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

Twitter/X: @ZacWassink

Muck Rack: zac-wassink

September 11, 2020 | Seattle Seahawks

Seattle special teams coordinator Brian Schneider leaves Seahawks indefinitely

Seattle head coach Pete Carroll confirmed that special teams coordinator Brian Schneider has taken an indefinite leave from the organization for personal reasons. Special teams assistant Larry Izzo will temporarily replace Schneider.

September 11, 2020 | MLB

MLB reports zero positive COVID-19 test results among players for 12 straight days

MLB and the MLB Players Association confirmed via a Friday joint statement that zero players returned positive coronavirus results over the last 12 days of testing.

September 11, 2020 | Philadelphia Phillies

Phillies' Zack Wheeler could lose fingernail following freak pants-related injury

Phillies manager Joe Girardi told reporters on Friday that it would be "fortunate" if Wheeler takes the bump against Miami on Monday. Girardi added that Wheeler's middle fingernail might need to be removed.

September 11, 2020 | College Football

Memphis-Houston game in jeopardy due to coronavirus outbreak

Memphis might not be able to face the Houston Cougars next Friday as scheduled after the Tigers temporarily halted football activities on Friday due to a coronavirus outbreak within the program.

September 11, 2020 | Houston Rockets

Rockets' Danuel House evicted from NBA bubble due to protocol violation

The NBA confirmed on Friday that Houston Rockets forward Danuel House has left the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex bubble site after he violated league guidelines.

September 11, 2020 | NFL

Viewership for NFL season opener drops 13 percent from 2019

Viewership for the 2020 NFL season opener between defending Super Bowl champions the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans was down from a year ago. The

September 11, 2020 | Seattle Mariners

Mariners outright 2019 stolen base leader Mallex Smith to Triple-A Tacoma

The Seattle Mariners announced on Friday that the club demoted 2019 MLB stolen base leader Mallex Smith to the team's alternate training site.

September 11, 2020 | Vegas Golden Knights

Report: Golden Knights agree to extension with goaltender Robin Lehner

The Golden Knights have a "handshake agreement" with goaltender Robin Lehner on a five-year contract extension that carries a $5 million average annual value.

September 11, 2020 | Cleveland Browns

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski will call offensive plays

For the second season in a row, Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield will have offensive plays called by the team's head coach in Week 1.

September 11, 2020 | Tampa Bay Rays

Tampa Bay Rays make MLB history with all-lefty lineup

The Tampa Bay Rays made some MLB history even before Friday's game held at Tropicana Field.

September 11, 2020 | MMA

Cris Cyborg to defend Bellator title vs. Arlene Blencowe on Oct. 15

It's expected Bellator will push Cyborg as the face of its women's divisions.

September 11, 2020 | Tottenham Hotspur

Report: Tottenham may pursue Watford's Troy Deeney

Deeney, 32, was left out of Watford's squad for the team's season opener versus Middlesbrough on Friday. He scored 10 goals across 27 Premier League appearances for Watford during the 2019-20 campaign.

September 11, 2020 | MMA

Matt Schnell off UFC Vegas 10 after he collapsed while cutting weight

Matt Weibel, Schnell's manager, confirmed on Twitter that the 30-year-old collapsed while attempting to cut weight ahead of Friday's weigh-ins. Schnell was recovering at a local hospital as of Friday afternoon.

September 11, 2020 | Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers' Joc Pederson reinstated from paternity list

Across 34 games this summer, the 28-year-old is hitting .184 with six home runs, 12 RBI, and 25 strikeouts.

September 11, 2020 | Memphis Grizzlies

Grizzlies hire MIT's Sonia Raman as assistant coach

Raman guided MIT to a pair of NCAA Tournament berths and tallied a 91-45 record during her last five seasons with the program.

September 11, 2020 | College Football

Big 12 announces partnership for rapid coronavirus testing

Student-athletes, coaches, and other necessary personnel will all fall under this new program that offers 15-minute results and batch testing capabilities.

September 11, 2020 | New York Rangers

NHL bumps draft up to Oct. 6-7, sets Oct. 9 for free agency start

On Friday, the NHL announced two important date changes for events occurring after the 2020 Stanley Cup Final. With the Final set to finish either before September ends or in early October, the league announced that the 2020 NHL Draft will take place on Oct.

September 11, 2020 | Philadelphia Phillies

Phillies' Zack Wheeler suffers unique pants-related injury

Wheeler, who signed a five-year, $118 million contract with the Phillies in December, holds a 4-0 record across eight starts with a 2.47 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 51.0 innings of work this summer.

September 10, 2020 | MMA

Dustin Poirier vs. Tony Ferguson not happening at UFC 254

An anticipated UFC match between lightweights Dustin Poirier and Tony Ferguson won't be happening at the October UFC 254 show held at the Fight Island location in Abu Dhabi.

September 10, 2020 | MLB

Diamondbacks designate former All-Star IF Jake Lamb for assignment, promote Pavin Smith

The Arizona Diamondbacks announced on Thursday that the club designated one-time All-Star infielder Jake Lamb for assignment. In a corresponding roster move, Arizona added 24-year-old infielder/outfielder Pavin Smith from the club's alternate training site.