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Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Jefferson Headline 2023 Pro Bowl Fan Voting After Final Tally

Dec 19, 2022
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 17: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins warms up prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on December 17, 2022 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 17: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins warms up prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on December 17, 2022 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

Tua Tagovailoa's Miami Dolphins are trending in the wrong direction with three straight losses, but he can at least take solace in the fact he has plenty of fan support.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport shared the final AFC and NFC vote-getters for each position for the Pro Bowl, and the Dolphins signal-caller leads all players. He is joined by teammate Tyreek Hill, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, and Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings in the top five:

The full rosters will be announced Wednesday, but these players have the inside track on landing roster spots.

As Rapoport noted, the fan vote accounts for one-third of the decision-making formula. Coaches and players account for the other two-thirds, but players such as Mahomes, Jefferson and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who are all in starting position after the fan votes were tallied, will surely be named to the rosters.

Tagovailoa is primed to make the first Pro Bowl of his career during a season in which he has led the Dolphins into playoff position at 8-6. He has completed 64.8 percent of his passes for 3,238 yards, 24 touchdowns and five interceptions this season.

Throwing to the likes of Hill and Jaylen Waddle has certainly helped. The former is looking to make the seventh Pro Bowl of his career.

Yet it is a credit to Mahomes, Kelce and the infrastructure in place with the Chiefs that Hill's former team hasn't lost much of a step even without arguably the most dynamic wide receiver in the league.

Kansas City is 11-3 and tied with the Buffalo Bills in the race for the AFC's No. 1 seed and first-round playoff bye. Kelce has 91 catches for 1,144 yards and a league-best 12 touchdowns as a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.

While the idea of Hurts throwing to Jefferson on the NFC side and Mahomes reuniting with Hill and still finding Kelce on the AFC side is surely enticing, there will not be the traditional Pro Bowl game that fans are so accustomed to this season.

Instead, the NFL changed the format for the "Pro Bowl Games" that will feature three flag football games and a series of competitions that will include a relay race.

Robert Saleh Supports Jets QB Zach Wilson, Blasts 'Instant-Coffee' World in NFL

Dec 19, 2022
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 25: Zach Wilson #2 and head coach Robert Saleh of the New York Jets talk during warmups before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at MetLife Stadium on September 25, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 25: Zach Wilson #2 and head coach Robert Saleh of the New York Jets talk during warmups before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at MetLife Stadium on September 25, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Perhaps there was a time in the NFL when quarterbacks were given more time before they were expected to be franchise cornerstones, but New York Jets signal-caller Zach Wilson was thrown into the big-market spotlight as soon as the AFC East team selected him with the No. 2 overall pick of the 2021 draft.

Head coach Robert Saleh wishes that wasn't the case.

"The frustrating thing is that this kid is going to be a good quarterback, but the NFL and this new instant-coffee world that we're in just doesn't want to give people time," Saleh said of Wilson, per Rich Cimini of ESPN. "So, we look at him and he's just nitpicked with a fine-tooth comb."

Saleh benched Wilson this season, although the BYU product was back under center for Sunday's loss to the Detroit Lions because Mike White was sidelined with fractured ribs. It remains to be seen whether White will return for Thursday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Wilson went 18-for-35 for 317 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the loss to Detroit.

Saleh said he was "pumped" for the quarterback because he took the "big step" of overcoming some adversity during the game and leading a touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.

Whichever quarterback is under center for the 7-7 Jets will need to get them back on track after three straight losses if they are going to make the postseason. New York is one game behind the Los Angeles Chargers and Miami Dolphins for the final two AFC wild-card spots.

Mavs Exec Views Josh Green as 3rd-Most Important Player After Luka Dončić, Dinwiddie

Dec 19, 2022
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 27: Josh Green #8 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the first half of the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on November 27, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 27: Josh Green #8 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the first half of the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on November 27, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

Now into his third season in the NBA, Josh Green has yet to make a breakthrough since the Dallas Mavericks selected him in the first round of the 2020 NBA draft. But that doesn't mean he still isn't valued highly within the organization.

The Athletic's Tim Cato reported the Mavs "would be very hesitant to trade Green at this point" and that one member of the front office said the 22-year-old is "the team's third-most important player after [Luka] Dončić and [Spencer] Dinwiddie."

Green is nursing an elbow injury that has forced him to miss five games. Before going down, he showcased his clear potential to Dallas. Through 25 appearances, he's averaging 7.0 points and 1.2 assists while shooting 58.3 percent overall and 44.4 percent from three-point range.

Cato explained why his skill set is also something the Mavericks badly need.

"The best teams are filled with athletes like [Green], players you have to run off the line due to their three-point ability but who can do something once they're chased away from it," he wrote. "... Dallas just doesn't have enough players like Green to completely shift away from this 3-centric approach."

Upgrades to the supporting cast around Dončić are clearly required. Dallas is 15-15 and ninth in the Western Conference, and the backcourt still has a Jalen Brunson-shaped void after he signed with the New York Knicks.

A trade of some sort feels inevitable, but Green for all intents and purposes appears to be untouchable.

Former Patriots LB Willie McGinest Arrested for Alleged Assault over Nightclub Fight

Dec 19, 2022
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 30:  Willie McGinestattends 2022 Huncho Day Celebrity Football Game during Fan Controlled Football Season v2.0 - Week Three at Pullman Yards on April 30, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 30: Willie McGinestattends 2022 Huncho Day Celebrity Football Game during Fan Controlled Football Season v2.0 - Week Three at Pullman Yards on April 30, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Former New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns linebacker Willie McGinest was arrested in Los Angeles on Monday morning.

TMZ Sports obtained a video that showed McGinest approaching a man who was sitting at a table at a lounge in West Hollywood, California. They exchanged words with each other before the former linebacker punched the man in the face.

Others who seemed to be in McGinest's group also hit the unidentified man for a sustained period of time.

McGinest also appeared to pick up a bottle before hitting the man in the head with it multiple times.

He was arrested on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon and then released after posting bail that was set at $30,000.

Safid Deen of USA Today reported that McGinest turned himself in to police.

McGinest played 15 seasons in the NFL from 1994 through 2008. He spent the first 12 on the Patriots, where he won three Super Bowls, and the final three for the Browns.

He joined the media during his retirement and is currently an analyst for NFL Network. However, he will not appear on the network while the situation is under review.

"We are aware of the incident and the video, which is disturbing. Willie McGinest will not appear on NFL Network while we review the matter," an NFL Network spokesperson told Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio.

NBA Rumors: Kings GM Monte McNair Expected to Receive New Contract in Early 2023

Dec 19, 2022
SACRAMENTO, CA - JUNE 21: Mike Brown the new Head Coach of the Sacramento Kings and GM Monte McNair pose for a photo after a press conference on June 21, 2022 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - JUNE 21: Mike Brown the new Head Coach of the Sacramento Kings and GM Monte McNair pose for a photo after a press conference on June 21, 2022 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Sacramento Kings are reportedly expected to sign general manager Monte McNair to a contract extension.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported the new deal will likely be announced in early 2023.

McNair is in the final season of a contract he originally signed in September 2020.

The Kings have not had a winning season during McNair's tenure, but they're in the midst of a promising turnaround. They currently sit 16-12 heading into Monday's game against the Charlotte Hornets and are in fifth place in the wide-open Western Conference.

Sacramento is 2.5 games out of being the No. 1 seed in the West and only five games ahead of the 13th-place Oklahoma City Thunder. The narrow race could be playing a part in ownership slow-playing McNair's contract extension. The Kings are a quick skid away from turning a promising season into another Kangs catastrophe.

The installation of Mike Brown as head coach has been a clear win for McNair, but there have been several questionable calls along the way. Including Tyrese Haliburton in a trade for Domantas Sabonis will never look smart regardless of how well Sabonis is playing, and first-round pick Keegan Murray has not been a consistent force despite being drafted in part for his potential for instant impact.

With Jaden Ivey and Bennedict Mathurin looking like better prospects at a younger age, it's fair to wonder if McNair made the right call.

With that said, even a modicum of success is better than the complete lack of it that the Kings have been dealing with for nearly two full decades. McNair has done enough to earn an extension, even if it isn't a particularly long one.

Donovan Mitchell Says He Doesn't Think He 'Did Enough' to Have Jazz Jersey Retired

Dec 19, 2022
PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 27: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz smiles during the game against the Phoenix Suns on February 27, 2022 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 27: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz smiles during the game against the Phoenix Suns on February 27, 2022 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)

While he enjoyed a good run in his five years with the franchise, Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell doesn't believe his No. 45 jersey should be immortalized by the Utah Jazz.

"I don't think I did enough," he said in an interview with Andscape's Marc J. Spears. "I hold myself to a high standard. Now, other people may feel that it should. I'd be happy and forever grateful, honored and blessed for sure for that to happen. But I don't think I've done enough in five years to have my jersey up there with Karl [Malone], John [Stockton], Pistol Pete [Maravich] and Darrell Griffith. I got a long way in my career to go to continue to be better."

Perhaps Mitchell's career will come full circle and he'll return to Utah one day. Assuming he never plays another game for the Jazz, it's tough to find much wrong with his assessment.

The Jazz enjoyed plenty of regular season success with the partnership of Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, but they never advanced past the Western Conference semifinals. As a result, Mitchell doesn't have the team accolades that could catapult him into the franchise legend tier.

Kawhi Leonard, for example, was only with the Toronto Raptors for one year but could plausibly see his No. 2 jersey hanging in the rafters because he helped lead the Raptors to their first NBA title.

Because of his relatively limited time in Salt Lake City—at least within the context of retiring his jersey—Mitchell doesn't have the counting stats, either. His 8,234 points are eighth all time and he didn't crack the top 10 in assists, games played, total minutes or win shares, per Basketball Reference.

Seven players have had their numbers retired by the Jazz: Adrian Dantley, Pete Maravich, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Jeff Hornacek, Darrell Griffith and Mark Eaton. All seven left bigger legacies in Utah than Mitchell.

Malone and Stockton are the two best players in franchise history.

Hornacek didn't put up big numbers, nor was he ever an All-Star in Utah, but he did play a key role on the teams that reached the 1997 and 1998 NBA Finals.

Dantley was a six-time All-Star with the Jazz and ranks third in points.

Eaton led the NBA in blocks in four seasons and was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and a five-time All-Defensive honoree.

Griffith and Maravich have the fourth- and seventh-most points among Jazz players, and they would've achieved even more if their careers hadn't been adversely impacted by injuries.

Nobody has assumed the No. 45 jersey since Mitchell's trade to the Cavs, and it might be a while before anyone wears it since it isn't a common number. But it will nonetheless be there for the taking for the foreseeable future.

Eagles' Jalen Hurts Explains Why He Doesn't Show Anger Like Tom Brady, Other Top QBs

Dec 19, 2022
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 18: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles walks off the field after a win over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 18, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 18: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles walks off the field after a win over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 18, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)

While plenty of notable quarterbacks rarely shy away from showing their frustration on the sideline, the Philadelphia Eagles' Jalen Hurts looks to keep an even keel.

"I want those guys to look me in the eyes and know there's not a doubt," he said, per the Delaware News Journal's Martin Frank. "And to know that with the preparation we put in together that we'll find a way. I want them to have that trust in me."

That approach contrasts with Tom Brady's demeanor on the sideline. No tablet is safe when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are trailing, and his teammates will hear about it if he doesn't think they're performing well enough:

The same goes for Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers, who isn't above throwing his teammates under the bus, either.

No two players are the same. While Brady and Rodgers' success speaks for itself, not every quarterback has to mirror their demeanor.

Hurts' more measured attitude is serving him well, too. The Eagles own the NFL's best record at 13-1, and their starting quarterback is a candidate for MVP with 3,472 passing yards and 22 touchdowns to go along with 747 yards and 13 scores on the ground.

WWE Rumors on Goldberg's Contract, John Cena's Return and Chelsea Green's Future

Dec 19, 2022
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 04: Bill Goldberg attends WWE 20th Anniversary Celebration Marking Premiere of WWE Friday Night SmackDown on FOX at Staples Center on October 04, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 04: Bill Goldberg attends WWE 20th Anniversary Celebration Marking Premiere of WWE Friday Night SmackDown on FOX at Staples Center on October 04, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images)

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from WWE and AEW.

Goldberg Hasn't Re-Signed With WWE

Apparently rumors of Goldberg signing a new deal with WWE have been exaggerated.

Fightful Select reported the Hall of Famer has not signed with WWE and will have his contract expire at the end of this year.

There had been rumors of Goldberg signing a new two-year deal that included five guaranteed matches. The excitement around the rumor centered on three of those five matches being against opponents Goldberg has previously not faced, seemingly in an attempt to elevate them on the Saudi or WrestleMania stages.

While it's possible (if not likely) WWE ultimately does re-sign Goldberg, his lack of contract as the year draws to a close is noteworthy. He's been absent from WWE television since losing to Roman Reigns at February's Elimination Chamber match, and it's fair to wonder if the company has gotten the most possible use out of the 55-year-old.

Whereas Goldberg's return was a welcome surprise for Monday Night Wars fans, there has been diminishing returns as each subsequent match has felt less special.


John Cena's In-Ring Return Driving Ticket Sales

It turns out John Cena was not ready for his 20th WWE anniversary to go off without appearing in a match.

Cena was surprisingly named as Kevin Owens' tag team partner for a match against Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn for the Dec. 30 edition of SmackDown, continuing his 20-year streak of having at least one match in a WWE ring. The company had promoted Cena making an appearance, but most assumed he would be making an announcement about joining the Royal Rumble or setting up WrestleMania plans.

Instead, it'll be Cena standing next to a formal mortal enemy in Owens and taking on The Bloodline to close out 2022.

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio said the announcement should help WWE sell out the show in Tampa, Florida.

"John Cena is real special. We know from last summer, he moved numbers," Meltzer said. "When he came back on Raw that one night, they sold out the show. And they're gonna sell out Tampa. They've moved a lot of tickets, maybe 2,000 tickets. ... when they announced Cena would be there."

That should come as no surprise, as Cena remains one of the biggest names in WWE history. His increasingly sporadic appearances on television also make him a special attraction whenever he decides to step into the ring.

Putting him in the ring with Owens will be a nice touch to KO's stellar 2022 as well, given he was put in the Steve Austin return match spotlight at WrestleMania.



Chelsea Green Set for WWE Return

WWE's women's roster is expected to be bolstered in the coming weeks by the addition of Chelsea Green.

Fightful Select reported Green's return to the company is imminent. She made her first appearance in the company all the way back in 2014 as part of a mistress angle with Brie Bella and Daniel Bryan, before being part of the Tough Enough series a year later.

Green would sign with WWE in 2018 and remain with the company in 2021, but her career never really took off due to injuries. Strong runs in Impact and NWA have followed, setting the stage for her to perhaps finally get a proper WWE run.

Of course, this will also lead to speculation of a return for Matt Cardona, Green's husband. Cardona was known as Zack Ryder in WWE for more than a decade before being released in 2020. He's since repackaged himself as one of the hottest acts on the independent circuit and has admitted he's open to a WWE return.


Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (some language NSFW).

NBA Issues 1st Checks to Former ABA Players: 'So Much Bigger Than Many Expected'

Dec 19, 2022
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 18: A detailed view of the NBA logo prior to the game between the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 18, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 18: A detailed view of the NBA logo prior to the game between the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 18, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

The NBA issued its first round of checks to former American Basketball Association players this month.

The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association agreed in July to pay former ABA players $24.5 million after years of advocacy by nonprofit foundation Dropping Dimes. As Dana Hunsinger Benbow of the Indianapolis Star noted at the time and in a new report Monday, the agreement "ended a years-long battle between the league and Dropping Dimes, who had argued that these ABA players blazed the trail for what the NBA game is today—fast-paced and flashy with three-point shots and slam dunk contests. And they deserved a pension for that."

The NBA deemed that 115 players who played three or more years in the ABA or combined in the ABA and NBA were eligible for "recognition payments," not pensions.

Scott Tartar, the co-founder and president of Dropping Dimes, described former players' reactions to the payments this month: "They were all literally sitting around going, 'What the hell?' These checks were so much bigger than many expected."

Tartar called the timing "a Christmas miracle."

5-Star QB Recruit Dante Moore Flips Commitment from Oregon to Chip Kelly, UCLA

Dec 19, 2022

Highly touted quarterback prospect Dante Moore has flipped his commitment from Oregon to UCLA.

https://twitter.com/dantemoore05/status/1604891706205343753

"I went on a visit to UCLA," Moore told Pete Thamel of ESPN. "I talked to God and my people and really within myself. I knew that UCLA was the right move for me."

Moore previously committed to Oregon in July, but he visited the Bruins earlier this month, and it helped sway his decision.

Offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham had also been Moore's primary recruiter at Oregon, but he left to become head coach at Arizona State.

The 5-star recruit is considered the No. 3 overall player in the 2023 class by 247Sports, behind only fellow quarterbacks Arch Manning and Nicholaus Iamaleava.

Moore put up incredible numbers at Martin Luther King High School in Detroit, totaling 135 passing touchdowns across four seasons as a varsity starter. He had 32 passing touchdowns and just three interceptions as a senior while leading his team to a second straight Michigan state championship.

He led his team to a 40-11 record as a starter, reaching the state finals three times in four years.

The incoming freshman will look to continue the success with UCLA, which is trending in the right direction after a slow start under head coach Chip Kelly. The squad won just 10 total games from 2018 to 2020 before going 8-4 in 2021.

The Bruins went 9-3 this season and will compete in the Sun Bowl against Pittsburgh, the team's first bowl appearance since 2017 (the 2021 Holiday Bowl was canceled due to COVID-19).

Moore also enters a quarterback room that won't have much experience after losing senior Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Washington transfer Ethan Garbers has seen minimal playing time as a backup, totaling 79 pass attempts in two seasons.

It could lead to early playing time for UCLA's latest addition.

Kelly also gets a major recruiting win over a conference rival and his former team, where he coached from 2009 to 2012.

Oregon will at least have some continuity at quarterback after Bo Nix announced he will return for the 2023 season.