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Semi Ajayi Set to Return for Super Eagles and Hull City Boost

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The Super Eagles of Nigeria are gearing up for a four-nation tournament during the March international break, and they, alongside EFL Championship side Hull City, have received a major lift in preparations with the return of defender Semi Ajayi.

Ajayi featured prominently for Nigeria at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, playing six matches before sustaining a hamstring injury in the third-place game against Egypt. The 32-year-old has been sidelined since January 17, but he is now set to rejoin Hull City and potentially the Super Eagles squad this week.

Hull City, currently fifth in the EFL Championship and three points shy of second-placed Middlesbrough, are chasing a first top-flight promotion in nine years. They face fourth-placed Ipswich Town tomorrow, and Ajayi’s return comes at a crucial stage. Hull’s assistant coach described his comeback as a significant boost for the team.

  • Alex Iwobi and Emile Smith RoweAlex Iwobi and Emile Smith Rowe

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“We’re fine, we’ve got a couple of bumps and niggles from the weekend,” Dean Holden said. “Everyone’s come through unscathed, and we’ll welcome Semi back into the squad, which is a big boost for us. He’s been out for a decent amount of time since that AFCON game. He hasn’t had a lot of training, but trained again this morning, looks fine, and he’ll come back in, so that’s a huge positive for us.”

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles, under Eric Chelle, are set to face Iran, Jordan, and Costa Rica in the upcoming tournament. Concerns over recent missile strikes in Iran have raised questions about the competition going ahead, but Ajayi’s return would provide much-needed experience for younger players should he be included in the squad.

For Hull City, having a player of Ajayi’s Premier League experience is crucial to guide a relatively young squad through the remaining 12 games of the Championship season. His last appearance for the Tigers came in early December, meaning tomorrow’s clash against Ipswich will mark the end of a three-month absence.

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Ajayi’s comeback is a timely boost for both club and country, offering leadership, stability, and experience at a key point in the season.

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A 10-minute vigorous workout creates a hostile environment for cancer cells

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By Kath Hudson    03 Mar 2026

Ten minutes of intense activity can help safeguard against cancer / Shutterstock–Branislav Nenin

Ten minutes of hard exercise releases molecules into the bloodstream that can shut down cancer growth signals and switch on DNA repair, according to research from Newcastle University, UK.

Exercise raises the levels of several small molecules in the blood, many of which are known to reduce inflammation, support blood vessel health and improve metabolism. 

The study involved 30 volunteers, male and female, aged 50 to 78, all overweight or obese, but otherwise healthy. They completed a 10-minute intense cycling test, after which researchers collected blood samples and analysed these for 249 proteins.

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Thirteen of these proteins – which help to repair the DNA of damaged cells – increased after exercise.

Exercise boosted the activity of genes that support mitochondrial energy metabolism, enabling cells to use oxygen more efficiently. At the same time, genes linked to rapid cell growth were switched off, which could reduce the aggressiveness of cancer cells and exercise-conditioned blood promoted DNA repair, activating a key repair gene called PNKP. 

Senior lecturer in clinical exercise physiology at Newcastle University, Dr Sam Orange, who led the study, said: “What’s remarkable is that exercise doesn’t just benefit healthy tissues, it sends powerful signals through the bloodstream that can directly influence thousands of genes in cancer cells.

“These results suggest that exercise doesn’t just benefit healthy tissues, it may also create a more hostile environment for cancer cells. Even a single workout can make a difference. One bout of exercise, lasting just 10 minutes, sends powerful signals to the body. It’s a reminder that every step, every session, counts when it comes to doing your best to protect your health.”

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Researchers plan to test whether repeated exercise sessions produce lasting changes and explore how these effects interact with standard cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Exercise serum promotes DNA damage repair and remodels gene expression in colon cancer cells was published in International Journal of Cancer.

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McLaughlin: NCAA Must Optimize Transfer Portal Timing

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NCAA_football_icon_logo.svg

The Spring Transfer Portal window is a thing of the past, and there is a rule change being discussed to make that permanent.

Player movement after Spring Practice should be obsolete.

On today’s episode of Locked On College Football, Spencer McLaughlin breaks down some of the most impactful QB transfers that will play for new teams this year.

Indiana Hoosiers logoIndiana’s Josh Hoover has to be on top of any list. Targeting rule changes are being proposed to try to lessen the penalties for players who are flagged for it.

Spencer lays out how he would issue targeting penalties in college football.

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00:00 Spring Transfers Hurt College Football
03:33 NCAA Antitrust Exemption Debate
08:04 Optimizing Transfer Portal Timing
12:41 Indiana’s Incredible Football Turnaround
20:00 LSU’s Future Hinges on Leavitt
26:15 Debating Targeting Ejection Rule
27:38 “End Targeting Ejections Now” 

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Blue Jackets, following OT escape, eye smoother effort vs. Predators

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NHL: Columbus Blue Jackets at New York RangersMar 2, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Kirill Marchenko (86) plays the puck against the New York Rangers during the third period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

After nearly experiencing an epic collapse, the Columbus Blue Jackets will try for their second win in as many days when they host the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.

The Blue Jackets won seven in a row and 11 of 12 before losing 4-2 at Boston on Thursday and falling 4-3 in overtime against the visiting New York Islanders on Saturday.

Columbus led 4-0 through two periods against the host New York Rangers Monday before squandering the lead. Kirill Marchenko’s overtime goal gave the Blue Jackets a 5-4 victory, rescuing them from an embarrassing defeat.

The Blue Jackets, who moved within three points of the Bruins for the Eastern Conference’s final wild-card spot, missed an opportunity to pick up a regulation victory. They have just 20 on the season, fifth fewest in the conference.

Wins in regulation are the first tiebreaker for the Stanley Cup playoffs. Boston has 25.

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Columbus coach Rick Bowness said his team made it much harder than it needed be due to some “self-inflicted” mistakes, such as defensemen pinching up ice at the wrong times or a lack of desperation in chasing down pucks.

“We’ll address that and take the two points and get ready for tomorrow,” he said postgame.

Soft third periods have been an issue for Columbus all season. According to Champs or Chumps, the Blue Jackets have lost 16 games in which they held a lead. That’s tied for fourth most. Nine times, they led in the third and still managed to lose. Only the Pittsburgh Penguins have endured more late collapses, 10.

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The issue could come up again Tuesday as the Blue Jackets host a Predators squad that ranks second with 18 comeback victories. Nashville is also one of five teams with eight or more rallies from third-period deficits. Vegas leads the NHL with nine.

Unfortunately for the Predators, they allowed the Red Wings to come back from a 2-1 deficit midway through their Monday afternoon game, and Detroit registered a 4-2 victory in Nashville.

Two of Detroit’s first three goals came off rushes, including a short-handed tally by Albert Johansson that put the Red Wings up for good with less than four minutes left in the second.

Predators defenseman Roman Josi said afterward that the Blue Jackets play a lot like the Red Wings.

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“Those are some things we can correct,” said Nashville’s captain, who notched his 30th assist of the season in the loss. “I thought in the zone, we played well defensively, but when you play these fast teams that are good off the rush, you got to make sure you come back and don’t give up too many odd-man rushes.”

Nashville, too, is on the outside of the playoff picture. The Predators, 1-2-2 in their past five games, are four points behind both the Utah Mammoth and the Edmonton Oilers, who hold the two Western Conference wild-card spots.

Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski, a key member of the gold-medal-winning U.S. Olympic team, missed the Monday game due to an illness. He owns a nine-game point streak (two goals, 11 assists) and leads the team with 45 assists and 65 points.

Steven Stamkos, who leads Nashville with 30 goals, did not score on Monday, but he has five in his past six games.

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–Field Level Media

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Clippers vs. Warriors prediction, odds, line, time: 2026 NBA picks for Monday, March 2

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Teams battling for playoff positioning meet when the Los Angeles Clippers meet the Golden State Warriors in a key NBA Pacific Division matchup on Monday night. Los Angeles is coming off a 137-117 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, while Golden State dropped a 129-101 decision to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday. The Clippers (28-31), who are 18-18 against conference opponents, are 13-18 on the road this season. The Warriors (31-29), who are 21-18 against Western Conference foes, are 19-12 on their home court. Darius Garland is set to make his Clippers debut after being acquired in January from the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Warriors will be without Stephen Curry (knee), Will Richard (ankle) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness).

Tipoff from Chase Center in San Francisco is set for 10 p.m. ET. The Warriors lead the all-time series 139-103, but the teams have split a pair of games so far this season. The Clippers are a 1.5-point favorite in the latest Clippers vs. Warriors odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 2165.5. Before making any Clippers vs. Warriors picks, check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

New users can target the DraftKings promo code, which offers $200 in bonus bets if your first $5+ bet wins:

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past eight-plus seasons. The model entered Week 19 on a sizzling 38-18 roll on top-rated NBA spread picks dating back to last season. Anyone following its NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.

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Now, the model has simulated Clippers vs. Warriors 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted NBA picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA odds and NBA betting lines for Warriors vs. Clippers:

Clippers vs. Warriors spread:    

Los Angeles -1.5 at DraftKings    

Clippers vs. Warriors over/under:    

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215.5 points

Clippers vs. Warriors money line:

Los Angeles -121, Golden State +102

Clippers vs. Warriors picks:    

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See picks at SportsLine

Clippers vs. Warriors streaming:

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New users can also target the latest Underdog promo code CBSSPORTS2, good for $75 in fantasy bonus entries when you play $5 in select states.

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Top Clippers vs. Warriors predictions

After 10,000 simulations of Clippers vs. Warriors, SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total (215.5). The Over has hit in four of the last five Los Angeles games, and in six of the past seven Golden State games. The Clippers are 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 games. The Warriors, meanwhile, are 3-7 ATS in their last 10.

The SportsLine model is projecting the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard to score 24.7 points on average and be one of five Los Angeles players to score 10.4 or more points. The Warriors’ De’Anthony Melton, meanwhile, is projected to have 18.8 points as seven Golden State players score 10.4 points or more. The teams are projected to combine for 228 points as the Over hits nearly 70% of the time.

How to make Warriors vs. Clippers picks

The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time. You can head to SportsLine to see the model’s NBA picks

So who wins Warriors vs. Clippers, and which side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Clippers vs. Warriors spread to back, all from the model that has returned well over $10,000 on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.

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‘I am back home’: PV Sindhu misses All England, returns to Bengaluru | Other Sports News

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Two-time Olympic medal-winning Indian badminton star P V Sindhu, who was stranded in Dubai due to closure of airspace in the Gulf region, has returned to the country after pulling out of the All England Championships in Birmingham.


Sindhu posted on X to announce that she is back in the city.


“Back home in Bangalore and safe. The last few days have been intense and uncertain, but I’m truly grateful to be back to my house,” she posted.


“A heartfelt thank you to the incredible ground teams, Dubai authorities, airport staff, immigration, and every single person who stepped up and took such good care of us during a very difficult time. The empathy and professionalism meant more than words can say.

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“For now, it’s time to rest, reset, and figure out the next steps,” she added.


The former world champion was on her way to Birmingham via Dubai, when she was stranded after the flight operations were suspended in the Gulf region following the US and Israeli bombing of Iran.


Iran subsequently retaliated, hitting Dubai as well.

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“Moments like these remind you how fragile normal life really is,” she had posted on February 28 while revealing some details of her ordeal, which included an explosion near her place of stay.


She had described the experience as “extremely tense and scary moment” for her and her team, including Indonesian coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama.

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Waller ignoring weather for now in lead-up to 2026 Verry Elleegant Stakes

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Inclement weather might spice up proceedings in the Verry Elleegant Stakes, however trainer Chris Waller intends to disregard forecasts until race day.

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts a spectrum of rain amounts this week, from just 4mm to nearly 60mm.

Star mare and dominant favourite Autumn Glow has proven versatile on different surfaces, including heavy 10 going in August’s Toy Show Quality (1100m), but her effectiveness there in a Group 1 is yet to be tested.

Waller is keeping track conditions out of his mind presently.

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“I’ll worry about it Saturday morning,” Waller said.

“If you worry about it before then, you start bringing things in that you have no control over and you can lose sight of other things. Yes, it’s a factor. But as long as it’s safe, she will be running.

“They’ve got the tracks in Sydney pretty good at the moment . . . There will be room for a bit of rain.”

Unbeaten in nine races, Autumn Glow has emerged as a major force, convincingly beating fellow stable runners Aeliana and Lindermann in the Apollo Stakes (1400m) on her latest outing after moving to weight-for-age.

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Those two will line up against her once more in the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) over Randwick’s track on Saturday, potentially improving with the step up in trip.

“They’re a bit more comfortable at the distance,” Waller said.

“But it’s hard to quantify, Autumn Glow might be better too.”

Waller boasts a strong record with seven wins from the last 10 runnings, four achieved by Winx from 2016-2019, and public confidence is high in Autumn Glow continuing the streak at $1.30 in early betting.

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Discover premier betting sites with the keenest racing odds for the Verry Elleegant Stakes.

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Paul Scholes names ‘perfect’ next Man United manager as Michael Carrick questioned

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Paul Scholes has suggested there is a perfect manager for Manchester United, while questioning whether interim boss Michael Carrick has the experience to lead the club in the long term

Paul Scholes has proposed that Manchester United consider appointing Carlo Ancelotti as their next manager this summer. Although a permanent appointment is anticipated at the season’s end, interim head coach Michael Carrick has made a strong impression since succeeding Ruben Amorim in January and could be considered for the role on a long-term basis.

Former Reds midfielder Carrick now boasts the joint-best record of any Premier League manager over their initial seven matches, with six victories and one draw. United’s 2-1 comeback against Crystal Palace solidified their position in the top five, propelling them past Aston Villa into third place.

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Nonetheless, Scholes is of the opinion that Ancelotti is the perfect fit for the club. Speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football Podcast, he stated: “The perfect one out there – I say perfect – Ancelotti is still out there. I know he is coach of Brazil.

“He is the perfect one for Manchester United where you think he will make players feel a million dollars. And he has the experience of winning stuff.

“But the question is, is he too old now? That’s the only thing. Is there anyone else of that ilk, with more experience? They need presence as a leader.”

Ancelotti managed Real Madrid for four years before leaving the club last year, and whilst he will guide Brazil in this summer’s World Cup, he has been absent from domestic football since his departure.

Scholes, meanwhile, outlined why he thinks Carrick may lack the necessary experience to guide the Reds forward.

“The question is, has Michael got the experience?” Scholes continued. “I know it’s a big question, I know he has managed in the Championship, but this is different.

“Can we see Michael winning the Premier League? I don’t know yet, and I think the biggest thing is, what type of manager will they look for? A tactician or a man manager who looks after people? Ole Gunnar [Solskjaer] was that.”

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“But all the people who are man managers, they always have a brilliant coach next to them, which Michael has got [Steve Holland].

“The club have to decide, do they want a master tactician, which has failed. Ole Gunnar had the man management skills, but did he have the experience to go on and win a trophy? The same questions will be asked of Michael.”

United have ten fixtures remaining this season to secure their top-four position as they strive to return to European football.

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Their most recent Champions League campaign was in the 2023/24 season, when they finished bottom of their group and were eliminated early. The subsequent season saw them reach the Europa League final, where they lost 1-0 to Tottenham in Bilbao.

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WCC Tourney: Zags, Gaels, Broncos or . . . Beavers?

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  By Nick Bartlett, SuperWest Sports


The final edition of the Bulldogs-Gaels-led WCC Tournament could end up being predictable—as usual—though there could be some surprises in store as well.

WCC logoThe top three in the league have separated themselves, but other teams are hoping to write their legacies this March.

For now, Santa Clara is the storyline.

If I had to pick one surprise team, it would be Oregon State. The other mid-tier teams have cooled off considerably.

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Whatever happens, I’m here for it.

Here are the top three things to watch at this year’s WCC Tournament.


1. Can Santa Clara make it into the Big Dance?

Santa Clara has had a phenomenal year under Herb Sendek. As of Monday morning, the Broncos are projected as one of the “last four teams in” the NCAA Tournament.

SCU features a dangerous offense that can beat any team on a given night. They rank 30th in the nation, averaging 83.8 points per game.

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Their resume should prove strong enough to get them an at-large bid, unless they stumble in the WCC Tournament.

The Broncos are around the Top 40 mark for predictive metrics and resume, which indicates that they should be in the field.

Santa Clara’s top three scorers are Christian Hammond, Elijah Mahi, and Allen Graves. Hammond is their leading scorer, averaging 15.9 points per game.

Brenton Knapper
Broncos guard Brenton Knapper | Santa Clara Athletics

Bukky Oboye is their best defensive player with 20 blocks and 16 steals this year.

SCU will likely open the WCC Tourney against Pacific or Seattle U, but Loyola Marymount and San Diego are still in the mix.

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If the Broncos lose their first game of the tournament, they’ll probably be eliminated from the dance.

They should be alright, due to their varied scoring options, but this is that month.

If Santa Clara wants to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament, it would likely need to win at least two games.

With a win in the third round, they would face SMC in the semis on Monday, which would prove a huge opportunity for a QUAD 1 win.

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With Gonzaga departing for the Pac-12, the Broncos have an opportunity to make a statement to the conference going forward.


2. Do Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s Still Run the WCC?

As cool as it would be to see Santa Clara make a run to the title, this has been a two-dawg league, and will probably remain so until the end.

With Saint Mary’s victory over Gonzaga last week, they earned a share of the WCC Regular Season title for the fourth year in a row.

And even though this minimally affected the Zags’ seeding or tournament line, they’ll remember the loss.

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They were also without Jalen Warley, who is one of the more underrated players nationally.

Warley doesn’t have flashy numbers. He’s only averaging 7.1 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per game. But he’s a defensive terror leading the team with 1.6 steals per contest.

Graham Ike
Bulldogs forward Graham Ike | Tyler Tjomsland/The Spokesman-Review

He and Tyon Grant-Foster can shut down most perimeter players in the country.

Warley does all the little things that get overlooked, but they were felt in Moraga. Without him, the Gaels ate the Zags in the second half.

And this is with Paulius Murauskas playing poorly.

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Murauskas is one of the best players in the WCC, but if he performs the way he did against the Bulldogs, they will get annihilated by Gonzaga in a rematch.

He looked so bad against the Zags that I thought I could play basketball again.

But he has a chance to get it right.


3. Can Oregon State Play the Spoiler? (No One Else Can)

Oregon State’s the only team that could make a run, based on my logic. The Beavers aren’t really that good, but they’re in a unique spot.

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Pacific would’ve been my choice two weeks ago, but they’ve lost their last four games, so that’s that.

At the No. 5 seed, San Francisco has gotten blown out in four of their last six contests.

And the Dons almost stole one from Gonzaga earlier in the year, so they’re not surprising anyone.

Seattle U’s coming in a bit hot, so they could prove another team to watch. But their three-game winning streak has come against the worst teams in the conference.

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And the Cougs? They don’t know how to play basketball anymore.

Wayne Tinkle | Naji Saker/The Bald Faced Truth

The reason the Beavers can make a run is that Wayne Tinkle, who OSU will not retain for next season, can have some fun.

He can run any scheme, he can play anyone, and they’re the No. 4 seed, so they’d only have to pull two upsets.

Tinkle could’ve walked away, but he chose to stick by his team like a man.

And what if they win the tournament? Would Oregon State suddenly rehire him?

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The Beavs will probably be outclassed by Gonzaga, but, hey—it’s March.

It’s time to get it.

Nick Bartlett
Latest posts by Nick Bartlett (see all)

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Canada names Josh Naylor captain for World Baseball Classic

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Team Canada has its captain for the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

Seattle Mariners slugger Josh Naylor will wear the ‘C’ for the Canadians, the team announced Monday.

Naylor, of Mississauga, Ont., starred for Seattle in 2025 after a mid-season trade from the Arizona Diamondbacks and received the Tip O’Neill Award as Canada’s top baseball player.

He crushed nine home runs and stole 19 bases in just 54 regular-season games with the club before leading it to the ALCS, where it fell to the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games.

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For the regular season, Naylor led all Canadian major leaguers in batting average (.295), RBIs (92) and stolen bases (30). He finished second in hits (160), runs (81), home runs (20), doubles (29) and walks (48).  

Naylor re-signed with Seattle on a $92.5 million, five-year contract after the season.

This will be Naylor’s second time representing Canada at the World Baseball Classic. He appeared in two games at the 2017 tournament, then was unable to play in 2023 due to an ankle injury.

Canada plays its first game of the tournament on Saturday against Colombia in Puerto Rico.

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Vikings Playmaker Could Accept a Paycut

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With a beefy $21.3 million cap number in 2026, Minnesota Vikings playmaker T.J. Hockenson is on tap to be the NFL’s most expensive tight end. Now, according to recent reporting, Hockenson might accept a pay reduction to remain with the club,

If no deal emerges, Minnesota can pivot to a restructure, trade, or release to clear cap space.

NFL free agency kicks off in one week, and if Hockenson doesn’t rework his deal, well, the Vikings would need a new TE1.

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A Hockenson Pay Cut May Make Sense For Both Sides

It’s roster change season in the NFL.

T.J. Hockenson warms up on the field before a Minnesota Vikings home game at U.S. Bank Stadium. T.J. Hockenson pay cut.
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) loosens up before kickoff against the Indianapolis Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Nov. 3, 2024. Hockenson moved through pregame drills as fans filled the lower bowl, preparing for regular-season action in front of the home crowd. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

Report: Hockenson Willing to Take Less Money

The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis weighed in on Minnesota’s free-agency lay of the land on Monday, mentioning Hockenson’s would-be salary reduction.

“The Vikings are prepared to make difficult decisions to alleviate their salary-cap concerns. Don’t expect a big-name free-agent splurge like last year. The Vikings are $40-plus million over the cap, and while that isn’t dire, it is significant. Pay cuts: Minnesota wants to lower the cap number for tight end T.J. Hockenson. He is amenable to lowering it, but the outcome is largely a matter of how low the Vikings want to go,” he wrote.

Until the observation, many believed Hockenson would be traded, released, or asked to restructure the deal — the latter of which would not involve a pay decrease. But a paycut is apparently in play.

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The Adam Thielen Situation in 2023

The Hockenson situation in 2026 is reminiscent of Adam Thielen in 2023. The Vikings had handed Thielen a generous contract extension in 2019 — that he deserved — but by the 2023 offseason, his cap hit proved to be too ginormous for Minnesota’s budget. The team approached Thielen about a paycut, he declined, and later signed with the Carolina Panthers, where he stuck around for two seasons before landing back with the Vikings in the summer of 2025 via trade.

Three offseasons later, Hockenson carries a similar outlook. If he doesn’t oblige the paycut, the Vikings can either restructure his deal (backload the big cap hit to the future with void years), explore a trade, or cut him loose — like Thielen in 2023.

It all depends on how low Hockenson will go to remain Minnesota’s TE1.

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Our Kyle Joudry noted last week, “Rather, look toward a restructure for T.J. Hockenson. Pursuing the maximum savings would mean surpassing $9.4 million in added room for 2026. The cost of doing business is less cap space in the future, but that’s a problem for a different day. If Hockenson can be very good in 2026, then finding a way to make the cap charges work is the way forward.”

“If, in theory, a competent passer gets added (or, better yet, McCarthy turns into one), then the Vikings may be able to unleash a talent like T.J. Hockenson. Indeed, that’s the central question Minnesota is seeking to answer: can Mr. Hockenson be excellent in the future? That’s what’s interesting and pivotal.”

Hockenson’s 2025 Campaign

Hockenson’s 2025 box score tells one story, but the game film revealed another.

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While he finished with 51 receptions for 438 yards and three touchdowns, the quarterback situation was unstable. J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer all took snaps, preventing the passing game from finding consistency and limiting the production of everyone except Jalen Nailor.

T.J. Hockenson loses his helmet after a first-down play during a Vikings road game against Jacksonville.
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) has his helmet knocked off after gaining a first down against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, Nov. 10, 2024. The play unfolded during second-quarter action as Hockenson battled through contact to move the chains. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images.

Furthermore, Hockenson’s role shifted significantly. Minnesota’s offensive line struggled throughout the year due to injuries and inconsistent play. As a result, Kevin O’Connell adjusted the game plan, acknowledging midseason that Hockenson was blocking more frequently. He essentially became an additional lineman, providing extra protection and reinforcing the edges.

Even with Christian Darrisaw’s return from an ACL injury in September, the line never fully solidified, and Hockenson continued to fill gaps. Thus, his receiving numbers declined, leading some fans to believe his performance was deteriorating.

However, Hockenson is turning 29 this year and retains his route-running skills, exceptional catch radius, and ability to dominate the middle of the field. If he returns to a primary receiving role, his production should rebound accordingly — if the Vikings find stable quarterback production in 2026.

The TEs in Addition to Hockenson

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Along with Hockenson, Minnesota has these tight ends under contract in 2026

  • Josh Oliver
  • Gavin Bartholomew
  • Ben Yurosek
  • Bryson Nesbit

None of these combatants would be tapped on the shoulder for TE1 duty, barring an amazingly bizarre upward ascent at training camp, meaning Minnesota would have to scour free agency for a replacement like Isaiah Likely, Darren Waller, or Cade Otton, to name a few.

Saints scout Josh Hill talks with Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
New Orleans Saints scout Josh Hill (left) speaks with Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, Feb. 27, 2026. The two met on the field as evaluators gathered information ahead of the upcoming NFL Draft. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.

The early section of April’s draft will also feature Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq and Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers, both of whom performed marvelously at the NFL Combine last week.

The Hockenson verdict should be made public within a week or so. He basically has to decide if the paycut from Minnesota would be more or less than what he’d command on the open market.


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