Just over 10 days after one of the most chaotic Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in history, the continent’s football governing body (CAF) has issued fines worth more than $1m (€835,000) and banned players from both finalists.
A CAF statement released on Wednesday outlined that the Senegal Football Federation had been fined a total of $615,000 for the “unsporting conduct of their players and technical staff in violation of the CAF disciplinary code principles of fair play, loyalty and integrity”.
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has been banned for five of the six 2027 AFCON qualifying matches and handed an individual fine of $100,000 for “bringing the game into disrepute.” Senegal players Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr will miss the first two qualifiers for the next AFCON later this year for “unsporting behavior towards the referee”.
The final saw Senegal walk off in protest at Morocco being given a late penalty after a VAR (video assistant referee) review moments after Senegal had a goal disallowed. Fans tried to storm the field, journalists fought among each other and after a 15-minute delay, Morocco missed the penalty. Senegal went on to win the game in extra time. Afterwards, Morocco head coach Walid Regragui said the game had given African football a shameful image.
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The frustration of Senegal fans boiled over at the 2025 AFCON finalImage: Paul Ellis/AFP
Morocco also hit with big fine
Morocco’s federation were fined a total of $315,000 for unsporting and improper conduct by their players, coaches and supporters. A whopping $200,000 of that total was for the behavior of the stadium ball boys, who attempted to seize a towel being used by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy on a wet night in Rabat — in an apparent bid to distract him.
An additional fine of $100,000 was imposed for the “improper conduct” of players and technical staff who invaded the VAR review area and obstructed the work of the DR Congo referee Jean-Jacques Ndala. There was also a $15,000 fine after Moroccan supporters used lasers to try and distract Senegalese players during the game. Captain Achraf Hakimi was also banned for two games, with one suspended, and Morocco’s Ismael Saibari was banned for three games, both for “unsporting behavior”.
Morocco’s appeal to have the result canceled and the hosts declared the winner because of Senegal’s walk-off was dismissed by CAF.
Before then, both teams will play at the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
Senegal are in Group I with France, Norway and the winners of the intercontinental play-offs (Bolivia, Suriname or Iraq), but may have to manage without their fans. Morocco, who four years ago in Qatar became the first African country to reach the semifinals of a World Cup, will face Brazil, Scotland and Haiti in Group C.
All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman became a free agent at the end of the 2025 season after opting out of three-year contract he signed with the Boston Red Sox last offseason.
Amid his high-profile free agency, Bregman started Club Nemesis, a performance hub designed for professional baseball players. Former All-Star outfielder Chris Young visited the club this week and had a conversation with the Chicago Cubs infielder.
During a conversation with Bregman for MLB Network, Young asked what drove the two-time World Series winner to opening the club. Bregman answered:
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“I’ve played over the last 10 years. You kind of learn and adapt and grow and figure out what works for you and and you take a little bit from one coach and one player and you try and put the pieces together for your puzzle.
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“I feel like for me, I was always searching to try and get one percent better, whether that’s staying healthy or strengthening conditioning or baseball activity defense, hitting whatever it may be.”
Bregman’s wife Reagan Elizabeth reacted to the Instagram post with the video of the interview, commenting:
“1% better.”
(Image source – Instagram)
Bregman has had several visitors to his club in the offseason, including San Francisco Giants star Matt Chapman and Baltimore Orioles’ Jackson Holliday.
Alex Bregman’s wife Reagan shared adorable moment between their children
Alex Bregman ended his free agency after signing a five-year deal with the Chicago Cubs last month. Bregman’s wife shared a glimpse of their time in Chicago during the offseason. She shared pictures of their time together at the Wrigley Field in an Instagram post.
“The warmest welcome,” Reagan captioned her post.
Reagan and Alex welcomed their second son in April 2025. Bregman’s wife shared a picture of her elder son, Knox, sharing an adorable moment with his sibling in her Instagram story.
“My heart,” she captioned her story.
(Image source – Instagram)
Reagan and her children were often in the stands at Fenway Park to cheer for Bregman last season. They will be showing their support to the All-Star infielder in his first season with the Cubs in 2026.
Dallas Cowboys helmets rest along the bench during the first quarter against Washington at FedExField on Jan 7, 2024, framing a sideline moment as the game settled into rhythm, with equipment lined neatly amid early substitutions, communication, and pacing decisions that shaped the opening stretch of a divisional matchup. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings have experienced more coaching upheaval than usual in 2026, and this week, defensive line coach Marcus Dixon joined the party by taking his talents to Dallas. The former player turned coach will return to the team that gave him his big player audition 18 years ago.
Dixon’s exit opens a key coaching staff spot, and Minnesota’s quick move for Nielsen signals an urgency to keep the ship afloat.
The Vikings, meanwhile, replaced Dixon with defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen.
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Marcus Dixon’s Move to Dallas Hits a Key Vikings Group
Dixon lands in a familiar spot.
Vikings defensive line coach Marcus Dixon watches from the sideline during a postseason clash with the Rams at State Farm Stadium, directing rotations and alignments on Jan. 13, 2025, as Minnesota navigated playoff pressure in Glendale while coaching staffs adjusted to tempo, substitutions, and situational demands across a tightly contested wild card environment tonight’s intensity. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Dixon to DAL
Cowboys reporter Patrik Walker broke the news this week: “The work continues to rebuild the defensive staff under newly-hired defensive coordinator Christian Parker, and the Dallas Cowboys have landed yet another target on that side of the ball — namely, Marcus Dixon.”
“Dixon and the Cowboys have officially agreed to a contract that adds him to the coaching staff as defensive line coach, a role he knows exceptionally well, and the same can be said about his familiarity with the organization as a whole; and replaces Aaron Whitecotton, who departed to reunite with Robert Saleh for the Tennessee Titans.”
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Dixon’s contract was up in Minnesota, and the organization did not retain him.
Walker added, “The 41-year-old native of Georgia was once a player on the Cowboys’ roster, having clawed his way into the league as an undrafted free agent in 2008, signed by Dallas at defensive end before eventually playing for the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans.”
“Following a brief stint in the CFL for the BC Lions, Dixon launched his coaching career, heading back to Hampton, where he was once a First-team- All-MEAC (2007) edge rusher but, this time, to coach up their defensive line and as director of player development and recruiting coordinator.”
The Cowboys’ defense ranked 32nd in the NFL per EPA/Play in 2025.
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The Resume
Minnesota grabbed Dixon from the Denver Broncos coaching staff, where he spent two seasons in 2022 and 2023 with the same title under defensive line coach Nathaniel Hackett in 2022 and Sean Payton in 2023. Here’s his coaching resume:
Hampton (2017–2018) Defensive Line Coach & Director of Player Development
Los Angeles Rams (2021) Assistant Defensive Line Coach
Denver Broncos (2022–2023) Defensive Line Coach
Minnesota Vikings (2024–2025) Defensive Line Coach
Dallas Cowboys (2026-now) Defensive Line Coach
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Dixon’s path back to Minnesota traces directly through Kevin O’Connell. He was part of the 2021 Rams staff that won the Super Bowl, working alongside O’Connell, who coordinated Los Angeles’ offense. When O’Connell took the Vikings job immediately after lifting the Lombardi Trophy, Dixon moved on to Denver before eventually crossing paths with him again in Minnesota.
Before coaching, Dixon had his own NFL resume. He appeared in 22 regular-season games with the Jets from 2010 to 2012, serving as a depth defensive lineman and gaining firsthand experience that later informed his transition to the sideline.
The resume as a player:
Dallas Cowboys (2008–2009)
New York Jets (2010–2012)
Kansas City Chiefs (2013)
Tennessee Titans (2014)
The Pieces Dixon Will Inherit
Without Micah Parsons, who was traded to the Green Bay Packers late last summer, Dixon’s DL life won’t be quite as easy in Dallas. Still, he’ll work with these pieces, with the caveat that Dallas will likely add more beef in free agency and the draft:
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Quinnen Williams (DT)
Donovan Ezeiruaku (EDGE)
James Houston (EDGE)
Kenny Clark (DT)
Osa Odighizuwa (DT)
Solomon Thomas (DT)
Detroit running back Jahmyr Gibbs is wrapped up by Cowboys defensive tackle Quinnen Williams during first-half action at Ford Field, colliding at the point of attack on Dec 4, 2025, as lanes closed quickly and Dallas tested interior strength while Detroit searched for rhythm amid early-down pressure and shifting game flow under bright lights nationally. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
At defensive tackle, Dixon could do a whole lot worse than Williams and Clark.
Ryan Nielsen in the House for MIN
Minnesota already filled Dixon’s vacancy. Vikings.com‘s Rob Kleifield wrote this week, “Minnesota is welcoming new faces to its coaching staff as February gets rolling. The Vikings on Tuesday announced the hiring of one addition to the offensive staff and two to the defensive staff, the latter offsetting the end of Marcus Dixon’s contract and Daronte Jones’ departure.”
“Dixon fulfilled his two-year contract as the team’s defensive line coach, and Jones was hired away to be the Washington Commanders Defensive Coordinator following four seasons coaching the secondary.”
Our Janik Eckardt on Nielsen: “Ryan Nielsen was viewed as a rising coach a couple of years ago. He was a co-defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints in 2022 and the DC of the Falcons in 2023 and the Jaguars in 2024. Last year, he was a senior defensive assistant. The Vikings interviewed him for their DC opening in 2023, but Brian Flores made the race.”
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Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen addresses reporters during minicamp at IBM Performance Field, outlining installation priorities and communication standards on Jun 14, 2023, as Atlanta emphasized fundamentals, terminology, and accountability while coaches evaluated personnel, absorbed questions, and set expectations for the summer program. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Nielsen served as the Jaguars‘ defensive coordinator in 2024, but he didn’t last long after Jacksonville finished 31st in EPA/Play. He’s worked in the NFL since 2017, coming up with the New Orleans Saints and working for college squads from 2002 to 2016.
Dixon, down in Dallas, will turn 42 this fall.
Minnesota’s defense ranked third per EPA/Play in 2025, and with Brian Flores back in the saddle, a Top 10 defense should remain.
Former Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is said to have made a big decision that shows his true colours towards Michael Carrick
Ruben Amorim has shown his true colours towards Michael Carrick, with the axed Manchester United boss holding off telling his side of the story until the end of the season. Following the 1-1 draw with Leeds United in early January, United made the decision to sack Amorim, with Carrick replacing him as interim head coach a few weeks later.
In the wake of his departure, the 41-year-old appeared much happier when photographed walking the streets of Manchester with his wife. Video clips also caught him wishing journalists in attendance well, but for official comments on his challenging United tenure, a lengthy wait is expected.
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Though dismissed managers often issue statements offering well-wishes fairly soon after leaving, a well-placed source in Portugal has told the Daily Mail that Amorim is waiting until the end of the season before speaking out about how rapidly things soured for him at United.
Their report adds that a reason for this delay is that Amorim does not want to disrupt the remainder of United’s season under Carrick. United’s interim boss will no doubt appreciate that sentiment as he attempts to lead the club back into the Champions League.
When asked if he had support from the board, Amorim said: “Guys, to stop with that, and I noticed that you received selective information about everything. I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach of Manchester United. That is clear.
“I know that my name is not Tuchel, is not Conte, is not Mourinho, but I’m the manager of Manchester United. It’s going to be like this for 18 months or when the board decided to change. That was my point. I want to finish with that. I’m not going to quit. I will do my job until other guy is coming here to replace me
“I just want to say that I’m going to be the manager of this team, not just the coach. I was really clear on that. That is going to finish in 18 months, and then everyone is going to move on.
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“That was the deal. That is my job, not to be a coach. If people cannot handle the Gary Nevilles and the criticises of everything, we need to change the club.
“Every department, the scouting department, the sport director needs to do their job. I will do mine for 18 months and then we move on. Thank you, guys.”
It has been an excellent start to life in the dugout for Carrick with victories over Arsenal and Manchester City followed up by a comeback win this past weekend against Fulham.
Before the win at Arsenal, he said: “It’s been about a week now, but nothing is clear yet.” My first thought is about what is happening right now. What’s important to me is that any decisions I or the staff make are not short-term.
“I have a responsibility for what will come next. I need to make the right decisions. Over time, we will gradually resolve this issue.”
Alongside Amorim breaking his silence, a final decision on the club’s next permanent manager is expected, with Unai Emery, Oliver Glasner, Roberto De Zerbi and also Carrick among those to have been touted.
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Feb 3, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Royce O’Neale (00) drives to the basket past Portland Trail Blazers guard Blake Wesley (1) during the second half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images
Collin Gillespie scored a career-best 30 points, tied his high of eight 3-pointers and dished out 10 assists to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 130-125 victory over the host Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
Grayson Allen made six treys and scored 24 points to help the Suns recover from a 19-point first-quarter deficit and win for the seventh time in 10 games.
Mark Williams also had 24 points and collected 12 rebounds, Jordan Goodwin recorded 16 points, 10 rebounds and a season-high five steals off the bench and Dillon Brooks and Royce O’Neale added 11 points apiece.
Jerami Grant scored 23 points and Shaedon Sharpe added 19 points for the Trail Blazers, who lost their sixth straight game.
Portland’s Jrue Holiday had 15 points and six assists, Donovan Clingan registered 14 points and 15 rebounds, Robert Williams III had 14 points and eight boards off the bench and Toumani Camara scored 13 points.
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Sidy Cissoko added 12 points and fellow reserve Blake Wesley put up 10 for the Trail Blazers, who were without All-Star Deni Avdija (back) for the second straight contest and seventh in the past 11.
Suns All-Star Devin Booker (ankle) missed his sixth straight game. Jalen Green (hip/hamstring) also sat out.
The Suns hit 20 of 41 (48.8%) from 3-point range and shot 51% from the field overall.
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The Trail Blazers made 49.5% from the field, including 18 of 52 (34.6%) from behind the arc.
Portland trailed by 12 before making a late 12-4 push. Grant knocked down a 3-pointer to cap it and bring the Trail Blazers within 124-120 with 1:15 remaining.
However, Allen drilled a trey with 55.9 seconds left and Mark Williams slammed home a dunk with 25.4 seconds remaining to put Phoenix back up by nine, effectively closing it out.
Allen made four treys and Gillespie drained three during the third quarter when the Suns were 8 of 15 from long range.
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The sharpshooting helped Phoenix turn a five-point halftime deficit into a 101-94 advantage. Goodwin drilled a 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left to end the rush of treys.
Portland moved within three early in the fourth, but Ryan Dunn hit two 3-pointers in 26 seconds to give the Suns a 116-104 lead with 7:11 remaining.
Clingan had 13 points and 11 rebounds in the first half and Camara also scored 13 points as Portland held a 72-67 lead at the break. Gillespie recorded 14 first-half points for Phoenix.
Camara and Clingan each made three treys in the first quarter as the Trail Blazers built a 41-30 lead.
NEW DELHI: Enigmatic former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has virtually ruled out stepping into the commentary box, calling the popular post-retirement role a “difficult” balancing act that demands sharp statistical recall — something he admits doesn’t come naturally to him.The 44-year-old, who led India to three ICC titles, has largely stayed away from public cricket discussions since retiring in 2020, with his on-field involvement now restricted to IPL appearances for Chennai Super Kings.
T20 World Cup: Squads, Full Schedule, Venues and Key Details Explained
“Commentary is very difficult. I feel there is a very fine line between describing the game and in that process getting into a zone where you start criticising individuals who are playing the game. It’s a very thin line,” Dhoni told sports broadcaster Jatin Sapru during a YouTube interaction.“Often, you don’t even feel that what you are doing is may be borderline wrong. You would always like to be on the other side where you are describing the game. If you feel something is wrong you say it out.“But how to put it, that is also an art, how to politely put it forward where nobody feels targetted…If the team is losing there are reasons behind it, and you need to have the skill of describing those reasons without anybody feeling bad. That is the art of commentary,” he said.Beyond the nuances of commentary, Dhoni said his inability to memorise statistics also works against him.“I’m not good with stats…but there are a lot of people who are very good with stats. They know stats…If you ask me about my stats, I’ll be like hmmm and there are certain people who know stats about not just Indian cricket team or the Indian players but everyone throughout the era,” he said.Good listener but not good with phonesRenowned for his calm decision-making during his playing career, Dhoni was also asked whether he ever seeks advice on cricket or life. The wicketkeeper-batter said he rarely feels the need, crediting his tendency to listen more than speak.“I’m a very good listener. Yes I do speak with people who I’m comfortable with. But I’m more of a listener than a speaker. And if I don’t know about the topic I don’t speak much because I will be absorbing more if I’m listening,” he said.“I never feel that urge to contribute if I don’t know…being a good listener you don’t always have to look for advice…They keep floating around just with certain people who you are having a conversation with.“You need to have that intelligence to figure out what works the best for you,” he added.With a broad smile, Dhoni also confessed he still struggles with phone conversations.“I’m not good in that way of communicating. I like to sit across and speak to people. I’m not someone who’s very good over the phone because I can’t see a face. So, I’m a very awkward guy when it comes to speaking on the phone.“So that’s something I want to improve but I’m glad I haven’t improved,” he joked.“You know when initially mobile phones came it was for the benefit of the people who own the phone. Now your mobile phone is for my benefit,” he said.
A Minnesota Vikings safety jogs onto the field as postseason intensity builds during the NFC Wild Card round at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, with action unfolding on Jan. 13, 2025. The moment reflected Minnesota’s reliance on its secondary, tasked with limiting explosive plays as the defense worked to steady the game against Los Angeles. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas–Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings tweaked their main leadership group last Friday, firing general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and, for the time being, replacing him with Vice President of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski. Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores are expected to have more personnel input, which means one thing: O’Connell is certifiably on the hot seat.
As the Vikings recalibrate authority at the top, O’Connell enters a season where results will carry more weight than you might expect.
O’Connell basically has a one-season trial to prove he’s the right man to hold most of the power.
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Kevin O’Connell’s 2026 Season Is a Referendum
It’s quite the change in leadership for Minnesota.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell paced the sideline late against Pittsburgh during an International Series game at Croke Park, managing communication and adjustments on Sep 28, 2025, as Minnesota navigated crowd energy, travel demands, and fourth-quarter pressure while performing in front of a global audience in a rare overseas regular-season setting under constant situational stress. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Adofo-Mensah Out
The Vikings canned their top boss, and The Athletic‘sAlec Lewis opined, “For weeks, executives and coaches inside the Vikings’ building and throughout the NFL had speculated that Adofo-Mensah’s job could be in jeopardy, even after he received an extension last offseason and even though the Vikings produced a 43-25 record over his four seasons.”
“While Adofo-Mensah had close personal relationships with many players and staffers, questions about his job status persisted for several reasons. Only four of Adofo-Mensah’s 28 draft picks are surefire starters for the future, a paltry return.”
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Adofo-Mensah’s draft record alone mandated a change.
Lewis continued. “The team’s 2025 quarterback plan, following a 14-win season, contributed to a playoff-less finish at the same time former quarterback Sam Darnold was leading the Seattle Seahawks to the Super Bowl. Adofo-Mensah’s Wall Street-trading background created skepticism among some football people inside and outside the organization that never completely faded.”
“And tension had spilled over between Adofo-Mensah and key members of the coaching staff, who questioned his experience to do the job.”
Without an immediate search for a replacement, O’Connell wields more power than ever.
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A Trial of Sorts for O’Connell
Ready for the Spider-Man quote? With great power comes great responsibility.
That’s where O’Connell is as he enters the 2026 offseason. He’ll probably be in charge of the roster more than ever, but that doesn’t mean he’s free and clear. With Adofo-Mensah out of the way, the urgency for O’Connell to win now spikes.
Imagine this: the Vikings, having fired Adofo-Mensah, embark on the 2026 season, fresh with roster additions orchestrated by O’Connell and Flores. For their troubles, the team encounters a losing season, somewhere in the ballpark of 6-11 or 7-10, as the J.J. McCarthy experiment fundamentally flopped.
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Do you really think that the Wilfs would just waltz into the 2027 offseason with the same leadership personnel and structure? Nope — O’Connell will be on the hot seat. He must prove that his ways are optimal. He’s already entering Year No. 5 with zero playoff wins. He needs to reach the postseason tournament and probably win at least one game. Most head coaches don’t see a Year No. 5 without a playoff dub on their resume.
SI.com‘s Will Ragatz noted this week, “O’Connell is the Vikings’ head coach, but he’s also essentially the CEO of the organization. After ownership, everything the team does moving forward begins with O’Connell. He’s going to be the one leading the most important item on the franchise’s agenda this offseason, which is how to address the quarterback position by either bringing in a high-level starter or adding competition for McCarthy.”
“He’ll have major influence on free agent signing and possible trades, especially involving players on the offensive side of the ball. And when it comes time to make draft picks in late April, it feels safe to assume O’Connell will have the final say in the war room.”
This … Rarely Works
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In the last half-decade, the Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers have fired their general managers while keeping their head coach. Months later, the head coach was also fired.
Most teams don’t do this — fire the GM and retain the head coach. It’s mainly because the next general manager wants to pick his head coach, and rightfully so: that person’s job and legacy are tied to the head coach, and it’s arguably his most crucial decision overall.
Kevin O’Connell reacts on the Vikings sideline after a first-quarter touchdown run by Aaron Jones at U.S. Bank Stadium, responding emotionally on Oct 20, 2024, as Minnesota seized early momentum against Detroit and the coaching staff leaned into tempo, execution, and situational control during a critical divisional matchup with playoff implications and sustained crowd intensity. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
For a moment down the stretch of 2025, it seemed the Miami Dolphins would try the general manager-only termination approach. A few weeks later, Mike McDaniel was canned, too.
The Vikings are travelling down a usually unsuccessful path, keeping the head coach but getting rid of the general manager. History shows that this typically ends poorly for the head coach.
Coaching Candidates if the Experiment Flops
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Peeking around the bend and assuming a doomsday scenario: O’Connell fits the historical pattern of head coaches not succeeding after the general manager’s termination. Believe it or not, the Vikings’ head coach options in 2027 would be pretty impressive. A list could look like this:
Brian Flores
Kliff Kingsbury
Mike McDaniel
Nate Scheelhaase
Chris Shula
Mike Tomlin
Grant Udinski
Minnesota assistant quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski stands near the sideline during a wild card matchup with the Rams at State Farm Stadium, observing quarterback operations on Jan 13, 2025, as postseason tempo, defensive pressure, and communication demands escalated in a high-stakes environment shaped by playoff urgency amid rotating personnel packages, tight margins, and constant in-game adjustments. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
On Tomlin, it’s worth noting that the Vikings would have to fire off a trade to the Steelers, not unlike the Denver Broncos and New Orleans Saints in 2023 for Sean Payton.
O’Connell essentially has to win now. He doesn’t have the leeway to kick back and try a new four-year plan.
Manchester City youngster Charlie Gray has overcome remarkable odds from joining the club at 8 to make his senior debut under Pep Guardiola
06:00, 04 Feb 2026
As Charlie Gray came on to make his Manchester City debut, he became the latest to overcome astronomical odds in the game. Phil Foden, Nico O’Reilly and Rico Lewis may have given the impression it was easy but it is difficult enough to make a top academy such as City’s as an Under-9, never mind progress through every age group and make the senior team.
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It’s hard to think of many journeys tougher than what 19-year-old Gray has had to battle through either. It is testament to the qualities the teenager has that City kept faith with him after a fractured spine and fractured shins and had the patience to let him find his game again.
“From the end of 15s to the start of 16s I had a fractured spine, and then I had fractured shins coming back from it so I was nearly out for two years,” he told the Manchester Evening News. “Coming back from that was a tough thing. I got my scholarship on the back of not playing for two years, so I wasn’t even expecting a scholarship and a pro. I was grateful to even get that at that point.
“Coming back is always difficult, not playing for two years and then building back into training and getting put into matches, you’re never going to be back at your sharpest but it’s just building from there. It obviously happens where I’ve had some other injuries along the way. Not as long as the two-year one but I picked up one for a few months in the 18s season. I had an injury-free season last year, which really helped me. That’s a big reason why I was able to kick on.”
Step by step, Gray made his way back. He was fit enough at the end of the 2023/24 season to play every minute of the 4-0 win over Leeds in the FA Youth Cup final, and last year he was named EDS Players’ Player of the Season in an Under-21s side that won the league and play-offs.
That may not have been enough to propel him onto Pep Guardiola’s radar but it caught the eye of several clubs last summer and he was linked with a move to Sunderland as they looked to cover the loss of Jobe Bellingham. A move never came, but Guardiola made his after seeing the defensive midfielder star in a 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid in the UEFA Youth League in December.
Gray had been regularly training with the first team by then, and after impressing again on his return from Spain he got word from Guardiola that he would be in the squad for the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Brentford. His family all shipped in from Eccles just in case and, with 10 minutes to go in the game, the youngster found himself in the dugout with his manager waiting to come on.
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“There was a little bit of instruction of course telling me what to do but again him just saying this is a great opportunity and to enjoy it. I feel like that did help. I didn’t go on the pitch too nervous. not knowing that I was coming on made me not overthink things and just play my game when I did come on,” he said.
“Getting the debut in the end was a dream come true. You get told that you’re in the squad the day before and just from that I was obviously over the moon just being on the bench. I was never expecting to come on but with 10 minutes left I got the call back and just a rush to get on the pitch.
“I had quite a few family there – probably seven or eight. With it being my first time on the bench, it was just in case for the what if so they were all buzzing for me. They’ve taken me to training since I was young, watched my game since Under-5s at Platt Lane so seeing that and then me playing at the Etihad was a proud moment for them as well.
“With the long injury I couldn’t really do anything at all so having people around me who I could speak to was the important thing. I was in school at the time so just having fun with my mates at school was the main thing that helped the days. It’s always important to have people around you no matter what the circumstance but especially then it was needed.
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“I’ve had some tough injuries to get past but it’s part of football. It’s a few years ago so you almost forget it but looking back at it I took some big steps to overcome those things and it makes the debut even better.”
With his contract up in the summer, it remains to be seen how many more opportunities Gray will get under Guardiola, but his form this season will only add to the interest from other clubs. Until then, the midfielder has the chance of making more history with the academy as they look to go all the way in the UEFA Youth League for the first time.
A trip to Helsinki in the last-32 on Wednesday is tricky for a number of reasons. City went out to Alkmaar in the quarter-finals last year and have historically struggled playing away at national youth champions, but also their squad has been significantly impacted by the January transfer window.
Divine Mukasa, Justin Oboavwoduo and Stephen Mfuni all secured moves in the last week to weaken Ben Wilkinson’s team ahead of their knockout game. Mfuni and Mukasa are on loan in the Championship and those moves should benefit City in the longer term, but it is worth bearing in mind when assessing the club’s poor record in the Youth League.
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Dealing with unavailable players is just one of the realities for anybody in any team, and there will be little sympathy for Gray and the rest of the City youngsters looking to make it to the last-16 in Finland this week.
“It’s important in these tournaments to get some momentum going. It gives the group some confidence to know when you go into games that you can win them, especially against such big teams like Leverkusen and Madrid. To win in the way we did with 6-0 and 4-0, we couldn’t have asked for much more,” said Gray.
“We don’t know a lot about their team, we haven’t played them before so it will be a different challenge but we’re all looking forward to it. Away games are always different for us, playing away from the Joie Stadium but we are all confident that we can go there and win.
“We’re used to winning at this club and in the Youth League that hasn’t quite happened yet. I played in it last year where we got beat in the quarter-finals but it was really close, we lost in the last minute from a game that we should have won. We felt last year like we could have gone on and won it but that just adds to the drive this season to want to win it even more. We’re all hoping we can do that.”
SAN FRANCISCO – It was not that long ago that the Carolina Panthers were at the bottom of the barrel.
The Panthers went 2-15 in Bryce Young‘s rookie season after selecting him first overall. The following year, the win total improved to five, but Young also spent some time on the bench, leaving plenty of question marks.
This season, they responded by winning the division and narrowly reaching the divisional round as double-digit underdogs.
Bryce Young hands off to Rico Dowdle of the Carolina Panthers during the first quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Bank of America Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina.(Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Young set career highs with 23 touchdowns and 3,011 passing yards and was also sacked 27 times, the lowest mark of his career. The improvements have been clear, and perhaps his 2025 season was a stepping stone to living up to the No. 1 pick hype.
“The more experience you get, the more times I have around my guys, I always lean on them, so I’m extremely excited for the future,” the Alabama alum told Fox News Digital on Radio Row in San Francisco.
Running back Rico Dowdle was a newcomer this year, filling the void quite nicely after Chuba Hubbard missed some time. After leaving the star-studded Dallas Cowboys, it was fair for him to wonder if he made the right choice.
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Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers is seen before playing the Seattle Seahawks at Bank of America Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina.(Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
“It’s always fun doing what you love to do. We didn’t get to the end goal that we set out to do from the beginning, so that wasn’t fun. But it was good. We had some ups and downs throughout the season, had our moments as a team, and this year was a starting point in Carolina, for sure,” Dowdle said.
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle celebrates after scoring against the Miami Dolphins during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, in Charlotte, North Carolina.(Jacob Kupferman/AP Photo)
Carolina had a late 31-27 lead over the Los Angeles Rams last month in the wild-card round, but the Rams scored with 38 seconds left to end the Panthers’ Cinderella ride.
But the glass slipper has been broken, and the Panthers have more shoes to fill.
EDMONTON — We’re 57 games into the season, and the Edmonton Oilers have 64 points.
They are, to this point, an average team playing slightly above average on some nights, well below on others.
They resemble a Stanley Cup contender at this juncture of the season about as much as the Vanier Cup resembles the Super Bowl, or I resemble Brad Pitt.
“We can’t be letting in five, six, seven, goals per game. It’s just it’s too much. It’s just not the right way to win,” Kasperi Kapanen said after the Toronto Maple Leafs spanked Edmonton 5-2 on the Oilers’ home ice. “I feel like we’re just always trailing by two, three goals. And they’ve scored four or five.”
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“As a good team, we can’t be doing that moving forward, and it’s something that we’ve addressed,” he said. “You know, it doesn’t happen overnight. We’re trying, guys. We’re trying, and we want to be better defensively.”
This is where the tracks always lead in Edmonton, home of those “High Flying Oilers.”
This team is never dominant until it starts to defend. Killing penalties, blocking shots, playing a simple, effective game.
In short, Edmonton’s advantage in scoring ability is most acute when the two teams are splitting up a minimum of scoring chances, not a maximum. When the high danger chances are coming by the boatload at either end of the ice, it in fact levels the playing field, history tells us.
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“It’s a little bit of everything,” said head coach Kris Knoblauch, who seems increasingly perplexed as each week passes and his team still doesn’t get it. “Five-on-five defending. Obviously the penalty kill (0-for-2 Tuesday) — we’ve talked about how many penalty kill goals we’ve given up. And some goaltending. It’s a little bit of everything.”
On this night, the Oilers climbed back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits before Matt Savoie took an unfortunate interference penalty at 6:38 of Period 3. Six seconds into the penalty kill, Mattias Janmark was racing for a puck against Auston Matthews and high-sticked him in the face.
The Maple Leafs scored on the ensuing five-on-three, and again on the five-on-four.
“I felt like I was maybe held a little,” explained Janmark. “I’m not going in there trying to high-stick a guy. But at the end of the day, they’re on a two-minute five-on-three in a 2-2 game in the third.
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“It cost us the game.”
It was an original way to lose, something the Oilers have become rather inventive at. The familiar face, however, is their goals against, now at 3.28 and the seventh highest in the entire National Hockey League.
And the much-ballyhooed eight-game homestand on which Edmonton was going to vault into the Olympic break with a nice first-place cushion?
Yeah, they went 4-4, allowing 32 goals in the final seven games. If they hadn’t rescued two games with the goalie pulled, it would have been a full-on disaster.
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“We haven’t been playing our best and obviously playing eight games in a row at home, you’d like to win more games,” Kapanen said. “But that’s how it is now, and you can’t do anything about it.”
They’d better figure out how to do something about it, because despite playing in an extremely forgiving division, loose, turnover-laden hockey with average goaltending simply does not take a team into May.
“We have to do our individual jobs better and not point any fingers,” said Darnell Nurse, who was screened by an official and missed a pass that led directly to the 2-1 goal. “I’ve been out there (for goals against). I have to be better in that department, so I’m not going to deflect it anywhere else.”
Toronto is 11-2-1 at Rogers Place in their last 14 visits, while Edmonton is now 0-9 this season when Connor McDavid doesn’t get a point, and the Leafs kept him off the scoreboard Tuesday.
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Winger Andrew Mangiapane drew into the lineup for the first time in four games and was Edmonton’s best player in the opening period. Then he turned a puck over just inside the offensive blue line in the second period, causing the Oilers to have a bad change, and seconds later the game-opening goal was in Edmonton’s net.
Knoblauch sat him out for the final 12 minutes of Period 2, but played him in the third.
“Obviously the turnover had an effect on his ice time,” Knoblauch said after the game.
Mangiapane was very effective on the fourth line, for a team that has had zero production from its Bottom 6 of late. It will be interesting to see if he plays Wednesday in Calgary, with general manager Stan Bowman actively shopping him around the league.
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Usually, when a player who is being traded plays well, he stays in the lineup.
Feb 3, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New England Patriots running back Treveyon Henderson speaks to the media during Super Bowl LX press conference at Santa Clara Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — TreVeyon Henderson knows not to fumble when the Patriots call his number.
That was the case late-night Monday, when Super Bowl LX starting quarterback Drake Maye brought Henderson into a player entourage heading to In-N-Out Burger — a West Coast staple known for greasy cheeseburgers and other fast-food finds — for a quick bite.
“I’ve had In-N-Out less than five times in my life,” Henderson said Tuesday at the San Jose Convention Center of joining his fellow 23-year-old teammate for some grub. “In-N-Out is good. Every time I come out to Cali, I have to make sure I go there. What makes it even better is they have the little Bible verse at the bottom of it, so I like it.”
The Ohio State rookie was the 38th pick in the 2025 draft. He made a huge splash and turned in memorable games — 148 rushing yards and two TDs against the Bills in December, a three-TD game against the Jets.
But he became an afterthought in the AFC Championship at Denver with a season-low four total snaps in the snow. He played 45.8% of New England’s total offensive plays in the regular season in a shared running back role with Rhamondre Stevenson. Henderson led the Patriots with 180 carries, 911 yards and nine touchdowns during the regular season. Stevenson had 130-603-7.
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Stevenson said Henderson’s approach and confidence are unchanged.
“He’s always prepared. It’s kind of a brotherly conversation between the two of us. ‘How can we get each other better?’” Stevenson said.
Henderson, who also returned kickoffs in the regular season, led the NFL with four rushing touchdowns of 50-plus yards in 2025.
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Stevenson spent time in head coach Mike Vrabel’s doghouse earlier this season due to three lost fumbles.
But in the playoffs, Stevenson has 51 carries — to Henderson’s 24 — for 194 yards and no touchdowns. His more physical, attacking, between-the-tackles style made him the natural choice on the soggy track at Denver.
Henderson’s explosiveness might be needed against a Seattle front capable of clogging inside alleys. He’s also the superior receiver of the two backs but inconsistency in pass protection might be one reason he’s not getting many looks in the playoffs.
“(Vrabel) always tells us to prepare as a starter,” Henderson said, adding he does still participate in kickoff returns in practice. “I’m not first on the depth chart — we still get reps in practice. I’m still preparing as a starter.”
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When pressed about Henderson’s declining role last month, Vrabel wouldn’t point specifically to the proverbial “rookie wall,” a reference to the significant increase in the length and volume of practices and games during the NFL season compared to college football. But he did skim the edges of the topic for a potential cause for his reduced reps.
“We’re always talking about the length of the season, what we need to do to continue, how the practices are and recovery,” Vrabel said. “And mentally, the finish line is not going to move towards us. It’s not going to move closer to us. We have to keep attacking.”
