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

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. 

Richie Incognito returning to Raiders for 2021 season?

Incognito last made a Pro Bowl squad in 2017 but played well enough in 2019 that the Raiders have reasons to believe he'll be well worth the money owed to him this year.

Could QB Ryan Fitzpatrick start for Denver Broncos in 2021?

Fitzpatrick threw for 2,091 passing yards with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions last season and showed that he could be an ideal bridge quarterback for a team that doesn't have a long-term answer at the position.

Tottenham to offer Harry Kane a new contract this summer?

Kane turns 28 years old in July and seemingly would have his choice of new employers this summer.

QB Alex Smith has 'no animosity' toward Washington Football Team

Smith is signed through the 2022 campaign, but Washington could save nearly $15 million in salary-cap space by cutting the 36-year-old during the offseason.

Jackson State-Mississippi Valley State game postponed due to COVID-19

The Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils confirmed that they paused all football-related activities because of a positive COVID-19 test, contact tracing and subsequent quarantines impacting the team.

Seahawks LB K.J. Wright: Russell Wilson 'isn't going anywhere'

It's worth noting that Wright is set to hit free agency when the new NFL year opens next month. The 31-year-old wants to remain with the Seahawks but only at the right price. 

Texans 'unwilling' to discuss trading Deshaun Watson with teams?

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has made it quite clear to everyone, including new head coach David Culley, that he has zero intentions of ever again playing for the club and wishes to be traded this offseason.