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.
The Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, is known for drawing many fouls in games. Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr commented that Gilgeous-Alexander cleverly uses existing rules to his advantage. The Thunder now hold the best record in the NBA this season.
Key Facts
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the NBA's reigning MVP and was MVP of the NBA Finals.
He is known for getting many free throws by drawing fouls.
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr thinks Gilgeous-Alexander's ability to draw fouls is smart and within the rules.
Kerr suggests the rules make it hard for defenses and that the league should consider changes.
In the 2024-25 season, Gilgeous-Alexander had the second-highest average of free throws attempted per game.
Oklahoma City Thunder has the best record in the NBA this year with 50 wins.
The team leads the Western Conference and aims to become back-to-back champions.
The NFL is seeing active trade discussions involving several under-the-radar wide receivers. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that Rashod Bateman from the Baltimore Ravens, Quentin Johnston from the Los Angeles Chargers, and Dontayvion Wicks from the Green Bay Packers are potential trade targets. Teams are considering these players as alternatives to high-profile wide receivers in the market.
Key Facts
NFL teams are exploring trade options for wide receivers before free agency begins.
Alec Pierce, A.J. Brown, and Brian Thomas Jr. are high-profile receivers currently attracting attention.
Rashod Bateman of the Baltimore Ravens is available despite a recent contract extension.
Baltimore recently traded for Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby.
Quentin Johnston of the Los Angeles Chargers has interest due to his performance and may be moved as the team changes strategy.
Dontayvion Wicks of the Green Bay Packers might be traded to give a new player more opportunities.
Interest has been shown in Packers WR Jayden Reed, but the team is not planning to trade him.
Akshay Bhatia won the Arnold Palmer Invitational, marking his third PGA Tour victory. Bhatia outplayed Daniel Berger in a playoff to secure the win. He is also collaborating with TravisMathew on a new clothing line.
Key Facts
Akshay Bhatia won the Arnold Palmer Invitational, which is his biggest win so far.
He beat Daniel Berger in a playoff to win the tournament.
Bhatia is 24 years old and has been a professional golfer since he was 17.
He is currently ranked in the top 40 of the Official World Golf Ranking and 16th in the FedEx Cup standings.
Bhatia is working with TravisMathew on a special clothing collection for the Masters.
He has achieved three top-10 finishes in his last four tournaments.
Bhatia will participate in The Players Championship and aims for a strong season in upcoming major events.
Luke Littler won the UK Open darts title for the second year in a row, beating James Wade 11-7 in the final held in Minehead. Littler, a 19-year-old world champion, became the first player since 2016 to win the tournament in consecutive years.
Key Facts
Luke Littler defended his UK Open title, winning against James Wade with a score of 11-7.
He also beat Wade last year with an 11-2 victory in the final.
Littler is the first player since 2016 to win consecutive UK Open titles.
The final was a best-of-21-legs match, and Littler took an early lead before Wade tied the game 6-6.
Littler won four straight legs from 7-7 to secure the victory.
Littler scored an average of 99.58 and had a checkout success rate of 35.48%.
He receives a prize of £120,000 for winning the tournament.
In the semi-finals, Littler beat Josh Rock, and Wade defeated Gerwyn Price.
NFL player Travis Kelce, a well-known tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, is considering returning for his 14th season, but may not stay with the Chiefs. Several teams are interested in signing him, and discussions are ongoing.
Key Facts
NFL free agency starts on March 11, and Travis Kelce is a key player involved.
Kelce is motivated to play a 14th NFL season.
The Kansas City Chiefs want to re-sign Kelce, but other teams are also interested.
There is no certainty that Kelce will return to the Chiefs for the 2026-27 season.
Chiefs GM Brett Veach says the team is staying patient as they wait for Kelce's decision.
Kelce has played 13 seasons with the Chiefs and has been highly successful with the team.
If Kelce leaves, it would be a significant change for the Chiefs, who have relied on him heavily.
A Clumber spaniel named Bruin won the best in show title at the Crufts 2026 dog competition. Bruin, handled by owner Lee Cox, beat around 19,000 other dogs to win this prestigious award.
Key Facts
Bruin is a Clumber spaniel who won best in show at Crufts 2026.
The show took place at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre (NEC).
Bruin was handled by owner Lee Cox and won the Gundog group before winning overall.
The competition included nearly 19,000 dogs.
Other dogs like a Tibetan mastiff named Viking and a Pembroke Welsh corgi named Hazel competed for the top prize but did not win.
The judge's choice for reserve dog was a petit basset griffon vendeen called Meghan from Croatia.
The Royal Kennel Club organizes Crufts, and this year's event had more participants compared to 2025.
The best in show trophy comes with the Kendall Memorial Trophy and a £200 cash prize.
Eloy Jiménez, a former Silver Slugger and MLB veteran, has rejoined the Toronto Blue Jays on a minor league contract. Despite his success in spring training, he is expected to start the season in the minor leagues. Jiménez is comfortable with this arrangement and does not have an opt-out option in his contract.
Key Facts
Eloy Jiménez is 29 years old and a former Silver Slugger.
He last played in the major leagues during the 2024 season.
Jiménez returned to the Toronto Blue Jays on a minor league contract.
The Blue Jays have not included an opt-out clause in his contract.
Jiménez is batting .321 in spring training over 11 games.
Despite interest from other teams, Jiménez chose to stay with the Blue Jays.
He is expected to start the season in Triple-A, which is the highest level of minor league baseball.
Jiménez is open to starting in the minors and may play in different positions if needed.
The New York Mets traded with the Milwaukee Brewers to acquire pitcher Freddy Peralta, a key player for their team. Peralta is in the final year of his contract and wants a long-term deal with the Mets. The team believes he is essential for their chances to succeed and is exploring options to keep him.
Key Facts
The New York Mets traded for Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers from the Milwaukee Brewers.
Peralta is a highly valued pitcher and considered an ace for the Mets.
He is in the last year of his contract and wants a seven or eight-year extension.
Peralta helped Milwaukee reach the playoffs last year with a 17-6 record and a 2.70 ERA.
The Mets exchanged top prospects to get Peralta in the trade.
The team has resources to negotiate with Peralta for a long-term deal.
Keeping Peralta is seen as important for the Mets' future success.
