Justin Verlander’s first post after signing with Tigers is giving fans chills
Justin Verlander broke his social media hiatus with a bang on Tuesday after returning to the place where it all began for him.
The Tigers on Tuesday agreed to sign Verlander to a one-year contract. The team announced the news on X.
The Tigers have signed three-time American League Cy Young and nine-time All-Star RHP Justin Verlander to a one-year contract for the 2026 season.
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) February 10, 2026
Welcome home, JV! pic.twitter.com/R1T1378gwn
While the move was shared on Tuesday, it must have been well into the works for at least a few days, based on Verlander’s first post after news broke of his signing. The returning Tigers pitcher posted an awesome hype video to mark his return to Detroit.
The minute-long clip featured some of his best moments as a Tiger, fittingly accompanied by Eminem’s hit 2002 song “Till I Collapse” playing as the background music.
“Back where it all started,” Verlander captioned the post.
Back where it all started pic.twitter.com/zQfMJeKtg9
— Justin Verlander (@JustinVerlander) February 11, 2026
Verlander’s Instagram and X accounts had zero posts since 2023 before his Tigers homecoming video dropped. Tigers fans were emotional in the post’s replies.
— Tommy (@youphilmedu) February 11, 2026
Welcome home, king. pic.twitter.com/qoMjneZPst
— Benson (Miguel Cabrera’s Bat) (@Miggysbat) February 11, 2026
Don’t tell my wife but this is the best day of my life… WELCOME BACK MUST SEE JV!!
— Real Thoughts Of AJ Hinch (@ThoughtsOfHinch) February 11, 2026
The 42-year-old spent the first 13 years of his career in Detroit, where he slowly emerged as one of the most dominant pitchers of his generation. He finished in the top-3 of AL Cy Young Award voting four times, headlined by his iconic 2011 Cy Young campaign that saw him become the first pitcher to win MVP in two decades.
Verlander led the Tigers to the World Series twice but lost both times in 2006 and 2012. He finally broke through as a member of the Houston Astros in 2017 and 2022.
Verlander brings his championship pedigree to an ascendant Tigers team that features Tarik Skubal, inarguably the team’s best pitcher since Verlander himself. With a pitching staff headlined by Skubal, Framber Valdez, and a still-effective Verlander, Detroit’s starting rotation has a strong case to be one of the best in the majors next season.
Notable update emerges about George Kittle amid his Achilles tear
George Kittle is going full “never tell me the odds” mode.
The San Francisco 49ers tight end Kittle is not expected to miss the majority of the 2026 NFL season after his Achilles tear, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reported on Tuesday. Barrows even goes so far as to say that Kittle is targeting Week 1 for his return to the field.
Kittle, 32, suffered his Achilles injury during the 49ers’ Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 11. While hauling in a pass from teammate Brock Purdy, Kittle’s leg planted awkwardly into the turf, resulting in the full rupture of his right Achilles tendon (see the video here).
The seven-time Pro Bowler Kittle is now one month removed from that injury and still has another seven months to go before the start of the 2026 season. That said, Achilles tears are usually 8-to-12-month injuries for NFL players, meaning that Kittle’s target of Week 1 seems a bit optimistic.
Kittle just completed his ninth career season with the 49ers, who would lose to the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round. Overall on the year, Kittle hauled in 57 passes for 628 yards and seven touchdowns over 11 games (after missing time during the regular season due to an unrelated hamstring injury).
The five-time All-Pro selection Kittle is under contract with the 49ers through 2029 and has a total cap hit of $16.1 million in 2026. Though he might be a little too ambitious in shooting for Week 1, it is clear that Kittle (who also went viral for his request after his injury) does not plan to be out for too long.
Collin Sexton gets disciplined by the NBA over his middle-finger incident
The NBA did not find Collin Sexton’s antics this week to be very funny.
In an official release on Tuesday, the NBA announced that they have fined the Chicago Bulls guard Sexton a sum of $35,000. Sexton was fined because he made an “inappropriate gesture” on the court during Chicago’s game against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday.
The former lottery pick Sexton, 27, was shooting free throws during the third quarter at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. He split the two foul shots, missing the first before making the second.
After making the second free throw, Sexton decided to give an emphatic middle finger to the rim. Here is the video.
— Lopo (@bballforpeople) February 10, 2026
Sexton, who was just acquired by the Bulls at the trade deadline as part of the Coby White deal with the Charlotte Hornets, finished Monday’s game with 21 points on 7/18 shooting. In the end though, it was the Nets who secured the 123-115 victory over the Bulls.
It is pretty clear that Sexton was not directing his one-fingered salute towards anyone in particular. But that did not matter at all to the NBA as they hit Sexton with the same $35,000 fine that other players have gotten in the past for flashing the middle finger as well.
Report reveals how Jayson Tatum looked in G League practice
The excitement among Boston Celtics fans surrounding Jayson Tatum’s potential return to the court is growing louder by the day.
The Celtics announced Monday that Tatum was being assigned to the team’s G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics, to participate in portions of the squad’s practice. The move was the latest step in Tatum’s road to getting back on the court for Boston.
The early returns from Tatum’s brief G League stint were reportedly nothing but positive. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Tatum “participated fully” in five-on-five scrimmages featuring some of his Celtics teammates, two-way players, and G League players. Per Charania, Tatum “looked great” in those runs.
Tatum reportedly still has a few boxes to check before being fully cleared for a return, with the final decision being made by “about a dozen people” involved in his recovery process. Tatum himself downplayed the significance of the G League rehab stint, calling it “just another step.”
Last month, Tatum admitted that he was still unsure about whether or not he should return this season, partly at the risk of disrupting the chemistry the current Celtics squad has developed without him. His teammates, however, have been vocal about the team wanting him back without any reservations.
With the latest progress in Tatum’s recovery, the Celtics star looks healthy enough for a return sooner rather than later. But nothing is final until he actually sets foot on the hardwood.
Wizards mascot plans to sue Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes over shoving incident
A one-game suspension from the NBA will not be all for Jaxson Hayes over Mascotgate.
The person inside the costume of the Washington Wizards’ mascot G-Wiz is planning to sue the Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes over their incident during a game on Jan. 30, TMZ Sports reported on Tuesday. Notably, the victim has reportedly hired attorney Waukeen McCoy to represent him.
McCoy is the same attorney who represented Sofia Jamora, Hayes’ ex-girlfriend, in her domestic violence lawsuit against the Lakers center. In a statement, McCoy said that the person inside the mascot outfit was “injured” when Hayes shoved him to the ground and added that “legal action is anticipated.”
You can read TMZ Sports’ full report on the situation here.
The incident with the mascot occurred during pregame introductions before the Lakers-Wizards game on Jan. 30 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. G-Wiz was running off the floor carrying a large Wizards flag when he was shoved to the ground by Hayes, who was standing by the edge of the baseline to warm up (video here).
Hayes later claimed that the mascot had stepped on his foot but ultimately offered an apology for the incident. He served his one-game suspension for the shove during the Lakers’ game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Feb. 5.
As for the seven-footer Hayes’ domestic violence incident with his ex-girlfriend Jamora, that occurred back in July 2021. Police responded to a domestic disturbance call at Hayes’ Los Angeles, Calif. residence, and Hayes ended up getting physical with officers after they arrived (resulting in Hayes being arrested, tased, and eventually having 12 charges filed against him).
TMZ later released video of the incident between Hayes and Jamora, which showed Hayes pushing and spitting at her from inside the residence. Hayes ultimately pled no-contest to the criminal charges and was sentenced to three years’ probation along with community service. Jamora later retained McCoy to represent her during a separate civil lawsuit against Hayes, which was reportedly “settled amicably” in June 2025.
Luka Doncic names the 1 biggest trash-talker in the NBA
Luka Doncic knows a thing or two about trash talk, and now he is pinpointing one particular opponent who can match his energy in that regard.
The Los Angeles Lakers superstar Doncic appeared this week on the “Cousins” podcast with Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady. During the episode, Doncic was asked to name the biggest trash-talker in the NBA today.
After pondering the question for a moment, Doncic named Phoenix Suns swingman Dillon Brooks. “I love playing against him,” Doncic said of Brooks.
.@mrvincecarter15: "Who talks the most trash on the team?"
— Cousins with Vince Carter & Tracy McGrady (@VinceAndTmac) February 10, 2026
Luka Doncic: "Me."
Vince: "Who talks the most trash in the league?"@lukadoncic: "[Dillon] Brooks. … I love playing against him." pic.twitter.com/G6HVd4iZ08
That is definitely not a bad answer from Doncic. Brooks is known as one of the biggest trolls and irritants in the NBA today and has a very long history of going at Doncic’s star Lakers teammate LeBron James in particular.
To his credit, Brooks, the former All-Defensive selection, is not just all talk either. He is having a career year this season for the Suns, averaging 21.1 points per game and emerging as a legitimate No. 2 offensive option behind Devin Booker. That has helped Phoenix to a surprising record of 31-22 (seventh in the Western Conference).
As for Doncic, he is in the S-tier when it comes to trash talk as well. The former NBA scoring champion especially loves getting into it with opposing fans and also went viral last month for one of the most vulgar messages possible to an opponent during a game.
Juan Soto is set to make a major change in 2026
Juan Soto is about to throw it back to his San Diego Padres days.
New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns spoke with reporters on Tuesday. During his remarks, Stearns revealed that the Mets star outfielder Soto will be making a major change for the 2026 season.
Soto is set to move from right field to left field for the Mets. Stearns added that Soto has been working out in left this offseason and feels “really comfortable” at the position.
David Stearns announces that Juan Soto will play left field for the Mets this season pic.twitter.com/1P2kD1GpTQ
— SNY (@SNYtv) February 10, 2026
The 27-year-old Soto was a full-time right fielder last season for the Mets, his first with the team. He made 157 of his 160 appearances in right (with the other three coming at designated hitter).
Soto was also the everyday right fielder for the New York Yankees for his one season there in 2024. In fact, the last time that Soto played regularly in left field was with the San Diego Padres during the 2022 and 2023 campaigns.
The proud owner of the largest contract in sports history (15 years and an eye-watering $765 million), Soto actually has almost as much career experience in left field as he does in right thanks to his early days with the Washington Nationals. With longtime left fielder Brandon Nimmo having been dealt to the Texas Rangers, the move to left for Soto makes plenty of sense for the Mets, who also added a former All-Star outfielder via trade a few weeks ago.
Seahawks star’s mic’d up comments on Drake Maye during Super Bowl turns heads
The Seattle Seahawks’ defensive game plan against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60 is slowly becoming the stuff of legend.
The Seahawks rendered the Patriots’ offense helpless on Sunday in a 29-13 win at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Despite his box score numbers looking somewhat passable, Drake Maye had one of the worst games of his young career on the Super Bowl stage.
Seahawks safety Julian Love chalked it up to Maye being a “classic young quarterback” that a well-coached team like Seattle could take advantage of. The NFL released Love’s mic’d up comments on Maye during the game that point to the Seahawks being all over Maye’s tendencies.
The clip showed Love telling fellow safety Coby Bryant about a tell in Maye’s game that they could jump on.
“Classic young quarterback,” Love told Bryant.
“As soon as that back foot hits, he’s going to where he wants, but he’s pausing for a second to confirm that [the receiver is] open. He’s not blindly doing it like Stafford. There’s like a little hitch there. Be sure you jump that.”
#Seahawks S Julian Love before his INT of Drake Maye in the Super Bowl:
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 11, 2026
“Classic young quarterback. As soon as the back foot hits, he’s going to where he wants, but he’s pausing for a second to confirm he’s open. He’s not blindly doing it like Stafford.”pic.twitter.com/GSofZP93Ut
True enough, Love took his own advice and jumped a pass in the fourth quarter for an interception that stopped the Patriots’ momentum for a late comeback. Maye then committed another “classic young quarterback” mistake on New England’s following drive, giving up a pick-six to Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu that virtually ended the game.
SEAHAWKS DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWN FOR UCHENNA NWOSU OMG
— NFL (@NFL) February 9, 2026
Super Bowl LX on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/9FPzCiciQt
Maye wasn’t the only one the Seahawks had a great read on. During his postgame interview, Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon revealed that his team had identified a “tell” that doomed the Patriots before the Super Bowl even began.
Super Bowl LX nearly hits viewership record
The Seattle Seahawks walked away with a 29-13 win over the New England Patriots in Super LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
The first three quarters resulted in just 12 total points, all from Seahawks kicker Jason Myers, before the teams combined for a 30-point fourth quarter. On Tuesday, NBC Sports released the ratings for the game, and while it was down from the Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, this year’s game still nearly set a viewership record.
It was the second-most-watched Super Bowl of all time, behind the Eagles-Chiefs game in 2025.
Blockbuster Audience for Super Bowl LX
— NBC Sports PR (@NBCSportsPR) February 10, 2026
Details:https://t.co/iqIdXmUdMh pic.twitter.com/3lf9NxYRPj
Last year’s Super Bowl was on Fox, but this year’s was on NBC, and it was the most-watched show in the history of NBCUniversal.
On top of those numbers, the halftime show, starring Bad Bunny, was a huge success, averaging 128 million viewers.
NBC announced Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show averaged 128.2 million viewers from 8:15 pm ET to 8:30 pm ET, breaking NFL social media records. pic.twitter.com/755lrCGTJf
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 11, 2026
The Seahawks dominated the game from beginning to end, and they had a 19-0 lead in the fourth quarter before Drake Maye threw a touchdown pass to Mack Hollins.
Super Bowl LXI will be at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif., and it will take place on Valentine’s Day.
Tigers pitcher ruled out for season right after Justin Verlander signing
The Detroit Tigers have Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal on top of the rotation for this season.
The Tigers also added former Houston Astros ace Framber Valdez, and Detroit then brought back legend Justin Verlander on Tuesday on a one-year deal.
Shortly after the Verlander signing, a report surfaced that pitcher Reese Olson will miss the entire 2026 campaign after undergoing right shoulder labral repair surgery on Feb. 2.
RHP Jackson Jobe has been placed on the 60-day injured list as he continues his recovery from Tommy John right elbow ligament replacement surgery.
— Tigers PR (@DetroitTigersPR) February 10, 2026
RHP Reese Olson has been placed on the 60-day injured list following a right shoulder labral repair. The surgery was performed on…
Evan Petzold of The Detroit Free Press mentioned Olson’s status could be in doubt at the start of February. The Tigers signed Valdez to a three-year, $115 million deal on Feb. 4, and then inked Verlander to a one-year deal on Tuesday, so it seems the team was preparing to be without Olson for the season.
Olson sustained a right shoulder strain in July and missed the remainder of the season, but he was expected to return for the 2026 season.
Olson spent the last three seasons with Detroit, making a total of 53 starts with a 13-19 record. In 2025, he went 4-4 with a 3.15 ERA, the best of his career, before suffering an injury and landing on the IL in July.
Blue Jays’ $92 million slugger to miss at least 5 months
Just a few months ago, the Toronto Blue Jays were one play away from winning the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Entering the 2026 MLB season, the Blue Jays are viewed as World Series contenders once again. Unfortunately, the Blue Jays have already been dealt some rough injury news. On Tuesday, manager John Schneider announced that Anthony Santander would miss 5-to-6 months as he will undergo left labral surgery.
On top of that, pitcher Bowden Francis will miss the entire season due to UCL reconstruction surgery, and Shane Bieber’s return is delayed.
John Schneider provides some #BlueJays injury updates:
— Mitch Bannon (@MitchBannon) February 10, 2026
– Bowden Francis undergoing UCL reconstruction surgery (out for the year)
– Anthony Santander will undergo left labral surgery (will be out for 5-6 months)
– Shane Bieber will have his ramp-ump delayed, with forearm fatigue
The Blue Jays lost to the Dodgers in the World Series in seven games as Will Smith hit the go-ahead home run in the top of the 11th.
The Blue Jays’ loss of Santander is yet another tough injury blow for the former Baltimore Orioles slugger. Santander signed a five-year, $92.5 million deal with Toronto prior to the 2025 season.
Santander had just come off a 44-home run year in 2024 with Baltimore. However, he played in just 54 games in his first season in Toronto, missing time with a left shoulder injury. Santander then played only five postseason games, eventually being replaced on the ALCS roster due to a back injury.
In 2025, Santander hit just .175 with 6 home runs and 18 RBIs in the regular season, but the Blue Jays were hoping he could turn it around and return to his 2024 form.
The roster in Toronto looks different from what it did in the World Series. The Blue Jays signed pitcher Dylan Cease to a $210 million deal and added Japanese slugger Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year, $60 million deal, although Bo Bichette left in free agency and signed a deal with the New York Mets.
Cavaliers have a perfect giveaway planned for James Harden’s home debut
James Harden has only been a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers for a week, but the team is already using him as part of a giveaway for an upcoming game.
On Wednesday, the Cavs host the Washington Wizards at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. It will be Harden’s first game in Cleveland since the trade, and the team announced they are handing out beards to the fans in attendance.
Get ready for Harden's home debut in The Land – be there early and rock the beard right alongside him. #LetEmKnow
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 10, 2026
LIMITED QUANTITY OF SEATS AVAILABLE: https://t.co/KFc60jDFxw pic.twitter.com/vvV3CdJHyO
Harden is famously known as “The Beard,” a nickname that started when he grew out his facial hair while he was a star in college with the Arizona State Sun Devils.
Harden has continued to rock the beard throughout his NBA career, and even at the age of 36, the beard is still a well-known staple of the star guard.
The Cavs sent Darius Garland to the Los Angeles Clippers for Harden prior to this year’s NBA trade deadline. So far, Harden has played in two games for Cleveland, scoring a total of 45 points with 12 rebounds and 15 assists combined, including a 22-point and 10-rebound double-double in the Cavs most recent game against the Denver Nuggets.
The Cavs then host the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday before going on the road.
Charlie Woods announces his college commitment
Tiger Woods will go down as one of the greatest golfers in the history of the sport. His son, Charlie Woods, is trying his best to follow in his father’s footsteps.
On Tuesday, Charlie Woods revealed his college commitment decision, and he has decided to head to Florida State, as he announced on Instagram.
“Excited to announce my commitment to play golf at Florida State University — go Noles!” Woods wrote.
Woods is a junior at The Benjamin School in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., so he will be part of Florida State’s 2027 recruiting class.
Florida State’s men’s golf team has been one of the best in the country the last few years. The Seminoles have finished inside the top five in each of the past five seasons, and they were the runner-up in 2024.
Woods is 21st in the No. 21 American Junior Golf Association rankings, and the top player, Miles Russell, is also part of Florida State’s 2027 recruiting class.
Florida State has produced some well-known golfers in recent years, with stars such as Brooks Koepka, Daniel Berger and Luke Clanton as a few who played college golf for the Seminoles.
The other finalist for Woods was Alabama, according to the Golf Channel.
Tiger Woods played college golf at Stanford, so Charlie is going in a different direction as he will head to Tallahassee once he finishes high school.
Former Rams Super Bowl champion announces his retirement
A longtime mainstay of the Los Angeles Rams’ offensive line is calling it a career.
Tackle Rob Havenstein announced Tuesday that he is retiring from the NFL at age 33. In a post on Instagram, he thanked his family, teammates, and coaches for helping him along the way.
“11 years, 150+ starts, 4 time captain, 4 NFC West Championships, 2 NFC Championships and 1x Super Bowl Champion. What a ride it’s been!” Havenstein wrote. “I can look back on my career and smile knowing I have given everything I had and more to the game I love.”
The Rams drafted Havenstein in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft and he immediately became a starter on the offensive line. He wound up playing 11 seasons and 148 games, all of them starts, and emerged as a mainstay of the team’s offensive line.
Havenstein was limited to seven games in 2025 due to an ankle injury. It marked the second consecutive season the Wisconsin product missed a significant number of games due to physical issues.
Ultimately, Havenstein will be best remembered for being part of the Rams team that won Super Bowl LVI. He played in 15 games that season, as well as four in the playoffs.
LeBron James’ incredible 21-season streak is coming to an end
One of LeBron James’ most remarkable NBA accomplishments is officially coming to an end this year.
The Los Angeles Lakers ruled James out for their game against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday due to left foot arthritis. That means James will not play 65 games this season, making him ineligible for end-of season awards.
As a result, James’ streak of being named to 21-straight All-NBA teams will not continue.
Tonight will be LeBron James’ 18th missed game, which will stop him from reaching the 65-game threshold to be eligible for season awards. His All-NBA streak will end at 21 seasons. https://t.co/0DudWfcZNO
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 10, 2026
Obviously, James has more pressing concerns than another individual honor, but it ends an uninterrupted streak of greatness that may never be topped. He made his first All-NBA team in 2004-05, his second season in the league, and has not missed out since.
James has been limited by injuries this season, and that has robbed him of some other remarkable streaks. Even so, the 41-year-old has been in fine form when available, averaging 21.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game for the Lakers.
Moussa Diabate reveals what Jalen Duren did to set him off
Charlotte Hornets center Moussa Diabate on Tuesday addressed the fight that broke out the previous evening between his team and the Detroit Pistons.
Diabate apologized to both the organization and Hornets fans following Monday’s events at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. He admitted that Pistons center Jalen Duren set him off simply by putting hands on his face.
“When he put his hand on my face, that’s where I kind of lost control of it,” Diabate admitted.
Moussa Diabate on last night's incident and what set him off. He opened up by saying how he was remorseful and apologized to the organization and the fans. pic.twitter.com/vphzZ0LjhH
— Rod Boone (@rodboone) February 10, 2026
Diabate was livid after the initial incident and had to be held back multiple times from going after Duren (video here). He was still riled up several minutes after the incident had cooled down when he was led to the locker room after being ejected from the game.
The incident between Diabate and Duren sparked a wider brawl that led to Isaiah Stewart coming off the bench to throw punches at Charlotte’s Miles Bridges. The NBA is likely to come down hard on everyone involved, but Diabate in particular could be in for some significant punishment due to his role in escalating the situation.
Deshaun Watson could still have role with Browns
The Cleveland Browns still have Deshaun Watson under contract for 2026, and new coach Todd Monken suggested he may well use him.
In a new interview for the team’s official website, Monken admitted he is “intrigued” by Watson, and noted that the 30-year-old was once a superstar while with the Houston Texans.
Monken even put Watson’s name in with Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel when discussing potential starting quarterbacks.
“You’ve got a player like Deshaun, who’s coming back from injury and at one time was a Pro Bowl player, and an elite player in this league, that we would love to tap back into that let alone with Dillon and Shedeur,” Monken said, via Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com.
Watson is now fully healthy, and the Browns even opened his practice window late in the season, though nothing more came of that. He has largely been written off due to injuries and ineffectiveness, but thanks to his 5-year, $230 million guaranteed contract, the team is stuck with him for one more season.
Watson has only made 19 starts in a Browns uniform since they controversially traded for him. He underwent shoulder surgery in 2023 and tore his Achilles twice after that, but was not all that impressive even when he was playing.
Norwegian Olympic medal winner admits to cheating on girlfriend in wild interview
A Norwegian Olympian seemingly admitted to cheating on his girlfriend in a bizarre interview after he won bronze in the biathlon.
Sturla Holm Laegreid, who finished third in the biathlon 20km race at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, seemingly confessed to Norwegian newspaper VG after the race that he had cheated on his girlfriend and publicly begged her to take him back.
“There’s someone I wanted to share it with who might not be watching today. Six months ago I met the love of my life – the most beautiful and kindest person in the world,” Laegreid said, via Philip O’Connor of Reuters. “Three months ago I made my biggest mistake and cheated on her. I told her about it a week ago. It’s been the worst week of my life.
“I had a gold medal in my life, and there are probably many who look at me with different eyes, but I only have eyes for her. Sport has taken a slightly different place (in my life) the last few days. Yes, I wish I could share it with her.”
new most bizarre moment of the Olympics just dropped
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) February 10, 2026
Norwegian biathlete wins bronze then, unprompted, uses post-race interview to reveal he cheated on his GF, she left him, and he hopes that "committing social suicide might show how much I love her"https://t.co/9yVPRlWW8t pic.twitter.com/XAbFWXhSw5
Laegreid admitted it might have been “selfish” to give the interview, and said he hoped he had not ruined compatriot Johan-Olav Botn’s day after Botn won the gold medal in the event.
The bizarre moment was heavily covered on Norwegian television, and one of his teammates even questioned whether the interview was the right time or place to make such a confession.
Laegreid is a previous Olympic gold medalist, having won as part of the men’s relay team at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing. He is scheduled to take part in the same event in these Olympics as well.
Justin Verlander has officially signed to play in 2026
Justin Verlander will play at least one more season in Major League Baseball.
Verlander is signing a one-year contract with the Detroit Tigers, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. It marks a return to the team he debuted with and spent the bulk of his career with.
Right-hander Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers are in agreement on a one-year contract. Verlander, 43 next week, returns to the team with which he spent his first 13 seasons and whose hat he'll wear in the Hall of Fame.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 10, 2026
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that Verlander will get $13 million, with most of it deferred.
Verlander turns 43 next week, and it is fair to question whether he will have a huge role in the rotation. The team has a crowded pitching staff, especially after signing Framber Valdez last week. However, it will certainly qualify as a feel-good signing for a fanbase that still has a high opinion of their former ace.
While Verlander is not the pitcher he once was, he can still get outs. He made 29 starts for the San Francisco Giants last year and posted a 3.85 ERA. Regardless of the context, posting a slightly above-average season at the age of 42 is remarkable.
Verlander initially played for the Tigers from 2005 to 2017. He won two Cy Young awards and an AL MVP award while a member of the team, and was part of four playoff teams. He joins the Tigers fresh off an 87-75 season and an ALDS appearance.
Mike Vrabel responds to criticism of Will Campbell
New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel offered a passionate defense of a rookie player who took a lot of heat for his playoff performances.
Left tackle Will Campbell, the team’s fourth overall pick in last year’s draft, had a brutal postseason, culminating in a Super Bowl in which he allowed a season-worst 14 pressures. The rookie offensive lineman has Vrabel’s full support, however.
“Will is 22 years old. He’s our left tackle. He’ll get better. He’ll get stronger,” Vrabel told reporters Tuesday. “There’s plays he’d like to have back. We’re not moving Will to guard, center, tight end or anywhere else.”
Patriots HC Mike Vrabel with a strong defense of rookie LT Will Campbell amid criticism: “Will is 22 years old. He’s our left tackle. He’ll get better. He’ll get stronger… there’s plays he’d like to have back. We’re not moving Will to guard, center, tight end or anywhere else.”
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) February 10, 2026
Campbell himself admitted he played through a torn knee ligament and was not 100 percent during the playoffs.
Will Campbell said he tore a ligament in his knee this season. He wasn’t 100% for the playoffs but said it’s not excuse.
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) February 10, 2026
The injury certainly offers some explanation for Campbell’s struggles. He had a rough outing in the AFC Championship, but his Super Bowl performance was even worse. It was bad enough that many were questioning if the Patriots had used the No. 4 overall pick on a bust.
The Patriots’ offensive line as a whole struggled to keep Drake Maye upright in Sunday’s game, and it was the biggest reason for their defeat. Campbell will have to get his confidence back ahead of next season, but he at least has his team behind him.
