Happy New Year 2025

Tag: teammate

Ex-Dolphins lineman Jonathan Martin walks back bullying allegations against teammate that caused NFL scandal

Former Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Jonathan Martin is walking back his bullying accusations against his former teammate, Richie Incognito, which caused quite the scandal in 2013.

“I never believed for a second I was being bullied,” Martin told ESPN. “It’s a story that I’ve been trying to fix for 10 years.”

Incognito was suspended by the Dolphins in 2013 after reports that he bullied Martin to the point where the latter stormed out of the team’s cafeteria as a result of what was said.

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Miami tackle Jonathan Martin (71) and guard Richie Incognito (Samuel Lewis/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Martin, a second-round pick by the Dolphins in 2012, was in his second NFL season when the bullying controversy surrounded him and Incognito.

The Dolphins later announced that Incognito was suspended for “conduct detrimental to the team.”

The league eventually got involved, retaining lawyer Ted Wells to investigate the incident, which found that Incognito, Mike Pouncey and John Jerry had all been engaging in bullying toward Martin.

RICHIE INCOGNITO DENIES ROLE IN BULLYING SCANDAL, BLAMES ‘DEMONS’ FOR EX-TEAMMATE BEING OUT OF NFL

The NFL’s report on the matter also said that Martin checked himself into a hospital and his mother needed to be flown across the country to be with him during that time.

But now, Martin is blaming his parents for the situation becoming as widely known as it is today.

“I had a situation with my teammates that I wasn’t super happy about,” Martin told ESPN. “But my mother had her own read on the situation.

“I hadn’t even told my coaches, hadn’t told anyone. And suddenly it’s on ESPN, right?” he continued. “I didn’t believe any of the stances I was taking, right, where I’m this victim. I wasn’t a victim, right? And again, it’s been a point of consternation.

Richie Incognito of the Oakland Raiders leaves the field after a game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 22, 2019, in Minneapolis. (Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

“My mother maybe in her mind – I can’t read her mind – she thought she was doing the right thing.”

Incognito, who missed the second half of the 2013 season and the entire 2014 campaign due to the scandal, responded after seeing Martin’s new words on the matter.

“He couldn’t cut it in the NFL so he quit and his mom blamed me,” he said, bluntly on X. “Legacy media pushed this narrative long and far. Too bad it was all a lie! They lied to protect his money. He quit…the team had every right to claw back that money. His mom started the bullying narrative with @espn @AdamSchefter so that @MiamiDolphins wouldn’t go after his signing bonus!”

While Martin’s mother, Jane, did not speak with ESPN for the interview, his father, Gus, did say his piece.

“His mom and I did strongly intervene,” he said. “To make sure he was protected.”

Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Jonathan Martin is shown during the game between Stanford and USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. (Ric Tapia/Icon SMI/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Gus Martin also played an alleged voice from Incognito, which was left for his son at the time. The man on the phone who is allegedly Incognito threatens Jonathan Martin, using graphic language including racial slurs.

“Hey, what’s up, you half-n—– piece of s—,” Incognito allegedly says. “I saw you on Twitter, you been training 10 weeks. I’ll s— in your f—ing mouth. I’m going to slap your f—ing mouth, I’m going to slap your real mother across the face. F— you, you’re still a rookie. I’ll kill you.”

Martin would eventually get traded to the San Francisco 49ers during the offseason after the bullying allegations were brought to light. However, he only played 15 games there before retiring after going to Carolina Panthers training camp the year after.

Meanwhile, Incognito signed with the Buffalo Bills after his suspension was lifted by the league. He spent three seasons in upstate New York before joining the then-Oakland Raiders.

Miami Dolphins lineman Jonathan Martin (John Rivera/Icon SMI/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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During an appearance on “HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” in 2019, Incognito denied ever bullying his former teammate, blaming Martin’s “mental health issues and his demons” for being out of the league.

Incognito added, “I fit the bill. Hey, racist, homophobic, whatnot. What I’m saying was, we were close, personal friends. It wasn’t factored into, ‘Hey, this is guy talk, these are two alpha males talking to each other.’ Was some bad s–t said? Absolutely. But was this a case of bullying? Absolutely not.”

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

February 17, 2025
Eli Manning’s ex-Giants teammate upset over QB’s Hall of Fame snub

One of Eli Manning’s former New York Giants teammates, cornerback Prince Amukamara, is not happy that his former teammate did not make the Pro Football Hall of Fame last week.

“Snubbed dude, come on man!” Amukamara exclaimed to TMZ Sports.

“And it’s crazy because before he retired, that’s always been the argument right: is he a first ballot Hall of Famer?”

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New York Giants former quarterback Eli Manning prepares to throw out the first pitch before the game between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. (Vincent Carchietta-USA Today Sports)

Amukamara was Manning’s teammate for five seasons, from 2011-2015, and started all four playoff games in the Giants Super Bowl run in 2011.

“All I know is two-time Super Bowl MVP, beat everybody’s GOAT, never missed a down, never missed a play, never missed a game… He’ll get in next time,” Amukamara said.

Manning’s candidacy for the Pro Hall of Fame has been hotly debated among fans.

Manning is a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl MVP. He is 11th all-time in passing yards and touchdown passes thrown.

He was as durable as they come, starting 210 consecutive games, a streak that only ended because he was benched and not due to injury.

JARED ALLEN, ANTONIO GATES HEADLINE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2025

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning talks to former teammate Prince Amukamara, of the Chicago Bears, after their game on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (IMAGN)

On the other hand, Manning finished with a career 117-117 record and has 244 career interceptions, good for 12th most all-time.

Amukamara did say that those who were elected were deserving of the honor.

Jared Allen, Antonio Gates, Sterling Sharpe and Eric Allen were the four players who will be enshrined in Canton this year.

While Amukamara thought Manning was a snub, he said the same about former Carolina Panthers star linebacker Luke Kuechly.

PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME SNUBS DRAW STRONG SOCIAL MEDIA REACTION: ‘WHAT A JOKE’

New York Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara gets tackled by Buffalo Bills running back Cierre Wood at Ralph Wilson Stadium. (Timothy T. Ludwig-USA Today Sports)

Kuechly only played for eight seasons but was undoubtedly one of the best linebackers in the sport. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year, won Defensive Player of the year in 2013, was a seven-time Pro-Bowler and five-time All-Pro. He led the NFL in tackles twice in his career.

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Chicago Bears cornerback Prince Amukamara warms up for the New York Giants game at MetLife Stadium. (Vincent Carchietta-USA Today Sports)

Amukamara joked he didn’t want to say anything that would get him snubbed from the Hall. He had a decent nine-year career with the Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears, but he will not be making the Hall of Fame.

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Ryan Canfield is a digital production assistant for Fox News Digital.

February 13, 2025
Patrick Mahomes’ former teammate pushes back on ‘tarnished’ legacy narrative around Chiefs star

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Patrick Mahomes’ loss in Super Bowl LIX to the Philadelphia Eagles dropped him to 3-2 in Super Bowls since he took the reins as Kansas City Chiefs quarterback.

On Sunday, Mahomes had one of the worst games he has ever had. The Eagles’ defense overpowered the Chiefs’ offensive line and rattled Mahomes early and often. He was sacked six times, threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. His QB rating was 11.4 for the game.

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Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter, #98, pushes Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, #15, during the second half of Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025 in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

The game was on par with his performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV. He was sacked three times and threw two interceptions, finishing with a QB rating of 42.2.

NFL pundits began to question Mahomes’ legacy in the immediate aftermath of the game. While there were comparisons to Tom Brady going into the game in which some believed Mahomes would be in his stratosphere with a third consecutive title, the loss – for some – diminished his standing so badly that the gap between both is almost insurmountable.

Former Chiefs offensive lineman Mitchell Schwartz had none of that. He defended Mahomes in social media posts on Tuesday.

“Someone is going to have to explain to me how a 29 year old’s legacy is tarnished because after the best 7 year start to a career and getting closer than anyone in history to winning 3 straight Super Bowls, one bad game from basically the entire team diminishes that legacy??” he wrote on X.

“Tiger missed cuts in majors even at the height of his powers. Brady had a 16-0 team and lost to a 10-6 team. Missed the playoffs his 2nd year starting. Lost multiple playoff games to teams who threw for less than 100 yards but that doesn’t matter b/c it wasn’t in the Super Bowl?

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, #15, stands on the sidelines during the second half of Super Bowl LIX against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025 in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

NFL FANS INTERVENE AFTER RESTAURANT OWNED BY EAGLES’ CJ GARDNER-JOHNSON’S MOM HIT BY UNWARRANTED BAD REVIEWS

“The dynamic has gotten very weird where you have to not only win #Ringz but you also get docked this bad for a Super Bowl loss when you’re doing unprecedented things before the age of 30. Brady is the most accomplished QB ever, it’s going to take years to compare their résumés.”

As Brady lost to the New York Giants in 2007, Schwartz pointed out, pundits did not jump on his legacy and question his resume. He lamented the “reactionary” state of the media.

“It feels like we’re trying to blend MJ and Brady and hold Pat to that standard. No one is repeating 6-0,” he wrote. “Brady didn’t do it. No one else will, especially in football. Football is too interconnected, 1 game is too small. Jordan had 7 games to make sure his team won. Too different.”

Schwartz asked talking heads to “pump the brakes” on comparison and legacy talk.

Mahomes has plenty of time to catch Brady – if that is the goal. Brady was 32 years old when he reached his fifth Super Bowl and fell to 3-2 when his Patriots lost to the Giants for a second time.

Brady went 10 years without winning another one. The Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX thanks to an interception from Malcolm Butler at the very end of the game.

Mahomes vowed to recover and bring the Chiefs back to glory.

“I let y’all down today. I’ll always continue to work and try and learn and be better for it,” he wrote on X. “Want to give thanks to God for every opportunity he has given me.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, #15, shakes hands with fans as he leaves the field following a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025 in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

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“We will be back.”

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February 12, 2025
Former Lia Thomas teammate calls out Democrats still fighting for trans athletes in women’s sports

EXCLUSIVE: Former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Grace Estabrook was one of the many young women who shared a pool and locker room with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in the 2021-22 season.

From 2019, when she was first told Thomas would be joining her team, until her senior year in 2022, Estabrook alleged she was repeatedly pressured by the university not to oppose Thomas’ inclusion on the team. Estabrook told Fox News Digital that administrators tried to convince her that she would never get a job or get into grad school if she spoke out against it and that any issue she had with the situation was because she had a “psychological problem.”

And in between the practices and meets that made her feel “uncomfortable” and “powerless,” Estabrook says she also witnessed the mainstream media celebrate Thomas as a civil rights icon and even be nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year award.

But now, in 2025, Estabrook is one of three former UPenn swimmers who have filed a lawsuit against the university, the Ivy League and the NCAA over its handling of the situation as the tides on the issue turn in the court of public opinion.

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Penn’s Lia Thomas waits to swim in a qualifying heat of the 200-yard freestyle at the Ivy League Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships at Harvard University, Feb. 18, 2022, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)

Fox News Digital reached out to UPenn for comment.

Recent data suggests the vast majority of Americans now oppose trans athletes in women’s sports. The NCAA recently changed its policy to prevent them from competing in the women’s category after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to address the issue last Wednesday.

Still, many Democrats continue to fight for trans inclusion in women’s and girls’ sports, and multiple states have not complied with Trump’s order.

For Estabrook, who says she lived through the experience of changing her clothes with Thomas in the room and being threatened not to complain about it, the thought of elected officials still fighting for a cause that ensures other women experience what she did is “depressing.”

“That’s just really depressing,” Estabrook said. “I just don’t know why anyone would want to perpetuate abuse to women on large scales like this. I think that’s why we are doing what we’re doing. It’s because we want a clear court decision that will help institutions be able to set clear policies to make sure this never happens again. We want that enduring legal precedent. … It’s depressing, but that’s why we’re doing what we’re doing.”

Estabrook’s journey throughout the situation with UPenn has featured frequent “depressing” moments.

Her locker was only a few feet away from Thomas in the locker room, forcing her to back herself into a corner for the sake of her own comfort.

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“I would kind of back into a corner that had low visibility and just try to change as quickly as I could, and I had other teammates who would go into the bathroom stalls and change in there,” Estabrook said.

“We were the ones that were forced into hiding, it was very uncomfortable, and there was just this constant fear and disruption of peace of like, ‘OK, I just don’t have a safe environment here anymore,’ not only physically but emotionally and psychologically, and it was just incredibly stressful. I look back on it and I don’t know how I endured that.”

Estabrook added that the situation put “incredible” stress on both her mind and body, and it disrupted her swimming ability.

The positive media coverage of Thomas was the insulting cherry on top of the situation for Estabrook. She said that many times when she and her teammates traveled to a meet, they not only had to deal with the anxiety of Thomas in their space but also a horde of reporters there to cover the trans athlete in a positive light.

“I just remember feeling, ‘This is so alien,’” Estabrook said. “It just felt like it was this whole celebration of Thomas and the whole transgender ideology movement.”

“All of the media I remember seeing or reading at the time was celebrating Thomas as this groundbreaking figurehead of the transgender community … there was just such a celebration of it that it was really pushed in our faces and forcing us to accept it.”

Estabrook said the hardest moment of the experience came at the 2022 Ivy League championships. She hoped that Thomas would be ruled ineligible to participate. However, the Ivy League allowed Thomas to swim. Thomas ultimately set pool records in every individual event the athlete competed in and topped the victor’s podium four times.

Thomas went on to put up a similar performance at the 2022 NCAA championships. There, Thomas ended up in an infamous tie with former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines. That tie ultimately sparked the seeds for change that gave Estabrook and countless other women hope when the experience prompted Gaines to speak up and become a prominent advocate for women’s athletes seeking protection from trans inclusion.

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Former UPenn swimmer Grace Estabrook (Grace Estabrook)

“I was just so grateful for her bravery,” Estabrook said. “I really do feel empowered by the work that Riley Gaines has been doing and seeing women jump on that same train and start to speak out. … It empowered me to be able to do the same.”

More hope came this past year after Trump pledged during a Fox News town hall interview in October that, if elected, he would ban trans athletes in women’s sports. Trump won the election, and exit polls suggested the issue of trans inclusion played a prominent role in the decision of many moderate voters.

Trump quickly made good on his promise, signing the “No Men in Women’s Sports” executive order last Wednesday. For Estabrook, seeing this come to fruition has gone a long way in affirming her political beliefs.

“I was very excited to hear that and even more excited when that became a reality last week so quickly after he took office,” Estabrook said. “It’s just very encouraging to see that we have a president who is just so supportive of us and is also seeing this in accordance with reality.”

Estabrook’s lawsuit, which has been filed alongside former teammates Ellen Holmquist and Margot Kaczorowski, seeks to have all of Thomas’ records and accolades as a woman swimmer revoked.

In addition to Estabrook’s lawsuit, Trump’s Department of Education has launched an investigation into potential Title IX violations that occurred at UPenn and has also advised the NCAA to discard Thomas’ accolades in the women’s category.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.

February 12, 2025
Cowboys star CeeDee Lamb sounds off amid teammate Micah Parsons trade rumors

Micah Parsons put together another strong performance this past season. The Dallas Cowboys linebacker recorded 12 sacks despite missing four games in his fourth NFL season.

Parsons is set to play the 2025 season on his fifth-year option before he is scheduled to become a free agent. The star pass rusher would then be free to sign with another team, unless his representatives and the Cowboys’ front office are able to reach an agreement on a contract extension.

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CeeDee Lamb, left, and Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys celebrate after beating the Los Angeles Rams at AT&T Stadium on Oct. 29, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)

While Parsons’ future remains uncertain, trade rumors have already started to swirl – much to the displeasure of one of his current teammates.

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A report from NFL Media recently surfaced saying “some internal discussions” have taken place among the Cowboys brass about the possibility of including Parsons in a trade. Dallas star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb apparently caught wind of the report, and questioned whether there was any fatigue concerning discussions about Parsons.

Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys walks off the field after the New York Giants game at AT&T Stadium on Nov. 24, 2022. (Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

He also suggested that having Parsons on the team gives Dallas the best opportunity to win games going forward.

“Y’all aren’t tired of this? Every offseason, top of the charts… Let’s just win ball games and that’s with 11! SMH,” Lamb wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Parsons is scheduled to make $21.324 million this upcoming season. While he is listed on the Cowboys’ roster as a linebacker, he lined up at the defensive end position for the majority of the team’s defensive snaps last season and was tagged as such.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and linebacker Micah Parsons celebrate during the NFL Pro Bowl Skills Competition in Orlando, Florida, Feb. 1, 2024. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA Today Sports)

San Francisco 49ers star Nick Bosa’s roughly $34 million represents the league’s highest annual salary for a defensive end.

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Lamb and Parsons will be under the guidance of a new head coach when they report to training camp in the coming months. The Cowboys parted ways with head coach Mike McCarthy last month and promoted Brian Schottenheimer from his offensive coordinator post to head coach.

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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

February 11, 2025
Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes leaves out teammate while shaking hands during Super Bowl LIX loss

Vibes weren’t high on the Kansas City Chiefs’ sideline during Super Bowl LIX as they were uncharacteristically blown out by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, though, was spotted walking down the bench dapping up his teammates, trying to keep spirits high at a time when they were at their lowest all season.

However, Mahomes is being scrutinized for seemingly forgetting to shake hands with one of his running backs, Samaje Perine, as he went down the line.

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Samaje Perine during a press conference in advance of Super Bowl LIX at New Orleans Marriott. (Stephen Lew-Imagn Images)

Perine had stood up, acting like he was going to shake hands with his quarterback, but Mahomes skipped him to talk to tight end Travis Kelce instead.

The video of Mahomes went viral after the 40-22 loss, with many wondering why he would pass up on Perine after going through the rest of his teammates.

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Perine is a veteran in the NFL, playing his first year with the Chiefs in 2024 after spending time with the Washington Commanders, Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos in prior seasons.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes walks off the field after losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. (Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)

Perine was used mainly in the pass game out of the backfield, hauling in 28 receptions for 322 yards and one touchdown for the Chiefs during the regular season. He had 92 rushing yards on 20 carries with a score as well.

Perine caught a pass from Mahomes in the AFC Championship against the Buffalo Bills, which sealed their victory and put them into their third straight Super Bowl.

While Mahomes never commented on what happened with forgetting Perine on the sideline after the game, he did post about the loss after the worst start of his career.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes after Super Bowl LIX (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

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“Appreciate all the love and support from #ChiefsKingdom. I let y’all down today. I’ll always continue to work and try and learn and be better for it. Want to give thanks to God for every opportunity he has given me. We will be back,” he wrote on X.

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

February 10, 2025
Canucks offload disgruntled star J.T. Miller in trade with Rangers amid rift with teammate

The New York Rangers are shuffling the deck.

The Rangers acquired disgruntled star J.T. Miller in a multiplayer deal with the Vancouver Canucks on Friday.

The team received Miller and defensemen Jackson Dorrington and Erik Brannstrom, while sending center Filip Chytil, defenseman Victor Mancini, and a protected 2025 first round draft pick to Vancouver.

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Vancouver Canucks center J.T. Miller (9) looks on against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period at Lenovo Center. (James Guillory-Imagn Images)

The Canucks were expected to deal away either Miller or star center Elias Petersson after a reported rift between the two that dates back years.

“We’ve had our differences, maybe in some games, but I mean, he’s a teammate that I respect and yeah, he’s someone I like to play hockey with,” Petersson said in February 2023 on the “32 Thoughts: The Podcast.”

“Yeah, there’s a lot of speculation, obviously a lot, but he’s a teammate that I respect… it’s not an issue.”

Shortly after that, Miller commented on his relationship with Petersson.

“Petey and my relationship has come a long way. We’re still working at it. We’re completely different people, you know what I mean? You’re not going to be BFFs with everybody, but at the same time you come to work together. We are polar opposites in a lot of ways, but we’re working at it. We’ve come a long way,” Miller said via Sportsnet.

The relationship became untenable between the pair as time went on.

After Miller was benched in the third period of the Canucks 5-3 loss to the Nashville Predators on Nov. 17, the Canucks announced that Miller had taken a leave of absence on Nov. 20. Miller missed ten games, with his absence spanning a month.

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Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller (9) skates during warm-up prior to a game against the Washington Capitals at Rogers Arena. (Bob Frid-Imagn Images)

Miller’s absence was 10 games, and the rift between the pair was brought up again. Both players were soon in trade rumors.

Miller has always played with an edge, and Rangers general manager Chris Drury hopes that Miller can channel that edge he plays with to jolt the Rangers.

“I want to thank J.T. for his time here in Vancouver,” Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said in a statement. “J.T. was a passionate impact player and good leader for our hockey team. Moving him was not an easy decision but we are pleased with our return from the Rangers. Both Filip and Victor are good additions for our club, and we are excited to see what they bring to us on the ice.”

Miller is in the second year of a seven-year, $56 million deal. The Canucks did not retain any money on Miller’s contract in the trade.

This season, Miller has nine goals and 26 assists in 40 games after setting career highs last season in goals (37) and assists (66) last season.

With the addition of Miller, the Rangers’ top three centers now are: Vincent Trocheck, Mika Zibanejad and Miller, a strong group on paper.

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Vancouver Canucks center J.T. Miller (9) is congratulated by teammates after scoring against the St. Louis Blues during the second period at Enterprise Center. (Jeff Curry-Imagn Images)

The Rangers are 13th in the Eastern conference, five points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card spot.

This will be Miller’s second stint with the Rangers, as he was drafted by the team with the 15th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft.

Miller spent parts of six seasons with New York before being traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning with defenseman Ryan McDonaugh in February 2018.

During his first stint in New York, Miller had 72 goals and 100 assists in 341 games. For his career, Miller has totaled 247 goals and 427 assists in 839 games.

The main prize of the trade for the Canucks is Chytil, who has 75 goals and 89 assists in 378 career games, including 11 goals and nine assists in 41 games this season.

Chytil missed all but 10 games with concussion issues last season but has shown flashes of stardom when healthy.

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New York Rangers center Filip Chytil (72) plays the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period at Bell Centre. (David Kirouac-Imagn Images)

“Heard some really good things,” Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet said of Chytil. “I heard he’s very excited to come. Mancini I hear is a really big defenseman, young, that can play. Yeah, I think there’s some stuff to work with.”

Miller may be able to join the Rangers for their matchup against the Boston Bruins at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.

For the Canucks, their first game in the post-Miller era is against the Detroit Red Wings at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Ryan Canfield is a digital production assistant for Fox News Digital.

February 1, 2025
SJSU lets go of volleyball coach who filed complaint over transgender player’s alleged plot to harm teammate

EXCLUSIVE: Former San Jose State University assistant volleyball coach Melissa Batie-Smoose’s contract with the university expired Friday, and she has been told that it will not be renewed, she exclusively told Fox News Digital.

Her departure comes after a season plagued by a scandal involving a trans athlete, in which Batie-Smoose took a firm stance to oppose the university’s defense of that athlete. She and her family initially moved to California from the East coast to accept the job in 2023.

“We didn’t make the decision to move our family across the country lightly, but I believe that everything happens for a reason, and I was meant to be at San Jose State to stand up for these young women and do everything I could to protect future generations. In my 30 years of coaching, this is one of the most amazing groups of young women that I’ve been around. Their strength and resiliency during a difficult season was inspiring and one of the reasons why I had to take a stand,” she told Fox News Digital.

San Jose State declined to comment on Batie-Smoose’s contract situation when contacted by Fox News Digital.

“SJSU does not comment on personnel matters,” a university spokesperson said.

Batie-Smoose was suspended from the program on Nov. 2 after she filed a Title IX complaint against the university regarding its alleged handling of a situation involving former transgender player Blaire Fleming. The complaint included allegations that Fleming had conspired with an opponent to have Slusser hit in the face during a match in October.

“I spoke up for the young women on the team who were being silenced and gaslit while dealing with having a male athlete in their locker room, on the court and rooming with them on the road. I could not be silenced and manipulated any longer so I had to stand up for what was right,” she said.

“Speaking out to protect these young women and future women was too much to ignore. This has cost me my job, but we need more coaches to stand up for what is right. I just have to pray that by doing the right thing that justice will prevail and I will be able to continue to do what I was meant to do.”

Batie-Smoose is also currently engaged in a lawsuit against San Jose State and the Mountain West alongside 11 current and former conference players.

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The lawsuit is led by former San Jose State co-captain Brooke Slusser, who alleges that she had been made to share bedrooms and changing spaces with Fleming for an entire season while the university withheld the truth about Fleming’s birth sex from her and other players.

Both Slusser’s lawsuit and Batie-Smoose’s Title IX complaint allege that Fleming conspired with Colorado State volleyball player Malaya Jones ahead of the match between the two programs on Oct. 3. The complaint alleges Fleming provided a scouting report to Jones to ensure a Colorado State competitive advantage, and established a plan to set up Jones with a clear lane to spike Slusser in the face during the contest.

NEVADA VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS WERE PRESSURED WITH ‘LEGAL ISSUES’ TO PLAY SJSU TRANS PLAYER DURING FEUD WITH SCHOOL

Colorado State University police behind the San Jose State University Spartans bench monitor Moby Arena during an NCAA Mountain West women’s volleyball game between the Spartans and the Colorado State Rams in Fort Collins, Colo., on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

Slusser was never spiked in the face during that match, but Colorado State did win in straight sets.

A Mountain West investigation into Batie-Smoose’s allegations did not find sufficient evidence to assign discipline to any player who was named in the allegations, which was stated in a letter obtained by Fox News Digital that was addressed to San Jose State athletic director Jeff Konya and Colorado State athletic director John Weber from Mountain West Deputy Commissioner Bret Gilliland.

That letter did not address allegations in Slusser’s lawsuit that provided further context on the incident, nor did it address the specific notion of an alleged conspiracy to have Slusser hit in the face. The letter simply referred to all the allegations listed in the complaint as “manipulation of the competition.”

Gilliland claimed that any evidence to back the claims in the complaint was insufficient, but did not explicitly state that the allegations were false, according to the letter.

The letter stated that the conference’s investigation included interviews with coaches and student-athletes at both San Jose State and Colorado State. However, the letter did not specifically state which individuals had been interviewed. The conference declined to provide any details on the individuals who had been interviewed when asked by Fox News Digital.

WHO IS BLAIRE FLEMING? SJSU VOLLEYBALL PLAYER DOMINATING FEMALE RIVALS AND ENRAGING WOMEN’S RIGHTS GROUPS

Slusser’s attorney Bill Bock later provided a statement to Fox News Digital insisting that the investigation had been “infected with bias.”

“Because the MWC’s investigation was inadequate, and anything but thorough, and because the MWC’s close-out letter is riddled with errors, the undersigned is issuing this rebuttal and demands that the MWC immediately and publicly release: (1) the investigative report prepared by its investigator(s), and (2) all documents connected to the MWC’s claimed ‘thorough investigation’ and upon which the MWC’s decision not to proceed further was based,” read the statement from Bock.

Slusser previously told Fox News Digital she has been spiked in the face by a volleyball in the past, and that the experience “stings, but you kind of just brush it off.” However, in their first season together in 2023, Slusser said she took one of Fleming’s spikes to her thigh, then had to nurse dark bruises on her thigh for an entire week after that. Slusser says she did not even know that Fleming was a trans athlete back then.

Slusser also previously told Fox News Digital that Batie-Smoose’s suspension left some of her teammates in tears.

SJSU TRANS PLAYER AND TRAUMATIZED TEAMMATE HAD THANKSGIVING DINNER IN LAST TRIP TOGETHER AS LAWSUITS RAGE ON

SJSU trans player Blaire Fleming and teammate Brooke Slusser went to a magic show and had Thanksgiving together in Las Vegas despite an ongoing lawsuit over Fleming being transgender. (Thien-An Truong/San Jose State Athletics)

“After we found out that she was released, a lot of the team just kind of broke down and was kind of freaking out, and even one of my teammates was like, ‘I don’t feel safe anymore,’ because there’s no one now that we feel like we can go and talk to about our concerns or our actual feelings and can actually speak freely in front of,” Slusser said.

Slusser said she did not feel safe speaking with anyone else involved in the program, especially head coach Todd Kress.

“You can’t truly voice how you’re feeling without them just trying to cover it up or act like it’s all OK. With Melissa, you could voice how you felt, and she could comfort you and validate your feelings and at least make you feel heard, compared to the other coaches,” Slusser said.

SJSU went on to play in the conference championship game against Colorado State on Nov. 30 but lost. The loss kept Fleming, Slusser and the rest of the Spartans out of the NCAA tournament. Batie-Smoose was at the match in Las Vegas, Nevada, that weekend to support her former players, despite being suspended by the program.

Nearly every one of the players on SJSU’s 2024 team that has remaining NCAA eligibility has entered the transfer portal, Fox News Digital previously reported.

“I think that it speaks volumes that the majority of the team transferred because they did not want to be subjected to the mental anguish the university put them through. They had had enough of the lies and manipulation, and I wish them the best,” Batie-Smoose told Fox News Digital.

Meanwhile, Slusser’s lawsuit against the school and conference has not yet gone to trial. Slusser is also engaged in Riley Gaines’ lawsuit against the NCAA over its policies on gender ideology that allows trans athletes to compete in women’s sports.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.

February 1, 2025
Tom Brady’s former teammate, Rob Gronkowski, discusses how Patrick Mahomes can dethrone Brady as NFL’s GOAT

Patrick Mahomes is on the fast track of surpassing Tom Brady as the NFL’s greatest ever.

With a win in this year’s Super Bowl, Mahomes would become the first player to win four rings before turning 30.

And if you compare the quarterbacks’ first seven full seasons, Mahomes’ numbers trump Brady’s.

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New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) and quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrate after a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the third quarter of the 2018 Super Bowl at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Eagles won 41-33. (Charles LeClaire/USA Today Sports)

Brady won more than half of his rings after turning 37, cementing himself in the conversation. But the chatter will be hot and heavy if the Kansas City Chiefs can finish a three-peat, something no team has done in the Super Bowl era.

Rob Gronkowski had a front-row seat for Brady’s illustrious career, winning four titles with him, three in New England, and one more in Tampa Bay.

“Good thing I went back to football and did that,” Gronkowski recalled in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.

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But even Gronk knows his quarterback might be in trouble. However, it will be tough, and there’s a reason why Brady has the upper hand for the time being.

“In order for Patrick Mahomes to dethrone (Brady), it’s gonna be tough because Tom beat him twice in playoff football. We absolutely demolished Patrick Mahomes,” Gronkowski said, referring to the 2021 Super Bowl.

Advantage, Brady.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) after the Super Bowl Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. Tampa Bay won 31-9. (AP Photo/Charlie )

But that doesn’t mean there’s no chance for Mahomes. Gronk said Mahomes doesn’t even need to match Brady in titles before being in the conversation.

“He’s gonna have to win about five, six championships in order to get in that conversation of being the greatest ahead of Tom Brady,” Gronk said.

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Those sentiments echo those of Victor Cruz, who already has Mahomes as the “No. 2” to Brady.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes celebrates after a touchdown run by running back Kareem Hunt during the first half against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif.,Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

“To me, I can’t put him above [Tom] Brady just yet, but he’s right there. He’s 1A, 1B for me,” Cruz told Fox News Digital in October.

“If he gets to five and he continues to keep his team relevant year in and year out, when we look up at the numbers, it’s gonna be insane just to see where he nets out and just to see when it’s all said and done where he is, because what he’s doing thus far, it’s pretty special.”

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First, the Chiefs will have to get through the Philadelphia Eagles, who the Chiefs beat two years ago in the Super Bowl to get Mahomes his second title. He earned his third last year against the San Francisco 49ers, the same team Mahomes beat for his first ring.

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February 1, 2025
Aaron Rodgers’ ex teammate thinks QB ‘can still get it done’ with NFL future in question

Aaron Rodgers’ future is in limbo, but the second half of his 2024 campaign may just keep him around.

The New York Jets arguably had their most disappointing season in franchise history, as they were just 5-12 despite playoff expectations and Super Bowl hopes.

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Rodgers missed just about the entire 2023 season after rupturing his Achilles on just his fourth snap as a Jet. This season, he sure looked like a 40-year-old quarterback coming off a major injury.

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Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews, left, points to Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers after giving him a championship belt after the win against the Pittsburgh Steelers during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Feb. 6, 2011. (USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis. via Imagn Content Services, LLC)

At times, however, mostly in the second half, he turned back the clock, and Clay Matthews, who won Super Bowl XLV with Rodgers, thinks Rodgers can create some magic with new guys in charge.

“I’d love to see him come back. I tuned into the Jets more than ever this year to see what he was able to do,” Matthews told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. “Obviously, there was a lot of excitement, and with the playmakers they had, the trade for Davante Adams. Being an armchair quarterback, you look at ownership, GM is fired, head coach is fired, but you wonder if he’s a part of it. I’d love to see him play as a fan.

Ex-Green Bay Packers teammates Clay Matthews, inset, and Aaron Rodgers spent 10 season together in Green Bay. (IMAGN)

INDIANA FOOTBALL PLAYER OPTS TO JOIN BARSTOOL SPORTS OVER DECLARING FOR NFL DRAFT: ‘THIS IS MY THING’

“He’s still got it. Father Time is catching up, but you give him some protection and some playcalling, playmakers around him, I think he can still get it done.”

Both Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas were fired midseason, but in Rodgers’ final 10 games, he threw for 2,234 yards, 18 touchdowns and four interceptions, and had six games with a passer rating over 100.

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New head coach Aaron Glenn said in his introductory press conference that Rodgers will be discussed with new general manager, Darren Mougey. Gang Green has the seventh selection in the draft, so it is not exactly prime time for a quarterback, considering it is considered a weak class.

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January 31, 2025