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Off Their Game Week 16 - Robby Anderson
FFL Flash Alert - The Panthers WR finished with 21 receiving yards last week - and Tank Williams thinks he'll struggle again vs. Washington.
FFL Flash Alert - The Panthers WR finished with 21 receiving yards last week - and Tank Williams thinks he'll struggle again vs. Washington.
Patrik Laine might want to be elsewhere, but it's not going to affect his performance.
The Blue Jays have avoided arbitration with outfielder Teoscar Hernandez and right-hander Ross Stripling after signing them to one-year deals on Friday.
The Yankees' best player over the past two years is nearing a deal to re-sign in New York, sources told Yahoo Sports.
Raptors coach Nick Nurse explains the adjustments Aron Baynes needs to make on both ends of the floor, and argues that not being a great jumper didn't stop Marc Gasol from being an elite defender.
"As much taxes as these players pay, they deserve some preferential treatment."
REGINA — The Saskatchewan government is giving $4 million to help junior hockey leagues and teams that have had their play interrupted by provincial health restrictions. It says it will send $1 million to support the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and $600,000 will go to each of the province's five Western Hockey League teams. The Ministry of Trade and Export Development says the cash will help them cover revenue losses and ensure teams survive the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the province's public health order, athletes who are 18 and younger can practise or train in small groups, but team sports are banned. The SJHL suspended its season in late November after the ban was announced, and says a return to play likely won't be decided until after today. The WHL has said it was committed to playing a 2020-21 season, but potential start dates were undecided. “Our junior hockey teams are a critical part of the cultural fabric and local economies across the province,” Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison said in a statement Friday. “Necessary restrictions due to COVID-19 have had a significant impact on these leagues and their teams and this support will help them address these financial challenges.” The Saskatchewan Party government says it's working with both leagues on options for a safe return to play. The public-health restrictions are to expire Jan. 29. Earlier this week, Saskatchewan's chief medical health officer raised the possibility that harsher restrictions could be on the way if the province doesn't lower its daily COVID-19 case count. Dr. Saqib Shahab said the current average of more than 300 new daily infections is too high, and top Saskatchewan Health Authority officials also warned that the health system is at its most fragile yet in the pandemic. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 15, 2021. The Canadian Press
The Toronto Raptors haven't got off to the start they wanted and the time is looming for the front office to make a decision. Do they try to improve the roster or roll with what they have?
Brazil's federal police arrested Argentine golfer Angel Cabrera on Thursday for extradition to his homeland to face charges for several crimes.
It's a classic in the making as Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers' offense face off against Jalen Ramsey and the Los Angeles Rams' defense.
A divorce between Pierre-Luc Dubois and the Blue Jackets seems imminent, and a lot of NHL teams should be jumping at the chance to acquire the star center.
The music star will be in attendance at the 2021 Daytona 500.
Aaron, meet Aaron. And Aaron. Aaron Donald, the unanimous All-Pro defensive tackle who owns a couple of Defensive Player of the Year awards, certainly hopes to meet fellow All-Pro Aaron Rodgers on Saturday — in the Packers' backfield. Donald hopes to put the star quarterback on the ground a few times, too. Same for when Green Bay running back Aaron Jones comes in the vicinity of the Los Angeles Rams' dynamic D-lineman. For the Rams to have a strong chance of advancing to the NFC championship game, they need Donald and the top-rated defence he anchors to, well, sink the Pack. “He’s a special, special player,” Rodgers says. “Obviously a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Impact player every single year, a guy that you have to game-plan for, have to be aware of where he’s at at all times, and just one of those special talents that we haven’t seen a whole lot of in this game in the history of the game. A lot of credit to him, the way he takes care of himself, his motor and he’s somebody that you gotta be worried about.” Naturally, the Rams should be worried about Rodgers and a four-pronged offence featuring the versatile Jones, All-Pro receiver Davante Adams in the midst of a career season, and breakout tight end Robert Tonyan. The LA offence also hasn't been special. Jared Goff will start at quarterback with John Wolford inactive one week after incurring a neck injury against Seattle. Los Angeles is a 7 1-2-point underdog at Green Bay. With about 6,500 fans in attendance, the home-field advantage will be less than it is normally, but frigid Lambeau for a team from SoCal? It will be close, but ... PACKERS, 23-19 KNOCKOUT POOL: For those with all options open, go with KANSAS CITY. But don't expect a rout. Baltimore (plus 3 1-2) at Buffalo, Saturday John Harbaugh has a pretty amazing NFL record: eight road playoff victories. He snapped a tie with Hall of Famer Tom Landry and Tom Coughlin when the Ravens won at Tennessee. This is a much bigger challenge. Buffalo has won seven straight, has a far better defence than the Titans, and a more dangerous passing attack. The Bills' win against Indianapolis was tight, but also had to be a huge confidence boost for a franchise that last advanced in the playoffs in 1995. Of course, the performance by Lamar Jackson in his first post-season win after two defeats, and Baltimore's defence shutting down 2,000-yard rusher Derrick Henry, bodes well for the Ravens. Just not quite well enough. BUFFALO, 26-24 Cleveland (plus 10) at Kansas City, Sunday Another team with a swell of confidence has to be the Browns. That they mauled the self-destructing Steelers should be taken into account, but that offence was impressive, and the defence was a takeaway machine. One trouble for Cleveland is that the D showed some real vulnerability after building the big lead at Pittsburgh. Sure, the Browns were able to get conservative, but don't try that against Patrick Mahomes and the reigning champions. KC has been idle since the regular-season finale, when several important regulars were rested. So rustiness is a consideration. Losing probably isn't, but this spread is too wide. BEST BET: CHIEFS, 30-24 Tampa Bay (plus 3 1-2) at New Orleans, Sunday Old-timers day at the Superdome. Tom Brady and Drew Brees are a collective 85 years old. They also are headed to Canton five years after they retire — if they ever do — and will take lots of records with them. The Saints won both meetings between these NFC South rivals during the regular season. The team that swept the regular-season series has won 14 of the previous 22 matchups. And New Orleans was the previous team in such a situation, achieving the sweep by beating Carolina 31-26 in the wild-card round after sweeping the Panthers in the 2017 regular season. We don't have to pick an upset, but we're not going against TB12. UPSET SPECIAL: BUCCANEERS, 24-23 ___ 2020 RECORD Last Week: Straight up: 3-3. Against spread: 5-1 Season: Straight up: 172-88-1. Against spread: 129-114-8 Best Bet: Straight up: 13-5. Against spread: 9-9 Upset Special: Straight up: 7-10. Against spread: 7-8-2 ___ AP Sports Writer Steve Megargee contributed. ___ More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL Barry Wilner, The Associated Press
Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino has tested positive for the coronavirus and will miss the French league game at Angers on Saturday as he self-isolates. Pochettino's assistants, Jesus Perez and Miguel D’Agostino, will take charge against Angers, PSG said on Friday. Pochettino took over this month after Thomas Tuchel was fired, and on Wednesday he won the first silverware of his career when PSG beat Marseille in the Champions Trophy. PSG had players missing for that game after testing positive for COVID-19. PSG's players hugged each other in a big group after the final whistle as they celebrated. Pochettino was not wearing a face mask when he was hugged by Neymar after he scored a late penalty, nor when joining in trophy celebrations with the players. ___ More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports The Associated Press
The top culprits: Carson Wentz. Pederson’s coaching staff. And the inability of everyone to agree on a singular plan to get back onto a Super Bowl track.
"The city opened its arms and welcomed me and my family as one of its own, and for that I am forever indebted."
Andrew Harris is back for another year with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The veteran running back signed a one-year contract extension with his hometown team Friday. But the 33-year-old Winnipeg native was more than willing to commit to a longer deal. "I would've signed a five-year (extension) to be honest with you," Harris said with a chuckle during a videoconference with reporters. "I don't know if you could see a 39-year-old running back. "For me, I'm taking it year by year, I've always been that way. You're always one hit away from this being over so you have to take it play by play, day by day and year by year. For me, it's nothing different there." Financial details weren't divulged but many CFL players have re-signed for less money with the league having not operated in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Harris said the extension was never about money. "Everyone is feeling the effects on the financial side," he said. "We all have to kind of adapt to that. "For me, it was a seamless conversation, an easy conversation with Kyle (Bombers' GM Kyle Walters). We both kind of understood each other and where we're at. It wasn't too difficult to get to where we are today." Harris will return for a fifth season with Winnipeg. He has led the CFL in rushing the past three years. He was named the game MVP and most valuable Canadian in Winnipeg's Grey Cup win over Hamilton in 2019. During the 2019 season, Harris passed Ben Cahoon to become the CFL's career leader in yards from scrimmage by a Canadian. He also moved past Normie Kwong as the Canadian career rushing leader. A five-time CFL all-star, Harris also was named the league's most outstanding Canadian in 2017. REDBLACKS SIGN FOUR The Ottawa Redblacks have signed Canadian linebacker Brad Cowan and defensive back Dagogo Maxwell and American defensive backs Brandin Dandridge and Marcus Roberson. Cowan was Ottawa's sixth-round pick in the CFL draft. He played university football at Wilfrid Laurier in Waterloo, Ont. Maxwell was Calgary's fifth-round pick in 2018 out of UBC. He had six special-teams tackles with Calgary in 2019 before signing with Ottawa. Dandridge had 12 defensive tackles and four pass breakups in four games in 2019 with Ottawa. Roberson had 20 defensive tackles in 11 games for Toronto in 2018, his last action in the CFL. TICATS RE-SIGN DARIUS CIRACO The Hamilton Tiger-Cats re-signed Canadian offensive lineman Darius Ciraco on Friday. Contract details weren't divulged. Ciraco, 24, has started 34 career regular-season games since being selected in the first round, No. 6 overall, by Hamilton in the 2018 CFL draft. The six-foot-four, 292-pound native of Burlington, Ont., has also participated in four playoff games with the Ticats. Ciraco played collegiately at Calgary (2014-17). LINEMAN RE-SIGNS WITH RIDERS American offensive lineman Terran Vaughn has signed a one-year contract extension with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Vaughn made 15 starts at left tackle for the Riders in 2019. He made his CFL debut in 2018 and has played in 22 career games. LIONS RE-SIGN PAIR The B.C. Lions have re-signed Canadian running back Jamel Lyles and American linebacker Dyshawn Davis. Lyles, a native of Surrey, B.C., was an eighth-round pick by the Lions in 2019. He played seven games for the Lions in his rookie season. Davis is back with the Lions after two years with Saskatchewan. The Syracuse product started his CFL career with B.C. in 2016. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 15, 2021. The Canadian Press
CLEVELAND — Joel Bitonio's long playoff wait with the Browns is over. The Pro Bowl left guard was activated from the COVID-19 list Friday after missing last week’s wild-card win over Pittsburgh. Cleveland’s longest-tenured player, Bitonio had to isolate at home and missed his first career post-season game — and the Browns' first since the 2002 season. It was a devastating development for Bitiono, who had endured so much losing with the Browns before this turnaround season. But he’ll get his long-awaited chance to play in the post-season this week. The Browns, who stunned the Steelers in the wild-card round, face the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in the AFC divisional round. "Elated for Joel,” Browns general manager Andrew Berry said on Zoom call with local writers. “He’s been here his entire career. He has been a leader, consummate teammate, everything that you could really want out of a player. "We were all heartbroken when he wasn’t getting the opportunity to play in his first playoff game, so for us to be able to activate him today and for him to be able to take his place in the starting lineup this weekend against the Chiefs (is great).” Bitonio was one of several Browns players and coaches to be sidelined over the past three weeks with the coronavirus. Bitonio's return is a huge boost for Cleveland's solid offensive line, which has had to adjust numerous times over the past few weeks because of injuries and COVID-19. Last week, Michael Dunn, who barely played all season, started in Bitonio's spot and played well before suffering a season-ending calf injury. He was replaced by Blake Hance, who had just been signed off the New York Jets' practice squad and first met Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield in the locker room before the game at Heinz Field. Another worry this week for the Browns is All-Pro right tackle Jack Conklin. He's missed the past two days of practice with a hamstring injury sustained early in the win over Pittsburgh. The Browns have slowly been getting key pieces back this week. On Thursday, coach Kevin Stefanski returned in person to the team after also missing last week's game with COVID-19. He prepared the team virtually for the Steelers but then watched the win from his basement at home. Top cornerback Denzel Ward and cornerback Kevin Johnson both were activated from the COVID-19 list, and they're needed more than ever against Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his many offensive playmakers. ___ More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL Tom Withers, The Associated Press
All-time record scorer for England and Manchester United. A haul of 16 trophies. Wayne Rooney's illustrious playing career is over. The former England and United captain has decided it's time to focus on trying to replicate his successes as a striker in management. After taking temporary charge of Derby in November — as a player-coach — the 35-year-old Rooney has accepted the manager's job on a permanent basis with the second division club through 2023. “It’s a great feeling to go into management full-time,” Rooney said on Friday. “It’s something that I’ve been preparing for, working for for a few years now. Obviously had a taste of it over the last couple of months and I’ve enjoyed it." Rooney has enjoyed three victories and four draws in his nine games at the helm of Derby, which remains in the relegation zone. It's been 13 years since Derby played in the Premier League — a competition Rooney won five times after joining United from Everton at age 18 along with tasting glory in the Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, Club World Cup and Community Shield. “I’ve had a great career, I’ve enjoyed every minute," Rooney said. “Some ups, some downs, I wouldn’t change anything I’ve done in my career as a player." It was often a tempestuous playing career, with the fiery Rooney embroiled in controversies in his private life and hot-headedness in games. It is experience he will be able to draw on while nurturing future talents. At United, Rooney worked under the greatest British manager of all-time in Alex Ferguson. With England, he witnessed more of the instabilities of coaching as a talented group of players never came close to winning a trophy. “Hopefully I can now start to write some history and have a successful managerial career,” Rooney said. Rooney, just like at United with his 253 goals, overtook 1966 World Cup winner Bobby Charlton as England's record scorer by netting 53 times in 120 appearances — the last in 2018 at Wembley Stadium against the United States. “He did it all," former United and England teammate Rio Ferdinand said. "He scored a ridiculous amount of goals, scored absolute bangers from anywhere on the pitch, great passer, aggressive, passion, desire, work rate, team player, sacrificed part of his game for others. “He had the lot and he won loads. What a player. Now that he has retired people will start appreciating him for who he is and what he was as a player because I don’t think he gets the respect he deserves." Rooney returned to England after a stint at DC United to last January, and joined Derby as a player-coach. “Despite other offers I knew instinctively Derby County was the place for me,” Rooney said. “I can promise everyone involved in the club and all our fans, my staff and I will leave no stone unturned in achieving the potential I have witnessed over the last 12 months of this historic football club.” ___ More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Rob Harris, The Associated Press
Former Canadian international Rhian Wilkinson is leaving her coaching role with Canada Soccer. The 38-year-old most recently served as assistant coach of the senior women's team and head coach of the under-17 and under-20 teams. Wilkinson said she was leaving with a "heavy heart." She had been seen as a contender for the Canada coaching job that went to Bev Priestman late last year after Kenneth Heiner-Moller returned to his native Denmark. The native of Baie-D'Urfe, Que., who now calls North Vancouver home, won 181 caps for Canada between 2003 and 2017, with seven goals and 23 assists. Wilkinson participated in four FIFA Women’s World Cups, three Olympic tournaments and won medals at all six CONCACAF tournaments and all three Pan American Games in which she played. --- Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 15, 2021 Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
The NCAA announced it won't use proximity as a consideration because the tournament is at one location.