The Minnesota Vikings signed linebacker Eric Wilson to a three-year contract worth $22.5 million just before the NFL free agency negotiation period began. Wilson played in all 17 games for the Vikings last season, starting 16 and achieving significant defensive statistics.
Key Facts
The Minnesota Vikings and linebacker Eric Wilson agreed to a three-year, $22.5 million contract.
Out of the total contract, $12.5 million is guaranteed money.
Wilson played 17 games last season for the Vikings, starting in 16 of them.
He ended the season with 115 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hits, and 6.5 sacks.
Wilson's recent performance ranked him the 41st-best linebacker by Pro Football Focus.
Wilson is in his second term with the Vikings, having returned to the team after playing for the Eagles and Texans in 2021, and the Packers from 2022 to 2024.
Wilson's previous NFL career earnings are approximately $14.1 million before this new contract.
The Buffalo Bills decided not to release cornerback Taron Johnson and instead traded him to the Las Vegas Raiders. The trade involves swapping late-round draft picks, and this move comes just days before the NFL free agency begins.
Key Facts
Buffalo Bills cornerback Taron Johnson was expected to be released but was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders instead.
The trade includes a swap of late-round draft picks between the two teams.
Buffalo will receive a sixth-round draft pick, which they did not previously have.
The Raiders will receive Taron Johnson and retain their original sixth-round pick along with an extra seventh-round pick.
Taron Johnson has two years remaining on his contract with an $8.67 million cap hit in 2026.
Johnson played 438 coverage snaps last season, allowing a 66.7% completion rate and a 94.5 passer rating against.
He has been with the Buffalo Bills for eight seasons and earned All-Pro honors in 2023.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has become the second most followed active Major League Baseball (MLB) player on Instagram. Yamamoto's popularity surged after his standout performances in the 2025 World Series, increasing his Instagram followers to 2.3 million, surpassing famous players like Mike Trout.
Key Facts
Yoshinobu Yamamoto plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He gained attention after strong performances in the 2025 World Series.
Yamamoto's Instagram followers rose to 2.3 million.
He is now the second most followed active MLB player on Instagram, after Shohei Ohtani.
Ohtani has 10.5 million Instagram followers.
Yamamoto surpassed Mike Trout, who has 2.2 million followers.
Dodgers' Kiké Hernández is also a popular player on Instagram with 1.5 million followers.
The New England Patriots had hoped to strengthen their team by signing Alec Pierce, a promising wide receiver from the Indianapolis Colts. However, Pierce is seeking a large contract that the Patriots may not be willing to meet. The Patriots might look for other options to support their quarterback, Drake Maye, either through the draft or another player in free agency.
Key Facts
The New England Patriots are interested in improving their offense.
Drake Maye is considered the Patriots' key quarterback for the future.
Alec Pierce is a talented wide receiver from the Indianapolis Colts.
Pierce is seeking a significant contract, which may be too expensive for the Patriots.
The Patriots might explore other players in free agency or the upcoming draft to support Maye.
The NFL free agency is an opportunity for teams to sign players from other teams.
The Patriots are evaluating whether players like Pierce are worth the cost compared to existing team members.
ESPN analyst Joe Lunardi shared his updated projections for the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament. The Florida Gators, Duke Blue Devils, Arizona Wildcats, and Michigan Wolverines are predicted as top seeds. This comes ahead of the upcoming conference tournaments where surprise outcomes can affect final seedings.
Key Facts
Joe Lunardi is known for his bracket projections for the NCAA tournament.
The Florida Gators, Duke, Arizona, and Michigan are predicted to be top seeds in March Madness.
The Florida Gators are on an 11-game winning streak and were the reigning National Champions.
Conference tournaments, including the ACC and Big Ten, will happen soon, potentially affecting brackets.
In 2008 and last year, all four No. 1 seeds reached the Final Four.
Duke, Michigan, Arizona, and Florida are current favorites for the championship.
Teams like Houston, Illinois, UConn, and Iowa State could upset top seeds.
The NCAA tournament is known for being unpredictable and exciting, with "Cinderella" stories.
The article covers predictions about which college basketball teams might make it into the NCAA March Madness tournament. It focuses on teams considered on the "bubble," meaning their participation is uncertain. The author lists teams expected to get in and those likely to miss out as Selection Sunday approaches.
Key Facts
The NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments are approaching, with conference championships wrapping up.
VCU Rams, Missouri Tigers, Stanford Cardinal, and Santa Clara Broncos are predicted to make it into the tournament.
Teams not likely to make it include Auburn Tigers, Indiana Hoosiers, California Golden Bears, and San Diego State Aztecs.
VCU Rams improved their chances with recent strong performances, including a win against Dayton.
The condition for Auburn Tigers is dependent on strong results in the upcoming SEC tournament.
Stanford Cardinal's recent four-game win streak boosts their chances.
Santa Clara Broncos had a strong season, winning 20 games for the first time since 1995.
San Diego State Aztecs need a significant win in their conference tournament to improve their chances of getting in.
Kristaps Porzingis, a player for the Golden State Warriors, has had limited playtime due to health issues. After joining the team in February, he played only a couple of games before being sidelined again. He is currently listed as out due to illness management, and his return is uncertain.
Key Facts
Kristaps Porzingis joined the Golden State Warriors in February.
Since joining, Porzingis has played in only two games for the Warriors.
Porzingis was sidelined due to illness after playing against the Boston Celtics.
He returned to play against the Oklahoma City Thunder after missing six games.
Porzingis is now out again due to illness management.
The Warriors might have Porzingis back for their next game against the Chicago Bulls.
The Warriors currently hold the eighth position in the NBA's Western Conference.
Porzingis is on a day-to-day timeline for his return, which means it's being assessed daily.
The New England Patriots are considering trading for star wide receiver A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles. To acquire Brown, the Patriots would need to offer high draft picks as part of the trade deal. The team has $44 million available for free agency spending.
Key Facts
The New England Patriots are interested in acquiring wide receiver A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles.
A.J. Brown is currently under a $96 million contract with the Eagles.
Philadelphia Eagles want a first-round and a second-round draft pick in exchange for Brown.
The Patriots currently have $44 million available for signing new players.
The Patriots released wide receiver Stefon Diggs due to salary cap issues.
The official start of NFL free agency is on March 11, but negotiations begin on March 8.
During a basketball game between Michigan State and the University of Michigan, Michigan State player Jeremy Fears Jr. received a technical foul for kicking an opponent. Michigan State's coach, Tom Izzo, expressed frustration over the incident and concerns about fairness in officiating. Michigan State lost the game and will be competing in the upcoming Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament as the No. 3 seed.
Key Facts
Michigan State played against the University of Michigan in a basketball game.
Michigan won the game with a score of 90-80.
Jeremy Fears Jr. from Michigan State was called for a technical foul for kicking a Michigan player.
Tom Izzo, the coach of Michigan State, was upset about the foul call and questioned the fairness of the officiating.
In a previous game, Fears had a similar incident involving a technical foul.
Michigan State is the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament.
The tournament games will start this week at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are considering acquiring Bryan Cook, a Super Bowl-winning safety from the Kansas City Chiefs, during the NFL free agency period starting March 11. The Chiefs may have to let Cook go due to limited budget space, despite his skills and experience.
Key Facts
The Pittsburgh Steelers aim to secure Aaron Rodgers as their quarterback for the 2026-27 season.
The NFL free agency period begins on March 11.
Greg Auman of Fox Sports suggests that the Steelers may sign Bryan Cook from the Kansas City Chiefs.
Bryan Cook is noted for his effective defensive skills and playoff experience.
The Kansas City Chiefs have limited financial flexibility, which may force them to release talented players like Cook.
Dan Graziano of ESPN predicts that Cook might instead sign with the Houston Texans for a three-year, $42 million deal.
The Dallas Cowboys attempted to trade for Maxx Crosby, a defensive end, but the Las Vegas Raiders traded him to the Baltimore Ravens instead. Now, the Cowboys are interested in signing Trey Hendrickson, a free agent formerly with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Key Facts
The Cowboys tried to trade for Maxx Crosby from the Raiders but did not succeed.
The Raiders traded Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens.
Dallas offered the Raiders a draft pick and a veteran player for Crosby.
The Cowboys are now focused on free agency to find an edge-rusher.
Dallas is monitoring Trey Hendrickson, who played for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Trey Hendrickson is a four-time Pro Bowler and will be a free agent.
Hendrickson had reduced playtime last season due to injuries.
Hendrickson might earn over $25 million annually on a new contract.
During a German second division football match, a masked fan unplugged a video assistant referee (VAR) monitor, disrupting a penalty review. This incident left the decision to the VAR team in Cologne, who ruled in favor of awarding a penalty.
Key Facts
A masked fan unplugged a VAR monitor during a German second division match.
The match was between Preussen Munster and Hertha Berlin in Bundesliga 2.
The incident happened at the end of the first half.
The disruption occurred as the referee went to check a penalty decision.
Without the monitor, the VAR official in Cologne made the final call, awarding a penalty.
Preussen Munster is taking steps to find and take action against the person responsible.
A banner suggesting this was a planned action appeared in the stadium after the incident.
The Las Vegas Raiders have decided to trade their defensive end, Maxx Crosby, to the Baltimore Ravens. In exchange, the Raiders will receive first-round picks for 2026 and 2027. The team is now considering Boye Mafe from the Seattle Seahawks as a possible replacement for Crosby.
Key Facts
The Las Vegas Raiders traded defensive end Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens.
In return, the Raiders will get first-round draft picks for 2026 and 2027.
The trade will be finalized next week.
NFL teams can start signing new players on March 11.
Boye Mafe from the Seattle Seahawks is being considered as a potential replacement for Crosby.
Mafe had the eighth-best "pass rush win rate" in the NFL.
Mafe's sack numbers have decreased over the last few years, which might lower his market value.
Maxx Crosby recorded 73 total tackles, 10 sacks, 28 tackles for loss, and one interception in the 2025 season.
Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is looking to trade wide receiver AJ Brown. The trade is complicated due to the financial impact on the Eagles' salary cap. Roseman is trying a new approach to make the trade work, but teams are resisting.
Key Facts
The Eagles are considering trading wide receiver AJ Brown.
Trading Brown before June 1 would result in a $43.5 million dead cap hit for the Eagles.
A trade after June 1 would reduce the dead cap hit to $16.3 million, saving the Eagles $7 million in cap space.
Howie Roseman, the Eagles' general manager, is trying to split the trade deal before and after June 1.
Teams are not agreeing to Roseman's split deal approach, as trades are typically done all at once.
If no trade happens by a set date, Brown might still be on the team, but his trade status is uncertain.
The Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament in 2026 will take place at the United Center in Illinois, starting March 10. Michigan has secured the No. 1 seed, while Nebraska is the No. 2 seed. Games will be played through March 15, with the winner potentially moving on to the NCAA Tournament.
Key Facts
The Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament begins on March 10, 2026.
Michigan is the No. 1 seed after defeating Michigan State.
Nebraska is the No. 2 seed.
The tournament will be held at the United Center in Illinois.
First-round games start on March 10, with coverage on Peacock.
The semifinals and finals will be played on March 14 and March 15.
CBS will televise the semifinals and finals.
The tournament winner receives an automatic spot in the NCAA Tournament.
The Arizona Cardinals have decided to keep running back James Conner for the 2026 season by agreeing to a new contract. Conner, who had a significant foot injury last season, will take a pay cut, allowing the team to use funds for other positions like quarterback. The Cardinals are maintaining Conner despite the opportunity to save $7.5 million by releasing him.
Key Facts
The Arizona Cardinals have revised the contract with running back James Conner to keep him for the 2026 season.
Conner is coming back from a foot injury that caused him to miss most of last season.
Conner has previously played well for the Cardinals, rushing over 1,000 yards in two earlier seasons.
By keeping Conner, the team can still save money on salary cap space to spend on other positions.
The Cardinals are considering using their budget to acquire quarterback Malik Willis.
The team could have saved $7.5 million by cutting Conner but chose to retain him.
The Cardinals will have nearly $48 million in cap space as they prepare for NFL free agency.
Aryna Sabalenka, the top-ranked tennis player in the world, defeated Jaqueline Cristian in straight sets at the Indian Wells tournament. Sabalenka hit 23 winners and will face Naomi Osaka in the next round. Osaka, also a four-time Grand Slam winner, recently returned to play after an injury.
Key Facts
Aryna Sabalenka is the world number one in tennis.
She beat Jaqueline Cristian in the Indian Wells tournament to reach the fourth round.
Sabalenka won her match with scores of 6-4 in the first set and 6-1 in the second set.
Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, is set to play Sabalenka next.
Osaka won her recent match after recovering from an abdominal injury.
Other matches at Indian Wells include Emma Raducanu vs. Amanda Anisimova and Coco Gauff vs. Alexandra Eala.
In the men's draw, Alexander Zverev won a three-set match against Brandon Nakashima.
Jannik Sinner will play against Denis Shapovalov in another match.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes recently shared a video of him and tight end Travis Kelce, sparking conversations about Kelce's future. Kelce, a key player for the Chiefs, is considering retirement as he approaches free agency. The team and fans await his decision on whether he will return or play for another team.
Key Facts
Patrick Mahomes posted a video with teammate Travis Kelce on social media.
Mahomes is recovering from a serious injury (torn ACL and LCL) sustained in 2025.
Travis Kelce's contract with the Chiefs ends after the 2025 season.
Kelce has not confirmed if he'll retire or continue playing.
Kelce may become a free agent soon, allowing negotiations with other teams.
Kelce has played his entire career with the Kansas City Chiefs since 2013.
Kelce is a highly successful player and a franchise leader in several categories.
The Chiefs had a challenging 2025 season, finishing with a 6-11 record.
CBS Sports analyst Bruce Pearl made mistakes on-air during the women's basketball Big Ten Tournament championship, misnaming key figures like player Caitlin Clark and coach Lisa Bluder. These errors attracted more attention than the game itself, which UCLA won. Pearl joined CBS and TNT as an analyst after retiring as a basketball coach in 2025.
Key Facts
Bruce Pearl is a CBS Sports analyst and former basketball coach.
He incorrectly named Caitlin Clark as "Caitlin Smith" during the tournament coverage.
Pearl also mispronounced the name of the retired Iowa coach, Lisa Bluder.
The broadcast took place during International Women's Day.
The errors overshadowed the game, which UCLA won 96-45.
Pearl joined CBS Sports and TNT in October 2025 as a college basketball analyst.
He retired as Auburn's winningest men's basketball coach in 2025.
Pearl will cover March Madness as part of his role with CBS Sports and TNT.
Boston Celtics player Jayson Tatum made a strong return to the NBA after recovering from an Achilles injury. Tatum helped the Celtics win games against the Dallas Mavericks and the Cleveland Cavaliers. He received support from fellow players, including Cavaliers' James Harden, who congratulated him on his comeback.
Key Facts
Jayson Tatum returned to play for the Boston Celtics after recovering from a torn Achilles injury.
Tatum's first game back was against the Dallas Mavericks, where the Celtics won 120-100.
In his second game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Celtics won 109-98.
Before a game with the Cavaliers, James Harden expressed support and congratulations to Tatum.
Tatum scored 15 points in his first game and 20 points in his second game after returning.
Before Tatum's return, the Celtics were the second seed in the Eastern Conference with a 41-21 record.
Boston is currently favored to win the Eastern Conference and has strong odds for the 2026 NBA Finals, according to DraftKings.
The Celtics will face the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder in upcoming games as part of their road trip.
