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The names to know for Super Bowl LVI
The Super Bowl LVI matchup is set with the Bengals and Rams. Here's a look at the names to know heading into the game.
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TODAY'S BEST
Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice
Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.
Bruins' David Pastrnak Calls Out Canadiens' Juraj Slafkovsky: He Just Lacks Humility'
Juraj Slafkovsky is one of the most promising players in the NHL, but now he has been called out by David Pastrnak, who stated he lacks humility. After being picked No. 1 overall in 2022 NHL Draft, expectations were high in Montreal for young star Juraj Slafkovsky, and thus far, he's shown glimpses of being the elite level player many expected when he entered the National Hockey League. However, there are still some major steps to go, and in a recent interview, Boston Bruins star David Pastrnak pointed out perhaps one area where the 21-year old may need to improve moving forward. When asked about Slafkovsky and his potential, Pastrnak gave nothing but a glowing review of the young Canadiens star, but he did note that he believes Slafkovsky needs more humility. 'He's still a young player who is gaining experience in the NHL every year. This season it was already clear that he gave the team more than before...He just needs a little more humility, he should set an example for the young ones.' On the ice, there's no doubting that Slafkovsky has the presence, the size and the talent to be a true star, posting 101 total points over the past two seasons, but for whatever reason, it appears as though Pastrnak believes he needs to improve off the ice before he can take a major leap in Montreal. Ultimately, the talent is still there for Slafkovsky, and at 21-years old, he'll continue to learn off the ice, and if he can go anywhere close to living up to the potential that he's shown in his first three years at the NHL level, there's no doubt that he can be a big time star and help lead the Canadiens to significant post-season success.
Mets Could Steal Massive Star From Their Biggest Rival
In 2024, the New York Mets may have pulled off the biggest jersey swap of all time- acquiring massive free agent Juan Soto on an enormous 15-year, $765 million deal. However, this shouldn’t be the end of the line for New York. The team still has money, and perhaps they can use it to pay for a massive star. Big-Name Free Agent Could Be on the Radar for Mets The Biggest Bat on the Free Agent Market May Not be Kyle Tucker Sure, Kyle Tucker is a younger player with some superstar potential. Some might say that he is a superstar. However, the one very consistent bat is the bat of Kyle Schwarber. Over the last five seasons, Schwarber has hit at least 32 homers. This season is no exception, as he is on pace for 57 home runs. Schwarber strikes out a lot. However, his at-bats usually end in either a homer, a strikeout, or a walk. Schwarber remains one of the most significant game-changing bats on the market. He is heading into his age-33 season, but he reminds many of a Nelson Cruz-type bat. A bat that can last well into the late 30s. Tucker may be a good defender and a possibly excellent bat, but consistency remains on the side of Schwarber. The Mets Shouldn’t Stop at Alonso and Soto Now, the Mets may very well have to contend with another free agency of Pete Alonso. However, if the Mets have learned anything this season, they probably won’t hesitate to sign Alonso, especially with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. off the market. This will leave the Mets with options in free agency. Go big or play it safe and improve minimally. The Mets typically aren’t used to liking Schwarber, who seems to always be on a rival team. However, this doesn’t mean that it is impossible for him to pry away from the Phillies. Sure, the Mets can be content with the signing of Soto and, hopefully, also Alonso. But if New York wants to make the best team ever to play in Queens, New York may very well want to go after some of the bigger names on the market. If many people thought the Mets were in contention for Vladdy, then they can definitely be in contention for Schwarber. The Mets also don’t have a definitive DH, and even with some saying Soto is a potential DH in the future, Soto will likely continue to play the outfield. Schwarber would be a dream DH for New York. Schwarber Will Not Be Easy To Sign, But Neither Was Soto If there is one thing that many have learned over the last few seasons, it is that the Mets don’t just settle. The Mets have made huge trades, huge signings, and more. Schwarber has made it relatively clear that he likes Philly, and even his teammates have expressed that they want him to stay. And of course, Philly is capable of providing the money for Schwarber to stay. However, New York is even more capable. If the Mets make a good trade ahead of the deadline, young players live up to their potential, and the Mets make a big splash in free agency, then New York would be virtually unstoppable. It used to be the New York Yankees that got everything they wanted. Now, there might be a new sheriff in town. The Mets are starting to turn the corner and are becoming the new juggernaut in New York. Perhaps the Soto signing was just the beginning. Signing a free agent away from a bitter rival wouldn’t be easy. However, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time for New York.
Four high-risk, high-reward options for fantasy football
Fantasy football is not for the weak. It takes guts to draft an unproven running back or injured wide receiver. Here are five players that could make or break your roster in 2025. Scoring and statistics courtesy of Yahoo!Sports. RB De’Von Achane | Miami Dolphins In 2023, Achane rushed for 800 yards and eight scores while averaging 7.8 yards per carry despite missing six games. In 2024, his 1,499 total yards and 12 scores were good for a RB5 finish, the same spot teammate Raheem Mostert occupied the year before. At 5-foot-9 and 188 pounds, Achane is relatively small compared to the majority of NFL running backs, which could limit his value in standard leagues. Fantasy managers should also be aware that Achane ran for just 286 yards in six games without quarterback Tua Tagovailoa last season, and 621 yards with the oft-injured quarterback. Still, in PPR formats, Achane is a must-have player. Last year, he led all running backs in receptions (78) and receiving yards (592) and tied Tampa Bay’s Rachaad White for the league lead with six receiving touchdowns from a running back. WR A.J. Brown | Philadelphia Eagles On the one hand, Brown finished 2024 with 1,079 yards, his fifth 1,000-yard season in six years. On the other hand, a second straight seven-score season made him WR20 in fantasy football, a far cry from the WR5 position he held in 2023. For all his team’s success, the defending Super Bowl champions averaged 187.9 yards through the air last year, the fourth-lowest number in the league. More importantly, Kevin Patullo, Philadelphia’s passing game coordinator for the past four seasons, will take over for Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator in 2025. All things considered, with an ADP of 20.7 Brown has too much upside to ignore, but if the Eagles plan to stick with a run-heavy scheme this season, Brown’s numbers could drop even further. WR Stefon Diggs | New England Patriots The once-proud Patriots have been fantasy poison since the departure of quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick, but if healthy, Diggs could give New England a receiving threat they haven’t had since Julian Edelman retired in 2021. Diggs missed nine games with a torn ACL with the Texans last season, but posted six straight 1,000-yard seasons, including a league-best 1,535 yards in 2020, prior to the injury. He also finished 2023 as the ninth-leading receiver in fantasy football. Per Paul Perillo of the Patriots' official site, Diggs had no restrictions for Wednesday's opening training camp practice and led every position drill for his fellow wideouts. On a team with limited offensive weapons, Diggs could be a game-changer for fantasy rosters. RB Christian McCaffrey | San Francisco 49ers Like Diggs, McCaffrey is among the best at his position when healthy, something he wasn’t in 2024. Injuries limited the 29-year-old running back to four games last season, his fewest since making three appearances with Carolina in 2020. He missed just one game in 2023 and finished as fantasy football’s leading rusher with the third-most points of any player regardless of position. McCaffrey was a full participant in OTAs, but most expect the team to limit him during the preseason. With wide receiver Deebo Samuel now with the Commanders and Brandon Aiyuk on the PUP list, McCaffrey has tremendous upside in PPR formats, but carries a substantially more risk than other first-round options.
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