houston Texans skipper DeMeco Ryans. O’Connell enters Year No. 5 in 2026, and it’s time for his seat at the big boy table.

O’Connell’s new committee seat adds clout, but it also keeps him squarely in the spotlight entering a pivotal 2026 season.

Meanwhile, O’Connell enters a pivotal year in Minnesota, one that will determine his long-term job security.

O’Connell Joins NFL’s Competition Committee for 2026

Good news for O’Connell in a so-far weird offseason.

O’Connell Joins Competition Committee

Vikings fans didn’t know that O’Connell was in the running for the committee, so the news caught them off guard Thursday — in a good way.

NBC Sports‘ Josh Alper wrote, “The NFL has added two current head coaches to the league’s Competition Committee. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans are the new additions to the group. Former Bills head coach Sean McDermott is no longer on the 11-person committee.”

“Broncos head coach Sean Payton and Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel also joined the group this year. Former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and former Dolphins General Manager Chris Grier joined McDermott in leaving the group.”

The Vikings now have a voting voice among the key players who call the shots.

What Is the Competition Committee?

Unfamiliar with the committee? NFL.com has answers: “The Competition Committee’s actions are based, in part, on feedback from a variety of sources. At the end of each season, the 32 NFL clubs fill out a survey, answering questions about player protection, officiating, competitive balance and technology.”

“Leading up to the National Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, NFL Football Operations meets with coaches, general managers, players and NCAA representatives to gather their input about potential changes to the rules. There is also a review of data on injuries, instant replay and technology.”

The group basically determines what gets a vote from all NFL owners — and what gets tabled.

NFL.com added, “After the combine, the committee reconvenes to review video, draft rule proposals and positions, discuss proposals submitted by clubs and prepare its report of supporting statistics for the membership to discuss and vote on at the league’s annual meeting. At the annual meeting, the Competition Committee presents a report of its findings to the 32 owners, who vote on any proposed new rules or rule changes.”

“To be adopted, a new rule or a revision must have the support of 75 percent of the owners (24 yes votes out of 32 clubs). During the season, the committee meets occasionally by conference call or in person to review current issues in the game and to begin to discuss potential agenda items for the next year’s meeting.”

O’Connell and committee mates essentially set the agenda for change when applicable.

Committee Members

Believe it not, this is a prestigious development for O’Connell — not just a token honor or lifetime achievement. These are the group’s members:

• Rich McKay (Co-Chairman) — Atlanta Falcons
• Stephen Jones (Co-Chairman) — Dallas Cowboys
• Katie Blackburn — Cincinnati Bengals
• Todd Bowles —Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• John Lynch — San Francisco 49ers
• John Mara — New York Giants
• Sean McVay — Los Angeles Rams
• Kevin O’Connell — Minnesota Vikings
• Sean Payton — Denver Broncos
• DeMeco Ryans — Houston Texans
• Mike Vrabel — New England Patriots

That’s a who’s who of NFL power before the owners lay down the long arm of the law.

A Big 2026 Ahead for O’Connell

Three weeks ago, the Vikings shockingly fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, while keeping O’Connell employed and appearing to promote O’Connell as a de facto personnel GM. Accordingly, most believe the coach must deliver results in 2026 or risk hot-seat chatter.

O’Connell’s runway is getting shorter. He has led Minnesota to the playoffs twice in four seasons, a tangible accomplishment. However, a postseason victory remains elusive. The franchise hasn’t experienced one since Kyle Rudolph’s Superdome heroics against the New Orleans Saints six years ago, and the drought is becoming increasingly burdensome.

The mandate for 2026 is clear: solidify the quarterback position — either by fully embracing J.J. McCarthy or providing him with reliable support and competition — achieve at least nine wins, and, most importantly, secure a playoff win. Without that January breakthrough, O’Connell’s margin for error will rapidly shrink.

All that said, the Vikings now have a member of the Competition Committee in the house. O’Connell will now have a say in matters such as banning the Tush Push, clarifying the “Catch Rule,” and expanding instant replay. It will be O’Connell’s job, in part, to decide if the issues deserve a vote.

Minnesota extended O’Connell’s contract in January 2025. He won the league’s Coach of the Year award in 2024.

USA meanwhile have stars of their own, but don’t have the attacking gifts of the Canadians.

“The Tkachuk brothers [Brady and Matthew], and Jack Eichel, that attacking line has worked well together,” Bennett said.

“What they have not had is much scoring from captain Auston Matthews, he has not yet taken any of the games by the horns. They are OK, but not more than that.”

However, the Americans have the best defenceman at the Games in Quinn Hughes, who scored the crucial winner against Sweden.

“He might be the best three-on-three player in the world,” said Bennett. “He loves to keep possession, and is always looking to make an exciting play.”

It sets up a mouth-watering finale of an Olympic ice hockey competition which has benefitted hugely from the return of National Hockey League (NHL) players for the first time since 2014.

The attendance of players from the top North American league was in doubt for a time over concerns about the ice quality at the unfinished Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, but they have been a major boon for the Games.

“This is the highest level of hockey we have ever seen at an Olympics,” said Bennett. “The NHL players have made it a different world.

“At the last two Olympics, games have been good but have missed the quality in the final third, the big moments. Players didn’t have the skillset to break a game, so saw a lot of tight, dull games

“Some of what the players have been doing here has been mind-blowing. One of the goals scored for Canada, McDavid saucered this pass from the back door [behind the goal], it lands as McKinnon is shooting, on the half-volley. That’s when you recognise it.

“I have been getting phone calls from people in the hockey world, all they have been saying is, this is so good. There have been periods where Kent [Simpson, BBC co-commentator] and I have just been sat watching, smiling, laughing.”

Canada have won gold in three of the five Olympics when NHL players have featured and will fancy their chances in a game on Sunday which could be as fascinating in the stands as it is on the ice.

It is highly likely that Canadian prime minister Mark Carney will be in Milan for the game.

Not only is Canada as a country hockey-mad, but so is Carney – when working as governor of the Bank of England, he would play for a recreational team in Haringey, north London.

The big question is whether his American counterpart will also be in Italy.

Lloyd Kennewell required only a brief viewing of Eternal Warrior to identify his suitability as an early-maturing type for juvenile majors, and the colt has fulfilled expectations by advancing to the Blue Diamond Stakes.

The fledgling competitor eyes the first Group 1 for two-year-olds in the $2 million Caulfield feature this Saturday.

The 1200-metre contest features no horse with more substantial heritage in Victoria’s flagship juvenile race than Kennewell’s $80,000 Magic Millions Adelaide purchase in partnership with Blueblood Thoroughbreds.

Devout Hero, by No Nay Never, is Eternal Warrior’s dam, and her mother Perfect Persuasion is sibling to 2004 Blue Diamond star Alinghi.

Sired by Rosemont’s Extreme Warrior, from the first crop and a son of 2016 Blue Diamond winner Extreme Choice, the colt intrigued Kennewell greatly.

“Matty Becker and I do our work together and we thought he was an early two-year-old, hence the reason we were keen to dive in,” Kennewell said.

“We liked him a lot obviously. We thought if he wasn’t the best colt, he was close to it, in Adelaide.

“He’s obviously got a very good pedigree, we’ve had a bit of luck with Extreme Choice and I thought he looked like an Extreme Choice.

“So we were looking at him as a cheaper version of an Extreme Choice colt.”

On November 29 at Caulfield, Eternal Warrior delivered on promise with a $41 debut success in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m).

Focus moved to this Saturday after a creditable third in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) on February 7, positioning him ideally according to Kennewell.

Victory in the Prelude belonged to $8 Blue Diamond hope Closer To Free, from $5 runner-up Guest House. The colt is $13 in Diamond books.

“Normally my horses have had two trials going into a race first-up, but we planned deliberately to only have the one to be peaking for the Grand Final,” Kennewell said.

“His race in the Prelude showed exactly that. Damian (Lane) thought he was going to win when he straightened up and he just blew out the last 100.

“He had the fastest last 800, 600, 400 of the race but just peaked on his run late.

“We were really, really happy and his work on Monday morning was super. Damian came in and galloped him and was really happy with him.

“We were just wishing we got a lot better draw than what we got dished up.”

Drawing post 16 originally, Eternal Warrior moves to 13 barring entry of the three emergencies, for a full field of 16.

Kennewell banks on barrier experience from wide starts before – 13/13 debut, 8/8 Prelude – to navigate the challenge.

“He’s drawn wide every start, so he’s shown that he can do that and hopefully it will work out for us,” he said.

Saturday sees Damian Lane retain the partnership, pursuing a breakthrough Blue Diamond Stakes win post last year’s second on Tentyris behind Devil Night.

Secure the best betting sites options ahead of the Blue Diamond Stakes action.

The Vikings ship took on too much water last year (read: financial commitments). Due to pursuing such an aggressive approach in 2025, Minnesota’s front office is weighing the costs and benefits of each player on the roster.

As for potential cuts, C1 Ryan Kelly rises to the top of the pile. Other players could give back more cap space with a simple cut. But while that’s true, Mr. Kelly could be the easiest decision, as cruel as that sounds. The reasons are multiple.

The Vikings & The Pricey Large Lad at Center

At the end of May in 2026, Ryan Kelly will arrive at his 33rd birthday. That’s borderline ancient in the NFL.

Even worse is that Kelly is coming off a season where he missed ample time due to injury. Worse yet, the injuries came in the form of three concussions. Chronic wrist injuries, for instance, wouldn’t be nearly so concerning. Bad, yes, but not as compelling a reason to hang up the cleats. Concussions are a completely different type of injury, one that threatens Kelly’s future in a uniquely-scary manner.

Quite possibly, retirement is the best path forward.

If Kelly’s desire is to continue his NFL career, then that’s his decision. The decision will then shuffle over to the Vikings to see what the decision is rolling into 2026.

Cutting Kelly would mean recouping $8,347,647. Do remember, folks, that Minnesota is worse than $40 million in debt. At the risk of oversimplifying, consider what the math could look like using just the most simple numbers:

• Vikings Debt: $40,000,000
• Vikings Kelly Cut: $8,000,000
• Vikings Remaining Debt: $32,000,000

At roughly $32 million in cap debt, the Vikings would still have much to do. Other players appear likely to get shown the door — DT Javon Hargrave, RB Aaron Jones, TE T.J. Hockenson, and others. So, too, will Minnesota consider some extensions (RT Brian O’Neill, LB Blake Cashman, and so on) alongside the restructure candidates (EDGE Jonathan Greenard, WR Justin Jefferson, and so on).

Add up all of the various levers that can get pulled and Minnesota will arrive at having some money to spend.

Bringing things back around to Ryan Kelly, though, does point toward a certain outcome: a straightforward cut. Doing so could clear out roughly 20% of the current cap debt (using the rough math up above). For an older player with a concerning injury history, the Vikings appear to be facing an easy decision.

In 2025, Mr. Kelly offered up an excellent 82.2 grade on PFF. The veteran is still capable of playing strong football; injury alongside the broader cap crunch combine to make his roster spot shaky. Any quarterback is fortunate to have Kelly snapping the ball since he’s a rugged, physical center who thinks and communicates the game at a very high level.

Adding him to support J.J. McCarthy — an unproven young fella — made a lot of sense. Does that same need exist with McCarthy gaining at least some experience alongside the apparent desire to add an accomplished vet at QB?

The possibility does exist that Mr. Kelly will arrive at a pay cut so as to allow him continue playing in Minnesota. Quite often, though, the most obvious outcome — a cut — is the outcome that eventually arrives.

If Minnesota shifts away from Kelly, then the team still has Blake Brandel alongside Michael Jurgens. Neither are as excellent Kelly but they do help to stabilize the o-line’s floor. Brandel offers appeal as a veteran who knows Kevin O’Connell’s scheme well. Jurgens offers appeal as a natural center who is still developing.

If the desire is to raise the ceiling, then free agency is soon to arrive.

Soon enough, the Vikings need to start making some tough decisions. The budget needs to get back into shape before the beginning of the new league year. Keep an eye on Ryan Kelly, an older lineman who could be too pricey to keep.

March 9th is when NFL free agency gets rolling. The team’s finances will get sorted out prior to then.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe caused controversy around Manchester United when he suggested the United Kingdom had been colonised by immigrants in an interview this month

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has escaped an FA charge following his comments that the United Kingdom is being colonised by immigrants. The Manchester United co-owner has been reminded of his responsibilities as a senior figure in English football when giving interviews by the FA, but no investigation or punishment will take place.

Discussing immigration, Ratcliffe pointed to erroneous statistics. He said: “You can’t have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in. I mean, the UK has been colonised. It’s costing too much money.

“The UK has been colonised by immigrants, really, hasn’t it? I mean, the population of the UK was 58million in 2020, now it’s 70million. That’s 12million people.”

The 73-year-old billionaire issued a statement apologising if his choice of language had offended some people. He added that it was “important to raise the issue of controlled and well-managed immigration”.

In his press conference on Friday, interim United boss Michael Carrick was asked about the remarks. The former midfielder steered clear of commenting on Ratcliffe but praised the club’s stance.

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“Sir Jim made his statement and the club made a statement on the back of it. It is not my place to add to that. Enough has been said in that regard,” he said.

“What I can say is that I have been around this club many years and we always make a huge impact globally and we are really responsible for that. Throughout the years, as a player and member of staff and as a supporter, we are really proud of the environment and culture we’ve got at the club.

“Equality and diversity and respect for each other is something we look to carry through every day. I have travelled the world and know what this club means to an awful lot of people. I am fully aware of the responsibility and we try to carry that out every day. I am proud of what the club stands for and has done for so long.”

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“I think part of being at this club, we understand what it’s like globally and the responsibilities we have within this,” he added.

“I can only speak from my personal experiences of being here for a long time with various managers, with various staff … different backgrounds and it’s something we’re fully aware of and I am. And I’m proud of what the club stands for and has done for so long really, and I’m really aware of that.”

United released a statement after Ratcliffe’s comments but did not mention their owner. “Manchester United prides itself on being an inclusive and welcoming club,” the statement said.

“Our diverse group of players, staff and global community of supporters, reflect the history and heritage of Manchester; a city that anyone can call home.”

Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn are a match made in hell, in the exact way that makes them heaven for boxing promoters. For now, a match-up between the American and the Briton is in purgatory, but the barriers could come crumbling down on Saturday.

In Las Vegas, Garcia will challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title, to which Benn is the next mandatory challenger.

Never mind the fact that Garcia, 27, is receiving this title shot on the back of a loss, in which he was dropped and outpointed by underdog Rolly Romero. Never mind that he entered the Romero fight after a year-long drug ban. Never mind that Benn’s last two fights were middleweight bouts with Chris Eubank Jr, in which he went 1-1. Never mind that he went through his own drug-test saga beforehand. All roads lead to Garcia vs Benn.

Still, the terrain is often rocky in this sport.

Benn, 29, has long said his greatest desire is to become WBC welterweight champion, yet he has also barked at any American star who will listen, as well as a 47-year-old Manny Pacquiao. Just a few weeks ago, the Briton was face-to-face with new WBO champion Shakur Stevenson, having “messaged” the four-weight king over a possible showdown in the preceding weeks.

Yet the general thinking is that the unbeaten Stevenson, 28, would prove too slick for Benn, in a way that the inconsistent Garcia might not. Indeed, in Garcia, Benn might have found the ideal opponent and perfect rivalry to follow the blood feud with Eubank Jr.

open image in gallery

However, Garcia must first overcome Barrios, and “King Ryan”’s past struggles in and out of the ring mean that is no guarantee. One cannot overlook his loss to Romero in May, his stoppage by Gervonta Davis in 2023, nor past concerns over his mental health – due to, in his own words, his habit of “drinking every day” before his bout with Devin Haney.

In that contest in 2024, Garcia was electric. He had gone 3-3 with his fellow American during their amateur careers, but the feeling was that, at this level, the unbeaten Haney would prove too clinical and elusive for Garcia. But Garcia dropped the “Dream” three times en route to a points win. Of course, that victory was ruined by the revelation of a failed drug test, with the result overturned and Garcia banned for a year.

Naturally, that adverse test result had fans and pundits questioning the legitimacy of Garcia’s performance against Haney, but King Ryan may not need to match that level to see off Barrios; with respect, the 30-year-old is seen as one of the weaker champions in boxing right now, and he enters Vegas on the back of two straight draws – one of which came against an aged Pacquiao. So, Garcia is the favourite on Saturday, and the question is whether he can live up to that status, after he failed to against Romero.

If he can, boxing may have a scintillating new rivalry: one between two admittedly-flawed fighters.

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For Benn, Garcia represents a more-beatable opponent than Stevenson, and a more-marketable one than Barrios. In that way, a Garcia victory would be the perfect outcome for Benn this weekend.

open image in gallery

There are other options out there for Benn, such as a clash with Northern Ireland’s Lewis Crocker for the IBF belt. However, the risk-reward ratio of that fight might not tip in the right direction for the “Destroyer”.

In truth, the profile of Benn’s opponents from here on out feels more important than their status; that is to say: Benn should share the ring with big names, whether or not they carry title belts.

But again, in Garcia, he might have encountered someone who can bring both. And so Benn will watch from ringside at T-Mobile Arena, it seems.

“I don’t think he has a big presence in America, but I would be willing to go to the UK,” Garcia said of Benn in November. “I would definitely be willing to go to the UK to fight him. He seems like a fun match-up. He’s gonna come crazy and throw bombs all night and thinks he’s gonna overwhelm me, but he won’t.

open image in gallery

“But I would love to fight him. I love fighting Eddie Hearn’s fighters, I don’t know why, I just love to beat them up. He just makes you want to beat his fighters up. It’s just the way he talks, the way he moves, I can’t wait to look at his face and say: ‘I did it again.’

“That would bring so much joy to me, almost more than a championship title. I would be ecstatic just to see Eddie’s face, sad and confused. I beat Luke Campbell, Devin Haney – he was representing him, I beat him. I’m ready to beat up Conor now.”

In any case, Garcia must beat up Barrios. Then, fans will hope the road to Garcia vs Benn remains firm under the fighters’ feet. The press conferences would be engrossing, and the fight itself would be captivating. Yes, Garcia and Benn are flawed, but at this precise moment, they could make each other whole.

Editor’s note: Friday brought the shock news that Benn is leaving Hearn’s promotional company, Matchroom, to join rivals Zuffa Boxing. Given Zuffa’s desire to move away from boxing’s traditional belt system, it is conceivable that Benn will soon lose his status as WBC mandatory challenger.

India vs Pakistan (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

NEW DELHI: The rivalry between India and Pakistan has become more intense in recent times. India has been dominating Pakistan on the field, but the focus has now shifted to something else. Indian players have refused to shake hands with Pakistan players after matches, and this has created a big debate.The issue started during last year’s Asia Cup. India captain Suryakumar Yadav did not shake hands with Pakistan players. The decision was linked to showing respect for the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and support for the Indian Army after Operation Sindoor. Some former overseas players criticised India, but many former Indian players supported the move and said cricket should remain the main focus.

The topic came up again after India and Pakistan played in the T20 World Cup, where the captains again skipped the handshake. Former England players Michael Vaughan, Alastair Cook, Phil Tufnell, and David Lloyd discussed this on a cricket podcast.Phil Tufnell said Pakistan are not at the same level as India right now. He said, “Dare I say it, Pakistan against India, that’s a mismatch, isn’t it,” and added that India look far stronger.Michael Vaughan also shared his opinion and said Pakistan seem nervous when they play India. He said, “I mean it look to me that way. It seems to me every time Pakistan play India they look intimidated by India on a cricket field.” He also felt the handshake issue was sad and said, “That whole situation in sour isn’t it? You know, it is just sad. Not shaking hands on a cricket field.”Alastair Cook had a different view. He questioned whether the tension is real or just for the public. He asked, “But aren’t they talking behind closed doors? I read somewhere that everyone’s just chatting away.” He also said, “It like, it is only for show, isn’t it? On the actual field, they are not shaking hands, but then behind closed doors, they are all talking and are all fine.”