ESPN star Stephen A. Smith spoke at length about his viral courtside interaction with LeBron James last week, and initially appeared empathetic about his gripe; however, the popular sports analyst expanded on his thoughts this week, calling the Lakers superstar’s approach about the issue "weak." 

The heated confrontation took place during the third quarter of the Lakers’ overtime win over the New York Knicks on Thursday. It seemingly centered on James’ issue with Smith’s commentary on Bronny James. 

The following day, during an appearance on "First Take," Smith called the interaction "unexpected" but said he did not harbor any ill-will towards James because he understood the position he was in. 

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"That wasn’t a basketball player confronting me, that was a parent, that was a father. I can’t sit here and be angry or feel slighted by LeBron James in that regard. By all accounts, he’s obviously a wonderful family man and father who cares very, very deeply about his son, and based on some of the comments he had heard — or shall I say I think he thought he heard — clearly took exception to some of the things he heard me say, and he confronted me about it." 

However, another viral video of James discussing the confrontation with former teammate and current ESPN broadcaster Richard Jefferson on Saturday has reignited the issue. 

"I thought it was weak, I thought it was some bulls---. But in the moment, I knew that I was listening to a father," Smith said Tuesday during an appearance on the "Gil’s Arena" podcast.

STEPHEN A SMITH SAYS BRONNY JAMES WAS FOCAL POINT OF 'UNEXPECTED' COURTSIDE CONFRONTATION LEBRON JAMES

Smith reiterated that he was caught off guard by the confrontation, and he expanded on the conversation he had with James. 

"He said, ‘Yo, you gotta stop talking s--- about my son. You gotta stop f---ing with my son – that’s my son. That’s my son." 

Smith said the initial confrontation was about what James "thought" Smith said about his son, which is why he was surprised. However, the conversation with Jefferson was centered on Smith’s actual criticism, which centered on James’ push for his son to get drafted and play in the league as a rookie before he was ready.  

"I thought that he misrepresented the argument, I was glad he did," Smith continued. "Because what he was really talking about, which was confirmed with his conversation with Richard Jefferson – is that I was talking about him as a father. Had he said that to me, I wouldn’t have been thrown off. I would’ve came right back at him — yes I was, I was talking about you, you did this s---."

Bronny James was drafted out of USC in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft. He has appeared in 18 games this season and is averaging 1.4 points, 0.4 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. 

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As key Democrat figures throw out excuses for enabling trans athletes in women's sports, conservative critics have capitalized on inconsistent messaging. 

Last week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said on his podcast that he believes trans athletes competing in women's sports is "deeply unfair" but defended it to happening legally due to concerns over transgender people as "poor people" who are "more likely to commit suicide, have anxiety and depression." 

When House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was asked about Newsom's comments, Jeffries repeated the unsubstantiated claim that laws preventing trans athletes from girls' sports would "unleash" sexual predators on girls across the country. It was the same argument Jeffries provided when the House of Representatives voted to pass the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act in April. 

Maine state Rep. Laurel Libby, who has recently ascended as a key political figure in the battle to protect female athletes from trans inclusion, spoke out against Newsom and Jeffries in an interview on OutKick's "Gaines for Girls" podcast with Riley Gaines. 

Libby said she believes that Newsom's recent comments "mean nothing."

"I don't think we're going to be seeing Gavin Newsom doing anything about it, and it's the equivalent of ‘which way is the wind blowing here?’" Libby said. "Gavin Newsom is a smart political animal, and he understands that 80% of Americans do not agree with biological males in girls' sports, so he is taking a little bit of a common sense position here.

"It certainly has turned the Democrats into a tailspin, because they don't know what to do with that." 

MAINE REP LAUREL LIBBY FILES LAWSUIT OVER CENSURE FOR CALLING OUT TRANS ATHLETE IN GIRLS' SPORTS

Libby rose to prominence on the issue after a social media post in February, when she identified a trans athlete in Maine who won a high school pole vault competition as the state defies President Donald Trump's executive order to keep trans athletes out of girls' sports.

Libby was then censured for the post by the Maine House of Representatives, but on Tuesday, she filed a lawsuit against the state's House speaker to have her voting and speaking rights restored. 

Meanwhile, Gaines took aim at Jeffries for his argument, which alienated multiple Democrat voters after it was pushed by him and other Democrat lawmakers, prompting some of those voters to unregister from the party. 

"I assume he's insinuating that we want to inspect genitals, that's always what they go to, but again, that is absolutely not the case, that would be utterly invasive and in total violation," Gaines said. 

"It would be either a birth certificate, which I don't believe is satisfactory, because in all but six states you can alter your birth certificates; cheek swabs, which we've seen in some place which is a simple saliva test to determine sex; or a routine physical, that every single athlete, I think in every single state, has to already go through anyway. So the whole ‘inspecting genitals’ thing is just silly and is totally a farce and a lie." 

DEMOCRAT VOTERS ABANDON PARTY AFTER AOC, JEFFRIES SAY ANTI-TRANS ATHLETE BILL EMPOWERS SEXUAL PREDATORS

Both Newsom's and Jeffries' excuses have incited backlash amid a recent national uprising over the issue. 

The day Newsom made his comments, California schools and residents impacted by trans inclusion in sports provided statements to Fox News Digital lambasting the governor for not taking any action over the last year to address the issue. 

Stone Ridge Christian School in Merced, California, had its girls volleyball team forfeit a playoff game to San Francisco Waldorf in the fall due to the presence of a transgender athlete on Waldorf's team. It was a decision that ended Stone Ridge Christian's season because Newsom's policies forced the girls volleyball team into a situation where it would have to refuse to play to avoid compromising religious beliefs. 

"What’s really unfair is Gov. Newsom letting males compete in women’s sports despite admitting that it is unfair. While it is common sense for men and women to compete on their own teams, this is especially concerning as a religious school," Stone Ridge Christian School Campus Administrator Julie Fagundes previously told Fox News Digital.

After Jeffries and other House Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasion-Cortez, D-N.Y., pushed the argument that the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act would empower sexual predators to give genital examinations to little girls, the party officially lost some voters. 

Prominent Rutgers law professor Gary Francione, a lifelong Democrat, previously told Fox News Digital that he and others in his network unregistered as Democrats in response to the argument. 

"I can say confidently of the people I know who are Democrats who I've spoken to, the vast majority of them are very unhappy about all of this stuff and feel that the party has lost its way," Francione said. "I know a couple who said they are going to [unregister]." 

Trump has vowed to cut federal funding to any state or public institution that continues to let trans athletes compete with women and girls. He showed he is willing to make good on that promise on Tuesday, when the USDA cut millions in funding to eight universities in Maine. 

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Lamar Jackson has a new target to throw to in Baltimore, as the Ravens agreed to terms with veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins on Tuesday, according to multiple reports. 

NFL Network reported that Hopkins’ deal is worth $6 million for one year. 

Hopkins, who will be 33 when the 2025 season begins, made a trip to Super Bowl LIX with the Kansas City Chiefs this year – his first appearance in the "Big Game" – after being traded by the Tennessee Titans before the NFL deadline during the 2024 campaign. 

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Through 10 games with Kansas City, Hopkins added 41 receptions with four touchdowns. During the postseason run to New Orleans, Hopkins had just three catches for 29 yards, though he scored a touchdown over three games. 

At this stage in his career – Hopkins is about to enter his 13th NFL season – the talented wideout is looking for his best chance to win a Super Bowl before he hangs up his cleats for good. 

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The Ravens are one of the best teams in the AFC, especially with Jackson at the helm on offense. The two-time league MVP has improved tremendously in the pass game, and the team has consistently looked for better receivers to pair with him to increase their offensive production. 

For Hopkins, Baltimore will be his fourth team in the last four seasons. The five-time Pro Bowler has played for the Arizona Cardinals, Titans and Chiefs all since the 2022 campaign. 

However, there is no doubt Hopkins can still produce at a high level, having totaled 1,057 yards with seven touchdowns during his 2023 season with the Titans – his first with the squad after signing with them in free agency on a two-year, $26 million deal. 

Hopkins’ best seasons, though, came after he was selected 27th overall by the Houston Texans in 2013 out of Clemson. The 2014 season was a breakout year for the dynamic receiver, who tallied 76 catches for 1,210 yards with six touchdowns. He would follow that up with his first Pro Bowl season: 1,521 yards on 111 catches with 11 receiving touchdowns for Houston. 

Hopkins went on to make four straight Pro Bowls from 2017-2020, the last of which came in his first season with the Cardinals, where he had 1,407 yards on 115 receptions and six touchdowns. 

This one-year pact with a lower AAV than he has been used to throughout his career is the definition of a prove-it deal, but it is also an opportunity to get back to the Super Bowl, something Baltimore has been desperate to do with Jackson at quarterback. 

Hopkins joins a talented bunch of Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely and, of course, bulldozing running back Derrick Henry as valuable offensive weapons for the Ravens. 

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The New Orleans Saints week got off to a relatively quiet start, but the franchise quickly started making noise. On Tuesday, multiple reports stated that the franchise made a big splash by landing Justin Reid.

The star defensive back and the Saints reached an agreement on a three-year contract, according to ESPN. Reid spent the past three seasons with the Chiefs, but entered the free agent market after he did not appear to be part of Kansas City's future plans. Reid won a pair of Super Bowls during his three-year stint with the Chiefs.

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Reid played college football at Stanford before the Houston Texans selected him in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He departed Houston after the 2021 season and joined the Chiefs.

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Reid and the Chiefs came up short in the quest to win three consecutive Super Bowls. The Eagles dominated the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX last month. The 40-22 victory marked the second time in history that the Eagles won the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Shortly after the game, New Orleans named Kellen Moore the franchise's next head coach. Moore spent the 2024 season as the Eagles offensive coordinator.

New Orleans' acquisition of Reid — who has 10 interceptions, six sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in his career — comes a day after former Saints starting cornerback Paulson Adebo reportedly agreed to a free-agent deal with the New York Giants.

The Saints also signed tight end Juwan Johnson to a three-year, $30.75 million extension that could grow to $34.5 million with incentives, agent AJ Vaynerchuk said.

Johnson entered the NFL as a receiver with New Orleans in 2020 and was converted into a tight end in 2022, when he caught a career-best seven touchdown passes. He has played in 67 games with 34 starts. He has 1,622 yards and 18 receiving touchdowns.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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A date has officially been set for the Philadelphia Eagles' White House visit with President Donald Trump to celebrate last month's Super Bowl victory.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Tuesday the team will make its visit April 28. 

Leavitt also took a jab at reports about whether an invitation would be sent after what occurred in 2018.

As the 45th president of the United States at the time, Trump rescinded his invitation to the Eagles after their Super Bowl victory over the Patriots after some players said they wouldn’t attend.

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This time around, Trump acknowledged he wanted to get the Eagles to the nation’s capital to celebrate, and that’s exactly what will happen.

"I know there was a lot of fake news about an invitation that wasn’t sent or was sent. We want to correct the record: We sent an invitation. They enthusiastically accepted, and you will see them here on April 28," Leavitt said during her daily White House briefing Tuesday.

EAGLES ‘ENTHUSIASTICALLY ACCEPTED’ PRESIDENT TRUMP'S WHITE HOUSE INVITE AFTER SUPER BOWL WIN, OFFICIAL SAYS

Trump was present at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans Feb. 9 to watch the Eagles dominate the Kansas City Chiefs, 40-22. He also noted last month he wanted the Eagles to visit the White House. 

"We haven’t yet, but we will be," Trump said about sending an invitation. "I thought it was a great performance by them. Absolutely, they'll be extended an invitation. We'll do it right away. We'll do it some time today. They deserve to be down here, and we hope to see them."

Eagles captain Lane Johnson said a White House visit would be a "team decision" after they won the Super Bowl. 

Johnson, who has spent all 12 of his NFL seasons with the franchise, was on the team when it won the organization’s first-ever Vince Lombardi Trophy in 2018, defeating the New England Patriots. 

However, controversy ensued that year when Trump rescinded his invitation to the Eagles after some players said they wouldn’t visit the White House due to the 45th president’s criticism of those who knelt or raised their fists during the national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality. 

Trump released a statement at the time about canceling his invitation, saying that "the 1,000 fans planning to attend the event deserve better."

"They disagree with their President because he insists that they proudly stand for the National Anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country," Trump’s statement seven years ago said.

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Cooper Flagg's mom is deep into the longtime Duke-UNC rivalry.

Duke completed their sweep of the regular-season series over their arch rivals with an 82-69 victory in Chapel Hill on Saturday, where Flagg dropped 15 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and handed out six assists.

One play in particular wound up being a viral moment for Flagg's mother, Kelly.

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In the closing moments of the game, Flagg dribbled by defenders from nearly half court all the way to a thunderous two-handed slam. Kelly hit the crowd with the "head top" celebration, tapping the top of her head and screaming, "On his f---ing head!"

The moment quickly went viral, and Kelly addressed it in a Facebook post, jokingly thanking those who were "willing to start a" GoFundMe and "ready to ride at dawn."

Kelly apologized to "anyone who was offended by my language that was caught in a celebratory moment," admitting that it "wasn't my best look."

"However, if you actually know me and are a real friend of mine you weren't shocked," she added with a laughing emoji. 

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But then, she added why the emotions came out, and it was apparently due to the "crudeness" of UNC fans at the game.

"It was a very intense situation we were put into and we were taken aback by the crudeness of the UNC fans as we made our way into the arena. They continued to harrass [sic] with much worse being spewed in our direction as well as at our 18 year old son and his teammates throughout the entirety of the game," Kelly wrote.

"The celebration was a moment of being so proud of our kid and Laos a big F-you to the entire Carolina fan base for being classless a-holes. If you are a UNC fan and didn't like it…tough [poop emoji]. Better luck next time! Go Duke."

In the regular season, Flagg averaged 19.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists en route to the Blue Devils finishing the season as the top-ranked team in the country.

They will now go for an ACC title before heading to March Madness.

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Junior Bridgeman, a 12-year NBA veteran and billionaire businessman, has died at the age of 71. 

According to WLKY, Bridgeman had a medical emergency at the 45th Annual Leadership Luncheon on Scouting at The Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky, Tuesday. 

WLKY reporter Kent Taylor was interviewing Bridgeman as part of the program to benefit the Lincoln Heritage Council, Scouting America.  

Bridgeman "expressed that he thought he was having a heart attack" in front of hundreds of luncheon attendees, Taylor said.

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Emergency services were reportedly called immediately, and "people immediately jumped into action to help." Bridgeman was eventually transported from the luncheon by ambulance and later died. 

Louisville is where Bridgeman became a basketball legend before his business acumen made him a leader and philanthropist in the city.

Bridgeman played his college basketball at the University of Louisville from 1972-75, where he made two Final Four runs under legendary Cardinals coach Denny Crum.

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The Los Angeles Lakers made him the eighth overall pick of the 1975 NBA Draft, but he was moved to the Milwaukee Bucks, the team with which he spent all but two seasons during his 12-year NBA career. 

The shooting guard/small forward averaged 13.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists, while shooting 47.8% from the field in 711 career games for Milwaukee. 

Bridgeman owned a 10% minority stake in the Bucks, who released a lengthy statement after learning about his death.

"The Milwaukee Bucks are shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Bucks legend and owner Junior Bridgeman," the team posted. "Junior’s retired No. 2 jersey hangs in Fiserv Forum, serving as a constant remembrance of his outstanding play on the court and his impact on the Bucks’ success. 

"His hard work and perseverance led him to become one of the nation’s top business leaders and, last September, Junior's professional life came full circle when he returned to the Bucks family as an owner. His memory will always be an inspiration to the Bucks organization."

The University of Louisville Athletics also released a statement.

"Today, we lost a legend and beloved member of the Louisville basketball family," it said. "Junior Bridgeman leaves an unmatched legacy, and we are forever grateful for the impact he’s made on our program, our university and our city. We send our deepest condolences to the Bridgeman family and all who loved him."

In addition to his 10 seasons with the Bucks, Bridgeman played for the Los Angeles Clippers from 1984-86.

Bridgeman developed a knack for business while playing in the NBA. He started investing in Wendy’s fast-food restaurants, and his small investments quickly turned into a 450-restaurant empire known as Bridgeman Foods Inc.

Bridgeman also dealt with Coca-Cola bottling operations and owned Ebony and Jet magazines. 

Forbes had estimated Bridgeman’s net worth to be $3.7 billion. 

Bridgeman is survived by his wife, Doris, and three children — Eden, Justin and Ryan. 

Former NBA star Dwight Howard recently revealed some details about his exit from the Los Angeles Lakers. 

During a recent edition of his "Above The Rim with DH 12," podcast, the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year claimed LeBron James was responsible for him leaving Los Angeles shortly after the franchise defeated the Miami Heat in the 2020 NBA Finals. 

The championship series was played in the NBA bubble in Orlando due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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According to Howard, friction between him and James stemmed from a game during the 2019-20 regular season. Howard said he directed some vulgar instructions to James, which contributed to his departure from the Lakers.

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"I said that [too], and I got kicked off the Lakers," Howard told Mario Chalmers, who played with James during his time with the Heat. "So, I know how you feel.

"You can’t say that," Howard added. "I said that one time, and I was off the team. … It was after we won the championship, man. It happened on defense. I was like, ‘Yo, you gotta get back.’ And [LeBron] got mad because I said something. And I was like, ‘Yo, stop acting like a b----, man.'"

While the exact reasons the Lakers decided not to bring back Howard after the 2019-20 season remain unclear, the insult also seemed to be at the center of James' strife with Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green during the 2016 NBA Finals.

"He said Draymond Green called him the B-word, and that’s what got him going," Chris Broussard said at the time, referring to his discussion with James after the Cavaliers' loss to the Warriors in Game 4.

Cameras also appeared to capture Green attempting to strike James in the groin area when the two players got tangled up around midcourt. Green served a one-game suspension during the series. 

The James-led Cavs eventually hoisted the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy in 2016.

Howard's first stint with the Lakers was during the 2012-13 season. James was with the Heat at the time. Howard then bounced around the league with a few teams before rejoining the purple and gold for the 2019-20 campaign. 

Despite making key on-court contributions in a season that culminated with the Lakers' seventh NBA title, Howard left Los Angeles and played with the Philadelphia 76ers the next year.

Howard did get another opportunity to play with James in LA when he returned to the Lakers for the 2021-22 season. Howard appeared in 60 games that season and has not played in the NBA since. He spent the 2022-23 season competing in a professional league based in Taiwan.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture is pausing funding to the University of Maine System (UMS), a network of eight public colleges in the state, according to UMS officials. The pause is in response to the state's recent refusal to comply with President Donald Trump's executive order to keep transgender athletes out of women's sports. 

The pause in funding comes as the USDA reviews potential Title IX and Title VI violations by the universities, amid the state's recent refusal to comply with Trump's executive order to keep transgender athletes out of women's sports. Trump reaffirmed his intent to punish states that continue to allow trans athletes to compete with girls during his March 4 address to a joint session of Congress.

Trump's administration has now acted on that promise. 

A UMS spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital on Tuesday it has been notified its funding will be paused. 

MAINE REP LAUREL LIBBY FILES LAWSUIT OVER CENSURE FOR CALLING OUT TRANS ATHLETE IN GIRLS' SPORTS

"An email forwarded to the University of Maine that appears to have originated from the USDA’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer directs the department’s 'awarding agencies and staff offices to temporarily no longer issue any payments or authorize any other releases of funding to Columbia University or the University of Maine System,'" the spokesperson said.

"The message goes on to state, 'This pause is temporary in nature while USDA evaluates if it should take any follow-on actions related to prospective Title VI or Title IX violations. Please take any necessary actions to effectuate this direction from leadership. This pause will remain in effect until further notice.'"

The UMS spokesperson says the system told the USDA the universities "were in compliance with relevant state and federal laws and that UMS universities are members of the NCAA," adding the system is "unaware" of any Title VI violations.

However, UMS says it will provide further clarity on the situation after "further analysis is completed."

DEMOCRAT VOTERS ABANDON PARTY AFTER AOC, JEFFRIES SAY ANTI-TRANS ATHLETE BILL EMPOWERS SEXUAL PREDATORS

In fiscal year 2024 alone, the USDA awarded $29.78 million in funding to UMS for research, the system said. The USDA claims it has provided over $100 million to the UMS in recent years in a letter addressed to the system. 

The NCAA also amended its gender eligibility policy to prohibit any athlete born biologically male from competing in women's sports.

Trump initially vowed to cut funding to Maine specifically if it continued to allow trans athletes to compete in girls sports during a meeting of GOP governors at the White House on Feb. 20.

The next day, Gov. Janet Mills' office responded with a statement threatening legal action against the Trump administration if it withheld federal funding from the state. Then Trump and Mills verbally sparred in a widely publicized argument at the White House during a bipartisan meeting of governors.

Just hours after that interaction, the U.S. Department of Education announced it would investigate the state for allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls sports and for potential Title IX violations. 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has already determined that the state and its department of education have violated Title IX by allowing transgender athletes to compete and has made a referral to the U.S. Department of Justice. 

Republican Maine state Rep. Laurel Libby helped ignite the contentious situation when, in early February, she identified a biological male who competed in and won a girls state pole vault competition for Greely High School on social media. Police protection was assigned to Greely High School during the controversy.

Libby was then censured by the state's House of Representatives and Speaker Ryan Fecteau for the post. Libby filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Fecteau in response to the censure, seeking to have her voting and speaking rights restored.

The controversy has even incited a protest against Mills called the "March Against Mills" outside the Maine's State House Saturday morning. 

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Several female athletes took the microphone at the march to speak out against the Democratic governor.

A day later, eight pro-trans activists protested outside Libby's home in opposition to her views. 

They held signs that said "Shame on you Laurel 4 exploiting a child 4 your political gain" and "Protect trans youth," according to the Maine Wire.

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Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy revealed the United States government reached out to him about a position within its ranks. 

Portnoy described the call he got from someone within the government as "weird" in a video posted to his X account. 

He said he mentioned the call he got during an appearance with Fox News’ and Fox Business’ Stuart Varney but "nobody paid attention."

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But while he didn’t have interest in the job, he did find one big requirement to be quite odd. 

"I got a call, I don’t know, a couple months ago? I don’t know when I got the call," Portnoy explained. "It was like, ‘Hey, would you have any interest, Dave, in joining the Department of Commerce – commerce secretary under [Howard] Lutnick, or the guy working under him.’ 

BARSTOOL'S DAVE PORTNOY SAYS YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T TRUST TRADITIONAL MEDIA, BUT THEY TRUST HIM

"But a caveat of joining the government is somebody would have to run Barstool. You can’t run Barstool and work for the government. I guess Elon [Musk] doesn’t have a specific title, but you kinda want your CEO with the eye on the ball, right?"

Before explaining the call, Portnoy raised a question about Musk’s work as CEO of Tesla while also carrying out his duties with DOGE, Department of Government Efficiency, during the Trump administration. 

"The one thing I do wonder with Elon, he’s the CEO of Tesla, obviously, and he’s doing all this DOGE stuff, which I think is good," Portnoy said. "Get rid of government waste, I’m for that. But how do you run Tesla when you’re working on DOGE 24/7?"

Going back to the call he received, Portnoy said it was nothing more than that.

"By the way, even if I wanted to do that, they never followed up," he said. "They were like, ‘Let us know if you could find somebody to run Barstool and you’re interested in it. If you are interested, we’ll schedule a call in a week for the next steps.’ That never happened, so it was weird."

Portnoy appears to have no interest not being able to run Barstool Sports, which he founded in 2003 and built into a highly successful media brand.  

Meanwhile, as of March 3, DOGE has claimed to save $105 billion since Musk & Co. explored lease terminations, contract cancellations and more. 

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As at least one study has shown, nearly 80% of Americans believe biological males should not participate in girls' and women's sports, the current administration has begun to take action.

The Trump administration made due on its threat to Maine by cutting federal funding for continuing to allow transgender athletes to compete against biological females.

Legendary NFL quarterback Brett Favre is a part of the aforementioned reported 80%. He appeared on Fox News Channel with Will Cain on Tuesday where he was shown a clip of "The View" co-host Whoopi Goldberg asking why it was an issue.

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"There's nothing I can say that's gonna change her mind - I can only shake my head at this," Favre said. "It's common sense at its best. Oh well, what can I say? Speechless."

As far as it being unfair for biological females, Favre added, "You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure that out."

Favre has spoken out against transgender athletes in female sports in the past.

"I appreciate President @realDonaldTrump signing an initiative to keep biological boys from competing against females," Favre said last month in a post on X of his executive order. "It’s sad that this had to happen in this day and age, but glad it was done." 

Trump signed an executive order last month to keep transgender athletes out of girls' and women's sports, but that has not stopped at least three states from ignoring it.

Trump's Department of Education has launched Title IX investigations into California, Maine and Minnesota for allegedly continuing to allow biological males in female sports.

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Earlier this month, not a single Democrat voted in favor of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which would keep biological males from competing in women’s and girls’ sports.

A national exit poll conducted by the Concerned Women for America legislative action committee found that 70% of moderate voters saw the issue of "Donald Trump’s opposition to transgender boys and men playing girls' and women’s sports and of transgender boys and men using girls' and women’s bathrooms" as important to them.

Additionally, 6% said it was the most important issue of all, while 44% said it was "very important."

Meanwhile, a recent New York Times/Ipsos poll found that the vast majority of Americans, including 67% of Democrats, don't believe trans athletes should be able to compete in women's sports. 

Fox News' Ryan Gaydos, Jackson Thompson and Julia Johnson contributed to this report.

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The turnover of the Philadelphia Eagles defense continued on Tuesday when C.J. Gardner-Johnson's name was linked to trade reports.

The defensive back was traded to the Houston Texans in exchange for offensive lineman Kenyon Green, according to multiple reports. The trade package will also send a 2026 fifth-round draft pick to the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles. In addition to Gardner-Johnson, Houston will acquire a future sixth-round pick.

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The 2024 season marked Gardner-Johnson's second stint with the Eagles after initially playing with Philadelphia in 2022. He departed after that season and spent the 2023 campaign with the Detroit Lions.

Gardner-Johnson rejoined the Eagles last year and signed a three-year deal with the team. 

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He was a key part of the Eagles' vaunted defense this past year and finished the regular season with six interceptions. Gardner-Johnson also recorded six interceptions with the Eagles two seasons ago. 

Despite the likelihood of him wearing a different uniform next season, Gardner-Johnson suggested the Eagles and the city of Philadelphia will continue to hold a special place in his heart.

"I love you Philly, we forever champions," he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Gardner-Johnson's relationship with the Eagles fanbase has appeared to be tense at times. Shortly after his first stint with the team ended, he characterized at least some Philadelphia residents as "obnoxious."

"My least favorite thing ... is the people," Gardner-Johnson said during a Twitch live stream in 2023. "They’re f----g obnoxious, I f-----g can't stand the f-----s." He added that he did enjoy the city's weather.

Gardner-Johnson handled the starting safety duties for the Eagles in 2024 and recorded three tackles during the team's 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.

The 27-year-old sparked some controversy shortly after the Eagles won the second Vince Lombardi Trophy in franchise history when he took aim at Travis Kelce — and effectively at his romantic partner Taylor Swift — in a social media post.

In a vulgar caption of a photo of himself engaging with Kelce on the football field, Gardner-Johnson suggested Kelce "should've stayed" with his ex-girlfriend. He doubled down on his stance when he arrived at the Eagles Super Bowl victory parade with a hoodie that read, "Swifties can LIX my b----."

A Florida restaurant owned by Gardner-Johnson's mother, Del Johnson, was then targeted by some fans who took offense to the message displayed on the NFL star's attire. The Kings Grill in Rockledge, Florida received a flurry of negative Yelp reviews.

Fans of singer Taylor Swift, who are often referred to as "Swifties," appeared to be responsible for at least the initial stream of bad Google reviews and negative Yelp reviews for the Kings Grill. The unfavorable reviews were later removed and Yelp placed an "unusual activity alert" on the restaurant's page which "temporarily disabled the posting of content."

While the Eagles were able to retain linebacker Zack Baun, Josh Sweat and Milton Williams reportedly agreed to deals with other NFL teams this week. Meanwhile, defensive backs Darius Slay and James Bradberry were released.

Philadelphia did appear to address its backup quarterback role by trading Kenny Pickett to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick and Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

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Tiger Woods announced Tuesday that he ruptured his left Achilles tendon.

"As I began to ramp up my own training and practice at home, I felt a sharp pain in my left Achilles, which was deemed to be ruptured," Woods announced on social media. 

Woods said he underwent the surgery Tuesday, it "went smoothly" and "we expect a full recovery."

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"I am back home now and plan to focus on my recovery and rehab, thank you for all the support."

Woods has been participating in his new venture, TGL, a golf simulator league founded by Woods and Rory McIlroy. He's teamed up with Tom Kim, Max Homa and Kevin Kisner.

Woods' already bleak future somehow looks even more ominous. Since finishing tied for ninth at the 2020 Farmers Insurance Open, his best finish in his 18 official events since then has been tying for 37th at the 2020 PGA Championship.

Last year, he competed in just five events, one of them being the Genesis Invitational, the other four majors. He withdrew from the Genesis, finished dead last in the Masters and missed the cut in the final three majors.

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That came after he competed in only the Genesis and Masters in 2023, where he finished tied in 45th and withdrew, respectively. In 2022, he played in the Masters (47th), the PGA Championship (withdrew) and the Open Championship (missed cut).

Just when it appeared Woods was turning the clock back, it seemed like all false hope. In 2018, he finished second in the FedEx Cup standings. In 2019, he won the Masters.

Since then, it's been a tough stretch for Woods, who, in 14 majors since winning the green jacket in 2019, has failed to muster a top 20 finish. It’s his longest such streak since failing to finish in the top 20 in the first six majors of his career in 1995 and 1996. In his last 26 majors, he has only four top 20 finishes.

After the U.S. Open, Woods, who turned 49 in December, admitted it "may or may not" have been his last one. His latest injury raises more questions about his future.

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The Los Angeles Rams made a big splash before the legal free-agent tampering period began in the NFL on Monday, signing New York Jets-releasee Davante Adams to a two-year deal. 

The signing was met with positive speculation heading into the 2025 season, especially with quarterback Matthew Stafford locked in and happy with his own contract situation. 

But one big question remained: Who will wear No. 17? 

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That number has belonged to budding star receiver Puka Nacua for the past two seasons, and he's certainly made that number popular among the fan base. Nacua has quickly become Stafford's favorite target, but Adams is his senior, and he's shutting down any speculation as to who will wear the number. 

The Rams announced that Nacua will be wearing No. 12 moving forward, which he wore in high school and at BYU during his college days. 

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In turn, Adams will continue to wear No. 17, which he's done since the Green Bay Packers took him in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. 

Adams has been traded twice since 2022, first going to the Las Vegas Raiders, followed by his move to the Jets this past regular season. He has worn No. 17 with each of those teams as well. 

Nacua announced the move on Instagram, saying he was "carrying on the Nacua legacy!"

"The #12 not only represents me on the football field, but all of my brothers and the sacrifices that my family made before me to be able to wear this jersey at this moment. I know when I put on that #12, it’s a piece of armor that’s representing my family and always protecting me. 

"For all the 17s out there, I appreciate your support and have things in the works to show you all love!"

Nacua also spoke to the team’s official website about the number change, saying No. 12 felt like a "piece of armor" when he was on the field. 

"Whenever I looked in the stands, I knew I could find one of my family members there, whether it was one of my brothers or my mom being at every game possible. I know when I put on that number 12, it's a piece of armor as well that's representing my family that is always protecting me."

The Rams are hoping Nacua’s production doesn’t change with his number, as he’s been fantastic since the team took him in the fifth round of the 2023 Draft. 

Nacua reset the rookie receiving records at the time with 1,486 yards on 105 receptions with six touchdowns over 17 games, earning his first Pro Bowl of his career. 

Then, despite injury holding him back in year two (11 games played), Nacua was still able to catch 79 passes for 990 yards with three touchdowns. 

Meanwhile, Adams had 1,063 yards combined between the Raiders and Jets over 14 games, hauling in 85 receptions with eight touchdowns as well. 

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PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said at TPC Sawgrass on Tuesday that President Donald Trump has been "the facilitator" between the PGA and LIV Golf in order to eventually strike a deal.

June 6 will mark two years since the bombshell announcement that the two sides were discussing some sort of agreement to come together in some capacity, but talks have long stalled — that is, until Trump took office.

Last month, the Tour credited Trump for "[getting] involved for the good of the game," and it appears there has been movement since he got involved.

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"Those talks are real. They’re substantial, and they’re being driven at the top levels of both organizations. Those talks have been significantly bolstered by President Trump’s willingness to serve as the facilitator," Monahan said on Tuesday. "President Trump is a lifelong golf fan. He believes strongly in the game’s power and potential, and he has been exceedingly generous in his time and influence to help bring a deal together. He wants to see the game reunified. We want to see the game reunified, and his involvement has made the prospect of reunification very real."

Monahan added, "We believe there’s room to integrate important aspects of LIV Golf into the PGA Tour platform," and he could envision "a future" in which Public Investment Fund governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan can join the Tour's board.

"We’re doing everything that we can to bring the two sides together. That said, we will not do so in a way that diminishes the strength of our platform or the very real momentum with our fans and our partners," Monahan said, adding that "hurdles remain" between the two sides.

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Trump last month expressed optimism the two sides will get some type of deal done.

"They’re gonna have to get together," he said. "They’ve had a lot of discussion back and forth. They both are meaning well, and a deal will ultimately happen. I think it will happen pretty quickly. It would be nice to see the best golfers play against each other."

"They are all great people, and they want to work it out," Trump added. "So, if I can help work it out… I don’t get anything out of it. I can help them work it out. I just think golf — it’s very much an individual sport, and you want to see the best players playing against each other and not playing in two different locations."

Golf splintered in 2022 with the emergence of LIV Golf, which came with the backing of the PIF. Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm all play in the league.

Trump's courses have hosted several LIV events since its inception, last hosting a PGA event in the mid-2010s.

Fox News' Ryan Gaydos and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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As Elon Musk continues to head the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), one legendary golfer is standing in his corner.

The agency has continued to root out waste, fraud and corruption in the federal government ever since President Donald Trump took office in January.

Phil Mickelson posted on social media Tuesday that he feels the American people should be grateful for Musk's work.

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"It’s incredibly kind and generous of Elon Musk to help America become fiscally responsible. We all owe him a huge debt of gratitude," he posted. "Nicola Tesla was unappreciated while he was alive despite his numerous contributions to humanity. I hope Elon is shown the appreciation he deserves in his lifetime."

Mickelson wrote the message while quoting a post in which Musk was quoted on FOX Business saying that DOGE savings "at this point exceed $4 billion per day."

Earlier Tuesday, DOGE announced that it has deactivated more than 200,000 credit cards linked to more than a dozen federal agencies following an audit showing they were unused or unneeded.

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Last month, Musk spoke at Trump's first Cabinet meeting and said he is looking to find $1 trillion in savings through DOGE to help slash the national debt, which is around $36.5 trillion.

Musk took aim at what he described as $2 trillion in deficits, stating that America "simply cannot sustain" that amount of debt. He told FOX Business that savings could achieve $1 trillion "unless we're stopped."

Mickelson joined LIV Golf in 2022, which has been financially backed by the Saudis; he defected from the PGA Tour just over a year after becoming the oldest major winner in history when he won the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island in May 2021.

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WNBA player Angel Reese may not have helped her negotiating leverage much with a viral lowlight Monday. 

During an Unrivaled game, Reese missed three straight shots while standing right under the basket, and one of the shots hit the bottom edge of the backboard. 

Reese was able to at least come away with two offensive rebounds on the possession but fell to the hardwood after missing her third shot. 

Footage of the sequence quickly spread across social media, and many mocked the timing of it after Reese ignited controversy with recent claims WNBA players may refuse to play games to negotiate higher pay. 

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Reese and fellow WNBA player DiJonai Carrington addressed the next WNBA collective bargaining agreement during Reese's podcast Friday. 

"I've got to get in the meetings because I'm hearing like, 'If y'all don't give us what we want, we sitting out,'" Reese said.

"The WNBA don't pay my bills at all. I don't even think it pays one of my bills. Literally."

The sports comedy X account "Hater Report" then posted a video of Reese missing the layups with the caption, "Angel Reese DESERVES more money. PAY HER PLEASE."

Other users got in on the parade of sarcastic comments.

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"GIVE HER THE MAX," one user wrote. 

Another user joked, "Please give this girl a raise before she decides to sit out the next season." 

Some critics were less sarcastic and more directly harsh.

"We should pay her not to play, please don’t make us watch this (as if anyone watches this)," one user wrote. 

Another critic wrote, "PAY HER LESS. Quit running your yapping mouth."

In November, Reese went out of her way to respond to a user with less than 300 followers on X after he mocked her for missing layups, mentioning her 39% shooting percentage. 

"Do you realize I got drafted seventh in my class while ‘missing layups’ as a ROOKIE shooting 39% on the year and was STILL an All-Star and that was the worst you’ll ever see me?" Reese wrote. "Or you just laid up with your dog at home hating Adam?"

Reese's shooting ability was not considered a strength of her game when she entered the WNBA after her championship college career at LSU. At 6 feet, 3 inches tall, Reese was considered a premier defender and rebounder. She lived up to that reputation as a rookie, proving the doubters of her shooting ability right. 

She averaged 13.1 rebounds per game in 2024 and became the first player in WNBA history with three consecutive games of 20-plus rebounds. Reese broke the WNBA single-season assist record Sept. 1. However, season-ending wrist surgery a few weeks later prevented her from holding the record. Eventual MVP A'ja Wilson broke the record Sept. 11. 

Reese shot 39% from the field, just 18.8% from 3-point range and just 73.6% at the free throw line. She missed layups multiple times in her first year.

Reese signed a four-year, $324,383 rookie contract ahead of her first WNBA season in 2024. She made under $75,000 in her first year and will make less than that in 2025. 

In October, Reese revealed she couldn't afford to pay her bills based on that salary in an Instagram live video. 

"I’m living beyond my means. Hating pays them bills, baby. I just hope you know the WNBA don’t pay my bills at all," she said. "I don’t even think that pays one of my bills. Literally, I’m trying to think of my rent for where I stay at. Let me do the math real quick. I don’t even know my (WNBA) salary, $74,000?"

Reese said she's paying $8,000 for rent.

"Babe, if y’all thought… That WNBA check don’t pay a thing," she added. "Did that even pay my car note? … I wouldn’t even be able to eat a sandwich with that. I wouldn’t even be able to eat. I wouldn’t be able to live."

The WNBA players union opted out of its current collective bargaining agreement in October, two years before its expiration. 

The current CBA will still cover the 2025 season, so the two sides have a year to negotiate a new agreement.

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Maine State Rep. Laurel Libby has filed a lawsuit against Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau after she was censured on Feb. 15 for her social media post about a trans high school athlete. 

The lawsuit seeks to have Libby's voting and speaking rights restored. Maine House Clerk Robert Hunt is named as the other defendant in the lawsuit. Libby was originally told she would have her rights restored if she apologized for the post. However, she has said she will not apologize.

Libby's censure came in response to a social media post in which she pointed out a high school trans athlete who won a girls' pole vault competition. The post ignited a nationwide controversy and a spat between Democrat Maine Gov. Janet Mills and President Donald Trump, prompting federal agencies to launch Title IX investigations against the state and school district where the athlete was enrolled.   

A massive protest against Mills followed in Maine's capital of Augusta. 

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The basis of the censure by Fecteau and Maine Democrats was Libby's post that identified a minor with a photograph and by name. However, Libby and her attorneys argue that the athlete had already been publicized in a positive light and was competing in the public forum of a state-sponsored athletic event. 

"The championship was a public event, was streamed online, and the names, schools, and photographs of the winners were all posted publicly," states a copy of the lawsuit obtained by Fox News Digital.

Libby represents more than 9,000 constituents in Maine's House District 90, and six of them have signed onto the lawsuit as plaintiffs because the censure has impeded her ability to help carry out other legislative actions to serve those constituents.

"The speaker's actions did not just disenfranchise me but disenfranchised the thousands of constituents that I represent, and that's the bigger picture here; the fact that the speaker, in his eyes, retaliated against me because he doesn't like what I have to say," Libby said.

Libby recently proposed a bill to expand access to mental health resources for Maine residents, which she will now not be able to help push through. In the coming weeks, the Maine House will vote on the upcoming biannual budget, and Libby will not get to vote on that either. 

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For Libby, the lawsuit is not only meant to restore her rights to her and her constituents. She also says it's an important step to take in the national battle to combat trans inclusion in women's sports.

"Maine has, for whatever reason, become ground zero for this debate, and, of course, I want to have my voice back so I can speak to that; and as we address this issue within the legislature, I hope that all that has unfolded over the next few weeks can help change the course in the debate, so that not just Maine girls, but girls across the country, have a fair, safe and level playing field," Libby said.

Libby also encouraged Fecteau to simply restore her rights to avoid taking the case to court and costing Maine taxpayers the price of any potential litigation. 

Fox News Digital has reached out to Fecteau's office for comment. 

Meanwhile, Maine is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for potential Title IX violations over its refusal to comply with Trump's recent executive order to prevent trans athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports. 

HHS served a notice of violation to the state of Maine on Feb. 25 and declared the state violated Title IX by allowing trans athletes to compete in girls' sports. HHS later expanded the scope of the investigation to include the Maine Principals Association and Greely High School. 

Libby's revelation of the trans athlete prompted national media coverage of the state's policy on trans inclusion after Maine announced it would not comply with Trump's executive order. Trump then vowed to cut funding to the state for refusing to follow his order.

Mills' office responded with a statement threatening legal action against the Trump administration if it withheld federal funding from the state. Then Trump and Mills verbally sparred in a widely publicized argument at the White House during a bipartisan meeting of governors.

Just hours after that interaction, the U.S. Department of Education announced it would investigate the state for allowing trans athletes to compete in girls' sports and for potential Title IX violations. 

Police protection was assigned to Greely High School.

The controversy even incited a protest against Mills called the "March Against Mills," which took place outside Maine's State House on Saturday morning. Several female athletes took the microphone at the march to speak out against their Democrat governor.

A day later, eight pro-trans activists protested outside Libby's home in opposition to her views. They held signs reading "Shame on you Laurel 4 exploiting a child 4 your political gain" and "Protect trans youth," according to the Maine Wire.

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The Florida Panthers were dealt a heavy blow in their pursuit of defending their Stanley Cup title after the league announced veteran defenseman Aaron Ekblad would serve a 20-game suspension for violating the NHL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. 

Ekblad, 29, will serve his suspension, without pay, as the Panthers enter the final stretch of the regular season. 

With just 18 games left on the schedule, Ekblad will miss at least the first two games of the playoffs. 

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"The news that I had failed a random drug test was a shock," Ekblad said in a statement provided by the league. "Ultimately, I made a mistake by taking something to help me recover from recent injuries without first checking with proper medical and team personnel.

"I have let my teammates, the Panthers organization and our great fans down. For that, I am truly sorry. I have accepted responsibility for my mistake and will be fully prepared to return to my team when my suspension is over. I have learned a hard lesson and cannot wait to be back with my teammates."

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Ekblad missed eight games in January with an upper body injury. 

It was unclear what the source of the positive test result was. 

Under the terms of the NHL's collective bargaining agreement, Ekblad was also issued a mandatory referral for evaluation and possible treatment. 

Ekblad is the first player since 2018 to violate the league’s PED policy. Before his suspension, he had 33 points in 56 games. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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The Big Blue (print) is coming into shape for the New York Giants.

The Giants agreed to a three-year contract with star safety Jevon Holland on Tuesday, per numerous reports. 

Holland’s contract is reportedly worth $45.3 million with $30.3 million guaranteed, per NFL Network. 

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The 25-year-old safety spent the first four seasons of his career with the Miami Dolphins after being selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Oregon. 

In Holland’s four seasons with the Dolphins, he amassed five interceptions, five sacks, and 301 total tackles over 60 career regular-season games.

The Giants were in the safety market this free agency after letting star safety Xavier McKinney leave last season for the Green Bay Packers. 

Holland will start next season alongside Tyler Nubin, the Giants' second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. 

Nubin had 98 total tackles in 13 games before he underwent ankle surgery, missing the final four games of his rookie season. 

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Holland’s addition is not the only one the Giants made to their secondary. 

The Giants agreed to a three-year, $54 million contract with cornerback Paulson Adebo on Monday, according to numerous reports. 

Adebo, 25, spent the first four seasons of his career with the New Orleans Saints after being drafted in the third round out of Stanford in the 2021 NFL Draft. 

Across four seasons with the Saints, Adebo logged 251 total tackles, 43 passes defended, 10 interceptions, seven tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. 

However, Adebo played in just seven games last season after he broke his femur in a game against the Denver Broncos. Prior to his injury, Adebo recorded three interceptions in seven games. 

With the additions of Abedo and Holland, the Giants brought in some sorely needed playmakers after setting the NFL record last season for most consecutive games without recording an interception (11).

The Giants also bolstered their defensive line depth on Monday, reportedly having agreed to terms with both defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris and defensive end Chauncey Golston. 

Giants general manager Joe Schoen can only hope those additions will improve the 20th-ranked scoring defense in the league last season, as they gave up 24.4 points per game. 

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