The nation’s No. 4 TE in the 2024 class is headed south to play for Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers in college. The Woodstock (Ill.) Marion Central Catholic star announced a top three of Clemson, Ohio State and Oregon at the end of December prior to announcing his pledge to the Tigers today.
Bentancur had over 30 offers and could have gone pretty much anywhere in the country. He is the No. 100 player overall in the 2024 class according to Rivals.
IN HIS OWN WORDS…
Bentacur on why he chose Clemson as his destination in the end.
“I chose Clemson because of the family atmosphere and all of the love that the whole staff has shown,” Bentacur said. “It is different over there and there are so many opportunities.”
Bentancur on what makes him most excited about joining the Clemson program:
“Joining a family where I know they have my back and we have a chance to win national championships every year,” Bentancur said.
Bentancur on why he felt now was the time to commit along with his message to the Clemson fans.
“There was no other place that I wanted to visit because I loved Clemson,” Bentancur said “To the fans, I’m 100% committed and Clemson is home.”
WHAT THE TIGERS ARE GETTING…
The four-star tight end has been unstoppable for Marian Central Catholic over the past two seasons while amassing over 2,100 receiving and 22 touchdowns on offense. He was also a standout on the defensive side of the ball during his junior season with over 40 tackles, seven sacks and an interception returned for a touchdown. His dominance on both side of the is a true testament to the Illinois products overall athletic ability and that is exactly what makes him special enough to be a great player at Clemson and beyond.
At 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds Bentancur has a future NFL frame, and as impressive as he is currently from a physical standpoint, he is still incredibly lean with a frame to hold plenty of additional mass once he enters a college weight program. When you combine Bentancur’s elite level of athleticism with his impressive physical gifts, it is easy to see why he was one of the most coveted players in the entire 2024 class.
Bentancur has limitless upside and with another year of development at the high school level, he will likely have an opportunity to contribute early and often once at Clemson. This is a player we will likely see playing on Sundays down the road and this is about as big as an early commitment gets for the Clemson Tigers.
The Russian Anti-Doping Agency has found that the figure-skating star Kamila Valieva bore “no fault or negligence” for her doping violation before the Beijing Olympics, the World Anti-Doping Agency said in a statement that sharply rebuked Russia’s handling of the case involving one of the country’s top athletes.
The Russian agency said Valieva would not be penalized beyond losing her results in the Russian national championships in 2021, when she tested positive.
The ruling drew a sharp rebuke from WADA, which said it was “concerned by the finding” and would “not hesitate to exercise its right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, as appropriate.” WADA had recommended a four-year ban.
Valieva, then 15, came into the Beijing Games last year as a heavy favorite because of her sensational quadruple-jumping ability. She led Russia to a gold medal in the team event in the first days of the games, becoming the first woman to land two quads in an Olympic free skate.
But the next day, it was revealed that she tested positive a few weeks before the Olympics for a banned heart medication that could increase endurance. Travis T. Tygart, the chief executive of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, called it “total gross incompetence” that it took so long for the result to be reported.
The positive test put in limbo the team gold medal that Valieva helped earn. The American team placed second in that event and would be in line for gold should the medal eventually be stripped from Russia.
Valieva was allowed to continue skating at the Olympics while appeals were pending, but after leading the women’s event she bungled her free skate and finished fourth. After she left the ice in tears, her coach, Eteri Tutberidze, met her frostily, saying: “Why did you stop fighting? Explain it to me, why?” The gold medal winner was another Russian, Anna Shcherbakova.
Red Bull are set to be the first team to launch their car for the 2023 Formula 1 season; the reigning drivers’ and constructors’ champions will reveal the RB19 in New York City on February 3
Last Updated: 13/01/23 5:27pm
Max Verstappen led Red Bull to drivers’ and constructors’ titles in 2022
Reigning Formula 1 constructors’ champions Red Bull have announced they will launch their 2023 car in New York City on February 3.
With only two teams – Alfa Romeo and Haas – left to announce their launch dates, Red Bull’s RB19 is set to be the first 2023 car revealed.
The RB18 delivered a dominant season for Red Bull, ending Mercedes’ eight-year streak of constructors’ titles and helping Max Verstappen to his second successive drivers’ crown.
“The 3rd February is set to be our biggest launch yet, in the city that never sleeps, New York,” Red Bull said in a statement released on Friday.
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“Not only is this going to be the first Formula 1 season launch to take place in the US, we’re also planning to make it the greatest in F1 history.”
Red Bull’s sister team AlphaTauri had previously confirmed that they would also launch their 2023 campaign in New York, but that event comes eight days later.
Verstappen produced a brilliant season-long display of driving, winning a record 15 races as he cruised to his second title.
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Relive how Verstappen won his second world title, as we look back at some key races from the 2022 season.
Relive how Verstappen won his second world title, as we look back at some key races from the 2022 season.
Red Bull were similarly dominant in the constructors’ contest, beating second-placed Ferrari by 205 points.
Verstappen’s dominance in 2022 allowed the team to start work early on their 2023 car, but they will also be coping with a loss of development time after being punished for breaching F1’s cost cap in 2021.
F1 2023: When are the new cars being revealed?
February 3
Red Bull
February 6
Williams
February 11
AlphaTauri
February 13
Aston Martin
February 13
McLaren
February 14
Ferrari
February 15
Mercedes
February 16
Alpine
Two teams TBC
What changes are there on the cars and when’s testing?
While there is no rules overhaul for next year like there was for 2022, there are subtle changes to the rules and cars that teams can take advantage of.
The most notable is a higher ride height, which is primarily to help with porpoising but could also see teams find performance.
There is one pre-season test this year, in Bahrain, on February 23-25.
The 2023 season starts in earnest the week after pre-season testing at the same Sakhir circuit, on March 3-5.
{{ timeAgo(‘2023-01-13 10:50:38 -0600’) }} football Edit
Adam Gorney
• Rivals.com
National Recruiting Director
SAN ANTONIO – Jakaleb Faulk was front and center when his brother, Keldric, decided to flip from Florida State to Auburn late in the recruiting process.The 2025 four-star linebacker from Highland H…
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Former Arkansas and NFL running back Peyton Hillis has been taken off a ventilator a week after he reportedly rescued family members during a swimming accident, according to a social media post by his girlfriend.
Hillis’ girlfriend, Angela Cole, posted on Instagram on Thursday that Hillis is “on the road to recovery” but added that “he’s still got a ways ahead of him.”
Hillis has been hospitalized since he reportedly aided in a water rescue Jan. 4 that involved at least one family member off the coast of Pensacola, Florida.
According to Escambia County emergency services, four people — two adults and two children — were struggling in the water when a bystander helped them out of the water. Paramedics arrived on the scene, and two adults went to the hospital, including one who was taken by helicopter. Officials would not identify who was involved.
Greg Hillis, who identified himself as Hillis’ uncle in a Facebook post last week, said at the time that Hillis was “having some problems with his kidneys and his lungs.”
Hillis played for four NFL teams, most notably the Cleveland Browns, with whom he ran for 1,177 yards in the 2010 season and 587 in 2011. He finished his career in 2014 with the New York Giants and also played for the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs.
The NFL playoffs’ wild-card round schedule for the 2022 season is stacked with great matchups, and we got you covered with what you need to know heading into the weekend. Our NFL Nation reporters bring us the biggest keys to every game and a bold prediction for each matchup.
Additionally, ESPN Stats & Information provides a big stat to know and a betting nugget for each contest, and our Football Power Index (FPI) goes inside the numbers with a game projection. Matt Bowen picks out a key game-planning matchup to watch in every game, and Kevin Seifert tells us what to know about the officiating. Finally, Seth Walder and Eric Moody give us final score picks for every game. Everything you want to know is here in one spot to help you get ready for a loaded weekend of NFL playoff football.
Let’s get into the full six-game wild-card slate, including an NFC West showdown to kick things off, Justin Herbert vs. Trevor Lawrence, an all-AFC East meeting in Buffalo, the Giants’ first playoff game since 2016 and a rematch of the Ravens-Bengals’ Week 18 matchup. It all culminates with Tom Brady‘s Bucs against the Cowboys on Monday night.
Note: New for this season’s playoffs, each team would be guaranteed a possession if a game goes to overtime.
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET | FOX | Spread: SF -9.5 (42)
What to watch for: The 49ers beat the Seahawks in two previous meetings this year by a combined score of 48-20. Teams that have won the first two meetings and then hosted the third meeting are 14-9 in the postseason matchup since the 1970 merger. For the Niners to advance, they’ll need rookie quarterback Brock Purdy to continue his recent play as he becomes the lowest-drafted rookie quarterback to start a playoff game. — Nick Wagoner
Bold prediction:Christian McCaffrey will have at least 125 yards from scrimmage. Run defense has been an Achilles heel for the Seahawks this season, and poor tackling has been one of the biggest reasons. That has extended to their pass defense, which ranks 31st in yards after catch allowed per reception. That makes for a tough matchup against a 49ers offense that led the NFL in yards after the catch for a sixth straight season, with McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel ranking second and third in YAC per game, respectively, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. — Brady Henderson
Stat to know: Seattle quarterback Geno Smith had 4,282 passing yards this season, the most in Seahawks history. But he averaged only 217.5 in two games against the 49ers, as opposed to 256.5 per game against all other opponents.
Bowen’s game-plan key: The Seahawks could look to use more man coverage to tighten the throwing windows for Purdy. The rookie completed 11 of 12 passes against zone looks the last time these two teams met, but he was just 6-of-14 when Seattle’s defensive backs played press coverage. Read more at ESPN+.
What to know for officiating: Referee Alex Kemp’s regular-season crew threw the most flags per game in the NFL (15.1), although it ranked in the middle of crews for flags that can be thrown by the referee himself: offensive holding (No. 5) and roughing the passer (tied for No. 13). The San Francisco defensive front drew only 12 offensive holding penalties all season, second-fewest in the NFL, but its offensive line tied for the league’s fifth-most committed (23). The Seahawks tied for the NFL’s third-most false-start penalties. — Seifert
Betting nugget: San Francisco was 7-1 against the spread as a home favorite this season with five straight covers. Read more.
Moody’s pick: 49ers 34, Seahawks 20 Walder’s pick: Seahawks 19, 49ers 16 FPI prediction: SF, 77.3% (by an average of 8.7 points)
What to watch for: This might be a game where the winning team will need to score 30-plus points — which makes it all about the quarterbacks. Here’s the thing: Nobody is really sure what to expect from Justin Herbert and Trevor Lawrence, both of whom are making their first playoff start. Lawrence at least played in a win-or-go-home game last week, but he has five turnovers in his past four games (two interceptions, three fumbles). — Mike DiRocco
Bold prediction: Herbert and Lawrence will each throw multiple touchdown passes in a wild-card game that will come down to a last-second field goal. Kicker Cameron Dicker, the rookie the Chargers signed in Week 9 when he was home in Texas and headed to a Carrie Underwood concert, will convert a 50-plus yarder for the first time in his career. Dicker has had three other game-winning kicks this year. — Lindsey Thiry
Stat to know: Jaguars receiver Christian Kirk had 815 receiving yards from the slot this season, second-most in the NFL. But the Chargers allowed the fourth-fewest to slot receivers (1,048).
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Stephen A.: Brandon Staley deserves to be fired if the Chargers lose
Stephen A. Smith discusses why he thinks Brandon Staley’s job is on the line this weekend against the Jaguars.
Bowen’s game-plan key: The Chargers should be looking for receiver Keenan Allen on third down. Over his past four games, he has caught 10 of 13 targets for seven first-down conversions. How will Jacksonville — which plays a lot of man coverage on third down — try to contain Allen? Read more at ESPN+.
What to know for officiating: Referee Shawn Smith earned credit around the league for his calm leadership during the Week 17 game stoppage following Bills safety Damar Hamlin‘s cardiac arrest. Saturday, he’ll handle a game between two teams that have not drawn many penalties against their opponents. The Chargers drew just 80 flags, second-lowest in the league, while the Jaguars drew 90, tied for 11th-fewest. — Seifert
Betting nugget: Los Angeles is 4-0-1 against the spread in its past five games with three straight covers. Read more.
Moody’s pick: Jaguars 24, Chargers 21 Walder’s pick: Chargers 24, Jaguars 21 FPI prediction: JAX, 60.7% (by an average of 3.1 points)
What to watch for: The season series was split between the Bills and Dolphins, but the Dolphins are coming into this meeting injured in a big way. Not only has quarterback Tua Tagovailoa been ruled out with rookie Skylar Thompson preparing to start, but running back Raheem Mostert‘s status is uncertain after he underwent surgery on a broken thumb Monday. Mostert ran for 136 yards against the Bills when the teams played in Buffalo last month. With a banged-up offense, the Dolphins will likely have a tough time matching the No. 2 home scoring offense in the NFL. — Alaina Getzenberg
Bold prediction: Thompson will do everything he can in his first career playoff start, throwing for at least 270 yards and two touchdowns without turning the ball over. The Dolphins may lose Sunday, but it won’t be because of the 2022 seventh-round pick. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Stat to know: Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle had 100 receiving yards in each of the team’s two regular-season games against the Bills. Only one player in the past 20 seasons has gained 100-plus receiving yards in three straight against Buffalo (Rob Gronkowski, 2011-12).
Bowen’s game-plan key: Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey should take advantage of Miami’s heavy usage of single-high defensive alignments by getting receiver Stefon Diggs downfield on glance/skinny post routes and letting Josh Allen deliver some deep shots off play-action. Read more at ESPN+.
What to know for officiating: Get ready. The Dolphins tied for the NFL’s second-most penalties (134), the Bills ranked No. 14 (115) and referee Brad Allen’s regular-season crew threw the third-most flags (14.5) per game. The Bills’ defense tends to get handsy and has been flagged 11 times for defensive holding, second-most in the NFL. Referee Brad Allen’s regular-season crew threw an average of one flag for defensive holding per game. — Seifert
Betting nugget: Since 2014, underdogs are 8-2 against the spread when division opponents meet in the playoffs. Read more.
Moody’s pick: Bills 35, Dolphins 20 Walder’s pick: Bills 30, Dolphins 10 FPI prediction: BUF, 95.7% (by an average of 22.1 points)
What to watch for: This game will feature the fourth matchup of rookie coaches in the Super Bowl era. Giants coach Brian Daboll and Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell are both Coach of the Year award candidates after leading their teams to much better records than consensus preseason prognostications. O’Connell bested Daboll during a Week 16 matchup, but this game will be decided on how they handle the most important on-field matchup Sunday. With a patchwork offensive line, can O’Connell adjust to the pressure that Daboll’s team puts on quarterback Kirk Cousins? The Giants blitzed on 43% of Cousins’ dropbacks in the last matchup, sacking him four times and hitting him on nine other occasions. — Kevin Seifert
Bold prediction: Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson will go for 200-plus yards receiving. Adoree’ Jackson or not, the Giants won’t be able to stop the wideout that defensive coordinator Wink Martindale said was a top-two receiver in the NFL before following up, “and he’s not No. 2.” Jefferson went for 12 catches and 133 yards in the first matchup between the teams, and there were plenty of opportunities for more. The Vikings won’t miss in this one. — Jordan Raanan
Stat to know: The Giants’ offense has used play-action at the fifth-highest rate in the NFL, and Daniel Jones has the third-highest completion rate (75.3%) on those plays. The Vikings’ defense has allowed the second-highest yards per attempt on play-action in the league this season (10.3), along with the fifth-highest completion rate (70.5%).
Bowen’s game-plan key: Jones needs to attack the perimeter of this Minnesota defense. He was 11-of-15 throwing outside the numbers in Week 16 against the Vikings (115 yards), and there is an opportunity there to hit some explosive plays. Read more at ESPN+.
What to know for officiating: The Vikings committed the fifth-fewest penalties (98) but drew 111, tied for second-most in the league. The Giants also drew 111 flags this season. Pay special attention to the Giants’ defensive secondary, which committed the fourth-most penalties (26) for pass interference, illegal contact and/or defensive holding. The Vikings led the league in drawing flags for those three penalties, thanks in part to the presence of Pro Bowl receiver Jefferson. Keep an eye on the Giants’ defensive front, which was flagged a league-high eight times for roughing the passer. — Seifert
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Stephen A.: No excuse for the 13-win Vikings to lose to the Giants!
Stephen A. Smith and Kimberley A. Martin debate whether the Vikings should be on upset alert against the Giants.
Betting nugget: New York was a league-best 13-4 against the spread this season, including 7-1 against the spread on the road. New York has covered four straight games — and four straight road games. Read more.
Moody’s pick: Giants 20, Vikings 17 Walder’s pick: Vikings 26, Giants 20 FPI prediction: MIN, 58.3% (by an average of 2.4 points)
What to watch for: Cincinnati is looking to win playoff games in back-to-back postseasons for the first time in franchise history. Baltimore’s quarterback status remains in flux, too. Lamar Jackson is out after announcing he is recovering from a Grade 2 PCL sprain. That means it will be Tyler Huntley (tendinitis) or Anthony Brown under center for the Ravens. However, Cincinnati’s offense will have to contend with a Baltimore defense that was revitalized following the midseason acquisition of linebacker Roquan Smith. — Ben Baby
Bold prediction:Joe Burrow won’t throw a touchdown pass. Burrow threw a franchise-record 35 touchdown passes this season, recording at least one in every game this season. But he only totaled two TD passes in two meetings against the Ravens, who have allowed the second-fewest touchdown passes (13) since Week 3. — Jamison Hensley
Stat to know: Bengals wide receivers have recorded the most receiving yards after contact in the NFL this season, and it’s not a close margin. Cincinnati’s WRs have over 100 more receiving yards after contact than any other team in the NFL, and Ja’Marr Chase ranks second among all WRs in receiving yards after contact this season.
Bowen’s game-plan key: Look for Baltimore to run the ball a lot out of 22 personnel (2 RB, 2 TE, 1 WR). Running back J.K. Dobbins should get a heavy workload, which would help the Ravens control the tempo of the game. Read more at ESPN+.
What to know for officiating: If history is any indication, this should be a relatively flag-free game. The Bengals were the NFL’s third-least penalized team (95), and the Ravens ranked fourth (97). The Ravens, however, tied for the NFL’s second-most flags for defensive pass interference (11), a category to keep in mind as the Bengals feature their talented receiving core. Referee Clay Martin’s regular-season crew ranked No. 8 in the NFL with an average of 13.9 flags thrown per game. — Seifert
Betting nugget: Since 1992, when teams meet in the final week of the season and meet again the following week in the playoffs, overs are 11-2. Read more.
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0:48
How will Lamar Jackson’s absence affect Ravens-Bengals
Mina Kimes and Dan Orlovsky detail why the Ravens’ defense will have to step up in order to defeat Joe Burrow and the Bengals.
Moody’s pick: Bengals 27, Ravens 17 Walder’s pick: Bengals 33, Ravens 13 FPI prediction: CIN, 83.1% (by an average of 12 points)
What to watch for: The Bucs’ defense held the Cowboys to just 71 rushing yards in Week 1, and Dallas has been held under 100 yards rushing just four times this season. For Tampa Bay, getting defensive tackle Vita Vea back this week could go a long way in replicating that performance and making quarterback Dak Prescott one-dimensional. The Bucs are 6-2 this season when Vea and Akiem Hicks are on the field together. — Jenna Laine
Bold prediction: The Cowboys will beat the Buccaneers. How is that bold, predicting a 12-5 team to beat an 8-9 team? Well, the Cowboys are 0-7 vs. Tom Brady. They have lost to the Bucs to open the season each of the past two years. Oh, and the Cowboys have lost eight straight playoff games on the road. They have just 11 players on the 53-man roster who were alive the last time the Cowboys won a playoff game away from home (1992 NFC Championship Game at San Francisco). — Todd Archer
Stat to know: The Cowboys ranked second in both pass rush win rate (52.1%) and sack rate (8.6%), and they finished first in pressure percentage (39%). Meanwhile, the Buccaneers ranked 24th in pass block win rate this season (55.2%).
Bowen’s game-plan key: Let’s see some more play-action for Brady. Tampa Bay runs play-action on just 15.1% of its dropbacks, the lowest rate in the NFL. Against Dallas’ pass rush, more play-action concepts would help open second-level windows for Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Cade Otton. Read more at ESPN+.
What to know for officiating: The Buccaneers are good at drawing flags from opposing defensive backfields. Their opponents committed the second-most fouls (21) for pass interference, illegal contact and/or defensive holding. The Cowboys’ secondary tied for the 12th-highest total of those fouls. But referee Craig Wrolstad’s regular-season crew was stingy overall, throwing the second-fewest flags per game (11.1) among the league’s 17 crews. — Seifert
Betting nugget: Tampa Bay was a league-worst 4-12-1 against the spread this season. It is the second-worst regular-season ATS mark of any playoff team in the Super Bowl era. Read more.
Moody’s pick: Buccaneers 27, Cowboys 21 Walder’s pick: Cowboys 22, Buccaneers 11 FPI prediction: DAL, 69.7% (by an average of 6 points)
The final rankings update for the 2023 class is set to be released later this month and there is a lot to finalize before then. Final postseason performances as well as in-person evaluations at the Under Armour Next All-America Game, All-American Bowl, and the upcoming Polynesian Bowl will weigh heavily into this last update to the rankings.
A number of players from the Midwest were active during the all-star season and their performance at the games and preceding week of preparations will have an effect on the rankings. Here are some of the toughest rankings questions we’ll be facing in the Southeast.
Who is the top prospect in the Southeast?
Carnell Tate (Rivals.com)
For months Miami commit Cormani McClain has been the highest-ranked prospect in the Southeast. The corner from Lakeland (Fla.) High School is a five-tool player with size, speed and cover skills. McClain is destined for collegiate success, but have other prospects in the region caught up with or surpassed him?
There may not be a corner who is close to McClain outside of AJ Harris, but there is a long list of prospects such as Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss, Francis Mauigoa, Damon Wilson and Samuel M’Pemba who have worked hard, improved and have a very high projection in the college and professional ranks. Whoever is ranked at the top in the Southeast will not be selected without heavy debate.
*****
Southeast defensive linemen dominated, now what?
Peter Woods
Camp settings and All-American practices do not typically favor offensive linemen. On the offensive side of the ball, some linemen are lining up out of position, right tackle versus left or at guard instead of tackle. The changes may not seem like much, but the footwork is different which can cause players to think instead of react, allowing defensive linemen to dominate. The other point working against offensive linemen is the speed and strength adjustment. Some linemen get tested during the season in games or at practice while others own the trenches because of their overwhelming size and athletic ability. Getting accustomed to the differences of an All-American takes time.
The All-American practice and game settings were much the same watching speed rushers blow past stunned offensive linemen rep after rep. But all the selected offensive linemen can’t be that bad, can they? There is a reason most offensive linemen get redshirted while defensive players can get on the field early – they are a step ahead of their counterparts. But the offensive linemen did serve as chum allowing risers Peter Woods, Rueben Bain, Keldric Faulk and Yhonzae Pierre to look the part of next level dominating talents. Wil the extra reps help or hurt those willing to brave the unknown?
*****
Did any running backs earn their fifth star at the All-American games?
Justice Haynes (Rivals.com)
Running backs did not shy away from competition in the postseason with elite talents out of the Southeast such as Justice Haynes, Cedric Baxter, Richard Young, Treyaun Webb, Nathaniel Joseph and Mark Fletcher. In the Under Armour Next game, running backs were hemmed up with very few explosive plays. One who did stand out was Baxter. In San Antonio, the East side of the field romped with Haynes toting the rock 10 times for 107 yards while Fletcher hauled in two passes for 80 yards with one touchdown with two carries for nine yards.
Going off an NFL projection, it is tougher for tailbacks to get that fifth star but if any prospect has been consistently dynamic on the biggest stages throughout his career it has been Haynes.
*****
Cracking the Rivals250
King Mack (Rivals.com)
The regular and postseason film is in, and the All-American game evaluations have been poured over, are there any rising stars set to crack the Rivals250? Yes.
There are breakout stars and players who have just been very good over time who pile up accolades that cannot be ignored. One to watch is St. Thomas Aquinas do-all safety King Mack out of Fort Lauderdale (Fla.). The Penn State signee has been one of South Florida’s best in the secondary helping his Raiders squad to another Sunshine State championship win this fall.
Mack is a bellringer who can cover on defense and is a game changer in the return game. The Nittany Lions are getting one of the nation’s best who should contribute early on defense with a chance to make an impact on special teams.
As for who else shined jumping up in the rankings, you will have to wait until the new 2023 rankings are released.
Craig Tiley doesn’t sleep much. It’s a habit he picked up during three years of army training in his native South Africa.
But as chief executive of Tennis Australia and tournament director for the Australian Open, which begins Sunday at Melbourne Park, since 2006, Tiley finds that slumber is overrated and inconvenient.
“Maybe I get that sense of fear of missing out,” said Tiley, who was the tennis coach for the University of Illinois team that went 32-0 in 2003. “I always want to be up and around, especially when you’re under pressure.”
There has been no shortage of difficult situations for Tiley and the Australian Open over the last several years. Often lauded as the happy slam by players and spectators, the open, which has had memorable tennis over the years, as when Serena Williams won a three-set battle with her sister Venus in 2003, has taken hits that have threatened the relaxed atmosphere and the tournament itself.
“Unfortunately, the tournament’s been plagued by some very bad luck the last few years, said Rennae Stubbs, a Sydney native and former world No. 1 doubles player who is now a television commentator. “It’s been a bit of a disaster, and all of it completely out of the tournament’s control.”
Three years ago, wildfires filled the skies over Melbourne with smoke so thick that play was hindered and the tournament almost postponed. A year later, Covid-19 restrictions were so stringent that players were forced to quarantine in hotels, many unable to practice until days before the start of play. And last year an unvaccinated Novak Djokovic was deported before he ever got to hit a ball.
The extreme heat of the Australian summer is nothing new and has disrupted play in the past, as in the 110-degree temperatures that had players wilting in 2014. That year, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Caroline Wozniacki complained that their sneakers and water bottles were melting into the hard court. One player, Peng Shuai, vomited on court and another, Frank Dancevic, fainted.
In 2018, Simona Halep spent four hours receiving intravenous fluids at a Melbourne hospital after she lost an almost three-hour, three-set final to Wozniacki in the sweltering heat.
Djokovic accused the sport of not caring enough about the health of players. The tournament then updated its excessive heat policy that takes into consideration on-court temperatures, the strength of the sun, air temperature in the shade, relative humidity and wind speed. If certain thresholds are met, matches can be suspended and the roofs closed on the main show courts.
The intense heat helped spawn the 2020 fires. Some were so close to Melbourne that tournament officials considered postponing play because of the thick smoke and poor air quality.
Also that year, there were protests at the tournament, including by the tennis greats Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe over Margaret Court, the former Australian player, after she accepted an invitation to return to Melbourne Park to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her winning all four majors, called the Grand Slam, in 1970. The park’s secondary stadium was named after her in 2003.
Court, who holds the record for winning the most major singles titles with 24, is now a Pentecostal pastor in Perth and created a divide in her homeland because of her opposition to gay marriage. The tournament went ahead with its celebration of Court, but did not give her a microphone to speak to the crowd.
“When you get a stadium named after you, you have to understand that people who are walking through those doors may be gay, and insulting those people is totally unacceptable,” Stubbs said. “You are essentially an ambassador for our sport and for our country. You can think what you like but just don’t say it.”
The open signals the official start of a new season, which is one of the reasons players love it. Players are eager to show off new strokes, new coaches, altered bodies from hours spent in the gym during the tours’ brief off-season and new sponsored tennis clothing.
“Everyone’s coming from cold climates to the sun of the Southern Hemisphere,” said Mark Woodforde, who captured 12 doubles major titles, 11 of them with fellow Australian Todd Woodbridge. “They’ve had their holidays, are well rested physically and mentally, and they’re eager and excited to be back.”
That changed in 2021 because of the pandemic. Determined to hold the tournament in spite of heavy governmental restrictions, Tiley pushed back the start date to allow time to put players on chartered planes and have them quarantine for two weeks in hotels before they were allowed to compete.
Despite his efforts at creating a bubble to keep everyone safe, several people tested positive, prompting lockdowns with no time off to practice for many players. Some players even improvised their exercise routines by hitting tennis balls against shuttered windows and turning beds on their sides to serve as backboards.
Then last year, Djokovic created an international incident when he arrived in Melbourne unvaccinated — a breach of Australian protocols — and was deported before he was ever allowed to step foot on the court. The tournament was saved by some extraordinary on-court action, including championships by Rafael Nadal and the hometown hero Ashleigh Barty.
“It’s a real testament to Craig and his staff that, despite all the obstacles with Covid, they were able to put on the event the last two years while still playing by the rules,” said Rajeev Ram, who won the 2020 Australian Open doubles tournament with his partner, Joe Salisbury, and played for Tiley at Illinois. “It would have been easy to just say, ‘No tournament,’ but they got creative, and the players really benefited from that.”
Another reason the players refer to the open as the happy slam is because of the way they are treated.
“We design this event around having fun,” Tiley said. “Our whole mission and position is ‘playful premium.’”
For fans, there is an on-site beach, dozens of restaurants and bars, a field full of family activities and a water park.
Players are lured by grants to pay for their travel, even for junior competitors for the first time this year. They are also treated to a variety of medical services, including a new foot treatment area; new performance spaces, including three gyms, a preparation/recovery center and ice baths; and an area that offers a nutrition bar and mindfulness activities. There is also a beauty salon and on-site tax advisers.
“The environment they create is akin to the way Aussies treat people,” Woodforde said. “The tournament doesn’t ever say no to a request. They work hard to create a stress-free environment for everyone. They want people to say, ‘Do we have to go home?’”
Tiley said that Australians love their sport and entertainment.
“They would choose to invest in that before anything else,” he said. “That’s a great attribute to have from your fans when you’re in this business.”
After all the tumult of the last few years, Tiley is optimistic about a turnaround. By mid-December, he said, ticket sales for ground passes were up by more than 30 percent compared with last year. “We’re seeing this absolute pent-up demand for everything.”
“Our ultimate responsibility is to deliver a global tennis championship,” Tiley added. “These tournaments in London, Paris, New York and, of course, Melbourne, are massive entertainment events with multimillions in global audiences. At the end of the day, my job is to run the best event possible under the circumstances.”
When Felix Auger-Aliassime won the first two sets of his men’s quarterfinals against Daniil Medvedev at last year’s Australian Open, Gonzalo Escobar started prepping for his mixed doubles semifinals, the next match in Rod Laver Arena. As the third set progressed, Escobar and his partner Lucie Hradecka, along with their opponents Jason Kubler and Jaimee Fourlis, began loosening up.
But Medvedev won that set in a tiebreaker, forcing the doubles players to switch gears. They lay down, covering their bodies to stay warm. At first they chatted, then Hradecka listened to music while Escobar talked to his wife before watching the match.
With Auger-Aliassime ahead in the fourth set, the doubles players again grew silent and serious, resuming their physical preparations. But again Medvedev prevailed.
“It was very tiring,” Escobar said.
Again, they lay down. Escobar ate a banana, energy bars and gels to keep his body fueled. The fifth set lasted another hour until Medvedev won. Escobar said that when the doubles players finally entered the court, Medvedev “looked at us and said, ‘Sorry guys.’”
In most major sports, the athletes know their start time. Tennis, however, is a guessing game: The previous match may be over in an hour or last for three. And Grand Slams deepen the uncertainty because men play a best-of-five instead of best-of-three format, as they do in other tournaments. Longer matches produce more seesaw battles, forcing waiting players to continually adjust their physical routine and mental preparations.
Even a match seemingly near the finish offers no guarantees.
“It can be two sets to love with one player up 5-4 and the match could be over in five minutes, or it could last more than two hours,” said Craig Boynton, who coaches Hubert Hurkacz. “You’re estimating and observing, but it’s all guesswork.”
Boynton was coaching John Isner in 2010 when Isner beat Nicholas Mahut at Wimbledon in a 70-68 fifth set that stretched across multiple days, eventually forcing officials to shift waiting players to other courts. “I’m happy all the Slams now do fifth-set tiebreakers,” Boynton said, which prevent final sets from going on indefinitely.
Alex de Minaur, who followed a four-hour five-setter in his first 2022 United States Open match, said afterward that the key was to be “mentally versatile.”
“You have to do everything to prepare as if the match before yours will go three sets and then adapt,” he said. “You can’t let it have a negative impact or waste too much energy, although that’s easier said than done.”
Many coaches request the first match of the day to avoid this issue, said David Nainkin, who coaches Brandon Holt (the son of Tracy Austin, who won the U.S. Open in 1979 and 1981). “The third match is the toughest slot — you can be on any time from 2 to 6 p.m.”
Certain matches offer more predictability, said Peter Polansky, who coaches Denis Shapovalov. If Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal is trailing the 50th-ranked player two sets to one, Polansky would say “let’s wait it out,” but if either superstar is leading by a set it’s more likely time for “high-alert mode” to get ready to play.
But repeatedly leaping into high alert can be draining, said Austin, whose 1981 U.S. Open final against Martina Navratilova followed a five-setter between John McEnroe and Vitas Gerulaitis. Austin didn’t want to feel rushed so, anticipating an ending, she taped her feet and got dressed.
“I was ready to go and I’d get charged up, but then their match would extend,” she said. When the men finished, Austin felt “a little sapped by the emotional roller coaster” and lost the first set 6-1, but bounced back to win the match.
Shifting scenarios give experienced players an edge, Austin said. “It’s a gradual learning process. You develop tools and routines in those situations.” She said one factor was figuring out whether you prefer being around people or in a quiet space alone.
After waiting out a five-setter before her fourth-round match at the U.S. Open, Caroline Garcia noted that she passed part of her limbo reading, before prepping her rackets and then going to the gym to “fire myself up a bit.”
Some players meditate or even nap once a match extends, Polansky said, although it’s tricky because a final set can be a quick 6-1 laugher. At the opposite end, many players will gather with their team and play cards or board games.
“You don’t want to do anything that will fatigue you mentally,” Polansky said, noting that spending too much time staring at a phone as matches elongate can be detrimental.
When a match suddenly goes to a fourth or fifth set, Nainkin said some waiting players change their location, perhaps leaving the locker room for the lounge, “just to reset mentally and get out of ‘ready to go mode’ for 30 minutes.”
If the end of the match is exciting, many players watch while getting ready, he said, which also helps them pace their warm-ups. Some players, however, just have their coaches tracking the score. “The coach’s job is to have a read on the match so the player can switch off entirely if the match goes to a fifth set.”
Timing your food is also essential, Garcia said. “You don’t want to eat too much, but if it goes to a fifth set you need to have another snack while waiting.”
But numerous smaller details must also be factored in. “Some players want their ankles taped right before match time so it’s stiffer, while others want to walk around and break it in,” Boynton said. “Some want to get limber and sweaty and then use the last few minutes to go through the game plan, but others don’t.”
In a close fourth set, he added, Hurkacz will get on the treadmill and do sprints then undo his shoelaces and do a few stretches and wait. During a tiebreaker, he’ll lace up again, but if the match goes to a fifth set, the shoes come off and he’ll ask for another round of rice and vegetables.
“Everyone has their own process and talking about it sounds crazy, but it’s just normal to us,” Boynton said. “You don’t have to be the best at dealing with it, you just have to be better than your opponent.”
Holger Rune speaks as he plays tennis — at a crazy fast pace, barely stopping to take a breath. His thoughts are deep and direct, as if he has much to say but not much time to say it.
Rune’s footwork is exceptionally speedy, and his ascent up the rankings has kept pace. In just one year, he rose from outside the world’s Top 100 to a Top 10 ranking. He went from playing in lower-level tournaments at the beginning of 2022 to winning ATP events in Munich, Stockholm and Paris. At the Paris Masters, he upset five Top 10 players, including world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and 21-time Grand Slam singles winner Novak Djokovic, whom he beat in the final. At just 19, Rune was the ATP’s Newcomer of the Year, ending the season at No. 11.
But there were problems for the Dane, whose squabbles with umpires, players and even his omnipresent mother, Aneke, garnered him unwanted attention. A verbal rumble after a loss to Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals of the French Open last year had both players accusing each other of insults and untruths.
For Rune, who begins contesting his second Australian Open this Monday, it’s all part of the maturation process.
The following interview has been edited and condensed.
Last year, you lost your first-round match at the Australian Open to Soonwoo Kwon after leading by two sets to one. What do you remember about that match?
I was still very inexperienced, and it was physically and mentally hard to play five sets. After the third set I started cramping a little bit. Now I have a good take on playing long matches. It’s about saving some energy, and you can only get that by experience.
You were the No. 1 ranked junior in the world in 2019. Some juniors find the transition to the pro tour very difficult, but for you it was seamless. Why?
First of all, it wasn’t easy even though it was going quick. For me it felt like it took a lot of time, but on paper it didn’t. I was very eager and took all the steps. I have a big will to go through any challenge I get on my way to getting closer to my dream. That’s my focus every day that I step on the tennis court.
In juniors, it looked like you played best on clay courts. Then you won 19 of your last 21 matches last year indoors on hard courts. Is that your new surface?
That’s a good question. I don’t know honestly if I’m a clay-courter or a hard-courter. It depends. That’s why when people ask me if hard, clay or grass is my favorite surface, I would say all of them.
Last year you added Patrick Mouratoglou to your coaching team, but you’ve been working with Lars Christensen since you were very young. What’s the most important thing Lars has taught you?
I would say the discipline. If you look at me now from five years ago, I’m very different. I’m more structured in everything I do, on the court and off. Lars is also very technical. He’s still trying to help me learn stuff, and I’m very eager to improve.
You had huge wins over Djokovic, Alcaraz and [Alexander] Zverev in 2022. Which one meant the most?
I had one against [Stefanos] Tsitsipas too. But I’ve got to say, all of them in a way. But right now I’d have to say Novak. To play him in a final with all of the emotions and stuff is very big.
You set a goal last year to be in the Top 25, and you made it to the Top 10. Did that surprise even you?
When you stay in the moment you’re not surprised when everything is going so fast. But when I look back, I feel very proud of what I achieved. Ranking goals are important, but you can’t really control them because it depends on so many things. I’m happy with how things are going, and I’m very motivated to be in the best shape as possible in Australia.
LOS ANGELES — A no-call on the Dallas Mavericks‘ Tim Hardaway Jr.’s defense on Troy Brown Jr.’s 3-point attempt at the end of regulation left L.A. in a foul mood Thursday night in the Lakers’ eventual 119-115 double-overtime loss to the Mavs.
The Lakers stormed back from a 19-point first-quarter deficit to tie it in the fourth when LeBron James found Brown on the right wing for a potential game-winning 3 at the buzzer. Hardaway contested the shot and made contact with Brown’s shooting hand and the ball at the point of release, causing the shot to fall well short of the basket.
James and Brown immediately expressed their frustration with the outcome of the play to referee Suyah Mehta, who was the closest official to the action.
Crew chief Josh Tiven, speaking to a pool reporter after the game, defended the no-call.
“Hardaway Jr. gets a piece of the ball on the closeout and then does make some high-five contact, which is legal and that play was correctly no-called,” Tiven said.
Brown was asked about the no-call in the postgame locker room and offered a diplomatic response.
“It is what it is,” Brown said. “That’s not my job to ref, and I’m not gonna sit here and decide who should have did what.”
When a reporter followed up to inform Brown of Tiven’s explanation, James — seated in front of his locker on the other side of the room — chimed in from 20 feet away.
“No, it’s a f—ing foul,” James said strongly for everyone in the room to hear. “It’s a foul. No matter what [Brown] says, it’s a f—ing foul. That s— is blatant, and they should have called it.”
Fifteen minutes later, in his postgame news conference down the hall, James was more reserved in his answer. When asked if he disagreed with the referees’ decision, he simply said, “Obviously.”
Lakers coach Darvin Ham also disagreed with the referees’ assessment of the play.
“I’m not one to blame the officiating, and I won’t start now. But it just looked clear as day like it was a foul,” Ham said. “Maybe I can be wrong. But we were still watching it after the game, and it looked like a foul on his follow-through.”
L.A. was outscored 18-14 in the two overtime sessions, shooting a combined 5-for-17 from the field.
James finished with 24 points, 16 rebounds, nine assists and two steals in 47 minutes, but shot 9-for-28 overall and 0-for-7 from 3-point range, including 0-for-4 from deep in the extra sessions.
The Lakers weren’t the only ones to have problems with the officiating, however. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban tweeted during the game, agreeing with TNT analyst Stan Van Gundy’s opinion that Luka Doncic was not getting enough calls.
Stan van gundy is absolutely right. Worst officiated game. Luka gets no respect. Unreal.
Alyssa Roenigk is a senior writer for ESPN whose assignments have taken her to six continents and caused her to commit countless acts of recklessness. (Follow @alyroe on Twitter).
LSU is stepping up security around its gymnastics meets following an incident involving disruptive fans of Tigers star Olivia Dunne at the team’s season opener at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City last Friday.
“We will have security detail with us now when we go on the road and we will be working to create a perimeter around where we get on the bus, where we load,” LSU head coach Jay Clark told reporters.
The Tigers are on the road Friday at the University of Kentucky. “I take our team’s safety and security very seriously,” Clark said.
During last Friday’s meet against the sixth-ranked Red Rocks, a group of young men holding posters and a full-sized cutout of Dunne screamed and chanted, disrupting the routines of other athletes. Although Dunne, a TikTok influencer with 6.7 million followers and the highest-earning woman in college athletics, was not in LSU’s lineup because of an injury, the group continued to chant, “We want Livvy! Give us Livvy!”
A day after the meet, ESPN analyst Sam Peszek, a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic gymnastics team, tweeted a video of the group lined up outside the arena Friday afternoon chanting, “Livvy, Livvy! We want her!”
“This is actually so scary and disturbing and cringey,” Peszek wrote. “I’m embarrassed for them.”
On Sunday, Dunne responded to the incident on Twitter, writing, “I will always appreciate and love the support from you guys, but if you come to a meet, I want to ask you to please be respectful of the other gymnasts and the gymnastics community as we are just doing our job.”
A spokesperson for Kentucky told ESPN the school’s policy is not to disclose security plans publicly but said, “as we would at any home athletic event, we would deal appropriately with anyone acting improperly.”
LSU’s home opener is Monday against defending national champion Oklahoma. Clark said security will look largely the same as it has in the past at home meets, with minor modifications.
“We are going to change some of the policies of allowing the girls to go into the stands immediately following a meet,” he said. “We’ve always allowed them to go up there post-meet with their families and interact with them. We want to make sure we still provide them with that time with their families, but there won’t be any more going into the stands and there will be a limited amount of time that they can interact with the fans in the stands over the rail and that will be monitored closely.”
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson on Thursday night posted to social media that he won’t play in Sunday night’s wild-card game at the Cincinnati Bengals, explaining that his left knee “remains unstable” and that his injury is more serious than originally believed.
Jackson indicated on Twitter that he has “suffered a PCL Grade 2 sprain, on the borderline of a strain 3.”
“There is still inflammation surrounding my knee and my knee remains unstable,” Jackson wrote. “I wish I could be out there with my guys more than anything, but I can’t give a 100% of myself to my guys and fans. I’m still hopeful we have a chance.”
This marked the first time Jackson has addressed his injury since spraining his left knee on Dec. 4. The Ravens initially described his return as “week to week,” but he hasn’t suited up for the past 39 days and, as of last week, was still walking with a limp.
“I’m still in good spirits as I continue with treatments on the road to recovery,” Jackson wrote in his post.
Jackson is finishing out the fifth-year option of his rookie contract. If the sides can’t reach an extension by March, Baltimore would have to use the franchise tag to keep him from becoming an unrestricted free agent.
The Ravens did get some good news regarding their quarterback situation, however, as Huntley, who has tendinitis in his right shoulder, resumed throwing at Thursday’s practice.
Huntley had not attempted a pass during the media viewing portion of the past four practices. He was officially listed as a limited participant on Thursday, but it marked the first time since Jan. 1 that he has been seen throwing passes.
“He looked good,” Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman said. “It’s day-to-day. He’s making progress. We take stock on it every day.”
Baltimore’s offense has suffered a steep decline without Jackson. In his 12 starts this season, the Ravens averaged 23.1 points, which ranked ninth in the NFL. In five starts without him, Baltimore has averaged 13 points, which is second fewest in the league.
“Obviously, Lamar is Lamar,” linebacker Patrick Queen said. “You can’t replace that kind of guy, but I do still think that we have quarterbacks who can go out there and get the job done and play at a high level.”
In four starts this season, Huntley has gone 2-2, throwing for 471 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions. With that right shoulder issue, he has struggled to throw deep, completing just three passes that traveled at least 20 yards in the air (which ranks 27th in the NFL since Week 14).
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears named Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren as their president and CEO on Thursday.
Warren will replace outgoing president and CEO Ted Phillips, who announced in September that he would retire after the 2022 NFL season. He is the first president and CEO hired from outside the Bears organization and the first Black president in team history.
“Kevin is a man of integrity, respect and excellence, all of which are critical core values of the Chicago Bears, and we welcome his perspective and diverse thought to lead this storied organization,” Bears chairman George H. McCaskey said in a statement. “He is a proven leader who has many times stepped outside of his comfort zone to challenge status quo for unconventional growth and prosperity. In this role, Warren will serve in the primary leadership position of the franchise to help bring the next Super Bowl championship trophy home to Bears fans.”
Warren will oversee general manager Ryan Poles and the business operations of the club, according to a news release from the team. Poles currently reports to McCaskey, an organizational change that took place when he was hired as GM in January 2022. Previous general managers had reported to Phillips.
The Big Ten’s council of presidents and chancellors said in a statement that it will work with Warren “during this transition phase” and begin a search for a new commissioner.
Bears personnel have been told internally that Warren’s first day will be April 17, a source told ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Warren is expected to be introduced during a news conference at Halas Hall on Tuesday.
“I am honored and recognize the responsibility bestowed upon me to lead the Chicago Bears during this exciting and pivotal time for the franchise,” Warren said in a statement. “I look forward to building on the rich tradition that started with George Halas and connecting with the unique and vibrant fanbase in Chicago. I join the Chicago Bears with gratitude and drive to carry out and build upon the legacy and spirit of this founding franchise and my predecessors. This is a franchise that is respected in all of professional sports, and I am humbled to be selected as the next President & CEO of the Chicago Bears. I sincerely thank Virginia McCaskey, George McCaskey, the McCaskey family, Ted Phillips and the search team, for the responsibility and trust placed in me to lead the Chicago Bears and deliver championships to Chicago.”
Warren had been with the Big Ten since June 2019 but recently was not given a contract extension by the conference, sources told Thamel. Last summer, Warren helped expand the conference with the additions of USC and UCLA as member institutions beginning in August 2024. He also secured the Big Ten’s seven-year media rights agreement worth more than $7 billion with CBS, Fox and NBC.
“The Council of Presidents and Chancellors (COP/C) for the Big Ten Conference is grateful to Commissioner Kevin Warren for his valuable service to the conference and its member institutions over the past three years,” the council said in a statement. “He has guided the conference with an innovative spirit, a passion for people and exceptional business acumen.
“Commissioner Warren was pivotal in the expansion from 14-to-16 academic and athletic member institutions and leading the media rights negotiations for the conference. He has been dedicated to building inclusion and equity in the conference while championing mental health and wellness. We thank him for his service and wish him the very best in his new endeavor as the president and chief executive officer of the Chicago Bears.”
Warren’s extensive experience in the NFL spans 21 years and includes stints with the Rams, Lions and Vikings, with whom he worked from 2005 to 2019. He spent 2005-14 as the Vikings’ executive vice president of legal affairs and chief administrative officer before being promoted to Minnesota’s chief operating officer in 2015.
Sources told ESPN that Warren’s impact in helping the Vikings build U.S. Bank Stadium in 2016 appealed to the Bears, who are also looking to construct a new stadium after 50 seasons at Soldier Field. The Bears aim to close on their 326-acre purchase in Arlington Heights during the first quarter of 2023 and unveiled initial plans for development, which is set to include a domed stadium, last fall.
The Bears have been under contract on the property since September 2021, when they signed a $197.2 million purchase and sale agreement.
“Kevin is going to be a tremendous resource, and I am excited to get started with him,” Bears general manager Ryan Poles said. “In my time spent with him during the interview process, it quickly became apparent his résumé and business acumen will be a powerful asset to helping improve our organization and ultimately reach our goal to be a championship organization.”
Phillips spent 40 seasons with the Bears, including the past 23 in his role as president/CEO. He was only the fourth person to serve as president in the organization’s 102-year existence and was the first outside of the Halas-McCaskey family to hold that post.
“It was important to ensure the Bears had the right leader in place before I retired,” Phillips said. “Kevin will do an excellent job of bringing the best out of the great people at Halas Hall and continue the evolution of our proud franchise.”
ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg contributed to this report.
Graham Potter said “the hits keep on coming” after Joao Felix was sent off on his Chelsea debut as the Blues slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Fulham on Thursday.
Chelsea’s injury problems deepened as Denis Zakaria was forced off with a quad problem on a night when the Blues slipped to their seventh defeat in 10 matches across all competitions, heaping further pressure on Potter.
Felix will now be banned for three matches, and speaking about his dismissal, Potter told BT Sport: “There’s a reaction from the side and it was a forward’s tackle, there was no malice in it and I don’t think he got too much of the player, but I understand why he’s been sent off. It is another blow.
“The hits just keep coming at the moment. He was really good, you could see his quality in the game, so it is doubly disappointing for us.
“It is tough. I feel for the supporters, the players and for everybody connected with the club. It is a tough moment for us.”
Former Chelsea winger Willian opened the scoring with a deflected 25th-minute shot before Kalidou Koulibaly equalised two minutes into the second period.
After Felix received his marching orders, Andreas Pereira swung over a cross from the right which Kepa Arrizabalaga misjudged, allowing Carlos Vinicius to head the winning goal into an empty net.
“I never like to speak about individuals when we lose, but the [second] goal itself is a frustrating one from our perspective,” Potter said.
“I didn’t think they were putting us under too much pressure even though they had an extra man. It was a bit of a soft goal to concede, and that is something that we have to do better with.
“I can understand the fans are frustrated that we’ve lost. I made sure I went over and clapped them because we appreciate their support. It is not easy. We are suffering, they are suffering. We feel for them and I think it is important we stick together and try and get through this tough period.”
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Owner Woody Johnson believes the New York Jets are a quarterback away from ending their 12-year playoff drought, and he’s willing to spend big bucks for a proven veteran.
“Absolutely,” he told a small group of reporters Thursday in his office at the Jets’ facility. “We’ve got a cap, so there’s an amount you can spend. But, yeah, yeah. That’s kind of the missing piece.”
Zach Wilson was supposed to be a key piece when he was drafted second overall in 2021, but he was benched twice in 2022 and appears headed for a backup role in 2023. Despite his struggles, and those of the offense, “this team is loaded and ready to go,” Johnson said.
“Our defense was an unbelievable story you saw this year, from last place to close to the top in defense in terms of every measurable,” he said. “If you can do the same thing on offense, it looks pretty good, right?”
The Jets already have invested $35 million guaranteed in Wilson. The plan is to keep him, according to Johnson, but he acknowledged, “Zach had a tough year, there’s no denying that. I still have confidence that I’ve seen some kernels of real talent there. … [His] confidence level, whatever it was, went down, so that was certainly frustrating for him. And then we had that rotation, which is very hard to do in the NFL — changing quarterbacks.”
The quarterback instability (three different starters) contributed to the late-season collapse — a six-game losing streak that cost the Jets (7-10) a playoff spot and left Johnson fuming after each loss, sources said.
The fallout has begun. The Jets confirmed the departure of offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, calling it a mutual parting. In addition, offensive line coach John Benton is out. They’re also in the market for a wide receivers coach because Miles Austin is suspended for one year for betting on professional sports.
Johnson claimed he didn’t force coach Robert Saleh to make the staff changes, saying he wasn’t part of “the decision-making tree,” but the owner admitted it was “very frustrating” to witness the offensive meltdown — no touchdowns in the final three games.
After two non-playoff years together, Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas will be under pressure in 2023. Johnson wouldn’t say they have a playoff mandate.
“No, I don’t do mandates,” said Johnson, who has reached the postseason six times in 23 years of ownership. “We’ve had a long wait. Fifty-four years from the last Super Bowl is too long, way too long. I’d like to change that fast, but mandates don’t work.”
There was no mandate, per se, but Johnson made it clear he believes the roster is playoff-ready, saying it includes “all those young, unbelievable stars.” Johnson said he’s optimistic about a turnaround in 2023, pointing to how the defense flipped in one year. It went from 32nd to fourth in yards allowed.
The offense finished 25th, one of the reasons the Jets moved on from LaFleur after two years. Publicly, Saleh advocated for keeping LaFleur, fueling speculation that his hand was forced by Johnson.
“There are 32 owners in this league, and they have every right to ask questions and challenge thought, and have all the discussions they want,” Saleh said. “That happens in every building. But at the end of the day, Woody gives us full autonomy with regard to decision-making. And he’s completely supportive of any decisions we make.”
Because of the unsettled quarterback situation, and with 2023 being a potential make-or-break year for Saleh, it might be hard to attract top coordinator candidates. Saleh disagreed, saying they have young talent and a strong defense. He said the new coordinator will have input into the quarterback decision.
“We’re going to be as aggressive as heck when it comes to quarterback play,” he said, “and make sure we do everything we can to satisfy that position.”
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Following his sides 2-1 defeat to Fulham, Chelsea head coach Graham Potter says the loss of Joao Felix for three games following a red card is really disappointing.
