Sports

The NFL's 32 teams received some great news on Friday when the league announced the salary cap is increasing by an unprecedented amount. According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the NFL is raising the salary cap from $224.8 million in 2023 to $255.4 million in 2024. "The unprecedented $30 million increase per club in this year's Salary Cap is the result of the full repayment of all amounts advanced by the clubs and deferred by the players during the Covid pandemic as well as an extraordinary increase in media revenue for the 2024 season," the NFL said in a statement. There will also be an additional $74 million per club payment for player benefits, which includes performance-based pay and benefits for retired players. It marks the third straight year that the salary cap has increased since it dipped due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has officially more than doubled since 2011. Source link

The top stories and transfer rumours from Saturday's newspapers... DAILY TELEGRAPH Man City could move for West Ham winger Lucas Paqueta should Bernardo Silva leave this summer. Chelsea's £5k hospitality ticket vs. Man Utd could set Premier League record. DAILY MAIL Manchester City are set to field bids for Kevin De Bruyne as the top Saudi Pro League clubs step up interest in landing the world's best creator. Tickets to watch Lionel Messi and Argentina compete in this summer's Copa America were being sold for more than $21,000 just a day after presale started. Former Everton midfielder Li Tie has been pictured confessing to corruption and match-fixing on Chinese TV. That admission led to him being sentenced to life in prison in his native China, as per Mark Dreyer, an author and reporter based in the country. EVENING STANDARD Arsenal striker Mika Biereth has impressed Sturm Graz so much the Austrian club want to make his loan move permanent this summer. THE GUARDIAN The Queens Park Rangers player Ilias Chair has been sentenced to a year in prison after being found guilty in Belgium of assaulting a man and breaking his skull with a rock. THE TIMES Mauricio Pochettino has...

Photo: Getty Images The New York Jets have a ton of areas of weakness heading into the 2024 offseason, but one of their more under-appreciated needs coming up is a backup quarterback. The lack of a competent reserve signal-caller in 2023 doomed the Jets to their 13th straight year without a playoff appearance. With 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers returning from an Achilles injury and a third straight year of nothing from Zach Wilson, the Jets need to prioritize a designated survivor if Rodgers does go down again. Jets owner Woody Johnson said as much during the NFL Honors. “ need a backup quarterback,” Johnson said, per ESPN. “We didn’t have one last year.” Before the offseason officially kicks off, here are some of the best free-agent backups New York could go after. Source link

Sarina Wiegman Hails England’s ‘Growth Potential’ After Signing New ContractEngland takes on Austria in an international women’s friendly match as part of their February training camp.The Lionesses have two friendlies in Marbella, against Austria and Italy as part of the international break, but it is a schedule that offers little relief to burnt out players, despite the national side having missed out on qualification for the Paris Olympics this summer.Sarina Wiegman’s side were dealt a blow ahead of the matches. Euro 2021-winning captain Leah Williamson had been called up for the first time following her nine-month recovery from her anterior cruciate ligament rupture. Her much-anticipated return had to be pushed back after she sustained what has been described as a minor hamstring injury.The England manager recently signed a contract extension with the Football Association until 2027, and this will mark the start of her new cycle although without a tournament on the horizon, the matches themselves do not count for anything significant.Follow all the live updates in the blog below and get the latest odds and tips here.England vs AustriaLeah Williamson had to drop out of the squad through injuryEngland will play two matches against Austria and Italy in SpainEngland...

A member of Ange Postecoglou's squad has been dealt a serious injury blow as reliable journalist Alasdair Gold shares news out of Tottenham. Spurs chasing top four finish but injuries threaten form The Lilywhites are chasing Champions League football and a top-four finish this season, but will need to pick up their form quickly amid fierce competition from the likes of Aston Villa and Man United. Related The Lilywhites face competition from PSG. Spurs won't be in action again until early March, giving Postecoglou plenty of time to regather his troops and prepare them for a crunch final third of the 2023/2024 campaign. The north Londoners have reigned victorious in four out of their last eight in all competitions, which is solid but not exactly spectacular, so the head coach will be looking to rediscover their early-season prowess, when Tottenham won 10 on the bounce at one stage. “In the last couple of home games we haven't (started strongly), in the beginning of the year we did, we're not doing anything different,” said Postecoglou on Tottenham's current form. Tottenham's upcoming league fixtures Date Crystal Palace (home) March 2nd Aston Villa (away) March 10th Fulham (away) March 16th Luton Town (home)...

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany has revealed his father’s experiences as a political refugee give him the drive and determination to lead the club’s fight for Premier League survival. The Clarets are on course for relegation after a 5-0 thrashing at home to Arsenal left them anchored in 19th place with just three wins this season, but Kompany’s resolve has roots far beyond the football pitch. Explaining his hunger for the fight, the former Manchester City captain cited his father Pierre, who fled the Democratic Republic of Congo for Belgium as a dissident in 1975 having protested against the brutal dictatorship of Mobutu Sese Seko. He later went on to become Belgium’s first black mayor, and put his son on the path to a glittering sporting career. Offering an emotional account of his inner drive, Kompany said: “It’s a deep answer; it’s about where you come from. “Where I come from is my dad, who was a political refugee. He had to flee a country not just at war, but as a dictatorship where he was getting whipped in his twenties because he was against the regime over there. “It’s fleeing from one part of the country to the other, it’s...

Manchester United and Liverpool have been rumored as potential destinations for Thomas Tuchel. A new report suggests that the German coach wants to make a return to the Premier League after leaving Bayern Munich. Bayern announced Tuchel's departure as head coach at the end of the season, with the team facing the possibility of ending the 2023/24 campaign without any trophies. Tuchel joined Bayern late in the 2022/23 season with hopes of achieving a treble, but only managed to secure the Bundesliga title on the final day after Borussia Dortmund's unexpected defeat. He began the season at Chelsea but was sacked in September 2022, leading to his departure. Tuchel's desire to work in England again is highlighted, with Liverpool and Manchester United mentioned as potential destinations. The Telegraph reports Tuchel's interest in returning to the Premier League, with Liverpool and Manchester United as potential options following Jurgen Klopp's departure from Liverpool. Tuchel has previously replaced Klopp at Mainz and Dortmund, indicating a potential connection between the two managers. Klopp and Tuchel have long been acquaintances / GLYN KIRK/GettyImages Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso is a top contender to replace Klopp at Liverpool. However, Bayern's interest in Alonso adds a new dimension...

Lionel Messi's viral moment came during Inter Miami's MLS opener against Real Salt Lake at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. on Wednesday night. Leading 1-0 in the first half, Inter Miami saw a Real Salt Lake player go down on the field just beyond the penalty box. Messi, dribbling the ball, passed it over the downed player to himself before attempting a shot on goal. Source link

Accountability is a word that is frequently mentioned in the realm of sports. Whether individuals take responsibility for their actions or shift blame onto others, accountability is a common topic of discussion following certain events. Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers has been at the center of discussions surrounding accountability since stepping in for Adrian Griffin before the All-Star break. JJ Redick criticized Rivers for his perceived lack of accountability over the years, leading to responses from the likes of Patrick Beverley and Doc's son Austin.Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is obsessed with toilets"In terms of accountability, your best years in the NBA were when you played for him and the Clippers... It's just very ironic and kinda weird that you have this energy towards him." – Austin Rivers to JJ RedickThe ongoing conversation surrounding Rivers is somewhat amusing. Austin and Pat Bev have come to his defense against Redick, while Doc himself has been giving interviews where he seems to be deflecting blame. This aligns with Redick's criticism of lack of accountability. Rivers has been let go from previous teams due to either reaching the end of his tenure or failing to lead the team to further success."I even brought...

SAN FRANCISCO — Almost a year ago, Mike Dunleavy, the future general manager of the Golden State Warriors, and Kent Lacob, an up-and-coming front office voice, drove 50 miles south to Santa Clara's campus. Their main purpose was to watch Maxwell Lewis, a potential lottery pick from Pepperdine. While Lewis played well and eventually got drafted 40th in the 2023 NBA Draft, it was Brandin Podziemski, a 6-foot-4 guard who was just starting to gain attention as an NBA prospect, who stole the show. Podziemski's impressive performance, including 23 points and 18 rebounds, caught the attention of Dunleavy and Lacob, leading them to consider him as a potential first-round pick. Podziemski's journey continued as he competed in the NBA Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star Weekend last Friday. Leading all NBA rookies with 14 games of at least 10 points, five rebounds, and five assists, he is a strong contender for the All-Rookie first team. Despite turning 21 this week, Podziemski has already made a significant impact on the Warriors, earning a spot in the starting and closing lineups and becoming an essential player in head coach Steve Kerr's preferred five-man group. The relationship between Podziemski and the Warriors began that...