Former MLB All-Star facing 162-game suspension
A former MLB All-Star is facing a 162-game suspension for the second positive PED test of his career.
Atlanta Braves designated hitter Jurickson Profar is in danger of being suspended for the entire 2026 season after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. This would mark the second positive test of Profar’s career.
BREAKING: Atlanta Braves designated hitter Jurickson Profar is facing a 162-game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug for the second time, sources told ESPN. News free at ESPN: https://t.co/Od2Cht2QUO
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 3, 2026
This is the second time in less than a year Profar has tested positive. He did so last March as well and had to serve an 80-game suspension. At the time, he said he had not intentionally cheated, and that he had too much of a “deep love and respect for this game” to do so.
The Braves signed Profar to a three-year contract last season after his late-career resurgence with the San Diego Padres. He hit .245 with 14 home runs last season after returning from his suspension.
It is fair to question whether the 33-year-old will have much of a career left if he gets a second PED suspension. He would be eligible to return in 2027, but at age 34 after a year off, he might have a hard time finding a job even before taking two positive PED tests into account.
Caitlin Clark hijacks Sophie Cunningham’s ‘cutie’ post with a hilarious question
By most accounts, Caitlin Clark is an awesome teammate. She can also be a bit of a troll, but in a fun way.
Take, for example, her comment on fellow Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham’s social media post on Instagram on Monday.
Cunningham shared some snapshots to sum up her February experience, captioning it with “Feb, you were a cutie.”
Meanwhile, Clark stole some of the spotlight with a comment that was totally unrelated to what Cunningham was sharing.
“Do u play basketball,” the former Iowa Hawkeyes superstar wrote.
Clark’s comment has garnered over 1,600 likes at the time of this writing, with many more replying to it.
Or maybe, Clark was just missing competing alongside Cunningham, as the WNBA remains in the offseason. The league is also facing a possible lockout in 2026, as the WNBPA and league representatives have yet to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement.
Both Clark and Cunningham were unable to finish the 2025 season on the Fever’s active roster due to injuries, but they appear to be ready to give it a go once the new season comes around, with Indiana looking to sustain the improvement it has shown since Clark arrived in the league in 2024.
After winning 20 games in 2024, the Fever went 24-20 in 2025 despite missing Clark and Cunningham for many games.
Tyrann Mathieu makes an unusual ‘hot wife’ comparison amid Derek Carr comeback rumors
Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr retired from playing football in 2025, but less than a year later, he is already feeling the itch to make a comeback.
Carr has been linked to the Minnesota Vikings, who struggled with issues under center in 2025, but the former Fresno State Bulldogs star signal-caller also said he’s only willing to play for a Super Bowl contender, provided he’s healthy.
There have been plenty of opinions shared about Carr’s potential NFL comeback. For his former Saints teammate and ex-NFL defensive back, Tyrann Mathieu, he is at the prime age to resume playing quarterback in the league again.
“34 at quarterback is it’s really like an optimal age because it’s like you’ve seen it all. You’ve seen it all, you’ve made all the money,” Mathieu said during a recent episode of the “In The Bayou With Tyrann Mathieu” podcast.
To further stress his point, “Honey Badger” brought up an interesting analogy.
“A QB at 34 is like a hot wife. A safety at 34? That’s a bad guy — that’s a fat cop.”
Quarterbacks tend to have a longer shelf life than most other positions in football, and at 34, Derek Carr’s battle against Father Time is less of a concern than whether his body can hold up for at least one more season in the NFL.
Carr still has his NFL rights owned by the Saints, so a team that’s serious about landing him in 2026 will have to offer a trade to New Orleans first. That doesn’t seem to be a tough ask, as the Saints seem set on moving on with Tyler Shough as their QB1.
In 169 games played in the NFL, Carr put together a 77-92-0 QB record and compiled 41,245 passing yards and 257 touchdowns against 112 interceptions on a 65.1% completion rate.
Jazz coach hilariously tries to crowdsource a way to slow down Nikola Jokic
Utah Jazz headcoach Will Hardy jokingly tried to ask for help about slowing down Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic.
Following the Jazz’s 128-125 loss to Jokic and company at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, Hard brought up other teams’ tactics in defending against the Serbian before wondering out loud whether someone out there has a solution to “Th
“There have been some other teams in the league that have guarded Jokic with smalls, and it’s about trying to wear him down make catches tough,” Hardy told reporters in the postgame press conference.
“If you know a good coverage for Jokic, please email me.”
There is no such thing as a Jokic stopper, and he’s got three NBA Most Valuable Player Awards to prove it. But any time an opponent limits his impact on the court, that can already be considered a major success, and a step in the direction of a win.
Utah indeed had some success in bottling up Jokic, who was held by the Jazz below his season averages in points, rebounds and assists, as he finished with 22 points on 6/11 shooting, 12 boards and 5 dimes. However, they forgot about the other guy, as Jamal Murray erupted for 45 points on 13/19 shooting, including eight 3-pointers.
Utah will see the Nuggets two more times in the 2025-26 season, giving Hardy’s inbox enough time to accept anti-Jokic suggestions.
Fans are unimpressed with Aaron Judge’s speech to Team USA
Aaron Judge recently delivered a short speech to his Team USA teammates, but he didn’t exactly make them feel ready to run through a wall.
With Judge named as the star-studded Team USA’s captain for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, many expect him to set the tone, which he tried to do with a speech.
However, he sounded more like a student who was presenting an undercooked report in front of the class.
“Sacrificing for your family at home, sacrificing for your country, and sacrificing for the brothers in the trenches with you every single day,” the New York Yankees superstar slugger said. “That’s one thing I want us to do, fellas. You know, we’re down, we’re beat up a little bit, then, you know, lean into each other, man. We’re going to lay it out on the line. If we do that, we’ll bring the gold home, man, I’m telling you.”
Captain America 🫡
— MLB (@MLB) March 2, 2026
Aaron Judge makes a speech to Team USA ahead of the #WorldBaseballClassic 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/xeaiiAgRxF
Judge’s message was clear, but his delivery lacked conviction and passion, prompting fans to share some interesting reactions.
So motivational that Skubal decided to pitch 1 game
— 🦅 (@x0snowfallx0) March 2, 2026
This made me want to lightly jog through the softest wall I can possibly find
— Josh Reynolds (@JoshReynolds24) March 3, 2026
I’m so fired up from that I could write a LinkedIn post
— Sammy James🔺 (@HebHammer94) March 3, 2026
Probably the least motivational, motivational speech ive ever watched
— Vinyl MLB (@VinylMLB) March 2, 2026
My confidence in USA baseball just dropped a lot after this speech
— Reed Sheppard Stan (@pr0_hater) March 3, 2026
Still, one has to keep in mind that Judge was named to Team USA’s WBC roster not because of his oratory skills.
It is what he does with the bat that will matter more for Team USA, and he will look to start making damage at the plate in Tuesday’s exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, Ariz.
From there, Team USA will face the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Ariz., for one more tune-up contest before the official start of the 2026 WBC.
Tommy Lloyd lashes out at ‘lazy’ narrative about Arizona
The No. 2 Arizona Wildcats sent a strong message across the college basketball world with a resounding 73-57 win over the No. 6 Iowa State Cyclones on Monday.
But what Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd said after the game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz., may have left an even bigger impression.
Addressing the notion he’s heard about the Wildcats being a “soft” team, Lloyd hit back with a passionate response in defense of his squad.
“This team’s built that way. I think the narrative that we were soft is lazy. Look at our stats, look at our analytics. We’ve always been a great rebounding team. We’ve always pounded the paint,” Lloyd told the media in the postgame presser, via Fox College Hoops.
The win over the Cyclones helped Lloyd’s case, as the Wildcats outrebounded Iowa State, 44-33. Arizona’s suffocating defense also held the Cyclones to just 29% shooting from the floor and just 7/30 (23%) from behind the arc. Per KenPom, the Wildcats are third nationally with an adjusted defensive rating of 89.0.
The 51-year-old Lloyd did not stop there.
“So, if you want to just be lazy and not pay attention and say we’re soft because we’re on the West Coast, be lazy. I’d love to play against you, because we know we got dudes, and we love this game, and I’m okay with this time of game, ” Lloyd continued.
Every team has its weaknesses, but Lloyd will not accept any unfair and baseless criticism about his team’s effort and sense of urgency on defense and on the glass.
By beating Iowa State, the Wildcats also won the Big 12 regular-season title outright, as they now prepare for Saturday’s game against the Colorado Buffaloes at CU Events Center in Boulder, Colo.
Coach K had an honest take on Duke star freshman Cameron Boozer
Duke Blue Devils star freshman Cameron Boozer has everyone’s attention, including none other than the legendary Mike Krzyzewski.
Coach K knows a talent when he sees one, having handled countless top-tier college basketball players during his incredible reign as the Duke basketball program’s head coach. When it comes to Boozer, Krzyzewski has no doubt that the Blue Devils forward is a cut above the other freshmen in college hoops.
“He’s the best [freshman this year], I think,” Krzyzewski said during an appearance onThe Field of 68: After Dark podcast. “To me, it’s not close. This kid is so dependable, so poised and puts up amazing numbers and accuracy in passing, in rebounding. He sets a physical tone for our team that another team has to match.
The 79-year-old Krzyzewski added that Boozer is having “as good a year as any freshman that has ever played here [at Duke].”
The No. 1 Blue Devils have been nearly unbeatable this season, with Boozer a big reason why. He is a walking double-double machine, averaging 22.6 pointsa nd 10.0 rebounds per game. Boozer does more, as he also leads his team with 4.0 assists, while recording 1.6 steals per contest.
Boozer is not without competition for the “best freshman” title, with AJ Dybantsa of the BYU Cougars, Darryn Peterson of the Kansas Jayhawks and Darius Acuff Jr. of the Arkansas Razorbacks also having terrific seasons, but there is no denying who among them all is leading the best team in the nation.
Potential top-10 NFL draft pick gets alarming medical diagnosis
Ohio State safety Caleb Downs reportedly got flagged with a potentially career-altering knee issue less than two months away from the 2026 NFL draft.
Downs entered last week’s NFL draft combine as a consensus first-round pick likely to be selected in the top 10. His draft stock likely took a tumble after the latest findings on his injured knee.
According to a report from Daft on Draft’s Cory Kinnan, Downs was diagnosed with a partially torn meniscus, which, while concerning, isn’t a long-term issue. Kinnan added that Downs was also flagged with a “potentially degenerative ACL.”
Kinnan qualified that several NFL prospects have been able to shrug off such a diagnosis to go on and have successful careers at the pro level. However, some teams may now think twice about using their first-round pick on Downs due to the injury risk attached to him before even taking his first NFL snap.
Downs probably won’t drop too far though, given the disruptive defensive talent he showcased in his final season at Ohio State. The Jim Thorpe Award winner was considered the best defensive back in the country last year, serving as a game-changing presence for the Buckeyes in stopping either the pass or run.
Downs tallied six interceptions, 16 tackles for a loss, and 12 passes defended across three college football seasons split between Alabama and Ohio State.
H/T SB Nation
Rangers star’s son had an all-time quote about his dad potentially getting traded
New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck has a young son who’s already willing to put hockey above all else — even his own dad.
Trocheck is expected to be one of several big names dealt ahead of the NHL trade deadline on Friday afternoon. With his potential departure looming, the 13-year veteran told the media Monday that he had discussed the move with his 7-year-old son, and the youngster had quite the response for his father.
“My son was like, ‘Well, I’ll stay because, you know, I have a hockey team here, I didn’t get traded,’” Trocheck said, drawing laughs from a room full of reporters.
Vincent Trocheck said he has already talked to kids about the possibility of being traded to prepare them. His son, who is 7, had a legendary response, Trocheck said:
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) March 2, 2026
“My son was like, ‘Well, I’ll stay because, you know, I have a hockey team here, I didn’t get traded.’ "
If Trockeck’s son plays anything like his dad, even at age 7, then his New York-based youth team would indeed be missing a key piece should their family move elsewhere.
Trocheck has 38 points across 45 games for the struggling Rangers this season, making him one of the most sought-after centers in the market.
Trocheck has expressed his desire for the Rangers to trade him to another team that plays near the East Coast, emphasizing the importance of staying close to family. The Pittsburgh native has mostly Western Conference teams among the dozen squads on his no-trade list.
Report names 1 AFC team expected to trade for Derek Carr
Derek Carr could be going from one bottom-feeding NFL franchise to another.
Carr made headlines last week when news broke that the veteran quarterback was “very serious” about an NFL comeback. The 34-year-old had announced his retirement before the start of the 2025 season after he was diagnosed with a serious shoulder injury.
According to a report published Monday by NBC Sports’ Matthew Berry, the New Orleans Saints, who still hold Carr’s rights, are “very happy” with his successor, Tyler Shough. With the Saints already having moved on, New Orleans is reportedly expected to trade Carr to the New York Jets.
A previous report linked Carr to a potential move to the Minnesota Vikings. Berry stated that he “did not hear that at all” and doubled down on his understanding that the Jets are the ones keen on acquiring Carr.
News of Carr’s potential comeback began to percolate early last month. He later laid out that he would only return if he felt completely healthy and that the team he would play for had “a chance to win a Super Bowl.”
The Jets don’t exactly fit into Carr’s criteria, as they were the furthest thing from a Super Bowl contender last season. New York finished with a 3-14 record, tied with three other teams for the worst record in the NFL. The Jets also dealt away All-Pro defenders Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams.
Carr, however, may need to lower his standards, given that Super Bowl contenders aren’t usually in the market for aging quarterbacks coming off a serious shoulder injury.
Nikola Jokic under fire for a questionable move on Keyonte George
Nikola Jokic appeared to forget which sport he was playing on Monday night.
Jokic and the Denver Nuggets battled Monday against Keyonte George and the Utah Jazz. In the first quarter at Delta Center in Salt Lake City Utah, Jokic got George switched onto him off a Jazz defensive rotation.
The 185-pound George attempted to box out the 284-pound Jokic in anticipation of a rebound. In response, Jokic put his entire body weight on George’s back, seemingly riding him like a horse.
Jokic then appeared to get even more exasperated and proceeded to bring George down to the floor along with him. Here is the bizarre video.
ANOTHER ANGLE OF JOKIC https://t.co/ir2NydjpRV pic.twitter.com/BXIdbOkFFO
— Logion Noops (@LogionNoops) March 3, 2026
The three-time MVP Jokic was promptly ripped by the Jazz TV broadcast over the non-basketball move as he could have injured George there given their significant size difference. Indeed, George was shaken up on the ground for a few moments before ultimately getting up and walking back to the bench.
Nuggets fans will maintain that Jokic regularly gets mauled without any calls from the officials and thus needs to exaggerate any sort of contact that he can. But between that incident with George and the viral video of his egregious flops from last year’s playoffs, Jokic is not doing his reputation very many favors these days.
Wizards fans all said the same thing after Trae Young got ejected
Trae Young somehow found a way to endear himself to Washington Wizards fans before even scoring his first points with his new team.
Young, days away from making his Wizards debut, got ejected from Monday’s game against the Houston Rockets at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. He made his way onto the court late in the third quarter during a heated altercation between teammate Jamir Watkins and Rockets forward Tari Eason (video here).
After Young was tossed from the venue, he sent a message to D.C. assuring them that he won’t let it happen too often.
“Don’t expect me to get ejected too many more times D.C.” Young posted on X. “But I’m definitely bringing that energy & competitiveness when I’m back for my brothers!”
Don’t expect me to get ejected too many more times D.C.😂 .. but I’m definitely bringing that energy & competitiveness when I’m back for my brothers! 🫶🏽
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) March 3, 2026
Rather than be upset with Young for costing the team a technical foul, several Wizards fans were already calling him a “legend” for his early show of fire.
LFG YOU A WIZARD LEGEND ALREADY 🧙♂️
— SleeperWizards (@SleeperWizards) March 3, 2026
Wizards legend already
— Ja’Bill Merky Croskett (@Manimoewil) March 3, 2026
DC LEGEND ALREADY
— Tre Johnson SZN (@trejohnsonszn) March 3, 2026
The Wizards haven’t had a face of the franchise for years now. Young long held that distinction with the Atlanta Hawks and appears poised to reprise the role in D.C.
With Washington trying to pile on the losses for more draft lottery combinations, he even arguably helped his team’s cause by getting himself ejected. Fans clearly weren’t complaining as the Wizards lost to the Rockets 123-118.
Kevin Durant gets baited into the silliest technical foul
Kevin Durant took the ragebait during Monday’s game.
The Houston Rockets star forward Durant, a District of Columbia native, returned home Monday night for a game against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Durant had an impressive showing with 30 points on 8/15 shooting as the Rockets went on to win by a final score of 123-118.
But Durant also produced an incredibly silly moment during the closing seconds of the contest. With 30 seconds left on the clock and the game already decided, Wizards guard Sharife Cooper scored an uncontested layup to make the score 123-114 in favor of the Rockets.
Washington teammate Bub Carrington then lingered over the dead ball, preventing Durant from inbounding it immediately. As a result, Durant gave Carrington a shove, and Carrington flopped hard to the floor.
Referee Jacyn Goble promptly hit Durant with a technical foul over the shove. Here is the video.
Kevin Durant shoves Bub Carrington and he flopped like a fish in the ocean and baited KD into a technical. pic.twitter.com/C3On7ENm1E
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) March 3, 2026
It doesn’t get much more boneheaded than that for Durant. Though the lapse in judgment did not ultimately cost the Rockets the win, it does now mean that Durant has to pay a $3,000 fine for the technical foul (up from the standard fine of $2,000 since it was Durant’s seventh T of the season).
Monday’s game between the Rockets and the Wizards was definitely heated in other regards as well. During the third quarter, there was a spat between Houston’s Tari Eason and Washington’s Jamir Watkins that ultimately resulted in injured Wizards star Trae Young somehow being ejected from the bench while in street clothes.
Patrick Dumont responds to a fan’s comment about Nico Harrison
Patrick Dumont does not appear to have any regrets about his decision to make a GM change.
The Dallas Mavericks governor and co-owner Dumont drew attention this week over his funny interaction with a Mavericks fan. Viral video showed the fan walking up to Dumont’s courtside seat at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Tex. during a game against Oklahoma City and telling Dumont, “Thank you for firing Nico [Harrison].”
Dumont smiled and let the fan give him a fist-bump before saying, “You’re welcome.” You can see the video at the link here.
The former Mavericks GM Harrison drew forever infamy for his indefensible decision to trade superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers last year. Dumont, who took over for the Mavericks in 2023 despite having a main background in business, essentially allowed Harrison to do his thing and pull the trigger on the Doncic deal.
But Dumont eventually came to realize that the Doncic trade was a massive mistake and even admitted as much to another Mavericks fan late last year. Dallas then went on to fire Harrison just nine months after the Doncic disaster and cut their losses on Anthony Davis (Harrison’s prized centerpiece in the Doncic deal) by trading him away to the Washington Wizards last month.
The Mavericks are no good this year at a brutal 21-39 (12th in the Western Conference). But it at least sounds like Dumont is doing his best to listen to the fanbase and try to win back the goodwill that the Doncic trade torched.
Surprising claim emerges about Jared McCain
Don’t let Jared McCain’s TikTok dances fool you.
Retired ex-NBA forward Chandler Parsons went viral this week over his claim about the Oklahoma City Thunder guard McCain. During an episode of FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back,” Parsons claimed that McCain is actually one of the very best fighters in the NBA.
Parsons even drew a comparison between McCain and former NBA forward James Johnson. Notably nicknamed “Bloodsport,” Johnson is a black belt in karate and was widely known as the single most feared man in the entire NBA for his fighting skills.
“You know how James Johnson is a fighter? I heard Jared McCain is almost that same level,” said Parsons. “I heard he’s not the one to mess with … 1000 percent true. That dude can fight.”
McCain, 22, has a fairly unassuming frame at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds. He has also gained some notoriety from fans for both his expressive dances on TikTok and his well-documented fondness for colorful nail polish.
But apparently McCain, who has averaged 11.8 points per game off the bench since being acquired by the Thunder at the trade deadline, is legit when it comes to hand-to-hand combat. While McCain was once even clowned over an unflattering weightlifting photo, his fighting skills appear to be no joking matter.
Trae Young got ejected before playing a single minute for the Wizards
Trae Young hilariously got his first ejection with the Washington Wizards before even playing a single minute for his new team.
The Wizards’ midseason addition got tossed from Monday’s game against the Houston Rockets during an altercation that occurred in the third quarter at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Rockets forward Tari Eason shoved Wizards rookie Jamir Watkins to the ground, leading the two to exchange words.
Young, who was in street clothes on the Wizards’ bench, berated referee Jacyn Goble for not calling an initial foul on Eason. The 4-time All-Star followed Goble onto the court, earning him an automatic ejection.
Trae Young was ejected from Wizards-Rockets before playing a single minute with the team 😳
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 3, 2026
He walked onto the floor during a spat between Jamir Watkins and Tari Eason.
pic.twitter.com/T5vsaMdneK
Eason and Watkins were each assessed one technical foul for their verbal spat. Eason got another one for his shove of Watkins, which also got him tossed from the game.
Young’s flare-up may have been his way of showing his new teammates that he has their backs during tense and physical moments, such as the one that happened on Monday night. In the process, Young potentially became the first player in history to get ejected before even making his NBA debut with a team.
Trae Young vs Houston:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 3, 2026
— 0 MP
— 0 PTS
— 0 REB
— 0 AST
and one ejection. pic.twitter.com/N1iYEx3bnx
The ejection comes just days before Young is slated to make his debut in a Wizards uniform.
Jahmyr Gibbs had the saddest post after David Montgomery got traded
Jahmyr Gibbs no longer has his tag-team partner around.
The Detroit Lions made the decision on Monday to trade away running back David Montgomery, sending him to an AFC team in exchange for multiple assets. The move ended Montgomery’s tenure in Detroit after three seasons.
In response, the fellow Lions running back Gibbs had a sad post on social media. He posted the video game characters Sonic and Knuckles walking past each other in opposite directions with tears in their eyes.
Jahmyr Gibbs is all of us. pic.twitter.com/D8zKEtznb8
— Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) March 3, 2026
Gibbs and Montgomery had formed a dynamic duo in the Detroit backfield over the last few years. With Gibbs specializing in speed and elusiveness (like Sonic the Hedgehog) and Montgomery delivering the power and physicality (like Knuckles), the two RBs had earned the joint nickname of “Sonic and Knuckles.”
Ultimately though, Montgomery wanted out of Detroit. He regressed in 2025 after taking a total backseat to Gibbs in the offense and even shaded the Lions over social media at one point. We then heard earlier this week that the 28-year-old Montgomery was pushing for a move out of Detroit.
The Lions are fully committed to Gibbs, 23, as their workhorse back, especially after a 2025 campaign in which he started in all 17 games and rushed for 1,223 yards and 13 touchdowns. Beyond that, it sounds like Detroit is more than willing to turn to free agency or to the draft in order to find a new understudy for Gibbs.
Celtics insider teases Jayson Tatum’s potential return date
The buzz surrounding Jayson Tatum’s potential return to the court for the Boston Celtics is getting harder to ignore.
Last week, the Celtics superstar began participating in 5-on-5 scrimmages with the team. Such progression is often the final checkpoint for an injured player before returning to play.
ESPN’s Shams Charania previously noted that Tatum also needs to clear the mental hurdle before returning from the torn Achilles injury he suffered last May. At least one Celtics insider believes Tatum is getting closer and closer to that point.
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, a longtime Celtics diehard who’s often plugged into what’s going on with the team, named a specific date for Tatum’s return: March 6 against the Dallas Mavericks. During Sunday’s episode of his podcast, Simmons noted that “all signs are pointing to Friday” when the Celtics host the Mavericks at TD Garden in Boston, Mass.
“Tatum, it feels like it’s gonna be Friday vs Dallas. All signs are pointing to Friday, Dallas.”
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) March 2, 2026
– Bill Simmons on Jayson Tatum return 👀
(Via Bill Simmons podcast) pic.twitter.com/Z8Qxa93lwH
Tatum has stated in the past that he wants to return in front of his home fans. The Celtics play at home Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets and Friday against the Mavs before embarking on a three-game road trip.
Boston may pump the brakes on a return and give Tatum another full week to recover. But if the 6-time All-Star is truly keen on returning this week, Celtics fans may want to keep their Friday night free to watch some basketball.
Notable news surfaces about troubled safety Jimmie Ward
Jimmie Ward’s Houston era is officially over.
The Houston Texans have decided to release their veteran safety Ward, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Monday. Schefter notes that Houston stands to save $750,000 on their salary cap with the move.
Ward, the 34-year-old former first-round pick, had been with the Texans since 2023. He had productive years in both 2023 and 2024, even serving as a team captain for Houston during that span.
But Ward suffered a season-ending foot injury in Dec. 2024 that required surgery. As a result, he was placed on the reserve/PUP list ahead of the 2025 NFL season and went on to miss the entire year.
Additionally, Ward got arrested in June 2025 on a disturbing charge of family violence. He was accused of strangling his fiancée and allegedly forcing her to perform oral sex on him while he was under the influence of crystal meth (read the full details here). Ward was then arrested again in August after allegedly violating a condition of his bond by testing positive for alcohol. However in September, a grand jury ultimately declined to indict Ward on the family violence charge after failing to find probable cause that he had committed the alleged crime.
The Texans are looking for ways to save money this offseason and could soon end up releasing another well-known veteran as well. For now though, Ward is the one getting kicked to the curb by Houston (though ESPN might still think that Ward plays for them regardless).
Paige Bueckers doesn’t hold back on WNBA negotiations
The 2026 WNBA season is meant to begin on May 8, although that might not be the case due to ongoing CBA discussions.
In January, the deadline passed for the sides to come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Now, Dallas Wings star and No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers did not hold back and made known her frustrations with the way things have gone.
“At this point, it’s not really a negotiation anymore. Both sides aren’t moving,” Bueckers said. “We as players we don’t want to have a strike, we want to have a season. But there are things that need to be handled, and we want to do it as professionals.”
Paige Bueckers airs out her frustration with WNBA CBA negotiations:
— Sportico (@Sportico) March 2, 2026
"At this point it's not really a negotiation anymore… we as players we don't want to have a strike, we want to have a season." pic.twitter.com/Gpb7AvJ5WS
It is clearly a frustrating time for WNBA players such as Bueckers.
And, to make things more concerning, the WNBA told the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) that a framework for a new CBA needs to be done by March 10 if they want a full season of games.
The players are hoping for a revenue-sharing model, one in which their salaries will increase based on how much money the league brings in.
For right now, Bueckers is frustrated as talks progress. Bueckers, as well as other WNBA stars, are currently playing in the 3-on-3 Unrivaled league, but the WNBA-CBA discussions are on their minds as the 2026 season is up in the air.
