Snap Stories

There is an apparent belief within WWE that the door is open for Mandy Rose to return at some point following her reported release from the company on Wednesday.

According to Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Live (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), there is a "possibility down the road" that Rose could be welcomed back to WWE, although she is done with the promotion for now.

Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp reported Wednesday that WWE released Rose due to content on her FanTime page believed to be "outside of the parameters" of her contract with the company.

Although Rose's content was behind a paywall, explicit photos and videos that she posted on FanTime had leaked on social media.

Rose's reported release came the day after she surprisingly dropped the NXT Women's Championship to 21-year-old Roxanne Perez on Tuesday night's episode of NXT.

Perez won the women's Iron Survivor Challenge at NXT Deadline last weekend to become No. 1 contender, but rather than waiting to have the match until the Vengeance Day premium live event in February, the title bout was held on regular television.

With the loss, Rose's 413-day title reign ended, meaning she has the third-longest NXT Women's Championship reign in history behind only Asuka and Shayna Baszler.

After getting sent back to NXT from the main roster in the summer of 2021, Rose re-invented herself and became the leader of a stable known as Toxic Attraction, alongside Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne.

Rose went on to become one of the faces of NXT and one of the most successful female wrestlers in the world in 2022, and she seemed poised to have a better run than ever before on the main roster in the near future.

Instead, Rose was reportedly jettisoned from the company, although a return seemingly isn't out of the question if the two sides can get on the same page again.

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

The NFL has awarded five new grants through its Inspire Change social justice initiative, per the Associated Press.

The new national grant partners help focus on police and community relations:

• Atlanta Policing Alternatives & Diversion Initiative
• Chicago's Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement Co-Responder Program
• Choose 180
• Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services Community Assistance and Life Liaison Program
• Peace for DC

In 2020, the NFL announced it would commit at least $250 million over 10 years to help fight systemic racism. The league has now donated $244 million, with the five new grant partners receiving a combined $950,000.

The NFL also announced in June it would renew 21 national grant partners, totaling $6.5 million in donations.

Former NFL linebacker Takeo Spikes helped choose the latest grant recipients as part of the Social Justice Working Group, made up of three current players, three former players and five owners. Spikes discussed the value of the group:

It's awesome because everybody who sits in that room or everybody who has a seat at the table, we all have vested interest. And that vested interest is making sure not only that the communities are being serviced the way that they're supposed to, because we understand that we all have seats in these communities, but more than anything, it's our way of being able to give back and do something that's going to be monumental by having diverse people at the table that come from different backgrounds, different ethnicities.

The NFL also announced the creation of the Inspire Change Changemaker Award, with each of the league's 32 teams selecting a group or individulal as a "changemaker" who will each get $10,000 to donate to the non-profit of their choice.

The winners will be announced in Weeks 15 and 16.

Six months after announcing his retirement from the NFL, Danny Amendola says he would be willing to come back for one specific player.

Appearing on The Herd with Colin Cowherd (h/t Dan Lyons of Sports Illustrated), Amendola said he would "absolutely" return if Tom Brady called him.

"Tom's done a lot for me, and if he needs me, I'd always play for Tom," he added.

When the Buccaneers signed Cole Beasley in September, Amendola said on Inside the NFL he never got a call to join the team:

Beasley was only with Tampa for two weeks before announcing his retirement. The 33-year-old ended his retirement on Tuesday when he was signed by the Buffalo Bills to join their practice squad.

Amendola and Brady spent five seasons together with the New England Patriots from 2013 to 2017. They had a terrific connection on the field, with Amendola ranking eighth among all Patriots players in passes caught from Brady (271).

The Patriots played in three Super Bowls during that five-season stretch, winning twice. Amendola led all players with 152 receiving yards in New England's 41-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 52.

Amendola left the Patriots as a free agent in March 2018 when he signed a two-year deal with the Miami Dolphins. He remained a productive player, but his run with New England was the most high-profile stretch of his career.

After stints with the Dolphins, Detroit Lions and Houston Texans, Amendola officially announced his retirement on July 25.

At the time of his announcement, Amendola had offers on the table from multiple teams to continue playing.

LeBron James' jersey from Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals is up for auction.

Sotheby's has listed the official No. 6 jersey that James wore in the Miami Heat's 95-88 victory over the San Antonio Spurs to clinch their second consecutive NBA championship.

James finished the game with 37 points and 12 rebounds. He averaged 25.3 points, 10.9 rebounds and 7.0 assists in the series and won Finals MVP for the second straight year.

The listing estimates the jersey could sell for between $3 million and $5 million.

"This game ranks as one of the most important performances of LeBron's career, during what has been widely debated as his greatest NBA season," Sotheby's officials told TMZ Sports.

Per StatMuse, James' 37 points are tied with Tom Heinsohn for the fourth-most in an NBA Finals Game 7. It's also the most points scored by a winning player in Game 7 of the Finals.

According to Sotheby's, the jersey is in "excellent condition consistent with use." It also comes with a photomatching certificate.

The 2013 Finals between the Heat and Spurs is best remembered for the sequence at the end of regulation in Game 6.

With Miami down 3-2 in the series and trailing by three in the final seconds, Ray Allen's three-pointer tied the score at 95 and forced overtime. The Heat prevailed 103-100 to force the decisive Game 7.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa seemingly isn't too concerned about the possibility of cold and snowy weather when the Dolphins face the Buffalo Bills on the road Saturday night.

While speaking to reporters Wednesday, the former University of Alabama star made it clear that he has experienced snow before, saying: "It snowed in Alabama my first year. So it snows in Alabama, guys. People don't know that."

With regard to the weather on Saturday, Tua added: "Could be snowing, could rain, I don't know. It's a mindset thing, really, and if I'm too focused and worried about, is it too cold? Can I grab the ball or not? Then I'm focused on the wrong things and it'll be hard to play that way."

Tagovailoa may have seen snow before, but as a native of Hawai'i who played his college football in Alabama and plays his pro football in Florida, it hasn't likely been often.

Per the National Weather Service, the most snowfall in a single year in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, dating back to 1948 is seven inches back in 1959-60. Since then, Tuscaloosa has never had more than four inches in a single year.

Meanwhile, the Buffalo, New York, area often reaches or exceeds 100 inches of snow in a year and got up to 97.4 inches in 2021-22, according to the National Weather Service.

Buffalo is already at 36.9 inches in 2022-23 after the massive storm that hit the area last month, forcing a scheduled home game against the Cleveland Browns to be moved to the Detroit Lions' Ford Field.

Weather is often unpredictable and difficult to forecast in Buffalo, but all signs point toward Saturday being the worst weather game of Tua's career.

The Bills' stadium is located in Orchard Park, New York, and per Weather.com, Saturday's forecast is predicting up to three inches of snow, winds of up to 15 mph and a low temperature of 26 degrees.

When the Dolphins played a road game against the Los Angeles Chargers last week, they used heaters on the sideline in 55-degree weather, which has left many to wonder how they will handle the harsher conditions in Buffalo.

Weather was a major factor in the Dolphins' 21-19 Week 3 win over the Bills, as the extreme heat was a struggle for many of Buffalo's players, especially along the offensive line.

While Miami had the advantage that time, cold and snowy weather figures to play right into the hands of the Bills on Saturday.

The 10-3 Bills can clinch a playoff spot with a win over the 8-5 Dolphins, and while a win wouldn't clinch the AFC East, it would put Buffalo on the precipice of a third consecutive division title.

Outfielder Bryan Reynolds requested a trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this offseason. The winter meeting came and went without a deal, but that doesn't mean that Reynolds will still be a Pirate when spring training begins.

For the Boston Red Sox—a team looking to climb out of the AL East basement—Reynolds would make a lot of sense.

Boston is open to working the trade market, especially after losing top free agent Xander Bogaerts to the San Diego Padres in free agency.

"I actually think the trade market could be a really good route to adding impact to our club," chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said, per The Athletic's Chad Jennings. "We are looking (into) a lot of significant moves there as long as we can do it in a way that isn't just robbing Peter to pay Paul, that's actually moving us forward in 2023 and giving us a chance to make a significant step forward from where we sit today."

A player who can help in 2023 and beyond? That's Reynolds. A 2021 All-Star, Reynolds will only turn 28 next month. He's also a financial fit for rebuilding Boston, as he'll remain arbitration-eligible through the 2025 season.

In 2023, Reynolds will carry a salary of only $6.8 million, according to Spotrac.

Naturally, Reynolds will want an extension at some point, but he would nevertheless come with three more years of team control.

Then, there's the fact that—according to Sean McAdam of the Boston Sports Journal—the Red Sox have already looked into adding outfield and offensive help.

"In need of offensive help, the Red Sox have, according to a source familiar with the talks, made inquires about first baseman/outfielder Garrett Cooper," McAdam wrote. "The Sox have an opening in the outfield, with Alex Verdugo and Kiké Hernandez set to cover two of the three outfield spots."

Reynolds could help round out the outfield group while providing a boost at the plate. He has hit 74 home runs and 239 RBI over the last four seasons. He finished 2022 with a .262 batting average, 27 home runs and 62 RBI.

While Reynolds was more impressive during his 2021 All-Star campaign (90 RBI, .302 average), these were still strong numbers for a player just entering his prime.

In a vacuum, Reynolds appears to be a perfect fit for Boston. The question, of course, is how much a trade will cost. This is where the idea of trading for the 27-year-old becomes a bit less desirable.

According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, a bargain trade package won't get a deal done:

"One rival official, in what surely was an exaggeration, said the Pirates want a '[Juan] Soto-type package' for Reynolds. Another said Reynolds is 'super expensive.' A third described him as 'unlikely to move.'"

Soto, for the record, was dealt along with Josh Bell from the Washington Nationals to the Padres in exchange for C. J. Abrams, MacKenzie Gore, Robert Hassell, James Wood, Jarlin Susana and Luke Voit.

While the Soto trade is an extreme comparison, the message is clear. Pittsburgh won't move Reynolds for a couple of draft picks and/or low-end prospects. The good news is that Boston has a farm system loaded with high-end talent.

Players like Ceddanne Rafaela, Nick Yorke and Bryan Mata could entice Pittsburgh—especially if Boston is willing to include a blue-chip prospect like Miguel Bleis or Marcelo Mayer.

The Red Sox would have to weigh the long-term potential of said prospects against their desire to turn things around this season. Ultimately, they might decide that Reynolds simply isn't worth what it would take to force Pittsburgh's hand.

However, Boston should at least inquire about Reynolds and come at the Pirates with serious intentions. The 2016 second-rounder has emerged as a bona fide rising star, and he checks just about every box Boston could hope to address in this offseason's trade market.

As the San Antonio Spurs continue their plummet down the standings, Jakob Poeltl's future with the franchise is going to be a hot topic leading up to the Feb. 9 trade deadline.

Per Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer, the Toronto Raptors have interest in bringing Poeltl back after trading him to the Spurs in 2018 as part of the Kawhi Leonard deal.

Fischer noted the Chicago Bulls had internal conversations about the 27-year-old center prior to last season's trade deadline, and rival teams are "closely monitoring" them as a potential seller.

The Spurs are in a potentially tricky spot with Poeltl. He's only 27 and is one of the few bright spots on their roster right now, but this is also the final season of his current contract.

According to Fischer, Poeltl will "strongly consider" re-signing with San Antonio if he doesn't get moved before the trade deadline.

One potential issue the Spurs face, however, is what Poeltl might command on his next contract. Fischer noted a poll of league executives pegged his upcoming contract valuation between $15 and $25 million per season, with the high end of that projection potentially being more expensive than a rebuilding team might want to pay.

The Raptors are trying to find a spark amid a 13-15 start and need help at center. Christian Koloko has been their primary starter at the position, but he's only averaging 3.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.

Poeltl spent the first two seasons of his career in Toronto. He was drafted with the No. 9 overall pick by the Raptors in 2016. The seven-year veteran is averaging 12.9 points and 9.9 rebounds in 20 starts this season for the Spurs.

The Bulls are another team that had designs on making the playoffs in desperate need of help. They are 6-12 in their last 18 games and have fallen to 11th place in the Eastern Conference.

Nikola Vuçević, the Bulls' current starting center, is in the final season of his contract. They could potentially flip him to a team that needs help at the five and bring in Poeltl, who is five years younger than Vuçević.

The Spurs seem like a team that should go all-in on trading veteran players to acquire more long-term assets. They have lost 17 of their last 21 games and own the worst record in the Western Conference (9-19).

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones suggested this week that the organization still has interest in free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

According to ESPN's Todd Archer, Jones provided a somewhat cryptic message when asked about the Cowboys signing OBJ at the NFL owners meetings, saying: "I don't want to talk about that, but stand by. This thing could break."

Beckham, who is still working his way back from a torn ACL suffered during the Los Angeles Rams' Super Bowl win over the Cincinnati Bengals last season, has visited with the Cowboys, New York Giants and Buffalo Bills over the past couple of weeks.

Jones noted that Beckham still isn't fully ready to play, but explained why the Cowboys continue to keep tabs on him and could ultimately sign him: "Great players make great plays. Great ones make exceptional plays. And so I hope we advance here where a handful of great plays, if I may be arm waving about it, could be the difference in a world championship."

At times this season, there were some who thought that Beckham would sign with a team, return to the field during the latter part of the regular season and be primed for a strong run in the playoffs.

Beckham himself seemed to shoot down the idea of seeing any regular-season action last week when he said he doesn't "see the point" of playing before the postseason.

Now, doubt is creeping in regarding whether he will play at all this season, with ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reporting Wednesday that "several" NFL teams believe OBJ is leaning toward sitting out the entire 2022 campaign and signing with a new team after the season.

The speculation was fueled this week by two of the teams in the thick of the Beckham pursuit signing other veteran wideouts.

Buffalo brought back slot receiver Cole Beasley, who played for the team from 2019 to 2021 and appeared in two games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season before retiring. Meanwhile, the Cowboys signed longtime Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton.

Jones' comments seem to suggest that the signing of Hilton doesn't preclude the Cowboys from signing OBJ, but their receiver room is getting a bit crowded with Hilton joining CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup and Noah Brown.

When healthy, the 30-year-old Beckham is a potential game-changer, and the Rams learned that last season.

OBJ was a Pro Bowler in each of his first three seasons with the Giants from 2014 to 2016, but injuries slowed him down in subsequent years, and he was waived by the Cleveland Browns last season before signing with L.A.

Beckham went on to record 27 catches for 305 yards and five touchdowns in eight regular-season games with the Rams, followed by 21 grabs for 288 yards and two scores in four playoff games.

While the Cowboys are 10-3 and have one of the NFL's best offenses statistically, they haven't received consistent production from their wideouts outside of Lamb.

That is why interest in Beckham seemingly still exists, but there are no guarantees when it comes to OBJ seeing any on-field action this season.

If the Los Angeles Lakers move on from Patrick Beverley this season, the veteran has a "desire to return" to the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.

Fischer outlined a scenario where Beverley could be traded to the Detroit Pistons before reaching free agency via buyout.

The 34-year-old likely wouldn't want to be part of a rebuilding situation after reaching the playoffs in each of the last four years with the Timberwolves and Los Angeles Clippers. Beverley spent the 2021-22 season with Minnesota, helping the squad return to the postseason for just the second time since 2004.

Beverley was a fan favorite in Minnesota, providing one of the more iconic moments of last season when the Timberwolves won their play-in game to make the playoffs:

Even though Minnesota traded him in July, he thought highly of the fanbase and said, "We kind of revamped the environment there."

Beverley went to the Utah Jazz in the trade that brought Rudy Gobert to Minnesota before being flipped to Los Angeles. Things haven't gone smoothly since the deal; he's averaging just 4.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game for a squad that is 11-16.

It could force the Lakers to make another trade to get back on track.

The Timberwolves also haven't had a great year at 13-15 despite lofty expectations.

When the Lakers played Minnesota in October, T-Wolves coach Chris Finch noted Beverley's impact.

"He was an outstanding professional in his habits, and his routine was one that younger players could see and mimic," Finch told reporters. "Mostly, he was a tone-setter. That's what we were looking for a little bit now; who is going to be our tone-setter? We haven't had a single guy step forward yet."

A reunion could be the best-case scenario for all parties.