Yardbarker

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

EXPERTISE:

NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, Premier League, MLS, US Soccer, UFC

Jimmy Garoppolo discusses offseason surgery, return to 49ers

Garoppolo hadn't been a full participant in practices and didn't play in any preseason games as he worked to fully recover from right shoulder surgery.

Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa voted team captain after tumultuous offseason

Tagovailoa will serve as a captain for the first time in his three-year career.

Titans RB Derrick Henry still playing for extension after receiving raise for 2022

Henry may not have received the exact financial guarantees he wanted, but the 28-year-old nevertheless has millions of reasons to smile heading into the Week 1 game versus the New York Giants on Sept. 11.

Buccaneers' Tom Brady, wife Gisele Bündchen reportedly in fight over his decision to return to NFL

Emily Smith and Sara Nathan of Page Six reported that Bündchen "left their family compound in Tampa, Fla., for Costa Rica following a series of heated arguments over Brady’s shock decision to un-retire from the NFL."

Insider offers hints for contract Mets' Jacob deGrom may earn as free agent

New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom has made only six MLB appearances this season, all of which occurred in August, but some already can't stop thinking about his future beyond what could ultimately become a World Series run. 

Reporter insists Panthers' Baker Mayfield made profane quote about Browns

It appears the "did he or didn't he?" story regarding Carolina Panthers starting quarterback Baker Mayfield won't be going away anytime soon.

49ers GM John Lynch suggests Jimmy Garoppolo trade would've happened if not for surgery

Ultimately, Jimmy G got a new contract with San Francisco and appears set to begin the season with the club.

Anett Kontaveit cries, leaves press conference after loss to Serena Williams

Kontaveit admitted during her post-match press conference that facing Williams in such an environment was emotionally overwhelming. Fans seemed to cheer whenever the 26-year-old Estonian made unforced errors and/or gifted Williams points during the match.

Tennis star Nick Kyrgios says he smelled marijuana during U.S. Open win

Passionate tennis fans will likely be less-than-shocked to learn that Nick Kyrgios, this year's Wimbledon runner-up, was in headlines on Thursday morning

Troy Aikman: Buccaneers' Tom Brady taking training camp break 'doesn’t really matter'

Aikman went so far as to admit that modern training camp sessions and preseason games don't mean all that much to a veteran such as Brady.

Serena Williams, Venus Williams to make U.S. Open history Thursday night

Regardless of what happens beyond Thursday night, tennis living legends Serena Williams and Venus Williams are bound to make history during this year's U.S.

Could Wan'Dale Robinson be Giants' leading receiver for 2022 NFL season?

The Giants have more questions than answers hovering over their passing attack heading into the Week 1 matchup at the Titans.

Experts don't think Steelers' T.J. Watt can repeat as Defensive Player of the Year?

Despite a dominant 2021 season, Watt garnered very little attention in a recent survey of NFL media members.

Boston sportswriter Bob Ryan rips Kevin Durant in profane rant

Ryan is apparently glad the Celtics were unable to trade for Durant and he did not hold back in expressing that opinion.

Police release photo of couple accused of engaging in sex act during Mariners vs. Athletics game

It was back on Aug. 21 when a couple was first accused of engaging in a sex act during a game between the Mariners and Athletics.

Steve Cohen explains why Mets retired Willie Mays' number

To the delight of fans at Citi Field, the New York Mets unexpectedly retired the No. 24 famously worn by Hall of Famer Willie Mays during a special "Old Timers' Day" ceremony held ahead of this past Saturday's game against the Colorado Rockies.

Baker Mayfield denies making profane quote about Browns

The alleged quote went viral but Mayfield is now disputing the story.

Steelers' Chase Claypool, not George Pickens, named possible 'breakout star' at WR

Chase Claypool recorded 62 catches for 873 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie during the 2020 season.

White Sox manager Tony La Russa out indefinitely, reportedly having tests on heart

Bench coach Miguel Cairo is expected to serve as interim manager in La Russa's absence.

Artist compares Jimmy Garoppolo staying with 49ers to 'Wolf of Wall Street'

Rita Carvalho vowed to draw depictions of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo each day until he was traded (or presumably released).

'Timmy Trumpet' hopes to play Edwin Diaz's walkout song live at Citi Field

There's no guarantee Smith will get to play "Narco" on Wednesday. After all, the 90-38 Dodgers began the afternoon holding the best overall record in all of MLB. 

Media personality blasts Cleveland fans for not supporting, respecting Guardians

Per ESPN stats, the Guardians are 25th in attendance for the ongoing season, averaging 17,103 fans per home game. Every fellow AL Central club but the fourth-place Kansas City Royals (53-77, 27th in attendance) is above Cleveland in attendance at the end of August. 

Experts predict Bills' Josh Allen will win MVP; Buccaneers' Tom Brady gets no votes

On the NFL's official website, 25 experts were asked to predict who will win the top end-of-season individual awards this coming winter.

Insider links Jets' Denzel Mims to Cowboys following trade request

Expectations for Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott are as high as ever throughout the football community, so owner Jerry Jones may be more willing to explore a trade for an unproven commodity such as Mims.

Former DB Orlando Scandrick: Tom Brady deserves 'benefit of the doubt' over training camp break

The 35-year-old added he would've told Brady as a teammate: "Do what you got to do."