After a Lakers-Warriors thriller Christmas night, LeBron James made a bold claim with NBA ratings declining and the NFL as popular as ever.
"I love the NFL, but Christmas is our day," he said.
The numbers say otherwise.
It should be noted the NBA had a great day by its standards, averaging 5.2 million viewers on Wednesday, its most on the holiday in five years.
James' game against Stephen Curry and the Warriors averaged 7.7 million viewers, peaking at 8.3 million. The 10:30 p.m. ET game between the Suns and Nuggets was also the largest late window ever with 3.8 million people watching.
But the NFL still dominated, averaging 24.2 million viewers with the Chiefs-Steelers and Texans-Ravens games despite both games being blowouts on Netflix.
James was predictably trolled on social media.
NFL games will have been played on five separate days in Week 17 when it's said and done. Thursday, Sunday, and Monday are common game days, and Saturday games are played later in the season.
Christmas falls on a Thursday next year, so maybe the NFL will load up similarly to its Thanksgiving tripleheader.
The NFL's Christmas viewership didn't match Thanksgiving numbers, while the NBA had improved ratings after a decline early on in the season.
But it's clear the NFL is king, no matter the day.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said it’s going to be tough for quarterback Jalen Hurts to play in the upcoming game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
"He’s still in the (concussion) protocol, it’s going to be tough for him to make it this week," Sirianni said to reporters during a press conference on Friday.
Hurts sustained a concussion in the first quarter of the Eagles' 36-33 loss to the Washington Commanders this past Sunday.
The star quarterback was scrambling on a second-and-20 when he hit his head on the ground while being tackled at the end of his 13-yard run. Hurts was evaluated on the sideline before eventually being taken to the locker room and ruled out with a concussion.
The game against the Cowboys will be the first game Hurts has missed this season.
Backup quarterback Kenny Pickett completed 14 of 24 passes for 143 yards with a touchdown and interception in relief of Hurts. Pickett, like Hurts, was also on the Eagles' injury report this week with a rib injury.
However, Pickett said during a press conference on Thursday that he will be "ready to go" on Sunday.
Sirianni said he liked what Pickett did in practice this week.
"I think (Pickett) has had a nice week of practice; he’s done a nice job. And you know, have had some good practices and walk-throughs this week," he said.
Philadelphia acquired Pickett from the Pittsburgh Steelers in March to back up Hurts. Now, the team's seed in the playoffs lies in his hands.
The Eagles still have an outside chance at the No. 1 seed in the NFC as they are currently 12-3, but both the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings are 13-2. Philadelphia would need some help to grab the top spot and the all-important bye week in the Wild Card round.
While the Eagles may be eyeing the No. 1 seed, the NFC East is still up for grabs after their loss to the Commanders on Sunday.
If the Eagles were to lose their next two games and the Commanders to win their next two, the NFC East would be decided based off tiebreakers.
The Eagles’ last two games are at home, as they play the Cowboys at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday and then the lowly New York Giants in Week 18.
The Commanders face a tougher schedule over the last two weeks of the regular season. They play the Atlanta Falcons, who are fighting for their playoff lives, at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday, and then the Cowboys in Week 18.
Saquon Barkley needs 268 yards rushing his final two games to become the NFL's new single-season rushing champion, and the current record holder is hoping Barkley misses the mark.
Barkley has proven to be the best signing of the offseason after the Philadelphia Eagles inked him to a three-year deal after six seasons with the division rival New York Giants.
Barkley has put himself in the league MVP conversation, averaging 122.5 rushing yards per game and taking the Birds to another level.
"I don't think he'll break it. But if he breaks it, he breaks it. Do I want him to break it? Absolutely not," Dickerson told the Los Angeles Times this week. "I don't pull no punches on that."
Dickerson set the record in 16 games, so Barkley has one extra contest to break the record. Dickerson doesn't mind that too much.
"I'm not whining about it. He had 17 games to do it? Hey, football is football. That's the way I look at it. If he's fortunate to get over 2,000 yards and get the record, it's a great record to have," he continued.
Barkley's mostly likely chance to break the record will come against his former team, which Dickerson said would be "a true slap in the face."
Barkley is on pace to become the ninth player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. The other eight all did it in 16-game seasons, including the most recent, Derrick Henry, four years ago.
Tommy Lazzaro, a former Central Michigan quarterback and a sergeant in the United States Army, was tragically killed in a hunting accident over the weekend, according to officials. He was 27.
Lazzaro, who served with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, was shot by a stray bullet at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida on Sunday when he was driving to help another soldier who was experiencing car trouble, a spokesperson for 7th Special Forces Group told Task & Purpose.
A hunter shooting on the range fired the shot. According to the report, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office described the incident as a "tragic hunting accident."
"We deeply mourn the loss of U.S. Army Sgt. Thomas Lazzaro of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)," Col. Patrick Nelson, 7th SFG(A) commander, said in a statement to the news site.
"We will never forget his dedication, courage, and commitment to safeguarding our freedoms. His absence leaves a void that will be felt professionally and personally among those who had the honor of working with Thomas. Our heartfelt condolences extend to his family, friends, and comrades during this difficult time.
Central Michigan also released a statement mourning the loss of the former Chippewas quarterback.
"When we took over the program, Tommy was truly our leader in so many ways," former head coach Jim McElwain said in a statement provided by the school. "CMU Football was blessed to have him and will always remember him for all he did for many of us. He will be missed by all of the Chippewas."
Lazzaro played four years at Central Michigan, where he had five starts from 2016-2019. During the 2019 season, he led the Chippewas to a 6-2 record in conference play and bowl appearance. He finished his career at Central Michigan with 542 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns and 758 passing yards and five touchdowns.
According to Central Michigan, Lazzaro graduated with a degree in entrepreneurship in 2019 and joined the Army to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.
Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts revealed what he really wanted to say to the Yankees fans who were trying to pry the ball out of his glove during Game 4 of the World Series.
"I would really say, ‘F--- you guys,’" Betts said after host Kevin Hart asked him what his message was to those fans during Peacock’s "Back That Year Up 2024" special.
"Try and get the ball, cool. But, like, you’re trying to grab my s---," Betts continued.
"I was in the moment, so I thought about throwing the ball up, and then I realized, ‘Mook, you ain’t gonna do s---. You ain’t gonna do s---, go back to right field!'"
During the first inning of the Yankees' 11-4 Game 4 win, Gleyber Torres hit a foul ball down the right field line. The ball tailed into the stands and Betts made a fantastic catch along the wall.
However, as Betts was coming off the wall, two fans tried to pry the ball out of Betts’ glove and rip the glove off his hand.
The umpire immediately called fan interference and ruled Torres out, while security rushed over to the area.
The fans were identified as Austin Capobianco and John Peter. The two fans were season ticket holders, and they had been preparing for a moment like what had happened with Betts.
"We always joke about the ball in our area," Capobianco told ESPN. "We’re not going to go out of our way to attack. If it’s in our area, we’re going to ‘D’ up."
"I know when I’m in the wrong and as soon as I did it, I was like, ‘Boys, I’m out of here,’ I patrol that wall, and they know that."
The fans were banned from attending Game 5 of the World Series because of the incident.
Nearly 600 Americans traveled to France this summer for the 2024 Paris Olympics with one goal in mind: bring home the gold.
The U.S. was represented by 592 athletes across 34 different sports, which helped the Americans top the medal count with 126 overall. The second closest with 91 medals was China. The U.S. also tied for first with 40 gold medals.
The Americans saw the most success in track and field, winning a total of 34 medals, including 14 gold, 11 silver and nine bronze. American track star Noah Lyles earned his first Olympic gold with a first-place finish in the men’s 100-meter final, while Vernon Norwood, Shamier Little, Bryce Deadmon and Kaylyn Brown set a world record in the mixed 4x400-meter relay.
USA Swimming topped the gold medal count in swimming with eight golds, edging out Australia by one. Katie Ledecky continued her dominance in the pool, becoming just the sixth Olympian to ever win nine gold medals. Team USA took home 28 total medals in swimming, including 13 silver and seven bronze.
Simone Biles returned to the Olympics with vengeance after her heartbreaking run in Tokyo. She made history in Paris by winning three gold medals to cement her legacy as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time. American Stephen Nedoroscik also captivated fans at home and earned himself a bronze medal in the men’s pommel horse. The U.S. won nine medals, including Biles’ three gold, one silver and five bronze.
Total medal count: two gold, two silver, three bronze
Vincent Hancock continued to make history at the Olympics by winning his fourth straight Olympic gold medal in men’s skeet, remaining as the only skeet shooter to win more than one gold medal in the event. Team USA walked away with five medals, including three silver and one bronze.
The U.S. women’s foil team joined the history books in Paris after claiming Team USA’s first gold medal in the event with a win over Italy. They took home four total medals, including four gold, one silver and one bronze.
Total medal count: two silver, one bronze
Team USA’s men’s basketball won its fifth straight gold medal and 17th overall after defeating the host nation, 98-87, in the men’s final, while the women’s team also defeated France by just one point to win their eighth consecutive gold medal.
The U.S. women’s national soccer team had something to prove in Paris, having not won gold since the 2012 London Olympics. But in the 57th minute of their final against Brazil, Mallory Swanson scored in what was her 100th appearance for the national team to lead Team USA to its fifth gold medal in the event.
Scottie Scheffler has been going for gold all year long, and he was able to capture his first Olympic medal in Paris, setting a record in the men’s individual for 72 holes at 19-under 265.
Caroline Marks – women's shortboard
Total medal count: one silver
Total medal count: one silver
Total medal count: one silver
Total medal count: one silver
Total medal count: one silver
Total medal count: one silver
Total medal count: one silver
Total medal count: one bronze
Total medal count: one bronze
Total medal count: one bronze
Total medal count: one bronze
The U.S. picked up its first-ever medal in rugby sevens when the women’s team upset Australia in the finals seconds of the bronze medal match.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams isn’t prepared to take full responsibility for the enduring frustrations of the fans.
During the Bears’ 6-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night, fans at Soldier Field broke out into boos and "Sell that team" chants. The low-scoring loss marked the team’s 10th straight loss.
When asked about the fans' reaction after the game, Williams pointed out to reporters that their frustrations go beyond his time in Chicago.
"It’s my first year. Their frustrations go way longer back than I’ve been here," Williams, who was the first overall pick in last year’s draft, said.
"My job is to go out there and win games. We don’t focus on the outside noise. The fans, they’re gonna cheer and maybe boo sometimes, and you can’t react to that. It’s not something that we react to."
The Bears' offense struggled in their latest loss.
Williams was 16 for 28 with 122 yards, and the Bears finished with just 179 total offensive yards. For that, the rookie quarterback did take ownership.
"I didn’t play well enough. I didn’t help put the team in a good position to win – a better position to win, and it’s what it is."
The Bears will close out the season on the road against the Green Bay Packers next week.
Nothing was pretty from both offenses in this game, but the Seattle Seahawks came away with a critical win over the Chicago Bears, 6-3, on "Thursday Night Football."
Seattle moves to 9-7 on the season, and they will be watching what the Los Angeles Rams do against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night as Week 18’s matchup between both teams would determine the winner of the NFC West.
Meanwhile, the Bears are looking toward next season already at 4-12.
As the score indicates, no touchdowns were scored in this game as both teams had trouble finding pay dirt.
It didn’t appear that was going to be the case when the Seahawks’ first drive of the game ended after an incomplete pass from Geno Smith to Tyler Lockett on third-and-three from Chicago’s nine-yard line.
They moved the ball well on the game’s opening drive, settling for a field goal, but appeared to have the game plan to beat the Bears’ defense.
That wasn’t the case with three straight punts in the ensuing drives for Seattle before they settled for another field goal near the end of the first half. However, Caleb Williams and the Bears’ offense weren’t doing much to play spoiler on their end.
Chicago ran 11 total plays combined over their first three drives, continuously stalling until some life came in the fourth. In fact, it appeared we had our first touchdown of the game in this one when Williams found fellow rookie Rome Odunze for a 17-yard score with 3:27 remaining in the second quarter.
But right guard Jake Curhan was called for offensive holding, nullifying the touchdown, and the Bears ultimately settled for three points – their only score of the game.
The second half didn’t see a point on the scoreboard, as both offenses showed ineptitude. However, there was another moment the Bears seemed to score, and it was on defense after forcing a fumble on Seahawks receiver Pharoah Brown.
Kyler Gordon scooped up the ball and ran 62 yards to the house. However, it was later ruled that Gordon was down by contact, nullifying yet another Bears touchdown. Six plays later, generating just one total yard, the Bears punted away.
The final drive of the game saw the Bears in control, and despite the lack of scoring, they still had a chance to at least tie the game to force overtime. Williams kept the drive alive with multiple scramble plays, including a heave on fourth-and-5 to find D.J. Moore to move the chains.
However, facing fourth-and-10 just out of Cairo Santos’ field goal range, Williams was forced to launch one in the air with an all-out blitz called by Seattle and it was intercepted to seal the Seahawks’ win.
On the stat sheet, Smith was 17-of-23 for 160 yards, while Zach Charbonnet, starting once again in place of an injured Kenneth Walker III, rushed for 57 yards on 15 carries. Kenny McIntosh added 46 yards on seven carries.
For the Bears, Williams was 16-of-28 for 122 yards with his interception. Moore was the top recipient with six catches for 54 yards, while D’Andre Swift had 53 rushing yards and 28 receiving yards on the night.
During his decade-long NFL career, Martin Gramatica kicked for four different teams.
Gramatica last appeared in an NFL game in 2008, the second year of his two-year stint with the New Orleans Saints.
Now 49, Gramatica opened up about his past during a sitdown with TMZ to discuss his memoir, "Beyond The Uprights: The Intimate Memoir Of Martin Gramatica."
Gramatica opened up about what he experienced during his childhood, particularly the tense relationship he had with his father.
But he stressed he didn't talk or write about his past, seeking sympathy.
"I want to make sure people don't read the book and say, ‘Feel sorry for me,’ because everything that I lived, it made me a better person and made me a better father," Gramatica said.
Gramatica said his father provided an example of the type of relationship he did not want to have with his own children.
"It made me know what not to do with my kids. I want to make sure that if somebody reads the book and realizes, 'I need to break this,' and I want somebody to realize it sooner than when I did. I didn't realize how bad it was until I had my first son when Nico was born."
Martin's challenging relationship with his father led to an agreement between Martin and his siblings.
"I love that kid so much that you're thinking, 'How can I ever do what my father did to me?' So, that's what I feel. I talked to my brothers, and we made a pact. We got to break this," Martin noted.
"We haven't spoken [to our dad] since because we just don't want that type of abuse around our families. I have three kids. My brother Santiago has two kids. So, we don't want that around our kids. That's what the book's about."
Gramatica kicked for Kansas State before making the leap to the NFL in 1999. He spent the first six seasons of his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning the Super Bowl with the Bucs in 2002.
He ended his professional football career with a 76.4% career field goal percentage.
Phillip Brooks, better known by his WWE ring name, CM Punk, is not happy with the state of his hometown NFL team.
Punk, who was born in Chicago, aired some of his grievances with the Bears during a guest appearance on Netflix's NFL coverage Christmas Day.
"Nothing’s going to change until the McCaskeys sell the team. I said it," Punk said in reference to the family that inherited ownership of the Bears from team founder George Halas several decades ago.
"We’re live on Netflix, I don’t care. I’ve been there. Oh, Lovie Smith is going to change the Bears. Oh, Trubisky is going to change the Bears. Then, we trade up and we lose [Patrick] Mahomes."
While quarterback Mitch Trubisky finished his four-year run in Chicago with more than 10,000 passing yards, his tenure was viewed as a disappointment.
"We’re going to just walk off the set and let you rant," pregame show co-host Devin McCourty said.
"Mahomes right now. No, he’d be on the Bears. Sorry," Punk responded.
Trubisky was the second overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, when the Kansas City Chiefs used the tenth overall selection for Mahomes. In April, the Bears had the draft's first overall pick after trading the 2023 top pick to the Carolina Panthers. This year, the Bears kept the pick and selected USC Trojans standout Caleb Williams.
Williams has struggled at times this season.
The Bears enter Thursday night's game against the Seattle Seahawks with a 4-11 record. The Bears have already been eliminated from playoff contention and parted ways with coach Matt Eberflus last month.
But Punk, a self-proclaimed "Chicago sports fan," suggested the franchise's shortcomings should fall at the feet of the team's leadership.
"I’m a Chicago sports fan," Punk said. "And, ladies and gentlemen, it doesn’t get any lower than that right now."
Another former NFL star will be leading a college program in 2025.
DeSean Jackson, the dynamic wide receiver who spent 15 years in the NFL, winning one Super Bowl and making three Pro Bowls, appears to be heading to Delaware State to become its next head coach.
Jackson and the school are reportedly finalizing an agreement, according to ESPN.
"He did an on-campus interview in recent days, and the sides are expected to come together in the near future," the report says.
ESPN adds that Jackson has always wanted to coach at an HBCU program, and Delaware State will fulfill that dream for him.
Jackson retired from the NFL in 2023, but he wasn’t away from the game long. He was coaching at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California, as an assistant throughout the 2024 season.
Jackson will get a crack at leading a program, a Hornets group that went 1-11 in 2024.
Jackson is the latest notable former NFL star to join the collegiate ranks. Michael Vick, a former Philadelphia Eagle like Jackson, accepted the head coaching role at Norfolk State.
Bill Belichick became the next head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, a shocking development considering he’s never been a college coach during his illustrious career.
Deion Sanders made the leap to coaching in college with Jackson State before transforming the Colorado Buffaloes the past two seasons.
Jackson played his last NFL season with the Baltimore Ravens, catching nine passes for 153 yards in seven games. But many remember him from his days torching defenses with the Eagles, making all three of his Pro Bowls with the Eagles from 2008-13.
Through those eight seasons, Jackson recorded 6,512 receiving yards and 35 touchdowns, many of which left defenses in the dust. He was also involved in one of the most memorable special teams plays in league history with the "Miracle at the Meadowlands II," returning a punt against the New York Giants as time expired to win a game, capping a fourth-quarter comeback from a 31-10 deficit.
Jackson later played for the Washington Commanders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Rams and Las Vegas Raiders before that final year in Baltimore.
Jackson finished his career catching 641 passes for 11,263 yards and 58 touchdowns.
Overtime was established in college football in 1996, and it was just a month ago that we saw Georgia and Georgia Tech go to eight overtimes. The most in any game is nine from an Illinois-Penn State battle in 2021.
In the first half, Toledo was down 12-6 but scored two touchdowns in a 14-second span – a 67-yard pass and then a 40-yard pick-six – to take a 20-12 lead.
Pitt rallied to go up 30-20 at a point, but Pitt tied the game with just under five minutes to go in regulation.
Both teams scored field goals on their first overtime possession, and then they matched one another with field goals on their next. New overtime rules state that from the third overtime on, teams must convert two-point conversion plays.
Both teams converted on each of their first three tries, but in the sixth overtime, after Toledo hit their fourth-straight, Pitt's pass fell incomplete.
In the fourth overtime, though, Toledo had actually celebrated twice. But their first stop was called back due to a penalty, and after thinking they stopped Pitt again, replay review reversed the call and continued the game. The Rockets got the victory anyway.
Toledo's Tucker Gleason went 26-for-50 for 336 yards, two touchdowns and one interception while also rushing for a score. Junior Vandeross III had 12 catches for 194 yards and a touchdown.
Desmond Reid ran for 165 yards on 32 carries for Pitt in the losing effort.
Toledo is now 12-10 in their bowl game history; it was the fourth year in a row they made a bowl game.
Pitt missed a bowl opportunity last year after taking home the 2022 Sun Bowl.
Travis Kelce surpassed the Hall of Fame tight end to break the Kansas City Chiefs’ franchise record for touchdown receptions in the team’s Christmas Day win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Kelce hauled in his 77th career receiving touchdown in the fourth quarter to put his name in the record books alongside Gonzalez. Paying tribute to the Chiefs’ great, Kelce then dunked the ball over the goal post.
The celebration drew a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, but it didn’t make a difference to veteran kicker Harrison Butker, who nailed the extra-point attempt.
During Prime Video’s pregame broadcast, Gonzalez vowed to pay Kelce’s fine in the event that he emulated his famous touchdown celebration.
"I am so happy for him. He is one of the best tight ends to ever do it on [and] off the field," he said. "I’ve been following him since he was a rookie, and I’m not surprised by it. He is one of the greatest tight ends of all time.
CeeDee Lamb won’t be finishing the season with the Dallas Cowboys. The team announced he has been shut down due to a shoulder injury.
The team revealed the move Thursday, saying Lamb would not be available for the final two games to start the recovery process for a shoulder injury he’s been dealing with throughout the season.
"Additional examinations and scans this week on CeeDee Lamb’s shoulder have determined that his injury has now progressed to a point that he will be listed as ‘Out.’
"He will undergo a process of treatment and rehabilitation for his shoulder, is not currently expected to require surgery and is projected to make a full recovery."
Lamb was diagnosed with an AC joint strain in Week 9, but he played through it as Dallas continued to try to keep its playoff hopes alive.
Despite Dallas picking up a win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, the Cowboys were eliminated from playoff contention.
So, with no playoffs in sight, the Cowboys want to make sure Lamb doesn’t injure himself further and start the process with a full recovery in mind for 2025.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones addressed Lamb’s situation on 105.3 the Fan Tuesday.
"We will leave it up to the player," Jones said. It’s unknown what say Lamb had in this decision to be shut down for the rest of the year.
Lamb has discussed his injury this week, saying "my shoulder is out of whack" after beating the Bucs, 26-24.
"I’m just out there battling and doing what I gotta do," Lamb said.
Lamb, who the Cowboys signed to a contract extension in the offseason, had his fourth straight season with 1,110 or more yards after hauling in 101 receptions for 1,194 yards with six touchdowns in 15 games.
Lamb didn’t have Dak Prescott throwing to him all season because the franchise quarterback, who also received a contract extension in the offseason, sustained his own season-ending injury earlier this season against the Atlanta Falcons.
However, Lamb found some chemistry with Cooper Rush, Prescott’s backup, who took over as starter. The Cowboys won four of their last five games, but, at 7-8 with two games remaining, it isn’t enough to crack into the NFC playoff picture.
Lamb will continue on his rehab to get ready for 2025, when the Cowboys hope to see a different outcome.
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"Terrible on my behalf, probably one of my worst games of my whole career," Stroud said. "Just came out flat, didn’t have any energy. Didn’t lead the offense the way I should have."
When asked specifically about the crowd’s reaction, Stroud appeared to understand.
"People are entitled to their opinions," he said. "They care about the game. Their emotions matter. I understand. It's not the first time, and it probably won't be the last. It's not something to internalize and point the finger at yourself, but it is something that you can use it to motivate you.
"I got plenty of football left in my career, hopefully, God willing. And I know this is gonna be a story I'll tell one day that'll help me in the long run."
The Texans' only points of the day came from a safety in the second quarter.
The AFC South champion Texans face the Tennessee Titans next weekend in search of a win heading into the playoffs.
The Jimmy Butler trade rumors have gotten to the point where Miami Heat president Pat Riley needed to step in to say what the organization will be doing.
From his words, Butler isn’t going anywhere.
"We usually don’t comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches," Riley said in a Heat statement. "Therefore, we will make it clear – we are not trading Jimmy Butler."
Well, all that changed with Riley’s statement on the matter, as the Heat want their star guard/forward to stay put.
Butler is currently averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists over 20 games so far this season.
Looking ahead to next season, Butler isn’t expected to activate his $52.4 million player option. The Miami Herald also reported the Heat being unwilling to extend him through the 2026-27 season, so there’s a good chance that Butler, who would be 36 years old next season, would be looking for a new squad next season.
Before becoming a force on the Heat, Butler spent his first six NBA seasons with the Chicago Bulls, starting in the 2011-12 campaign after being drafted 30th overall out of Marquette.
He was a three-time All-Star in the Windy City, while winning Most Improved Player for his performance in the 2014-15 season.
Butler would end up going to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2017, but it didn’t last long as he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers midway through the 2018-19 season.
The versatile two-way star has been a cornerstone of the Heat locker room since joining the squad in 2019, getting two All-Star nods over the past six seasons.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens was singled out by NFL legend Terrell Owens after the Steelers dropped three straight games, including a lopsided loss to the Kansas City Chiefs Christmas Day.
Returning from a three-game absence after a hamstring injury, Pickens was expected to have an impact against the defending champions.
But after just three receptions for 50 yards, the third-year wideout faced scrutiny for his lack of production. Among those calling him out was Hall of Famer Terrell Owens.
Responding to a social media post about Cam Hayward’s postgame comments in which he said, "When 10 guys do their job and one guy doesn’t, we are screwed," Owens agreed there was a similar issue on offense.
"Same on offense as well when you got #14 not running his routes causing [interceptions,]" Owens said in a post on X.
Owens seemed to be referencing a play at the end of the first quarter. With the Chiefs leading 13-0, veteran quarterback Russell Wilson threw an interception in the end zone. While taking ownership for the mistake, Wilson acknowledged Pickens was supposed to run another route.
"Yeah, you know, I think he was going to go vertical. But, at the end of the day, it can't happen. It’s on me," Wilson said, via FOX 8. "I was trying to give Pat [Freiermuth] a chance. He's done a good job for us down in the red zone, and they made a good play."
The Steelers have lost three games in 11 days.
"The bottom line is the junior varsity is not good enough. We've got to own that," head coach Mike Tomlin said.
Teddy Bridgewater is looking to win two championships in a two-month span.
Bridgewater spent the fall coaching at his high school alma mater, leading Miami Northwestern High to the Florida Class 3A state title earlier this month. But now, it's on to another championship.
He is back with the Detroit Lions as a veteran backup for their playoff run.
The Lions have clinched a playoff spot and can earn the top seed in the NFC with two more wins, but just in case Jared Goff goes down, they wanted to go with somebody with experience; Hendon Hooker had been serving as Goff's backup throughout the season.
Bridgewater served as a backup for the Lions last year.
Bridgewater was a first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2014 and has started 65 games over his NFL career. He also spent two seasons in New Orleans when Dan Campbell was an assistant with the Saints.
Campbell raved about his relationship with Bridgewater during his media availability on Thursday.
"I've been in contact with Teddy for a while, and it was something that was always a potential possibility. And we all know what Teddy's been doing down there and giving back to his community, and they won a championship down there, so his debut coaching worked out pretty dang good," Campbell said.
"To be able to add somebody back here that's got experience, he's staying in shape, he's been throwing, just get him worked back in here a little bit. It just brings a level of professionalism, veteran presence, somebody that's great for our team."
The Lions control their own destiny in forcing the NFC playoffs to run through their own home turf.
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova only needed one acronym in response to Olympic boxing gold medalist Imane Khelif receiving votes for the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year award.
Khelif was in a firestorm throughout the Olympics after it was learned the Algerian fighter failed a gender test in the run-up to the Paris Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) maintained that Khelif met all the requirements to compete and eventually won the gold medal.
Khelif finished third in the voting, receiving four votes. Caitlin Clark won the award and Simone Biles was second.
Navratilova, who has been a staunch advocate for protecting women’s sports, reacted in a post on X.
"Wtaf???" she wrote, which means "what the actual f---."
Khelif qualified for the Paris Olympics, but Khelif's gender was called into question following a disqualification from the 2023 championships before a gold medal bout over gender eligibility issues.
International Boxing Association president Umar Kremlev said the boxer had "XY chromosomes," which are associated with biological males.
One boxer, Angela Carini, forfeited her bout against Khelif in Paris, saying "one punch hurt too much."
Khelif won gold in Paris and wasn't the only boxer to win a women's gold who has been disqualified for failing gender eligibility tests. Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting also won gold in another women's weight class in Paris, prompting similar outrage.
The IOC defended Khelif and Yu-ting's inclusion in the women's events.
Khelif was the most Googled athlete of the year, largely due to the controversy.
