Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell reacts after a play against the Detroit Lions in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
PurplePTSD works in partnership with Vikings Territory, similarly doing their utmost to offer top-notch coverage of the Minnesota Vikings. As a result, we’re promoting five of their top articles of the past month in “The P/PTSD Perspective.” Take a peek at some of their best stuff.
The P/PTSD Perspective: February 14th, 2026
1) ESPN Reveals Who’s Really Running the Vikings: At no point has there been too much mystery, folks. Vikings co-owner Mark Wilf said that Rob Brzezinski would be leading things and that’s what’s taking place. Speculation exists about Kevin O’Connell having the power but the reality appears to be that Brzezinski has the final call.
Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell is seen during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
2) Justin Jefferson Breaks Silence on Bills Trade Speculation: In theory, anything is possible. Could the Bills trade for Justin Jefferson? Sure, that could happen. Just know that it’s a two-way street. Minnesota could trade for Josh Allen, but it doesn’t mean it’s going to happen.
3) The Vikings’ QB Search Just Added an Unexpected Name: At this stage, the lone surprise would be if Kevin O’Connell came out of retirement to try being an NFL passer yet again. Basically every available passer (alongside some passers who aren’t available) has been linked to the Vikings.
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Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell reacts after a play against the Detroit Lions in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
4) The Vikings’ Salary Cap is a Mess for 1 Central Reason: No team can fully live up to the ideal, but the goal is nevertheless out there: having a constant supply of young, cost-controlled players from the draft is the best way to keep a budget balanced. Minnesota too often failed to draft players who could help the team win on Sunday.
5) Aaron Jones Slams the Vikings: The veteran runner has been around and is a well-respected leader. Listening to him when he speaks is wise. No matter who ends up as the Vikings’ QB1, the performance from last season can’t be replicated. Too much talent on Minnesota’s roster.
Nov 9, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) hands the ball off to running back Aaron Jones Sr. (33) against the Baltimore Ravens in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke about his team’s performance in their 2-0 win over Salford in the FA Cup
17:52, 14 Feb 2026Updated 17:52, 14 Feb 2026
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Pep Guardiola said the only good thing about Manchester City’s afternoon against Salford City in the FA Cup was that they won. The Blues are through to the fifth round of the competition but it was an afternoon to forget at the Etihad otherwise.
City’s manager had been clear before the game about the need for his squad to have a break. They have played two games a week for almost all of the season and they have also had the psychological highs and lows of the Premier League title race to contend with over recent matches.
However, Guardiola did not look to use tiredness as an excuse as he instead said that the City XI he put out simply weren’t good enough at realising where the spaces were on the pitch so that they could attack their opponents. The only part of the game that the City boss was happy with was after they had gone 2-0 up in the 81st minute.
“We didn’t read the spaces where we were,” he said. “The spaces in attack depend on how they defend and we didn’t read it. We spent a lot of time to make the process a little quicker than that. The only good news [is] that we go through. That’s all.
“It would be nice for me to say mentally we’re exhausted, we’re tired. It has been a tough two or three weeks for many reasons but it’s our job. We have to do what we have to do. The calendar says to play every few days. We just didn’t read where the spaces were and that’s why everything was flat and slow and not good.”
The draw for the fifth round will be on Monday evening ahead of the game between Macclesfield and Brentford, with the game taking place before the first leg of City’s last-16 clash in the Champions League. They will find out who they face in that match at the end of the month after the play-off games between Inter and Bodo/Glimt, and Real Madrid and Benfica.
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The Carabao Cup Final will see Arsenal v Manchester City at London’s Wembley Stadium this March.
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Minnesota Vikings offensive guard Will Fries celebrates in the end zone after a second-quarter touchdown midway through Jan. 4, 2026, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during a matchup with the Green Bay Packers. The moment captured linemen pride as Minnesota’s offense capitalized on strong execution. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett–Imagn Images.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s first three seasons as the Minnesota Vikings general manager all led up to the 2025 free agency, when the Vikings spent the second-most money on players, second only to the New England Patriots.
While the Patriots were playing in the Super Bowl, the Vikings’ season had long since finished after failing to make the playoffs. Finally given the chance to spend big, Adofo-Mensah got it horribly wrong, and it cost him his job.
Overall Assessment of the Vikings’ 2025 Free Agency Class
The 2025 free agency class was his last, and Adofo-Mensah hasn’t left the Vikings with much for the long term, after also failing in the short term. In total, Adofo-Mensah made 16 signings for a total of $269,532,500. A year later, how has the class aged? The short answer is not very well.
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Will Fries (Guard) – 5-year, $87.7 million contract.
Minnesota made a significant commitment to Will Fries, investing time and money in a five-year contract worth over $87 million to make Fries their long-term right guard. There was an element of risk to this move, with Fries having a breakout season in 2024 but only from a five-game sample due to a broken tibia. Fries was fit and ready to start the season and was the only Vikings linemen to play every game—a major plus on an OL that was ravaged by injury.
Sep 21, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings guard Will Fries (76) against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Fries was solid in his debut season in Minnesota, being called for 3 penalties and allowing 37 pressures and 3 sacks across 989 snaps on offense, earning a 61.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. Those stats would be acceptable if Fries were being paid $3-4 million, but his contract is worth $17 million a year.
Verdict: Minnesota needs more from Fries to justify that contract and will hope that a year on the field post-injury and more comfort in the system will help bring that about. The Vikings also have a new OL coach for the 2026 season in a bid to improve the whole unit.
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Byron Murphy (Cornerback) – 3-year, $54 million contract.
Byron Murphy got a big payday on the back of his first-ever Pro Bowl season, where he was a ball hawk – leading the league in interceptions (6) among CBs in 2024. Murphy didn’t snag his first INT until Week 15, following it with another in Week 16. Simply put, he failed to recapture that Pro Bowl form that got him paid.
Verdict: Murphy is a good CB, but he’s not a lockdown CB1 and never has been. The decision to pay him $18 million a year doesn’t look wise right now.
Jonathan Allen (Interior Defensive Lineman) – 3-year, $51 million contract.
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The Vikings invested heavily in the interior of the defensive line, emphasizing interior pass rush. Once one of the league’s best interior defenders, the gamble on Jonathan Allen re-finding his form after injuries and a down year didn’t pay off. Allen brought 34 pressures and 4 pressures to the team, and a solid run defense, but we have another case of a player not living up to his contract.
Verdict: The three-year deal given to Allen means there are no significant savings this year, so it is set to be another year of solid veteran play on top-end wages for the Vikings – unless Allen suddenly returns to his best football at 31.
Javon Hargrave (Interior Defensive Lineman) – 2-year, $30 million contract.
Rinse and repeat. Former top-end interior pass-rusher who’s had injuries and a drop in play. Big money was paid, but the contract was not honored. Hargrave had a better season than Allen, but is two years older and only got a two-year contract. Significant cap savings can be made on Hargrave this year.
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Verdict: Needing to find $40 million get salary cap compliant, saving $11 million by cutting Hargrave looks imminent. Baltimore has been rumoured as a trade candidate for Hargrave, which would save a further £5 million – an even better result. It’s for the Vikings to get younger at this position through the draft.
Ryan Kelly (Center) – 2-year, $18 million contract.
Ryan Kelly was just what the Vikings needed at center: experienced, knowledgeable of the position’s nuances, and solid in both the run and pass games. Unfortunately, his history of concussions followed him to Minnesota, and his future has to be in doubt heading into the 2026 season.
Verdict: Kelly played in just eight games because of three separate concussions. Most concerning was Kelly coming back to play with a guardian cap only to suffer another concussion. The Vikings need to start looking at a long-term solution at center.
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Isaiah Rodgers (Cornerback) – 2-year, $11 million contract.
Week 3 saw one of the single greatest individual performances you will ever see from a defensive player. Isaiah Rodgers was inspired against the Bengals. Rodgers scored two defensive touchdowns, one from an interception and one from a fumble he forced and recovered himself. He added another forced fumble and a couple of passes defended in an inspired performance that earned Pro Football Focus its first-ever perfect grade. That was Rodgers’ ceiling, and the floor was a lot lower.
Oct 23, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (2) practices before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images.
Verdict: Rodgers spent too much time playing closer to his floor than his ceiling. He never got near the level of performance he had in that Bengals game again. 2025 was his first season as a starter in the NFL. If he is going to keep that role, he needs to find a lot more consistency.
Eric Wilson (Linebacker) – 1-year, $2.6 million contract.
Undoubtedly, the signing of the season. Eric Wilson returned to where his NFL journey began, and with great success. An injury to Blake Cashman gave Wilson a chance to start, and when Cashman returned, he kept his place ahead of Ivan Pace. Brian Flores used him as a pass rusher to great effect, with Wilson tallying 6.5 sacks – more than double his previous season best.
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Verdict: With Wilson and Pace both hitting free agency, I don’t think there’s much argument that Wilson is the one the Vikings need to bring back.
Jeff Okudah (Cornerback) – 1-year, $2.35 million contract.
The last in a lengthy line of Adofo-Mensah failed first-round pick reclamation projects. Once the third overall pick by the Detroit Lions, it’s never quite worked out for Jeff Okudah, who has had several injury problems across his career. He played in the first six games of the season before getting a concussion and never being seen again after being put on IR.
Verdict: Okudah wasn’t good when he played, and the first-round reclamation projects should be binned now that Adofo-Mensah has left town.
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Rondale Moore (Wide Receiver) – 1-year, $2 million contract.
Rondale Moore was set to be the team’s punt returner and WR4 before a knee injury suffered in a preseason game saw him ruled out for the entire 2025 season.
Verdict: A sensible signing with a glaring need at return specialist, but with his injury leaving the path clear for undrafted rookie Myles Price to shine. I don’t expect Moore to return next season.
Justin Skule (Tackle) – 1-year, $2 million contract.
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Minnesota needed a backup tackle who could start if Christian Darrisaw wasn’t ready to assume his role at left tackle when the season started. Not only did that prove to be the case, but Brian O’Neill has also missed time due to injury, and Darrisaw finished the season back on IR with the same troublesome knee. The Vikings opted for Justin Skule, and he was called upon more than would have been preferable, with nine starts and 578 snaps on offense.
Sep 28, 2025; Dublin, Ireland; Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Justin Skule (67) during an NFL International Series game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second half at Croke Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
Verdict: There were times when Skule visibly struggled, giving up 29 pressures and 7 sacks across the season. However, he held down the fort reasonably well for a backup tackle. The veteran deserves to come back again for training camp, at least with Darrisaw’s knee issue still lingering.
Carson Wentz (Quarterback) – 1-year, $1.4 million contract.
Minnesota was initially set to go with Sam Howell as QB2, but after undrafted rookie Max Brosmer outshone him, it was time to think again. Carson Wentz was brought in to be the veteran presence behind JJ McCarthy and found himself thrust into action as early as Week 3. Wentz had his struggles, but a 2-3 record while toughing it out through a dislocated shoulder that included a torn labrum and fractured socket, before eventually having season-ending surgery, was a commendable effort.
Verdict: The boy raised in North Dakota got to live out his childhood dream for five weeks and kept the Vikings competitive. I wouldn’t hate seeing him back to compete in training camp.
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Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.
Ireland achieved their first Guinness Six Nations win of the season as they took their 35th test match victory against Italy at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Playing their 771st test match, and their 39th with Italy since the first meeting of the nations at Lansdowne Road on 31 December 1988, Andy Farrell’s side just held on for the home win.
On an historic day for rugby, Scottish referee Hollie Davidson became the first woman to referee a men’s Six Nations match.
In a rather disappointing first half from an Irish viewpoint, the hosts found themselves behind after 40 minutes.
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An early Irish opportunity was spurned as Dan Sheehan attempted to leap over the Italian defence from a standing start. The Italians stood up, as though they expected the move, and blew the Irish hooker back into the ground.
Lynagh sent to sin bin
Italian winger Louis Lynagh, son of Australian rugby legend Michael, was yellow carded for what referee Hollie Davidson adjudged to be a deliberate knock on. The Scottish official consulted the TMO, and on viewing the screen, immediately made the decision to sin bin the Italian number 14.
A number of unforced errors from Ireland saw the home side lose possession in the opening quarter – much to the frustration of fans in the stands.
On the positive side, dangerous and effective runs from James Lowe on one wing and Robert Baloucoune on the opposite helped Ireland make field progress.
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Osborne Try
It took 17 minutes of the game before either of the try-scoring lines was breached. Ireland, with the advantage of a man, made the most of their numerical superiority, with fullback Jamie Osborne given the easy task of touching down, as the Italian defensive line was stretched.
Sam Prendergast missed the conversion attempt which followed. Though positioned just left of the posts, the kicked miscued and saw his effort drift harmlessly left of the posts.
Italian soon reduced the deficit as Paolo Garbisi slotted over a penalty attempt. By that stage the Italians must have been satisfied to be only two points behind the Irish, despite the loss of a man for ten minutes.
Yellow card for Craig Casey
On 32 minutes Craig Casey was yellow carded for foul play. With the Munster player remaining upright in the tackle, he was deemed guilty of dangerous play and Ireland were reduced to 14 men.
Italian made the home side immediately pay for their yellow card. Winning a lineout, the Azzurri drove Ireland back over their own defensive line, and hooker Giacomo Nicotera of Stade Francais dived over the line for a try.
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Paolo Garbisi maintained his 100% kicking record on the day, as he successfully slotted over his second kick of the afternoon.
Half-time: Ireland 5 Italy 10
Ireland began the second half at pace. Tadhg Furlong replaced Tom Clarkson in green. Soon Andy Farrell made more changes as the fresh players immediately had an effect across the field.
Conan’s early second-half try
With the the Irish winning the lineout, Ireland drove for the Italian line. With Caelan Doris and Jack Conan at the back of the maul, the Number 8 touched down for the opening score of the second period
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Unfortunately for Ireland, Sam Prendergast again missed the kick at the posts – his second miss of the game to that stage.
Rob Baloucoune, later named Man of the Match, put the hosts back into the lead as the game approached the final quarter. The Ulster winger, with options to pass, showed great self-confidence on his Six Nations debut, as he ran and then stretched out for the line.
With Jack Crowley now playing at 10, the Munster man kicked the conversion attempt which followed, and Andy Farrell’s men moved into a 17-10 lead.
Crowley soon made it a two-score game as he dissected the posts with his first penalty attempt of the game. In a game of swinging fortunes, Italy were next to score, as Garbisi kicked his second penalty of the fixture.
In an anxious final few minutes of the game, Italy were camped on the Irish line until a relieving interception from James Lowe reduced the pressure on the Irish defence.
Lowe’s pace of old was evident as he raced down the field, giving Ireland one last chance of achieving a bonus-point try, with the clock well past 80 minutes.
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Jack Crowley, aiming for the touchline, misjudged his kick which went too far, and brought a sudden end to the game, giving Ireland their first Guinness Six Nations win of the 2026 season.
Final score: Ireland 20 Italy 13
Ireland Team
15. Jamie Osborne, 14. Robert Baloucoune, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. James Lowe, 10. Sam Prendergast, 9. Craig Casey.
1. Jeremy Loughman, 2. Dan Sheehan, 3. Thomas Clarkson, 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. James Ryan, 6. Cormac Izuchukwu, 7. Caelan Doris (captain), 8. Jack Conan.
Ireland Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher, 17. Tom O’Toole, 18. Tadhg Furlong, 19. Edwin Edogbo, 20. Tadhg Beirne, 21. Nick Timoney, 22. Jamison Gibson-Park, 23. Jack Crowley.
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Italy Team
15. Lorenzo Pani, 14. Louis Lynagh, 13. Leonardo Marin, 12. Tommaso Menoncello, 11. Monty Ioane, 10. Paolo Garbisi, 9. Alessandro Fusco.
1. Danilo Fischetti, 2. Giacomo Nicotera, 3. Simone Ferrari, 4. Niccolo Cannone, 5. Andrea Zambonin, 6. Michele Lamaro (captain), 7. Manuel Zuliani, 8. Lorenzo Cannone.
Italy Replacements
16. Tommaso di Bartolomeo, 17. Mirco Spagnolo, 18. Muhamed Hasa, 19. Federico Ruzza, 20. Riccardo Favretto, 21. David Odiase, 22. Alessandro Garbisi, 23. Paolo Odogwu.
Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson announced Saturday that the 2027 Daytona 500 will be his last in the Cup Series.
Johnson, who has taken home the checkered flag in the big race twice, wants to continue racing in other series, maybe even in other NASCAR events, but won’t return to stock car racing’s premier level again.
“I’ve been fortunate to accomplish more than I ever imagined in this sport,” Johnson said. “The last six years have given me the freedom to choose where I compete and, more importantly, the clarity to understand where I’m needed most. I am going to focus all of my energy on leading and building a world-class organization.”
Jimmie Johnson (#84 Legacy Motor Club Carvana Toyota) waves to the crowd prior to the running of the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 Duel 1 on Feb. 12, 2026, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.(Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“Jimmie Johnson is a champion in every aspect of his life – with his family, as the leader of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB and with his incredible success behind the wheel,” Toyota vice president Tyler Gibbs said in a statement. “As he prepares to close the chapter of his iconic on-track NASCAR career, we celebrate his legacy in the sport and look forward to what we’ll continue to achieve together in the years to come.”
His seven titles are tied for the most ever in NASCAR history, along with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. His first five were won consecutively from 2006 to 2010, followed by titles in 2013 and 2016.
Jimmie Johnson (48) wins the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship after winning the FORD EcoBoost 400 race on Nov. 20, 2016, at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.(Stephen A. Arce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Johnson walked away from full-time driving after the 2020 season and has racked up 83 Cup Series victories.
He competed in the IndyCar Series for two seasons (2021-22), became a partial owner at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, and drove in a number of bucket-list events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Rolex 24 at Daytona and an Unlimited Hydroplane at Seafair.
He is making his 23rd start in the Daytona 500 on Sunday, having won in 2006 and 2013.
“It’s the only race you get a title,” Johnson said earlier this week. “I was fortunate to experience that. You leave here and anything you do, you got a title. I never had a title in my life. That speaks to the importance of the race, the magnitude of the race, the history behind it all.
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Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 24, 2013, in Daytona Beach, Florida.(Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
A major title match for AEW Revolution has been confirmed after the results of Grand Slam Australia. Fans now know about Maxwell Jacob Friedman’s (MJF) next title defense.
Several top stars of the Jacksonville-based promotion were down under for Grand Slam 2026. The show featured several big-money title matches and some hard-hitting encounters. Major stars such as Friedman, Hangman Page, Jon Moxley, Toni Storm, Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher, Andrade, and many more were in action during the event.
In the main event of the show, Max defended the AEW World Championship against Brody King. Despite King’s physical dominance, The Salt of the Earth managed to walk out with the win, continuing his title reign. Earlier in the night Hangman Page faced off against Andrade in a high-stakes one-on-one matchup. The winner of the match would go on to challenge the AEW Champion at Revolution. Page won the match with a brutal Buckshot Lariat and ended Andrade’s undefeated streak in AEW. With this win, Page is set to reignite his rivalry with MJF for the AEW title. The two men will face off in a high-profile championship match at Revolution 2026.
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MJF was confident of his chances at AEW Grand Slam Australia
The AEW World Champion was confident of beating Brody King ahead of their match. Despite a loss to the challenger on Dynamite in less than two minutes, MJF was sure of a win in Sydney.
During an interview, the star stated that he allowed himself to be distracted by Hangman Page during the match on Dynamite. However, the champ promised to be super focused during rematch, and claimed that Brody was not on his level.
Friedman held on to the AEW title for a record 406 days during his last title reign. It will be interesting to see how his current reign pans out in the coming months.
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Lineout is solid and the maul grinds to within a couple of metres of the line. The visitors can’t afford to spurn this opportunity.
Luke Baker14 February 2026 17:03
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Scotland 17-0 England, 20 mins
England would have hoped the scrum was an area of dominance and for the first time today, they have something to work with.
They win the penalty at the scrum, against the head and kick to the corner. Lineout five metres out…
Luke Baker14 February 2026 17:02
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Scotland 17-0 England, 18 mins
England’s lineout is solid at least and gives them a platform. Earl carries into contact and well into the 22.
England go to the left, Steward takes the ball in but it’s great Scotland defence! They hold up the England full back and win the turnover! That sums things up for the visitors so far.
Henry Arundell comes back on, sin-bin over. We’re back to 15 vs 15 and not a moment too soon for Steve Borthwick’s side.
Luke Baker14 February 2026 17:01
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Scotland 17-0 England, 16 mins
England have to settle down here. Ritchie is pinged for blocking, so England at least havea bit of reprieve and can set up in the Scotland half.
Luke Baker14 February 2026 17:00
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TRY! Scotland 17-0 England (Jamie Ritchie, 14 mins)
WOW, WOW, WOW! This is dreamland for Scotland. England are asleep at the wheel but Scotland are taking full advantage.
They go one way, then the other. Freeman and the England defence are caught static. A long looping pass finds Jamie Ritchie on the left wing and he has a stroll into the corner. England are nowhere!
Murrayfield is rocking, Russell adds the conversion and England are shell-shocked. 17-0! This is huge
Luke Baker14 February 2026 16:58
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Scotland 10-0 England, 12 mins
If Russell can bring his brilliance today, Scotland have a great chance in this match. So far, so good.
Scotland on the attack again here from the set-piece.
Luke Baker14 February 2026 16:56
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TRY! Scotland 10-0 England (Huw Jones, 10 mins)
WOW! This has been sublime from Scotland and they take advantage.
The lineout is solid and they set things up. The ball is spread left, it’s a glorious tip-on pass by Finn Russell to Huw Jones and he shows his pace to get round the outside and in for the score. Superb!
Russell adds the conversion and they’re going at a point a minute. Good value for their 10-0 lead.
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Luke Baker14 February 2026 16:54
SIN-BIN! Scotland 3-0 England (Henry Arundell, 9 mins)
This is superb from Scotland. White with a box kick that puts England under pressure and Scotland are throwing the ball about with abandon here.
Henry Arundell scampers back well but fails to release the ball on the ground to slow a Scotland attack and is shown a yellow card for his troubles!
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Scotland kick to the corner, England down to 14 and reeling.
Luke Baker14 February 2026 16:52
Scotland 3-0 England, 7 mins
The English scrum was presumed to be an area of dominance for the visitors but Genge is pinged for pushing early and Scotland can clear their lines.
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Luke Baker14 February 2026 16:49
PENALTY! Scotland 3-0 England (Finn Russell, 4 mins)
The penalty is bang in front and it’s easy for Finn Russell to slot it. First blood, Scotland.
Naomi Osaka has responded sharply to renewed criticism of her on-court behaviour following comments made on a tennis podcast by Theodora Peatalas, the former partner of Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The discussion traces back to the 2026 Australian Open, where Osaka’s second round match against Sorana Cirstea featured visible emotion and vocal celebrations from the four-time Grand Slam champion. After the match, a brief exchange at the net drew attention, though Cirstea later downplayed the moment.
“It was just a five-second exchange between two players that have been on tour for a long time,” Cirstea said. “It stays between us.”
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Weeks later, the moment resurfaced when Peatalas discussed Osaka’s grunting and self encouragement on the podcast What’s the Call?, suggesting it felt performative and bordered on gamesmanship.
Osaka responded directly to a clip from the podcast, rejecting the criticism.
“I laugh when people that don’t know anything about tennis start a podcast about tennis,” Osaka wrote. “What do you mean grunting is unsportsmanlike and it gives you the ick? Watch a different sport lol.”
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The exchange adds to a longer history of Osaka publicly pushing back against outside commentary on how women should play or present themselves on court. In previous years, she has been vocal about boundaries, context, and the pressures placed on players, especially during high-profile events.
While the Australian Open match itself has long since passed, Osaka’s response makes clear that she has little patience for criticism from outside the sport, particularly when it comes to how players express emotion during competition.
Crysencio Summerville once again showed his importance to West Ham as they needed extra time to see off League One Burton and advance to the last 16 of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win.
Nuno Espirito Santo made 10 changes at the Pirelli Stadium against a team with big relegation worries of their own and the Hammers were labouring until the game moved into extra time.
But five minutes after the restart Summerville, an 83rd-minute replacement for Ollie Scarles, provided the inspiration that had been so sorely lacking inside the regulation 90 minutes, picking the ball up on the left touchline just inside the Burton half and bursting towards goal.
The 24-year-old beat two defenders before hitting a shot which deflected off Terence Vancooten to loop over Brad Collins for his sixth goal in his last seven games.
That run of form started in West Ham’s third-round win over QPR in this competition, and has fuelled a run of three Premier League wins in five to offer renewed hope in their bid to escape the relegation zone.
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“He’s in a good moment,” Nuno said. “Summerville is full of confidence. Everything that he does seems to go well, so we have to take advantage of it.”
Summerville scored only once in his first 38 games for West Ham after joining from Leeds in the summer of 2024, with his first season curtailed last January when he suffered a hamstring injury. But he is in electric form at present.
“It’s confidence,” Nuno said. “With forward players you know how it is. It’s all about confidence because many of the actions are individual. He’s in a good moment, he’s working for the team, he knows that he can make the difference.”
West Ham needed someone to make that difference after coming up against a determined Burton side who held their own for much of the afternoon.
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The team sitting fourth bottom of the third tier limited their Premier League opponents to a number of half-chances yet lacked the quality to test Alphonse Areola themselves.
The Hammers still had plenty to do after Summerville’s goal and were made to hang on for the last 20 minutes after Freddie Potts was sent off for a poor challenge through the back of Julian Larsson.
“I didn’t see the images so it was not fair for me to judge the decision,” Nuno said. “But I insist again, I feel Freddie Potts is not a violent player. He’s very fair. He’s aggressive, he has to be, but he’s not violent at all.”
Burton boss Gary Bowyer felt his side should have had a first-half penalty when Jake Beesley went down under a challenge from Konstantinos Mavropanos, but was proud of their efforts.
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“The way we took a Premier League team to the last seconds of extra time is a credit to the boys and the football club,” he said.
“We started the game well. We knew they’d made 10 changes so it takes a while to get into the flow. Our pitch as well is a bit of leveller so we knew there were opportunities for us.
“In the key moments we haven’t quite been able to execute them and then it’s a piece of quality from Summerville. It’s what he can do, isn’t it?”
‘One day, you’ve to watch me play for India in a World Cup from the stands’: How Abhishek Sharma is fulfilling an old promise in Colombo | Cricket News
Abhishek Sharma with his father Rajkumar Sharma and mother Manju Sharma (Special arrangement)
TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: Before the 2018 U-19 World Cup, Abhishek Sharma pleaded with his father, Rajkumar Sharma, to get a passport and come to New Zealand to watch him play. Rajkumar Sharma refused, saying he would travel abroad only if Abhishek played a Test match, an ODI World Cup, or a T20I World Cup. The 16-year-old was heartbroken, but he made a promise to his father: “One day you will have to come and watch me live from the stands. I will play in a World Cup for India.” Eight years later, Rajkumar Sharma, along with his wife Manju Sharma, daughter Komal Sharma and son-in-law Lovish Oberoi, is in Colombo to watch Abhishek play a World Cup match for India.
T20 World Cup: Salman Ali Agha press conference ahead of India vs Pakistan
“I have seen his IPL matches and some India matches but I have never watched him play a World Cup match from the stands. This is my first time,” an emotional Rajkumar Sharma told TimesofIndia.com.“He wanted us to travel to New Zealand during the U-19 World Cup, but I didn’t go. I challenged him that the day he plays for India in a senior World Cup, ODI or T20I, or Tests, I will travel wherever the venue is, to watch him play. I did break his heart, but I also gave him a goal in life,” Sharma senior said.The world’s leading T20I batter did not have an ideal start to the tournament. He played with a stomach infection against the USA in Mumbai. Although his innings lasted just one ball, his condition worsened. He had a high fever when the team landed in Delhi for the Namibia match. It got so severe that the southpaw had to be admitted to the hospital for a night. The illness also caused drastic weight loss.His family rushed to Delhi to be with him. After seeing his son lying on the hospital bed, Rajkumar Sharma decided to cancel his Colombo tickets, but Abhishek assured him that he would be fit for the February 15 match against Pakistan.“Karoron logon ki dua thi, woh kaise fit nahi hota?” said Rajkumar Sharma. (When millions of people were praying for him, how could he not be fit?)Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, who saw Abhishek’s onslaught from close quarters during the Asia Cup in Dubai, is also an admirer of the Indian batter.“We all know he’s a good player and I really hope he plays tomorrow because we want to play against the best team they have. I really hope he is recovering well and can play tomorrow,” Agha told reporters at the R Premadasa Stadium on the eve of the highly anticipated match against India.Abhishek’s father said he was grateful that his son was admired not only within his own team but also in the opposition camp.India captain Suryakumar Yadav also hinted at Abhishek’s return during the press conference.“If he wants him to play, then we’ll play him tomorrow. Done. If the opposing team’s captain is saying it will be good if Abhishek Sharma plays, then let’s play him. No problem,” Surya said.Back from the hospital bed, Abhishek Sharma batted for an hour in the nets. His session was divided into two parts. In one net, he faced fast bowlers, mostly net bowlers. In the second stint, he took on the spinners. There were a few hits and misses, but the sound off the bat was a clear signal that the Amritsar marauder was back, with plenty of critics to silence, including former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir.
“He is a slogger. That is how I see him. A player who cannot judge the line and defend the ball properly, can I call him a proper batter? He comes in and swings hard, and it connects well for him right now,” Amir said on the show Haarna Mana Hai.“But the day he learns to handle tough lines and defend properly, I will change my opinion. You are playing on small grounds and flat wickets. You have not really been tested yet,” Amir added.“Let him tour South Africa, New Zealand and England, where the ball moves. That is where the real test will be. If he succeeds there, I will be the first to call him a proper batter,” he said.Since making his debut in July 2024, Abhishek Sharma has emerged as one of the most destructive batters in world cricket. In 39 T20Is, the left-hander has scored 1,297 runs at a staggering strike rate of 194.45, with two centuries and eight fifties, while maintaining a strong average of 36.02.Although his father admits that watching his son bat increases his blood pressure.“I have told him so many times, ‘Kaake single bhi le’ (take singles as well). Now I have given up. But I sincerely hope he stays at the crease for longer. Right now, he is helping the team get ferocious starts, but if he can control his temptation a bit and bat till 15 overs, he can finish games quickly. But this approach has brought him so many blessings, so I have stopped complaining,” he said.As Abhishek Sharma prepares to walk out under the Colombo lights, the moment carries more than just runs and records. It is the culmination of a promise made by a teenager, the faith of millions who prayed for his recovery, and the quiet pride of a father finally watching from the stands. Whatever unfolds on the pitch, this World Cup night already stands as one of the most personal chapters of Abhishek’s journey.
Cristiano Ronaldo is set to expand his impressive business portfolio by tapping into the UK market, as his stance on retiring from football comes to light
Bruna Reis and Aaron Morris Senior Sports Reporter
15:42, 14 Feb 2026
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Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly planning to extend his brand into the UK. The 41-year-old, currently playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, is believed to be interested in introducing his hotel and bar businesses to Britain.
The Manchester United legend teamed up with Portuguese hotel group Pestana in 2016 to launch a range of CR7-branded hotels and bars. He owns CR7-branded establishments in Madrid, Funchal, Lisbon, Marrakech and New York.
According to The Sun, the partnership, which operates Inverse by Pestana CR7 venues throughout Portugal, has applied to register the trademark in the UK. The report suggests that Ronaldo, who remains immensely popular in Manchester, recognises the strong potential market in the city should he decide to open a bar or hotel there.
Ex-United team-mate Gary Neville already operates Hotel Football, located near Old Trafford. While there’s no sign of Ronaldo retiring soon, those close to him reportedly think his increasingly proactive business approach indicates he’s preparing for life after football.
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Despite already amassing a fortune worth hundreds of millions, he continues to broaden his portfolio across fashion, fitness and hospitality sectors.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which monitors the world’s wealthiest individuals, Ronaldo’s net worth is estimated at £1.04billion.
His worth takes into account career earnings, investments and endorsements, with Bloomberg estimating that his salary income from 2002 to 2023 surpassed £410 million.
His transfer to Al‐Nassr in 2022 saw him sign a reported annual salary of £177million, and he has since agreed a new contract keeping him at the club until 2027.
The 41-year-old sat out matches against Al-Ittihad and Al-Riyadh as a way of expressing his dissatisfaction with Al-Nassr, the Pro League and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF).
He has been upset over a lack of transfer activity at the club, as well as the reduced influence of his allies, chief executive Jose Semedo and director of football Simão Coutinho.
However, Ronaldo has since ended his strike action and is expected to play a key part in Al-Nassr’s clash with Al Fateh on Saturday evening.
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.
![Heathrow has said passenger numbers were 60% lower in November than before the coronavirus pandemic and there were “high cancellations” among business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas for Christmas as Omicron spreads. The UK’s largest airport said the government’s travel restrictions had dealt a fresh blow to travel confidence and predicted it was likely to take several years for passenger numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels. This week ministers said passengers arriving in the UK would have to take a pre-departure Covid test, as well as a post-flight test, because of fears about the spread of the new variant. “[The] high level of cancellations by business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas because of pre-departure testing shows the potential harm to the economy of travel restrictions,” the airport said in an update. Heathrow said the drop in traveller confidence owing to the new travel restrictions had negated the benefit of reopening the all-important corridor to North America for business and holiday travel last month. Eleven African countries have been added to the government’s red list, requiring travellers to quarantine before reuniting with families. “By allowing Brits to isolate at home, ministers can make sure they are reunited with their loved ones this Christmas,” said John Holland-Kaye, the chief executive of Heathrow. “It would send a strong signal that restrictions on travel will be removed as soon as safely possible to give passengers the confidence to book for 2022, opening up thousands of new jobs for local people at Heathrow. Let’s reunite families for Christmas.” Heathrow said that if the government could safely signal that restrictions would be lifted soon, then employers at Heathrow would have the confidence to hire thousands of staff in anticipation of a boost in business next summer. The airport is expecting a slow start to 2022, finishing next year with about 45 million passengers – just over half of pre-pandemic levels. This week Tui, Europe’s largest package holiday operator, said it expected bookings for next summer to bounce back to 2019 levels. However, Heathrow said on Friday not to expect the aviation industry to recover for several years. “We do not expect that international travel will recover to 2019 levels until at least all travel restrictions (including testing) are removed from all the markets that we serve, at both ends of the route, and there is no risk of new restrictions, such as quarantine, being imposed,” the airport said.](https://wordupnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_1100012546-scaled-400x240.jpg)
![Heathrow has said passenger numbers were 60% lower in November than before the coronavirus pandemic and there were “high cancellations” among business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas for Christmas as Omicron spreads. The UK’s largest airport said the government’s travel restrictions had dealt a fresh blow to travel confidence and predicted it was likely to take several years for passenger numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels. This week ministers said passengers arriving in the UK would have to take a pre-departure Covid test, as well as a post-flight test, because of fears about the spread of the new variant. “[The] high level of cancellations by business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas because of pre-departure testing shows the potential harm to the economy of travel restrictions,” the airport said in an update. Heathrow said the drop in traveller confidence owing to the new travel restrictions had negated the benefit of reopening the all-important corridor to North America for business and holiday travel last month. Eleven African countries have been added to the government’s red list, requiring travellers to quarantine before reuniting with families. “By allowing Brits to isolate at home, ministers can make sure they are reunited with their loved ones this Christmas,” said John Holland-Kaye, the chief executive of Heathrow. “It would send a strong signal that restrictions on travel will be removed as soon as safely possible to give passengers the confidence to book for 2022, opening up thousands of new jobs for local people at Heathrow. Let’s reunite families for Christmas.” Heathrow said that if the government could safely signal that restrictions would be lifted soon, then employers at Heathrow would have the confidence to hire thousands of staff in anticipation of a boost in business next summer. The airport is expecting a slow start to 2022, finishing next year with about 45 million passengers – just over half of pre-pandemic levels. This week Tui, Europe’s largest package holiday operator, said it expected bookings for next summer to bounce back to 2019 levels. However, Heathrow said on Friday not to expect the aviation industry to recover for several years. “We do not expect that international travel will recover to 2019 levels until at least all travel restrictions (including testing) are removed from all the markets that we serve, at both ends of the route, and there is no risk of new restrictions, such as quarantine, being imposed,” the airport said.](https://wordupnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_1100012546-scaled-80x80.jpg)
