Yale head coach Tony Reno steps down, cites health concerns

Tony Reno stepped down as head coach at Yale on Tuesday, citing health reasons for the end of his 14-year run with the Bulldogs.

Reno, 52, was hired as the coach of the Bulldogs in January 2012 and led the team to its first FCS playoff berth in 2025. He helped Yale overcome a 28-point deficit in the second half of a 43-42 victory over Youngstown State in the first round before the team fell to eventual national champion Montana State in the second.

"Given my current health situation, I have made the decision to step down as head coach of Yale Football," Reno said in a statement. "When I arrived at Yale 14 years ago, I could never have imagined what this journey would become. The relationships formed, the moments shared, and the people I have been privileged to be surrounded by have changed my life and my family's lives forever. I am deeply grateful to the players, the coaches, and the staff who gave everything they had to Yale Football.

"From the very beginning, I spoke about honoring the proud tradition of Yale Football and fully embracing the responsibility that comes with leading this program. Together, we pursued excellence and built something truly meaningful. I am incredibly proud of the foundation we laid and confident in the future of Yale Football. Serving as the head coach of this program has been the greatest honor of my life."

Reno has guided Yale to five Ivy League titles and owns an 83-49 record during his time with the school. His win total trails only the legendary Carm Cozza in the history of the university.

"Coach Reno's leadership has been truly transformational," Bulldogs athletic director Vicky Chun said. "His impact on Yale Football, our department, and the university extends far beyond championships and wins -- it lives in the countless people he has inspired. Coach Reno led with integrity, humility, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, giving his whole heart to this program every day. He cared deeply about his players as people, challenging them to excel on the field, in the classroom, and in life. Coach Reno's devotion to Yale and to the young men he coached was total, and his legacy will endure for generations."

Yale immediately will begin a national search for the program's next head coach.

--Field Level Media

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, ShowBiz, Sports

February 17, 2026

Yale head coach Tony Reno steps down, cites health concerns

Tony Reno stepped down as head coach at Yale on Tuesday, citing health reasons for the end of his 14-year run with the...

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Lakers would reportedly welcome LeBron James back for 24th NBA season if he wants to return

The Los AngelesLakers have reportedly extendedan olive branch to All-Star forward LeBron James and would welcome him back for season No. 24.

"If James wants to play a 24th season, he would be welcomed back in L.A., sources told ESPN. Pelinka declared before the start of this season that he would love it if James retired a Laker, and,sources told ESPN, that sentiment was meant to reflect a 2026 retirement or a 2027 retirement, if James intends to extend his career."

James is in the final year of his current deal, making $52.6 million, and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. The Lakers' future could hinge on what happens with James this summer because it's hard to see the four-time NBA champion and MVP taking a major pay cut.

[Get more Lakers news: Los Angeles team feed]

Wherever James plays next, it could be the final chapter (or two) in his storied NBA career. There have been rumors circulating that James could end his career where it began in Cleveland.

Lakers team governor Jeanie Buss was recently asked about James' future in purple and gold while speaking with Alex Sherman of CNBC and gave her take on the situation.

"Never say never, but you know, he certainly hasn't given an indication,"Buss explained. "He's earned the right to decide how his career will go, and you know, he continues to impress."

In Year 23 (his 8th in Los Angeles), James is averaging 22 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game. While James' numbers are down in many statistical categories across the board, he was an All-Star for the 22nd time this season, and the Lakers are currently sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference at 33-21.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, ShowBiz, Sports

February 17, 2026

Lakers would reportedly welcome LeBron James back for 24th NBA season if he wants to return

The Los AngelesLakers have reportedly extendedan olive branch to All-Star forward LeBron James and would welcome him back...

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Lindsey Vonn says Olympic injury 'more severe' than broken leg

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy — Lindsey Vonn says her injury from the crash in the Olympic downhill was "a lot more severe" than a broken leg.

Vonn posted a video on Instagramshowing her transfer from the hospital in Terviso, Italy, to the private jet that took her back to the United States. As she was loaded into the plane on a stretcher, Vonn gave a triumphant fist pump and then the victory sign.

Skylar Grey's "Coming Home" plays during the video.

"My leg is still in pieces… but I'm finally HOME!" Vonn wrote. "My injury was a lot more sever than just a broken leg. I'm still wrapping my head around it, what it means and the road ahead…. but I'm going to give you more detail in the coming days."

Vonn suffered a complex tibial fracture in her left leg during the crash. She had four surgeries in Italy and had already said she'll need at least one more after she returned to the United States.

"Seriously looking forward to my next surgery when I can get the X-fit out of my leg and will be able to move more," Vonn wrote, referring to the gruesome-looking device used to stabilize her left leg.

The last shot shows a beaming Vonn in a hospital bed back in the United States.

Opinion:Lindsey Vonn's crash was cruel. Her bravery epitomizes Olympic spirit

What happened to Lindsey Vonn?

Vonn hooked the fourth gate with her right arm, which sent her spinning and hurtling into the hard, packed snow. She tumbled end over end several times before coming to a stop.

"Things just happen so quick in this sport," U.S. teammate Bella Wright said after the race. "It looked like Lindsey had incredible speed out of that turn, and she hooked her arm and it's just over just like that."

The three-time Olympic medalist remained prone in the snow, and she could be heard wailing in pain. Thegaspsandgroans from fans faded into shocked silenceas medics worked on her. Vonn remained on the course for approximately 13 minutes before being loaded into a helicopter.

What is Lindsey Vonn's injury?

In an Instagram post on Feb. 9,Vonn shared the devastating newsthat she suffered a complex tibia fracture that will require multiple surgeries. The 41-year-old updated fans on Feb. 11 after a third surgery in Italy andincluded some gruesome photos of her progress. On Feb. 14,Vonn posted after her third surgerythat she still has more procedures ahead of her, but was finally able to return to the United States.

"Once I'm back I will give you more updates and info about my injury,"Vonn wrote.

A tibia fracture is a break in the shin bone that is an emergency needing immediate treatment. "Your tibias are some of the strongest bones in your body. It usually takes a lot of force to break one," according to the Cleveland Clinic. "You probably won't be able to stand, walk or put weight on your leg if you have a broken shin bone."

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A complex fracture involves multiple breaks in a bone and damaged soft tissue,according Yale Medicine.Symptoms include extreme pain, numbness and, sometimes, a bone that protrudes through the skin. Treatment involves stabilization and surgery.

Lindsey Vonn crash video

NBC broadcasts the Olympics and postedvideo of Vonn's crash.

USA TODAY Sports' Samantha Cardona-Norberg breaks down Linsdey Vonn's crash just after it happened.

Fans went silent as soon as Vonn crash, reacting with shock, grief and later support as the helicopter lifted her into the sky.USA TODAY Sports talked to some fans after the crash.

Is Lindsey Vonn OK?

Vonn was in obvious pain after the crash, but she was moving her arms, head and neck.

About 18 minutes after the crash, the helicopter slowly began flying toward Cortina. "Let's let Lindsey Vonn hear us!" the American announcer said as the chopper flew away with her, and the crowd cheered and applauded.

Vonn's sister Karin Kildow was at the course today for the downhill and spoke to NBC reporters during their live broadcast:

"I mean that definitely was the last thing we wanted to see and it happened quick and when that happens, you're just immediately hoping she's okay. And it was scary because when you start to see the stretchers being put out, it's not a good sign," Kildow said. "But she really ... She just dared greatly and she put it all out there. So it's really hard to see, but we just really hope she's okay.

"She does have all of her surgeons and her PT staff here and her doctors, so I'm sure they'll give us a report and we'll meet her at whatever hospital she's at."

Lindsey Vonn supporters react after Vonn's crash during the women's downhill race at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d'Ampezzo on Feb. 8, 2026.

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See terrible second crash for Lindsey Vonn

Lindsey Vonn torn ACL

It was second time in as many weeks Vonn left a mountaintop on a chopper.She fully ruptured her left ACL, sustaining meniscus damage and bone bruising, in a downhill crash on Jan. 30, in the final World Cup event prior to the start of the Olympics.

Vonn is also skiing with a partial replacement of her right knee. She had dominated the sport before the crash, making the podium in all five downhill races this season and winning two of them.

Despite the latest injury, Vonn was determined to race at her fifth and final Olympics. She said her knee felt stable and strong, and she hadspent the last week doing intense rehab, pool workouts, weight lifting and plyometrics. She skied both training runs,posting the third-fastest time in the second runbefore it was canceled because of fog and snow.

Lindsey Vonn torn ACL

Vonn is 41 and was skiing in her fifth Winter Olympics (2002, 2006, 2010, 2018, 2026). She has won three Olympic medals (1 gold, 2 bronze).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Lindsey Vonn says Olympic injury 'more severe' than broken leg

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, ShowBiz, Sports

February 17, 2026

Lindsey Vonn says Olympic injury 'more severe' than broken leg

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy — Lindsey Vonn says her injury from the crash in the Olympic downhill was "a lot more s...

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Former Mavericks owner Mark Cuban argues NBA should embrace tanking, admits to using tactic with Mavs

Former Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban believes the NBA should embrace tanking. No, really.

Cuban went on a lengthy diatribe Tuesday in which he described his feelings on the subject. In his post, Cuban outlined why he believes the NBA should focus on "creating experiences for fans" and admitted to tanking while he was running the Mavs.

In Cuban's post — whichcan be read in full here— he claimed that fans don't necessarily want to see their teams compete every single night. Cuban said fans don't necessarily remember specific scores, dunks or shots from games. Instead, he argued, they remember the people who attended the game with them.

Cuban said fans are aware a team cannot win every single game, but that the hope of improvement is what drives fans forward. Sometimes, the easiest way to do that is to tank, per Cuban.

"Fans know their team can't win every game. They know only one team can win a ring. What fans that care about their team's record want is hope. Hope they will get better and have a chance to compete for the playoffs and then maybe a ring.

"The one way to get closer to that is via the draft. And trades. And cap room. You have a better chance of improving via all 3 , when you tank."

Cuban then admitted to tanking when he was with the Mavericks. He claimed the team didn't tank "often," but said the fans appreciated when the Mavericks pushed for better draft position. Cuban said tanking helped the team secure Luka Dončić during the 2018 NBA Draft.

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Cuban eventually tried to connect the two issues, and argued "pricing fans out of games" is a bigger problem than tanking.

"You know who cares the least about tanking, a parent who can't afford to bring their 3 kids to a game and buy their kids a jersey of their fave player.

"Tanking isn't the issue. Affordability and quality of game presentation are."

It's an opinion that should get a lot of support from fans, though not necessarily one that fits with Cuban's "tanking-is-fine" narrative. There are plenty of ways for a team to grow fandom in sports. Offering affordable tickets certainly feels like a good way to get a wide number of fans invested in the team. Winning games is also pretty important on that end, though. It's a lot more fun to support a team that's playing well.

To Cuban's point, there are times when tanking does seem like an advantageous option for franchises. And after seeing the tactic put into place a number of times — and occasionally result in success — the practice is more accepted among fan bases at this point.

Fans are capable of understanding when it's the right move to try and secure the top pick in the draft. It's not always a guarantee that works out, but having a shot at more elite talent in the draft can make a huge impact on a franchise if the player selected is a superstar.

But that also results in a lot of bad basketball, especially during the second half of an NBA season. If a team has virtually no shot at winning, it's going to be tough to draw fans out to the game, regardless of how cheap it is to attend.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, ShowBiz, Sports

February 17, 2026

Former Mavericks owner Mark Cuban argues NBA should embrace tanking, admits to using tactic with Mavs

Former Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban believes the NBA should embrace tanking. No, really. Cuban went on a ...

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Detroit’s stunning surge: Pistons enter post-All-Star play with the NBA’s best record

The Detroit Pistons had the worst record in franchise history at the All-Star break four years ago. And two years ago, their record at the break was even worse.

APTOPIX NBA All-Star Game Basketball

Look at them now.

When theNBAstarts post-All-Star play on Thursday, the Pistons — a franchise that last won a playoff series in 2008 — will start the night with the best record in the league, a smidge ahead of the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Detroit is 40-13, Oklahoma City 42-14.

The Thunder were expected to be here. The Pistons probably weren't. How Detroit finishes, and if it can hold on to that top spot, is one of the intriguing storylines for the stretch run of the NBA season — with two-thirds of the year complete and teams now set to sprint toward the playoffs orsprint toward the bottomin search of better lottery odds.

"We're just going to run our race," Pistons All-Star guard Cade Cunningham said. "We like where we're at, and we're going to continue to try to finish our season strong."

There's a lot to like about the Pistons going into the home stretch.

They haven't been prone to any sort of real slide yet; they're 11-2 after a loss and are one of only three teams (Oklahoma City andSan Antonioare the others) yet to have a losing streak of more than two games. They don't get blown out; they have a league-low three losses by 10 points or more. They're a league-best 17-6 against teams who were at .500 or better.

Playoff basketball awaits in Detroit, and for the first time since 2008 there should be a Game 1 of a postseason series at home for the Pistons. Plenty of other teams — the Thunder, Boston, New York, San Antonio, Denver, Houston, Cleveland — are probably safe to call playoff locks at this point as well.

The next two months will tell the tale of which teams find their way either into Round 1 or will be trying to land the No. 1 draft pick instead.

"It's been hard. It's been a long journey so far, but just going to work every day, finding ways to connect with my teammates, connect with the city the best I can, and bring wins to the city," Cunningham said. "That's what the city respects and loves is people that go out there and compete every day. There were times they didn't like how we played. We figured it out, and now we have something going, something building. Just have to keep going now."

The realistic contenders

The top five teams in the NBA record-wise right now: Detroit, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Boston, Denver and New York (the Nuggets and Knicks are tied).

Expect one of those clubs as the champion in June.

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Granted, in the early days the league had far fewer teams than it does now. But there have been only four instances of the eventual NBA Finals winner not being among the league's top-five teams record-wise at the All-Star break.

Milwaukee was seventh at the break in the coronavirus-affected 2020-21 season. Detroit was seventh at the break in 2003-04, Houston was ninth at the break in 1994-95 and Washington was eighth in 1977-78.

The scoring race

It looks like a two-person race for the scoring title: the Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic and Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Doncic is averaging 32.8 points, Gilgeous-Alexander — the reigning champion — is averaging 31.8.

Doncic won the scoring race in 2023-24; Gilgeous-Alexander could become the 14th player in NBA history to win the title in consecutive seasons.

Award possibilities

Boston's Jayson Tatum and Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton — All-NBA picks last season — were going to be out of the awards mix this season because of their Achilles tendon tears suffered in last season's playoffs, so it was clear from the outset of this season that the group of award winners this spring would be different.

Turns out, it's going to be very different.

Because of the 65-game rule for eligibility for most player awards, the Lakers' LeBron James is going to see his 21-year streak of making the All-NBA team end. He's one of five All-NBA picks from last season who are assured of not making the team this year, joining Tatum, Haliburton, Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo and Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams.

On the brink of joining that list: Denver's Nikola Jokic and Golden State's Stephen Curry, who basically can miss one more game the rest of the way to preserve their award eligibility.

Cleveland's Evan Mobley — second-team All-NBA last season — has been inactive 13 times this year, so he doesn't have a lot of missed-time wiggle room down the stretch of the season. The Lakers' Austin Reaves, Washington's Anthony Davis and Memphis' Ja Morant are all well past the cutoff for eligibility as well.

Others who are close to missing too much time for an All-NBA shot: Doncic, San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama, the Los Angeles Clippers' Kawhi Leonard, Utah's Lauri Markkanen and Phoenix's Devin Booker.

AP NBA:https://apnews.com/NBA

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, ShowBiz, Sports

February 17, 2026

Detroit’s stunning surge: Pistons enter post-All-Star play with the NBA’s best record

The Detroit Pistons had the worst record in franchise history at the All-Star break four years ago. And two years ago, th...

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2026 Heisman Trophy odds: Notre Dame QB CJ Carr opens as the favorite

We're only a few weeks removed from the Indiana Hoosiers pulling off one of the great underdog stories in American sports — let alone college football — and winning the College Football national championship27-21 over the Miami Hurricanes.

While we're still months away from any games being played on the field, odds are already out for next season — notably, odds for the 2026 Heisman trophy.

And for potentially the first time ever, a Notre Dame Fighting Irish QB is the preseason favorite. Notre Dame QB CJ Carr (+700) is the favorite to win the 2026 Heisman at BetMGM, followed closely by Texas QB Arch Manning (+800). They are the only two players with single-digits odds.

No Notre Dame player has been a preseason Heisman favorite since at least 2009, which is as far back as theSports Odds Historydatabase goes.

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Carr started all 12 games for Notre Dame this past season, going 10-2 and throwing for 2,741 yards, along with 24 passing touchdowns and six interceptions. The Fighting Irish missed out on the College Football Playoff, losing their two games (at Miami and against Texas A&M) by a total of four points.

Manning was the 2025 Heisman preseason favorite at sportsbooks, but lost that spot after a tough debut against Ohio State. Manning had the most bets, total dollars wagered and was BetMGM's largest liability in the Heisman market before the 2025 season began.

Oregon QB Dante Moore (11-1), Ohio State QB Julian Sayin (12-1) and new Indiana QB Josh Hoover (12-1) have the next-best odds.Moore chose to return to the Ducksafter struggling in the CFP, while Hoover joined the Hoosiers via the transfer portal, and is the presumed starter withFernando Mendoza declaring for the 2026 NFL draft. Sayin was a 2025 Heisman trophy finalist and finished fourth.

Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith (14-1) has the best odds for any skill-position player.

No Notre Dame player has won the Heisman trophy since WR Tim Brown in 1987.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, ShowBiz, Sports

February 17, 2026

2026 Heisman Trophy odds: Notre Dame QB CJ Carr opens as the favorite

We're only a few weeks removed from the Indiana Hoosiers pulling off one of the great underdog stories in American sp...

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NFL starting QBs 2026: Predicting the starters for all 32 teams

Super Bowl 60is now in the books, and the NFL will start to look ahead to its 2026 season after theSeattle Seahawks' 29-13 win over the New England Patriots.

The NFL has already seen significant turnover during the 2026 offseason. Ten teams made coaching changes while a whopping 21 will have new offensive coordinators in place for the upcoming campaign.

Could the league see similar movement on its annual quarterback carousel? A damper may be put on drama at the quarterback position with the2026 NFL Draftclass largely looking like a one-man show.

That said, plenty of other veterans may find themselves available this offseason.Kirk Cousinsis expected to be released ahead of the new league year;Kyler MurrayandTua Tagovailoacould end up being trade bait; andDerek Carrmay consider unretiring for the right situation.

More:Dolphins release WR Tyreek Hill in salary cap-related transaction

Who might be in line to start at quarterback in 2026 once the dust is settled? Here's a way-too-early prediction of each NFL team's planned starting quarterback for the upcoming season.

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

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Best images of the 2025 NFL season

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18)makes a catch for a touchdownagainst the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

NFL starting QB predictions for 2026

Arizona Cardinals: Tua Tagovailoa

The Cardinals will likely dangle Kyler Murray as trade bait this offseason. If they find a trade partner, they could roll with Jacoby Brissett as their starter while also looking to pair the 33-year-old with a younger quarterback.

Tagovailoa – 28 in March – would fit the bill. He had a down year in 2025, tossing 15 interceptions before being benched in favor of Quinn Ewers, but could be a bounce-back candidate after posting a passer rating of 101.1 or better across the previous three seasons.

First-year coach Mike LaFleurcould take a chance on Tagovailoa and look to replace him in the 2027 NFL Draft – which is believed to be deep at quarterback – if he struggles.

Atlanta Falcons: Michael Penix Jr.

The Falcons are expected to move on from Kirk Cousinsduring the 2026 offseason. The only question is whether their new brain trust – headlined by president of football Matt Ryan, general manager Ian Cunningham and coach Kevin Stefanski – will stick with Penix in 2026 or bring in a quarterback of their own.

Giving Penix one more shot to prove himself would likely be prudent for Atlanta, as the team doesn't have many clear-cut paths to a big-time quarterback upgrade. The 2024 first-round pick has arm talent and could benefit from Stefanski's tutelage after completing 59.6% of his passes for 2,757 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions in 12 starts across his first two NFL seasons.

If the team is worried about Penix's potential return from a torn ACL, it could bring in a veteran stopgap to compete with him. A player like Joe Flacco, who opened the 2026 season as Stefanski's starter in Cleveland, would be a sensible target for such a role.

Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson

Jackson missed four games due to injury last season but still posted strong numbers for the Ravens.First-year coach Jesse Minterwill be happy to have the two-time MVP and three-time All-Pro first-teamer at his disposal.

Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen

Allen won the NFL MVP award in 2024 and finished third in the 2025 voting. The soon-to-be 30-year-old will continue in his quest to lead the Bills to their first Super Bowl since the 1993 NFL season, now withJoe Brady as his coachinstead of Sean McDermott.

Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young

The Panthersare planning to pick up Young's fifth-year option, indicating they are willing to trust him as their quarterback for the 2026 NFL season, and potentially beyond. The No. 1 overall pick from the 2023 NFL Draft posted career-best marks in completion percentage (63.6%), passing yards (3,011), passing touchdowns (23) and passer rating (87.8) and helped guide the Panthers to the playoffs in his second season working with Dave Canales.

Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams

Williams came up 58 yards short of being the first 4,000-yard passer in Bears history, but he showed plenty of progress in his first season working with Ben Johnson. Williams led the Bears to an 11-6 regular-season record and posted a league-best seven fourth-quarter comebacks during the season.

Williams made some star-level throws – includingan unbelievable 14-yard touchdown tossin the divisional round against the Rams – but will have to improve his accuracy as he continues to develop. He completed just 58.1% of his passes in 2025, the fifth-worst mark among 42 qualified quarterbacks.

Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow

TheBengalsposted a 5-3 record with Burrow last season. Without him, they went 1-8. The team's main focus for the 2026 NFL season, aside from improving its woeful defense, will be to keep Burrow healthy for a full season. He has only played a complete slate three times across his six NFL seasons to date.

Cleveland Browns: Kirk Cousins

As fun as it would be to give Todd Monken a higher-ceiling quarterback like Kyler Murray, the Browns probably don't have the budget for that. Why? Because Deshaun Watson is set to have an astronomical $80.7 million cap hit in 2026, the last season of the ill-fated five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed extension he signed in Cleveland.

With that in mind, the Browns will have to go with a cheaper option to bring in competition for Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel and Watson in 2026. Cousins – who is set to be released by the Falcons before the new league year – could qualify as a solid veteran stopgap with a mid-tier price tag. He could also be a good mentor for Sanders and Gabriel as the Browns look to continue developing their 2025 draft picks.

KIRK COUSINS LANDING SPOTS:Vikings, Steelers among best fits for QB

Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott

Prescott bounced back nicely in 2025 after a rocky 2024 campaign. He completed 67.3% of his passes for 4,552 yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and helped lead Dallas to a top-five scoring offense.

The Cowboys went 7-9-1 last season, largely due to their ineffective defense. If they can make improvements on that side of the ball in 2026, they could re-emerge as a playoff contender with Prescott at quarterback.

Denver Broncos: Bo Nix

The Broncos asked Nix to doa lotlast season, as his 612 passing attempts led the NFL. He delivered, leading Denver to a 14-3 record, the AFC's No. 1 seed and an AFC championship game appearance before a broken ankle sidelined him for the season.

Nix wasn't always efficient or consistent – as evidenced by his pedestrian 63.4% completion rate and middling 6.4 yards per attempt – but he is an ideal fit in Sean Payton's offense, which relies on the short passing game to carry it.

Detroit Lions: Jared Goff

Many wondered how Goff would fare after Ben Johnson left the Lions during the offseason. Goff silenced his doubters, completing 68% of his passes for 4,564 yards, 34 touchdowns and eight interceptions while ranking fifth among quarterbacks in EPA, perthe NFL's Next Gen Stats.

Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love

Love has led the Packers to nine wins and a playoff berth in each of his three seasons as the team's starting quarterback. Last year, he posted a career-high 101.2 passer rating while throwing just six interceptions, his lowest across any of his seasons as a full-time starter.

Love is still just 27 years old, so the Packers will be happy to see if he can grow under yet another season under Matt LaFleur's tutelage.

Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud

Stroud's stock has fallen slightly since his 2023 Rookie of the Year campaign, and it took a major hit during the 2025 NFL playoffs. Across two games, Stroud looked frazzled, completing just 51.9% of his passes for 462 yards, two touchdowns and a playoff-worst five interceptions while taking six sacks.

While Stroud's postseason performance will give many pause when evaluating his future, he has still led theTexansto playoff appearances and a postseason victory in each of his first three seasons. The Texans will chalk up the 24-year-old's recent struggles to growing pains and expect him to bounce back in 2026.

BUMBACA:Texans need to 'stop beating themselves,' starting with C.J. Stroud

Indianapolis Colts: Daniel Jones

Jones had one of the surprise breakouts of the 2025 NFL season. He beat Anthony Richardson for theColts' starting job and proceeded to have a career-best season, completing 68% of his passes for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions across 13 games.

Jones is set to be a free agent, but it's hard to imagine a scenario in which he and the Colts don't agree to a deal to extend their partnership. The only complicating factor is that the 28-year-oldtore his Achilles in Week 14, but odds are the two parties will find a middle ground.

If not, keep an eye on theVikings– with whom Jones had a cup of coffee in 2024 – as a potential landing spot.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence

Lawrence's first season with Liam Coen was nothing short of excellent. The 2021 NFL Draft's No. 1 overall pick posted his third 4,000-yard passing season while adding a career-best 29 passing touchdowns to go along with 359 rushing yards and nine rushing scores.

Expect the 26-year-old's growth to continue as he, Coen and offensive coordinator Grant Udinski prepare for a second season together.

Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes

Mahomes had just an 89.6 passer rating last season – his worst in eight seasons as a full-time starter – but the two-time MVP remains one of the NFL's best quarterbacks. The only questions are whether he will be ready for Week 1 aftersuffering a torn ACL in Week 15, and – if not – who will be his replacement with backup quarterback Gardner Minshew set to be a free agent.

Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza

Any doubt about Mendoza being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft was effectively erased whenDante Moore decided to go back to Oregon. The Raiders are looking for a franchise quarterback, and Mendoza is, far and away, the best quarterback in the 2026 draft class.

Mendoza completed 72% of his passes for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns and six interceptions in his lone season at Indiana. He won the Heisman Trophy for his efforts and led the Hoosiers to an undefeated, 16-0 season and a national title.First-year coach Klint Kubiakwill relish a chance to develop Mendoza after helping Sam Darnold become a Super Bowl champion.

2026 NFL MOCK DRAFT:Top 10 features Makai Lemon, run on pass rushers

Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert

Herbert helped the Chargers to a playoff berth despite playing behind one of the NFL's worst offensive lines. Their goal in the offseason will be to improve their interior offensive line to prevent Herbert from being pressured as often as he was in 2026.

Los Angeles Rams: Matthew Stafford

Stafford just won the NFL MVP award in 2025 and announced during his acceptance speechhe would be back for his age-38 season. The Rams will be happy to get another bite at the Super Bowl apple with him.

Miami Dolphins: Malik Willis

The Dolphins' new brain trust of coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan came to the team from the Packers. That could make Miami the ideal organization to take a flier on Willis as a young quarterback with starter upside.

Willis was a third-round pick by the Titans in 2022 but has spent the last two seasons with the Packers. In limited action in place of Jordan Love, Willis has posted a 2-1 record as a starter while completing 78.7% of his passes for 972 yards and six touchdowns without throwing an interception.

Willis also has excellent mobility and will only be 27 in May, giving him plenty of time to blossom into a dual-threat starter. Don't be surprised if he draws a lot of interest from quarterback-needy teams as he hits free agency.

Minnesota Vikings: Derek Carr

OK, let's get a little crazy. The Vikings aren't going to give up on J.J. McCarthy, but they are expected to bring in a veteran quarterback to challenge him, much like the Colts did with Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson last season.

Could that be a player like Carr? The veteran retired ahead of the 2025 NFL season due to a labral tear in his shoulder, but recent rumors fromNFL Media's Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafoloindicate the 34-year-old could consider coming back for the right situation.

Minnesota could represent that, as the Vikings are a ready-now team with plenty of talent at receiver and a solid offensive line. There are plenty of obstacles to this deal – including that Carr would have to be acquired via trade from the Saints, would likely need a restructured deal and would need to be open to the idea of competing with McCarthy for the starting job – but it doesn't seem completely far-fetched.

New England Patriots: Drake Maye

Maye enjoyed a breakout second season with the Patriots, finishing second in the NFL's MVP voting after leading the league in completion rate (72%), passer rating (113.5) and EPA (151.2). His playoff performance wasn't as strong, and he struggled in his team's Super Bowl 60 loss to the Seahawks, but the Patriots will remain encouraged by what the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft accomplished in his second season.

SUPER BOWL 60 WINNERS, LOSERS:Drake Maye didn't give Patriots a chance

New Orleans Saints: Tyler Shough

Shough turned 26 during his rookie season but he showed that he has plenty of upside across 11 starts with the Saints. He led the team to a 6-5 record while completing 67.6% of his passes for 2,384 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. Kellen Moore and Mickey Loomis should be excited to continue building around the Louisville product.

New York Giants: Jaxson Dart

Dart showcased plenty of upside in his first NFL season. He was one of the league's best runners at quarterback, generating 489 yards and nine touchdowns across 14 games, and completed 63.7% of his passes for 2,272 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions. Now, he will get a chance to play for John Harbaugh.

New York Jets: Kyler Murray

The Jets are in a tough spot at quarterback. They have the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but unless they love Ty Simpson, there won't be a signal-caller worth selecting that early. That could lead the team to explore the veteran quarterback market and potentially take a swing on a player like Murray.

Murray was unspectacular across five starts last season, but he has a powerful arm and the mobility needed to be a dual-threat playmaker. He also wouldn't cost much via trade, as he has two years – plus a club option – remaining on the five-year, $230.5 million contract he signed with the Cardinals.

Few NFL teams will want to give up a big-time draft asset for Murray and pay that amount, so Arizona may be forced to sell low on him. The Jets are armed with $83.3 million in cap space – fourth-most in the NFL, perOverTheCap.com– and 10 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, so they may be uniquely positioned to target Murray.

Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Hurts

Hurts is an efficient quarterback who completed 64.8% of his passes for 3,224 yards, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions last season. He also isn't overly explosive, as his 4.6% "big time throw" percentage ranked 17th among 43 quarterbacks with at least 150 dropbacks last season, perPro Football Focus.

Still, he has led theEaglesto five consecutive playoff berths and a Super Bowl title, so they will continue to trust one of the architects of the "Tush Push."

Pittsburgh Steelers: Aaron Rodgers

NFL Media's Tom Pelissero recently reportedthat "odds are increasing" Rodgers will return to Pittsburgh for a second season. The Steelers quarterback has contemplated retirement in recent offseasons, but perhaps reuniting with Mike McCarthy for one last ride will entice the 42-year-old to play one more season.

San Francisco 49ers: Brock Purdy

Purdy has led the 49ers to the playoffs in two of his three seasons as a starter and had a Super Bowl appearance in his second season. Expect Kyle Shanahan to continue rolling with Purdy while keeping the trusty Mac Jones around as his backup.

Seattle Seahawks: Sam Darnold

Darnold led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl win and became just the second quarterback in NFL history to win 14 games in back-to-back seasons. The other was Tom Brady. Enough said.

SAM DARNOLD:Seahawks QB cements singular status among 2018 draft QBs as Super Bowl champ

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield

The Buccaneers were victims of an epic collapse in the second half of the season, but Mayfield wasn't entirely to blame for that. He still enjoyed a solid season – completing 63.2% of his passes for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions – while battling a shoulder injury. Perhaps new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson will get more out of him than Josh Grizzard did in his lone season in that role.

Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward

The Titans didn't spend the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Cam Ward to give up on him after one season. The Miami product showed growth over the final month of his rookie season as well, so it will be interesting to see what he can do with an improved supporting cast in 2026.

Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels

Daniels played in just seven games amid an injury-plagued sophomore season after posting one of the greatest rookie seasons in NFL history. The Commanders will hope he can return to his 2024 form next season as David Blough takes over for Kliff Kingsbury as Washington's offensive coordinator.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Predicting every NFL team's starting QB for 2026

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, ShowBiz, Sports

February 17, 2026

NFL starting QBs 2026: Predicting the starters for all 32 teams

Super Bowl 60is now in the books, and the NFL will start to look ahead to its 2026 season after theSeattle Seahawks' ...

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Why basketball should be in the Winter Olympics

LIVIGNO, Italy — The original concept of the Winter Olympics was simple. In the early 1920s, a movement was born within the International Olympic Committee to designate a week for celebrating sports on snow and ice. By 1964, it had grown to more than 1,000 athletes in 34 events.

Three decades later, the Winter Games moved to a new schedule so that they no longer took place in the same year as the Summer Olympics. More recently, they've evolved to add more modern, youth-focused sports like snowboarding and freestyle skiing.

All the changes, however, have failed to solve one of the major issues inherent to winter sports: Except for a small handful of athletes who are mostly from mountainous European countries, the Winter Games lack diversity and star power. Even in the U.S., it's the rare athlete like a Lindsey Vonn or Shaun White that can break through into the mainstream conversation.

That's why the Winter Olympics needs to tweak its criteria and include the most popular winter sport in the world.

It's time to take basketball out of the Summer Games and put it where it belongs.

Basketball is, of course, not a winter sport by the IOC's definition because it's played indoors with no ice or snow to be found. But the rules can change when it's convenient for the IOC. Heck, this is an organization that put recent Winter Olympics in places like Sochi, Russia — a beachside resort where the temperature rarely gets below 40 degrees — and Beijing, where the climate is so dry they had to manufacture snow.

If they wanted basketball to be a Winter Olympic sport, they could easily manufacture a rule change that would allow it to happen. Is the sport played and watched in winter? OK, you're good to go!

And the IOC should push for that because it would significantly enhance the allure of the Winter Games to a worldwide audience while taking very little excitement away from summer, where basketball often seems like an afterthought.

As great as the basketball tournament has been, particularly at the last two Olympics with countries like France and Serbia mounting significant challenges to Team USA, fighting for attention with track and field, gymnastics, swimming and the rest is difficult. There's simply too much going on, particularly as the Summer Games have become bloated with events.

Two years ago in Paris, there were 329 medal events across 32 sports with more sports being added all the time like sport climbing in 2024 or flag football in 2028. This year in Milan Cortina, there will be 116 medal events in 16 sports. The Winter Olympics can grow only so much if you're restricting it to sports that require snow or ice to compete.

Maybe that works now for the IOC, but is it a sustainable strategy for the future?

If the IOC isn't concerned about TV ratings, particularly in the U.S., they should be. NBC's coverage in 2022 averaged 11.4 million viewers across all its platforms, down from 19.8 million in 2018. That was already down about 7% from Sochi in 2014.

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There's probably some statistical noise in that trend line due to time zone issues (holding the last two Winter Olympics in China and South Korea was a disaster for American viewers), as well as the bad vibes surrounding 2022 with Beijing still in the midst of a full COVID lockdown. At that point Americans were tired of talking about it, but it was impossible to flip on an event, see empty stands and not think about the pandemic.

Interest has bounced back and ratings are reportedly up with a more traditional Winter Games set in the Italian Alps and event times that are more conducive to American viewership. It's also helps significantly that NHL players have returned to the men's hockey competition for the first time since 2014.

But over the long haul, the Winter Olympics are just too limited, philosophically and geographically, to grow viewership with younger demographics.

Outside of Europe, the U.S. and Canada, participation is sparse. Adding the X Games sports has brought in some athletes from Australia and New Zealand, while Japan, China and South Korea usually have a big presence in skating events. But South America, Africa, the Middle East and even some large population countries like Spain (14 athletes at 2022 Games), Brazil (10) and Mexico (4) are practically absent.

That's always going to be a challenge for the IOC. It's hard to build a viewer base for winter sports in places that don't have much winter.

But that's also why it makes so much sense to take basketball — a sport that reaches all corners of the globe — and give it the Olympic showcase it deserves at a time of year when fans are used to watching the NBA and the various leagues around the world.

Suddenly, Argentina is interested. Australia and Greece are involved. The South Sudan story was huge in Paris and it would be even bigger in this context simply because of what it would mean for awareness of the Winter Games across the entire African continent.

Also, no disrespect to any athlete getting ready to compete in Milan Cortina, but the Winter Olympics just doesn't have as many big, worldwide stars as the Summer Games. Yes, every speed skater is famous in the Netherlands, the Germans love their bobsledders and cross-country skiers are huge in Norway. But those are niche sports and niche markets. Having a Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic or Caitlin Clark bring mainstream appeal to the Winter Olympics would be transformative.

Such a huge change, of course, would require a lot of cooperation from the NBA and European leagues to pause their seasons in February. It would probably be difficult to find many NBA owners who want to send their star players away for a couple weeks and risk injury before the stretch run.

Admittedly, it's a lot to ask. But the NHL has managed to do it, and the upside is that it wouldn't require NBA players to devote such a huge chunk of their offseason in Olympic years going to training camps and playing exhibition games before the actual event. If the NBA was willing to tweak its schedule to allow for it once every four years, there would be clear momentum coming out of the Olympics that might even reengage some casual fans before the playoffs.

At the end of the day, basketball is just not needed at the Summer Olympics. There is already so much to consume, you could remove it entirely and few would notice. It would, however, transform the Winter Games into a more global event that could comfortably share the stage with its traditionally popular offerings like figure skating and hockey.

The Olympic movement always evolves. Its next big move should be placing the world's most popular winter sport in the Winter Olympics.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, ShowBiz, Sports

February 17, 2026

Why basketball should be in the Winter Olympics

LIVIGNO, Italy — The original concept of the Winter Olympics was simple. In the early 1920s, a movement was born within t...

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Chris Jones already recruiting Tyreek Hill for Chiefs reunion after Dolphins release

One of Tyreek Hill's former teammates didn't waste any time trying to recruit the eight-time Pro Bowler back to Kansas City.

Chris Jones, who overlapped with Hill for the first six years of their career and won a Super Bowl together, tagged Hill's X account in a post and wrote, "It's [time]" —using a clock emoji — just seven hours after news broke about the Dolphins planning to release the injuredwide receiver.

Kansas City has already emerged as one of the logical destinations for Hill, according to ESPN,along with the Chargers— where former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is now the offensive coordinator.

It's where Hill starred after being a fifth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, finishing with more than 1,000 receiving yards in four seasons and becoming one of the trusted targets Patrick Mahomes used while constructing the foundation for the Chiefs' dynasty.

But in March 2022, around two months after the Chiefs lost to the Bengals in the AFC Championship game, Kansas City stunningly traded Hill to the Dolphins, and that's where he spent the last four seasons.

Hill opened his Miami stint with consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns, including one in 2023 where he finished with an NFL-best 1,799 receiving yards, but he hasn't topped 965 yards in each of the last two seasons. Miami will save roughly $23 million in salary cap space by releasing Hill.

Off-field issues also emerged throughout his tenure with the Dolphins, as his estranged wifealleged in Septemberthat eight instances of domestic violence occurred during the course of their 17-month marriage.

Hilltore his left ACL, dislocated his knee and sustained other ligament damagejust four games into the 2025 campaign, but he vowed in an Instagram post Monday — after reports of his Dolphins release — that the "journey doesn't stop here."

"Every chapter in life has taught me something," Hillwrote, in part, in his statement. "This one taught me leadership, resilience, and mostly gratitude. The love I have for this game is unexplainable. And right now, this off season, for the first time ever, The Cheetah is all the way turned up and locked in. Focused.

"… The Cheetah don't slow down. Ever. So to everyone wondering what's next… just wait on it."

Jones hopes it'll involve Kansas City.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, ShowBiz, Sports

February 17, 2026

Chris Jones already recruiting Tyreek Hill for Chiefs reunion after Dolphins release

One of Tyreek Hill's former teammates didn't waste any time trying to recruit the eight-time Pro Bowler back to Kansas City. Chris...

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Aaron Judge: After 'brutal' wait, Yankees got winter moves right

New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge readily admitted that it was "brutal" to wait on his team to make some transactions this offseason.

The three-time and reigning American League Most Valuable Player had his first media availability of spring training Monday in Tampa.

"It was brutal. I'm like, 'I see a lot of free agents out there,'" Judge said. "I'm like, 'Let's sign these guys right now and start adding more pieces,' because I've seen other teams around the league get better.

"Early on, it was pretty tough to watch. I'm like, 'Man, we're the New York Yankees. Let's go out there and get the right people, get the right pieces to go out there and finish this thing off.'"

Judge was asked whether he expressed his view to the team, and he grinned and said, "Yeah, oh, yeah."

In the end, New York mostly brought back the same roster from 2025 that finished 94-68, lost the AL East title to the Toronto Blue Jays in a tiebreaker and then fell to Toronto in the AL Division Series.

Center fielder Trent Grisham accepted a qualifying offer last November, after which it was all quiet for a franchise known as one of the major leagues' biggest spenders. At one point in the winter, the Yankees were the only team in baseball that had not yet added a new player.

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That changed when the Yankees traded four prospects for Miami Marlins left-handed pitcher Ryan Weathers. But the biggest names they signed were brought back from the 2025 roster -- outfielder Cody Bellinger landed a five-year, $162.5 million deal last month and veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt came back on a one-year, $4 million pact.

That was enough for Judge.

"We're right where we need to be," Judge told reporters. "I love it. I don't know, people might have their opinions on (running it back) because we didn't win it all last year and fell short in the Division Series."

Judge also said his right elbow is at full strength after his flexor strain last summer did not fully heal. Manager Aaron Boone recently said Judge would play in four or five of the Yankees' first nine Grapefruit League games as he gets back to throwing at game speed.

Judge said he was "definitely concerned" after the postseason ended and didn't know whether he'd need surgery until the team doctors assuaged his concerns.

"They ran all the checks again and did all the tests and they said, 'You're good to go,'" Judge said. "And I said, 'All right, when can we start throwing?' So it was good. It was great. It was great to hear those words so that now I can go into the offseason and just prepare the way I need to be in the best shape to start the year."

--Field Level Media

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, ShowBiz, Sports

February 17, 2026

Aaron Judge: After 'brutal' wait, Yankees got winter moves right

New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge readily admitted that it was "brutal" to wait on his team to make some ...

Read More