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Conservative to the bitter end, Bill Belichick is losing dignity

The world champion Kansas City Chiefs beat the once-great Pats, 27-17, Sunday . The moribund Patriots were competitive for a half, but ultimately fell victim to the usual hail of penalties, turnovers, and failure to convert on third down (2-12) against a superior team. New England dropped to 3-11 with three to play. The Patriots remain on course to pick second in the 2024 NFL Draft. Reporters joust hourly to declare that Bob Kraft has made his decision on Bill . . . or that Bob is still deciding. An NFL Network insider Sunday reported that the final four games of this lost season will serve as a referendum on the Kill Bill question. That seems ridiculous, but if true, Belichick seems certain to continue his quest of chasing Don Shula’s wins record (which is now feeling like the Yaz Watch) someplace other than Foxborough. There’s not a lot of dignity in these Final Days of the Belichick era. Get Breaking Sports Alerts Be the first to know the latest sports news as it happens, and get the Globe's most interesting reporting right to your inbox. Enter Email Sign Up The Chiefs of 2023-24 are a little bit like what the Patriots used to be. They’ve won two of the last four Super Bowls and played in three of four. They’ve got Andy Reid starring as Belichick, Patrick Mahomes playing Tom Brady, and Taylor Swift in the role of Dame Gisele Bundchen. They’ve got internal issues with penalties and dropped passes, but they toyed with the Patriots down the stretch at Gillette. Advertisement In anti-Hoodie fashion, Reid chose not to run up the score at the finish (“it was the right thing to do” — Reid), taking three knees in the final two minutes when he had second and goal from the Patriots’ 4. Lots of respect/pity there from Reid. When we last saw the Chiefs, Mahomes was delivering a Jack Nicholson-esque, five-star nutty on the sideline, raging at officials after a potential game-winning, Travis Kelce TD lateral pass was erased by the zebras. Reid joined Mahomes in a postgame protest and they were subsequently slapped with $150,000 in fines for conduct unbecoming. Advertisement These Chiefs, while unlikely to achieve anything close to what Bill and Tom did, are successors to the Patriot dynasty. KC’s celebrity troika of Mahomes, Kelce, and Reid have become the Shield’s centerfold. It’s as if Don Draper and Roger Sterling set up shop at Bryant’s Barbeque in Kansas City. You can’t watch 20 minutes of any NFL game without Mahomes, Kelce, or Reid urging you to bundle insurance or have a Snickers. This was the game the league bounced from “Monday Night Football” in favor of Eagles-Seahawks — a low moment in the history of Kraft’s 30-year stewardship. Without a competitive team or marquee players, the Patriots’ only star power Sunday was the prospect of Swift in attendance and Jon Bon Jovi ringing the lighthouse bell. Yeesh. New England has become a dim bulb in the NFL’s galaxy of stars. Absent the boring “Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe?” debate, Patriot fans spent the morning wondering what’s going to happen to Bill and where they might get the best view of Tay-Tay entering Gillette. It was true Eras Tour-level drama. Late in the morning we got a report from a Swiftie (@taylorswiftjets has 59,000 followers on X) that one of Taylor’s planes was en route from Morristown, N.J., to T.F. Green Airport in Providence. By 11:30 a.m., Dan Roche of Channel 4 was reporting that Swift was expected to be on hand and the gang from “All Access” produced old video of a Swift show at Foxborough when she stood on stage and said, “Gillette Stadium — The most joyful place on earth.” Advertisement Swift popped out of her limo at approximately 12:15 p.m and throughout the game, Fox Sports’s cameras showed her sitting in a private suite. My favorite moment was a shot of Swift after Kelce dropped a pass in the end zone. I think she was saying, “My boyfriend cannot catch the ball and throw the ball at the same time.’’ The rest was predictable. The Patriots came out strong, led, 10-7, early in the second and trailed by a mere 14-10 at intermission. Zappe completed 17 of his first 19 passes, but his first pass of the second half was picked off (“terrible on my part” — Zappe) and the outcome was never in doubt from that point forward. Still, Belichick never flinched. Trailing, 27-10, early in the fourth (a three-score game), Bill opted to punt on fourth and 3 from his own 42. “It’s not a question of not wanting to go for it, it’s a question of doing what you feel is best at that point in time,’’ said Belichick. Minutes later, fans booed with gusto when the Patriots punted on fourth and 4 with less than 10 minutes to play. “We were down three starters there and worried about if we’d be able to execute in that situation,’’ said Belichick. " . . . we got an interception.’’ Advertisement True. But there are times when it seems that Belichick’s goal is to avoid a blowout. Are the Patriots playing to win, or just to keep the score respectable? It’s not going to change. Clearly, Bill still will be thinking about coveted field position . . . all the way to the bitter end. And this is bitter. It's the elephant in the stadium. Will the Patriots fire Belichick? Share WATCH: Reporter Christopher Price weighs in. And, did Kraft’s appearance on College GameDay do more harm than good? Boston.com’s Khari Thompson reacts. Dan Shaughnessy is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at daniel.shaughnessy@globe.com. Follow him @dan_shaughnessy.

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Chris Sale details the thinking behind waiving his no-trade rights

Thanks to his status as a 10-5 player — at least ten years in the big leagues, including at least five with his current team — Chris Sale had the option of vetoing the trade that sent him from the Red Sox to the Atlanta Braves last weekend. Instead, after some consideration, Sale gave his permission for the trade to go through, noting that he felt a sense of obligation to the Red Sox. “There were obviously a lot of factors on this,” said Sale in a Zoom call with reporters Thursday. “Again, I had to kind of work quick. The biggest thing for me was, I wanted to put myself and my family in a good situation. That meant not a whole lot of other places to go. I wanted to be in Florida for spring training and I wanted to play for a team that’s good. Atlanta’s had an unbelievable run; they have one of the best teams in baseball and I was excited to join them and do that. “Leaving Boston wasn’t easy. I’ve been there for a long time (seven seasons). It was a second home to me. My family loved it, my kids loved it and (the organization) treated my family the best. It was great. But at the same time, I felt like I went through some really tough times there and they always had my back. I felt like this was an opportunity to put me in a situation to help myself and put (the Red Sox) them in situation to help them, too. I felt like I kind of owed them something because the last few years (I) haven’t quite lived up to what I wanted to be there. “It was in favor to both parties.” Sale said Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow reached out late last week to let him know that trade talks were progressing. “It definitely caught me by surprise,” Sale said of the development. “Things worked quick. So it was a little bit before the New Year, Bres reached out and kind of put this on the table. And like I said, it was quick. I had conversations with my wife, with my agent, family, stuff like that. So right around the New Year, that’s when we kind of pulled the trigger on it and went ahead with it.”

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Robert Kraft explains why he didnt trade Bill Belichick

FOXBOROUGH – As it turns out, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have more in common than their Patriots connections and Super Bowl titles. They’re also two people who owner Robert Kraft refused to trade. On Thursday, Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Belichick announced that they agreed to a mutual parting of the ways. This amicable split means Belichick will leave the Patriots with one year left on his contract. He’s expected to coach elsewhere next season and the Patriots won’t be trading or receiving any assets for the future Hall of Fame head coach. Although Kraft traded for Belichick when he hired him in 2000, the Patriots owner said he wasn’t willing to trade the longtime head coach this time around. On Thursday, Kraft said the reason he refused to trade Belichick was the same reason he didn’t want to trade Brady. For him, it comes down to loyalty. “It’s an interesting question and in our family, our businesses are all private and so we try to create a culture and an environment where people want to stay and stay long term,” Kraft said. “And yeah, I guess if you look at this as a transaction, he is so valuable, how we could extract something, I didn’t think that was right. And I didn’t think it was right for Tom Brady, who gave us 20 years. I don’t think it’s right for Bill. Each of them earned the right to be in a position where they should do what’s right for (them), given what they have done for this franchise.” BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Trading a head coach isn’t common, but it’s happened twice with Kraft. In 1997, Kraft received the Jets’ third and fourth-round picks in 1997, a second-round pick in 1998, and a first-round in 1999 in exchange for head coach Bill Parcels. In 2000, Kraft sent a first-round pick to the Jets for the right to hire Belichick. In 2002, Raiders owner Al Davis traded Jon Gruden to Tampa Bay for a first-round draft pick in 2002, a first-round pick in 2003, and a second-round pick in 2004. Last year, the Denver Broncos traded a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 second-round pick to the New Orleans Saints for the right to head coach Sean Payton. Time around, Kraft said he felt it was better to treat people like Brady and Belichick “fairly,” which is why he let both decide their future. “So, some people might criticize me for not extracting as much value and I understand that,” Kraft said. “But we just tried to do what we think is right for the proper values and ability to operate and try to get people who want to come and feel that we’re going to treat them fairly.”

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Opinion | I Was Transformed by the Best Cult Ever: Michigan Football

I went to Ann Arbor, Mich., for a journalism fellowship because I was stuck in life. An outside observer might say I was depressed, unhappy and a little too obsessed with my dog. I felt isolated and lonely — part of the psychological epidemic that followed the pandemic. Dozens of people told me two things about Ann Arbor: Eat at Zingerman’s and get season tickets for University of Michigan football. I love sports. I grew up on the Lakers and the Dodgers. I’ve written for Sports Illustrated and freelanced for ESPN and have covered women’s sports and inequity. But I never wrote or cared about football. It wasn’t the violence; I’m a big fan of boxing and trained at Gleason’s Gym for more than 15 years. Football just wasn’t part of my culture growing up. I bought a student season pass for the home games. I figured I’d go to one game and probably sell the other six tickets.

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sports

Jason Kelce retires: Where to buy his Eagles jersey, hoodies, shirts online

Following a season-ending playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Monday night, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce told teammates he is retiring after 13 NFL seasons. Kelce was in tears throughout the end of Philadelphia’s 32-9 loss to the Buccaneers in an NFC wild-card game on Monday night. In his time in the NFL for 13 seasons, The 36-year-old was a Super Bowl champion, had 156 straight starts and six All-Pro Team selections. Fans looking to celebrate Jason Kelce’s career can shop for Eagles jerseys, t-shirts and more online at Fanatics. Kelce also hosts a podcast, “New Heights,” with his brother Travis Kelce who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. Jason could explain his decision as early as Wednesday when the next episode of the “New Heights” podcast drops. The brothers played each other last season in the Super Bowl which was won by the Chiefs. Jason also filmed a documentary with Prime Video of what he thought was his final year in the NFL. It is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video with a Prime subscription or for free with a free trial. Here is a look at what is available for Jason Kelce Eagles gear online at Fanatics: Philadelphia Eagles' Jason Kelce retires after 13 seasons. Fans can shop for his jersey and more online at Fanatics (photo courtesy of Fanatics)Fanatics Philadelphia Eagles' Jason Kelce retires after 13 seasons. Fans can shop for his jersey and more online at Fanatics (photo courtesy of Fanatics)Fanatics Philadelphia Eagles' Jason Kelce retires after 13 seasons. Fans can shop for his jersey and more online at Fanatics (photo courtesy of Fanatics)Fanatics Philadelphia Eagles' Jason Kelce retires after 13 seasons. Fans can shop for his jersey and more online at Fanatics (photo courtesy of Fanatics)Fanatics Philadelphia Eagles' Jason Kelce retires after 13 seasons. Fans can shop for his jersey and more online at Fanatics (photo courtesy of Fanatics)Fanatics Philadelphia Eagles' Jason Kelce retires after 13 seasons. Fans can shop for his jersey and more online at Fanatics (photo courtesy of Fanatics)Fanatics Philadelphia Eagles' Jason Kelce retires after 13 seasons. Fans can shop for his jersey and more online at Fanatics (photo courtesy of Fanatics)Fanatics Philadelphia Eagles' Jason Kelce retires after 13 seasons. Fans can shop for his jersey and more online at Fanatics (photo courtesy of Fanatics)Fanatics Philadelphia Eagles' Jason Kelce retires after 13 seasons. Fans can shop for his jersey and more online at Fanatics (photo courtesy of Fanatics)Fanatics Philadelphia Eagles' Jason Kelce retires after 13 seasons. Fans can shop for his jersey and more online at Fanatics (photo courtesy of Fanatics)Fanatics Philadelphia Eagles' Jason Kelce retires after 13 seasons. Fans can shop for his jersey and more online at Fanatics (photo courtesy of Fanatics)Fanatics Related content from The AP: PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jason Kelce stood on the sideline in tears as the final seconds ticked off in his likely final NFL game. Kelce embraced his long-time offensive line coach. He removed his helmet once the game ended — a Philadelphia Eagles loss that completed a harrowing season-ending collapse — and extended his hand to familiar faces in the stands. What Kelce knew then — what the gregarious center couldn’t bring himself to say when he declined to speak to the media in the aftermath of the defeat — was that his career was over. The 36-year-old Kelce was waivered on retirement over the last few seasons. Coach Nick Sirianni once added to Kelce’s mythology by shipping a keg of beer to the center’s home to entice him to return in 2022. He has been the heart of the Eagles, a hero on the Philadelphia sports scene, a Super Bowl champion. But after 13 seasons, 156 straight starts and six All-Pro Team selections, Kelce has told teammates he intends to retire, three people informed of the decision told The Associated Press. They spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday out of respect for Kelce’s decision, which he has not yet made public. “The goat!!!. Appreciate ya big time,” Eagles cornerback Darius Slay Jr. wrote on social media. Kelce could explain his decision as early as Wednesday, when the next episode of the “New Heights” podcast he co-hosts with his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, was expected to drop. The brothers played each other last season in the Super Bowl that was won by the Chiefs. “I love him. Yeah, obviously we’re not there at that position yet, ready to talk about that, but he’s special and I love him,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said after a 32-9 loss to Tampa Bay. “He’s one of the most special guys I’ve been around. He’s always got a place here and always want him to play.” The burly, bushy-haired and bearded Kelce has been a stalwart of the offensive line since he was a sixth-round pick in the 2011 draft. He turned into an Iron Man after he missed most of the 2012 season with a partially torn MCL and torn ACL. Kelce’s credentials go far beyond football. He’s a podcast co-host. He was the subject of the “Kelce” documentary. Heck, Kelce was even named one of People magazine’s Sexiest Men for 2023, alongside Timothée Chalamet and Jamie Foxx. He’s a beloved Philly personality that has done everything from belting out holiday hits on a pair of Christmas albums and playing celebrity bartender on the beach. Kelce performed the national anthem at a 76ers game and partied with the Phanatic while he pounded a beer to a roaring ovation at a Phillies postseason game. But the moment that endeared him for life to the Philly faithful came at the Super Bowl parade in 2018 when he dressed as one of Philadelphia’s famed Mummers, and the ultimate underdog delivered a fiery, profane speech that whipped the crowd into a frenzy. “No one likes us! No one likes us! No one likes us! We don’t care,” Kelce exclaimed. “We’re from Philly! (Expletive) Philly. No one likes us! We don’t care!” Eagles QB Jalen Hurts called Kelce a legend. “He’s a legend in the city. Really in the league,” Hurts said. “I don’t want to do a disservice to him and the things he’s been able to do and overcome. His journey to where he is now didn’t come easy. It’s been a long, long time coming for him, and every year since I’ve been here it’s been, are you going to come back? But he knows how much I love and appreciate him. He knows how much I’ve learned from him. He’ll forever have a special place in my heart.” Kelce was part of Philadelphia’s core four of stars that have experienced droughts and championship runs, multiple coaches and one of the worst collapses in the city’s sports history. Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham are the lone holdovers from former coach Andy Reid’s last season with the Eagles in 2012. Lane Johnson completes the four veteran anchors and was a rookie in former coach Chip Kelly’s first season in 2013. They won a Super Bowl under former coach Doug Pederson and won just four games in 2020. They’ve played hurt and set records. They’ve also raised the standard on what it means to be an Eagles player. The Core Four is no more. Kelce is the first to call it quits. “The fact that he’s done it for so long so consistently at a very high level, man, it’s a special thing,” Sirianni said. ___ AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi in Tampa, Florida, contributed to this report. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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sports

Former Patriots draft pick now kicking ass with new team

A month after he was cut loose by the New England Patriots, Jack Jones is thriving with his new team. The second-year cornerback recorded his first interception of the season in a wild highlight-reel play where he crashed down to the line of scrimmage, picked off a screen pass and ran it back for an easy score. You can watch the play, which play-by-play man Al Michaels called “unbelievable,” here. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. The highlight-reel play capped off a dominant 63-21 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football. “We’re just kickin’ ass,” Jones said after the game. Jones credited much of success in Vegas to Antonio Pierce, who took over as the Raiders’ interim head coach following the firing of Josh McDaniels. “He means everything to me, “Jones said. “He’s dam near like a father figure, just from high school all the way up until now, just mentoring me through the ups and downs, you know? He’s a big piece of my life.” So, does Jones feel like he needs to prove his coach right after giving him another opportunity? “Definitely,” Jones said. “I mean, without him who knows where I’d be at?” It’s the latest development in what’s been a wild year for Jones. The 25-year-old cornerback was coming off a promising season last year with the Patriots. However, things started going sideways when he was arrested over the summer after authorities said they found two loaded firearms in his carry-on baggage. The charges were later dropped. Jones then suffered a hamstring injury that kept him from being a consistent contributor until late October. Later, Jones’ playing time began to dwindle as he was spotted looking disengaged for stretches. The Patriots cut Jones shortly after returning from their trip to Frankfurt, Germany to play the Indianapolis Colts. Jones played just 10 snaps in that game.

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Bruins make roster moves after Saturdays OT loss

Perhaps as a precursor to activating Charlie McAvoy and Pavel Zacha, the Bruins sent defenseman Ian Mitchell and forward Jesper Boqvist to Providence of the AHL on Sunday morning. Boqvist was called up before Thursday’s game at New Jersey. He was a healthy scratch for that game and then played just 4 minutes, 47 seconds against the Islanders before sitting again on Saturday. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Mitchell, who has played 12 games for the Bruins this season, hasn’t played since Thursday while Parker Wotherspoon dressed for each of the last two games. Before Saturday’s game, Jim Montgomery said he was hopeful McAvoy and Zacha would both be ready to return this week. Both were eligible to come off of injured reserve on Saturday.

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Monument Mountain boys, girls skiing pick up wins in Berkshire County Alpine Race No. 1

The Monument Mountain boys and girls skiing teams each placed first at Berkshire County Alpine Race No. 1 on Monday. The girls placed first overall as a team with 168.03 points, followed by Pittsfield with 170.47. The boys took first with 148.62 points and were followed by Lenox with 157.04. Eliza Mullen won the girls race in a time of 33.10. Wahconah’s Mitchell Scalise won the boys race in 34.07. Monument Mountain’s girls team was powered by its depth. The Spartans didn’t have anyone finish in the top four, but the program took the fifth through eighth spots to pick up points and earn a victory. Loghan Strzepa was the highest finisher for the Spartans, placing fifth in 40.45 On the boys side, Kitson Stover was the highest Monument Mountain finisher, placing third in a time of 35.23. Boys Team Results Monument Mountain, 148.62 Lenox, 157.04 PHS, 177.69 Wahconah, 180.16 Taconic, 1112.57 Boys Individual Results (Top 5) Mitchell Scalise, Wahconah (34.07) Keeghan Scott, Taconic (34.75) Kitson Stover, Monument Mountain (35.23) Michael Piretti, Lenox (35.93) Declan Logan, Monument Mountain (36.20) Girls Team Results Monument Mountain, 168.03 PHS, 170.47 Lenox, 171.09 Taconic, 226.93 Wahconah, 3019.01 Girls Individual Results (Top 5)

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How tanking Commanders could impact Patriots

FOXBOROUGH – The Washington Commanders will reportedly keep “a lot” of their veteran players on the bench this weekend when they take on the Dallas Cowboys. The Patriots, meanwhile, almost certainly won’t approach their final game like they want to lose. The difference in approach could have huge ramifications on the 2024 NFL Draft order. On Wednesday, Bill Belichick was asked if he would play younger players this weekend against the New York Jets. “We’re going to get ready to play the guys that deserve to play against the Jets,” Belichick said. “I think they all want to play.” That won’t be the case for the Commanders, who are starting quarterback Sam Howell. On Thursday, JP Finlay of NBC 4 Sports tweeted, “I get the vibe a lot of Commanders veterans won’t play this weekend.” The Commanders are currently slotted into the No. 2 pick behind the Chicago Bears, who gained the top selection from Carolina. A loss for Washington on Sunday gives them the likelihood that they’ll stay in that second slot. Considering the top three prospects are quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Drake Maye as well as receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., Washington is trying to put their franchise in position to draft a potential generational player. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. The Patriots draft slot is less certain. At 4-12, they’re currently in position to draft at No. 3. Their strength of schedule (.518) put them behind Washington (.515), but ahead of Arizona (.562). All three teams enter this final game with the same record. A win for the Patriots over the New York Jets makes things complicated. There are three teams behind them with 5-11 records. The watch to watch for is the New York Giants, who have the edge in strength of schedule (.511). In the event the Patriots win, but the Commanders, Cardinals, and Giants lose, the Patriots could theoretically fall to No. 5. The problem there is that Washington and the Giants could draft a quarterback. The same goes for the Bears, who are reportedly debating whether they should keep Justin Fields or draft Williams out of USC. With the fifth pick, the Patriots could very well be out of the running for the top two quarterbacks (Williams and Maye), but someone like LSU’s Jayden Daniels could still be in play. The Patriots would also be in a position to take one of the top offensive tackles, which is a need. With the Jets starting third-string quarterback Trevor Siemian on Sunday, the Patriots are favored to win this matchup. Players inside Gillette Stadium sat they’re focused on finishing their season on a high note. “Yeah, we’ve continued the same message of playing for each other,” Bailey Zappe said on Thursday. “We understand that in the NFL, not everybody’s going to be on the team next year. People are going to be in different spots. So, this is going to be the last game that all these guys on the same team are going to be together. So, I think that’s something that’s setting in. And, I think going into Sunday, we’re going to have a kind of energy of ‘we’re going to play for one another and kind of go out there and try to put something together’.”

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Von Miller turns himself in after arrest warrant issued (report)

\Von Miller turned himself into the Glenn Heights police in Texas on Thursday after an arrest warrant was issued for assaulting his pregnant girlfriend, according to WFAA’s Rebecca Lopez. The Bills star was booked into DeSoto regional jail and later released after posting his $5,000 bond. According to WFAA, police responded to a “major disturbance” at Miller’s home in the Dallas are on Wednesday morning. Miller allegedly assaulted his pregnant girlfriend and left before police arrived. The outlet also noted that a “charge of assaulting a pregnant person is a third-degree felony in Texas.” ESPN obtained that affidavit for Miller’s arrest warrant, which stated an argument between the couple started Wednesday morning over concerns about the victim’s travel plans. She left the room they were in and “slammed the door” to another room, upsetting Miller, who yelled at the victim to “get out”. The victim attempted to leave, but Miller “pushed and shoved her.” The affidavit also stated that Miller “applied pressure to her neck for three to five seconds” with one hand, but it didn’t impact the victim’s ability to breathe. $200 INSTANT BONUS DRAFTKINGS MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $5, GET $200 BONUS BET FANDUEL MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $50, GET $250 BONUS CAESARS MASS CLAIM OFFER $1,000 FIRST-BET BONUS BETMGM MASS CLAIM OFFER MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. The victim told Miller she was going to call the police after he stomped on her laptop and pulled her hair as she tried to grab it from the floor, per the affidavit. Miller grabbed the woman for a second time and pushed her on a couch used both hands to put pressure on her neck. The woman was treated for minor injuries, per The Dallas Morning News, and did not go to the hospital. Miller is in his second season with the Bills. The team confirmed they were aware of an incident involving linebacker, but didn’t go into any details. “This morning, we were made aware of an incident involving Von Miller. We are in the process of gathering more information and will have no further comment at this point,” the Bills said in a statement. The investigation is ongoing.

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sports

Your guide to First Night Boston 2024

First Night festivities will take place as far away as Virginia and California this year, but Boston is where it all started. It’s a night that celebrates artistry in many forms from ice-sculpting to button design. First Night has been a part of Boston for nearly half a century, but as with all traditions, there are notable changes from year to year. We’ve got your guide to help you make the most out of whatever part of 2023 we have left! Where to go First night is on the move this year! Don’t go to Copley Square expecting last year’s celebrations. The main stage will be at the newly renovated City Hall Plaza with other events in the surrounding area: The Greenway, Columbus Park, Improv Asylum and Boston Common. Getting there As with any large event held in a metropolitan area, event organizers discourage driving and encourage public transportation. Luckily for attendees, the events are close to several T stops and not too far off from Back Bay for those taking the commuter rail. To get to City Hall Plaza, use nearby stops Government Center (Blue Line and Green Line), Haymarket (Orange Line and Green Line), and State Street (Orange Line and Blue Line). The T will operate on a Sunday schedule with increased service starting in the late afternoon. Visit the MBTA's website for more travel information. Whether you’re planning to drive or still figuring out your travel plans, you may want to consider the scheduled parking restrictions and road closures. You can view a list of traffic advisories for more details, and advanced reservations for parking are available through SpotHero. How do I purchase tickets? You don’t! Since 2015, First Night Boston has been entirely free to the public. Programming highlights Get a full nights’ sleep going into New Year’s Eve because starting at 11 a.m., there’s a 13-hour lineup of events, attractions, entertainment and more. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Free admission to the Mapparium Globe, the three-story stained glass depiction of the Earth. This is the furthest activity from the main stage, so it’s a good place to visit on your way in or out of the city. 11:11 a.m. – Performances start at City Hall Plaza and continue for much of the day. The first act is music group Sweet Harmony. Check the schedule for a full list of acts. Noon - 3 p.m. – Free rides at the Greenway Carousel. 1 p.m. – The Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Association will provide supplies for arts and crafts on the second floor of City Hall Plaza. Activities include calligraphy, face painting, games, snowflake making. 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. – Hourly shows at Improv Asylum for audiences of all ages. 6 p.m. – Join drummers, puppeteers, and firetrucks on a downtown parade starting at City Hall Plaza and ending at Boston Common, where more festivities will take place. Be sure to stop by Frog Pond for the annual skating spectacular. 7 p.m. – The first of two firework shows of the evening. The early show will take place over Boston Common. 7:20 p.m. - midnight – Music continues at City Hall Plaza. The official countdown to midnight begins at 11:30 p.m. with rapper Sammy Adams to help ring in the new year. Midnight – Have your cheers, then look toward the harbor for a view of the midnight fireworks display. Do’s And don’ts Do use public transportation. Do speak up or call 911 if you see dangerous activities. Do be prepared for weather on the colder and perhaps wet side. Do stay home if you're experiencing cold- or flu-like symptoms. Do be respectful of families, older citizens and people with disabilities at the events or when you're riding the T. Don't drink alcohol or smoke marijuana at any of the events. Don't drive if you've consumed alcohol. New Years is among the most dangerous times of the year to be on the road. Don't bring your own fireworks. (They are illegal in Massachusetts.) What’s going on outside of Boston? Not making it to Boston for First Night? There’s plenty going on around the rest of the state. To the east, Chatham is celebrating its own First Night. To the west, Northampton will mark its own First Night as well. Both will feature their own slate of performances and celebrations.

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sports

How to watch Lego Masters season 4 finale for free Dec. 14

The three remaining teams have 24 hours to create a massive build complete with storytelling creativity and technical aspects in the season finale of “Lego Masters” airing on Thursday, December 14 on FOX. The season finale of season 4 will air at 9 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on FOX. Viewers looking to stream the premiere can do so by using FuboTV and DirecTV Stream. Both streaming services offer free trials. According to a description of the show by FOX, in “Lego Masters,” teams of two LEGO® enthusiasts go head-to-head, with infinite possibilities and an unlimited supply of LEGO® bricks. “Throughout the competition, host Will Arnett and expert judges encourage the amateur builders, introduce incredible challenges and put the creations to the test,” according to FOX. The competing pairs who impress the judges the most progress to the next round. In the finale, the top teams face off for a cash prize, the ultimate LEGO trophy and the grand title of LEGO® MASTERS. In the season finale, the three remaining teams have 24 hours to create a massive build complete with storytelling, creativity and technical aspects to take home a $100,000 cash prize, the ultimate LEGO trophy and the title of LEGO Masters. Here is a look at season 4 from FOX’s YouTube channel: How can I watch “Lego Masters” without cable? The season finale of season 4 will air at 9 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on FOX. Viewers looking to stream the premiere can do so by using FuboTV and DirecTV Stream. Both streaming services offer free trials. What is DirecTV Stream? The streaming platform offers a plethora of content including streaming the best of live and On Demand, starting with more than 75 live TV channels. What is FuboTV? FuboTV is an over-the-top internet live TV streaming service that offers more than 100 channels, like sports, news, entertainment and local channels. It offers DVR storage space, and is designed for people who want to cut the cord, but don’t want to miss out on their favorite live TV and sports.

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sports

Celtics stars reveal keys to staying perfect at home

BOSTON — The Celtics are now an undefeated 12-0 at TD Garden this season with their most recent victory coming Thursday against the Cavaliers. The C’s have been tested at times, but they still continue to rack up wins in front of their home crowd — they’re now 18-5 on the season. The C’s themselves haven’t spoken at length amongst themselves about being perfect at home. But Jaylen Brown talked about what it takes to be locked in every single day of the season, even when things can get mundane. So it goes beyond the perfect home record, but more the consistency of a winning basketball team. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. “Just having respect for our opponents,” Brown said. “And then also coming out and playing with the right mindset from start to finish. I’ve emphasized to not skip any steps this year. Success is earned every single day, so that means every shootaround, every film session, every time we’re together, we need to be aware of what’s going on and aware of the mission in total.” That’s been a common theme for the Celtics where they try to fight back against the routine of an 82-game season. The C’s are still taking care of business as the best team in the East, but things can start to feel stale during the dog days of the season. So the team has continued to stress the process of becoming a great team during these times. C’s coach Joe Mazzulla has spoken at length how they’re still not a finished product — especially with the new pieces like Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday still incorporating into the fold. So while the Celtics rely on Brown and Jayson Tatum, it’s still a team-wide effort to keep racking up the victories. “We kind of try to just win every day,” Tatum said. “Every practice day, every game day, and just have a sense of pride about playing at home. In the last year or two, we haven’t been as great as we want to be at home, especially in the playoffs. We’ve lost some, some tough games at home. So just trying to get back to my first couple years when we were just electric at home. And we have been so far.”

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sports

Penguins Take Thousands of Naps Every Day

Penguins are champion power nappers. Over the course of a single day, they fall asleep thousands of times, each bout a few seconds long, a new study has found. Although animals have a wide range of sleeping styles, penguins easily take the record for fragmented sleeping. “It’s really unusual,” said Paul-Antoine Libourel, a neuroscientist at the Neuroscience Research Center of Lyon in France who helped make the discovery. “This just highlights the fact that we don’t know much about sleep, and all animals are not sleeping like the way we read in textbooks.” The study was published on Thursday in the journal Science. The science of sleep got its start in the early 1900s when researchers used scalp electrodes to discover that people produce slow brain waves when dozing.

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sports

HS Boys Hockey: See where WMass teams stand in first postseason rankings

The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association released its first power rankings of the winter season Friday morning. The rankings include schedules and scores updated through Jan. 12 at 4 a.m. The state athletic association will update the rankings every Tuesday and Friday throughout the remainder of the regular season.

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sports

The Patriots better have a foolproof plan

For the longest time, the Patriots always seemed two steps ahead of the curve. Whether it was revolutionizing offenses after drafting two tight ends, acquiring the right players to complement Tom Brady and sustain success for two decades, or coming up with cutting edge schemes on defense, the Patriots always seemed ahead of the rest. That hasn’t been the case recently. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. That’s why now, more than ever, whoever winds up making the personnel decisions, whether it continues to be Bill Belichick, which appears doubtful, or someone else, which is the more likely outcome, the Patriots need to have a plan for every possible scenario. More important, whatever the plan, it needs to be bullet-proof. Otherwise, it’s going to be a long time before the franchise gets out of this hole. The first order of business - assuming the head coach and general manager positions have been addressed - is the quarterback plan. While it doesn’t seem likely either Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe, who gets his fourth straight start Sunday night against Denver, will be the future starter, there’s a good chance one of the two will be retained as either the backup, or stopgap until the new guy is ready. With the Patriots poised for a top five pick, perhaps getting as high as No. 2 which is where they currently sit with three games to play, they need to decide which of the top quarterbacks they want, and make sure they get him. That was the Chiefs approach when they moved up the board to snag Patrick Mahomes in 2017. They traded up, making a deal with the Buffalo Bills for the No. 10 overall selection, shipping off the No. 27 and 91 picks, as well as their 2018 first-round pick, to get up into position to land Mahomes. Think the Chiefs have any regrets for being aggressive and making that kind of move? CBS broadcaster Ross Tucker, a guest on MassLive’s “Eye on Foxborough” podcast, can’t see how the Patriots wouldn’t add to their quarterback stable. “They will at least get a new quarterback. I don’t know that it’s necessarily that they would draft one. But they would at least get a new one,” said Tucker, who was with the Patriots from 2005-06. “I think it depends, I would imagine on who else is available in free agency, who’s available via trade. Who’s the one making that decision, right? Because (Bill) Belichick typically has liked to use those type of high picks when he has them, historically, I feel like on D-linemen. Like a Richard Seymour, or a Ty Warren, or guys like that, and hope that he can get a quarterback with a second-round pick or a third-round pick. “But I guess that leads to probably another question, which is about what I think might happen with Bill,” he added. “But I do think that they’re gonna get a new quarterback. I’d be shocked if they didn’t. ... But if they have a top-two pick, I would imagine that they would use that on a quarterback.” Now, if the Patriots don’t like any of the top quarterbacks, which isn’t out of the realm, they have to know who they want to sign in free agency, or possibly, acquire in a trade scenario. Kirk Cousins, Baker Mayfield, Ryan Tannehill and Gardner Minshew are some of the headliners on the list of upcoming free agent quarterbacks. While it’s not the best free agent class, settling for their second or third option here can’t happen. Let’s remember what happened after Tom Brady walked out the door. There was no plan. And because of that, the Patriots settled for signing Cam Newton at the last second, literally right before training camp. The Patriots also have to decide if they want to stick with a drop back passer or finally make the move to a dual threat quarterback. With that in mind, they also have to decide if they want to adapt a new offensive system to best fit the quarterback. And that’s just for starters. Basically, Belichick or whoever has the G.M or personnel head job, has to plan and plot the best way to take care of their primary needs at quarterback, offensive tackle and receiver. It’s no secret they need to bring in as many blue chip players as possible at those positions. With a high draft pick, and tons of cap space, they should be able to accomplish the mission if they map everything out correctly. In terms of free agent wide receivers, Tee Higgins (Bengals), Michael Pittman (Colts), Mike Evans (Buccaneers), Calvin Ridley (Jaguars), Marquise Brown (Cardinals) will be available if their respective teams don’t hit them with the franchise tag or re-sign them. Are any of those wideouts a better alternative than Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison? That’s another part of the plan. As for tackle, along with two of their own (Trent Brown, Michael Onwenu), who are among the best names on the list, there’s Tyron Smith (Cowboys), Mekhi Becton (Jets), Jonah Williams (Bengals), Austin Jackson (Dolphins), and Donovan Smith (Chiefs). In the draft, meanwhile, there’s two can’t miss generational talents in Notre Dame’s Joe Alt, and Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu. Do they start here at the top of the draft? At the very least, the Patriots would probably be wise to re-sign Onwenu, and add another tackle or more in the draft. Bottom line: What they envision for their first pick will impact all of the other moves. That’s why settling in on who’s in charge of personnel, be it someone completely new or if it continues to be Belichick or someone from his regime may be the most important decision for team owner Robert Kraft. Tough to fix one of the worst rosters in the league talent-wise unless there’s someone with a clue picking the groceries. NFL fans can wager online on Massachusetts sports betting with enticing promo codes from top online sportsbooks. Use the FanDuel Massachusetts promo code and the DraftKings Massachusetts promo code for massive new user bonuses.

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sports

Kristaps Porzingis reveals why partnership failed with former star teammate

Kristaps Porzingis has been a model teammate since arriving with the Celtics in a June trade with the Wizards. Playing in Boston will be his best chance at winning an NBA title since playing alongside Luka Doncic in Dallas midway through his career. The Mavericks unceremoniously traded away Porzingis to the Wizards for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans back in February 2022 after a promising start to his career in Dallas flamed out due to injuries and chemistry issues. JJ Redick played with Porzingis in Dallas for one season during his stint and had the Celtics big man on his podcast on Thursday to discuss exactly what went wrong for Porzingis in Dallas among other topics. “It’s a mix of many things,” Porzingis told Redick on the Old Man and The Three podcast. “Maturity for sure — and I’m talking about what I could have done better. Better maturity for sure, and I wasn’t that much into analytics and numbers. If somebody at that stage of my career presented it to me the right way and said, ‘This is what we need to do; this is what we need from you; you’re way more effective doing this,’ and explained it to me better, I think that would have made a difference a little bit.” $200 INSTANT BONUS DRAFTKINGS MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $5, GET $200 BONUS BET FANDUEL MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $50, GET $250 BONUS CAESARS MASS CLAIM OFFER $1,000 FIRST-BET BONUS BETMGM MASS CLAIM OFFER MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. Redick also pressed Porzingis on his chemistry with All-Star Luka Doncic and suggested the duo was in a “pissing match” during their tenure together. “Early on, for sure,” Porzingis said. “I think we both tried to make it work. It’s just, I think communication, maturity on both of our parts should have been better.” Those issues appear not to be of any concern for Porzingis in Boston as he meshes with All-Star teammates Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday. The big man is hoping to return from a calf injury on Friday night to help Boston improve on an East-best 15-5 start to begin the season. “I think more of just building chemistry as a team,” Porzingis said at Celtics practice on Wednesday. “Again, I’m added to this team, it’s something different, guys are getting used to playing with me, but you already see some glimpses of me and JB, JT, and all of us just getting a feel for each other. Jrue is here too, so it’s something new and we’re working to build that chemistry throughout the year.”

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sports

Beantown Rundown: Mookie Betts Boston return a reminder of Red Sox front office failures

On Friday night, the Boston Red Sox and their fans welcomed back former superstar outfielder Mookie Betts to Fenway Park. With the Los Angeles Dodgers in town, Betts took the field in Boston for the first time since 2019, and it's safe to say that he received a warm welcome from fans in his return. After all he accomplished during his time with the Sox, why wouldn't he have? Betts burst onto the scene with the Sox in 2014, and followed that up with a 19th place finish in the American League MVP race in 2015, his first full year in the majors. Betts would go on to earn four All-Star selections, four gold gloves, three Silver Slugger awards, the 2018 American League MVP, and a World Series title in 2018 with Boston. In just six short seasons, Betts made himself a Beantown legend. And yet, as quickly as Betts came to prominence, it all came crashing down when he was traded to the Dodgers after the 2019 season due to the front office not wanting to sign him to a long-term extension. And while it's nice to see Betts back in Boston, his return is really just a reminder of how big of a mistake the Red Sox front office made by trading him. Why Mookie Betts' return is bittersweet for the Red Sox Betts' impact in Boston throughout his fairly short stay with the team cannot be overstated. Betts quickly became arguably the best player in baseball alongside Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels during his rise with the Sox, and his MVP campaign in 2018 (.346 BA, 32 HR, 80 RBI, 30 SB, 1.078 OPS) made him the face of their most recent championship team. To put it all into perspective, over what really amounted to a little over five seasons of action, Betts ended up finishing his Red Sox career as their 13th best player of all time when measuring his contributions using Baseball-Reference's WAR statistic. Betts put his name above legends like Nomar Garciaparra, Carlton Fisk, and even one of his former teammates in Xander Bogaerts, in just a few seasons. For the inside story on the 24 people banned from MLB, listen below: That unfortunately didn't convince the front office to invest in him with a long-term deal. Shortly after Chaim Bloom took over Boston's front office, he shipped Betts to the Dodgers in a massive blockbuster deal. It's safe to say that trading away Boston's best player for what has essentially become Alex Verdugo and Connor Wong is something that Bloom has struggled to overcome with the Red Sox. Boston made a surprise run to the American League Championship Series in 2021, but aside from that, they have looked lost for much of the period after Betts' departure. While they have managed to exceed expectations this season, it's clear that the Red Sox probably are going to have to wait a few more years before they can become a true World Series contender again. A big reason why that's the case is because of Betts' departure. Aside from a down year in 2021, Betts has been phenomenal with the Dodgers, finishing second in the National League MVP race in 2020 and fifth in 2o22. In 2023, with the season Betts is putting together (.309 BA, 34 HR, 89 RBI, 10 SB, 1.008 OPS) he might end up winning the second MVP campaign of his career. Shortly after he landed with Los Angeles, Betts inked a 12-year, $365 million deal that the Red Sox front office did not want to offer him. While Betts will be making $27.5 million when he's 39 years old in the final year of this deal, that's how the contract game is played in the MLB. Realistically speaking, Boston will be in a fairly similar position when they are paying Rafael Devers $29 million when he's 36 after they signed him to a ten-year, $313.5 million extension this past offseason. Would Betts have stuck around in Boston had he not been traded? While he's been adamant he would have stayed with the Red Sox had he gotten a similar offer as the one he got from the Dodgers, it's a lot easier to say that now that you have received the massive deal you were looking for. Betts seemed intent on hitting the open market before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, so chances are it may not have mattered. On the other hand, though, it's clear the front office did not make the push that should have been made to keep Betts around, which was something we saw again with Bogaerts in free agency last offseason (although that hasn't come back to bite Boston very much yet). Mookie Betts making his long-awaited return to Boston is nice, but it's really just another reminder of how badly Bloom managed his situation, and it has clearly set the Red Sox back a few years in their quest to win another World Series championship.

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sports

Trent Brown still missing, reportedly has next team picked out

FOXBOROUGH — Trent Brown still hasn’t returned to the Patriots practice field since serving as a healthy scratch in Buffalo. Brown missed practice on Wednesday — he was listed with an illness again on the injury report — and was nowhere to be found on Thursday, either. Brown has now missed four practices in the past two weeks with the illness designation, despite coming off the injury report last Friday and posting a number of social media photos from a New Years Eve party over the weekend. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. According to the Boston Herald, the free-agent-to-be already has his next destination picked out. “Brown had dealt with knee and ankle injuries in late October, and had his mind on free agency,” Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed wrote. “After a surprising upset at Pittsburgh, Brown openly discussed plans to play for an NFC team in the team locker room.” It’d make a lot of sense if that was the Dallas Cowboys, who are hours from Brown’s ranch in Texas and have high-profile tackle Tyron Smith heading into free agency. Elsewhere on the practice field, Myles Bryant returned from an illness and the Patriots had perfect attendance beyond Brown. With snow in the forecast for Sunday’s season finale against the Jets, quarterback Bailey Zappe is looking forward to playing in some New England weather. “It’ll be exciting. I’m from Texas,” Zappe said. “We don’t really play in snow very much, so it’s going be fun. It’s going to be a great environment, last game, try to end the year out strong. So, I’m ready for it.”

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sports

Weather forecasts predict one of NFLs coldest games ever this weekend

The conditions are projected to be “dangerously cold” Saturday when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Miami Dolphins in their first-round NFL Playoffs matchup. According to the National Weather Service, the weather forecast for Saturday night in Kansas City calls for a low of -8 degrees with a wind chill “between -20 and -27″ thanks to winds that could reach up to 30 MPH. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. The conditions would be historic for an NFL game. According to ESPN, the coldest NFL game on record was the famous “Ice Bowl” between the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys in 1967. The NFL Championship matchup on Dec. 31 in Green Bay, Wisconsin had a gametime temperature of -13 degrees and a wind chill of -48 degrees. Other famous frigid games include the Chargers-Bengals AFC Champion in in 1982 (-9 temperature, -59 wind chill), the Seahawks-Vikings NFL Championship in 2016 (-6 temperature, -25 wind chill) and the Packers-Giants NFL Championship in 2008 (-1 temperature, -23 wind chill), according to ESPN. Frigid playoff games in Kansas City aren’t new. It was 19 degrees when the Patriots faced the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game in January 2019. But the forecast for Sunday at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium represents a whole new low (literally). It’s a tough break for a warm-weather team like the Dolphins. Saturday’s forecast calls for a high of 81 and a low of 67 in Miami.

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sports

Nightmare trade scenario would gift top Boston Celtics rival the east

The Boston Celtics may have no choice but to succumb to a Miami Heat team that will have traded for Kawhi Leonard in a proposed mock trade scenario pitched by Clipperholics’ Tyler Watts — one that would see another nightmarish Big Three formed in South Beach alongside Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. The rest of the proposal would send Tyler Herro, Caleb Martin, Kyle Lowry, two first-round picks, and two pick swaps to the Los Angeles Clippers and return Marcus Morris and Bones Hyland along with the two-time Finals MVP. As Watts explains, the motivation behind the deal for the Clippers would be to get a return on Leonard during a contract year. “Martin was impactful in their 2023 run to the NBA Finals, and Kyle Lowry gives the Clippers some added playmaking,” Watts prefaced before saying, “Two first-round draft picks and two swaps are light for a star like Leonard, but he too could inform the team of his desire to leave in the summer of 2024.” Such a deal would practically gift Miami the Eastern Conference, though. A contract-year Kawhi along with a Butler dying to finally break through the glass ceiling? That’s too dangerous for any team in the conference, including the Boston Celtics. Miami getting any big-name star to pair with Jimmy Butler is trouble for the Boston Celtics — but Kawhi Leonard would sting extra Not long ago, a Joel Embiid landing spot scenario envisioning the reigning MVP to Miami — a trade scenario that came courtesy of Sir Charles in Charge’s Michael Saenz — was also nightmarish for Boston Celtics fans, but that wouldn’t touch Leonard joining the Heat. The Klaw is a proven entity with hardware already on his hands. Embiid, Leonard, his teammate Paul George, or Damian Lillard would all shift the power balance in the east, but given the C’s reluctance to pull the trigger on a Leonard deal back in 2019 before he went on to win the Toronto Raptors a title, it’d sting extra if it was Leonard.

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Players to Watch: Longmeadow, Pope Francis girls hockey to face off for first time this winter

The two girls hockey programs in Western Massachusetts will face off for the first time this winter Friday night at Smead Arena. Pope Francis and Longmeadow are both off to strong starts this season, with the Cardinals standing at 8-3-1 in Division I and the Lancers at 6-2 in Division II. Last winter, the programs tied in their first meeting before Pope Francis won the second. Ahead of the 5 p.m. puck drop between the two programs, get to know the top players for each team.

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sports

Live stream: Celtics 91, Knicks 90

Joe Mazzulla on the decision to bring Al Horford off the bench: “You don’t make decisions without taking in consideration who he is and what he stands for. I’m not saying he lined up, shit, like raising his hand excited about it. But he’s Al, so we’re grateful for him.” – 5:47 PM

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QB corner: Did Bailey Zappes performance rekindle Zappe Fever?

FOXBOROUGH - Four in-game benchings later, Bill Belichick finally opted to change his starting quarterback. Mac Jones took a seat against the Los Angeles Chargers. Bailey Zappe, who gave rise to the term “Zappe Fever” based on his relief efforts last year, took over as the starter. And, given what played out at practice, it was set up for Malik Cunningham to be utilized as well at quarterback. While Zappe provided a spark last season when both Jones and Brian Hoyer were injured, he didn’t evoke the same charge during his four relief appearances this year. In those games, he completed 19 passes in 39 attempts (48.7%) for 158 yards. He didn’t throw any touchdowns, but had two picks. His quarterback rating was a dismal 38.2. With a full week of starter reps, did Zappe improve? Did he revive Zappe Fever and lead the Patriots to a win? Nope. That didn’t happen. $200 INSTANT BONUS DRAFTKINGS MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $5, GET $200 BONUS BET FANDUEL MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $50, GET $250 BONUS CAESARS MASS CLAIM OFFER $1,000 FIRST-BET BONUS BETMGM MASS CLAIM OFFER MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. Here’s the rundown: The weather was bad. The play on the field was worse. In terms of points produced, the Zappe-led offense was no better than the Jones-led offense as the Patriots did not score against a Chargers unit that ranked dead-last in total defense. Talk about going from bad to worse, the Patriots had scored 13 points combined the previous two games before going down Sunday 6-0 to the Chargers. Zappe finished completing 13 of 25 passes for 141 yards. He did not turn the ball over. And even though Zappe showed more spunk and escapability than Jones, and less panic in the pocket, he still couldn’t totally avoid the rush. He was sacked five times. If Zappe was supposed to provide a spark, it certainly didn’t happen. The weather likely contributed to that, as Bill O’Brien went heavy with the ground attack. The unit produced 148 yards rushing, but once again, Zappe couldn’t complete drives. In the first half, his timing was off. He threw behind receivers, and several of his throws were delivered a tick or two late. Zappe’s first pass of the day, which came on his opening play under center, was thrown behind DeVante Parker. It was nearly picked. It didn’t get much better from there. Zappe completed five of 12 passes in the opening half for 39 yards. Most of his passes went sideways. The longest play from scrimmage was a dump off to Ezekiel Elliott that went for 23 yards. That meant Zappe completed his four other passes for 16 yards. Justin Herbert, however, wasn’t much better, with the Chargers taking a 6-0 lead into halftime, and holding on the rest of the way. As mentioned, the best part of Zappe was that unlike Jones in previous games, he didn’t have any turnovers, and he was much more elusive in the pocket. In the second half, O’Brien let Zappe air it out a little more. At least they moved the ball past the 50 yard line. Sacks, however, killed their best drive of the game in the third quarter, and wiped out another one late in the quarter, and again midway through the fourth quarter. Malik Cunningham? There was some thought he might play, provide a change of pace. It didn’t happen. Perhaps it was because the offense never got to the red zone. Whatever the case, a change in quarterback didn’t change the Patriots fate. It did not produce a win. Just more questions about a sad sack offense. NFL fans can wager online on Massachusetts sports betting with enticing promo codes from top online sportsbooks. Use the FanDuel Massachusetts promo code and the DraftKings Massachusetts promo code for massive new user bonuses.

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Deatrich Wise credits defensive coach for frustrating Josh Allen

As good as Josh Allen is, the Buffalo Bills quarterback is prone to making mistakes. His 16 picks on the season is testament to that. But the effort put forth by the defense against Allen in Sunday’s 27-21 loss went above and beyond, considering four turnovers by the offense leaving the Bills with good field position. Even in the win, Allen completed just 15 of 30 passes for 169 yards. He threw an interception, and fumbled twice, with his team recovering both. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Defensive lineman Deatrich Wise, who had one of the sacks, credited the Patriots defensive coaching staff for their effort against Allen on Sunday, as well as the Patriots win over Buffalo (29-25) earlier in the year. In particular, he cited linebackers coach Jerod Mayo for coming up with the game plan, and sparking the defense’s effort against Allen and the Bills offense. “It’s a big testament to Mayo. He gets us ready every day,” said Wise. “You know what Josh Allen wants to do. He’s a playmaker, so he wants the ball in his hands for the most part ... we knew what he was going to do. We knew the formations they were going to run during the game. “Our goal was to make them one-dimensional. Some things didn’t happen the way we planned it,” he went on. “But for the most part, I felt like we held them pretty good for what it was.” Producing a 53.3 passer rating from Allen, holding the Bills to 281 total yards, which was less than the Patriots offense in the game, was a credit to the defense, which keeps fighting no matter how bad the offense is. “We have great leaders,” said Wise. “And we have great coaches, keeping us motivated, and keeping us mentally tough.” NFL fans can wager online on Massachusetts sports betting with enticing promo codes from top online sportsbooks. Use the FanDuel Massachusetts promo code and the DraftKings Massachusetts promo code for massive new user bonuses.

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Bill Belichick responds to Rex Ryans Patriot Way criticism

It’s no surprise that Rex Ryan has been taking shots at the last place Patriots on ESPN. The former Jets and Bills coach turned full-time carnival barker went 3-9 against Bill Belichick during his time in the AFC East and seemingly never ceases to criticize New England. $200 INSTANT BONUS DRAFTKINGS MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $5, GET $200 BONUS BET FANDUEL MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $50, GET $250 BONUS CAESARS MASS CLAIM OFFER $1,000 FIRST-BET BONUS BETMGM MASS CLAIM OFFER MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. “This team plays like they’re exhausted, and the Patriot Way, that’s it: It exhausts these kids,” Ryan said. “Tom Brady was the only reason you won anyway, I’m just telling you the difference... I said they would never win again when (Brady) trotted down to Tampa, because I know how draining that is to those kids. That is what you’re facing right now.” While Ryan’s comments are unsurprising, it was somewhat unexpected that Belichick responded to the barbs a bit on WEEI Monday morning. The Patriots coach said Ryan made little sense, and pointed out that he’d never been behind the scenes in Foxborough. “Yeah, I’m not really sure what he’s talking about,” Belichick said. “Rex has never been with the Patriots. I’m not really sure what that means, either. But we’re going to do the best we can to prepare the team and compete every week. So, that’s what we’re going to do. Whatever that is.” Belichick has almost always steered clear of any sort of “Patriot Way” discussion, but some of his former players have offered interesting interpretations. Patrick Chung, who won three Super Bowls in New England, had one of the more eloquent definitions when fielding a question on the phrase. “‘The Patriot Way,’ it’s very hard to play here. Not for reasons that people think it is, but you have to be smart,” Chung said. “Confidence and cockiness are two different things. Cockiness here does not fly. It’s all about the team and doing your job. Whatever selfish part of you that exists, when you come here that’s gone. End of story. And if it’s not gone, then you’re gonna be gone. “So when I went to Philly I just called it a year off from football. I’ve learned a lot here. You gotta work hard and stay out of trouble, don’t say anything stupid. Do what you have to do and if you don’t, then you’re gonna be gone. If you have that mindset early, then you’ll be OK.”

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Jayson Tatum working out with Celtics legend during offseason

Jayson Tatum has spent a large chunk of his summer documenting his offseason as he prepares for a pivotal season for the Celtics. Recently, Tatum spent some time working out in Los Angeles alongside long-time trainer Drew Hanlan. However, a clip shows there was a special attendee at some of those workouts: Hall of Fame forward Paul Pierce. “Watching JT sharpen those tools, seeing what greatness looks like,” Pierce said in Tatum’s Instagram clip. DraftKings Massachusetts $150 Bonus Bets! CLAIM OFFER 21+. Physically present in MA. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. First-time depositors only who have not already redeemed $200 in bonus bets via OH or MA prelaunch offer. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 bet. $200 issued as bonus bets that expire 7 days (168 hours) after being awarded. See terms at http://draftkings.com/ma. Pierce has been a vocal supporter of Pierce throughout his career, putting him in some lofty franchise company over this past season. “I’m seeing his game mature right before our eyes,” Pierce said of Tatum. “He’s a lot stronger. He’s playing with a lot more confidence. The way he’s passing the ball. He’s doing a better job getting to the free throw line. He’s rebounding the ball at a high level. I already know what he’s doing as a scorer. If he can continue to play like this, sky’s the limit for him. He should be able to bring home that MVP trophy. More importantly, he’d rather bring home a championship than an MVP trophy ... he could end up the greatest Celtic to ever put on that uniform. I’m telling you, that’s what I see. He’s got that type of potential.” Tatum will be working with a revamped roster in Boston this season after the team traded away Marcus Smart for Kristaps Porzingis this offseason. Brad Stevens is clearly making a bet on Tatum’s offensive upside by trying to place more dangerous parts around him on that side of the floor. Whether Tatum can follow in Pierce’s footsteps and bring the Celtics a title remains to be seen but it certainly should be encouraging for Celtics fans to see him spending time with one of the top scorers in team history.

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Dominican judge orders conditional release of Rays Wander Franco while probe continues

PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) — A judge on Friday ordered the conditional release of Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco while he is investigated for allegations he had a relationship with a 14-year-old girl and gave her mother a car and thousands of dollars in exchange for her consent, according to court documents obtained by The Associated Press. The judge said Wander is allowed to leave the Dominican Republic but must return once a month to meet with authorities. He also was ordered to pay 2 million Dominican pesos ($34,000) as a type of deposit as the investigation continues. Wander, who was expected to be released early Saturday, did not speak to reporters after the hearing ended. During a bathroom break earlier in the day, he briefly told reporters that “everything is in God’s hands.” Supporters who gathered outside the courthouse clapped after the ruling and shouted “Boss! Boss!” in reference to Franco. Franco’s father, also called Wander Franco, exclaimed, “God is just.” The 22-year-old All-Star is accused of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering. The judge in the case, Rumaldi Marcelino, had several options for a ruling Friday: release Franco on bond, temporarily arrest him, prevent him from leaving the Dominican Republic or demand that he make occasional appearances until the investigation or a trial has ended. The girl’s 35-year-old mother, who faces the same charges as Franco, was ordered held under house arrest as the investigation continues. She smiled slightly as she left the courtroom but did not comment. The AP is not naming the woman in order to preserve her daughter’s privacy. Franco, who was detained Monday in the northern province of Puerto Plata, hasn’t been charged with any crimes. The judge has received a nearly 600-page document detailing the evidence that prosecutors gathered during a monthslong investigation. The athlete’s lawyers have not commented other than saying that Franco was “doing fine.” Prosecutors said the investigation began after they received an anonymous tip in July 2023 stemming from someone who saw a media post alluding to the relationship. The AP has not been able to verify the reported post. Authorities accuse Franco of taking the minor away from her home in Puerto Plata in December 2022 and having a four-month relationship with her with consent from the girl’s mother. They accuse Franco of sending the mother monthly payments of $1,700 for seven months and buying her a car “in order to allow the relationship and let her go out with him wherever she wanted,” according to the document, which quoted the girl. The girl also was quoted as saying that she had demanded for a local digital media site to publish an item about her alleged relationship with the baseball player because she was “tired” of her mother, whom she accused of taking Franco’s money and not sharing any of it with her. Days later, Franco published a live video alleging it was a scheme to extort money from him, the document stated. In September 2023, authorities raided the home of the girl’s mother and seized 800,000 Dominican pesos ($13,700) as well as $68,500 they said was found hidden behind a frame. Another seizure at a different home found a guarantee certificate from a local bank for 2.1 million Dominican pesos ($36,000) that they said was delivered by Franco for the “commercial and sexual exploitation” of the girl. In addition, they seized a Suzuki Swift worth $26,600, according to the document. Authorities noted that days before the car was bought, the teenager’s mother had the equivalent of $821 in her bank account. The mother also bought property in Puerto Plata worth $36,000, they said. Authorities also state that Franco’s mother had sent money to the girl’s mother, but she has not been charged in the case even though they said she got involved “to avoid traces of her son with the accused.” Franco arrived at a court in Puerto Plata on Friday morning and remained silent while being escorted through a group of journalists that peppered with him questions. The girl’s mother, who works at a local bank and was wearing sunglasses, also declined comment as she was escorted to a courtroom. Outside, a small group of young Dominican players donned in baseball attire gathered to support Franco, carrying posters that read, “Free Franco,” and “We all are Franco.” Franco was having an All-Star season before being sidelined in August, when authorities in the Dominican Republic began investigating claims he had been in a relationship with a minor. Major League Baseball launched its own investigation, placing Franco on the restricted list on Aug. 14 before moving him to administrative leave on Aug. 22. Both investigations are ongoing. Franco signed a $182 million, 11-year contract in 2021. His salary last year and this year is $2 million per season.

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Does Bill O'Brien see Mac Jones getting another shot to play this year?

What does Mac Jones need to do to get another chance to play this season? Outside of injury, what would it take for the Patriots 2021 first round pick to start once again? Those questions were posed to offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien during his media availability Tuesday ahead of the Patriots Christmas Eve game against the Broncos in Denver. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. While some might expect Bailey Zappe to start the rest of the way, O’Brien left the door ajar for Jones to play again. “I think everybody’s gotta be ready to play, especially in the situation we’re in. I really do,” O’Brien said. “I think that everybody has to be ready to go. Anybody that’s on the 53-man roster has to go out on the practice field and practice well and earn a shot to play. That’s whether you’re a quarterback, wide receiver, tight end, running back or offensive lineman. “I know you’ve heard that from Bill (Belichick), but that’s the truth. You have to be ready to go, because if you practice really well, you’re going to have a real shot to play. I think that goes for every position.” Jones lost his job as the starter after being yanked from four games, including back-to-back against the Colts (in Germany) and the Giants. He threw 10 touchdown passes, but also had 12 interceptions. Zappe has started the past three games. He didn’t put up any points against the LA Chargers, but did do enough to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. As was the case in the Pittsburgh game, Zappe started well against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, but fizzled in the second half. He’s thrown killer picks in each of the last two games. NFL fans can wager online on Massachusetts sports betting with enticing promo codes from top online sportsbooks. Use the FanDuel Massachusetts promo code and the DraftKings Massachusetts promo code for massive new user bonuses.

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Wait, Josh Allens jersey has pockets? You can do that? | NickNacks

Here are some half-baked thoughts and knickknacks (AKA NickNacks) I came up with while watching the New England Patriots play the Buffalo Bills on New Year’s Eve: - I’ve seen the Patriots play in plenty of cold-weather games over the years. I don’t even bat an eye when I see a player with one of those hand-warmer pouches strapped around their waist, particularly quarterbacks. But I don’t know if I’ve ever noticed a player have pockets sewn into his jersey like Bills QB Josh Allen has (and has had for a least a couple of years). BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. - Allen could be seen tucking his hands right into slots sewn into the jersey right at his midsection, with what appears to be some warm lining inside the slots. It’s an unusual feature on a jersey. But apparently, they’ve been around for a long time. - As noted by Paul Lukas of UniWatch, it was once common for players to have pockets sewn right into their jerseys. In a piece he wrote for ESPN, Lukas notes that former Buccaneers equipment manager Frank Pupello introduced the idea of a removable hand warmer pouch back in the 80s. That pouch eventually gave way to the team-banded pouches we see many players wearing today. - As for the game itself, this game in Buffalo was chaos right out of the gate. Jalen Reagor popped off right away by taking the opening kickoff back 98 yards for a touchdown. It was the Patriots’ first kickoff return for a TD since 2018. - The play was also a mirror opposite of last year’s game in Buffalo, which opened with the Bills taking the game’s first kickoff back for a score. - Unfortunately for the Patriots, things went south quickly after that -- at least for Bailey Zappe the offense. - Zappe’s first pass attempt of the game was a quick throw to Mike Gesicki, which Bills DB Rasul Douglas saw coming from a mile away. After Douglas deflected it, Bills DL Ed Oliver came in for a brilliant diving interception. - On the ensuing drive, Douglas struck again, jumping a slant route to DeVante Parker for an easy interception. Zappe simply didn’t see Douglas jump the route. - Zappe’s disastrous start: 0-for-3 passing with two interceptions. - It wasn’t until the fourth drive of the game that Zappe finally completed a pass, hitting tight end Pharoah Brown out wide for a short gain. But that too turned into a turnover as Brown was stripped, with Buffalo recovering the fumble. - But Zappe wasn’t done with disastrous picks. In the second quarter, there was a clear miscommunication between him and Reagor. Zappe appeared to think Reagor was going to run a quick slant. Reagor looked to be running a deeper route. But the time Reagor turned to look for the ball, it had already been interception by -- once again -- Rasul Douglas. - Former Patriots running back James White was among those blaming Reagor. “That one is on the receiver! Have to run your (sight) adjust,” he wrote on social media. - Despite the offensive falling flat on its face, the Patriots stuck with Zappe. They also stuck around in this game, playing an impressively pesky game, especially after Zappe made it a 20-14 game after running it in from 17 yards out for his first rushing score. - There was some good news for New England. For as disastrous as the offense was, the defense did a heck of a job of limiting the damage. - For as bad a Zappe was, Allen wasn’t exactly lighting it up against a banged-up Patriots secondary. He started the game 0-for-6 passing. According to the CBS broadcast, that’s the longest he’s gone into a game without completing a pass. - The Patriots pass rush created some major problems for the Bills. Deatrich Wise recorded a big sack out of the gate. Meanwhile, rookie Keion White showed some impressive quickness to get into the backfield and prevent Allen from making magic. Then there was Mack Wilson, who’s continued to impress in his new role as an outside pass rusher. - Rookie cornerback Alex Austin got his first career interception against the team that drafted him earlier this year. The Patriots picked up Austin to provide some depth to their thinned-out secondary. So far, he’s stepped up with some big plays in extended playing time. - Things got a little worse along the offensive line. Rookie guard Atonio Mafi went down late in the second quarter, leading to rookie offensive lineman Jake Andrews playing his first NFL snaps. - Chad Ryland’s rocky rookie season continues. After a brilliant game-winner last week, Ryland hooked a 47-yarder before halftime. - Who brings a beach ball to a Bills game in late December? Apparently, someone did. You could see a beach ball flying up into the view of the camera. - To be fair, that’s better than other objects we’ve seen thrown around at Bills game.

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Chiefs Andy Reid admits WR was offsides after calling play embarrassing

Andy Reid has changed his tune on Kadarius Toney’s offsides penalty. The wide receiver was lined up with the center before he caught a lateral pass from Travis Kelce. Toney ran into end zone and appeared to give the Kansas City Chiefs a lead in the final minutes of their game against the Buffalo Bills. The officials ruled Toney was offsides, which negated the touchdown. The Chiefs ultimately lost, 20-17 at Arrowhead Stadium. After the game, Reid was upset with the call and the fact he didn’t receive a warning from the referees. “It’s a bit embarrassing in the National Football League for that to take place,” Reid told reporters. “Normally, if it’s even close, you get a warning. I don’t know. I didn’t have a protractor out there. I’ve been in the league for a long time. Haven’t had one like that.” BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Maybe if Reid had that protractor, he would have seen what many others who tuned in saw. But the Chiefs coached admitted Toney was indeed offsides when he met with reporters Monday. “Listen, normally he looks over to the sideline and just gets an OK,” Reid said. “And on that, he just happened not to. So that would be the coaching. Just make sure you check with the guy on the side just to see if you’re aligned. I mean, he’s not lining up offsides on purpose. “He was two inches or an inch from being legal. You can argue both sides of it for both teams. ... I guess the league is trying to clean that up, from what I heard. I don’t know. Whatever.” NFL official Carl Cheffers told pool reporter Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest that a warning is given out at the discretion of the referees. And because Toney was being offsides was “egregious,” it was “beyond a warning.” Reid admitted he wasn’t making excuses or blaming the refs for making the call. But admitted he was “disappointed” because Reid has a “good working relationship” with the officials and didn’t get any communication from them Sunday. “Do we need to line up right? Yeah,” Reid told reporters. “We can’t put it in the officials hands.” The Chiefs have to put it behind them, though, and prepare for their next AFC opponent when they travel to Gillette Stadium on Sunday to take on the New England Patriots.

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Moving on from Belichick the right call, but still bittersweet

The deed is done. The divorce between the Patriots and Bill Belichick is now a reality. Even though this news doesn’t come as a surprise given it’s been a hot topic for months, with one report suggesting the decision was made after the early November loss in Germany, it still seems a bit surreal. And sadly bittersweet. Letting go of a coach who was part of six championships, and largely considered the greatest coach of all time, closes a significant chapter in Patriots lore. And while it falls into the category of making a decision that seems best for the franchise, it also tugs at the heart strings. There’s also the element of being careful what you wish for. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. What if the Patriots don’t turn it around, and Belichick wins a Super Bowl someplace else? What if there’s a deja vu on par with what happened with Tom Brady his first year outside of Foxborough? No doubt team owner Robert Kraft weighed all of those factors, but in the end, with a 4-13 team that’s finished out of the playoffs three of the last four seasons, a team that falls woefully short on the talent meter, a change needed to be made. Unlike Brady however, Belichick isn’t leaving at or near the top of this game, especially when it comes to picking the groceries. Over the course of the last five years, and a bit beyond, Belichick the G.M. has gotten failing grades. He hasn’t helped Belichick the coach do his job. Instead, he’s left himself, the coaching staff, not to mention his quarterback, trying to do more with less. That worked with Brady for the most part, but it doesn’t with quarterbacks who aren’t superstars and can’t elevate the team. At 71, Belichick can still coach. He’s still able to get players to play and he’s still capable of devising elaborate schemes that foil the game’s top quarterbacks. Ultimately, he lost his fastball when it came to assembling a winning team. Poor drafts have been a killer, along with failures in free agency. Belichick’s philosophy on what wins in the NFL just isn’t up with the times. As a defensive coach, he still believes that’s the side of the ball that wins. Why else would he use the first three draft picks in the 2023 draft on defensive players, while ignoring glaring needs on the offensive side of the ball? The game has evolved. It’s an offense driven league now, and Belichick’s failure as a G.M. to stock that side of the ball with elite talent has led to his undoing and ultimate departure. But that shouldn’t undermine what Belichick has meant to the organization over time. Given how poorly Belichick has done without Brady, that’s swayed some to believe the half-dozen championships attained were due to having the greatest quarterback of all time in the building. That’s a simplistic, and uninformed view. And it’s flat out wrong. This was a great marriage of head coach and quarterback. It was Belichick who was the mastermind of the defense that stalled the Greatest Show on Turf en route to the first Super Bowl win over the St. Louis Rams. He also devised the schemes to take down the Rams offensive juggernaut 17 years later in Super Bowl LIII. Together, Brady and Belichick, along with the perfect complement of players Belichick assembled for each of those championship teams, made it happen. It’s a disservice to Belichick to think all of those Lombardi trophies were won without his imprint. 48 1 / 48 Bill Belichick through the years John Beattie So his departure should be met with appreciation for his part in creating a dynasty. There’s also a tinge of sadness given how it ended. Losing to the Jets on the final week in a snowstorm had to be embarrassing for Belichick, who had beaten them 15 straight times. He just walked off the field, cloaked by a ski mask covering his face. There’s no question his legacy has taken a bit of a hit having failed to achieve much success without Brady, but Belichick is still revered as a defensive genius. Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce made sure to reach out to Belichick after the Chiefs Week 15 win over the Patriots at Gillette Stadium. “I just mentioned how much I respect him and how much it’s always the biggest challenge I go up against in the National Football League is going up against one of his defenses,” Kelce said on the “New Heights” podcast. “I just wanted to make sure he heard that from my mouth, man,” he added, “because it’s been a pleasure going up against him all these years.” Since Brady left, Belichick’s been the face of the franchise. Belichick’s mug was the one that was most often been used to capture the essence of the team. With Brady gone, and no megastars on the roster, Belichick gave the Patriots its remaining cachet, and outside of Kraft, he was the last remnant of all of the team’s championships. He was the one remaining on-field link to the team’s entire dynastic run and two decades of dominance. And now, he’s left the building after 24 years. While it was time, it’s still tough to cut that cord. It’s tough to break with the team’s last vestige of greatness. A new chapter awaits. NFL fans can wager online on Massachusetts sports betting with enticing promo codes from top online sportsbooks. Use the FanDuel Massachusetts promo code and the DraftKings Massachusetts promo code for massive new user bonuses.

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Patriots put starter on season-ending IR to make room for new CB

FOXBOROUGH — A frustrating season for running back Rhamondre Stevenson has come to an end. The Patriots placed Stevenson on season-ending injured reserve on Wednesday afternoon to make room for ex-Cardinals cornerback Marco Wilson, who Bill Belichick claimed off the waiver wire. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. After hitting the 1000-yard rushing plateau and emerging as an every down back in 2022, Stevenson wasn’t able to find the same success this season. The 25-year-old suffered a high ankle sprain against the Chargers earlier this month, and will finish with 619 rushing yards at 4.0 yards per carry. His totals as a pass catcher dropped across the board, too. With injuries hitting the Patriots secondary, Belichick opted to claim Wilson, a 25-year-old corner who turned in a strange season with the Cardinals. Wilson started Arizona’s first 11 games and rarely came off the field, but then didn’t see a single defensive snap after a November 19 loss to the Texans. He’d only played special teams for the past month before being cut. It’s been a revolving door at cornerback for the Patriots in 2023. Over the course of the season, the Patriots have lost Christian Gonzalez to injury, cut Jack Jones, and placed J.C. Jackson on the non-football illness reserve list. With Jabrill Peppers and Jalen Mills both battling injuries, signing Wilson affords Belichick the flexibility to move Myles Bryant back to full-time safety against the Bills this weekend if he sees fit.

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PVIAC Late Meet Week 3: Top 3 finishers from each event

The PVIAC indoor track season continued on Sunday with an event at Smith College in Northampton. Below are the top three overall finishers for each event from the late meet. Girls — Late Meet

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sports

DraftKings Sportsbook promo code: How to win $150 on Thursday Night Football

Sports Betting Dime provides exclusive sports betting content to MassLive.com, including real-time odds, picks, analysis and sportsbook offers to help sports fans get in on the action. Please wager responsibly. Kickoff for Thursday Night Football is fast approaching, but there is still time to win big with this DraftKings Sportsbook promo code offer. New bettors who take advantage of this opportunity can bet $5 on the game to win $150 in bonuses instantly. Click here to start the registration process. DraftKings BET $5, GET $150 BONUS BETS CLAIM OFFER STATES: AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV. 21+ and present in participating states. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. 21+. Physically present in MA. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. First-time depositors only who have not already redeemed $200 in bonus bets via OH or MA prelaunch offer. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 bet. $200 issued as bonus bets that expire 7 days (168 hours) after being awarded. See terms at http://draftkings.com/ma. This is one of the best Thursday Night Football matchups of the year. The Los Angeles Rams (7-7) and New Orleans Saints (7-7) are coming into this game with momentum. This is a must-win game for both teams given the crowded nature of the NFC playoff race. The winner will have the upper hand in the push for a wild card spot. The loser will have an uphill battle ahead. DraftKings Sportsbook provides bettors with more ways to win than a simple welcome bonus. Players can also activate a daily no sweat same game parlay for this Thursday Night Football matchup. Click here to automatically enable this DraftKings Sportsbook promo code offer and win $150 in bonuses with a $5 wager on Rams vs. Saints. Win $150 instantly on Rams vs. Saints tonight DraftKings Sportsbook Promo for Thursday Night Football Bet $5 on the Rams or Saints, Win $150 DraftKings Sportsbook Promo Code No Code Required Bonus Last Verified On December 21, 2023 Information Verified By Danny Small, Sports Betting Dime Betting on the NFL is seldom easy. The unpredictability of the games is the reason why fans love tuning in every week. Add in the short week to prepare and Thursday Night Football is always a toss-up. However, new players on DraftKings Sportsbook can take the guesswork out of betting on Rams-Saints tonight. Remember, locking in a bet of $5 or more on either team will be enough to cash in with this $150 bonus. The Rams are favored in this game, but again, we don’t know what to expect. Winning $150 in bonuses before the game even kicks off is the perfect start to the weekend for football fans. DraftKings Sportsbook promo code: Getting started First things first, it’s important to note that new players won’t need to manually enter a promo code to unlock this offer. Instead, sign up with any of the links on this page and hit the ground running: Click here to automatically redirect to a sign-up landing page and create a new account. After setting up a new user profile, make a cash deposit of $5 or more through any of the secure payment methods. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook mobile app straight from the App Store or Google Play Store. Bet $5 on the Rams or Saints to win $150 in bonus bets instantly. Other DraftKings Sportsbook promos It’s important to start with this $5 wager on the Rams or Saints. That will unlock this $150 bonus instantly. With that said, there are other ways to bet on Thursday Night Football with DraftKings Sportsbook. Check out the promos page and opt into a no sweat same game parlay. Bettors who lock in a Thursday Night Football same game parlay of at least three legs will receive bonus bets if that wager loses. This promo is available every single day. Click here to automatically enable this DraftKings Sportsbook promo code offer and win $150 in bonuses with a $5 wager on Rams vs. Saints. DraftKings BET $5, GET $150 BONUS BETS CLAIM OFFER STATES: AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV. 21+ and present in participating states. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. 21+. Physically present in MA. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. First-time depositors only who have not already redeemed $200 in bonus bets via OH or MA prelaunch offer. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 bet. $200 issued as bonus bets that expire 7 days (168 hours) after being awarded. See terms at http://draftkings.com/ma. Get the latest sports betting news, advice and promos sent straight to your inbox. Enter your email here: Think you know Patriots football? Play the MassLive.com Prop Bet Showdown for a chance to win prizes! 21+ and present in a state with legal gambling? Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. If you or a loved one has questions and needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call the Massachusetts Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org to speak with a trained specialist to receive support. Specialists are available 24/7. Services are available in multiple languages and are free and confidential.

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MLB scouts take on Vaughn Grissom, acquired in Chris Sale trade

In return for Chris Sale, the Red Sox acquired infielder Vaughn Grissom from the Atlanta Braves. Grissom had been one of the Braves’ highest-rated prospects and was expected to take over at shortstop last season. Instead, the Braves went with Orlando Arcia and returned Grissom to the minor leagues. Over the last two years, Grissom has appeared in 64 games in the majors with a .746 OPS, and his star has dimmed somewhat in the process. We surveyed a number of scouts and evaluators to get their read on what the Red Sox are getting. Reports were mixed. SCOUT 1: “I think he got into the habit of being too fast on some routine plays in the infield and is in need of more game-speed experience. I guess I see him as an offense-first shortstop option who would, ultimately, fit better at second base.” SCOUT 2: “Carries the profile of an offensive second baseman, but his defense can be underwhelming. Still, he should have everyday, run-producing value at Fenway.” BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. SCOUT 3: “I’m luke-warm on him. He really can’t play shortstop, and I see him being limited to either second base or a corner outfield spot. He has contact skills, but the power is not there. For me, not an impact guy.” SCOUT 4: “It’s all about upside and patience with him. He has the talent to be a productive major league bat in the No. 2 hole in need of an OBP upgrade, strike zone (recognition) and walks. Has some defensive versatility and could play at second, short and the outfield, but we had some concerns about his ability to play shortstop. He should be able to hit and play second base. Has a good work ethic and can be tough on himself. Brings some instincts and attitude to develop. He’ll need some time (to develop further) at the major league level, sort of like (Triston) Casas did.”

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sports

How under the radar Patriots genius helps Bailey Zappe

FOXBOROUGH – As soon as the ball was snapped, the Denver Broncos blitzed. The defense sent six players rushing toward five Patriots offensive linemen. As the pocket collapsed in under 2.3 seconds, Bailey Zappe never lost sight of his target. Amid the chaos, the Patriots quarterback was locked onto DeVante Parker. By this point, Zappe learned to not look at the pass rush but to keep his eyes downfield. That’s when he unleashed a 30-yard pass to Parker. That play was one example of Bailey’s ability to stay composed in the pocket. His use of footwork to evade defenders has been a significant factor in his success as the Patriots starting quarterback. It’s also a testament to the impact of an assistant coach not widely known. After coming to New England with Matt Patricia in 2021, in a ‘research and analysis/coaching role,’ Evan Rothstein served as an offensive assistant last season and was promoted to Patriots assistant quarterbacks coach this year. Rothstein arrived in Foxborough after working under three different head coaches over a nine-year period in Detroit. Described as a ‘genius,’ Rothstein’s influence on the Patriots has been evident this season with Zappe. The second-year player attributes his pocket movement and awareness to his assistant quarterbacks coach. “We usually do that stuff every day before practice. We get out there 15-20 minutes before - have the bags and he kind of walks out there and tells us what drills he wants us to do,” Zappe said. “We’re pretty routine about it. We do it every day. The more you do it, the more it becomes second nature to you so when you get on the field, you’re not really worried about it or thinking about it, it becomes natural. “That’s what you want. You don’t want to be back there worried about the rush. You want to be able to have your eyes downfield. That’s really helped a lot – doing that stuff before practice.” For a coach flying under the radar, Rothstein has made a significant impact with the Patriots. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Rothstein’s work with Zappe pays off Simulating a quarterback under pressure can be challenging. In practice, Zappe wears a red non-contact jersey, and defensive players are instructed to ease up beyond the line of scrimmage. That isn’t the case come game time. That’s why Rothstein runs his quarterbacks through various drills before practice. This happens before the Patriots team stretch and the game-planning portion of practice. When asked how much Rothstein has helped him this year, Zappe said, “A lot” and detailed a certain drill that’s improved his pocket awareness. “We do these bags – these big pop-up blue bags and we have to shuffle through them. There’s sometimes where he slings them at us and we have to dodge it. He’s like laughing the entire time,” Zappe explained. “Majority of it is feel in the pocket. I’m trying not to look at the bags, but look downfield.” The goal is to create muscle memory. Come game time, Rothstein wants his quarterbacks to keep their eyes downfield, even when the pocket collapses. He simulates this by occasionally throwing blue bags at Zappe & Co. The quarterbacks also work on footwork drills to practice stepping up in the pocket to avoid a would-be sack. “We also have our equipment guys out there running around. We’re looking at them as we’re trying to feel our way around the bags,” Zappe said. “It just kind of correlates to in the game to where you feel pressure, feel someone coming around and just stepping up, not looking at the rush and keeping your eyes downfield. “Evan is really big on drills, so before every practice, we get out there early and do drills. He has a lot of drills for us quarterbacks. Just fine-tuning mechanics and stuff like that. He’s very strict on that stuff. It helps us out and doesn’t let us get lackadaisical with it all. That’s the biggest thing he’s helped me with.” Zappe’s shown this ability several times this season. It’s giving him an edge over Mac Jones, who struggled under pressure before losing his starting job. Zappe’s improved pocket awareness was showcased in his first NFL fourth-quarterback comeback in Denver. For instance, at 12:44 of the third quarter, Broncos linebacker Jonathan Cooper quickly got by Pharaoh Brown. Zappe moved up in the pocket, kept moving up, and threw a 41-yard pass to Demario Douglas. “That’s one thing in the game that was very improved by him,” Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien said of Zappe. “I always call it negotiate the pocket or manipulate the pocket. It’s not always perfect. He does a good job of that. Evan Rothstein works a lot on that with him before stretch every single day. That really showed up on the game. Bailey did a really good job of that, keeping his eyes downfield and negotiating that pocket. He did a really good job there.” Who is Evan Rothstein? Rothstein is the only Patriots assistant coach with a specific title who doesn’t have his own Wikipedia page. During his three seasons in New England, he’s never met with the local media. For someone who keeps a low profile, it doesn’t take players long to figure out how smart Rothstein truly is. For Zappe, it happened the first time he walked into his office. Rothstein has a setup with three computer monitors at his desk. “You walk into his office and he has three monitors and he’s using all three at the same time. It’s like, ‘Yeah, this guy is on a different level,’” Zappe said. “You just listen to him and the way he talks about football – to be able to pick his brain is awesome because he just knows so much about it.” Since following Patricia to New England in 2021, Rothstein has been a versatile chess piece for Bill Belichick. In his first season, he worked in a ‘research and analysis/coaching role.’ That was similar to what Rothstein did with Patricia in Detroit, where he was the Lions ‘head coach assistant/research & analyst’ from 2018-2020. In his Patriots bio, it says Rothstein worked with Patricia’s coaching the coaching staff “in all facets of preparation for the team’s weekly opponents.” That was in addition to assisting Patricia. Before that, Rothstein had titles as the Lions special teams quality control coach (2012-2013), special projects (2014), and offensive assistant coach/research and analysis (2015-2017). In New England, Rothstein has helped Belichick on both sides of the ball. On Sept. 8, the Patriots coach was asked about Rothstein and said, “Evan is a really smart guy. He’s versatile, does a lot of things for our staff, works on offense, defense, does some other things with preparation of situations and things like that. So, our staff is a collaborative effort in a number of areas. He’s a pretty versatile guy, so helps in a lot of different areas.” When Will Grier came to New England this fall, he admitted he didn’t know anything about Rothstein, but like Zappe, quickly discovered that the coach was a wealth of knowledge. “He’s great. He’s a smart guy. I didn’t know him coming in,” Grier said. “He helps a lot with game planning and just in the quarterback room – how he sees things. How he sees the opponent, how he breaks down the tape and stuff like that.” When asked what exactly Rothstein does, Zappe replied, “Everything” before adding the coach has his hand in creating offensive call sheets. “Quite frankly, he does a lot of things for the offense. He helps out OB in every way possible,” Zappe said. “He does a lot of stuff because he has such great knowledge and he helps OB a lot. Those are two guys that are both geniuses in the football world so having both is pretty sweet.” Since taking over for Jones four weeks ago, Zappe hasn’t been perfect, but the quarterback’s helped breathe new life into a struggling Patriots offense. Behind his rise, he’s had plenty of help from an assistant coach most Patriots fans haven’t heard of. “Evan’s awesome. He is super intelligent,” Zappe said. “I think honestly, he quietly knows everything you need to know about football as far as coverages as far as situations as far as it’s fourth-and-10 at your own (whatever), think of any situation and he’ll know. “He’s super intelligent. For us as quarterbacks and us as an offense, if there’s ever any question you need answered, going to him is a good thing.”

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sports

Florida State vs. Georgia: Live stream, how to watch Orange Bowl

After getting left out of the College Football Playoff despite an undefeated season, the Seminoles will try to end their season on a high note when they take on the Georgia Bulldogs in the Orange Bowl on Saturday night. Georgia also didn’t make the College Football Playoff even though it won the last two national titles, so both teams will certainly be hungry for a win. The game will air on ESPN for those who have cable. Fans looking to watch this college football bowl game can do so for free on fuboTV, which offers a free trial (as well as RedZone, for you NFL fans) or on DirecTV Stream, which also offers a free trial. SlingTV has promotional offers available, as well. Through the end of 2023, fuboTV is also offering $20 off the first two months of subscription (in addition to the 7-day free trial). Who: Florida State Seminoles vs. Georgia Bulldogs When: Saturday, Dec. 30 at 4 p.m. EST Where: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida Stream: fuboTV (free trial); or Sling; or DirecTV Stream Tickets: StubHub and *VividSeats Gear: Shop around for jerseys, shirts, hats, hoodies and more at Fanatics.com Sports Betting Promos: Football fans can wager online on Massachusetts sports betting with enticing promo codes from top online sportsbooks. Use the FanDuel Massachusetts promo code and the DraftKings Massachusetts promo code for massive new user bonuses. RELATED CONTENT: The question seemed like a valid one moments after unbeaten ACC champion Florida State was left out of the College Football Playoff. Could the fourth-ranked Seminoles, with a victory against defending national champion and No. 6 Georgia in the Orange Bowl, be voted No. 1 in the final Associated Press Top 25 college football poll? “As a matter of principle, I’d consider ranking Florida State No. 1 regardless of whether they are in the CFP field,” said ESPN’s Rece Davis, a longtime AP Top 25 voter. “Much like the selection process itself, the exercise is who, in my judgment, is the best team.” In reality, though, the current state of college football’s postseason all but renders the conversation moot. Between players transferring or opting out to concentrate on NFL draft preparations and coaching staffs turned upside down by hirings and firings, the better question these days is how much consideration should poll voters give to postseason games outside the CFP at all? “This is my 14th time as an AP voter, and I definitely think I will be less likely to vote teams considerably up or down after the bowls than I did in the past,” said Scott Rabalais of The Advocate of Baton Rouge (Louisiana). On Saturday at the Orange Bowl, Florida State will be a shell of the team that won the Atlantic Coast Conference championship. Quarterback Jordan Travis is still recovering from a broken leg, an injury that essentially kept the Seminoles out of the playoff. Many of FSU’s best players, including defensive end Jared Verse, running back Tre Benson and receiver Keon Coleman, have opted out as they look toward the NFL draft. Earlier this week, No. 2 quarterback Tate Rodemaker chose to transfer and skip the game. Some of the Seminoles who will play weren’t shy about saying they should be No. 1 if they finish as the only unbeaten Power Five team. “It’s only right,” linebacker Kalen DeLoach told reporters at the Orange Bowl. “Nothing else needs to be said if we’re the only undefeated team.” The Seminoles will face a Georgia team in much better shape. Nineteen Bulldogs hit the transfer portal after the season, though most were backup players. It does look as if All-America tight end Brock Bowers and highly regarded tackle Amarius Mims will miss the game after seasons interrupted by injuries. “If Florida State handles Georgia easily and the three CFP games are duds, then I’d gladly vote the Seminoles No. 1, but it’s not going to happen,” said AP Top 25 voter Robert Cessna of the Bryan-College Station (Texas) Eagle. No. 1 Michigan (13-0) faces fourth-seeded Alabama (12-1) in the Rose Bowl semifinal and No. 2 Washington (13-0) plays No. 3 Texas (12-1) in Sugar Bowl semifinal on Monday. The final AP Top 25 is released a few hours after the Jan. 8 national championship game. Rabalais covers No. 13 LSU, which will play Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa on Monday without Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels, who has opted out. “The lack of a player of Daniels’ caliber has to be taken into consideration were LSU to lose and I was deciding where to put them on my final ballot,” he said. In some cases, the teams playing in the bowls barely resemble the ones that earned those postseason trips and rankings. Take the Sun Bowl, with No. 15 Notre Dame (9-3) facing No. 21 Oregon State (8-4) in El Paso, Texas, on Friday. Neither team will have its starting quarterback after Notre Dame’s Sam Hartman (NFL draft) and Oregon State’s DJ Uiagalelei (transfer) opted out. The Irish are missing most of their starting offense, including All-America offensive tackle Joe Alt and running back Audric Estime, a second-team All-American. Offensive coordinator Gerad Parker recently took the head coaching job at Troy. Beavers coach Jonathan Smith leave for Michigan State after the regular-season finale. Now they are down to a third-string quarterback, though one with starting experience in Ben Gulbranson, and have had several key players transfer out. Leading rusher Damien Martinez is serving a suspension. “The stats count. It counts in the win-loss column. When people look at Notre Dame and Oregon State’s record in the future it’s going to include the results of this game. In that regard, well, I’ll factor it in,” Matt Brown from the The Athletic said on the AP Top 25 College Football Podcast. “On the other hand, if Notre Dame and Oregon State had these rosters for most of the year? The teams that take the field will really not be top-20 teams.” The Peach Bowl with No. 10 Penn State facing No. 11 Mississippi is shaping up to have fairly good representation from each team, though Nittany Lions All-American offensive lineman Olu Fashanu has said only that he will be with the team, not that he will play. Teammate and standout defensive end Chop Robinson isn’t going to play. “It’s almost like we’re going back in time to how bowl games are perceived,” Brown said. For a big chunk of the 20th century, bowl games were few and not taken into account in the final AP poll. Not until 1968 did the AP begin releasing a final poll after bowls were played. As late as 1973, Alabama and Notre Dame shared the national title because the coaches’ poll didn’t take into account bowl games. The Fighting Irish beat the Crimson Tide in the Sugar Bowl and finished No. 1 in the AP poll, but the coaches had already declared Alabama No. 1. The last time there was a split national title was 2003, when Southern California was voted No. 1 by AP after being left of the BCS title game, won by LSU over Oklahoma. The four-team playoff has all but ensured it will never happen again. The Florida State snub provide at least a chance to consider the possibility, but with a 12-team playoff coming next season, shared national championships will — like the wishbone and tear-away jerseys — be part of college football’s past. The Associated Press contributed to this article

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Boys Basketball Scoreboard: Patrick McLaughlin scores 1,000th career point for Wahconah & more (video)

The Wahconah Warriors are used to hearing the name Patrick McLaughlin mentioned when highlighting the boys basketball team, as he’s been one of the program’s cornerstones for the past few years. Thursday night’s matchup against West Springfield was no different, as McLaughlin scored 26 points, one being the 1,000th of his career.

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Former Springfield golf pro Kevin Kennedy acquitted of majority of criminal counts by federal jury

SPRINGFIELD — After a weeklong trial and nearly two days of deliberations, a federal jury found former city golf pro Kevin M. Kennedy not guilty of more than a dozen counts of fraud and money laundering. The panel convicted Kennedy of a single count of tax conspiracy and making a false statement to a bank. Those charges were linked to the construction of two homes Kennedy built in East Longmeadow and on Cape Cod using luxury builders Kent and Jason Pecoy. The father and son are set to go to trial separately at a later date. Their trial has yet to be scheduled. This story will be updated.

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Red Sox lose out on Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who reportedly agrees with Dodgers on $325 million deal

Politics Red Sox lose out on Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who reportedly agrees with Dodgers on $325 million deal The Red Sox were one of the handful of teams who met with the Japanese phenom. FILE - Japan's Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivers a pitch during the fifth inning of a World Baseball Classic game against Mexico on March 20, 2023, in Miami. Yamamoto, the most prized pitcher on the free-agent market, has agreed to a $325 million, 12-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to multiple reports. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File) AP LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prized free-agent pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a $325 million, 12-year contract, according to multiple reports. Yamamoto is set to join Japanese countryman Shohei Ohtani with the Dodgers, who signed the two-way superstar to a record $700 million, 10-year deal last week. The Dodgers did not confirm the agreement with Yamamoto on Thursday night. MLB.com and ESPN were among the outlets citing anonymous sources in reporting the deal. The New York Yankees and New York Mets were among the many clubs that pursued Yamamoto. It’s the third major pitching coup for the NL West champion Dodgers this offseason. In addition to Ohtani, the team signed right-hander Tyler Glasnow to a $136.5 million, five-year contract after he was traded from the Tampa Bay Rays to Los Angeles. Advertisement: Ohtani made a video pitch to Glasnow to join him in Hollywood. “It was important to Shohei that this wasn’t the one move we were going to make,” Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman said at Ohtani’s introductory news conference last week. Yamamoto was 16-6 with a 1.21 ERA this season, striking out 169 and walking 28 in 164 innings. He is 70-29 with a 1.82 ERA in seven seasons with the Orix Buffaloes. Yamamoto struck out a Japan Series-record 14 in a Game 6 win over Hanshin on Nov. 5, throwing a 138-pitch complete game. Orix went on to lose Game 7. Orix posted the 25-year-old right-hander on Nov. 20 and Major League Baseball teams had until Jan. 4 to sign him. Yamamoto’s deal with the Dodgers would be the largest and longest ever guaranteed to a big league pitcher. Ohtani was a two-time AL MVP with the Los Angeles Angels before becoming a free agent this offseason and moving to the Dodgers. Yamamoto pitched his second career no-hitter, the 100th in Japanese big league history, on Sept. 9 for the Buffaloes against the Lotte Marines. The game, watched by MLB executives, extended his scoreless streak to 42 innings. A two-time Pacific League MVP, Yamamoto also threw a no-hitter against the Seibu Lions on June 18 last year. His fastball averaged 95 mph and topped out at 96.6 mph in Japan’s semifinal win over Mexico at the World Baseball Classic in March. He threw 20 fastballs, 19 splitters, six curveballs, six cutters and one slider in a 3 1/3-inning relief outing. Batters swung at 11 of his splitters and missed four. Advertisement: Following hard-throwing 21-year-old sensation Roki Sasaki, Yamamoto gave up two runs and three hits in 3 1/3 innings with four strikeouts and two walks, allowing Alex Verdugo’s RBI double. Yamamoto was charged with a second run when Isaac Paredes hit an RBI single off Atsuki Yuasa. Under the MLB-NPB agreement, the posting fee will be 20% of the first $25 million of a major league contract, including earned bonuses and options. The percentage drops to 17.5% of the next $25 million and 15% of any amount over $50 million. There would be a supplemental fee of 15% of any earned bonuses, salary escalators and exercised options.

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Report claims Celtics are still trying to trade this player

The 2023-24 season may be just around the corner for the Boston Celtics. But their roster could potentially still be in flux. The Celtics shipped out defensive talisman Marcus Smart for a package centered around big man Kristaps Porzingis. They also facilitated a sign-and-trade to move Grant Williams to the Dallas Mavericks. Malcolm Brogdon, who was originally included in the trade for Porzingis in place of Smart, has been rumored to be frustrated with the Celtics. A report from last week has maintained that Boston is not looking to trade Brogdon. However, “Celtics Beat” host Adam Kaufman has heard otherwise. In a recent episode of his show, Kaufman spoke of hearing “whispers” about the Celtics openly engaging in Brogdon trade discussions. “I have heard some whispers that they are still trying to trade (Brogdon) (…) Malcolm Brogdon is maybe not being actively dangled by the Celtics, but I believe he is absolutely on the trade block,” Kaufman said, via HoopsHype. The Celtics do have Derrick White and Jaylen Brown manning the starting guard spots. However, their guard rotation off the bench does not have much depth outside of Brogdon. Brogdon won the Sixth Man of the Year award last season with averages of 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. The oft-injured guard dealt with an elbow issue during Boston’s most recent playoff run.

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Wait, Josh Allens jersey has pockets? You can do that? | NickNacks

Here are some half-baked thoughts and knickknacks (AKA NickNacks) I came up with while watching the New England Patriots play the Buffalo Bills on New Year’s Eve: - I’ve seen the Patriots play in plenty of cold-weather games over the years. I don’t even bat an eye when I see a player with one of those hand-warmer pouches strapped around their waist, particularly quarterbacks. But I don’t know if I’ve ever noticed a player have pockets sewn into his jersey like Bills QB Josh Allen has (and has had for a least a couple of years). BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. - Allen could be seen tucking his hands right into slots sewn into the jersey right at his midsection, with what appears to be some warm lining inside the slots. It’s an unusual feature on a jersey. But apparently, they’ve been around for a long time. - As noted by Paul Lukas of UniWatch, it was once common for players to have pockets sewn right into their jerseys. In a piece he wrote for ESPN, Lukas notes that former Buccaneers equipment manager Frank Pupello introduced the idea of a removable hand warmer pouch back in the 80s. That pouch eventually gave way to the team-banded pouches we see many players wearing today. - As for the game itself, this game in Buffalo was chaos right out of the gate. Jalen Reagor popped off right away by taking the opening kickoff back 98 yards for a touchdown. It was the Patriots’ first kickoff return for a TD since 2018. - The play was also a mirror opposite of last year’s game in Buffalo, which opened with the Bills taking the game’s first kickoff back for a score. - Unfortunately for the Patriots, things went south quickly after that -- at least for Bailey Zappe the offense. - Zappe’s first pass attempt of the game was a quick throw to Mike Gesicki, which Bills DB Rasul Douglas saw coming from a mile away. After Douglas deflected it, Bills DL Ed Oliver came in for a brilliant diving interception. - On the ensuing drive, Douglas struck again, jumping a slant route to DeVante Parker for an easy interception. Zappe simply didn’t see Douglas jump the route. - Zappe’s disastrous start: 0-for-3 passing with two interceptions. - It wasn’t until the fourth drive of the game that Zappe finally completed a pass, hitting tight end Pharoah Brown out wide for a short gain. But that too turned into a turnover as Brown was stripped, with Buffalo recovering the fumble. - But Zappe wasn’t done with disastrous picks. In the second quarter, there was a clear miscommunication between him and Reagor. Zappe appeared to think Reagor was going to run a quick slant. Reagor looked to be running a deeper route. But the time Reagor turned to look for the ball, it had already been interception by -- once again -- Rasul Douglas. - Former Patriots running back James White was among those blaming Reagor. “That one is on the receiver! Have to run your (sight) adjust,” he wrote on social media. - Despite the offensive falling flat on its face, the Patriots stuck with Zappe. They also stuck around in this game, playing an impressively pesky game, especially after Zappe made it a 20-14 game after running it in from 17 yards out for his first rushing score. - There was some good news for New England. For as disastrous as the offense was, the defense did a heck of a job of limiting the damage. - For as bad a Zappe was, Allen wasn’t exactly lighting it up against a banged-up Patriots secondary. He started the game 0-for-6 passing. According to the CBS broadcast, that’s the longest he’s gone into a game without completing a pass. - The Patriots pass rush created some major problems for the Bills. Deatrich Wise recorded a big sack out of the gate. Meanwhile, rookie Keion White showed some impressive quickness to get into the backfield and prevent Allen from making magic. Then there was Mack Wilson, who’s continued to impress in his new role as an outside pass rusher. - Rookie cornerback Alex Austin got his first career interception against the team that drafted him earlier this year. The Patriots picked up Austin to provide some depth to their thinned-out secondary. So far, he’s stepped up with some big plays in extended playing time. - Things got a little worse along the offensive line. Rookie guard Atonio Mafi went down late in the second quarter, leading to rookie offensive lineman Jake Andrews playing his first NFL snaps. - Chad Ryland’s rocky rookie season continues. After a brilliant game-winner last week, Ryland hooked a 47-yarder before halftime. - Who brings a beach ball to a Bills game in late December? Apparently, someone did. You could see a beach ball flying up into the view of the camera. - To be fair, that’s better than other objects we’ve seen thrown around at Bills game.

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sports

Luke Kornet shows Celtics more center depth may not be necessity

It did not take Luke Kornet long to get tested in his first game back on the court since suffering a torn adductor two weeks. The veteran big man was handed a spot start in his return with Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis sidelined against the Raptors on Friday night. Within 14 second of the opening tip, Toronto was going right at Kornet with Jakob Poeltl rolling with a lefty layup against the center off a pick-and-roll. Kornet swapped away a block from the Raptors big man, setting the tone for his best night as a member of the Celtics. Boston ultimately held on for a 120-118 win over the Raptors despite being down three rotation players including Jayson Tatum and Kornet was front and center for much of the win. The 7-foot-1 big man posted a season-high 20 points and 8 rebound while shooting a sensational 8-of-11 from the field. Perhaps most impressively, he played 33 minutes in his return from injury, staying on the floor even after the Raptors opted to play small ball for much of the fourth quarter. Joe Mazzulla explained why he stuck with his big man despite the shift in tactics after the win. “I really trust Luke, and he has an innate ability to navigate our defensive coverages and to guard matchups, and not get held up on miscommunications,” Mazzulla said. “So he does a really good job of guarding different players and executing our different coverages really well, and the offensive end, I thought he does a really good job of creating indecision versus switching. So sometimes he hits under, sometimes he slips out, and I just think he’s one of those guys that when you’re playing against switching and you need to be unique defensively, he can really execute that.” BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Kornet made his impact felt on both ends of the floor with his five offensive rebounds and three blocks, helping the Celtics extend their 15-game home winning streak to begin the year. The 28-year-old is now shooting 75 percent on the season in a part-time role but his steady play in that spot is earning him major accolades from teammates. “Luke is the ultimate teammate,” Jaylen Brown said. “Just a great locker room guy, gets along with everybody. He’s funny, so he kind of just uplifts everybody, even in moments where we don’t want to laugh. And then on the court, he’s just old reliable, is always in the right spot, does his job, screens, rolls, plays hard, gets those offensive rebounds, and steps up and in games like today. And he had a great game today. But Luke is the ultimate teammate.” As the Celtics weigh their trade options in the next six weeks, one constant area that will be focused on is upgrading the big position behind Horford and Porzingis. Yet, given Boston’s limited means to upgrade the roster beyond their top 6 with salary matching, it’s hard to find many bigs in that price range playing better than Kornet at the moment for spot minutes. Between him and Neemias Queta, the Celtics have decent matchup depth options depending on the opponent for at least the remainder of the regular season. That development has helped keep the onus off Boston’s top bigs as the Celtics have been able to keep pace in the standings without them. While Kornet may not be more than a depth piece, he’s showing he can do more when called upon with performances like we saw Friday night.

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Connecticut Sun release 2024 schedule, opponent for TD Garden game

On Monday, the Connecticut Sun announced their 40-game 2024 schedule, which includes the first-ever WNBA regular season game to be played in Boston against the Los Angeles Sparks on Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. at TD Garden. The Sun open their season on May 14 versus the Indiana Fever at Mohegan Sun Arena, with tip-off scheduled for 8 p.m. They conclude the season at home against the Chicago Sky on Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. Connecticut is coming off a franchise record 27 wins and an appearance in the WNBA semifinals, where it lost to the New York Liberty. The Sun have reached the WNBA semifinals each of the past five seasons. First-year head coach Stephanie White was named 2023 Coach of the Year, forward Alyssa Thomas finished second in the MVP voting, and 2022 Sixth Player of the Year Brionna Jones is set to return after undergoing Achilles surgery in June. The Sun will play their first-ever game in an NBA stadium in Boston on Aug. 20. “TD Garden executives were so excited about it,” team president Jen Rizzotti told MassLive on Thursday. “It just felt like at that point – once we had support from them and the Celtics – it was like, let’s move forward and find a way to make this happen. “We felt like this is a great market for us. People care about basketball here, we feel like we’re New England’s WNBA team, so why not expand?” Connecticut forward Brionna Jones couldn’t agree more. “To play in a place that has such a great tradition of success,” Jones said. “Showing the WNBA to young girls from this area, creating a fanbase, not just from Connecticut, but WNBA fans.” After All-Star weekend on July 19-20, the Sun won’t return to the court until Aug. 16 due to the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. Notable dates on the schedule include home games against the Liberty on June 8 at 1 p.m. and July 10 at 11 a.m. There’s also a matchup against the two-time defending WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces on Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m. The Sun will also play in five qualifying games for the Commissioner’s Cup (in-season tournament) from June 2-10, a decrease from 10 last season. The championship will be held on June 25, and $500,000 in prize money will be distributed.

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Bill Belichick: 2024 not factoring into Patriots decisions

FOXBOROUGH — Bailey Zappe is expected to get a start on Sunday afternoon, but according to Bill Belichick, that’s not with an eye to the future. With Mac Jones’ regressing significantly, New England’s quarterback depth chart for next season is totally up in the air. On Friday morning, Belichick — who once again neglected to name a starter — was asked how much future considerations weigh into his quarterback decision against the Chargers this weekend. “I really haven’t thought about 2024,” Belichick said. “Trying to get ready for the Chargers here and getting our team ready to go.” $200 INSTANT BONUS DRAFTKINGS MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $5, GET $200 BONUS BET FANDUEL MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $50, GET $250 BONUS CAESARS MASS CLAIM OFFER $1,000 FIRST-BET BONUS BETMGM MASS CLAIM OFFER MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. It’ll be interesting to see if that philosophy changes at all when the Patriots are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, which could occur as soon as this weekend. Belichick’s future in Foxborough is uncertain, so the coach could very well sell out to win every game on the schedule in hopes of chasing down Don Shula’s all-time record. What’s the point in prepping for the future if he’s not going to be around for it? Here are the scenarios where New England could be eliminated: A Patriots loss and a Steelers win or tie against the Cardinals, a Colts win or tie against the Titans, a Browns win or tie against the Rams. A Patriots loss and a Steelers win or tie, a Colts win or tie, a Bengals win against the Jaguars, a Texans win against the Broncos. A Patriots loss and a Steelers win or tie, a Colts tie, a Bengals win or tie and a Houston/Denver tie. A Patriots loss and a Steelers win or tie, a Colts win, a Cincinnati tie, a Houston win. A Patriots loss and a Steelers win or tie, a Colts win, a tie between the Texans and Broncos. NFL fans can wager online on Massachusetts sports betting with enticing promo codes from top online sportsbooks. Use the FanDuel Massachusetts promo code and the DraftKings Massachusetts promo code for massive new user bonuses.

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Bill Belichick still wont budge on Patriots starting QB

FOXBOROUGH — With kickoff in the Meadowlands a little over 48 hours away, Bill Belichick opted not to name a starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Giants. Earlier in the week, Mac Jones said he was hopeful that he’d start and believed it was “the plan.” If that is indeed the plan, Belichick still isn’t sharing it. $200 INSTANT BONUS DRAFTKINGS MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $5, GET $200 BONUS BET FANDUEL MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $50, GET $250 BONUS CAESARS MASS CLAIM OFFER $1,000 FIRST-BET BONUS BETMGM MASS CLAIM OFFER MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. “I’ve told everybody to be ready to go,” Belichick said. “Hopefully that’s what they’re all doing. I’m not going to announce starters at every position or backups — whatever. Everybody will be ready to go.” Has it mostly Jones and Bailey Zappe taking first team reps at practice? “I’ve told everybody to be ready to go,” Belichick replied. Has Belichick made a decision in his own mind? “I’ve told everybody to be ready to go,” Belichick repeated. The coach was then asked why he wasn’t announcing a starting quarterback. “Then we’ll be announcing who’s starting this, who’s playing that, who’s doing this, who’s doing that,” Belichick said. “Once we get going on that — I’m not going down that road. So, sorry.” Is it a competitive advantage to not announce it? “I’m just not getting into that,” Belichick said. “Whoever we put in, I hope they’re ready to go and play well whenever that is. Could be the first play of the game. Could be the last play of the game. I don’t know.”

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Celtics starter to get MRI, doesnt think injury is serious

Celtics fans held their breath when Kristaps Porzingis was ruled out for the rest of the team’s game against the Magic on Friday in Orlando. The starting big man played 22 minutes up to that point, but he was held out because of left calf tightness. At this point, it’s unclear if Porzingis will miss any time due to the injury. Porzingis told the Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn after the game that he plans to get an MRI on Saturday, though he doesn’t believe the injury is serious. Regardless, that’s positive news for the Celtics that it doesn’t appear to be anything long-term. $200 INSTANT BONUS DRAFTKINGS MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $5, GET $200 BONUS BET FANDUEL MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $50, GET $250 BONUS CAESARS MASS CLAIM OFFER $1,000 FIRST-BET BONUS BETMGM MASS CLAIM OFFER MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. The Celtics’ next game is at home against the Hawks at 6 p.m. Sunday at TD Garden. Even if Porzingis is held out for that game, the absence doesn’t appear to be anything that’ll be extended. With Porzingis out, the Celtics struggled in their blowout 113-96 loss to the Magic. They were also missing Jrue Holiday, but it was no excuse as the C’s didn’t have much juice Friday. The Magic also pounded the Celtics on the offensive glass as the visitors missed Porzingis’ size inside the paint. Porzingis has played in 15 of the Celtics’ 16 games this season. He sat the win over the 76ers on Nov. 15 because of a right knee contusion for mostly precautionary reasons. The Celtics ended up being cautious with their injury-prone big man, keeping out for that game. That’s likely the case again with Porzingis experiencing some calf tightness as the C’s hope he can stay healthy for the upcoming months.

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Maple Leafs credit Bruins culture for strong start to season

The Bruins are off to an 8-0-1 start despite losing some key players in the offseason due to free agency and retirement. They still boast a slew of veterans and talent. Couple that with the culture they’ve built since Zdeno Chara’s days as captain and it’s been a recipe for success. “In some ways it’s surprising, but I don’t think we should be surprised at the same time because they just haven’t gone away,” Toronto Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters Wednesday. “And it’s a credit to the culture and the leadership they have there and their experienced players just continue to keep a high standard.” As Boston gets set to welcome the Maple Leafs to TD Garden on Thursday night, Keefe knows the Bruins will be a tough team to beat for a number of reasons. “I think a big part of it is, for the most part, is their defense is intact. Their goaltending has been the best in the league, so right away that gives you a chance to win every single night,” Keefe said. “I think they still have a number of really good players, great culture, great leadership and they haven’t missed a beat for those reasons. $200 INSTANT BONUS DRAFTKINGS MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $5, GET $200 BONUS BET FANDUEL MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $50, GET $250 BONUS CAESARS MASS CLAIM OFFER $1,000 FIRST-BET BONUS BETMGM MASS CLAIM OFFER MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. That “intact defense” the Bruins have boasted through the first nine games will face its first real test Thursday. Charlie McAvoy will serve the first of a four-game suspension for an illegal check to the head of Florida Panthers’ Oliver Ekman-Larsson, while Matt Grzelcyk will miss a few weeks after being placed on long-term injured reserve. Derek Forbort is also day-to-day and won’t play Thursday. The forward group is also without Milan Lucic (LTIR) and Jakub Lauko (IR). That means top prospect Mason Lohrei will play big minutes for Boston. “We feel like he can go in and do a real good job for us,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery told reporters earlier this week. “I think you’re going to see him out there a lot. We think he’s ready for this league and he’s going to play well in this league. I don’t know what the minutes are going to be, but he’s playing top-four minutes.” Just because the Bruins are facing a little adversity early in the season doesn’t mean the Maple Leafs see Thursday’s game as an automatic win. “They have a lot of good players, a lot of depth,” former Bruins and current Leafs forward Tyler Bertuzzi told reporters Thursday. “They buy into their system, so it’s not surprising and we’re gonna have to bring our full effort tonight to try to win.” The Maple Leafs have lost their last two games and will be looking to bounce back against their rival when the puck drops at TD Garden at 7:30 p.m. EST.

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Pablo Reyes just made a real good case to keep his roster spot on Red Sox

BOSTON -- Hours after it was announced that Trevor Story would be activated from the IL on Tuesday, Red Sox shortstop Pablo Reyes made a strong case to keep his roster spot. It really doesn't get much better than the Monday evening that Reyes put together. It's hard to end a game any better than Reyes did against the Kansas City Royals, smacking a walk-off grand slam to lift Boston to a 6-2 victory and snap a four-game skid. With a teammate at every base and the Red Sox down to their final out, Reyes turned on a 98.2 mph fastball and sent it off the foul pole in left for the walk-off granny. It was Boston's first walk-off win since May 1. His night wasn't just one big swing, either. Reyes was 3-for-4 out of the 8-spot and matched his career high with four RBI to go with three runs scored. He started his evening off with a single in the third and then stole second base. Reyes went to third on an error and scored the game's first run on a Masataka Yoshida sac fly. In the fifth, Reyes doubled to right and then scored on a Connor Wong double to put Boston ahead 2-0. Then came his big swing in the ninth, which nearly didn't happen. On the first pitch from Royals reliever Carlos Hernández, Reyes actually squared up to bunt. The pitch was high and Reyes pulled back for ball one, but it got Rafael Devers leaning at third -- and nearly got him picked off. That would have been a real devastating end to the rally, but pretty much par for the course for the Red Sox over the last week. But Devers made it back in time and Reyes then turned on Hernandez's next fastball, sending it off the pole in left for his first career walk-off homer. It was also his first homer of the season in 33 games with Boston. That swing couldn't have come at a better time, either. With Story set to join the active roster, the Red Sox will have to make a decision come Tuesday. Either Reyes or Yu Chang will likely be DFA'd to make room for Story. Reyes, who was activated off the IL two weeks ago, may have made Chaim Bloom's decision a little easier with his Monday night heroics. He certainly has a fan in Boston skipper Alex Cora. "He's a good kid and there's a reason he's here," Cora said after the win. "We like his versatility, we like his at-bats against lefties. You saw it [Sunday], controlling the zone against righties. He's a good player. He is a really good player and a good kid." Given that Story hasn't played in a year, having a guy like Reyes to back him up will be important down the stretch. Reyes has started 15 games at shortstop and seven at second base, plus a relief appearance at third for Boston this season. He even did some mop-up relief pitching in Sunday's blowout loss to the Blue Jays. A little more than 24 hours after he was on the bump in a 13-1 loss, Reyes sent the Red Sox to a victory with one massive swing of the bat, potentially saving his spot on the team.

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Pope Francis Prep says Brian Foleys suspension due to coaching of Jr. Thunderbirds team

One week after Pope Francis Prep announced that boys hockey coach Brian Foley was suspended by the state’s athletic association for a rules violation, the school released more information about the cause of the suspension. Foley is suspended from coaching the reigning Division I state champion for one year after the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association determined in an investigation that Foley had violated Rule 40 on Out-of-Season Coach-Athlete Contact. The sanction was put into place on Dec. 11, 2023, leaving Foley sidelined until the 2024-25 hockey season.

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Bruins vs. Devils: Live stream, how to watch NHL game

The Bruins return home after four games on the road and will try to build some momentum before the All-Star break early in February. The Devils won the teams’ first meeting 2-1 in overtime on Dec. 13, while the Bruins answered with a 5-2 win on Dec. 30. This is their final meeting in the regular season. The game is on NESN for subscribers. Fans can also stream Bruins games for free by signing up for a free trial of fuboTV. LIVE STREAM: Sign up here to watch Bruins games on NESN How can I watch on TV? — The game will start at 1 p.m. EST from TD Garden. The game will air on TV via NESN in New England. Live stream: fuboTV | NESN Live | Sling | DirecTV — If you get NESN through your TV provider, you can use your cable login credentials to watch the game via streaming via NESN Live and the NESN App. Fans who do not have cable can watch the game via fuboTV, which has a free trial. Outside of New England, fans looking to watch this NHL game can also do so with ESPN+. ESPN+ plans are $10.99 a month or $12.99 a month if you bundle with Hulu and Disney+. Tickets: StubHub and *VividSeats *New customers who purchase tickets through VividSeats can get $20 off a $200+ ticket order by using the promo code MassLive20 at checkout.* Gear: Shop at Fanatics for jerseys, hats, polos, sneakers, shirts and more BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Sports Betting Promos: Fans can wager online on Massachusetts sports betting with enticing promo codes from top online sportsbooks. Use the FanDuel Massachusetts promo code and the DraftKings Massachusetts promo code for massive new user bonuses. MORE COVERAGE VIA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS New Jersey Devils (22-15-3, fifth in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Boston Bruins (25-8-9, first in the Atlantic Division) Boston; Monday, 1 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The Boston Bruins host the New Jersey Devils after Brad Marchand’s two-goal game against the St. Louis Blues in the Bruins’ 4-3 overtime win. Boston has a 25-8-9 record overall and a 12-3-3 record on its home ice. The Bruins have given up 113 goals while scoring 139 for a +26 scoring differential. New Jersey has gone 13-6-1 on the road and 22-15-3 overall. The Devils have an 11-2-2 record in games decided by one goal. Monday’s game is the fourth meeting between these teams this season. The Bruins won 5-2 in the previous matchup. Marchand led the Bruins with two goals. TOP PERFORMERS: Marchand has 19 goals and 20 assists for the Bruins. David Pastrnak has five goals and 10 assists over the last 10 games. Jesper Bratt has 16 goals and 31 assists for the Devils. Dawson Mercer has scored six goals with three assists over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Bruins: 6-1-3, averaging 4.1 goals, 6.9 assists, 4.7 penalties and 9.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game. Devils: 6-3-1, averaging 3.9 goals, 5.6 assists, 3.7 penalties and eight penalty minutes while giving up 3.3 goals per game. INJURIES: Bruins: Linus Ullmark: day to day (lower body), Brandon Carlo: out (upper body), Milan Lucic: out (personal), Derek Forbort: out (undisclosed), Matthew Poitras: day to day (shoulder). Devils: Ondrej Palat: day to day (lower body), Dougie Hamilton: out (pectoral muscle), Timo Meier: out (mid-body), Jonas Siegenthaler: out (foot), Jack Hughes: out (upper body), Tomas Nosek: out (upper body), Nolan Foote: out (upper body).

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Patrick Mahomes reached out to Josh Allen after Chiefs loss to Bills

Patrick Mahomes was so worked up about an offensive offsides call that negated the Chiefs’ go-ahead touchdown that he was still talking about it during his postgame handshake with Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Kadarius Toney was egregiously offsides before he caught a backwards pass from tight end Travis Kelce. Toney ran into the end zone and appeared to give Kansas City the lead late in the fourth, but the penalty erased the touchdown. The Bills won, 20-17, and Mahomes was seen yelling at the officials and slamming his helmet on the sideline. When he met Allen at midfield, the microphones caught him saying the offsides was the “wildest (expletive) call” and that it was, “(expletive) terrible.” Mahomes admitted he regretted his actions, and reached out to Allen to apologize. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. “He reached out to me,” Allen told reporters Wednesday. “I’m just like, ‘It’s football; it’s a game of emotion.’ I know he didn’t mean anything by it. I know the cameras kind of caught the last few seconds of what we were talking about. He’s an ultimate competitor. He wants to win. That’s why he is who he is.” Mahomes told 610 Sports Radio in Kansas City on Monday that he wasn’t setting, “a great example for kids watching the game.” The win was much-needed for the Bills, who remained in the AFC playoff picture. Everything from the Chiefs-Bills Week 14 game is in the past now. And Buffalo now shifts its focus to the Dallas Cowboys, while the Chiefs prepare for another AFC matchup when they come to Gillette Stadium on Sunday to take on the New England Patriots.

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Why Lucas Giolito chose 1-year Red Sox deal after market wasnt crazy for him

Two winters ago, it likely wasn’t hard for Lucas Giolito to envision himself getting a massive deal in free agency in his first go-around on the open market. The then-White Sox ace had just received Cy Young votes for the third straight season and was coming off a strong 2021 season during which he posted a 3.53 ERA while striking out 201 batters in 31 starts. A down year in 2022 (4.90 ERA in 30 starts) was followed by a year of upheaval in 2023, when Giolito pitched for three different teams, had a series of disastrous starts and finished with a 4.88 ERA and 5.27 FIP across 184 ⅓ innings with the White Sox, Angels and Guardians. The second half of his year was particularly rough, as he struggled mightily after being dealt to Los Angeles, then claimed by Cleveland weeks later. The former All-Star allowed a league-leading 41 homers. He hit the open market as a depreciated asset, not as a top-of-the-line option alongside Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Aaron Nola and Blake Snell on a strong free agent market for starters. Instead of a long list of teams trying to sign him, Giolito found a limited market. His free agent experience ended Friday when he agreed to a one-year, $19 million deal with the Red Sox that includes a player option for 2025. “It wasn’t very many (teams interested),” said Giolito, who was also rumored to have had talks with the Mets. “I’ll say that. It wasn’t crazy. For me, I really was sold on the Red Sox philosophy, talking with (manager Alex Cora), talking with (pitching coach) Andrew Bailey, talking with (chief baseball officer) Craig (Breslow). That initial meeting really got me excited. A lot of my free agency process was tailored to working towards getting something done here.” Giolito, a 29-year-old Los Angeles native, didn’t choose the Red Sox because of past Fenway success (13.50 ERA in 2 starts) or his familiarity with the region, though he did note his parents now live in upstate New York, not too far from the Massachusetts border. He chose a pitching-needy Boston club because it expressed interest in signing him from the get-go, with pitching gurus Breslow and Bailey being entrusted to get him back on track after two disappointing seasons. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Giolito said the Red Sox were one of the first — if not the first — teams to reach out when free agency started. “That obviously meant a lot to me,” he said. “It’s my first time going through free agency. Obviously, there’s a lot of unknown coming off of last season. We had a really interesting, amazing Zoom call, like a pitch meeting, where I got to get a feel for the organization, got to meet some of the staff and I really liked everything I heard.” Before his recent struggles, it wouldn’t have been a stretch to envision Giolito setting himself up for a deal similar to or better than what Nola — who is 13 months older — received from the Phillies this year in the form of seven years and $172 million. But the reality of his market was much different. By the end, it made sense for Giolito to sign a short-term deal that provided some protection if he struggled once again. His somewhat convoluted deal with the Red Sox provided what he was looking for. “Because I’m coming off a down season and the year before that was a down season too, for me, committing to a big long-term deal at a value that I don’t necessarily see myself at or not really having interest from teams in that type of deal, it didn’t really make sense,” Giolito said. “What makes sense for me is going somewhere where I know I’m going to be comfortable and I know I’m going to get better.” Giolito’s contract — originally advertised as a two-year deal — is really a one-year pact that allows him to test the open market again, in search of a large payday, if he pitches well in 2024. According to multiple industry sources, Giolito is guaranteed $19 million on the deal, which could stretch three years and guarantee him $58 million in an unlikely scenario. Giolito will earn an $18 million base salary in 2024, then have a $19 million player option or $1 million buyout for 2025. His decision at the end of the season will be based on whether or not he expects to exceed that value on the open market. The deal, which also includes $1 million in incentives based on workload in each of the next two years (a $250,000 bonus at every 10-inning interval from 150 to 180 innings), has some protection built in for the Red Sox in the form of a conditional option for 2026. If Giolito throws 140+ innings in 2025 with the Red Sox, it’s a $14 million club option or $1.5 million buyout for 2026. If he fails to reach that 140-inning plateau, the option will become a $19 million mutual option (which are almost always declined) or $1.5 million buyout. Make no mistake about it. Giolito’s goal is to hit free agency once again next winter. To do so he’ll need to pitch like the old version of himself. “The structure of the contract is what it is so that I can do everything I can to help this team win games for a year or two years and then go back on the market again,” Giolito said. “I’m not a fan, at all, of my recent performances, so I’d like to do the more short-term option and really re-bolster what I know I can do in this league and then go from there.” Alongside Brayan Bello and any further additions the Red Sox make in the coming weeks, Giolito will anchor a new-look rotation after the surprising trade that sent Chris Sale to Atlanta over the weekend. One of the most durable pitchers in baseball since debuting in 2016, Giolito knows the Red Sox are counting on him to take the ball every five days. “What Craig (Breslow) was telling me is that he’s excited for me to bring stability in the rotation, throw innings, and then, the big bonus is going to be me getting back to having the good stuff I know I have and throwing really quality innings,” Giolito said.

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5 things to watch when Patriots play Buffalo Bills

FOXBOROUGH – The situations couldn’t be more different. The Buffalo Bills head into this weekend having won three-straight games. They’re winners of four of their last five and they’ve beaten some of the best teams in the NFL in Kansas City and Dallas. At 9-6, the Bills are in second place in the AFC East and currently hold the sixth seed in the AFC playoff race. These final two games are vital for the Bills and their playoff hopes. Meanwhile, the Patriots head into this game with four wins total. They were the second team to be eliminated from the NFL playoffs this season and are coming off an upset win over the Denver Broncos. The stakes for the Patriots and the Bills are much different. The Patriots and Bill Belichick are playing for pride with each win hurting their draft stock. Buffalo is playing for a chance to get into the playoffs and show everyone they’re still one of the top teams in the AFC. The Bills are also hoping to avoid a repeat of Week 7 when the Patriots delivered a shocking upset in what would be Mac Jones’ last positive memory of this season in New England. Here’s five things to watch when the Patriots take on the Bills this weekend: BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Bailey Zappe It’s one thing to play well against the Denver Broncos, it’s another to do it against the Bills at Buffalo. Zappe’s coming off the first fourth quarter comeback of his NFL career. It was an impressive performance inside Mile High Stadium. That being said, the Broncos have one of the worst defenses in the NFL. Denver ranks 30th in yards allowed, 31st in rushing defense and 24th in passing defense. That won’t be the case this weekend. The Bills head into this matchup ranked tenth in yards allowed, 16th in rushing defense and ninth overall in passing defense. If Zappe can put up good numbers in Buffalo, it’ll create a different conversation when it comes to the quarterback’s future. DeMario Douglas Last weekend, DeMario Douglas caught his 45th pass. That moved him ahead of Deion Branch for the most receptions by a rookie receiver in the Belichick era. This weekend, Douglas has a chance to become the best rookie receiver in New England under Belichick. He’s currently three yards away from passing Aaron Dobson’s mark of 517 receiving yards as a rookie receiver. The Patriots have struggled to develop rookie receivers, but it looks like they found a keeper in Douglas. The sixth round pick out of Liberty currently leads the Patriots in receiving and is second on the team in receptions. We’ll see if he can expand on that come Sunday. Patriots offensive line The Patriots offense needs good offensive line play. That’s been a common theme this season. Last time the Patriots played the Bills, the pass protection stood out in Mac Jones’ fourth quarter comeback win. The quarterback was only sacked once that day. This time, however, the Bills will have Ed Oliver. The pass rushing defensive tackle missed the Bills loss to the Patriots. This season, the 26-year-old has a career-high 8.5 sacks. That’s second on the Bills behind Leonard Floyd (10.5 sacks). The Patriots will attempt to slow down Oliver with two rookie guards - Sidy Sow and Atonio Mafi. Their performances will go a long way to how the Patriots offense looks on Sunday. Stefon Diggs/Gabriel Davis The Patriots are hurting at the cornerback position. Last week, they started Jonathan Jones, Myles Bryant and Shaun Wade. The Patriots also played Alex Austin at the position as well as elevated Breon Borders from the practice squad. The Patriots are down a handful of cornerbacks due to various reasons. They lost Christian Gonzalez due to injury, cut Jack Jones and placed J.C. Jackson on the non-football illness list. That brings us to this weekend. The Patriots secondary will be tested by Bills quarterback Josh Allen and his receivers, Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis. Diggs is in the midst of his sixth 1,000-yard season. He currently leads Buffalo with 96 receptions, 1,070 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Davis currently has 43 receptions for 725 yards and seven touchdowns. He’s coming off the best game of his season with a four-catch, 130-yard performance against the Chargers. Draft watch At this point, we need to take stock of the Patriots position in the 2024 NFL Draft. Last week, the Patriots went into Christmas Eve with the projected No. 2 pick next spring. After beating the Denver Broncos, however, they dropped to the No. 4 spot in the draft. That’s significant considering the top three prizes of the draft are quarterbacks Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. The 4-11 Patriots are tied with Washington, but the Commanders have the No. 3 pick due to the edge in strength of schedule. The Patriots are also ‘behind’ Carolina (2-13) and Arizona (3-12). The Patriots also have three times one game behind them - Giants (5-10), Titans (5-10) and Chargers (5-10). Keep an eye on a win from any of the teams listed above. Prediction: Bills 24, Patriots 20

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Howie Carr: Massachusetts has a worse record than Bill Belichick

As miserable a season as the New England Patriots have endured, do you realize that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has been doing even worse? The difference is, tomorrow the Patsies can fire their bust-out coach, lock down the second or third pick in the NFL draft and begin the long rebuilding process. Where does the state of Massachusetts go for a make-over? Even Harvard University is in better shape, if only because those modern-day Know Nothings are sitting on a $50-billion endowment that they can use to continue their relentless dumbing down of the entire school, from top to bottom, into a cesspool of Third World identity politics. This week the state Department of Revenue (DOR) quietly announced that revenue projections in November had fallen short — for the sixth month in a row. The hackerama hasn’t reached its numbers since the new fiscal year started July 1. In total, six monthly shortfalls in a row — even Bill Belichick in his twilight went 1-5 in the first half-dozen games this lost season. Don’t worry though — it’s only “benchmarks” that the state is missing. So far this fiscal year, $769 million in “benchmarks” have vanished. That’s “only” 4.1 percent. The problem is that, unlike the feds, the state doesn’t have a printing press in the basement of the State House to churn out more funny money to cover the deficits. In fact, the state constitution contains a benchmark saying that the budget must be balanced every year. Belichick, in his mumbling post-game excuses for the mounting losses, has nothing on the Alibi Ikes of the DOR. In their most recent the-dog-ate-my-homework explanation for November, the DOR said the shortfall “was mostly attributable to a decrease in estate tax, a category that tends to fluctuate.” Are the payroll patriots now saying that the number of deaths “fluctuates?” I guess that’s good news — didn’t the death rate always used to be 100 percent? Perhaps, though, estate tax collections are dropping because as home-owning Massachusetts taxpayers age, they’re realizing that if they die here, their children are going to inherit a lot less money because of the onerous levy. If you want to “fluctuate” your inheritance tax down to nothing, you can just move across the border into New Hampshire. But guess what — most states don’t have an inheritance tax. Even California. Speaking of California, U-Haul last week came out with its annual listings of which states Americans are moving into and out of. We’re number two! We’re number two — in net loss of people fleeing their previous residences. It’s tough to top the Golden State and that gang of what somebody called the “malevolent morons” in charge in Sacramento. All NFL teams have a “physically unable to perform list.” Likewise, the states have a “fiscally unable to perform list” — those people who are voting with their feet. According to some statistics, Massachusetts has shed 122,000 law-abiding tax-paying American citizens in the past three years. The Globe was recently cheered, however, by a different number. They claimed that over the last year, despite the overall loss of productive citizens, the state’s numbers have been buoyed by 19,000 new arrivals — “primarily due to the rebound in foreign population.” In other words, illegal aliens. Which means that the native working classes in Massachusetts are being replaced by foreign non-working classes — now known as “migrants.” Why do you suppose the leisure classes from what Democrat John Silber used to call “the tropical climes” want to flop here? It’s certainly not the wonderful climate. But let’s consider some other numbers. Since the Panic of 2020, the state’s overall labor force has declined by 65,000. Since August, net, no new jobs have been created in Massachusetts. No jobs! That’s like a dog whistle for all these loafers from south of the border. Why are they moving here? Because they heard there was no work. Everything free in America. The problem for those who can’t flee is who’s leaving — Americans in the 25- to 44-year-old age group. Nowadays it’s easier than ever to buy fentanyl or to become infected with a previously eradicated communicable disease like tuberculosis. But finding a licensed plumber or even a checkout-counter supermarket clerk — that’s more difficult than ever. The woke one-party state of Massachusetts has ever fewer job-seekers, and ever more shoplifters and hit-and-run drivers. Better hope for some more of that global warming this winter. A lot of the blue-collar guys who traditionally plowed the driveways and parking lots in New England have been departing for greener pastures, which is almost anywhere, if you’re not on welfare. “Oh yeah?” the moonbats say. “If everybody’s leaving Massachusetts, why is the traffic so bad?” Maybe it’s because the MBTA is in a state of collapse. It’s been a while since rapid transit was… rapid. Or even “transit,” for that matter. Plus, on top of all the other free stuff offered to undocumented Democrats, now the Registry hands them drivers’ licenses. That way they can drive their unregistered, uninspected, uninsured Kendra Lara-mobiles to the welfare offices for more handouts. Remember how, after the Panic, all the Registry offices were understaffed? You had to schedule an appointment weeks in advance for the simplest of tasks, like getting a learner’s permit for your kid. The malevolent morons of Beacon Hill could not have cared less about your RMV travails. But once the illegals started demanding service now — ahora! — the hacks went on a hiring spree. They even opened Saturdays in some “gateway cities.” Then there’s the so-called millionaires’ tax. The moonbats assert that the exodus of the well-to-do is exaggerated, because who wants to give up the “cultural amenities” of Massachusetts. Where are these cultural amenities exactly? The public schools, once the best in the nation, are terrible. How “livable” is Boston, really? In the Internet age, what is available in Boston that you can’t get anywhere else? And in free America, you don’t have to put up with the taxes and crime and grime and broken infrastructure, not to mention the insufferably smug entitled racism and quotas that infect every institution from Harvard Square to City Hall? When I was a kid, Massachusetts had 14 Congressmen. Now we have nine. Obviously, you and I aren’t the only people who think the Commonwealth is failing. Bill Parcells used to say, you are what your record says you are. Bill Belichick used to believe that too. Now not so much. At least the Krafts can fire Bill Belichick tomorrow for what he’s done to their team. Who can we fire for what they’ve done to our state?

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Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzula on his player development philosophy

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla believes in the importance of a holistic approach to player development, including personal growth alongside skills improvement. He recently broke down his beliefs in a video for the Basketball Immersion YouTube channel. Mazzulla believes in building awareness, active listening, effective questioning, ownership and accountability as key values in his development system, emphasizing player development is an ongoing lifestyle, not just a job. Mazzulla’s philosophy revolves around nurturing players both on and off the court, which he expounds at length in the clip embedded below. Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Who should Patriots re-sign? Former QB weighs in (Podcast)

The Patriots have a lot of decisions to make this offseason. Aside from Bill Belichick and their quarterback situation, New England has a few pending free agents that it can choose to re-sign or let walk. On the latest episode of “Eye On Foxborough,” 98.5 The Sports Hub’s and former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak joined MassLive’s Karen Guregian and shared his thoughts on who he thinks New England should bring back in 2024. And while he shared a few names, there are two in particular that stood out. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. “(Kyle) Dugger. “Dugger’s like Patrick Chung,” Zolak told Guregian. “...I think Dugger’s morphed into Chung.” Aside from both of them wearing No. 23, Dugger and Chung played the safety position at a high level. Dugger has been a key piece to the Patriots defense — especially in 2023 when the defense was one of the few bright spots during a trying season. Another player Zolak referenced was Mike Onwenu who, like Dugger, was a consistent bright spot for New England. “No doubt,” Zolak said. “He’s built to play guard. I think it’s perfect for him at guard.” Onwenu was arguably the Patriots’ best lineman this year. In December, he told ESPN’s Mike Reiss there wasn’t much to report on in terms of talks of a contract extension. “From my agents, they said there haven’t really been much talks,” Onwenu told Reiss. “There has been communication, but there haven’t been any offers or any contracts that were sent. It’s kind of just a waiting game to see how it goes. “It’s really just time. That’s all you can do at this point (is wait),” he later added. “It’s going to be one of those things that’s in the moment — when it happens, it happens.” Onwenu played both guard and right tackle an particularly thrived at the latter, showing his versatility and skill at both positions, making impact plays. It remains to be seen who the Patriots will retain. It’s also unclear if David Andrews and Matthew Slater will return or retire. But the offseason is sure to be a busy one for New England for a slew of reasons.

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Jayson Tatum injury: Joe Mazzulla provides update on stars ankle

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jayson Tatum will officially miss his first game of the season when the Celtics take on the Kings on Wednesday. The Celtics star suffered a sprained left ankle in their loss to the Warriors on Tuesday. While Tatum returned to the game, the injury will keep him out of the second game of the back-to-back. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said they’re taking the injury day-by-day for now. There’s no timetable for his return at this point, Mazzulla added. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. “He loves to play,” Mazzulla said. “I’m sure he would do anything to play but it was obviously sore, obviously swollen. You could tell it limited him during the game. He did a good job of fighting through it, but it’s a day-to-day thing and we’ll see how it goes.” Tatum sprained his ankle a few minutes into Tuesday’s game, which forced him to retreat to the locker room. But he returned to the Celtics bench later just a few game minutes later, and he was ready to play by the start of the second quarter. Tatum ended up playing 41 minutes, but he struggled from the field as he shot 5-for-17 for 15 points. The Celtics get two days off, so Tatum will get a chance to rest his ankle. They take on the Clippers on Saturday in Los Angeles. Before that, the Celtics will look to bounce back after Tuesday’s loss. “When you sprain your ankle, you’re not 100%,” Tatum said postgame Tuesday. “So you gotta figure out other ways of what you can do or what feels more comfortable out there. You can’t move how you want to. You still try to figure out other ways to be effective.”

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2024 Hoophall Classic: Angalace Quinones, No. 1 Central girls basketball prevail in OT (photos)

SPRINGFIELD ― Despite trailing by as many as 11 points late in the third quarter, No. 1 Springfield Central girls basketball came back to defeat Hamden (CT) in overtime, 47-37 on Friday at the 2024 Spalding Hoophall Classic.

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Charlie McAvoy misses Bruins practice, not ruled out for Saturday

A day after leaving the Bruins’ loss to the Buffalo Sabres with an injury early in the third period on Thursday, Charlie McAvoy was not on the ice at practice Friday before Saturday’s game against Arizona. Jim Montgomery said McAvoy is day-to-day with an upper-body (not head) injury. He has not been ruled out for Saturday. McAvoy, the Bruins leader in minutes played and an alternate captain landed awkwardly after a hit by JJ Peterka in front of the Boston bench less than two minutes into the third period of Boston’s 3-1 loss on Friday. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. He got up gingerly and went to the Bruins locker room and did not return for the remainder of game. McAvoy played 15:53 before the injury. Montgomery didn’t have an update on his status after the game. The injury came just hours after the Bruins put Derek Forbort on long-term injured reserve leaving Boston down two veteran defensemen. Ian Mitchell replaced McAvoy in practice on Friday. “He’s our rock back there. He’s such a dominant player. He does so much of the breakout, offensively with his physical presence,” Brad Marchand said. “You lose a guy like him, you can’t replace him. Hopefully, he’ll be back (at practice) tomorrow. feeling better. I don’t know how that will play out. It definitely hurts our team when he’s not in the lineup.”

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Live Wire: Field Day 2024 lineup announced

Field Day, the summer music festival in Northampton, just announced the lineup for 2024. The festival, which will expand to multiple days, will be held at the Three County Fairgrounds from May 31 to June 2. This year acts will include Indigo De Souza, Nation of Language, DEHD, Geese, Butcher Brown, Sheer Mag, The Heavy Heavy, NTH Power, This Love, Cooper B Handy, Sun Parade, and Prewn, among others. Visit the Field Day website for more information.

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Westfield wrestling lands seven pins, rallies past Holyoke, 51-27

WESTFIELD – The Westfield High School boys wrestling team started off slow in its first dual meet of the 2023-24 season. The Bombers finished at a blistering pace. Westfield exploded for seven pins – three of which came in the first 30 seconds – to defeat Holyoke, 51-27, Tuesday night at home.

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Josh McDaniels was reason Raiders didnt draft C.J. Stroud (report)

When the 2023 NFL Draft rolled around, former Raiders general manager Dave Ziegler had his sights set on C.J. Stroud. According to a new report from SI’s Hondo Carpenter, Ziegler wanted to trade up in order to select the quarterback. But ex-coach Josh McDaniels vetoed what could have been a chance for Las Vegas to have a legitimate quarterback. Stroud ended up getting drafted No. 2 overall by the Houston Texans while the Raiders signed Jimmy Garoppolo to a three-year deal. “Josh wanted it his way and wouldn’t budge,” a league source told Carpenter. “I think you could sum it up that Dave wanted to be a team, but Josh wanted it his way, and I think the ambiguity of the relationship allowed Josh to steamroll him.” $200 INSTANT BONUS DRAFTKINGS MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $5, GET $200 BONUS BET FANDUEL MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $50, GET $250 BONUS CAESARS MASS CLAIM OFFER $1,000 FIRST-BET BONUS BETMGM MASS CLAIM OFFER MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. Ziegler also wanted to re-sign Jarrett Stidham and bring in Jacoby Brissett, have them compete for the starting quarterback job and to add some depth to the position. And then drafting Stroud would set them up for future success with quarterbacks behind him who were mobile and had a grasp on the offense. But McDaniels, according to Carpenter, wanted “nothing to do with that plan” and “was hellbent” on Garoppolo — who he already had a relationship with during their time with the New England Patriots — being the starter. Ziegler was concerned about Garoppolo’s injury history. And “despite all of the health issues that he had and Dave’s incessant warnings that it was a mistake, Josh got his way,” Carpenter reported. Sometimes getting your way isn’t always for the best, as McDaniels found out. Even though the Texans are struggling this season, Stroud has thrown for 3,266 yards and 19 touchdowns in 11 starts. Garoppolo — who was dealt another injury this year — threw just seven touchdowns and nine interceptions and ended up getting benched for rookie Aidan O’Connell after Week 8. As for Ziegler and McDaniels? They were both fired in October.

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Joel Embiid anticipated Celtics defensive wrinkle in 76ers win

PHILADELPHIA -- The Celtics lost a few of their options to guard Joel Embiid this offseason when Grant Williams, Marcus Smart and Robert Williams all departed. With Boston starting a defensively overmatched Kristaps Porzingis at center in the offense-first lineup with Derrick White back in the fold, Joe Mazzulla put Jrue Holiday on the big man for a large chunk of the game. The move may have come as a bit of a surprise for fans but one player was ready for the chess move out of the gate: Embiid. “I was expecting it,” Embiid said. “I thought we didn’t do a good job of reacting to it. All they were basically doing was, you know, trying to front me. I thought there was so many times we could have had a high low. We just didn’t react quick enough to make it happen. So that’s an adjustment for the next few games. “Whoever does it, I’m sure they’re going to do it again. Sometimes they were just coming right away and I thought we didn’t move the ball fast enough. We didn’t attack. We just kept getting stuck finding passes instead of just attacking and creating a shot for everybody else. But I thought they did a pretty good job. They were fronting and they had one guy, whether it was Kristaps or Al just coming baseline, just doubling. We’re gonna watch the film and get better.” FanDuel Sportsbook BET $5, WIN $150 BONUS BETS & 3 MONTHS NBA LEAGUE PASS CLAIM OFFER 21+ and present in participating states. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Embiid shook off a slow start to finish with a team-high 27 points and 10 rebounds but did have six turnovers. Ultimately, the attention the Celtics had to pay through the night with double teams with their unorthodox matchups helped Embiid’s supporting cast get going. Three other Sixers finished in double figures despite a poor shooting night from 3-point range for the team (26 percent). “We got a long way to go, but we’re on the right path,” Embiid said. “There’s so many things I could’ve been better today. Taking care of the ball, missed quite a few shots, Tyrese, he missed a lot of shots that he’s been making. We were not as efficient as we’ve been, but it happens. But then again, I also like the effort and the intensity defensively, just being together, following the game plan. The game plan was key and I thought for the most part, we followed it and we executed it, good adjustments, and just playing together.” With Horford struggling with his shot at age 37 this year, Boston’s long-time remedy to contain the big man may be fading with time. The Celtics will need to get better offensively to cover up their defensive decencies against the defending MVP going forward if they elect to stick with smalls lineups against the seven-footer. “It’s as tough as it is every year,” Jayson Tatum said of the matchup. “He’s a hell of a player and, he always gonna make it tough on you and, you know, it’s our job to guard him as a unit, as a team, push out catches and, you know, he just can’t be comfortable. He’s going to make some shots but, you know, we just gotta keep defending him as a group.” The Celtics get a rematch against Embiid next Wednesday night at Well Fargo Center.

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Girls Basketball Scoreboard for Jan. 2: Olivia Chrzan dominates, Monson prevails over Westfield

Monson girls basketball rang in the New Year in a down-to-the-wire, highly competitive game against Westfield, with the Mustangs narrowly defeating the Bombers, 43-42.

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sports

Trent Brown: Malik Cunningham absolutely deserved more chances to play

When the Ravens signed Malik Cunningham off the Patriots practice squad, it prompted several New England players to share their thoughts on social media. No one was as outspoken as Trent Brown, though. “Go flourish where your talent is respected little bradda,” the offensive tackle wrote on his Instagram story with a picture of Cunningham. Cunningham, undrafted out of Louisville, figured to give the Patriots a spark on offense, while adding another option at the struggling quarterback position. The 25-year-old played in one game this season, but took just one snap. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. The quarterback/wide receiver did see time under center during the first preseason game and showcased some of his potential. He led the Patriots to a scoring drive and showed off how he could be a dual-threat QB for New England. But Cunningham never did get that opportunity under Bill Belichick and the Patriots. Instead, their issues at quarterback were on full display with Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe throughout the season. Speaking to A to Z Sports’ Sophie Weller, Brown expressed his frustration with Cunningham’s inability to get into a game. “I mean, probably the most exciting drive we had in that stadium was against Houston in preseason games this season,” Brown told Weller. “Like, my guy couldn’t even get a red jersey.” Cunningham never sported the red quarterback jersey during practice despite taking reps at the position. Despite being active at times this season, he often found himself on the sideline, never seeing the gridiron. When asked if he thought Cunningham deserved more playing time, Brown gave a blunt answer. “Absolutely,” Brown told Weller. “Everybody on the team did. Everybody.” Cunningham didn’t play in Balitmore’s 23-7 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars last week, but coach John Harbaugh told reporters after he was signed that he will “contribute every way he can.”

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sports

Memphis vs. Iowa State: How to watch the Liberty Bowl for free

The Memphis Tigers, appearing in its 10th straight bowl game, take on the Iowa State Cyclones in the Liberty Bowl. The Tigers are 9-3 while the Cyclones are 7-5, having won six Big 12 games. Memphis, which had the AAC’s No. 2 scoring offense (39.7 ppg), is led by 1,000-yard rusher Blake Watson. Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht is the Big 12 offensive freshman of the year. The Cylcones are 1-2 in the Liberty Bowl. Fans looking to watch this college football bowl game can do so for free on fuboTV, which offers a free trial (as well as RedZone, for you NFL fans) or on DirecTV Stream, which also offers a free trial. SlingTV has promotional offers available, as well. Through the end of 2023, fuboTV is also offering $20 off the first two months of subscription (in addition to the 7-day free trial). Who: Memphis vs. Iowa State When: Friday, 3:30 p.m. ET Where: Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee Stream: fuboTV (free trial); or Sling; or DirecTV Stream Tickets: StubHub and *VividSeats Gear: Shop around for jerseys, shirts, hats, hoodies and more at Fanatics.com Sports Betting Promos: Football fans can wager online on Massachusetts sports betting with enticing promo codes from top online sportsbooks. Use the FanDuel Massachusetts promo code and the DraftKings Massachusetts promo code for massive new user bonuses. RELATED CONTENT: Memphis is playing Iowa State in the Liberty Bowl for the second time since 2017. The Tigers have a chance for some payback after losing that game by a point. Memphis needs a victory on its home field for just the fifth season in school history with at least 10 wins and the fourth since 2014. Iowa State is 1-2 all-time in this bowl. The Cyclones are trying to finish winning three of their final four. They upset then-No. 19 Kansas State 42-35 in the regular season finale. Iowa State is playing in its sixth bowl since Matt Campbell took over as coach. WHAT’S AT STAKE? With a victory, Memphis can post just the fifth season in school history with at least 10 wins and the fourth since 2014. The Tigers also can get a little payback after losing this bowl to Iowa State 21-20 in 2017. The Iowa State Cyclones are 1-2 all-time in this bowl. Iowa State is looking to finish winning three of its final four and comes in having upset then-No. 19 Kansas State 42-35 in the regular season finale. KEY MATCHUP Iowa State’s opportunistic defense against a Memphis offense that averaged 39.2 points a game this season. The Cyclones ranked fifth in the NCAA picking off 16 passes and tied for 18th nationally with a plus-8 turnover differential. PLAYERS TO WATCH Iowa State: QB Rocco Becht is the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and has school freshman records with 20 touchdown passes and 2,674 yards passing that had been held by Brock Purdy, now in the NFL with San Francisco. Becht also has the freshman mark with 209 completions in 12 career starts. Memphis: Seth Henigan is the third-youngest starting quarterback at 20 in FBS this season. He comes in needing to throw for 321 yards for a school record, and he already has 17 300-yard passing games and five 400-yard passing games that are the most in program history. He ranks 10th averaging 293.2 yards passing per game and 11th with 3,519 yards passing for the season. He is ninth averaging 313.8 yards in total offense per game. FACTS & FIGURES Iowa State is playing its sixth bowl game with coach Matt Campbell, a big improvement for a program that had made 12 bowl appearances in its 124 seasons. ... Memphis is one of nine teams in FBS with nine or more straight bowl appearances, a group that includes Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Wisconsin and Iowa. ... Iowa State is 7-2 all-time against American Athletic Conference teams. The Cyclones are 1-5 all-time in games played in Tennessee, including 1-3 in Memphis. ... Memphis has won 87 games since 2014, 16th-most nationally in that span and most among AAC schools. ... Memphis has scored 20 or more points in 26 straight games for the longest active streak nationally. ... Memphis has forced at least one turnover in 24 of the last 30 games with 54 takeaways in that span. ... Iowa State has won 20 straight games when leading at halftime and is 41-5 when leading at the half under Campbell. The Associated Press contributed to this article

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sports

Bill Belichick: Patriots tried to keep Malik Cunningham

FOXBOROUGH — The Patriots tried to keep Malik Cunningham in Foxborough, according to Bill Belichick. After New England spent the past eight months trying to convert Cunningham to wide receiver, the Ravens plucked the dual-threat quarterback off the Patriots practice squad on Tuesday. In his Wednesday morning press conference, Belichick said the Patriots wanted to keep Cunningham around, but he chose a fresh start in Baltimore instead. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. “They sold him on the opportunity,” Belichick said. “The offense. He and Lamar (Jackson). Certainly their offense suits Malik better than probably any other offense in the league does, as a quarterback.” There are a couple ways New England could have tried to keep Cunningham. The first is obvious — giving him more money — but they also could have opened a 53-man roster spot for him, and elected not to. Baltimore has always made sense as a landing spot for Cunningham given his skillset, but it’s interesting that the 3-10 Patriots wouldn’t give him a spot on their 53-man roster, while the 10-3 Ravens deemed him as worthy of one. In an interview with ESPN on Tuesday, Cunningham spoke fondly about his time in New England. “I wanted to thank Mr. (Robert) Kraft and Coach Belichick for giving me opportunity to play with the Patriots,” Cunningham told ESPN. “I learned a lot from them. I want to be a coach one day, so I would take notes from Coach Belichick because he’s one of the greatest of all time. I had great teammates in New England and built relationships that will last a lifetime. But I just feel like this is a good opportunity for me and I’m excited to be a Baltimore Raven.”

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sports

Patriots starter openly discussed plans to play elsewhere in 2024 (report)

Trent Brown may have already played his last snap for the New England Patriots. According to a report from the Boston Herald, he’s already openly talked about playing somewhere else next season. The team’s starting left tackle was a healthy scratch this past week amid ongoing drama with the team. Brown is set to become a free agent this offseason and has been dealing with a number of injuries down the stretch. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. It’s reportedly believed that Brown is “protecting himself” amid a lost Patriots season as he prepares to hit free agency. Brown had been playing through injury, but now appears on course to miss some major contract incentives, which were based on playing time. Being scratched last week against the Bills more or less put the pursuit of those incentives to bed. According to the Boston Herald, Brown “openly discussed plans to play for an NFC team” in the locker room following the Patriots’ win over the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier this season. There are a few candidates in the NFC to land Brown this offseason, should he leave. The Los Angeles Rams could really use a tackle. Meanwhile, Brown would fit in nicely at right tackle for hte Minnesota Vikings if the team sticks with Kirk Cousins. The San Francisco 49ers, the team that originally drafted Brown, also make sense. They’re in win-now mode and Brown could slide in as a plug-and-play option at right tackle. Then there are the Dallas Cowboys, who could lose left tackle Tyron Smith in free agency. Brown is a Texas native and still lives there.

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sports

Joe Mazzulla reveals compelling Celtics goal-setting mindset

With the NBA’s in-season tournament ongoing, Celtics like Jaylen Brown mentioned it was, at minimum, a nice change-of-pace to the routine of the regular season. The NBA goes on for 82 games, so there are certainly the dog days of the season where the schedule feels endless. The C’s have taken care of business for the most part, putting together an East-best 16-5 record. There are areas they need to clean up, but they’re still one of the best teams in the league. That’s an encouraging sign considering the Celtics are still folding in new pieces like Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. Despite the potential doldrums of the season, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla talked about now being the perfect time to set some goals compared to before the season. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. “When you set goals, you set them when you’re healthy, when you’re not sore, when you haven’t played yet, when there’s no stats, and when you haven’t like had to go through three days,” Mazzulla said. “Goal-setting should happen right now, when like you’re tired, you’re a little sore, when maybe you’re playing well or you’re not playing well.” Mazzulla brings up a good point in that the preseason is all about hope and expectations. The Celtics were set to contend for a title again, and there haven’t been many blips to alter those expectations. But there have been some changes during the season. There’s also fighting back against the routine to still achieve those goals. Mazzulla has also spoken about the process to becoming a winning team, where the Celtics are still trying to build an identity with their new core. For example, the C’s cared about the in-season tournament, but Mazzulla also spoke at length about what it takes to become a winning team. So it’s no surprise the second-year coach talked about reaching their goals during the hard times, not necessarily when optimism at its highest before the season. “That’s like the mental toughness aspect of like can we remember what our goals are and do them at times when we don’t really feel like doing them,” Mazzulla said. “And that’s the challenge, I think, for everybody.”

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sports

Red Sox among clubs with interest in free agent slugger (report)

The Red Sox are among the teams who have interest in free agent slugger Jorge Soler, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported. The 31-year-old right-handed hitter, who crushed 36 homers in 137 games (580 plate appearances) for the Marlins in 2023, finished in the 94th among all major league hitters in expected slugging percentage (.532) and expected weighted on-base percentage (.374), per Baseball Savant. Feinsand first mentioned Seattle as a landing spot, then added he “has also drawn interest from the D-backs, Blue Jays and Red Sox, per sources, giving Soler a healthy market.” Soler had a high 27.6% strikeout percentage last year but he also takes plenty of walks. His 11.4% walk percentage ranked in the 83rd percentile while he was in the 72nd percentile in chase rate (25.6%). The Red Sox could use him as a DH and occasional outfielder. He is a below-average defender in right field and left field but he still would give Boston more versatility. Feinsand also reported “the Angels, Dodgers and Red Sox appear to be the frontrunners” for outfielder Teoscar Hernández who has 83 homers over the past three seasons. The Red Sox still are looking to add to their roster but more subtraction may come first. As MassLive’s Chris Cotillo reported Sunday, the Red Sox have told at least one free agent target that they need to shed more payroll before pursuing him as aggressively as they want to. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Boston has already made changes to its outfield group this offseason, trading Alex Verdugo to the Yankees and acquiring Tyler O’Neill from the Cardinals. Boston’s 40-man roster also includes outfielders Masataka Yoshida, Rob Refsnyder, Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran and Ceddanne Rafaela. Boston could look to trade one of their outfielders in their pursuit of starting pitching.

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sports

Patriots rookie WR vows to step up after loss of Kendrick Bourne

MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. – Demario Douglas couldn’t believe it. At 3:32 of the first quarter, Douglas came off the line of scrimmage and was met by a Miami Dolphins cornerback and then also safety Brandon Jones. This snap represented the first time the Patriots rookie receiver was met with double coverage in the NFL. The Dolphins were so focused on Douglas in this play that it sprung Kendrick Bourne loose for a 24-yard touchdown. The sixth-round pick was so shocked that he asked Patriots veteran receivers about it when he returned to the sideline. They told him that it was a sign of respect. “I noticed it down in the goal line when they doubled me,” Douglas told MassLive. “That’s when I realized, ‘Oh, snap.’ I got doubled in college, but I didn’t think I’d get doubled this soon in the league. I’ve got to watch this film and get back on to the next game.” $200 INSTANT BONUS DRAFTKINGS MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $5, GET $200 BONUS BET FANDUEL MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $50, GET $250 BONUS CAESARS MASS CLAIM OFFER $1,000 FIRST-BET BONUS BETMGM MASS CLAIM OFFER MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. Douglas has quickly turned into one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in New England. On Sunday, Douglas was the Patriots main slot receiver ahead of veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster. He finished the game with the most snaps played (41) for a Patriots receiver and that’ll likely continue with Bourne suffering a season-ending knee injury. Douglas came into Sunday’s game after hurting the Buffalo Bills with a four-catch, 54-yard performance. The rookie also ran for 20 yards and had a 25-yard punt return. It was clear the Dolphins recognized how important the rookie was to Mac Jones and that’s why they focused on him on Sunday. Douglas led the Patriots in receptions (five) and targets (seven) while finishing with 25 yards. He’ll continue to be important for the Patriots with Bourne (knee) and DeVante Parker (concussion) suffering injuries in Miami. Douglas said he felt sick as soon as he saw Bourne go down. The veteran receiver has been one of the rookie’s mentors this season. “I’m sick – just to see that. Especially KB. That one hurt for sure,” Douglas said. “He brings a lot of energy. Just to see him go down, I just squatted down and just prayed for him.” It won’t be easy for the Patriots without Bourne, their leading receiver, but that should put Douglas in an even bigger role. That also means he’ll see more double teams. When asked how he has to approach this next game without Bourne, Douglas said it’s simple. “Time to step up,” Douglas said. “Time to step up more. That’s how I see it.”

664276056405d2893718fc0159e94c09

sports

Patriots cut veteran RB to make room for new LB

With the Patriots claiming Eagles linebacker Christian Elliss off waivers, Ty Montgomery is the odd man out. New England needed to make a corresponding move to free up a spot on the 53-man roster, and they cut the veteran running back on Friday afternoon. Montgomery had played mostly special teams this season, returning kicks and covering them, too. Montgomery was at the center of a breakdown that led to a blocked punt in Thursday night’s win over the Steelers, and Kyle Dugger replaced him on the punt team after that. Despite very little depth behind Zeke Elliott at running back, Montgomery played just six offensive snaps in Pittsburgh. The Patriots could still re-sign the veteran to the practice squad though, as they reportedly opened a spot there by releasing kicker Matthew Wright. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. On a Friday morning conference call, Bill Belichick broke down what went right for Bailey Zappe and company in the 21-18 win. “Offense is a team performance,” Belichick began. “You’ve got to block [T.J.] Watt, you’ve got to block [Cameron] Hayward, you’ve got to block [Alex] Highsmith or [Nick] Herbig and Elandon Roberts and all those guys. [Minkah] Fitzpatrick and so, the skill guys had obviously the production, but the other guys had to block, get open, catch the ball, throw the ball, so forth. So, it was a good team performance. We tried to keep Watt, number one at bay, that was a priority in the game. At least he didn’t ruin the game. “Bailey made some good throws. We scored in the red area, which was huge. Those were seven point-plays instead of field goals. For the most part, our ball security offensively was good. We had a tip pass that they made a good play on and intercepted, and obviously the blocked punt. But offensively, ball security was good. The ball wasn’t on the ground a lot, the ball was in our hands safely. Those are all the fundamental things that need to be good for you to be successful.” $200 INSTANT BONUS DRAFTKINGS MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $5, GET $200 BONUS BET FANDUEL MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $50, GET $250 BONUS CAESARS MASS CLAIM OFFER $1,000 FIRST-BET BONUS BETMGM MASS CLAIM OFFER MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. As for the newly-claimed Elliss, the Patriots are getting another core special teamer who worked his way into the Eagles defensive lineup before the team signed Shaq Leonard. This season he registered 21 total tackles and a pair of tackles for a loss.

91d3bfc8fcfcce40c286925f2cc5bb63

sports

Why Patriots factored into Mike Vrabels Titans firing (report)

It appears that Tennessee Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk was not happy with the way her former head coach, Mike Vrabel, conducted himself during his Patriots Hall of Fame induction. On Tuesday, Strunk surprised the NFL when she fired Vrabel, who went 54-45 over six seasons in Tennessee. Twenty-four hours later, it appears that the Patriots factored into the decision. According to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Titans owner was upset over what Vrabel said during his speech to the Gillette Stadium crowd this season. Strunk was also reportedly unhappy that her coach wouldn’t dispute rumors that he was going to come to the Patriots. “This was Amy Adams Strunk making the decision based on a lot of things,” Rapoport said. “Including what happened when he went to New England for the Hall of Fame thing, Including not dispelling rumors, in-house, that he was going to be Patriots coach. There was a lot there.” BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. As of Wednesday early afternoon, Bill Belichick was still the head coach and general manager of the Patriots. Belichick met with owner Robert Kraft on Monday and was expected to meet again yesterday. It’s unknown what the timetable is for Kraft when it comes to his decision to keep or move on from Belichick. When Vrabel was let go on Tuesday, many thought that he would become a top candidate for the Patriots in the event Belichick was fired, resigned, or left New England. Vrabel’s speech at Gillette Stadium is worth revisiting. On Oct. 22, Vrabel talked at halftime during the Patriots matchup with the Buffalo Bills. He began that speech by saying, “Come on, we’ve got a game to win.” Vrabel also thanked the fans, noting that Gillette Stadium is “unbelievably special.” Then, the former Patriots edge rusher praised the organization. “I don’t want you to take this organization for granted,” Vrabel said. “I’ve been a lot of places, this is a special place with great leadership, great fans, great direction, and great coaching. Enjoy it, it’s not like this everywhere.” Those comments were eye-raising considering Vrabel was the head coach of the Titans. Apparently, the quote was seen or heard by Titans ownership and now, Vrabel is free to join another team. We’ll see if that leads him back to New England.

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How to watch Browns vs. Texans week 16 matchup, stream for free

The Cleveland Browns will face the Houston Texans on Sunday, December 24 for a week 16 AFC matchup. The game is scheduled to start at 1 and will be broadcast on CBS. Fans looking to watch this NFL game can do so for free by using FuboTV or DirecTV Stream, which both offer a free trial and RedZone. SlingTV has promotional offers available, and NFL+ airs all local market games. Through the end of 2023, fuboTV is also offering $20 off the first two months of subscription (in addition to the 7-day free trial). Paramount+ is also an option to stream NFL games and offers free trials for new users. The Texans will likely be without star rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud for a second straight game as he recovers from a concussion. If he can’t go, the Texans will start veteran Case Keenum after the 35-year-old helped them to a 19-16 overtime win at Tennessee last week in his first start since the 2021 season. Cleveland (9-5) enters the weekend with a one-game lead over the rest of the wild-card field, which includes four teams with eight wins (including Houston) and two with seven. Who: Cleveland Browns vs. Houston Texans When: Sunday, December 24 at 1 p.m. EST Where: NRG Stadium Stream: fuboTV (free trial + $20 off your first 2 months); or Sling; DirecTV Stream or NFL+ Tickets: StubHub and *VividSeats *New customers who purchase tickets through VividSeats can get $20 off a $200+ ticket order by using the promo code MassLive20 at checkout.* Gear: Shop around for jerseys, shirts, hats, hoodies and more at Fanatics.com Sports Betting Promos: NFL fans can wager online on Massachusetts sports betting with enticing promo codes from top online sportsbooks. Use the FanDuel Massachusetts promo code and the DraftKings Massachusetts promo code for massive new user bonuses. RELATED CONTENT: CLEVELAND (9-5) at HOUSTON (8-6) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS OPENING LINE: Browns by 2 1/2, according to FanDuel SportsBook. AGAINST THE SPREAD: Browns 8-5-1; Texans 7-7. SERIES RECORD: Texans lead 7-6. LAST MEETING: Browns beat Texans 27-14 on Dec. 4, 2022, in Houston. LAST WEEK: Browns beat Bears 20-17; Texans beat Titans 19-16 in OT. BROWNS OFFENSE: OVERALL (17), RUSH (10), PASS (21), SCORING (T12). BROWNS DEFENSE: OVERALL (1), RUSH (11), PASS (1), SCORING (12). TEXANS OFFENSE: OVERALL (10), RUSH (22), PASS (5), SCORING (T14). TEXANS DEFENSE: OVERALL (16), RUSH (6), PASS (25), SCORING (15). TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Browns minus-7; Texans plus-8. BROWNS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Joe Flacco. The 38-year-old has jumped from the couch into crunch time with Cleveland, which signed him on Nov. 20 after Deshaun Watson was lost for the season. Last week, in his third start for the Browns, Flacco passed for a season-high 374 yards — 212 in the fourth quarter — in the comeback win. The Super Bowl 47 MVP gives the Browns an experienced QB with poise and plenty of big-game experience. He’s had success against the Texans in the past, going 5-2 in seven games. TEXANS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Case Keenum. The 35-year-old veteran is likely to get his second straight start with star rookie C.J. Stroud still in the concussion protocol. Keenum threw for 229 yards with a touchdown and an interception last week in his first action of the season and his first start since the 2021 season. He’s won three straight starts for Houston after leading the Texans to victories in the final two games of the 2014 season. KEY MATCHUP: Browns DE Myles Garrett vs. Texans RT George Fant and LT Laremy Tunsil. Cleveland’s star has been switching sides more frequently as Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz tries to get him into more 1-on-1 matchups. It usually takes two — and sometimes three — to block Garrett, but Tunsil one of the NFL’s best has more than held his own in previous matchups. KEY INJURIES: Like the Texans, the Browns have been hit hard by major injuries. Last week, they lost both starting tackles, a safety and two defensive linemen for the season. ... Browns LB Anthony Walker Jr. is out after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery Thursday. Walker is a team captain and signal caller for the league’s top-ranked defense. ... Browns All-Pro LG Joel Bitonio (back) should return after leaving last week’s game in the first quarter. ... Browns DE Ogbo Okoronwko (pectoral) and S Juan Thornhill (calf) are also out. ... Houston DE Will Anderson, the third overall in the draft, could miss a second straight game with an ankle injury. … WR Nico Collins sat out last week with a hamstring injury but returned to practice this week and should play. … S Jimmie Ward will likely miss Sunday’s game after sustaining a concussion last week. SERIES NOTES: The Browns and Texans have been intertwined in the past few years because of the controversial trade of Watson, who starred for four seasons with Houston. … Cleveland has won three straight in the series. … The Texans won five in a row against the Browns before their current skid. … These teams first met in Houston’s inaugural season in 2002 when the Browns got a 34-17 victory in Cleveland. STATS AND STUFF: The Browns are closing in on just their second playoff berth since 2002. A win all but guarantees them a wild-card spot. There are eight scenarios in which they can clinch this weekend. ... The Browns have only reached double-digit wins twice (2007, 2020) since 1999. ... Flacco is the fourth QB to start for the Browns, who are the seventh team in the Super Bowl era to win with four QBs in the same season. ... Garrett has gone without a sack in four games, but not for lack of trying. Garrett has been frustrated that officials have ignored holding calls against him. He was fined $25,000 by the NFL last week for criticizing the refs. He’s been dominant despite the lack of sacks, affecting virtually every play. ... Brown TE David Njoku had a career-high 10 catches for 104 yards and a TD last week. He’s got 16 receptions for 195 yards and three TDs the past two weeks. ... Browns coach Kevin Stefanski is 9-0 vs. the AFC South. ... WR Amari Cooper needs 15 yards for his seventh career 1,000-yard season. ... Of K Dustin Hopkins’ league-high 33 field goals, four have been game-winners. Last week, his 34-yarder with 32 seconds left gave the Browns their first lead of the game. ... Houston RB Devin Singletary had a career-high 170 yards of offense last week, the most by a running back in franchise history since Lamar Miller had 178 in 2016. Singletary had 97 yards of offense in his previous game against Cleveland last season with Buffalo. … Collins has 808 yards receiving and six touchdowns in seven home games this season. He has had at least 100 yards receiving and a TD in his past two home games. … WR Noah Brown had eight receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown last week. … TE Dalton Schultz had 58 yards receiving last week and has a TD catch in four of his past five home games. He had 72 yards receiving and a touchdown reception in his only game against Cleveland in 2020 with Dallas. … DE Jonathan Greenard led the team with 2½ sacks and forced a fumble last week. He has a career-high 12½ sacks this season. … DT Maliek Collins had five tackles and 1½ sacks last week. … CB Desmond King led the team with a career-high 11 tackles and had two tackles for losses and a sack against Tennessee. … CB Steven Nelson had his fourth interception of the season last week. … K Ka’imi Fairbairn was the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after making four field goals last week, capped by a 54-yarder as time expired in overtime to lift Houston to the victory. His 54-yard kick is tied for the longest in overtime this season and he was the only kicker in the NFL last week to make multiple field goals longer than 50 yards. FANTASY TIP: Singletary could be a good pickup this week with Houston likely to rely more on its running game if Stroud remains out. The fifth-year pro has rushed for at least 100 yards in three of his past six games and has scored three touchdowns in that stretch. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL The Associated Press contributed to this article

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sports

Things are heating up between Bill Belichick and Atlanta Falcons

Things are heating up between Bill Belichick and the Atlanta Falcons. According to the NFL Network, Belichick will have his second interview with the Falcons this weekend after interviewing with Atlanta owner Arthur Blank on Monday. “Things are ramping up with the greatest coach of all time,” tweeted NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. This news comes a day after Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones announced he was keeping head coach Mike McCarthy. After the Cowboys were upset by Green Bay, in the wild-card round, there was speculation that Dallas could move on from McCarthy and set their sights on Belichick. However, Atlanta has long been Belichick’s rumored destination. The Athletic’s Diana Russini reported that the Falcons would have interest in the Patriots former head coach even before Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft opted to mutually part ways. After Belichick’s final press conference in New England, his first head coaching interview happened five days later in Atlanta. BetMGM BET $5, GET $158! BONUS BETS CLAIM OFFER Promo code: MASS158 STATES: MA, KY, AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms and Conditions. 21 years of age or older to wager. MA Only. New Customer Offer. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements. Rewards issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets. Bonus bets expire 7 days from issuance. In Partnership with MGM Springfield. Play it smart from the start with GameSense. GameSenseMA.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org. Although Belichick has been a rumored candidate for several playoff teams (Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles), it’s also been reported that the longtime coach might prefer to go to an up-and-coming team. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on Tuesday that “Belichick would likely target talented yet underachieving teams” and pointed out that the Falcons fit that description. Atlanta is looking for a new head coach after firing Arthur Smith after three straight 7-10 seasons. Blank, the Falcons owner, has interviewed and requested to interview a long list of coaching candidates. They range from up-and-coming coaches to experienced head coaches such as Belichick and Jim Harbaugh, who just won a National Championship at Michigan. Blank has interviewed Mike MacDonald (Ravens defensive coordinator), Brian Callahan (Bengals offensive coordinator), Steve Wilks (49ers defensive coordinator), Antonio Pierce (Raiders interim coach), Ejiro Evero (Panthers defensive coordinator), Anthony Weaver (Ravens assistant head coach, defensive line coach) and Harbaugh. Belichick, however, receiving a second interview is noteworthy. The Falcons have a solid young core with offensive pieces such as running back Bijan Robinson, tight end Kyle Pitts, and receiver Drake London. Their defense, led by Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates III, finished the 2023 NFL season ranked 11th in scoring and 11th in total defense. In the event Belichick goes to Atlanta, the Falcons are scheduled to come to Gillette Stadium and take on the Patriots during the 2025 NFL season. It is also worth monitoring what would happen to the Patriots if Belichick landed with the Falcons. It is expected that multiple Patriots staffers would follow Belichick to his next destination.

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We all loved him': Teammates and fans alike mourn legendary Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield

The loss of famed former Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield has proven to be a devastating loss for the team and the Boston community, with tributes pouring in from those who knew him best, along with thousands of sports fans who admired his talent on the field and contributions as a broadcaster and community leader off the field. At just 57-years-old – it seems unfair someone who’s done so much good for the community would die so young. Wakefield was beloved by Red Sox Nation for so much more than was he accomplished from the mound. Our hearts are broken with the loss of Tim Wakefield. Wake embodied true goodness; a devoted husband, father, and teammate, beloved broadcaster, and the ultimate community leader. He gave so much to the game and all of Red Sox Nation. Our deepest love and thoughts are with… pic.twitter.com/ah5kV2Yt8j — Red Sox (@RedSox) October 1, 2023 His 17-year career was capped off by two World Series Championships — including his personal redemption after a tough end to the playoffs in 2003 — helping to break the curse and win the pennant in 2004. Get New England news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NECN newsletters. The knuckleballer had 200 career wins. “He exemplifies what this uniform is and it’s not just the name on the back, it’s the name on the front, it’s what he’s done in the community, the way he’s represented and respected the game," Wakefield's former teammate Jason Varitek said. Ask any of his former teammates, and it was his selfless character, his charity work off the field, and how he lived his life as a husband, father and friend that will be his legacy. Boston City Hall is lit in Red Sox colors tonight in honor of Tim Wakefield and all that he contributed to his team and our city. I extend my sincere condolences to Tim’s family and all who share in mourning his loss. pic.twitter.com/DYqiHLdFHM — Mayor Michelle Wu 吳弭 (@MayorWu) October 2, 2023 “I saw him Sept. 14 and he went to my office, and he was having his thing the next day, and he was just a regular guy, talking to me, talking about baseball and he said I’ll be fine, I’m gonna be fine," Alex Cora said. It wasn't just his teammates remembering Wakefield — he was also in the thoughts and hearts of Red Sox fans in Boston on Sunday. “He’s a role model, he certainly put all of his efforts toward doing good for others," Red Sox fan Steve Marcus said. "I think it’s our opportunity now to keep him and everyone who’s suffering with cancer in our thoughts and prayers.” Another fan commented on just how quickly it seems like the world lost Wakefield. “We just heard about it two days ago and then all of a sudden he passes away, just shocking," the fan said. "Family guy, very likeable, teammates all loved him, we all loved him.” Tim Wakefield leaves behind his wife and two children.

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Cringing in the rain: This Patriots team is hard to watch | What Happened?

Andrea Bocelli calls off Boston concert on night of TD Garden show: Here's why World-renowned vocalist Andrea Bocelli called off his concert at TD Garden in Boston, about 40 minutes after the show was scheduled to start.Bocelli's wife made an announcement to the crowd that the Italian tenor was unable to perform due to health issues.TD Garden confirmed that Bocelli's concert was called off due to health challenges, and shared on social media that the show will be rescheduled."This was not an easy decision to make. Andrea never wants to disappoint his fans and wishes to thank everyone for their ongoing support," reads a statement from TD Garden.TD Garden's social media post also stated that ticket holders should retain their tickets so that they can attend the rescheduled Bocelli concert, the date for which will be announced as soon as possible. World-renowned vocalist Andrea Bocelli called off his concert at TD Garden in Boston, about 40 minutes after the show was scheduled to start. Bocelli's wife made an announcement to the crowd that the Italian tenor was unable to perform due to health issues. Advertisement TD Garden confirmed that Bocelli's concert was called off due to health challenges, and shared on social media that the show will be rescheduled. "This was not an easy decision to make. Andrea never wants to disappoint his fans and wishes to thank everyone for their ongoing support," reads a statement from TD Garden. TD Garden's social media post also stated that ticket holders should retain their tickets so that they can attend the rescheduled Bocelli concert, the date for which will be announced as soon as possible.

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Next Step For Celtics Is Clear After Jrue Holidays Boston Arrival

BRIGHTON, Mass. — The Celtics made their second blockbuster move just days before the start of training camp, landing Jrue Holiday from the Trail Blazers. Once again, the Celtics elected to pull the right trigger, parting ways with Malcolm Brogdon who presumably grew irritated with the organization, and Robert Williams III who never established himself beyond a role player. Then there were the two future first-round draft picks that added to Boston’s trading chips pile, best reserved for a trade acquisition as such anyway. Milwaukee’s blockbuster trade for Damian Lillard inevitably positioned the Bucks to create the perfect storm for the Celtics to swoop in and bolster their roster simultaneously. That’s the first step in winning this trade. The second, it’s pretty simple; retain Holiday on a long-term contract extension to assure commitment while Boston’s championship window remains open. And from the sounds of it, Holiday is a guard the C’s envision being a part of that title chase for years to come. Story continues below advertisement “We wanted him here for a long time and when the time comes and we’re allowed to talk about those types of things,” Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said Wednesday during Holiday’s introductory press conference. “This is something that we hope can be a longtime relationship, obviously beyond these years of the contract. We still have a few months to go before we can get too deep into that stuff.” Holiday’s current contract stipulations include a player option for 2024 before the 33-year-old becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2025. But like Boston did with Kristaps Porzingis, it’d be wise for the Celtics to get ahead of Holiday’s free agency early and settle on a long-term extension. Boston did literally nothing and still ended up with a golden ticket opportunity to land one of the league’s best defensive guards. That doesn’t come across every organization’s doorstep every day and when it does, it shouldn’t be taken for granted. The Celtics parted ways with Marcus Smart and rather than settling for a downgrade hopeful to fill the void, they ended up with a scoring upgrade with championship-winning experience. Story continues below advertisement “Once I ended up getting traded here, that’s what I was committed to,” Holiday explained Wednesday. “Again, a team who’s been close to winning championships, who has those banners up there and has one covered because of how rich this organization is and winning is. … I thought I had a chance of that in Milwaukee, it happened. Now I have the same chance and winning is the most important thing to me.” Holiday isn’t only spoken highly of by his peers for his personal work on the floor, but how he conducts himself throughout a season, winning three NBA Teammate of the Year awards — the cherry on top to an already suitable Celtics addition. “The idea of competitive character matters so much,” Stevens said of Holiday. “Not only to as the individual, but how it impacts the team. And I think he brings it as well as anybody around. I just think contagious.”

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Florida State vs. Georgia: Live stream, how to watch Orange Bowl

After getting left out of the College Football Playoff despite an undefeated season, the Seminoles will try to end their season on a high note when they take on the Georgia Bulldogs in the Orange Bowl on Saturday night. Georgia also didn’t make the College Football Playoff even though it won the last two national titles, so both teams will certainly be hungry for a win. The game will air on ESPN for those who have cable. Fans looking to watch this college football bowl game can do so for free on fuboTV, which offers a free trial (as well as RedZone, for you NFL fans) or on DirecTV Stream, which also offers a free trial. SlingTV has promotional offers available, as well. Through the end of 2023, fuboTV is also offering $20 off the first two months of subscription (in addition to the 7-day free trial). Who: Florida State Seminoles vs. Georgia Bulldogs When: Saturday, Dec. 30 at 4 p.m. EST Where: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida Stream: fuboTV (free trial); or Sling; or DirecTV Stream Tickets: StubHub and *VividSeats Gear: Shop around for jerseys, shirts, hats, hoodies and more at Fanatics.com Sports Betting Promos: Football fans can wager online on Massachusetts sports betting with enticing promo codes from top online sportsbooks. Use the FanDuel Massachusetts promo code and the DraftKings Massachusetts promo code for massive new user bonuses. RELATED CONTENT: The question seemed like a valid one moments after unbeaten ACC champion Florida State was left out of the College Football Playoff. Could the fourth-ranked Seminoles, with a victory against defending national champion and No. 6 Georgia in the Orange Bowl, be voted No. 1 in the final Associated Press Top 25 college football poll? “As a matter of principle, I’d consider ranking Florida State No. 1 regardless of whether they are in the CFP field,” said ESPN’s Rece Davis, a longtime AP Top 25 voter. “Much like the selection process itself, the exercise is who, in my judgment, is the best team.” In reality, though, the current state of college football’s postseason all but renders the conversation moot. Between players transferring or opting out to concentrate on NFL draft preparations and coaching staffs turned upside down by hirings and firings, the better question these days is how much consideration should poll voters give to postseason games outside the CFP at all? “This is my 14th time as an AP voter, and I definitely think I will be less likely to vote teams considerably up or down after the bowls than I did in the past,” said Scott Rabalais of The Advocate of Baton Rouge (Louisiana). On Saturday at the Orange Bowl, Florida State will be a shell of the team that won the Atlantic Coast Conference championship. Quarterback Jordan Travis is still recovering from a broken leg, an injury that essentially kept the Seminoles out of the playoff. Many of FSU’s best players, including defensive end Jared Verse, running back Tre Benson and receiver Keon Coleman, have opted out as they look toward the NFL draft. Earlier this week, No. 2 quarterback Tate Rodemaker chose to transfer and skip the game. Some of the Seminoles who will play weren’t shy about saying they should be No. 1 if they finish as the only unbeaten Power Five team. “It’s only right,” linebacker Kalen DeLoach told reporters at the Orange Bowl. “Nothing else needs to be said if we’re the only undefeated team.” The Seminoles will face a Georgia team in much better shape. Nineteen Bulldogs hit the transfer portal after the season, though most were backup players. It does look as if All-America tight end Brock Bowers and highly regarded tackle Amarius Mims will miss the game after seasons interrupted by injuries. “If Florida State handles Georgia easily and the three CFP games are duds, then I’d gladly vote the Seminoles No. 1, but it’s not going to happen,” said AP Top 25 voter Robert Cessna of the Bryan-College Station (Texas) Eagle. No. 1 Michigan (13-0) faces fourth-seeded Alabama (12-1) in the Rose Bowl semifinal and No. 2 Washington (13-0) plays No. 3 Texas (12-1) in Sugar Bowl semifinal on Monday. The final AP Top 25 is released a few hours after the Jan. 8 national championship game. Rabalais covers No. 13 LSU, which will play Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa on Monday without Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels, who has opted out. “The lack of a player of Daniels’ caliber has to be taken into consideration were LSU to lose and I was deciding where to put them on my final ballot,” he said. In some cases, the teams playing in the bowls barely resemble the ones that earned those postseason trips and rankings. Take the Sun Bowl, with No. 15 Notre Dame (9-3) facing No. 21 Oregon State (8-4) in El Paso, Texas, on Friday. Neither team will have its starting quarterback after Notre Dame’s Sam Hartman (NFL draft) and Oregon State’s DJ Uiagalelei (transfer) opted out. The Irish are missing most of their starting offense, including All-America offensive tackle Joe Alt and running back Audric Estime, a second-team All-American. Offensive coordinator Gerad Parker recently took the head coaching job at Troy. Beavers coach Jonathan Smith leave for Michigan State after the regular-season finale. Now they are down to a third-string quarterback, though one with starting experience in Ben Gulbranson, and have had several key players transfer out. Leading rusher Damien Martinez is serving a suspension. “The stats count. It counts in the win-loss column. When people look at Notre Dame and Oregon State’s record in the future it’s going to include the results of this game. In that regard, well, I’ll factor it in,” Matt Brown from the The Athletic said on the AP Top 25 College Football Podcast. “On the other hand, if Notre Dame and Oregon State had these rosters for most of the year? The teams that take the field will really not be top-20 teams.” The Peach Bowl with No. 10 Penn State facing No. 11 Mississippi is shaping up to have fairly good representation from each team, though Nittany Lions All-American offensive lineman Olu Fashanu has said only that he will be with the team, not that he will play. Teammate and standout defensive end Chop Robinson isn’t going to play. “It’s almost like we’re going back in time to how bowl games are perceived,” Brown said. For a big chunk of the 20th century, bowl games were few and not taken into account in the final AP poll. Not until 1968 did the AP begin releasing a final poll after bowls were played. As late as 1973, Alabama and Notre Dame shared the national title because the coaches’ poll didn’t take into account bowl games. The Fighting Irish beat the Crimson Tide in the Sugar Bowl and finished No. 1 in the AP poll, but the coaches had already declared Alabama No. 1. The last time there was a split national title was 2003, when Southern California was voted No. 1 by AP after being left of the BCS title game, won by LSU over Oklahoma. The four-team playoff has all but ensured it will never happen again. The Florida State snub provide at least a chance to consider the possibility, but with a 12-team playoff coming next season, shared national championships will — like the wishbone and tear-away jerseys — be part of college football’s past. The Associated Press contributed to this article

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Dolphins vs. Jets: Watch Week 12 NFL Black Friday game on Amazon Prime

After being named the replacement to the struggling Zach Wilson, veteran Tim Boyle will make his first start for the Jets on Friday afternoon in the NFL’s first-ever Black Friday game against the Dolphins. Miami (7-3) will look to continue its playoff push against the Jets (4-6). The Dolphins are a 9.5-point favorite and the over/under is set at 41 points, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The game won’t air on traditional TV. Fans looking to watch this week’s “Black Friday Football” game will have free access to it, even they you don’t have a Prime membership. Anyone with an Amazon account will be able to stream the game on Prime Video. Sign up for an Amazon account to watch the game for free on any device from anywhere. For full Amazon Prime access, you need to be an Amazon Prime Member to watch games on Prime Video, which offers a 30-day free trial for new users when they sign up. After the 30-day free trial ends, an Amazon Prime membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. You can cancel at any time, including before the free trial ends. Who: Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets When: Friday, Nov. 24 -- 3 p.m. ET Where: MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ Stream: Prime Video with an Amazon Prime membership. Amazon Prime membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year and offers a 30-day free trial for new users. Tickets: StubHub and *VividSeats *New customers who purchase tickets through VividSeats can get $20 off a $200+ ticket order by using the promo code MassLive20 at checkout.* Sports Betting Promos: NFL fans can wager online on Massachusetts sports betting with enticing promo codes from top online sportsbooks. Use the FanDuel Massachusetts promo code and the DraftKings Massachusetts promo code for massive new user bonuses. RELATED CONTENT: FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Tim Boyle looks back at his first three NFL starts two years ago and sees a different quarterback. That version of himself wasn’t nearly as prepared — mentally or physically — as he believes he is now while heading into his first start with the New York Jets on Friday against the Miami Dolphins. “You’ve got to feel like you’re dangerous out there,” Boyle said Tuesday. “You can’t go into a play or a series thinking with any doubt. Confidence is critical going in there and feeling like I’m the guy and that I’m not going to miss. That’s kind of the focus. “But, yeah, confidence is everything playing quarterback.” The 29-year-old Boyle is stepping into the huddle in place of the benched Zach Wilson, who had started past nine games for the injured Aaron Rodgers. It’ll be the first significant playing time for Boyle since he started three games for Detroit during the 2021 season, which he started on injured reserve because of a broken right thumb. He went 0-3 in those games and his numbers were hardly eye-popping: 61 of 94 for 526 yards and three touchdowns with six interceptions. And Boyle’s struggles weren’t all just on the field. “I feel like my actual play on the field has changed since then,” Boyle said. “I came off my thumb injury and those three starts I had in Detroit, I didn’t really feel like myself. I felt like I was healthy enough to play, but truthfully, I really didn’t feel like I was confident, like that ‘dangerous’ feeling I was talking about earlier. “So, I’m just coming back to myself and believe in myself. The confidence is high right now, but I feel like I’m seeing it well, I’m throwing it well. And that’s ultimately what’s playing quarterback’s all about.” Wilson and the Jets struggled mightily this season after Rodgers went down just four snaps into his debut with New York. Coach Robert Saleh and his staff made some tweaks last week, but offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett’s unit still couldn’t do much in a 32-6 loss at Buffalo on Sunday. Wilson was pulled late in the third quarter and Boyle came in and went 7 of 14 for 33 yards and an interception. Saleh made the decision Monday to bench Wilson — and make him the No. 3 quarterback — this week, with Boyle the starter and Trevor Siemian his backup. “I don’t think I was scapegoated,” Wilson said. “Absolutely not. I mean, you’ve got to look at the situation. We’re not scoring touchdowns.” The Jets (4-6) have just nine on offense in 10 games. Their struggles on third down and in the red zone are on track to produce the worst efficiency ratings in NFL history. With the Jets trying to snap a three-game skid and remain in the AFC playoff hunt while Rodgers aims to return later this season, New York turns to Boyle to try to spark a stagnant offense. “One person is not going to change everything,” Saleh said. “It’s collective, it’s coaching, it’s the other 10 players on the football field. We all have to take part and try to find ways to get the offense to move. I’m excited for his opportunity, for him.” With a patchwork offensive line often providing little protection or time for the quarterback, Boyle thinks his quick release could help. “I think my priority this week is going to be getting the ball out on time, not trying to take sacks,” he said. “Just getting the ball in our playmakers’ hands and let them have fun with it and just keeping us on pace. I want to get down in the red zone and score some points.” Boyle’s football journey began with him helping Xavier High School in Middletown, Connecticut, win three championships. He went to UConn, where he started as a freshman but mostly struggled through three seasons with only one touchdown pass and 13 interceptions. Boyle transferred to Eastern Kentucky and started 11 games as a redshirt senior and led the Ohio Valley Conference in yards passing. He was then signed as an undrafted free agent in 2018 by Green Bay, where he was a teammate of Rodgers for three seasons and worked under Hackett for two. Boyle signed with Detroit in 2021 and split last season with the Lions and Chicago Bears before reuniting this year with Rodgers and Hackett in New York. “I felt like I’ve always had the ability to play in the NFL,” Boyle said. “My college career’s my college career. That’s in the past. I’m right where I should be right now. I believe in myself and other teams have believed in me, and that’s truthfully all that matters. “So, accountability is No. 1 at quarterback. And I didn’t play well in college, but here I am, Year 6 in the NFL.” NOTES: Siemian was signed to the active roster from the practice squad. ... CB Craig James was re-signed to the practice squad. ... The Jets held a walkthrough practice, but LT Mekhi Becton (ankle/knee), CB Michael Carter II (hamstring), and LB Samuel Eguavoen (hip) were listed as having not participated. The Associated Press contributed to this article

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Dolphins vs. Jets: Watch Week 12 NFL Black Friday game on Amazon Prime

After being named the replacement to the struggling Zach Wilson, veteran Tim Boyle will make his first start for the Jets on Friday afternoon in the NFL’s first-ever Black Friday game against the Dolphins. Miami (7-3) will look to continue its playoff push against the Jets (4-6). The Dolphins are a 9.5-point favorite and the over/under is set at 41 points, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The game won’t air on traditional TV. Fans looking to watch this week’s “Black Friday Football” game will have free access to it, even they you don’t have a Prime membership. Anyone with an Amazon account will be able to stream the game on Prime Video. Sign up for an Amazon account to watch the game for free on any device from anywhere. For full Amazon Prime access, you need to be an Amazon Prime Member to watch games on Prime Video, which offers a 30-day free trial for new users when they sign up. After the 30-day free trial ends, an Amazon Prime membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. You can cancel at any time, including before the free trial ends. Who: Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets When: Friday, Nov. 24 -- 3 p.m. ET Where: MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ Stream: Prime Video with an Amazon Prime membership. Amazon Prime membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year and offers a 30-day free trial for new users. Tickets: StubHub and *VividSeats *New customers who purchase tickets through VividSeats can get $20 off a $200+ ticket order by using the promo code MassLive20 at checkout.* Sports Betting Promos: NFL fans can wager online on Massachusetts sports betting with enticing promo codes from top online sportsbooks. Use the FanDuel Massachusetts promo code and the DraftKings Massachusetts promo code for massive new user bonuses. RELATED CONTENT: FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Tim Boyle looks back at his first three NFL starts two years ago and sees a different quarterback. That version of himself wasn’t nearly as prepared — mentally or physically — as he believes he is now while heading into his first start with the New York Jets on Friday against the Miami Dolphins. “You’ve got to feel like you’re dangerous out there,” Boyle said Tuesday. “You can’t go into a play or a series thinking with any doubt. Confidence is critical going in there and feeling like I’m the guy and that I’m not going to miss. That’s kind of the focus. “But, yeah, confidence is everything playing quarterback.” The 29-year-old Boyle is stepping into the huddle in place of the benched Zach Wilson, who had started past nine games for the injured Aaron Rodgers. It’ll be the first significant playing time for Boyle since he started three games for Detroit during the 2021 season, which he started on injured reserve because of a broken right thumb. He went 0-3 in those games and his numbers were hardly eye-popping: 61 of 94 for 526 yards and three touchdowns with six interceptions. And Boyle’s struggles weren’t all just on the field. “I feel like my actual play on the field has changed since then,” Boyle said. “I came off my thumb injury and those three starts I had in Detroit, I didn’t really feel like myself. I felt like I was healthy enough to play, but truthfully, I really didn’t feel like I was confident, like that ‘dangerous’ feeling I was talking about earlier. “So, I’m just coming back to myself and believe in myself. The confidence is high right now, but I feel like I’m seeing it well, I’m throwing it well. And that’s ultimately what’s playing quarterback’s all about.” Wilson and the Jets struggled mightily this season after Rodgers went down just four snaps into his debut with New York. Coach Robert Saleh and his staff made some tweaks last week, but offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett’s unit still couldn’t do much in a 32-6 loss at Buffalo on Sunday. Wilson was pulled late in the third quarter and Boyle came in and went 7 of 14 for 33 yards and an interception. Saleh made the decision Monday to bench Wilson — and make him the No. 3 quarterback — this week, with Boyle the starter and Trevor Siemian his backup. “I don’t think I was scapegoated,” Wilson said. “Absolutely not. I mean, you’ve got to look at the situation. We’re not scoring touchdowns.” The Jets (4-6) have just nine on offense in 10 games. Their struggles on third down and in the red zone are on track to produce the worst efficiency ratings in NFL history. With the Jets trying to snap a three-game skid and remain in the AFC playoff hunt while Rodgers aims to return later this season, New York turns to Boyle to try to spark a stagnant offense. “One person is not going to change everything,” Saleh said. “It’s collective, it’s coaching, it’s the other 10 players on the football field. We all have to take part and try to find ways to get the offense to move. I’m excited for his opportunity, for him.” With a patchwork offensive line often providing little protection or time for the quarterback, Boyle thinks his quick release could help. “I think my priority this week is going to be getting the ball out on time, not trying to take sacks,” he said. “Just getting the ball in our playmakers’ hands and let them have fun with it and just keeping us on pace. I want to get down in the red zone and score some points.” Boyle’s football journey began with him helping Xavier High School in Middletown, Connecticut, win three championships. He went to UConn, where he started as a freshman but mostly struggled through three seasons with only one touchdown pass and 13 interceptions. Boyle transferred to Eastern Kentucky and started 11 games as a redshirt senior and led the Ohio Valley Conference in yards passing. He was then signed as an undrafted free agent in 2018 by Green Bay, where he was a teammate of Rodgers for three seasons and worked under Hackett for two. Boyle signed with Detroit in 2021 and split last season with the Lions and Chicago Bears before reuniting this year with Rodgers and Hackett in New York. “I felt like I’ve always had the ability to play in the NFL,” Boyle said. “My college career’s my college career. That’s in the past. I’m right where I should be right now. I believe in myself and other teams have believed in me, and that’s truthfully all that matters. “So, accountability is No. 1 at quarterback. And I didn’t play well in college, but here I am, Year 6 in the NFL.” NOTES: Siemian was signed to the active roster from the practice squad. ... CB Craig James was re-signed to the practice squad. ... The Jets held a walkthrough practice, but LT Mekhi Becton (ankle/knee), CB Michael Carter II (hamstring), and LB Samuel Eguavoen (hip) were listed as having not participated. The Associated Press contributed to this article

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Jaylen Brown explains why Celtics have clarity as season begins

A year ago at this time, as the Celtics prepared for their season opener, they were operating within unknowns. Joe Mazzulla had suddenly been promoted as the head coach. Robert Williams was out until December, which shook up their lineup. Emotionally, they were still trying to get over the suspension of Ime Udoka. But now, as the C’s get ready for Wednesday’s season opener in New York, there is a sense of calmness and ease. There’s no drama. Everybody is healthy. While they lost key pieces of their team over the offseason, the additions of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday have fit in nearly seamlessly. All of that combined has seemed to give these Celtics an extra dose of confidence as they begin their journey. “Excitement level is high,” Jaylen Brown said. “Probably one of the best preseasons I’ve been a part of, so now it’s time to perform. Now it’s time to take the work to actual real life and I’m excited.” Why does Brown view this preseason as one of the best? It comes back to the synergy the Celtics have created with their new-look roster in a short amount of time. “Just clarity,” Brown said. “We’ve been real clear in our roles, we’re clear what we want to get accomplished. We’re clear in what actions we want to get into, late game, 3-for-2 situations, 2-for-1 situations. We’ve been able to really establish exactly what we want to do. It’s been really good coaching this year.” Sacrifice has been a big storyline entering this season, with the Celtics having a clear top six and roles changing. They know Al Horford will have to come off the bench, and that one of their best players will have to take a seat during big moments. There are four players with All-Star level ability, but only one ball to go around. But they all understand what the ultimate goal is. Porzingis is in his prime and has embraced a championship mindset. Holiday has been a champion. Horford, at 37 years old, is willing to take a lesser role for the greater good. And Brown and Jayson Tatum, after several knocks at the door, know what it takes now. “Most important thing is winning,” Brown said. “So I think everybody is at that stage in their career for the most part, so I think that we all understand that. The game will decide. The matchups will decide, we’ll get to see where the game is going to be won at. We have to trust and let that happen. From top to bottom, we just have to trust each other and make the right reads. We have great players and do what we do. The game will tell you who’s going to make the sacrifice and who’s not. It’s going to switch up from time to time. All our guys gotta be willing. The only thing that matters is winning.” Having that clarity that Brown described only helps, too. “I think being able to be on the same page is everything in this league, so building that chemistry, having that clarity, having that understanding, knowing where everyone is supposed to be, knowing what we want to get into,” Brown said. “When you get into those moments, late game, fourth quarter, those are the moments you start to see the work and that clarity come to life.” Rondo influencing C’s Rajon Rondo was an invited special guest at practice over the weekend, but he wasn’t there just to hang out. The former Celtics guard was involved in practice drills, coaches meetings and film sessions during his trip. Rondo joined a growing list of former Celtics who have taken up Mazzulla’s invitation to visit. It’s something Brown doesn’t take for granted. “He’s been showing me little places where I can attack, read the game in certain avenues and stuff that can help me, stuff that he sees,” Brown said. “And so far it’s been great. It’s so cool having these guys come around and be a part of practice, to be a part of the organization. Growing up, watching the Celtics, seeing like KG, Rondo and Pierce and stuff like that. Now being able to have them in our practice in our film room and them telling you like, ‘No, this is how you got to do it.’ This is what they see. I think that’s a tremendous honor. I know those guys should be doing a lot more things or something else. But they choose to be here with this group. And it says a lot about us and it says a lot about them. I’m extremely grateful for that and I think that’s super cool.” Tough first matchup The Celtics begin the season against a familiar opponent in the Knicks, who gave them some trouble last season by winning three out of four regular season matchups. Mazzulla knows the challenge that awaits against a Tom Thibodeau-coached squad. “Physical, toughness, they show a little bit more double big in their second unit,” Mazzulla said. “But we know how they play. They take on the identity of their coach. It’s gonna be a tough matchup.” The Celtics played the Knicks twice in the preseason, though New York’s regulars – including Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle and R.J. Barrett – didn’t play in the second meeting when the Celtics regulars played. Still, Mazzulla said there are things to take away from those games. “You can take a little bit,” Mazzulla said. “You don’t want to invent stuff to take, like, ‘Oh, they’re gonna do this,’ but I think there’s stuff that you just know a Thibs team is going to do. They’re gonna bring it on defense and you know they’re gonna execute well offensively. And those guys that they have do a great job of getting their spots, do a great job of creating contact, and we got to be disciplined in our defense, we got to defend, and we got to be able to execute at the other end.”

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sports

Daily Boys Basketball Stats Leaders: Sam Bringham, Taylor Melver break 30-point mark & more

Note: Stats Leaders is based on results sent to MassLive. If a player is missing, coaches should email sports@masslive.com. Take a look at Friday’s top boys basketball scorers below:

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sports

Jayson Tatum injury: Celtics star returns to Warriors game after scare

SAN FRANCISCO — Celtics fans held their breath midway through Tuesday’s game against the Warriors. C’s star Jayson Tatum appeared to roll his left ankle as he hobbled back to the locker room with 7:45 left in the first quarter. On the bright side, Tatum retreated to the Celtics locker room under his own power. Tatum appeared to step on the Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski shoe midway through play. Fortunately, it didn’t look like there was too much force on the play as Tatum went to the locker room after twisting his ankle. Here’s a look at the play. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Up to that point, Tatum had put up four points, two rebounds and one assist on 2-for-3 shooting in four minutes. The injury didn’t appear serious initially, and that was indeed the case. Tatum returned to the Celtics bench with 2:19 left in the first quarter, walking under his own power and without a limp. Tatum made his return to the game to start the second quarter. This story will be updated.

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sports

Westfield wrestling lands seven pins, rallies past Holyoke, 51-27

WESTFIELD – The Westfield High School boys wrestling team started off slow in its first dual meet of the 2023-24 season. The Bombers finished at a blistering pace. Westfield exploded for seven pins – three of which came in the first 30 seconds – to defeat Holyoke, 51-27, Tuesday night at home.

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sports

Bill Belichick set to tackle new job on Saturday

Bill Belichick will be the guest picker on ESPN’s “College GameDay” ahead of Saturday’s Army-Navy game at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots coach will join Rece Davis, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, Kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso on the weekly show. The group typically provides their picks for the college football games on the schedule that day. With Army-Navy the only FBS game on tap, there won’t be much heavy lifting for Belichick & Co. As for his pick, that might seem fairly obvious. Belichick grew up in Annapolis. His father Steve served in the Navy during World War II and coached football at Navy for 30-plus years. $200 INSTANT BONUS DRAFTKINGS MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $5, GET $200 BONUS BET FANDUEL MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $50, GET $250 BONUS CAESARS MASS CLAIM OFFER $1,000 FIRST-BET BONUS BETMGM MASS CLAIM OFFER MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. Patriots long snapper Joe Cardona, a Naval Academy graduate, was a guest on MassLive’s “Eye on Foxborough” podcast this week. He spoke about the Belichick connection with Navy football, as well as the Midshipmen being his favorite college team. “I’ve been able to talk with Coach Bill a good amount about Navy football throughout my time here,” Cardona said. “But I think there’s no question who his college team is. He spent a lot of time in that program. We definitely take a lot of pride in our Annapolis ties.” The historic matchup between Army-Navy is set to take place for the first time in New England on Saturday. Kickoff from Gillette Stadium is 3 p.m. EST. NFL fans can wager online on Massachusetts sports betting with enticing promo codes from top online sportsbooks. Use the FanDuel Massachusetts promo code and the DraftKings Massachusetts promo code for massive new user bonuses.

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No. 5 Duke Beats No. 11 Boston College in 2OT to Win Fifth Straight

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sports

Red Sox trade Alex Verdugo to Yankees for three pitchers

Craig Breslow has made his first major trade as chief baseball officer of the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox have traded right fielder Alex Verdugo to the rival Yankees for right-handed pitchers Richard Fitts, Greg Weissert and Nicholas Judice. Verdugo discussed the possibility of potential being traded on the final day of the 2023 season. He’s eligible for free agency after the 2024 season and MLB Trade Rumors estimates he will earn $9.2 million in salary arbitration. Verdugo batted .264 with a .324 on-base percentage, .421 slugging percentage, .745 OPS, 13 homers, 37 doubles, five triples, 54 RBIs and 81 runs in 142 games (602 plate appearances) in 2023. He led all Red Sox players in defensive runs saved (9). Verdugo batted .290 with a .348 on-base percentage, .444 slugging percentage and .791 OPS in his first 357 major league games (1,313 plate appearances) from 2017-21. He has a .272/.326/.413/.738 line over his past 294 games (1,246 plate appearances) the past two seasons. Fitts, a 21-year-old who the Yankees selected in the sixth round in 2021 out of Auburn, went 11-5 with a 3.48 ERA in 27 starts for Double-A Somerset this past season. He began pitching better in 2022 after a late-season promotion to High-A. Baseball America ranked him New York’s No. 16 prospect and wrote, “The improvement was due in large part to a delivery alteration that allowed him to keep his front side firm so he could better drive the ball down in the zone. The change also helped his velocity increase and made his slider sharper. His four-seamer sat around 93 mph, touched 96 and posted an excellent average spin rate of 2,439 rpms. Fitts backed the four-seamer with his typical nasty slider, which sat in the low 80s and peaked at 88 while flashing plus potential. He rounds out his arsenal with a high-80s changeup that could get to average with increased usage.” BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. The Yankees drafted Judice, a 22-year-old, in the eighth round out of Louisiana-Monroe this past June. He has not yet made his professional debut. He’s listed at 6-foot-8, 230 pounds. Weissert, 28, posted a 4.05 ERA in 17 relief outings for the Yankees in ‘23. He has a 4.60 ERA in 29 career relief outings. ESPN’s Jeff Passan was the first to report the trade.

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sports

As Mikaela Shiffrin Considers How to Top Herself, She Studies Taylor Swift

As Mikaela Shiffrin plans the next phase of her record-setting career as a skier, she is looking, as she always has, to the example of another female megastar who has experienced kindred highs and lows and highs in her career: Taylor Swift. The American skier Shiffrin is the most successful, and precocious, Alpine racer in history, having smashed the mark for World Cup victories, by women and men, while still in her prime skiing years. The American singer-songwriter Swift is the world’s biggest pop star, smashing music industry records one after another. When Shiffrin made her debut on the World Cup circuit, she was just shy of turning 16, the same age Swift was when she began recording her debut album five years earlier. They have both been teenage sensations lavished with praise and profit. While Swift, named Time magazine’s person of the year for 2023, might right now be the most famous human on the planet, Shiffrin, celebrated at home, has bona fide rock star status in Europe, where ski racing is the national sport of several countries. They are both at the top of their respective mountains. They have been innovators, history-makers and leading figures in their high-wire professions. But like many caught in the pop culture maelstrom, they’ve experienced intense, barbed criticism after any failure, real or perceived. Each has openly dealt with a parent’s death or serious illness and each has taken lengthy breaks from performing.

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sports

ESPN BET Massachusetts promo code MASS unwraps $250 Christmas weekend bonus for NBA, NFL

Sports Betting Dime provides exclusive sports betting content to MassLive.com, including real-time odds, picks, analysis and sportsbook offers to help sports fans get in on the action. Please wager responsibly. Get in on the action with ESPN BET Massachusetts promo code MASS and start with a no-brainer bonus. New players who activate this offer and bet $10 or more on the NBA will win $250 in bonuses no matter what happens in the game. Click here to start the registration process before the games start tonight. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. There are six games to choose from tonight, including marquee matchups like Hawks-Heat and Suns-Kings. Some of the biggest stars in the league are going to be on full display. Remember, a $10 wager on any of these games will convert this $250 bonus regardless of what happens in the game. Choose from any NBA game and start the weekend off with a winning wager. New players can get a head start on the weekend with this ESPN BET Massachusetts bonus. With that said, there are plenty of other ways to win in the app. Bettors can claim boosted odds and other unique promos throughout the Christmas weekend. New players can click here and activate ESPN BET Massachusetts promo code MASS for a $250 guaranteed bonus on the NBA tonight. ESPN BET Massachusetts promo code MASS unwraps $250 Christmas weekend bonus for NBA, NFL ESPN BET NBA Offer Bet $10, Win $250 Guaranteed ESPN BET Promo Code MASS Bonus Last Verified On December 22, 2023 Bonus Last Verified By Danny Small The NFL plays on Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays for the next month. That means Friday nights are all about the NBA. Remember, a bet of $10 or more on any game will trigger this $250 bonus. There are a ton of different ways to bet on the NBA with ESPN BET. Bettors can lock in wagers on the spread, moneyline, total points, player props and more. In fact, bettors can combine multiple bet legs from one matchup into one massive same game parlay. Here’s a closer look at the six games coming up in the NBA tonight. ESPN BET will have competitive odds and a comprehensive list of markets available for the action: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors Brooklyn Nets vs. Denver Nuggets Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks Miami Heat vs. Atlanta Hawks Sacramento Kings vs. Phoenix Suns Golden State Warriors vs. Washington Wizards Signing up with this ESPN BET Massachusetts promo code Massachusetts sports bettors can sign up with the newest sportsbook in the state. ESPN BET is making waves with this exceptional sign-up offer. This is the largest guaranteed welcome bonus available this month. New players can sign up and start winning by following the step-by-step instructions below: Click this link and input promo code MASS to unlock this offer. After reaching a sign-up landing page, provide basic information in the required prompts. Once you have an account with the necessary login credentials, make a cash deposit of $10 or more. Download the ESPN BET mobile app to any compatible iOS or Android device. Bet $10 or more on the NBA. Win $200 in bonus bets immediately. New users who use promo code MASS will get another $50 bonus bet within 24-48 hours. New players can click here and activate ESPN BET Massachusetts promo code MASS for a $250 guaranteed bonus on the NBA tonight. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Get the latest sports betting news, advice and promos sent straight to your inbox. Enter your email here: Think you know Patriots football? Play the MassLive.com Prop Bet Showdown for a chance to win prizes! 21+ and present in a state with legal gambling? Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. If you or a loved one has questions and needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call the Massachusetts Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org to speak with a trained specialist to receive support. Specialists are available 24/7. Services are available in multiple languages and are free and confidential.

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sports

Jayson Tatum has frustrated reaction to multiple flagrant fouls

LOS ANGELES — While Jayson Tatum was healthy enough to play through a sprained ankle, there was a worrisome moment midway through the second quarter Saturday against the Clippers. Tatum rose up and drilled a 3-pointer, but Kobe Brown encroached on his landing space as Tatum tweaked that left ankle. Tatum was down on the ground briefly before walking back to the Celtics bench. The referees reviewed the play to upgrade it to a flagrant-1 foul on Brown as Tatum completed the four-point play despite some pain. BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. But then it happened again in the third quarter when Ivica Zubac was called for a flagrant because he also ended up in Tatum’s landing space. Naturally, the Celtics star was frustrated by it all. For good measure, Tatum was hit on another 3-pointer to draw three free throws, though luckily that didn’t involve his landing space. “This is some (expletive),” Tatum said of his reaction. “But it was taped up well and it was just a small tweak, so I was able to keep playing and I felt fine after that.” Tatum finished with 30 points in his return as he also knocked in 5-of-10 of his 3-pointers. The ankle didn’t seem to bother him too much as he impressed in the Celtics’ blowout 145-108 win. Fortunately for the Celtics, it appears Tatum didn’t further injure that left ankle. He missed the blowout win over the Kings due to the injury as it was the first game he sat this season. Considering the Celtics have a marquee showdown against the Lakers coming up, it’ll also be difficult to keep Tatum from playing in front of that nationally-televised Christmas Day crowd. “Ankle was swollen over the last couple days,” Tatum said. “But a lot of ice, a lot of treatment. Swelling went down. Started feeling a lot better, not quite as good as the right one. But felt well enough to go out there and play. I’ve been out for three days, and I don’t like missing games. So I was excited to get back out there with the team and play today.”

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sports

Celtics trade rumors: Brad Stevens expected to seek bench help (report)

The Celtics have gotten off to the best start in the Eastern Conference through 20 games but that isn’t expected to keep Brad Stevens quiet in the trade market according to one NBA insider. Shams Charania of Stadium spoke about what he anticipates will be Boston’s trade intentions in the weeks and months to come in an appearance on Fanduel TV on Tuesday morning. “The Celtics gave a couple of first round picks in the Jrue Holiday trade but they still have a few left over,” Charania said on Run It Back. “I expect the Celtics to be active in the trade market as we get closer to February, to try to see if they can beef up their bench rotation.” The Celtics bench has performed quite admirably in the first two months of the season given their personnel. Collectively, the group is knocking down 39.3 percent of their 3s which ranks third among benches in the NBA. The reserves are also collectively playing less than every team in the NBA so far, which is no surprise given the firepower in the starting five following the additions of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. $200 INSTANT BONUS DRAFTKINGS MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $5, GET $200 BONUS BET FANDUEL MASS CLAIM OFFER BET $50, GET $250 BONUS CAESARS MASS CLAIM OFFER $1,000 FIRST-BET BONUS BETMGM MASS CLAIM OFFER MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. MA only. 21+. Gambling Problem? If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, please call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support. LiveChat with a GameSense Advisor at GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234 MA Gambling Helpline. However, there’s a case to be made that Boston could use a scoring boost off the bench since the second unit is collectively averaging just 25.7 points per game, which ranks 29th in the NBA through 20 games. The return of Porzingis to the lineup may help things on the front but Charania expects that to be an area that will need to be continually addressed as the team tries to tread cautiously with him given his history of injury woes. “No Kristaps Porzingis so that was a significant loss in the lineup,” Charania said. “We will see how it comes back but a strained calf, that’s something you want to be careful with given his injury history.” Ultimately, Boston has the tools to be creative in the months to come to put the finishing touches on their roster. They already have an open roster spot available along with a Grant Williams TPE worth $6.2 million. With a bevy of leftover draft picks also still in the team’s chest of assets, look for Stevens to be aggressive in trying to create a well-rounded roster that can withstand an injury or two as trade season kicks off on December 15th.

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sports

Red Sox lose No. 3 pitching prospect, another hurler up to 99 mph in Rule 5

The Red Sox lost two pitching prospects in Wednesday’s Rule 5 Draft at the Winter Meetings. The White Sox used the fourth overall pick to select 24-year-old left-hander Shane Drohan, who Baseball America had ranked Boston’s No. 3 pitching prospect behind Luis Perales and Wikelman Gonzalez. The Cardinals used the sixth overall pick to take 25-year-old hard-throwing right-handed reliever Ryan Fernandez who finished the 2023 season at Triple-A Worcester. Both pitchers must stay on their new teams active roster for the entire 2024 season (barring an IL stint) or else returned to Boston. The Red Sox had the 12th pick but they passed. Ten players overall were taken. Two Yankees pitchers were taken Nos. 1 and 2. Mitch Spence went with the top pick to the Athletics. The A’s drafted Matt Sauer second overall. Baseball America recently listed both Drohan and Fernandez as candidates to be drafted. It was a surprise Boston decided to leave Drohan, a 2020 fifth round draft pick out of Florida State, unprotected. He dominated in his first six starts at Double-A Portland this past season, posting a 1.32 ERA. But he then struggled at Worcester with a 6.47 ERA in 21 outings (19 starts). He averaged 6.4 walks per nine innings (89 innings, 63 walks) at Triple A while opponents batted .293 against him. Baseball America wrote earlier month, “His changeup ranked 19th best across the entire minor leagues in 2023 for accumulated run value. Could being a lefthander with a true major league quality changeup be enough to earn Drohan selection?”

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sports

Jim Montgomery explains benching Matt Poitras in third period

Look Park in Northampton, known for its concerts at Theater in the Pines, its playgrounds, summertime splash park and train rides now has a new winter attraction — an ice skating rink. In a Facebook announcement with photos of the rink on Wednesday, the park announced that they had built a 40 by 80 foot rink, located behind the garden house and accessed from behind the visitor center. Unfortunately, the rink isn’t open yet, due to the warm and rainy weather this week. The park asked visitors to to check its social media for when it will be open and closed. According to a list of rules posted to social media, hockey sticks and pucks will not be allowed on the skating rink. Mysteriously, the park also ended the note with a teaser. “Stay tuned for an exciting announcement coming soon!” they said.

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sports

New Red Sox pitching coach describes his philosophy: Strikes are everything

Over the last couple years, the Red Sox have attempted to fine-tune their organizational pitching philosophy by placing more of an emphasis on throwing strikes. From signing veteran strike-throwers Chris Martin and Kenley Jansen to urging pitchers like Brayan Bello and Nick Pivetta to attack the zone more, the club has shown an increasing focus on the importance of command in recent seasons. It appears new pitching coach Andrew Bailey, whose hiring was made official Tuesday, shares that philosophy. “Strikes are everything,” Bailey said Tuesday when asked to describe his pitching philosophy. “Stuff in (the) zone plays. Limiting walks. Being aggressive and ahead in counts. Obviously, there’s been a been a big change in stuff and swing-and-miss and (velocity) and all that. There’s a handful of things, but identifying the the KPIs (key performance indicators) that we can hold our ourselves accountable (to) is really a priority. And making sure that each player knows himself best. “‘What makes you an outlier? What makes you a big leaguer?’ There’s generally one or two specific things that you can point to and making sure there’s an education piece around this as well. And doubling down on strengths and making sure guys know what makes them major leaguers (who) hopefully (have) the ability to play for a long time.” In Boston, Bailey — who pitched for the Red Sox in 2012 and 2013 — will be tasked with turning around a staff that has significantly underperformed in recent seasons under his ousted predecessor Dave Bush. In 2023, Boston ranked 21st in team ERA (4.52), 24th in opponent average (.256) and 24th in homers allowed (208). Those numbers come in stark contrast to the performance of the Giants’ staff during Bailey’s four years as pitching coach from 2020 to 2023. During that time, Giants pitchers ranked sixth in baseball with a 3.80 ERA while allowing the fewest home runs (525) and posting the third-highest strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.16). In 2023, San Francisco issued the fewest walks in the majors (403). BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. With the Giants, Bailey was integral to the emergence of star pitchers like Logan Webb, Carlos Rodón and Kevin Gausman. Rodón and Gausman both turned their careers around in San Francisco before securing massive free agent deals with American League East teams. Bailey hopes to have similar success with some pitchers in Boston. “Players are never finished products, whether you’re a top-end starter or you’re up and down and on the option train,” Bailey said. “If we ever are a little bit complacent in that, negativity can creep in, and poor performance. For me, it’s always pushing an envelope, obviously identifying what makes guys quality big-leaguers and big-leaguers for a long time and helping them understand themselves. “If you take a look at some of the pitchers that I was fortunate enough to work with in San Francisco and how they were able to adapt later in their careers, they were totally open-minded and some of them did it on their own. We had a really good group. I am not the best pitching coach in the world. I’ll tell you that right now. I think it’s a product of a lot of smart people around us working inter-departmentally.” Bailey’s first official day with the Red Sox was Tuesday, so he hasn’t had much of a chance to get himself acclimated to the pitchers he’ll get to work with (or fully dive in to potential free agent pursuits). He did praise Brayan Bello as a potential front-line starter while noting he worked with reliever Mauricio Llovera in San Francisco and that he has enjoyed watching Chris Sale, Garrett Whitlock and Kenley Jansen from afar. The first step has been calling some pitchers, including Sale, to make an introduction. “I think there’s a litany of arms that are special in Boston, and I’m hoping to help them perform at their best as often as possible,” Bailey said. “I think we have a lot of talent. We have a lot of things to to look at.” In Boston, the 39-year-old Bailey will work with two bosses — chief baseball officer (and Bailey’s close friend) Craig Breslow and manager Alex Cora — who also played for the Red Sox more than a decade ago. Like he did in San Francisco, Bailey is hoping to work collaboratively with everyone around him. “I view ourselves as coaches as consultants for the player,” Bailey said. “We’re not to hide the ball, hide any information. We give them the facts. We want them to know how the industry values them. We want to maximize their earning potential. “If we are able to maximize performance and earning potential, we in turn are creating value for the organization and winning ballgames. Each and every player needs to be coached just a little differently. And that’s why I feel strongly that for me, I don’t need to be the vessel all the time that is managing or coaching or delivering the information... We all have unique relationships with every player.”

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sports

Kristaps Porzingis explains picking Celtics over free agency, money

Red Paden, who as the self-proclaimed “king of the juke joint runners” spent four decades as the owner of Red’s, an unassuming music spot in downtown Clarksdale, Miss., and one of the last places in the United States to offer authentic Delta blues in its natural setting, died on Dec. 30 in Jackson, Miss. He was 67. His son, Orlando, said the death, in a hospital, was from complications of heart surgery. Juke joints, once commonplace across the Deep South, were the loam out of which blues music grew — a vast network of shacks, old shops and converted homes where traveling musicians would play a night for a share of the cover charge, then move on to the next gig. Red’s is the quintessential example: low-ceilinged and the size of a large garage, decorated with old music posters and lighted with neon signs and string bulbs (red, of course). There is no stage at Red’s, just a well-worn carpet, enough for a singer, a guitarist and maybe a drummer. A refrigerator holds beer, and when he felt like it Mr. Paden (pronounced PAY-den) would fire up the smoker on the sidewalk and cook a mess of ribs. Informality is key.

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sports

2024 Hoophall Classic: Jerry Easter II, Ace Buckner power La Lumiere past Sunrise Academy

SPRINGFIELD ― Jerry Easter II scored 17 of his game-high 23 points in the second half to lead La Lumiere (IN) past Sunrise Christian Academy (KS), 75-64 during the 2024 Hoophall Classic. Easter II added seven rebounds and a pair of steals, earning himself the Most Outstanding Player award for his efforts.

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sports

Derrick White praises best fans in the league for Celtics home success

The Celtics started slow, but they were able to dig out of a double-digit deficit to beat the Cavaliers on Tuesday. The victory means the C’s are now a perfect 11-0 at home as they’ve defended the TD Garden court multiple times. Derrick White had a good reason for why the Celtics have been the best team in the league at home. In contrast, the C’s are 6-5 on the road, which is a similar mark to their peers near the top of the East standings. “We got the best fans in the league,” White said. “Pretty simple.” BET ANYTHING GET $250 BONUS ESPN BET CLAIM OFFER MASS 21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Home court has been an issue in the past couple playoffs for the C’s. Even when the Celtics went on their NBA Finals in 2022, they went 6-6 at TD Garden compared to 8-4 on the road. Last playoffs, they went 5-6 at home and 6-3 on the road. They haven’t been able to pinpoint the reason why the playoffs went the way it did, but the Celtics will hope they can bring their current home success into the postseason. There’s still roughly three-quarters of the season still left on the schedule, though, so they’ll have to keep up that stellar home play. The Celtics have a pair of interesting tests coming up in looking at the schedule. They host the Cavaliers again on Thursday as part of a two-game set. Then they host the Magic for another two-game set starting Friday then Sunday. So there will be some familiarity there, and Orlando will have these game circled on the schedule for other reasons. “They’re gonna make adjustments,” White said of the Cavs. “It’s like every team that loses kind of has a slight advantage of, for whatever reason, just playing a little bit harder. So we can’t have that mindset of, ‘We won. We’re gonna win next time.’ We know they’re gonna come out aggressive, physical, and they have a really good team over there. So we gotta get ready for the challenge.”