Sasaki met with 'set few' of 20 interested teams

The Independent relies on reader support to cover important stories on reproductive rights, climate change, and Big Tech. Your donation helps fund investigative reporting and documentaries like 'The A Word'. The upcoming Super Bowl will see President Trump in attendance, marking the first time a sitting president has attended. Security measures are heightened following a recent terror attack in New Orleans, and Trump's visit will include a pre-recorded interview for Fox's pregame show. Full Article

Marcus Jordan, the 34-year-old son of NBA legend Michael Jordan, was arrested in central Florida for possession of cocaine and resisting an officer without violence after his car was found stuck on railroad tracks just before a train was due to pass. Officers discovered his Lamborghini SUV with tires buried in dirt and rocks after he fled from a traffic stop in a neighboring county. Jordan, a former University of Central Florida basketball player, was...

Kirk Cousins revealed that a lingering shoulder and elbow injury affected his performance before being benched by the Atlanta Falcons, despite signing a lucrative deal last offseason. Michael Penix Jr. took over as the Falcons' starting quarterback, leading to speculation of Cousins' impending trade or release. However, if fully healthy, Cousins is expected to attract interest from teams like the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, and Las Vegas...

Minnesota Timberwolves player Anthony Edwards expressed shock over the trade of Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers at age 25, calling him one of the best scorers in the NBA and questioning the decision to move him. The basketball world reacted with a mix of anger and disbelief, with Mavericks fans protesting the move and Dončić's father criticizing the organization. Edwards jokingly urged fellow NBA players to stay informed about...

Former world number one Simona Halep has announced her retirement from tennis after suffering a resounding defeat in her first match of 2025 at the Transylvania Open in Romania. The two-time Grand Slam champion, who has been struggling with injuries, emotionally shared her decision with the audience, expressing gratitude for her career achievements but acknowledging the physical limitations that led to her retirement at the age of 33. Halep's retirement marks the end of a...

Kevin Seifert is a staff writer at ESPN covering the Minnesota Vikings and the NFL, with over 20 years of experience in sports journalism. He joined ESPN in 2008 after working for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Washington Times. The NFL Referees Association, led by executive director Scott Green, dismissed claims of bias towards the Kansas City Chiefs, emphasizing officials' professionalism and dedication to fair officiating, as supported by league grading and evaluation systems. The...