Paul Finebaum’s old Curt Cignetti claim draws Lane Kiffin’s reaction
Now that the Indiana Hoosiers are the kings of the college football world, it’s a great time to pull the receipts on their doubters.
ESPN’s Paul Finebaum has been a huge target of that following the Hoosiers’ success in the College Football Playoff National Championship game on Monday, specifically because of his well-known strong disbelief in Curt Cignetti.
To backtrack, Finebaum said during an appearance on “First Take” in October that he was “still not convinced that Curt Cignetti is one of the top coaches in America” after Indiana signed the coach to a contract extension.
With the Hoosiers beating the Miami Hurricanes in the national title game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., Finebaum’s take on Cignetti hsa become a low-hanging fruit for people on the internet to use as artillery against him.
Even new LSU Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin joined in the fun of poking fun at Finebaum.
On Tuesday, Kiffin reshared the clip of Finebaum’s infamous claim and captioned his post with a simple “Paul ……”
Paul …… https://t.co/UvtWKssQHX
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) January 21, 2026
In Finebaum’s line of work, making bad takes can be considered an occupational hazard, as they can come back to bite him down the road, and his opinion on Indiana’s decision to extend Cignetti is Exhibit A.
Not only did the Hoosiers win the natty, but they also did it in historic fashion by going undefeated from start to finish of the 2025 college football season.
Jusuf Nurkic claps back at content creator with ‘LinkedIn’ callout
Utah Jazz big man Jusuf Nurkic was not messing around on the court — and online — on Tuesday.
After putting together a stellar stat line in a 127-122 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, Nurkic saw a post by a sports content creator, Matthew Geist, about the numbers he produced in the contest, which also has a caption that reads “The most hilarious statline all season.”
The post may or may not have been a slight to Nurkic, but the “Bosnian Beast” responded as if he felt mocked by it.
After recording a triple-double for just the second time in his career and first since 2019 when he was still with the Portland Trail Blazers, Nurkic went ahead and showed he had enough energy to make noise in the mean streets of X.
“When the LinkedIn bio says ‘entrepreneur’ but the bank account says relax,” the 31-year-old Nurkic wrote.
When the LinkedIn bio says ‘entrepreneur’ but the bank account says relax.😂 🤷🏻♂️ https://t.co/vTIUfMmbz5 pic.twitter.com/2U2dSkzWoo
— Jusuf Nurkić 🇧🇦 (@bosnianbeast27) January 21, 2026
Nurkic can’t allow that to ruin his mood after such an impressive performance, as he helped the Jazz snap a four-game losing skid with a win at home. He will look to sustain his form on Thursday, when the Jazz host Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.
So far in his first season in a Jazz uniform, the former first-round pick is averaging 10.9 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 51.2% from the field.
Auburn’s Tahaad Pettiford shows no mercy in Dunk of the Year candidate vs. Ole Miss
Auburn Tigers sophomore guard Tahaad Pettiford touched the sky late in Tuesday’s game against the Ole Miss Rebels at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss in Oxford, Mass.
After seeing an opening in transition with under two minutes left in the second half, Pettiford turned on his boosters and took off for a thunderous throwdown. Ole Miss sophomore forward Corey Chest instinctively tried to stop Pettiford, but he only ended up being part of the poster.
You can watch Pettiford’s crazy flight here.
TAHAAD PETTIFORD THROWING IT DOWN AT OLE MISS! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/FdkgRC07AI
— Auburn Tigers | AL.com (@aldotcomTigers) January 21, 2026
Down by five points, the Rebels looked to apply a full-court press on Auburn’s ballhandlers, but the Tigers easily broke through Ole Miss’ defense, with Pettiford getting the ball on a give-and-go play. Instead of taking away some time on the clock, he decided to show his hops as he went straight to the basket without any hesitation.
Pettiford’s dunk further silenced the largely pro-Ole Miss crowd and added to the lead of Auburn, which went on to win the game, 78-66.
Pettiford shot just 1-for-5 from behind the arc against the Rebels, so taking it to the rim certainly helped improve his shooting efficiency. He finished the contest with 17 points on 5-for-12 shooting, 3 assists and 2 rebounds in 34 minutes.
Meanwhile, Auburn is now 12-7 overall and 3-3 in SEC play.
Immanuel Quickley goes full Wilt Chamberlain in a historic performance against the Warriors
Immanuel Quickley had a night on Tuesday.
Not just any other night, but a Wilt Chamberlain kind of evening.
The former Kentucky Wildcats star put on a show in the Raptors’ 145-127 win over Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., leading Toronto with 40 points on 11-for-13 shooting from the field to go along with 10 assists, 2 rebounds and 2 steals in 34 minutes of action.
Quickley’s performance made him just the second player in the history of the NBA to have at least 40 points and 10 dimes, while shooting 80% or better from the floor in a game. Chamberlain was the first one to do it, and he accomplished that monster stat line three times, according to ESPN Insights.
The 26-year-old Quickley’s torching of the Warriors must felt good for Toronto, which invested a lot of stock in him.
It was also quite a way for him to bounce back from a thud in a 110-93 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sunday, when he scored just 9 points in 29 minutes of floor duty.
The Raptors acquired Quickley from a trade with the New York Knicks in 2023 and signed him to a 5-year, $175 million contract in 2024.
Mets land former All-Star outfielder in trade
The New York Mets are rolling the dice on former All-Star outfielder Luis Robert Jr.
Several reporters confirmed on Tuesday that the Mets have agreed to a trade with the Chicago White Sox for Robert in exchange for infielder Luisangel Acuña and minor-league pitcher Truman Pauley. According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Mets will assume the entire $20 million left in Robert’s contract.
The New York Mets get their outfielder and the Chicago White finally are able to dump CF Luis Robert. The White Sox get infielder Luisangel Acuña and minor league right-hander Truman Pauley back. The Mets will assume the entire $20 million of Robert’s contract. @JeffPassan 1st.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 21, 2026
News of the Robert deal came the same day the Mets were linked to free agent outfielder Cody Bellinger. The move to acquire Robert probably won’t dissuade New York from signing Bellinger if it gets the chance, but it does provide the Mets with insurance in case the team falls short, as they did in their pursuit of Kyle Tucker.
Robert was projected to be the White Sox’s next superstar outfielder. He had his breakout campaign in 2023 when he batted .264 while leading the team in home runs (38), RBIs (80), and OPS (.857).
Rather than continue on his star turn, Robert regressed in 2024 and 2025. The Cuban center fielder had a batting average below .225 while failing to hit more than 14 home runs in either campaign. Robert was well aware of his fall from grace, even offering a depressing quote midway through the 2025 season about his lack of trade suitors.
The Mets were linked to Robert last month following the departure of Pete Alonso. New York is clearly hoping a change of scenery is all Robert needs to regain his 2023 form.
Joe Burrow slams fans for outrage over ‘not difficult’ calls
Joe Burrow felt the need to speak out and set the record straight on a couple of controversial calls that were made during the 2025 NFL Divisional Round.
Two rulings in particular sparked intense debate over the weekend. The first was an interception thrown by Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen on Saturday intended for wide receiver Brandin Cooks.
The Bills wideout had possession as he was hitting the ground, but had the ball ripped out of his hands by Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian. The play was ruled an interception, effectively losing Buffalo the game.
RIPPED IT FROM HIS HANDS 😳
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 18, 2026
JOSH ALLEN PICKED OFF IN OVERTIME 😱
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/kjDJw3pVLf
A similar play happened the following day when Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams caught a contested catch and had the ball taken away from him by a Chicago Bears defender. Referees deemed it a completed catch, with the takeaway happening after the play was ruled dead.
This catch by Davante Adams was ruled complete in the Rams – Bears game…
— Mikerophone (@MikerophoneNFL) January 19, 2026
This SAME PLAY was ruled an interception in the Bills – Broncos game… 🥶
These NFL Refs are so inconsistent…
pic.twitter.com/lTRQrPHGHi
Many fans argued that referees had conflicting rulings for two plays that were somewhat identical. Burrow didn’t feel the same way. The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback took to social media to call out fans for their lack of understanding of the NFL rulebook.
The amount of ppl [sic] that don’t understand what a catch is in the rule book flabbergasts me,” Burrow wrote. “And it’s not the officials. The two plays yesterday were not difficult calls, and they got them both right.”
The amount of ppl that don’t understand what a catch is in the rule book flabbergasts me. And it’s not the officials. The two plays yesterday were not difficult calls, and they got them both right.
— Joey Burrow (@JoeyB) January 19, 2026
Burrow must have felt very strongly about the referees getting the calls right, given that it was his first post on X in nearly two years. It’s surprising that the Bengals star still remembers his password following all that inactivity.
Burrow probably doesn’t have much patience these days with Cincinnati not even making the postseason. He’d much rather be making big passes in the playoffs rather than arguing about ones made by his peers.
Angel Reese lands a notable new Hollywood gig
Angel Reese is continuing to expand her brand off the court.
Netflix announced the news on Tuesday that they have tabbed the Chicago Sky star Reese for a co-starring role in their drama series “The Hunting Wives.” Reese will be appearing in season 2 of the series as a character named “Trainer Barbie.”
Bayou Barbie Trainer Barbie
— Netflix (@netflix) January 20, 2026
Angel Reese joins the cast of The Hunting Wives in the co-starring role of "Trainer Barbie" Season 2 is now in production! pic.twitter.com/hZqb5rIAHw
The 23-year-old Reese also confirmed the news in a post to her X page.
Trainer Barbie https://t.co/R41Ac8Sk3l
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) January 20, 2026
Reese, now a two-time WNBA All-Star, had an eventful 2025 season with the Sky. She averaged an excellent individual line of 14.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. But Chicago finished tied for the worst record in the league at 10-34, and Reese was also causing some major internal drama by the end of the year.
Now with the 2026 WNBA season looking uncertain at best thanks to a stalemate in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, Reese is making sure to keep busy from a marketing standpoint. A few months ago, the former LSU national champion also made history by walking in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
On top of that, Reese has continued to be proactive when it comes to filing for trademarks. Now she can add a Hollywood acting role to her growing personal portfolio as well.
Fans were not buying Warriors GM’s comments after Jimmy Butler suffered torn ACL
Some fans have learned to be skeptical of any promises made by Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. That applied Tuesday when the GM spoke about Jimmy Butler.
Butler suffered a season-ending torn ACL on Monday during the Warriors’ game against the Miami Heat at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. The injury was a devastating blow to a Warriors team that had already felt like it was treading water with Butler still fully healthy.
One reporter asked Dunleavy about the possibility of trading Butler before the deadline, noting that the team dealt De’Anthony Melton last season after the guard suffered a torn ACL of his own.
“I don’t envision that,” Dunleavy responded, seemingly taken aback by the question.
“But now that you’ve brought it up, I guess I’d say what I’d envision for him is giving us a boost next year, the same way he did last year when he arrived. At some point in the season, he’ll be returning.”
Dunleavy added that he believes Butler has a style of play that could age gracefully, even as he recovers from a serious knee injury.
Several fans, however, were not easily swayed by Dunleavy’s words. Many recalled how Dunleavy had said something similar about Jordan Poole years ago, stating that he could see Poole staying for “at least” four more years. Golden State ended up trading Poole to the Washington Wizards less than a month later.
i don’t believe a word that comes out of his mouth after what he did with Poole lmao
— 𝚆𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚛𝚜 🏆 (@LosSoWavyy) January 21, 2026
He said this about Poole and Wiggins and both were gone within a week💀
— rocketk11 (@rocketk11) January 21, 2026
— GratefullyDead (@FullyLiquidated) January 21, 2026
It’s hard to imagine the Warriors trading Butler within weeks of his devastating injury. It would feel like kicking Butler while he’s down, which would not be a great look for Golden State as a franchise. Even if Dunleavy and the rest of the Warriors’ brass do consider trading Butler, they probably wouldn’t hint at that a day after he tore his ACL.
The Warriors were already in dire straits before Butler’s injury, with Steve Kerr admitting that Golden State does not have much chance of competing with the top teams in the West. The team’s odds of getting far in the playoffs look even more bleak without Butler.
Stephon Castle blamed for causing a 20-minute delay to Spurs-Rockets game
Stephon Castle got the entire class into trouble on Tuesday.
Castle and the San Antonio Spurs faced off against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center in Houston, Tex. But the matchup got off to an inauspicious start after a crooked rim led to a roughly 20-minute delay before the opening tip.
We've got a delay for a crooked rim in Houstonpic.twitter.com/cffncUPMvI
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 21, 2026
The game was nationally televised on NBC, and the broadcast was able to secure an incriminating video of Castle seemingly being the culprit for the delay. The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year decided to hang on the rim after a two-handed dunk during pregame warmups, apparently resulting in the basket becoming crooked.
So Stephon Castle is to blame for the faulty rim that has delayed the start of the Spurs-Rockets game #NBA pic.twitter.com/BO7oGzfYXW
— adry torres (@AdryTorresNYC) January 21, 2026
Castle, 21, is in fairness a very high flier. He already competed in the Slam Dunk Contest as a rookie last season and is known as one of the bouncier point guards in the league today.
In fact, Castle did not become at all gun-shy after his delay mishap on Tuesday and proceeded to throw down a crazy windmill dunk-of-the-year candidate during the third quarter against the Rockets.
STEPHON CASTLE WINDMILL DUNK
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 21, 2026
OH MY GOODNESS.
pic.twitter.com/3QVsG5YcLS
Also a former national champion with UConn, Castle is averaging 17.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game this season for the 30-13 Spurs. But he has had some less glamorous moments this year too, including both that delay and also getting taunted by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander during a recent loss.
Drake Maye has message for Bo Nix ahead of Patriots-Broncos clash
Drake Maye had a classy message for Bo Nix following the news that the Denver Broncos quarterback had suffered a season-ending ankle injury.
The New England Patriots quarterback was asked about Nix during a press conference ahead of his team’s AFC Championship Game against the Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo. With Nix out of the lineup due to a fractured right ankle, Maye had nothing but good things to say about his draft classmate.
“I trained with Bo before in the pre-draft,” Maye said. “I got to know him well, him and his family, his wife. First off, they’re just great people, great Christians. … Obviously, the news, it was heartbreaking. For what a player he is, guy he is. Just know, we’re praying for Bo. I know he’s going to bounce back. He’s a great player in this league.”
The North Carolina alum added that he’s been looking forward to a rematch with Nix after the Oregon product got the better of him during their lone face-off in college. The Patriots and Broncos have yet to match up since the pair entered the league last season.
Oregon just barely edged out North Carolina 28-27 in the 2022 Holiday Bowl. Maye went 18/35 for 206 yards with 3 touchdowns in the contest, but was outdone by Nix and his more accurate 23/30 passing clip for 205 yards with 2 touchdowns and an interception.
Maye will have to wait a bit longer for his shot at revenge against Nix. For now, all Nix can do is watch from the sidelines as the Broncos and Patriots clash for a shot at making the Super Bowl.
Abella Danger upset about being shown by ESPN during CFP title game
Abella Danger was not at all happy about her viral moment that had everyone talking during Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship.
The adult film actress Danger inadvertently became the top trending topic online during the CFP title game between Indiana and Miami at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. During a crucial drive by Miami in the fourth quarter, the ESPN broadcast suddenly cut to Danger, who was in the stands cheering on the Hurricanes.
Speaking with TMZ on Tuesday, Danger said that she was upset about being shown on ESPN.
“I would give anything in the world to not have had ESPN film me, and I am so deeply sorry to anyone I offended with my attendance at the game.” Danger was quoted as saying. “I wish I could be any other student supporting my team.”
Danger, 30, is currently a student at the University of Miami, reportedly taking law classes with the ultimate goal of becoming an attorney. She was also spotted in the stands during one of Miami’s earlier CFP games last month.
Unfortunately though, Monday’s CFP title game ended in heartbreak for Danger and the Hurricanes. Miami lost to Indiana by a 27-21 final score, and Danger even posted a video of herself crying as the Hoosiers’ celebration began.
Abella Danger cries after Miami lost the National Championship to Indiana pic.twitter.com/C3AWMQ344n
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) January 20, 2026
Mike McDaniel’s expected new job is revealed
Mike McDaniel is looking poised to go from South Florida to Southern California.
The former Miami Dolphins head coach McDaniel is expected to become the next offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers barring a change of heart, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported on Tuesday. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network adds that, while McDaniel remains a candidate for head coaching jobs in Baltimore and Las Vegas, the Chargers plan to hire him as their OC.
McDaniel, 42, had spent the last four seasons as head coach of the Dolphins. He went 35-33 (.512) overall with zero playoff wins and was fired by Miami after a 7-10 finish this season.
Assuming that McDaniel does indeed take the OC job with the Chargers, it would be a return to his roots of sorts. McDaniel has an extensive background on the offensive side of the ball and previously served as an offensive coordinator elsewhere in the state of California with the San Francisco 49ers.
The Chargers are reeling right now after falling in the Wild Card round to the New England Patriots, meaning that they still have not won a single playoff game during the Justin Herbert era. In the wake of that loss, they decided to fire OC Greg Roman as well as offensive line coach Mike Devlin.
Ever since being fired by Miami, McDaniel has also garnered significant interest from some major teams for their OC jobs. But if McDaniel returns next season as an offensive coordinator instead of as a head coach, it looks like it will ultimately be with the Chargers.
Report: Cody Bellinger is choosing from 4 teams
The Cody Bellinger sweepstakes appear to be down to a Final Four.
Bellinger is weighing interest from four teams in free agency, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Tuesday. They are the New York Yankees and the New York Mets as well as two other unnamed teams.
The former NL MVP Bellinger, 30, remains an unsigned free agent as the calendar slowly approaches February. He is coming off an excellent 2025 campaign in which hit .272 with 29 home runs, 98 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases over 152 total games for the Yankees.
The Yankees have remained an obvious contender to re-sign Bellinger throughout the winter. But we recently heard that there was a major sticking point in negotiations between the two sides.
Meanwhile, the crosstown rival Mets have also been linked to Bellinger for much of the offseason. They lost power hitter Pete Alonso in free agency this offseason and showed renewed interest in Bellinger after losing out to the Los Angeles Dodgers for free agent outfield target Kyle Tucker.
Heyman’s report did not include the identities of the two other teams whom Bellinger is considering. But a report from last month did specifically mention two more contending teams who were in the mix for the lefty hitter Bellinger at the time.
Jimmy Butler posts a 6-word message after tearing his ACL
Jimmy Butler is far from ready to call it a day despite having just suffered the most devastating injury of his entire NBA career.
The Golden State Warriors star Butler was lost for the season after tearing his right ACL during a game against his former team the Miami Heat on Monday. In the third quarter at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. Butler leapt high to catch a pass down low from teammate Brandin Podziemski and came down awkwardly on his knee (see the video here).
In a post to his Instagram page on Tuesday, Butler addressed his season-ending injury. Maintaining his trademark sense of humor, Butler included an edited image of himself in an old-school military outfit along with the caption “General Soreness.”
Butler also included a 6-word message in his caption. “be back before you know it,” Butler wrote.
The six-time All-Star Butler will be facing a steep battle to get back onto the court. He will turn 37 years old in September and seems very unlikely to be ready for the start of next season in October (as ACL tears are generally 9-to-12-month injuries for NBA players).
Golden State also has the problem of Butler’s contract. Butler is making $54.1 million this season and is still owed another $56.8 million guaranteed for next season. Now it looks like Butler will be spending a significant majority of that time rehabbing from his injury.
But based on that post, it seems Butler is very determined to get back on the floor instead of just being content with coasting into retirement. In the meantime though, the 25-19 Warriors now have to figure out how to somehow save their season, which will likely involve making one drastic change.
John Harbaugh speaks out on his infectious first meeting with Jaxson Dart
It’s safe to say that John Harbaugh and Jaxson Dart have gotten off on the right foot.
The New York Giants head coach spoke candidly about his first meeting with Dart since taking the job in the Big Apple. In an interview held Tuesday with NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Judy Battista, Harbaugh shared that his excitement in coaching Dart goes beyond just his talent on the field.
“Past that, what excites me is who he is and what he’s about,” Harbaugh said.
“He’s about football. He loves it. He loves everything about it. He got me fired up. I was the same way. I was ready to run through a brick wall after I talked to him. It’s like my dad says — an enthusiasm unknown to mankind. Let’s all be like that and see where we can go.”
Harbaugh became one of the most highly sought-after free agent coaches in recent memory the moment the Baltimore Ravens fired him. With Harbaugh having his pick of the vacant head coaching jobs, analyzing the teams’ quarterback situations was naturally a big part of his decision-making process.
Reports emerged earlier this month that Harbaugh had spent a lot of time studying film on Dart and another first-year quarterback as he weighed his options. The incoming Giants coach must have liked what he saw in Dart, who apparently possesses the same “enthusiasm unknown to mankind” that the Harbaugh family is known for.
Mike Brown hugging Draymond Green ‘did not land well’ with Knicks players
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown’s friendly hug with Draymond Green reportedly did not sit well with some of his players.
Green embraced Brown following the Knicks’ 126-113 loss to the Golden State Warriors last week at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. According to ESPN’s Ramon Shelburne, the gesture “did not land well” with some members of the Knicks’ locker room and organization.
People within the Knicks aren’t happy that Mike Brown hugged Draymond Green after a game in which Draymond committed a flagrant foul on Karl-Anthony Towns, per @ramonashelburne
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 20, 2026
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24 )
pic.twitter.com/2GeXrdiyPU
Green drew the ire of Knicks players during the game after he committed a dangerous foul on Karl-Anthony Towns. The Warriors star was hit with a flagrant foul for grabbing Towns by the leg as the latter got past Green on a drive.
Draymond Green gets a Flagrant One for this trip on Karl-Anthony Towns pic.twitter.com/U3INE9mHlC
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 16, 2026
With Green nearly injuring Towns, it’s understandable why some would feel a certain way about Brown treating the controversial Warriors star so warmly.
Brown developed a longstanding relationship with Green during his time as an assistant coach on the Warriors. The veteran coach was on Golden State’s staff from 2016 to 2022, winning three titles alongside the former Defensive Player of the Year.
But given Green’s transgression against Towns and the Knicks’ ongoing free fall, some expected Brown to be less chummy with an opponent — even one he had coached for a long time.
The Knicks have gone 2-9 over their last 11 games, prompting Jalen Brunson to call out his team during a recent players-only meeting.
Baker Mayfield calls out new Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski
The Atlanta Falcons hired Kevin Stefanski as their new head coach, which means Stefanski will face Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers twice a year in the NFC South.
Stefanski and Mayfield were together with the Cleveland Browns, and while the ending didn’t go well, the Buccaneers QB responded to a comment on X on Tuesday that might have ignited the beef once again.
One Falcons beat writer said that Mayfield and Deshaun Watson “failed” during their time with Stefanski in Cleveland, but Mayfield wasn’t too thrilled about that.
“Failed is quite the reach pal. Still waiting on a text/call from him after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage. Can’t wait to see you twice a year, Coach,” Mayfield wrote on X.
Failed is quite the reach pal. Still waiting on a text/call from him after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage. Can’t wait to see you twice a year, Coach. https://t.co/jUUsYkvlOC
— Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) January 20, 2026
Stefanski was fired by the Browns after finishing with a 45-56 regular-season record in 101 games, but the Falcons quickly hired him after they had moved on from Raheem Morris.
The Browns selected Mayfield first overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, and Stefanski was his head coach beginning in 2020.
However, after the Browns’ blockbuster trade with the Houston Texans brought Watson to Cleveland, they traded Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers for a conditional draft pick, thus ending the Mayfield run.
Mayfield started six games with the Panthers in 2022 before he was released, and he then signed with the Los Angeles Rams. He signed a one-year deal with Tampa Bay in the 2023 offseason, but he inked a three-year, $100.5 million extension in 2024 after a bounce-back campaign.
It sure seems that Mayfield hasn’t forgotten the way things ended in Cleveland, and the NFC South showdowns between the Falcons and Buccaneers now have another twist to keep an eye on.
Jalen Brunson’s message to Knicks during players-only meeting
The New York Knicks just can not find a way to get back on track.
On Monday night, the Knicks lost for the 9th time in the last 11 games, putting their record at 25-18 in what has been a frustrating few weeks. After the Knicks’ 114-97 loss to the Dallas Mavericks at Madison Square Garden on Monday, Jalen Brunson decided to hold a players-only meeting.
In the meeting, Brunson said they need to “look in the mirror,” as ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported on Tuesday.
“Guys, we gotta stop looking at the coaching staff for answers, we gotta stop looking elsewhere. The answers to what is wrong with us right now are right in this room. We gotta look in the mirror,” Shelburne said.
Are tensions rising for the New York Knicks? 🤔 @ramonashelburne gives us an inside look on what happened after their loss against the Mavericks 👀 pic.twitter.com/1MDEIk0pwG
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 20, 2026
Brunson added more while speaking to reporters after the game as well, as Shelburne mentioned.
“As a team we know what we have to do. It’s either we do it, we care enough to do it, or we don’t,” Brunson said.
Knicks teammate Josh Hart also said their effort was “embarrassing” after the loss to the Mavericks.
The Knicks surged to a 23-9 record and an NBA Cup victory in December, but they have fallen off a cliff as of late, prompting plenty of questions about the future of this team with the Feb. 5 trade deadline approaching.
The Knicks face the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, and a loss to a 12-win team might be an ugly scene at Madison Square Garden.
Carlos Beltran is 1 of 2 players elected to Baseball Hall of Fame
The National Baseball Hall of Fame now has two new players headed there after the results came in on Tuesday.
Outfielders Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones were elected to the Hall of Fame, according to the official release. Beltran had 84.2% of the votes and was in his 4th year on the ballot. Jones received 78.4% of the votes in his 9th year.
Chase Utley, Andy Pettitte and Felix Hernandez were 3-5 in this year’s voting.
Full results from Hall of Fame voting.
— Kyle Glaser (@KyleAGlaser) January 20, 2026
Carlos Beltran received 84.2% and Andruw Jones received 78.4% of the vote.
Chase Utley was third at 59.1%. pic.twitter.com/5ZKunqLWv1
Players have to receive 75% or more of the votes to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and no other player was higher than 60% this time.
Beltran was a 9-time All-Star, 3-time Gold Glove and 2-time Silver Slugger winner who also won a World Series. He spent 20 seasons in the league, with seven seasons with the New York Mets and seven with the Kansas City Royals.
Jones was a 10-time Gold Glove winner and a 5-time All-Star who spent 12 of his 17 MLB seasons with the Atlanta Braves.
Since 1981, only two center fielders have been elected to the Hall of Fame: Ken Griffey Jr. and Kirby Puckett Jr. On Tuesday, Jones and Beltran made the Hall of Fame, meaning the number of center fielders since 1981 has now doubled.
Center fielders Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame today.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 20, 2026
Since 1981, only two other center fielders had been elected: Ken Griffey Jr. and Kirby Puckett. Rightful due for one of the most vital positions and two incredible players.
Beltran and Jones will officially be inducted on July 26 in Cooperstown.
Mike McDaniel withdraws from one HC interview amid OC interest
Mike McDaniel has been drawing plenty of interest this coaching cycle after he was fired by the Miami Dolphins.
While McDaniel has interviewed for head coach and offensive coordinator openings, he has now decided to withdraw his name from consideration for the Cleveland Browns job, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
McDaniel was set to go for an in-person interview with the Browns on Wednesday.
Former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel informed the Browns he’s withdrawing from their head coaching search ahead of a scheduled in-person interview Wednesday, per sources.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 20, 2026
McDaniel — who is still a candidate for the Ravens and Raiders HC vacancies — is interviewing for the… pic.twitter.com/qirkrsvbWX
McDaniel was the offensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers before being hired by the Dolphins, so going back to being an OC has been a possibility in this cycle.
McDaniel has had head coach interviews with the Browns, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans. He also has interviewed for an OC job with the Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he had an OC interview scheduled on Tuesday with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Browns fired Kevin Stefanski, who was hired by the Falcons, and the Titans hired Robert Saleh as their new head coach.
As for the Browns, they had second interviews scheduled with McDaniel, Jim Schwartz, Jesse Minter and a couple of others for their head coach opening.
The Dolphins fired McDaniel after four seasons as the head coach, but it continues to look like he will get a job in this cycle as either an OC or a head coach, and it could be coming very soon.
