The Dallas Cowboys have five players selected for the Pro Bowl, including new additions George Pickens and Quinnen Williams. The Cowboys' offense has performed well this season, but the team faces financial decisions about player contracts and improving their defense for next year.
Key Facts
The Dallas Cowboys have five players chosen for the Pro Bowl.
Quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver George Pickens are among the selected players.
The Cowboys acquired George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers and Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets.
The Cowboys' offense ranks highly in points and yards per game.
The team has spent a lot on key players like Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb.
The Cowboys' defense is ranked near the bottom of the NFL.
Financial decisions, including a potential high-cost contract for Pickens, could affect the team's ability to improve the defense.
The Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, plans to be very active in free agency.
WWE is planning to make changes to its commentary teams for "Monday Night Raw" and "Friday Night SmackDown" in early 2026. Michael Cole and Corey Graves will take over commentary for "Raw," while Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett will handle commentary for "SmackDown." These updates coincide with key WWE events and aim to enhance the viewing experience.
Key Facts
WWE will change its commentary teams for "Monday Night Raw" and "Friday Night SmackDown" in 2026.
Michael Cole and Corey Graves will cover "Monday Night Raw" starting January 5, 2026.
Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett will start on "SmackDown" on January 2, 2026.
The changes align with the anniversary of "Raw" moving to Netflix.
"SmackDown" will return to a three-hour format with Tessitore and Barrett.
WWE aims to prepare for the build-up to the "Royal Rumble," a major wrestling event.
WWE's decision aims to improve stability and ensure consistency in its broadcasts.
Notre Dame's football season has ended, and their head coach, Marcus Freeman, is focusing on the next season. There are rumors linking Freeman to a head coaching job with the New York Giants, but former NFL player Golden Tate advises him to stay at Notre Dame. Freeman has a successful coaching record but no experience in the NFL.
Key Facts
Notre Dame's football team is not participating in their scheduled bowl game.
Marcus Freeman is the head coach of Notre Dame's team.
Freeman is rumored to be a candidate for the New York Giants head coaching job.
Golden Tate, a former NFL player, advises Freeman to remain at Notre Dame.
Freeman has no previous NFL experience.
Under Freeman, Notre Dame made it to the College Football Playoff in 2024 but lost in the national championship.
Freeman's coaching record is 43-12 since he started at Notre Dame.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are considering trading their star player Donovan Mitchell as they are unhappy with their current performance. Multiple NBA teams are interested in acquiring Mitchell if he becomes available. The Cavaliers had hoped to perform better this season but are not meeting expectations.
Key Facts
The Cleveland Cavaliers are open to making major changes to their team.
Donovan Mitchell, a key player, might be traded despite being the team's top performer.
Some NBA teams are already showing interest in trading for Mitchell.
The Cavaliers have a 16-14 record, which is seen as disappointing.
Last season, the Cavaliers were unexpectedly eliminated in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, and New York Knicks may pursue Mitchell if he is available for trade.
Kyle Tucker, a four-time All-Star baseball player, is a free agent attracting interest from several major teams. While the Toronto Blue Jays are seen as a likely destination, the New York Mets are predicted to use their financial resources to make a strong offer for Tucker. The Mets aim to improve their team after missing the playoffs.
Key Facts
Kyle Tucker is a four-time All-Star in Major League Baseball.
The top teams interested in signing Tucker include the Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, and New York Yankees.
There is speculation that the New York Mets might enter the race to sign Tucker.
The Mets might use their financial resources to offer Tucker a large contract.
The Mets missed the playoffs and are looking to strengthen their team through free agency.
The Toronto Blue Jays are currently seen as the favorites to sign Tucker.
The New York Mets are motivated to regain their competitive edge after recent player departures.
Mike Tomlin, coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, recently commented on DK Metcalf's two-game suspension following an altercation with a fan. Metcalf, a key player for the team, is appealing the suspension, which could impact the Steelers’ playoff chances. Tomlin expressed support for Metcalf but did not condone his actions.
Key Facts
The Steelers recently won against the Detroit Lions, improving their playoff chances.
Mike Tomlin's team has not had a losing season under his coaching.
DK Metcalf was suspended for two games after an incident with a fan.
Metcalf is appealing the suspension and could miss the last two regular season games.
Metcalf is a leading receiver for the Steelers, with 59 catches for 850 yards and six touchdowns this season.
The incident might affect Metcalf's future contracts, potentially costing him $45 million or more.
The Steelers might play without Metcalf against the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens.
Steelers' wide receiver DK Metcalf faces a two-game suspension for physically confronting a fan during a game against the Detroit Lions. If the suspension is upheld, he could lose $40–$45 million in guaranteed money from his contract with the Steelers. Metcalf has appealed the suspension.
Key Facts
DK Metcalf is a wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The altercation happened during a game against the Detroit Lions.
Metcalf received a two-game suspension for violating NFL rules against player-fan physical contact.
The suspension may lead to Metcalf losing $40–$45 million in future guaranteed money.
Metcalf's contract with the Steelers includes $60 million in guaranteed money.
He has appealed the suspension to avoid losing pay and future guarantees.
Metcalf was traded to the Steelers in March from the Seattle Seahawks.
The Steelers lead the AFC North with a 9-6 record, and Metcalf's absence could impact their performance.
The Detroit Tigers are considering trading their star pitcher, Tarik Skubal, as he enters the last year of his contract. While teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets have shown interest, the Tigers might keep Skubal and try to sign him for a long-term deal.
Key Facts
Tarik Skubal is a standout pitcher for the Detroit Tigers.
He is entering the final year of his contract.
The Tigers may not have enough money to offer Skubal a new contract.
There are trade rumors involving the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets.
The Tigers are one of the top teams in the American League when Skubal pitches.
Trading Skubal could happen if the Tigers get an exceptionally good offer.
The Tigers are working on keeping Skubal and potentially offering him a large contract extension.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce may play his last home game on Christmas at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs were eliminated from playoff contention and will end the season against the Las Vegas Raiders. Coach Andy Reid discussed the possibility of Kelce's retirement but had not yet talked with him about it.
Key Facts
The Kansas City Chiefs won't make the playoffs this season.
Patrick Mahomes, a top player for the Chiefs, is out for the year due to an ACL tear.
Travis Kelce, a potential Hall of Fame player, might be retiring after this season.
Kelce is playing his 13th year in the NFL with the Chiefs.
Head coach Andy Reid spoke about Kelce's possible retirement but has not confirmed it.
Kelce was recently selected to his 11th Pro Bowl, which is the second-highest for any tight end in NFL history.
The Chiefs' final home game of the season is on Christmas, and their last game is against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The New York Yankees have recently lost players Luke Weaver and Devin Williams to the New York Mets. The Mets are in need of a first baseman after losing Pete Alonso to the Baltimore Orioles. Yankees players Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt are being considered by the Mets, with a prediction that Goldschmidt may sign a one-year deal with them.
Key Facts
The Yankees lost two players, Luke Weaver and Devin Williams, to the Mets.
The Mets need a replacement for Pete Alonso, who joined the Orioles.
Yankees' Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt are potential candidates for the Mets' first base spot.
The Yankees are pursuing Bellinger, primarily used as an outfielder.
Goldschmidt, aged 38, ended the season with a .274 batting average.
Goldschmidt may sign a one-year deal with the Mets and could split playing time at first base.
The predicted contract for Goldschmidt is $12 million for one year.
Liverpool's manager, Arne Slot, announced that their player, Alexander Isak, will be out for several months. Isak got injured in a tackle by Tottenham's Micky van de Ven, which Slot described as reckless.
Key Facts
Liverpool's manager is Arne Slot.
Alexander Isak is a player for Liverpool.
Isak was injured due to a tackle by Tottenham's Micky van de Ven.
The injury is expected to sideline Isak for a couple of months.
Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning is set to take his team to the Orange Bowl but argues that Texas Tech Red Raiders should have home-field advantage in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Lanning questions the current playoff format, suggesting it would be fairer for higher-seeded teams to host games. The game against Texas Tech is scheduled for January 1, 2026, in Florida.
Key Facts
Oregon Ducks are in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
They will face Texas Tech Red Raiders on January 1, 2026, in Florida.
Coach Dan Lanning believes Texas Tech should have home-field advantage.
Current playoff format allows only first-round games on campus.
Lanning is critical of this format and supports teams hosting quarterfinal games.
Expanding the playoff to a 16-team format is one suggested solution.
Playoff games have significant financial benefits for host towns.
Netflix is working on a documentary series about Hulk Hogan, a former WWE Champion. The series will include new interviews with Hogan and is a part of Netflix's sports documentaries lineup.
Key Facts
Netflix is creating a documentary series about Hulk Hogan.
Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, passed away last July.
Netflix's Vice President of Sports, Gabe Spitzer, confirmed the project.
The docuseries will feature over twenty hours of new interviews with Hogan.
Bryan Storkel is directing the series, and Words + Pictures, along with WWE, is producing it.
Netflix and WWE previously worked together on a series called WWE Unreal.
The Hogan docuseries is among other sports documentaries like those featuring Mike Tyson and Deion Sanders.
The Pittsburgh Steelers won a game against the Detroit Lions amid late-game drama. Steelers player DK Metcalf had a physical altercation with a fan and received a two-game suspension from the NFL. Coach Mike Tomlin discussed Metcalf's suspension and the team's preparation for upcoming games.
Key Facts
The Steelers defeated the Lions with a 29-24 victory after a controversial call in the last moments.
DK Metcalf, a Steelers player, confronted a fan during the game and engaged in a physical altercation.
The NFL suspended Metcalf for two games for his actions against the fan.
Coach Mike Tomlin stated he spoke with Metcalf but did not condone his behavior, supporting him as he goes through an appeals process.
Tomlin mentioned the possibility of "legal ramifications" related to the incident.
The Steelers have a road game against the Cleveland Browns and a home game against the Baltimore Ravens in their remaining schedule.
Tomlin sees the suspension as an opportunity for other players, like Roman Wilson, to step up and contribute to the team.
The team is prepared to support Metcalf during his appeals process for the suspension.
The Toledo Rockets will face the Louisville Cardinals in the Boca Raton Bowl on December 23, 2025. Both teams have a season record of 8-4 and the game will be broadcast on ESPN. The Toledo team aims to continue their winning streak, while Louisville is coming off a strong victory against Kentucky.
Key Facts
The game between Toledo Rockets and Louisville Cardinals takes place on December 23, 2025.
It will be held at FAU Stadium in the Boca Raton Bowl.
Both Toledo and Louisville have an 8-4 record this season.
Toledo was 6-2 in their conference, the MAC, ending tied for second place.
Louisville's four losses came in ACC play, where they finished with a 4-4 record.
Toledo has a four-game winning streak, including a recent win over Central Michigan.
Louisville won against Kentucky in their last game, breaking a three-game losing streak.
The game will be shown on ESPN and can be streamed for free via Fubo with a trial.
The New York Yankees signed Miguel Palma, a 23-year-old catcher from Venezuela, to a minor-league contract. Palma previously played for the Houston Astros for over seven years. This signing gives the Yankees more options at the catcher position.
Key Facts
Miguel Palma is a 23-year-old catcher from Venezuela.
The New York Yankees signed him to a minor-league deal.
He previously spent over seven years with the Houston Astros organization.
Palma's contract with the Yankees appeared on his official roster page after a delay of about five days.
The Yankees have Austin Wells as the main catcher and J.C. Escarra as a backup.
Palma is right-handed, while current Yankees catchers are left-handed hitters.
He was ranked No. 24 among the Astros' prospects according to MLB Pipeline.
Palma is noted for his defensive skills, while his batting is less developed.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed pitcher Carlos Duran, who is 6-foot-7 tall, as a free agent. Duran previously played for the Oakland Athletics after being traded by the Dodgers earlier in the year, but now returns to his original team. At 24, he could help strengthen the Dodgers' bullpen, which had challenges last season.
Key Facts
The Dodgers re-signed pitcher Carlos Duran after trading him to the Athletics eight months ago.
Duran is 24 years old and stands 6 feet 7 inches tall.
He initially joined the Dodgers organization from the Dominican Republic in 2018.
Duran made his MLB debut with the Athletics in May and appeared in one major league game.
During his time with the A's Triple-A team, he had an 8.00 ERA across 27 innings.
The Dodgers experienced bullpen issues last season, blowing 27 save opportunities.
Esteury Ruiz, the player Duran was traded for, led the American League in stolen bases in 2023.
The USC football team will not play against Notre Dame in their traditional rivalry game for the foreseeable future. USC and Notre Dame could not agree on a timeline for the matchup, causing disappointment among fans. USC legend Keyshawn Johnson criticized the decision, while concerns exist about USC's ability to compete with top-ranked teams.
Key Facts
Lincoln Riley became USC's head coach in 2021.
USC and Notre Dame have played annually since 1946, except in 2020.
The series agreement between USC and Notre Dame has fallen through and the game is postponed indefinitely.
USC officials decided the game date was not ideal based on previous decisions by the College Football Playoff committee.
Keyshawn Johnson criticized USC's athletic department and coach Lincoln Riley.
USC finished the regular season with a 9-3 record and ranked No. 16 overall.
USC will face TCU in the Alamo Bowl on December 30.
USC has a 35-17 record under Riley, but struggles against top-ranked teams.
The Boston Red Sox are looking to improve their team but have not signed free agent Alex Bregman. The New York Yankees are considering signing Bregman to improve their infield. Bregman was a top player last season and could be a strong addition to the Yankees.
Key Facts
The Red Sox have made trades but not signed any big free agents yet.
Red Sox have not been giving long contracts to players over 30 years old.
Alex Bregman is a free agent and was a top player last season with a batting average of .273.
The New York Yankees are interested in signing Bregman as they need better offense.
Yankees traded for Ryan McMahon but he didn't perform as expected.
Bregman previously played for the Houston Astros during their cheating scandal.
If the Yankees sign Bregman, it could mean trading Ryan McMahon.
The New York Yankees are deciding who will fill the last spot in their outfield for the upcoming baseball season. They have options to either sign a new player or choose between two current players, Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones. Jones, known for his size and power, performed well in the minor leagues and is aiming to secure a starting spot during spring training.
Key Facts
The Yankees need to fill one last outfield position for the new season.
Trent Grisham and Aaron Judge already have starting spots in center and right field, respectively.
Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker are possible new signings for left field.
If no new player is signed, Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones will compete for the left field spot.
Spencer Jones is 6-foot-7 and has hit 35 home runs last season in the minor leagues.
Jones was added to the Yankees' 40-man roster in November.
Jones expressed his determination to impress the team during spring training.
