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

Hawks fire Lloyd Pierce as head coach

The Hawks hope assistant Nate McMillan will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

Former coach calls J.J. Watt 'selfish' player

According to Josh Reed of Buffalo television station WIVB, some within the Houston Texans, Watt's former employer, believe the Bills dodged a bullet by missing out on the three-time Defensive Player of the Year.

Texans to make QB Josh McCown a coach after his release?

It's widely assumed new Houston head coach David Culley will add McCown to his staff. Whether or not that is by choice is in question.

2021 NIT to have field of 16, take place in Dallas area

The reduced field means that the NCAA has eliminated automatic NIT qualifiers and will instead select all 16 schools as at-large participants.

17-game NFL season 'highly likely' for 2021?

Interestingly, the extra week will force the NFL to push Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles back seven days from Feb. 6 to Feb. 13 because the league never starts any season over Labor Day weekend due to concerns about television ratings through the holiday break.

Mets to discuss extensions with Lindor, Conforto 'relatively soon'

Mets president Sandy Alderson told reporters on Monday that negotiations between the club and the pair of players are on his list of upcoming errands. 

Derek Carr's brother thinks Raiders should trade for Russell Wilson?

If the Raiders make the call, one wonders if the next Carr family reunion will include a tense and awkward conversation between brothers.  

Aaron Rodgers gives $1 million to California small businesses

Rodgers was able to notify some of the owners via video calls, and he shared reactions of those calls on his personal Instagram page.

AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic to miss Europa League clash vs. Manchester United?

An abductor muscle injury he suffered during Sunday's 2-1 Serie A victory over AS Roma may prevent him from taking the pitch.

Chiefs GM Brett Veach: It will be 'challenging to retain' Sammy Watkins

Veach said that he's positive about the thought of Mecole Hardman and/or Byron Pringle potentially replacing Watkins in the rotation but didn't rule out bringing the vet back.

Chiefs hopeful Patrick Mahomes will be ready by June after toe surgery

The Kansas City Chiefs are hopeful that quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be recovered from the toe surgery he had on Feb. 10 to participate in June minicamp sessions. 

Youngstown State assistant banned after hit on Northern Iowa receiver

Youngstown State Penguins assistant coach and director of player personnel Tim Johnson won't be back on the sidelines again during the spring football

Zhang Weili-Rose Namajunas title fight targeted for UFC 261

The UFC has Zhang No. 3 in the women's pound-for-pound rankings, while Namajunas is ranked No. 1 in the strawweight division and No. 4 overall.  

Tigers' Miguel Cabrera wants to reach 500 home runs, 3,000 hits in 2021

If Cabrera can remain in the lineup through the summer into late September, reaching both of those marks is achievable. 

Manchester City's Pep Guardiola says he shouts at players too much

The 50-year-old added that his players, not he, deserve the credit for his team's recent run of form. 

Texans want RB David Johnson to take pay cut?

Earlier Friday, the Texans parted ways with running back Duke Johnson and saved a little more than $5 million in the process.

Tennis' Gilles Simon steps away from tour for mental health reasons

Simon did not disclose when he may return to competitive play, but his tweet suggests he'll remain away as long as the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting countries and tournaments. 

LB Haason Reddick on free agency: 'I want my number to be called'

The Cardinals could place the franchise tag on Reddick and have the 26-year-old play under an expensive one-year 'prove it' deal. 

WR Rashard Higgins wants to re-sign with Browns

Higgins might want to stay with the Browns, but he could find a better offer as it pertains to both guaranteed money and targets elsewhere. 

DeAndre Hopkins roasts Texans: 'They said I'm only worth a 2nd-rounder'

Those running Houston's accounts may want to mute Hopkins at least until he's finished with his physical prime.

Indianapolis relaxing COVID-19 restrictions before Big Ten, NCAA men's tournaments

Per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN), Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett announced on Friday that the city will relax COVID-19 restrictions currently placed

Buccaneers DL Ndamukong Suh offers praise for WR Antonio Brown

Suh, also known for controversies over his career, has his fellow former All-Pro's back.

Report: ABC signs new deal with NFL for 'MNF,' Super Bowl rights

Passionate football fans shouldn't expect many changes other than tuning in to ABC to watch a Super Bowl for the first time since 2006 at some point down the road.

Nets' Kevin Durant out through All-Star break with hamstring injury

Durant was averaging 29.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 52.4% from the field and 43.4% from three-point range before the injury.

Three new MLB players test positive for COVID-19

In total, MLB players had a 0.3% positive COVID-19 rate. Fourteen clubs have reported at least one positive result since players, coaches and other staff members arrived for spring training sessions earlier this month.