Jan 23, 2020; Kissimmee, Florida, USA; Tennessee Titans qaurterback Ryan Tannehill (17) reacts during AFC practice at ESPN Wide World of Sports. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Tennessee Titans made it official and benched Ryan Tannehill as quarterback on Wednesday, opting to go with rookie Will Levis for the remainder of the season. As one would expect, the decision was a tough one for the veteran to take.
Tannehill offered an honest three-word response to his benching when speaking to the media on Wednesday.
“It hits hard,” Tannehill admitted, via Turron Davenport of ESPN. “I’ve never been in this situation before, never a situation that anyone wants to be in, but it’s a situation I’m in.”
Tannehill added that he does not want to let his demotion impact the team, and that he will do what he can to help Levis in a backup role.
“I’m going to be here to answer any questions he has and try to help him out along the way,” Tannehill said.
Now in his 11th season, Tannehill has no real precedent for being benched. One could argue that it might not have happened in this case if not for a Week 6 ankle injury that opened the door for Levis, who threw four touchdown passes in his first career game.
Tannehill is in the final season of a 4-year, $118 million contract. Unless Levis really struggles or suffers an injury, he appears unlikely to play for the team again.
Aug 30, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin watches the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens has made it obvious that he is frustrated with his role on the team, but head coach Mike Tomlin does not seem all that concerned.
Pickens threw what could be interpreted as a social media hissy fit following the Steelers’ 20-16 win over the Tennessee Titans last week. He first shared a cryptic meme Instagram and wrote “free me” underneath it. Pickens then appeared to unfollow everyone associated with the Steelers, including Tomlin and quarterback Kenny Pickett. He also made a notable change to his profile picture.
Tomlin was asked on Tuesday if Pickens has voiced his concerns internally. The coach defended Pickens for wanting to make a bigger impact and called it a “nonissue.”
“Heck yeah, man. He expresses frustration all the time,” Tomlin said, per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. “He wants to be significant. He wants to be a reason why we’re successful. Y’all don’t begrudge that. I want guys who want the football. I want guys who want to be central reasons why we’re successful and so that’s a nonissue, to be quite honest with you.”
Tomlin was then asked how he coaches young players with the same mindset as Pickens.
“Like breathing, it’s easy,” Tomlin said. “I know it’s a cute story for you guys, but it is a pebble in my shoe, to be quite honest with you, in terms of the things that I have to do in an effort to get this group ready to play. This week our focus is on the Green Bay Packers and what we’re all going to do in this football game, and I can’t state it any plainer than that. It’s like reality television, the way you guys follow social media and write stories about it.”
The overall message from Tomlin was clearly that the media is trying to create drama, but Pickens is the one doing that. He even appeared to be sulking on the sideline at one point after the Steelers took a late lead against Tennessee. Keep in mind Pickens also failed to make a play on what should have been a touchdown.
Pittsburgh’s offense has been ineffective for most of the season, but Pickens is still the team’s leading receiver with 521 yards and 3 touchdowns. That clearly is not enough for him.
Aug 26, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Former NFL player Tom Brady on the field before the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Las Vegas Raiders at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Tom Brady has jokes about the height difference between himself and star NBA rookie Victor Wembanyama.
Early Wednesday, Brady shared an image on Instagram of himself posing with Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs’ No. 1 pick and budding superstar. Brady also made fun of the obvious height difference by tagging former teammate Julian Edelman and asking the 5-foot-10 wide receiver if this was how he usually feels.
The photo attracted plenty of viral attention, prompting Brady to follow up on it. He jokingly gave media permission to use the photo, but jokingly offered up an edited version that makes him look as tall as Wembanyama.
For reference, Wembanyama is listed at 7-foot-4, while Brady was listed at 6-foot-4 during his playing career.
Brady has no reason to feel ashamed. Wembanyama has a way of making even the tallest people look rather short.
Speed finger painter, Jarred Emerson, unveils the new Detroit Pistons logo on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at Campus Martius Park in Detroit. Mandatory Credit: Elaine Cromie, Detroit Free Press
A former NBA Draft bust is getting another lifeline from his old team.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reported on Wednesday that the Detroit Pistons are reuniting with forward Kevin Knox. The 24-year-old Knox is reportedly getting a one-year deal from the Pistons.
Knox was the No. 9 overall pick by the New York Knicks in the 2018 NBA Draft and has a lot of physical gifts as a 6-foot-7 scoring combo forward. But he has yet to pan out in the pros with career averages of 7.5 points per game on sub-40-percent shooting from the floor. Knox made 42 appearances last season for the Pistons, his fourth different team since being drafted.
Until Knox turns his NBA career around, he will be known as a draft bust, especially since he was picked over the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (an All-Star and All-NBA First Teamer), Mikal Bridges (an All-Defensive First Teamer and 25-ppg scorer), and Michael Porter Jr. (a starter on an NBA championship team). Knox also had his issues with some of his previous NBA teams.
But Detroit apparently likes Knox enough to give him another chance to succeed. He will re-enter their forward rotation with Bojan Bogdanovic, Isaiah Livers, Alec Burks, and Joe Harris all nursing injuries right now.
Aug 8, 2023; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) watches from the dugout in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
A new report has named one surprising team as a potential frontrunner for free agent star Shohei Ohtani.
With MLB’s GM meetings happening this week, there has been an uptick in Ohtani rumors, especially since the Los Angeles Angels star is officially a free agent. The Los Angeles Dodgers are still seen as the clear favorites to land Ohtani, but according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Chicago Cubs are viewed by some as being the “most aggressive team” in pursuit.
The Cubs appear to be aggressive on a number of fronts as the offseason begins.
Earlier this week, the Cubs ruthlessly fired manager David Ross in order to give Craig Counsell big money to replace him. One report also linked the Cubs to a potential trade for one of the biggest names that could become available.
Any team interested in Ohtani will have to give him a massive contract, in all likelihood. Even if he will not be pitching next year, his ability and marketing draw will command major dollars.
Mar 24, 2019; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno at a press conference to announce a 12 year contract extension for center fielder Mike Trout (not pictured) at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Angels appear to be prioritizing experience over vibes.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Wednesday that Buck Showalter and Ron Washington are two candidates “heavily” in the mix for the Angels’ managerial vacancy. Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported earlier in the day that the Angels’ search had reached the “finalist” stage with a decision now expected by the end of the weekend, if not sooner.
The four-time Manager of the Year Showalter, 67, brings over two decades of managing experience to the table and has been linked to the Angels job for over a month now. Washington, 71, was a newer option to emerge but also spent nearly a decade as manager of the Texas Rangers. He currently serves as a coach for the Atlanta Braves, whom he won the 2021 World Series with.
In recent days, it seemed the Angels were seriously considering a number of their former players for the manager position. Though owner Arte Moreno could still change his mind on a dime (as he is notorious for doing), for the moment, it looks like the Angels will go with a highly-seasoned veteran for the job.
Aug 8, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; A detailed view of Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis (not pictured) hat and glove in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at SunTrust Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
The Philadelphia Phillies are already making contingency plans in case they lose starting pitcher Aaron Nola to free agency during the offseason.
The Phillies have preliminary interest in free agent starter Sonny Gray, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. Gray appears to be a top option if Nola leaves the Phillies for another team.
The Phillies’ preference would be to prefer Nola, who has helped anchor their rotation for years. However, contract talks prior to the season were unsuccessful, and Nola is likely to be a very expensive proposition, either for the Phillies or for someone else.
Gray turned 34 on Tuesday and is coming off a strong season with the Minnesota Twins, where he posted a 2.79 ERA in 32 starts. He would come cheaper than Nola, who is four years younger, but Gray actually has the better career numbers with his 3.47 lifetime ERA.
Dec 17, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
There have been some questions about whether Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson will play again this season, and we are now one big step closer to having an answer.
The Vikings announced on Wednesday that they have opened Jefferson’s 21-day practice window. Jefferson went on injured reserve after he suffered a hamstring injury in Minnesota’s Oct. 8 game against Kansas City. This is the first week he was eligible to return to practice, so it is a positive sign that he has been cleared.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media notes that there is “no rush” for Jefferson to return to game action, so it is unlikely that he will play on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.
Now that Jefferson’s practice window has been opened, the Vikings have three weeks to add him to the 53-man roster. If Jefferson is not on the active roster by then, he would have to sit out the remainder of the season.
One line of thinking is that Jefferson may have been held out longer if the Vikings fell out of playoff contention, but they have now won four consecutive games and are 5-4 on the season. While Kirk Cousins will not play again this year because of a torn ACL, Joshua Dobbs found a way to lead the Vikings to a win last weekend under some unbelievable circumstances.
Jefferson has 36 catches for 571 yards and 3 touchdowns in five games this season. Dobbs must be as anxious as anyone for the All-Pro wideout to get back on the field.
Apr 9, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto against the Arizona Diamondbacks during opening day at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Joey Votto wants to continue playing next season despite the Cincinnati Reds recently declining his contract option, and there is at least one team that has interest in the slugger.
Votto is a player that the Toronto Blue Jays will consider signing this offseason, according to Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith. Votto grew up in Toronto, and Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said at MLB’s GM Meetings on Tuesday that he believes a homecoming for the 40-year-old would be a great story.
“Incredible player, remarkable career,” Atkins said. “There (would be) just a massive impact in the community if he were to be a Toronto Blue Jay. So, definitely something that we would have to consider if that was something he wanted to pursue.”
Atkins added that the Blue Jays have already done extensive background work on Votto in recent years when the first baseman was viewed as a potential trade candidate.
Votto had a $20 million team option with the Reds for 2024 that the team declined. There has been speculation that he will retire, but Votto made it clear recently that he has no plans to do so.
Though he batted just .205 in 2022 and .202 in 2023 while battling shoulder injuries, Votto still got on base plenty and showed some power. He had a .314 on-base percentage and .433 slugging percentage for a .747 OPS in 64 games this past season.
Votto played 17 seasons for the Reds. He is a six-time All-Star, won the 2010 NL MVP award, and he led the NL in walks five times and the league in on-base percentage seven times. He will likely be an inexpensive option for a team in need of a first baseman or DH.
Former Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Matt Ulrich has died.
Colts owner Jim Irsay on Wednesday shared the news of Ulrich’s death with a post on X.
“I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of Matt Ulrich. Matt was with us only two seasons, but left his mark on many. Great guy, I hear he was a great dad — and he was a Super Bowl champ. My prayers to his family,” Irsay wrote.
Ulrich was 41. No cause of death had been revealed at the time.
Ulrich, a guard, played two seasons for the Colts after he signed with them as an undrafted free agent out of Northwestern in 2005. He was part of the 2006 Colts team that defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI.
At Northwestern, Ulrich was named a team captain in 2004 and All-Big Ten Honorable Mention.
Ulrich was known for his strength and holds several weight room records at Northwestern. He co-founded a fitness company called Dexa Fit after retiring from the NFL.
