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

Penguins star Evgeni Malkin game-time decision Tuesday at Ducks

Back in late December, Pittsburgh Penguins star center Evgeni Malkin suggested that he could make his season debut during the club's current road trip.

Giants HC Joe Judge has job 'for now,' wants say in GM search?

It remains unclear if Giants ownership would force a marriage between Judge and a GM or allow that executive to make a final call on Big Blue's coaching staff at some point down the road this winter. 

Blue Jackets suspend Gregory Hofmann after excused absence

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Gregory Hofmann hasn't appeared on the ice for the club since Dec. 14 due to unspecified personal reasons.

Panthers GM not 'shopping' All-Pro Christian McCaffrey

Head coach Matt Rhule said one plan was to have McCaffrey feature more as a slot receiver before he was sidelined, first with a hamstring problem and later with an ankle injury.  

Kevin Stefanski 'fully expects' QB Baker Mayfield to 'bounce back' next season

The fifth-year option attached to Mayfield's contract carries a value of $18.858 million and theoretically attaches him to the Browns through next season.

Bryson DeChambeau out of Sony Open in Hawaii with sore wrist

According to Ryan Lavner of Golf Channel, DeChambeau likely won't compete again until the Saudi International, scheduled to take place from Feb. 3-6. He finished tied for 10th at the Sony in 2019.

Giants QB Daniel Jones doing 'good' recovering from neck injury

Jones added he "absolutely" will be cleared to participate in summer training camp activities. 

Buccaneers HC Bruce Arians: 'Travesty' if QB Tom Brady doesn't win MVP

Brady finished the regular season leading the league with his 485 completions, 719 attempts, 5,316 passing yards and 43 passing touchdowns.

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson worried about 'getting back right,' not extension

Throughout 2021, neither Jackson nor the Ravens seemed concerned about negotiations or in any rush to sign an extension. It seems that's still the case on the first day of the team's offseason. 

Saints QB Taysom Hill expected to need surgeries for Lisfranc injury

Hill went down with a Lisfranc injury in his left foot during Sunday's campaign-closing victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

TE David Njoku wants to re-sign, spend career with Browns

Things can and often do change quickly in the NFL, and it appears that's the case regarding Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku.

QB Cam Newton wants to be with 'winning' team, play at 'high level'

Newton is set to hit free agency when the new NFL year opens in March and made it clear Monday he isn't considering walking away from the game. 

Browns teammates praise 'tough' QB Baker Mayfield

Running back Nick Chubb and offensive guard Wyatt Teller were among teammates who praised the signal-caller while speaking with media members on Monday.

Giants' Joe Judge reportedly still safe, could have new offensive staff

Vacchiano says Joe Judge will keep his job into the offseason despite carrying an overall record of 10-22 as Giants head coach.

70% of eligible NBA players have received COVID-19 vaccine boosters?

Additionally, ESPN reports 100% of the league's current COVID-19 cases can be linked to the Omicron variant. 

Aaron Rodgers mocks 'prank' claim he'd boycott Super Bowl over COVID-19 protocols

WFAN personality Boomer Esiason shared on his radio program that an alleged source informed him that Rodgers could potentially boycott playing in the Super Bowl.

49ers' Jimmy Garoppolo questionable; Kyle Shanahan knows who will start vs. Rams

Jimmy Garoppolo is questionable for Week 18, and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan declined to reveal who will start for the Niners this weekend.

WR Antonio Brown clears waivers, becomes free agent

It's anybody's guess if Brown could pass a club physical or if a Super Bowl contender would view him as a low risk, high-reward acquisition considering all that's occurred over just the past five days.

Kenny Golladay: First season with Giants 'just not good enough'

He leads the Giants with 71 targets and 499 receiving yards this season.

Titans HC Mike Vrabel: RB Derrick Henry 'looked good' on practice field

Henry could potentially make a cameo against the Texans on Sunday.

Texans reportedly sign RB Rex Burkhead to one-year extension

Burkhead is on track to end the season as the team's leading rusher and has tallied 403 yards and three touchdowns on 110 carries across 15 contests.

Packers HC Matt LaFleur reiterates QB Aaron Rodgers wants to play vs. Lions

LaFleur admitted, however, that he doesn't believe Rodgers "necessarily needs to play" to be sharp for the postseason tournament. 

Raiders push back against playing for tie against Chargers to qualify for playoffs

The Raiders will have already clinched a playoff berth if both the Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers suffer defeats on Sunday afternoon.

Report: Future College Football Playoff title games could occur in Las Vegas, Miami

Los Angeles will host the championship game next January, while Houston will have it the following year.

Paul Finebaum: 'Punk' Baker Mayfield is 'a poor man’s Johnny Manziel'

Such comparisons aren't entirely fair to Mayfield, who played through much of the 2021 season with a torn labrum and fractured bone at the top of the humerus that will require him to have surgery on his non-throwing shoulder.