Happy New Year 2025

Tag: Teams

Fanatics teams up with Kevin Durant’s sports media brand to help athletes’ post-retirement business careers

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Fanatics and Boardroom announced a partnership with one another on Thursday that will aim to help athletes in their business careers after their playing days are over.

Boardroom, the sports media and entertainment platform co-founded by Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman, will collaborate with Fanatics to offer a three-day program of professional development initiatives designed specifically for athletes and their management teams.

The first program, dubbed “Boardroom University,” will take place at the second annual Fanatics Fest, which will be at Javits Center in New York from June 20-22.

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Michael Rubin attends Michael Rubin’s 2022 Fanatics Super Bowl Party on Feb. 12, 2022 in Culver City, California. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Fanatics / Getty Images)

The program will incorporate a wide range of experiences, including one-on-one mentorship, dinners with CEOs, entrepreneurs and industry leaders, curated panel discussions, hands-on sessions with Fanatics executives, a Mitchell & Ness design challenge and Boardroom Meeting House at Fanatics Fest.

“The spirit of Boardroom has always been to bring people into the rooms we’re lucky enough to be in and curate spaces to share knowledge,” said Kleiman, who also serves as Durant’s agent. “I’m excited to partner with [Fanatics founder and CEO] Michael Rubin and the team at Fanatics to expand the work they’ve already done in this space and bring some incredible programming to athletes and their teams.”

Kevin Durant, #35 of the Phoenix Suns, reacts after scoring in the second half against the Chicago Bulls at United Center on March 3, 2023 in Chicago. (Quinn Harris/Getty Images / Getty Images)

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Rubin added, “We are thrilled to be partnering with Rich, KD and the entire team at Boardroom to reimagine and elevate Fanatics’ athlete development efforts. Fanatics exists because of the incredible athletes across all sports and the connections they have to fans around the world, and we have a commitment to create opportunities for them to thrive beyond their playing careers. That’s exactly what this program is built to do.”

Another three-day program will take place in December, the offseason for MLB, the WNBA and the National Women’s Soccer League.

Fanatics logo embroidered on a Buffalo Sabres jersey. (Fanatics / Fox News)

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Last year’s Fanatics Fest featured some of the biggest names in sports, including the aforementioned Durant, Tom Brady, Derek Jeter, Peyton and Eli Manning, Triple H, David Ortiz and Logan and Jake Paul. This year’s event is already set to have Brady, Jayden Daniels, Ja’Marr Chase, and Micah Parsons, with plenty to be announced.

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February 6, 2025
Packers’ Josh Jacobs teams up with USAA to surprise 34-year Marine veteran with Super Bowl LIX tickets

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NEW ORLEANS – Each year, the Super Bowl creates memories that last a lifetime for so many, whether they are heading to the “Big Game,” or at home watching with friends and family.

This year, Green Bay Packers star running back Josh Jacobs is doing something special for someone he puts in the category as “the real heroes.”

Retired Sgt. Maj. Kevin Bennett is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, who served 34 years from 1971-2004. He had a career filled with combat missions and assignments that took him to places like Saudi Arabia/Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm, Panama, Norway, Japan, Korea and the Philippines.

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Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs, #8, celebrates a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Bennett now lives in Stafford, Virginia, but he will be down in the Big Easy on Sunday as Jacobs will be surprising him and his wife of 33 years, Ivette, with Super Bowl LIX tickets to watch the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.

Jacobs stopped by Radio Row with Fox News Digital to explain the honor it is to be surprising Bennett with the two tickets after teaming up with USAA, the official “Salute to Service” partner of the NFL and the Marine Corps Association to honor this deserving military veteran.

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“Man, I’m excited because obviously, to me, they’re the real heroes,” Jacobs said. “My grandpa served in the Air Force and my uncle actually served in the Marines. So, for me, it’s definitely closer to home. To be able sit down, talk to him, pick his brain a little bit, tell him I appreciate his service and things like that is definitely huge for me.

“I think that it’s great that we highlight him and what he’s done and let him celebrate this with us.”

Josh Jacobs, #8 of the Green Bay Packers, participates in drills during the Green Bay Packers Minicamp at Ray Nitschke Field on June 11, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

Jacobs will meet Bennett and many other military guests at the USAA’s Salute to Service Lounge during the Super Bowl Experience, as one of several NFL stars partnered with the veteran service organizations down in New Orleans.

Being the league’s “Salute to Service” partner, USAA honors military communities all over the country during the NFL season, which includes hosting military members, veterans, their families and more at events like the Super Bowl.

NFL Boot Camps have also been a fun way for those in the military community to get involved and interact with players like Jacobs, while also experiencing some of the best the league has to offer at the Super Bowl, the Pro Bowl, the NFL Draft and more.

Super Bowl LIX will be streamed on Tubi. (Tubi)

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The impact of honoring our military is why Jacobs loves moments like he will have with Bennett on Friday ahead of the Big Game.

“With USAA and the Marine Corps, it’s been real big for me. It’s closer to home for me. But not only that, to be able to give back, even if it’s the slightest, or to shine light on the real heroes, I try to do that as much as I can. It’s a blessing and an honor to be able to work with these guys.”

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February 6, 2025
Giants’ Jalin Hyatt optimistic about team’s future despite abysmal 2024 season: ‘Just got to keep building’

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NEW ORLEANS – As a rookie, New York Giants wide receiver Jalin Hyatt experienced a subpar season after the team had just come off a run that involved the team’s first playoff win since they won Super Bowl XLVI.

What transpired this past regular season was even worse.

A 3-14 record befell the Giants, who cut ties with their quarterback, Daniel Jones, who was signed to a four-year, $160 million contract extension in the prior offseason.

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Jalin Hyatt of the New York Giants is seen at MetLife Stadium on November 26, 2023, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (GETTY IMAGES)

Meanwhile, Saquon Barkley, who the Giants slapped with a franchise tag instead of extending, chose the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency this past offseason and led the league in rushing, while helping his team reach Super Bowl LIX this week.

So Hyatt, making his way down to New Orleans to represent World of Hyatt on Radio Row, knows 2024 was a year not to write home about. However, he had nothing but an optimistic view going into next year.

“Obviously, not what we want as a team, but I think for us, we’ve just got to keep building,” he told Fox News Digital. “We have great players on our team, and hopefully we can bring in the right guys next year to help us win. I have full faith in this team, so we’ll see what we can do.”

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Hyatt knows the only way forward after a bad season is to take that first step in the right direction.

Personally, he’s coming off a down year after showing flashes in his rookie campaign. With the Giants struggling heavily on offense, Hyatt’s role diminished, especially with the emergence of first-round pick Malik Nabers added to the mix of receiver talent. Hyatt played only 33% of offensive snaps in 2024 compared to 51% in his rookie year.

Hyatt will be heading to Dallas after his appearance in the Big Easy to begin his offseason training with the idea of competing for a top receiver position in year 3 with New York.

Wide receiver Jalin Hyatt (IMAGN)

“Knowing that I’m going to play on the outside more than I thought, I gotta continue to keep getting stronger,” he said about his goals for the offseason. “For me, it’s just keep developing – working on catches, working on routes, working on things I know I need to work on and be ready for next year.”

And moving on for the Giants also includes looking ahead to a new quarterback throwing him footballs. While there are free-agent options out there, the NFL Draft is where many believe the Giants, with the third overall pick, will try their luck again at a quarterback of the future.

Whoever that may be – Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward are the frontrunners at the quarterback position — Hyatt knows the characteristic trait he wants most in his new signal caller.

“Whoever comes in, I just want them to be a leader,” he said. “I want them to be a leader. I want them to understand when you come to the Giants, you have media you got to worry about – a lot of things that playing in New York you have to go through. Not only that, but say we’re losing, I want a quarterback to come in that knows how to be confident and comes in next game and has more confidence in himself.

“So, it’s going to be fun next year. I believe that we have the right guys in the room. We just got to add a couple more pieces and we’ll be all right.”

The Giants do have building blocks, with Nabers and fellow rookie running back Tyrone Tracy at the forefront on offense. But Hyatt also discussed that last part: having the right guys in the locker room to lead the way along with the coaching staff led by Brian Daboll heading into what many consider to be a make-or-break fourth season at the helm.

“I just say that because of how we fought, even with the losing season that we had,” Hyatt said in regard to senior leadership. “Obviously, we didn’t win a lot of games and had a lot of losses back-to-back. Just seeing that team coming into practice, practicing like we’re undefeated, practicing like we want to win. Just seeing the guys still going out there showing effort in Weeks 16, 17 and 18 shows, I can just tell, the senior leadership in that room.

“For us, we just got to start on the right path and the right foot. We got to start with a win to start the season off and build from there.”

MAKING MEMORIES WITH WORLD OF HYATT

With the last name fitting perfectly, Hyatt has been partnered with World of Hyatt for the past three years, and they’ve collaborated on a fun experience that anyone can take part in back home and in this year’s Super Bowl host city.

World of Hyatt’s FIND Experiences in New Orleans and New York City offer custom experiences where Hyatt members can bid points on the football star’s Guide to New Orleans, for example, which includes a two-night stay at the Hyatt Centric French Quarter New Orleans with a guest, food and walking tours and even a custom welcome video from the football star himself.

Super Bowl LIX will be streamed on Tubi. (Tubi)

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“It’s one of the best things we’re doing so far with the FIND Experiences. We just keep building together, and we’ll see where we get from there.”

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February 5, 2025
Disgruntled Mavericks fans protest Luka Doncic trade with symbolic funeral outside team’s arena

How are Dallas Mavericks fans dealing with the trade of their superstar guard Luka Doncic?

Well, some are taking mourning to another level.

Going through it was an understatement for a group of fans that was spotted at American Airlines Center in Dallas hosting a funeral, or perhaps a protest, after one of the most shocking trades in professional sports history.

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Dallas Mavericks fans walk to the arena with a coffin during a mock funeral before the game between the Dallas Stars and the Columbus Blue Jackets at American Airlines Center to protest the trade of Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

Yes, it was a funeral as several fans, dressed in black suits, carried a blue coffin to the steps in front of the arena, where Doncic shirts, jerseys and more were spread out.

“Why?!” one of the men carrying the coffin screamed into the area while Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again” played over a speaker, per Dallas News.

Mavericks fans may not be going to the extreme as this group did on Sunday, but many are still in shock, and even denial, after the trade went down late Saturday night.

The trade sent Doncic and Maxi Kleber to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a draft pick. The Utah Jazz were also involved in the deal.

The NBA world could not believe Doncic, the five-time All-Star who was named Western Conference Finals MVP last season during the team’s Finals run while leading the NBA in scoring (33.9 points), was traded by the franchise who took him third overall in 2018. At just 25 years old, Doncic remains one of the key pieces of the game’s future.

Even Doncic appeared slighted by the trade after writing a farewell note to Mavericks fans just hours after the trade, which some believed was a fake on social media when reports dropped, became official.

He did not mention the team’s name at all – only showing love to the fan base.

Dallas Mavericks fans gather at a mock funeral before the game between the Dallas Stars and the Columbus Blue Jackets at American Airlines Center to protest the trade of Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

“Seven years ago, I came here as a teenager to pursue my dream of playing basketball at the highest level,” Doncic wrote. “I thought I’d spend my career here and I wanted so badly to bring you a championship. The love and support you all have given me is more than I could have ever dreamed of. For a young kid from Slovenia coming to the U.S. for the first time, you made North Texas feel like home.

“In good times and bad, from injuries to the NBA Finals, your support never changed. Thank you not only for sharing my joy in our best memories, but also lifting met up when I needed it most.

“To all the organizations I’ve worked with throughout the Dallas community, thank you for letting me contribute to your important work and join you in bringing light to those who need it. As I start the next part of my basketball journey, I am leaving a city that will always feel like a home away from home.

“Dallas is a special place, and Mavs fans are special fans.

“Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”

Luka Doncic, #77, celebrates after sinking a basket in the second half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday, May 18, 2024 in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Reaction to the trade was immense when it went down, and Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes, who is preparing for potential NFL history this week at Super Bowl LIX, had time to share his “sick” thoughts about it.

“Wait what? I’m sick rn….” Mahomes, a Texas native who was spotted at this past season’s NBA Finals rooting for the Mavericks, wrote on X.

Doncic has not played for Dallas since Christmas after exiting the game with a strained left calf. With the trade, he is now prevented from signing a five-year supermax contract extension that would have been worth $345 million. He can, however, sign an extension with a maximum payout of $230 million.

Mavericks GM Nico Harrison spoke about the trade on Sunday, with his mindset about this shocking trade being a win-now move. Additionally, with the contract looming, Harrison made a judgment call that could alter the franchise – for better or for worse.

“There’s other teams that were loading up,” he explained. “He was going to be able to make his own decision at some point of whether he wants to be here or not, whether we want to supermax him or not, or whether he wants to opt out. We had to take all that into consideration and I feel like we got out in front of what could have been a tumultuous summer.”

Dallas Mavericks fans walk to the arena with a coffin during a mock funeral before the game between the Dallas Stars and the Columbus Blue Jackets at American Airlines Center to protest the trade of Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

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Dallas, without Doncic, dynamic guard Kyrie Irving and Davis not yet in uniform, was embarrassed by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night, 144-101, on the road.

The Mavericks are 26-24 on the season, which is good for ninth in the Western Conference.

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

February 3, 2025
NFL set to play in Australia in 2026 with marquee teams: report

The National Football League appears to be headed to its fourth continent.

According to a report by the Herald Sun in Australia, the league will play games in Melbourne beginning in 2026.

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The Australian outlet reported that up to three games would be played, with the first at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), which will feature two teams with recent success.

The NFL logo on the field at Hard Rock Stadium on Dec. 25, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

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One of the games will feature the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams, the Herald Sun says.

The Birds are back in the Super Bowl for the second time in three years after having won it in 2018, while the Rams took home the title three years ago.

The Eagles and Rams are the only two teams that are a part of the NFL’s Global Markets Program in Australia, which was made to build fandom and support outside the United States.

The MCG holds roughly 100,000 people.

It wouldn’t be the first time the NFL toyed with Australia, as the Denver Broncos and then-San Diego Chargers played a preseason game there in 1999.

The Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers clash at Stadium Australia in Sydney on Aug. 8, 1999. (William West/AFP via Getty Images)

FAMED NFL COACH TONY DUNGY SHUTS DOWN SPECULATION THAT HE WAS CONSIDERING SENATE RUN

The Eagles were featured in the NFL’s first game in South America at the beginning of the season, with their Week 1 matchup against the Green Bay Packers in Brazil.

The outlet said the Victorian government and the NFL “have been in secret talks for months.”

Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata was born in Australia. He was a star rugby player who never played football in high school or college.

The Melbourne Cricket Ground during a match between Australia and the West Indies on Feb. 2, 2024. (Martin Keep/AFP via Getty Images)

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The league will play in Spain for the first time later this year, with the Miami Dolphins’ opponent to be determined. Games have been played in London, Mexico and Germany. The first official overseas game in 2007 featured the Dolphins and New York Giants.

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February 2, 2025
Kevin Durant says teams aren’t held to same ‘loyalty’ expectations as players are after stunning NBA trade

Sunday morning’s Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis swap is being widely regarded as the most shocking and star-powered trade in sports history.

It’s so big that it was believed that ESPN’s Shams Charania, who broke the story, was hacked, and other reporters reached out to him to make sure his X account was secure.

But alas, the Dallas Mavericks decided to trade a 25-year-old MVP candidate just months after he carried them to an NBA Finals appearance in an attempt to improve their defense.

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Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant during the NBA playoff game against the Clippers, April 22, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Mavs traded up to the third pick in the 2018 NBA Draft to select Dončić, whose $207 million extension from 2021 is set to expire this season. Being due for a super-max deal worth $345 million, it’s apparent that it played a role in Dončić being moved five days before the NBA’s trade deadline.

Kevin Durant has been traded before – it’s slightly different, as he requested to be traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Phoenix Suns (he also left the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Golden State Warriors, and them jumped ship to Brooklyn). But Durant called out NBA teams for their lack of loyalty to their stars, while it’s expected that players be loyal to them –

“Players are held to a different standard of loyalty and commitment to a program, but the organizations don’t get held to that same standard from the outside world, the media members, the fans. We all should be held to that same standard,” Durant said upon hearing the news.

Luka Dončić of the Mavericks handles the ball against Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Center on Feb. 26, 2023, in Dallas. (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

2024-25 NBA CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS: THUNDER FAVORED; LAKERS RISE AFTER DONČIĆ TRADE

“It’s a transactional game. There’s a lot of money involved, a lot of business involved. We shouldn’t be too shocked about trades and guys moving to different teams, coaches moving to different teams. It’s just the nature of playing basketball and us making this much money, too. It’s a pretty wild time, especially around trade deadline.”

After this megadeal, Durant says the stove could be hot in the NBA.

“You start seeing stuff like that, as an organization, you might get a little more courage to do some stuff. You see another team trade away somebody like that. This got to be the biggest trade I’ve seen since I’ve been in the league or since I’ve been watching the sport. This is insane. So yeah, every other team might get confidence and say f— it, I’ll trade a few of my top players if this ain’t working.”

It’s the first time in NBA history two reigning All-NBA players were traded for one another midseason.

The Lakers received Dončić, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, while the Mavericks took on Davis, Max Christie and Los Angeles’ 2029 first-round pick. To settle it all out, the Utah Jazz acquired Jalen Hood-Schifino and two second-round picks.

The Slovenian led the NBA with 33.4 points per game last season and won’t turn 26 until later this month. In his career, he averages 28.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists, putting himself in the MVP conversation every year of his young career.

Mavericks guard Luka Dončić reacts after a play against the Boston Celtics during the NBA Finals, June 12, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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Davis, a defensive player of the year candidate last year, is putting up 25.7 points and 11.9 rebounds this season, both slightly better than his career averages of 24.2 and 10.7.

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February 2, 2025
Lakers, Mavericks pull off wild blockbuster as Luka Dončić, Anthony Davis swap teams: reports

The NBA world was hit with perhaps the craziest trade in a generation in the wee hours of Sunday morning.

According to multiple reports, the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks came to an agreement to swap Luka Dončić and Anthony Davis as part of a three-team blockbuster deal.

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The Lakers received Dončić, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris, while the Mavericks took on Davis, Max Christie, and Los Angeles’ 2029 first-round pick.

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Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball against Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of the game at American Airlines Center on February 26, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

To settle it all out, the Utah Jazz acquired Jalen Hood-Schifino and two second-round picks.

ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the trade early Sunday morning, and because of the starpower involved, the immediate reaction was that the reporter had been hacked. However, it was later confirmed by multiple other outlets.

Charania reported that the Mavs approached Los Angeles recently, saying their 25-year-old global superstar was available via trade; Dallas general manager Nico Harrison told ESPN that he was concerned about the team’s defense, which is now massively improved by replacing Dončić with Davis.

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts after a play during the first half in Game 4 of the NBA basketball finals against the Boston Celtics, Friday, June 14, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

2024-25 NBA CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS: THUNDER FAVORED; LAKERS RISE AFTER DONČIĆ TRADE

But Dončić is a phenomenon, and a young one at that. The Slovenian led the NBA with 33.4 points per game last season and won’t turn 26 until later this month. In his career, he averages 28.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists, putting himself in the MVP conversation every year of his young career.

It was also reported that LeBron James did not find out about the trade until shortly before the news broke, while he was out to dinner in New York shortly after his Lakers defeated the New York knicks – Davis was ruled inactive for the game.

Davis, a defensive player of the year candidate last year, is putting up 25.7 points and 11.9 rebounds this season, both slightly better than his career averages of 24.2 and 10.7.

Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers talks to the media after winning the In-Season Tournament Championship game against the Indiana Pacers on December 9, 2023 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)

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The Mavericks lost in the NBA Finals last year, and Dončić received some criticism for his defense and attitude. Perhaps there is more to the story than what’s public right now.

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February 2, 2025
Chiefs’ Drue Tranquill tells critics to ‘kick rocks’ amid avalanche of complaints over team’s AFC title win

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill had no time for critics who used officiating as a catalyst for the team’s AFC Championship win or those who complained about the team making the Super Bowl for the third consecutive time.

Tranquill had nine tackles in the Chiefs’ 32-29 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night, but as NFL fans complained about this and that, Tranquil responded.

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Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill, #23, celebrates after recovering a fumble during the second half against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland on Dec. 15, 2024. (Ken Blaze-Imagn Images)

“Shoutout to the @BuffaloBills .. heck of a battle,” he wrote. “The rest of y’all can take all that “ref” talk & kick rocks. We stand on business.”

He also had words for former NFL player Will Compton and Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy.

Tranquill is a veteran linebacker who started his career with the Los Angeles Chargers. He joined the Chiefs before the start of the 2023 season and was a part of the defense that guided Kansas City to a Super Bowl title over the San Francisco 49ers last season.

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Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis, #22, recoveres his own fumble against Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill, #23, during the second half of the AFC Championship NFL football game on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)

Entering the 2024 season, he became the team’s starter. He played in 16 of the team’s 17 games. He had 94 tackles, two sacks, two pass break-ups and two fumble recoveries. The Chiefs were fourth in points allowed and ninth in yards allowed this season.

Kansas City allowed at least 30 points twice this season – to the Bills and the Denver Broncos. Both games were in the regular season and both resulted in the team’s only two losses.

Additionally, Tranquill has 14 tackles in the two games the Chiefs have played in the postseason so far.

Stream Super Bowl LIX for free on Tubi. (Tubi)

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The run defense will be key in Super Bowl LIX. Saquon Barkley has proven to be the Philadelphia Eagles’ key X-factor this season and will be putting the pedal to the metal come Feb. 9.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

January 27, 2025
Eagles fans take to streets to celebrate team’s NFC title win; fan drops from light pole

Philadelphia Eagles fans poured into the streets on Sunday night and celebrated the team’s NFC Championship win and impending Super Bowl appearance.

It is the second appearance in three years for the Eagles. This time, the Eagles pummeled the Washington Commanders behind scoring from Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts. Both players elevated the Eagles to the upper stratosphere as they won the game, 55-23.

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As soon as the clock hit triple zeroes, the party moved from Lincoln Financial Field to Broad Street in Philadelphia. Views from overhead showed hundreds of fans in the streets, climbing on light poles and shooting off fireworks.

Philadelphia officials were ready regardless of the outcome. Law enforcement issued safety precautions, closed roads and greased light poles in preparation for either a celebration or defeat, according to FOX 29 Philadelphia.

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“Don’t climb the poles, greased or not greased, please don’t climb the poles, because you could break the poles and that’s expensive, and it’s money we could spend on other things,” Philadelphia’s managing director Adam Thiel said before the chaos.

The Eagles will now have a Super Bowl LVII rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans. The game will take place on Fox and can be streamed on Tubi.

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Stream Super Bowl LIX for free on Tubi. (Tubi)

Philadelphia will look to prevent history from being made as the Chiefs go for three consecutive Super Bowl titles.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

January 27, 2025
Cowboys legend Michael Irvin criticizes team’s head coach pick: ‘We lost an opportunity here’

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The Dallas Cowboys made the stunning decision to hire offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer as the team’s head coach after the team split from Mike McCarthy and rumors swirled about Deion Sanders’ interest in the job.

Schottenheimer is the son of the legendary Marty Schottenheimer and spent the last two seasons as Dallas’ offensive coordinator under McCarthy. He was also the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets from 2006 to 2011, the St. Louis Rams from 2012 to 2014 and the Seattle Seahawks from 2018 to 2020. The Cowboys will be the first team he will serve as head coach.

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Michael Irvin is a three-time Super Bowl champion and played in five Pro Bowls in his NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys. (IMAGN)

Not everyone was thrilled with team owner Jerry Jones’ decision on Schottenheimer. Fans made their opinions known on social media.

Cowboys legend and Hall of Famer Michael Irvin was unhappy as well.

“Here’s my issue. We lost an opportunity here. I don’t know what happened with coach Schottenheimer and the Cowboys, but Jerry is a shrewd, shrewd businessman, and this opportunity, I’m shocked he did not see. I was pushing for Deion Sanders to be the next head coach, and I still stand 10 toes down on that push,” he said in a video posted to his YouTube channel.

He pointed to the NFC Championship being between two NFC East teams – the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders.

“Let me break it down,” he said. “We have two NFC East teams in the NFC Championship game being played tomorrow. All eyes on them. The Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders. Our enemies on all fronts. And they’re in a position that we haven’t held in 30 f—ing years. The longest drought by any NFC East team, 30 years…. You bring in someone who’s already inside for head coach. You lose things there that you can’t grab back that I’m worried about.”

Irvin expressed concerns about the Cowboys losing their standing in the conference.

NFL Hall of Fame member Michael Irvin during the game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Syracuse Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, New York, Nov. 30, 2024. (Rich Barnes-Imagn Images)

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“We’re losing ground in the NFC…. It was time to bring somebody in here that could shake things up and grab this last leg of Cowboys nation,” he added. “If we’ve got 30 years right now, and life expectancy is 100 years, that means by math one third of Cowboys Nation has never felt or lived the glory of a championship story. Don’t even know about it. How the hell can they pass something down when they don’t even know about it?

“Worse yet, that generation has seen total domination from a team named the Kansas City Chiefs, who in that span is running up on winning three in a row. So not only are you losing football games over here and opportunities over here and divisions over here, you’re about to get our moniker snatched off our backs.”

It’s unclear how serious the talks between the Cowboys and Sanders were. It gained interest among fans, but Sanders was clear about his love for the Colorado football program.

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For now, Sanders stays in college and Dallas embarks on a new journey with a new coach.

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January 26, 2025