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

Kings' Aisha Visram becomes first woman to work behind NHL bench

Visram is the head athletic trainer for the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League but was called into duty in Los Angeles because the Kings were short-staffed due to COVID-19 issues.

Bucks HC Mike Budenholzer clears health and safety protocols

Budenholzer cleared the protocols in time to work Thursday's home matchup against the 30-10 Golden State Warriors. 

49ers' Mike McDaniel focused on Cowboys, not head coaching interviews

Mike McDaniel worked for the San Francisco 49ers as run game specialist in 2017 and then as run game coordinator the following three years until he was promoted to the role of offensive coordinator last January.

Rams' Matthew Stafford trolls Aaron Rodgers: 'I'll keep my toes to myself'

Matthew Stafford endured a toe injury in the Week 18 loss to the 49ers. Stafford had some fun at Rodgers' expense while discussing the setback.

Report: Super Bowl LVI staying in California despite COVID-19 concerns

The Associated Press (h/t ESPN) now reports the league doesn't intend to relocate the championship contest over fears about possible pandemic-related attendance restrictions in California. 

Report: MLB against lowering service time for free agency amid lockout

League owners remain against lowering the service-time requirement for players to hit free agency and, ideally, cash-in on the open market.

Titans' Julio Jones: It's 'great' if defensive coordinators underestimate me

Tennessee Titans star wide receiver Julio Jones did not have the type of debut season with his current employer he likely envisioned after he earned seven Pro Bowl nods across his decade with the Atlanta Falcons.

Report: Cowboys WR Amari Cooper fined for COVID-19 violation

The NFL fined Cooper $14,650 for violating the league's COVID-19 protocols by not wearing an approved face covering while attending a Dallas Mavericks game last week.

Cardinals' J.J. Watt 'very limited' in return to practice from shoulder injury

Watt hasn't played since he suffered a shoulder injury on Oct. 24 that required him to go under the knife for what was thought, at the time, to be a season-ending procedure.

Tom Brady didn't know some Eagles fans are still mad about Super Bowl LII post-game snub

The Eagles would love to give Brady another reason to storm off a sideline without first jogging toward the center of a field as the final seconds of a contest tick away.

Canadiens' Chris Wideman suspended one game for headbutting Bruins' Erik Haula

Wideman is not a repeat offender, which likely helped his cause in this matter. He loses $3,750, and that forfeited money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund. 

Report: 'Spring training starting on time is in peril' amid MLB lockout

MLB Network insider Jon Heyman added there's a "long way to go" before fans can see a light at the end of the figurative tunnel and know that zero games will be lost to the lockout.

Colts GM doesn't commit to Carson Wentz as starting QB in 2022

Questions about Carson Wentz's viability as a starting QB in the NFL continue to swirl.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes: 'We’re expecting a battle' vs. Steelers

Mahomes added that the 39-year-old Ben Roethlisberger is "an all-time great quarterback" who is "still playing great football right now" heading into the postseason tournament.

Arkansas coach Eric Musselman out at least two games after shoulder surgery

Assistant coach Keith Smart will serve as interim coach.

Browns HC Kevin Stefanski on Baker Mayfield: 'We work well together'

Both Mayfield and Stefanski have denied they're on different pages at this point of the process.

Cristiano Ronaldo wants to continue playing until he's 42?

Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo turns 37 next month and leads the Premier League side with 14 goals across all competitions this season.

Penn State RB Noah Cain enters transfer portal

Cain is a native of Baton Rouge who was linked with the LSU Tigers for the 2019 class and could potentially complete a homecoming.

Report: Relationship between Dave Gettleman, Joe Judge 'started to deteriorate last season'

Outsiders assumed Gettleman and Judge were, at the very least, mostly in agreement regarding meaningful decisions. It appears, however, that may not be accurate. 

Raiders' Darren Waller: Battles with addiction made missing time harder

Current Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller endured multiple suspensions earlier in his career for violations of the NFL's substance-abuse policy and has since spoken openly about his battles with addiction.

Penguins' Jeff Carter: Evgeni Malkin 'didn't miss a beat' after long layoff

Pittsburgh Penguins star center Evgeni Malkin couldn't have asked for a much better regular-season debut coming off the June knee surgery that cost him roughly three months of the campaign than what he enjoyed in Tuesday's dominant 4-1 victory at the Anaheim Ducks.

Cardinals' Kliff Kingsbury expects Kyler Murray to play 'best game of his career' at Rams

Kingsbury is confident in Murray as the quarterback makes his playoff debut. 

49ers' Jimmy Garoppolo: 'Sore' thumb is 'feeling great right now'

Garoppolo spoke with reporters Wednesday about the hurting digit as he and his teammates prepare for this coming Sunday's wild-card showdown at the Dallas Cowboys. 

Oilers superstar Connor McDavid on Evander Kane: 'Right now it's all speculation'

McDavid didn't go into detail about how adding the controversial Kane to the roster could impact an 18-14-2 Oilers side looking to right the figurative ship.