Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah surveys the field and pregame activity at U.S. Bank Stadium during warmups ahead of a December 8, 2024 matchup in Minneapolis against the Atlanta Falcons, as the organization prepared for another late-season test under the stadium lights with roster stakes looming. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah eight days ago, sending shockwaves through the team’s fan base and thrusting the franchise into a mysterious offseason, with free agency a month away. The decision moved the needle for most shocking offseason moments in franchise history, so here’s a look at items with that criteria over the last decade.
Ranked from five to one, each moment landed with real weight because it reshaped Minnesota’s roster, direction, or identity with the snap of two fingers.
The timing confused some. Why didn’t the Vikings terminate his contract on Black Monday?
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Ranked: The 5 Biggest Vikings Offseason Shocks since 2016
Ranked ascendingly (No. 1 = most shocking moment), the most stunning offseason moments since 2016.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins surveys the field during pregame warmups at Soldier Field, with November 18, 2018 appearing mid-paragraph as Chicago hosted a division matchup. The quiet sideline moment captures Cousins focused and composed before kickoff, framed by a hostile road environment and late-season stakes as Minnesota prepared for the Bears. Mandatory Credit: Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports
5. Vikings Win the Kirk Cousins Sweepstakes
In February and March of 2018, a handful of teams pursued Cousins, such as the New York Jets, Denver Broncos, and Arizona Cardinals. Basically every quarterback-needy team explored the Cousins sweepstakes.
And after visiting the 2017 NFC Championship, Minnesota opted to offload Case Keenum to those very Broncos, paving the way for Cousins to sign in Minnesota for an unheard-of guaranteed contract at the time.
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The Vikings had been rumored in the mix for Cousins that offseason, but when they closed the deal, it felt like Minnesota had landed a franchise quarterback for the first time since Daunte Culpepper or Brett Favre.
Cousins stayed in Minnesota for six seasons, leading the club to the postseason twice and tallying one playoff win.
4. Stefon Diggs Traded to BUF
Diggs grew antsy over the Vikings’ run-happy offense, led by head coach Mike Zimmer, and actually asked general manager Rick Spielman for a trade during the 2019 campaign. He went AWOL from the team for a couple of days.
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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs lines up during live action at CenturyLink Field, with December 2, 2019 embedded mid-paragraph as Seattle hosted Minnesota. The in-game snapshot reflects Diggs’ involvement in a high-scoring contest that tilted toward the Seahawks, highlighting the intensity and pace of a primetime road environment. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Spielman told him no during the regular season but pledged to deliver the following offseason. He didn’t renege.
Diggs tweeted that it was time for a new beginning, Spielman shipped him to the Buffalo Bills, and the Vikings used the trade haul to draft Justin Jefferson about a month later.
3. OL Coach Tony Sparano Passes Away
In July 2018, about four months after Minnesota netted Cousins, Sparano was hospitalized with chest pains, which turned out to be a massive heart attack. He passed away three days later.
The news fell out of the sky because no Vikings fan knew that Sparano was sick, and he was a damn good offensive line coach. Minnesota scrambled and promoted Andrew Janocko and Clancy Barone to co-offensive line coach duty.
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The offensive line took a noticeable step back without Sparano in 2018.
2. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Fired after 4 Seasons
The news that flipped the Vikings’ 2026 offseason on its face.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert wrote last Friday, “The Minnesota Vikings fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on Friday, a shocking turn after an organization-wide failure to make the playoffs this season. Owners Zygi and Mark Wilf tapped Rob Brzezinski, their longtime executive vice president of football operations, to lead the front office through the 2026 draft. Speaking to reporters Friday,”
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“Mark Wilf would not rule out Brzezinski as a candidate for the permanent general manager job but pledged a “thorough” postdraft search. Wilf said he will “lean toward” a traditional arrangement that would give the next general manager personnel decision-making power with “extremely heavy input” from coach Kevin O’Connell.”
Adofo-Mensah had only connected on about 17%-20% of all draft picks since taking the big job in 2022, fired up strange trades last summer involving Harrison Phillips, Mehki Blackmon, and Adam Thielen, and watched as Sam Darnold trudged to a Super Bowl with the Seahawks in 2025.
Those factors led the Wilfs to fire Adofo-Mensah, albeit about three weeks late by conventional offseason standards. Head coach O’Connell presumably takes center stage as the team’s de facto CEO.
1. Rookie CB Khyree Jackson Killed in Car Accident
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Just over two months after being drafted by the Vikings in the 2024 NFL Draft, Jackson was killed in a Maryland car wreck that took the lives of three people. Jackson’s professional career never got started. The team dedicated the 2024 campaign to him, and his family remains involved in Vikings activities.
Oregon Ducks defensive back Khyree Jackson reacts in coverage against Arizona State at Mountain America Stadium, with November 18, 2023 placed mid-paragraph during a late-season Pac-12 matchup in Tempe. The action shot shows Jackson engaged at the point of attack as Oregon’s defense pressed its advantage on the road. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Last month, the driver of the other vehicle, Cori Clingman, was sentenced to three years in prison for her crime.
Prince George County State Attorney Tara Jackson remarked after the sentence, “I hope that she will use this time really to think about her actions and the lives that have been lost, her friends, the lives of her friends that have been lost, and become a more productive member of our community.”
Cllingman issued a statement:: “From the deepest place in my heart, I’m sorry.”
American skier Lindsey Vonn crashed in the women’s downhill competition at the Winter Olympics nine days after rupturing her left anterior cruciate ligament.
The 41-year-old had successfully completed two training runs on the iconic Olimpia delle Tofane course but crashed early in her run and was tended to for a lengthy period on the slope.
The Players Championship occupies a curious place in golf’s hierarchy.
Since its inception in 1974, it has served as the crown jewel of the PGA Tour. Its list of past winners reads like a who’s who of the game’s legends, with Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Greg Norman and Tiger Woods among them. It also boasts a host course, TPC Sawgrass, that is consistently ranked among the best in the country.
But try as the Tour might, the Players has never quite been able to ascend to the top tier of professional golf events. With the annual majors — the Masters, U.S. Open, Open Championship and PGA Championship — anchoring the sport’s calendar, the Players has always played second (or rather, fifth) fiddle.
That’s not to say the powers that be in Ponte Vedra haven’t done their best to alter that narrative. Each year when the Players Championship rolls around, the familiar debate about its major-worthiness ramps up. This year is no different. With the tournament on the horizon, the Tour has rolled out a provocative new tagline in another attempt to elevate its flagship event.
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And it seems those inside the global home aren’t alone in pushing that message.
On a live set at the Waste Management Phoenix Open on Saturday, analyst Brandel Chamblee made a bold proclamation regarding the Players’ status.
. @chambleebrandel is paid to give his opinion and did so here in calling the Players the best major. “The Players, to me, stands alone and above the other four major championships as not just a major, it is in my estimation, the best major.” Full comments pic.twitter.com/Wperyo0mKY
“What constitutes a major championship?” Chamblee said. “Of course, it’s history and tradition and reverence and all those things. But at the core, these are hard events to win. They’re meant to be harder events to win because of the pressure, because of the setup — because everything is right on that line. They’ve got to be hard events to win, they’ve got to have great fields, and they’ve got to produce indelible champions and indelible moments.”
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There’s little argument with any of that. The Players routinely delivers drama on Sunday afternoon, and with water lining the 16th, 17th and 18th holes, TPC Sawgrass boasts one of the most daunting closing stretches in professional golf.
But Chamblee’s case for the Players’ worthiness was far from finished.
“When you look at the Players Championship — with all due respect to the other four major championships — it is the best field in golf,” he continued. “It is the deepest field in golf. And by virtue of the fact that in its 50-year history, only one player has successfully defended it, I would argue that it is the hardest major championship to win. All the others have had far more successful defenses.
“Especially since it moved to TPC Sawgrass, which in my estimation — save for one hole — is arguably the best golf course on which they play a major championship from a shot-values perspective. You can talk about aesthetics all you want, risk-reward holes certainly, but from a shot-value standpoint, you cannot touch TPC Sawgrass.”
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Then came the line that lit the internet ablaze.
“So, in every single way that a metric could be used to measure whether something is a major, the Players, to me, stands alone and above the other four major championships — not just as a major,” Chamblee said. “It is, in my estimation, the best major.”
Whew.
Not only is the Players a major — it’s the best major? Calling that a hot take would be an understatement.
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Chamblee has long been a polarizing figure in his role as a golf analyst, and this opinion will only add fuel to that fire. Based on the discourse so far, however, there appear to be few — if any — outside the walls of the PGA Tour who agree with him.
Club Brugge will entertain Standard Liege at Jan Breydel Stadium in the Belgian Pro League on Sunday. Brugge have 44 points from 23 games and trail leaders Union Saint-Gilloise by five points. The visitors have 30 points from 23 games.
Blauw-Zwart faced Union Saint-Gilloise in their previous league outing and suffered a 1-0 away loss, ending their winning streak in all competitions after three games. They failed to score in the league for the first time since November.
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Les Rouches overcame Anderlecht 2-0 at home last week, thanks to goals from Ibrahim Karamoko and Rafiki Saïd.
Club Brugge vs Standard Liege Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
The two teams have a long-standing rivalry and have crossed paths 206 times in all competitions. Brugge have the upper hand in these meetings, recording 82 wins. The visitors are not far behind with 79 wins, and 45 games have ended in draws.
Standard had secured a league double last season, and the hosts registered a 2-1 win in the reverse fixture in September earlier this season.
Blauw-Zwart have the best attacking record in the league this season, scoring 42 goals.
Standard Liege have seen decisive outcomes on their travels in the league this season, winning five of the 11 away games.
Brugge have drawn just one of their 11 home games in the league this season.
Both teams have conceded 29 goals in the league this season.
The hosts have played the fewest draws (2) in the league this season. Les Rouches, meanwhile, have played the second fewest draws (3).
Club Brugge vs Standard Liege Prediction
Blauw-Zwart have seen over 2.5 goals in four of their six competitive games in 2026. They have won their last two home games in all competitions, scoring seven goals, and will look to build on that form.
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Les Rouches have won four of their last nine games in all competitions, with three of them coming on their travels. They have failed to score in six of their 11 away games in the Belgian Pro League this season, which is cause for concern.
Blauw-Zwart have lost just one of their last 14 home meetings against Standard, scoring at least two goals in 12 games in that period. With that in mind and considering their goalscoring form this season, we back them to secure a win.
Prediction: Club Brugge 2-1 Standard Liege
Club Brugge vs Standard Liege Betting Tips
Tip 1: Result – Club Brugge to win
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Tip 2: Goals – Over/Under 2.5 Goals – Over 2.5 goals
Tip 3: Both teams to score – Yes
Tip 4: At least one goal to be scored in the second half – Yes
Decorated Olympic skier Mikaela Shiffrin wants to represent her own “values” at this year’s Milan Cortina Olympic Games.
“I think there’s a lot of hardship in the world globally, and there’s a lot of heartbreak. There’s a lot of violence. It can be tough to reconcile that when you’re also competing for medals at an Olympic event,” the two-time gold medalist said during her media availability in Italy on Saturday.
During her extended answer, Shiffrin read aloud a quote from Nelson Mandela, which was also recited during the opening ceremonies.
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Mikaela Shiffrin speaks during a press conference during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium in Cortina d’Ampezzo on Feb. 7, 2026. (Stefano Rellandini/AFP via Getty Images)
“‘Peace is not just the absence of conflict. Peace is the creation of an environment where we can all flourish, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, class, caste, or any other social markers of difference,’” Shiffrin said, reading the quote from her phone.
“And for me, as this relates to the Olympics, I’m really hoping to show up and represent my own values. Values of inclusivity, values of diversity, and kindness, and sharing, tenacity, work ethic, showing up with my team every single day, and the values that we bring and put out on the mountain and on the hill every single day. I’m hoping to represent those who have been supporting me this entire time.
“I’m really thankful to be here, and my greatest hope for this Olympic Games, from a broader perspective, is that it is a beautiful show of cooperation and of competition.”
United States’ Mikaela Shiffrin celebrates winning an alpine ski, women’s World Cup slalom, in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.(AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
The questioning for Shiffrin comes on the brink of numerous American athletes being asked how they felt representing the United States at the Australian Open as it pertains to President Donald Trump‘s current second term.
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Anti-ICE protests occurred in Milan last week after the announcement that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents would be deployed at this year’s Games.
U.S. Embassy officials told The Associated Press last week that ICE agents would support diplomatic security details and would not run any immigration enforcement operations, considering they would be in a foreign country.
Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala said ICE would not be welcome in the city, and he cited images of masked agents in Minneapolis.
People take part in an Anti-ICE demonstration, ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
“This is a militia that kills, a militia that enters into the homes of people, signing their own permission slips. It is clear they are not welcome in Milan, without a doubt,” Sala told RTL Radio 102 before ICE’s reported security involvement was revealed.
As the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks prepare to go toe-to-toe at the Super Bowl in Santa Clara, California on Sunday, many people will be tuning in to watch a historic – and potentially political – half-time performance by Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny.
It’s a stunning day in Cortina d’Ampezzo, and the conditions look perfect.
A reminder of the Olympia delle Tofane course: it’s 2,572m in length, with a 760m vertical drop, starting altitude of 2,320m and finish altitude of 1,560m. The athletes must go through 36 gates as they rocket down to the bottom.
(REUTERS)
Flo Clifford8 February 2026 10:28
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Not long to go!
We are five minutes out from the women’s downhill getting underway in Cortina!
Stay tuned for all the action, including Lindsey Vonn’s run, right here.
Will Castle8 February 2026 10:25
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Who are the top contenders?
Lindsey Vonn may be the big story surrounding this event, but the fact remains that she will have to pull off something of a miracle to get on the podium with a ruptured ACL.
So, we turn our attention to the contenders.
Sofia Gogg joins Vonn as the other former Olympic champions in Cortina, while world champion Breezy Johnson is among the favourites.
Experienced German duo Emma Aicher and Kira Weidle-Winkelmann, second and third in the discipline rankings respectively, are also in with a good shout while Norwegian Kajsa Vickhoff Lie – previously twice on the podium in Cortina -and in-form Austrian Nina Ortlieb lead the outsiders.
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Will Castle8 February 2026 10:20
Lindsey Vonn racing at Winter Olympics with torn ACL ‘definitely doable’, claims ex-champion
Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn is set for an extraordinary return to the slopes for the Winter Games, just days after rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), with fellow American and former teammate Julia Mancuso declaring such a feat “definitely doable”.
“Normally it happens in the beginning of the season and they have a lot of time to strength train and test it out,” Mancuso, who is the same age as Vonn at 41, shared on Instagram.
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“This is going to be unique because she’s going to be testing it in the training runs and we’re going to be watching it and experiencing it live with her.”
Racing without an ACL, relying solely on a brace, “can be very difficult, but it’s definitely doable, especially with no swelling,” Mancuso explained, acknowledging Vonn’s own admission that she would not be the same athlete as before the crash.
“She’s still going to try and do her best,” Mancuso affirmed. “I think we’re going to live that experience with her … hoping she can find the strength to finish the downhill course and hopefully get a good result.”
Will Castle8 February 2026 10:16
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Lindsey Vonn vows to ‘stand tall’ as Team USA braces for frosty Winter Olympics reception amid ICE protests
“I realise the magnitude of the position that I’m in right now,” Lindsey Vonn said.
“And I think the best thing I can do is to do exactly what I said. Stand tall and have hope. And show the world what America is, who we are as people. Because we are more than what’s happening right now.
“I always do my best to make our country proud. And I hope I can do that in these Games.”
12pm–1.40pm: Men’s parallel giant slalom final 🏅 Women’s parallel giant slalom final 🏅
6.30–8.45pm: Women’s snowboard big air qualification
3pm–5.20pm: Men’s 5000m 🏅
Will Castle8 February 2026 10:02
Anti-ICE backlash and Vance’s presence fail to chill enthusiasm as USA get Winter Olympics underway
“We understand politics and we know we don’t operate in a vacuum. But our game is sport. That means keeping sport a neutral ground. A place where every athlete can compete freely, without being held back by the politics or divisions of their governments,” she said.
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Of course that statement was in itself political. An emphasis on remaining neutral was the clearest signal yet that Russia could be welcomed back into the Olympic fold, while it was also a non-comment on the continued participation of Israel at the Games, and a conciliatory hand extended to the American organisers of the next Olympics just two years away, despite the US administration’s brutality against its own citizens in Minneapolis.
Protests have broken out in Milan at the role of ICE agents in policing the Games; they are unlikely to have felt calmed by vice president JD Vance’s refusal this week to apologise to the family of Alex Pretti, who was gunned down by federal agents last month. “For what?” was his flippant response.
Flo Clifford8 February 2026 09:55
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Lindsey Vonn hits back at doctor who raised doubts over ACL rupture
Lindsey Vonn has forcefully dismissed suggestions from a sports doctor questioning the severity of her recent knee injury, ahead of Sunday’s Olympic downhill race.
“What was the state of her ACL before the crash last week?” sports medicine doctor Brian Sutterer queried. “What she is doing now would not be nearly as surprising in an elite athlete whose knee was already functioning like the ACL was torn at baseline.
“When you hear stories about ‘So and so played for years on a torn ACL’, that’s chronic, meaning the body has time to adapt and retrain muscles to support the knee.”
Vonn, who currently leads the World Cup downhill standings and has secured two victories this season, hit back: “Lol thanks doc. My ACL was fully functioning until last Friday. Just because it seems impossible to you doesn’t mean it’s not possible. And yes, my ACL is 100% ruptured. Not 80% or 50%. It’s 100% gone.”
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Will Castle8 February 2026 09:48
Lindsey Vonn’s coach explains why she still has Winter Olympics medal hope despite ACL rupture
Lindsey Vonn’s coach, Aksel Lund Svindal, believes the American’s formidable mental strength will be key to overcoming recent injury woes and securing another Olympic medal in Sunday’s women’s downhill event in Cortina.
“She knows she’ll have to push harder tomorrow, because the rest of the girls will, and it’s the Olympic downhill. You’re not going to get away with a medal here unless you push hard,” he said.
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“Good enough to win this race, hopefully. But her mental strength, I think that’s why she has won as much as she has.”
Will Castle8 February 2026 09:41
Lindsey Vonn at the Olympics
Lindsey Vonn was expected to be one of the biggest stars at this year’s events as she has a storied history at the Winter Olympics – dating back to Salt Lake City in 2002, over two decades ago.
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She also competed at the Winter Olympics in 2006, 2010 and 2018. In 2010, in Vancouver she took home the gold medal for the women’s Alpine downhill.
Vonn announced her retirement in 2018 and said she would hang up her skis competitively the next year as “Physically, I’ve gotten to the point where it doesn’t make sense…”
Five years later, in 2024, Vonn announced her return to the sport competitively after successful knee replacement surgery.
Lindsey Vonn poses for a portrait during the Team USA Media Summit ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games (Getty)
Scott McTominay has been sent love from Italian media
Scott McTominay was at the centre of highs and lows for Napoli as the Italian side battled to a 3-2 win at Genoa on Saturday. The former Manchester United star scored a stunning goal for the Serie A champions before being forced off with an injury at half-time.
Napoli went behind to an early penalty but McTominay helped bring his side level, with United loanee Rasmus Hojlund tapping home his rebounded shot. The Scotland international then provided the highlight of the match by firing a long-range effort into the Genoa net just two minutes later.
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However, the 29-year-old picked up an injury and was taken off at the interval, much to manager Antonio Conte’s disappointment. The home side equalised before the hour mark after capitalising on a defensive error and the game threatened to slip through Napoli’s fingers when Juan Jesus was sent off with 15 minutes remaining.
In McTominay’s absence, it was Hojlund who stepped up to be his side’s saviour, with his last-minute spot kick squirming under the goalkeeper to secure three points. Post-match, Napoli boss Conte provided an update on McTominay’s condition.
“Scott has been dealing with this problem since the beginning of the year,” he said. “It’s an inflammation of the tendons in the area between the gluteus maximus and the hamstrings. This discomfort forces him to play at a reduced pace.
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“He would have continued, but at the end of the first half I preferred to avoid any stupid risks. We’re talking about a key player for us, I need him to be 100%. We hope to get him back as soon as possible.”
Despite only playing half of the match, McTominay’s contributions were pivotal to a result that moved Napoli to six points behind leaders Inter Milan. Here is how Italian media outlets rated the ex-United midfielder’s performance.
Il Napolista
Earning credit for his role in Napoli’s first goal by “Prince Rasmus”, McTominay was lauded for “a magnificent moral brace”. The player ratings from Il Napolista gave the midfielder an eight.
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His determination to carry on playing while injured was likened to Braveheart. Wishing McTominay a speedy recovery, the final line of his player rating read: “God save Scott McTominay.”
Corriere dello Sport
The Italian outlet scored McTominay an eight for his contributions while battling through the pain barrier. It was summed up by a sentence in Corriere dello Sport’s player ratings: “When the going gets tough, he’s always the toughest.”
His goal was described as “beautiful” and his all-round play was also labelled “exceptional”. The manner in which he continued to “shoot, run and fight like hell” saw him dubbed the “Rocky of football”.
Il Messaggero
The Italian publication admitted that McTominay’s injury problems did affect his performance. Il Messaggero described the team’s star midfielder as “not being at his best”, despite his willingness to play on.
Rather than focusing on his long-range effort, it was his part in Hojlund’s equaliser that was described as “a precise right-footed shot”. He was awarded a seven in the outlet’s player ratings.
New Zealand’s Tim Seifert (PTI Photo/R Senthilkumar)
Tim Seifert’s trademark aggression lit up New Zealand’s chase as they secured a five-wicket win over Afghanistan in their Group D clash of the T20 World Cup on Sunday. Chasing 183, Seifert lived up to his ‘Bam Bam’ nickname with a commanding 65 off 42 balls, striking seven fours and three sixes to keep the chase firmly under control. His innings ensured New Zealand crossed the line with minimal fuss despite an early stumble.
How Mohammed Siraj’s February plans were changed after dream T20 World Cup call
That stumble came courtesy of a brief spell of brilliance from Mujeeb ur Rahman, who removed Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra in consecutive deliveries in the second over, leaving New Zealand reeling at 14 for two. However, Seifert found the perfect ally in Glenn Phillips, and the duo rebuilt with intent. Their 74-run stand for the third wicket, scored in just 47 balls, turned the momentum decisively in New Zealand’s favour. Seifert brought up his half-century from 39 balls with a towering six off Mohammad Nabi, and as the innings progressed, the pitch offered less assistance to the spinners. Phillips took the attack to Rashid Khan, dispatching him for a four and a six as New Zealand surged ahead. Afghanistan did manage late strikes, with Nabi dismissing Seifert and Rashid accounting for Phillips. Seifert, though, made full use of a reprieve on 48 when Rashid put down a return catch. By the time both batters departed, the job was nearly done, and Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Santner calmly polished off the remaining 28 runs. Earlier, Afghanistan posted 182 for six, a total that felt slightly under-par on a surface with some slowness. Veteran Gulbadin Naib top-scored with a fluent 63 off 35 balls, while Sediqullah Atal contributed 29 in a third-wicket stand of 79 from 51 deliveries. Despite the partnership, Afghanistan’s innings lacked explosive acceleration. Their progress was steady rather than spectacular, reaching 44 for two in the Power Play, 77 for two at halfway and 130 for three after 15 overs. The final five overs yielded 52 runs, but they would have hoped for more. Rahmanullah Gurbaz looked in good touch before Lockie Ferguson’s slower ball shattered his stumps in the sixth over. In the same over, Ferguson also removed Ibrahim Zadran, using his leg-cutters effectively. Naib reached his fifty in just 29 balls and injected momentum by taking on Jacob Duffy with two sixes and a four. Atal supported well but was dismissed by Duffy, a moment that allowed Naib to combine with Darwish Rasooli for a brisk 33-run stand as Afghanistan crossed 150. However, Naib’s dismissal to Rachin Ravindra in the 18th over stalled the late charge. Azmatullah Omarzai struck a couple of sixes at the end to push Afghanistan past 180, but it was not quite enough against a composed New Zealand chase.
The Road to WrestleMania 42 is expected to feature some major returns in WWE, and Seth Rollins could be one of them. The Visionary is currently on hiatus from the sports entertainment juggernaut due to a real-life injury.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Rollins’ WWE return may happen soon, and that he will compete against Bron Breakker at The Showcase of the Immortals.
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However, there are considerable signs indicating Seth Rollins’ incorporation with Grayson Waller and Austin Theory. In this article, we will be looking at three signs that Seth Rollins is secretly re-forming The Shield with Waller and Theory in WWE.
#3. The return of the mystery man in WWE
Grayson Waller was the man in the black hoodie who attacked Bron Breakker at the Royal Rumble. Seth Rollins didn’t make the trip to Saudi Arabia. While many expect Rollins to be the final reveal, it was Waller under the black hoodie on Saturday. (via @HighSpotPodcast)
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One of the major signs that Seth Rollins is re-forming The Shield is the return of the mystery man at the Royal Rumble. When the mystery attacker destroyed Bron Breakker before the Rumble match, Paul Heyman shouted Seth Rollins’ name despite his absence from the show.
Latest reports suggest that Grayson Waller could be the person behind that black-hooded figure. Although there is no confirmation, WWE likely wants to link Waller and Rollins through this mystery man angle.
In the upcoming weeks, Grayson could be revealed as the mystery man who attacked the new Big Dog on Seth Rollins’ orders. This could lead to a new faction’s origin on Monday Night RAW, with the group on a mission to end The Vision.
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#2. The connection between Grayson Waller & Austin Theory
Austin Theory is currently a member of The Vision. However, his incorporation into the heel group remains a topic of debate, with fans predicting he is a mole planted by The Visionary.
In late 2023, Rollins and Theory were part of an alliance and worked together. It’s crucial to note that before the A-Town Down star returned as a heel, he was paired with Waller on television.
Soon, Theory disappeared from the company, and WWE announced their breakup in a backstage segment. With Waller’s name seemingly part of the mystery man storyline, it will not be a surprise if Theory and Grayson are secretly reunited and now working for Seth Rollins.
#1. Seth Rollins always has a Plan B
The Architect is the one who betrayed Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose to end The Shield. He joined Triple H’s Authority faction and emerged as one of the major heel stars in World Wrestling Entertainment.
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The history of Seth proves he always has a Plan B. With Bron Breakker and The Vision betraying the former World Heavyweight Champion, he might have Austin Theory and Grayson Waller as part of Plan B.
If that theory is true, it’s a clear sign that Rollins is secretly re-forming The Shield with these two stars.
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