Former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya ripped Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday after the billionaire announced he would get rid of Facebook’s fact-checking program.
The third-party fact-checking system will be replaced with community notes similar to X, Zuckerberg said in a video.
The company’s system was put into place after the 2016 election and was used to "manage content" and misinformation on its platforms, largely due to "political pressure," executives said, but admitted the system has "gone too far." Political bias from the fact-checkers appeared to be one of the main issues.
Tafoya appeared on OutKick’s "Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich" to talk about Zuckerberg’s decision. Dakich asked her what gave Zuckerberg the right to do the about-face now.
"Absolutely nothing. This is not unique to Facebook. I had a guest on my podcast yesterday, Gad Saad, a professor out of Canada, so much has gone on up there under the Justin Trudeau administration that has been really similar," Tafoya said. "People being absolutely wiped out of their professions. We’re talking doctors, researchers, professors, medical experts because they either said something kind of cutesy that someone was uncomfortable with.
"This suppression of human thought, this suppression of human opinion, is completely antithetical to America and free speech. People don’t see it happening or they’re OK with it. This should be massive, flashing red light.
"Mark Zuckerberg knows what he did was wrong, and now he’s going to try and fix it and hope we just say, ‘Oh, good for you, you fixed it, Mark.’"
Meta’s chief global affairs officer, Joel Kaplan, told Fox News Digital earlier Tuesday that using community notes is a better option.
"Instead of going to some so-called expert, it instead relies on the community and the people on the platform to provide their own commentary to something that they’ve read," Kaplan explained, noting that if a note gets support from "the broadest cross-section of users," that note can be attached to the content for others to see.
"We think that’s a much better approach rather than relying on so-called experts who bring their own biases into the program," Kaplan said.
Fox News’ Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
There were plenty of surprises to go around. The Kansas City Chiefs won 15 games despite not being the most dominant team. The Minnesota Vikings nearly won the NFC North with Sam Darnold as the quarterback. Jayden Daniels emerged as a star. And the Buffalo Bills got better after trading one of the top wide receivers in the league.
Those were only some of the storylines around the NFL and that just scratches the surface.
The Detroit Lions are arguably the best team ahead of the playoffs and sit on top of the final NFL power rankings of the season.
Sunday night proved that if the defense wants to, it can be dominant. Allowing just nine points to the Minnesota Vikings was a tremendous leap forward; the only worry is if the bye week will cool down what might just be the best offense in the league. But it’s difficult to believe that will happen.
Last week: 2
Let the (real) games begin for the Chiefs. They locked up the top seed in the AFC, despite at times looking like they weren't even trying, and appeared to peak on offense in the last month before running out their backups for a meaningless game against Denver. The three-peat dream is right in front of them, and they left no meat on the bone this season in giving themselves the best shot to make it come true.
Last week: 1
The Bills enter the postseason with a lot of momentum. Despite finishing second in the AFC, many consider this team to be the most dangerous in the NFL. Again, though, everything hinges on postseason performance. A quick out in January could spell big changes in Buffalo.
Last week: 3
The Eagles wisely rested their starters in Week 18, meaning Saquon Barkley did not break Eric Dickerson’s single-season record for most rushing yards in a season. The Eagles will take on the Packers at home, and the big question in Philadelphia is if/when quarterback Jalen Hurts will clear the concussion protocol. Hurts sustained the concussion in Week 16, and as of Monday had not yet cleared the protocol. The Eagles hope their star quarterback will be back in action come Sunday.
Last week: 5
The Ravens put the finishing touches on their incredible season. Lamar Jackson is a favorite for MVP and Baltimore is a favorite to win the Super Bowl. It’s all about the postseason from here.
Last week: 6
Kudos to Sam Darnold for revitalizing his career, but it’s fair to say whether he can perform when the lights are the brightest. His offensive line didn’t help, but he did miss some throws early. They do get an indoor game to open up their playoffs, but they need to figure it all out quickly.
Last week: 4
It’s hard to judge the Packers after a slew of players took the field against the Chicago Bears, but losing at home to them is not what you want. At the end of the day, they still have a superb run game with lots of weapons, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone if they take care of business against the Eagles.
Last week: 7
The Commanders beat the Cowboys on a walk-off touchdown, and secured the No. 6 seed in the NFC, setting up a matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the playoffs. Their matchup is a rematch of Week 1, when the Bucs beat the Commanders 37-20. Regardless of how the playoffs go for Washington, this season is already a success. The Commanders have finally found their franchise quarterback in Jayden Daniels and with a 12-5 record, they are finally headed in the right direction.
Last week: 8
The Jim Harbaugh era began last January for the Chargers, but this is the part where fans will really get to see just how different things are for the franchise. It was a positive yet familiar script in the regular season, finishing well behind the Chiefs in the division for a wild-card spot, with a hard ceiling on their ability to compete with elite teams. Now is their chance to flip the script in the playoffs, and the last few weeks have shown they have the ammunition to do it.
Last week: 9
That's going to be a dangerous offense in the postseason.
Last week: 12
The best thing that could’ve happened for the Rams was winning the division before Week 18 kicked off, as Sean McVay was able to give his offense, especially quarterback Matthew Stafford, some much-needed rest heading into a big wild-card round against the Minnesota Vikings. While the Vikings were a win away from earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC, Los Angeles had them at SoFi Stadium earlier this season, and they handled business on their home turf. This Monday night game could be a thriller given both offenses' ability to take the top off defenses and put points on the board.
Last week: 11
The Broncos may have very well collapsed out of the playoff picture had the Chiefs not played their backups in Week 17, but a 10-win season is still a 10-win season. Sean Payton and Bo Nix delivered a shocking success story to Denver this year amid low expectations. But considering how they played in the final few weeks, they've earned plenty more cynicism regarding their ability to compete against Buffalo in the wild-card round.
Last week: 15
The Steelers’ defense is still formidable, but can Russell Wilson and his receivers get on the same page to make a postseason play?
Last week: 10
The Texans are heading to the playoffs rested and optimistic after a 23-14 win over the Titans on Sunday. Houston won the AFC South with a 10-7 record and move on to host the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round on Saturday afternoon having rested most of their starters this weekend. Quarterback C.J. Stroud went 6-of-6 for 50 yards and a touchdown in the opening series and looks more than ready for the playoffs.
Last week: 13
In another life, Joe Burrow has the Bengals in the playoffs. But it was too little too late. Cincinnati will stay home.
Last week: 14
They might not have been heading to the postseason, but Geno Smith secured a big $2 million incentive with a win and passing for over 185 yards. The win for Seattle gave first-year head coach Mike Macdonald a 10-7 record, which is a great foundation to build on for next season. Seattle doesn’t need to rebuild this offseason given that record, but filling some key holes on the roster could elevate this squad to a playoff team next year if they continue clicking on the offensive end.
Last week: 16
They really had more talent than the record indicates, so a disappointment.
Last week: 17
Jonathan Gannon’s group certainly showed improvement in his second season, and a lot of that had to do with a healthy Kyler Murray and James Conner leading the way on offense. Also, hats off to Trey McBride for solidifying himself as one of the best tight ends in the league, constantly giving Murray someone to throw to when he needed it. Doubling their win total from a year ago, the Cardinals will continue building, especially on the defensive side of the ball after seemingly adding the right offensive pieces.
Last week: 20
The Dolphins had a chance to make the playoffs all the way up until the Broncos win in Week 18, yet the team is in complete disarray. Stars Tyreek Hill and Jalen Ramsey are both hinting that they want out of Miami, and that’s not a good sign for head coach Mike McDaniel.
Last week: 18
Health is all Kyle Shanahan will be preaching this offseason, as he hopes to have his group back to normal in 2025. Losing Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk and many others throughout the season wasn’t something the reigning NFC champs could fight through. One thing to watch this offseason is Brock Purdy’s contract situation, though, as the franchise could move to lock him in and continue building around "Mr. Irrelevant."
Last week: 19
The Cowboys finished the season 7-10 despite key injuries to star players, and now the focus in Dallas turns to the future of head coach Mike McCarthy. McCarthy has been with the team for five seasons, and his contract has expired. The team fought hard for him down the stretch, and now Jerry Jones will decide whether the Cowboys bring him back or let him go.
Last week: 21
Despite sliding late in the season and missing the playoffs for the fourth straight year, the Colts are sticking with general manager Chris Ballard and coach Shane Steichen. But changes are still coming in Indy as the team announced Monday that it will be moving on from defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.
Last week: 22
Bryce Young is your 2025 quarterback, as it should be.
Last week: 24
The Bears will not be heading into the offseason with a sour taste in their mouths. Maybe the Packers let up on the gas pedal a bit during the game, but giving your No. 1 pick a walk-off win with a field goal can swing some sort of momentum their way. Now, they need to hit big on their hires.
Last week: 23
The Jets did the most Jets thing ever and won their final game of the regular season to worsen their draft position in 2025. Add in the fact that Aaron Rodgers seems destined for retirement, and this is a franchise that must go into a complete rebuild. They need to find the right head coach, but how desirable is the job? Not very, quite frankly.
Last week: 27
Onward to their coaching search.
Last week: 25
Four wins it is for Antonio Pierce in his first full season as a head coach. But the Raiders may have been the most competitive uncompetitive team in the league this year, as they kept plenty of games close despite one of the most incomplete rosters and hapless quarterback situation. They will be looking for a new coach.
Last week: 26
Doug Pederson is out and the Jaguars are wasting no time in looking for his replacement. On Tuesday, the team announced eight interviews, including one with Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson – one of the most highly sought after coaches this offseason.
Last week: 28
So, the Patriots fired Jerod Mayo after he led the team to a Week 18 victory that bumped New England from the No. 1 overall pick in 2025 down to No. 4. With a roster as bleak as the one the Patriots currently have, they needed all the draft capital they could get. Like the Jets (and possibly the Dolphins), New England is an AFC East team that needs a head coach. But with Drake Maye at the helm, it’s a more desirable job than New York.
Last week: 30
The Giants lost to the Eagles backups, securing the No. 3 pick in the NFL Draft. John Mara is bringing back both general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll for a fourth season. The top priority for the Giants this offseason is to find a quarterback, whether that be through free agency, the draft, or maybe both. There is certainly an urgency in New York to turn things around next season, as Schoen and Daboll certainly head into next season on the hot seat.
Last week: 32
The Titans will be looking for new leadership when they make the first pick of the 2025 NFL Draft after deciding to part ways with general manager Ran Carthon after just two years. Big spending couldn’t solve Tennessee’s issues last offseason. It’ll be interesting to see their approach this time around.
Last week: 29
The Browns’ putrid season has finally ended.
Last week: 31
The Fox News Digital Sports NFL power rankings were compiled by the Fox News Digital Sports staff and the OutKick.com staff.
Yesterday — 7 January 2025Latest Sports News Today on Fox News
Sheel Kamal Seidler, the widow of deceased team owner Peter Seidler, has filed a lawsuit against his two brothers in attempt to seize control of the team.
The widow has alleged in her complaint that Peter, before his death, revealed his dying wish was for her to take control of the Padres, followed by their children, and that her children hold the largest stake in ownership. She adds that Peter's two brothers, Matt and Bob, "are trying to erase Peter's vision and legacy, as well as falsely cast themselves as Peter's true heirs."
The suit also alleges that Bob’s wife made multiple "racist, profane and hateful communications directed at Sheel—a woman of Indian descent—in communications."
The widow released a statement addressing the complaint on social media.
"The complaint alleges claims against Matthew and Robert for breaches of fiduciary duty and fraud. I would urge anyone who is interested in the details to read the full complaint. This was not a decision I made lightly. During this difficult period, I have done everything in my power to avoid unwanted distractions and resolve the matter privately. I have focused on supporting the work of the many dedicated professionals within the Padres organization, as well as the incredible players we have the privilege of watching nearly every day throughout the season.
"I made this decision as a very last resort, but I am confident it is the right one, and the best way to protect the Padres franchise and ensure the vision that Peter and I shared for the team will continue."
Matt released a statement via Sportico, claiming that Sheel's allegations are "without merit."
"The complaint filed by Sheel Seidler, the widow of Peter Seidler, is entirely without merit," Seidler said. "Peter had a clear estate plan. The plan specifically named three of his nine siblings, with whom he had worked closely for many decades, as successor trustees of his trust, and Peter himself prohibited Sheel from ever serving as trustee."
Peter died in November 2023 at the age of 63. He had been ill for months, though it has not been disclosed what exactly he’d been dealing with. Seidler is a cancer survivor who had health issues for quite some time.
He said in July 2023 that the Padres would stay within his family for generations after he passed away.
Seidler was the founder of Seidler Equity Partners, which was a key piece of the group that purchased the Padres in 2012. Seidler’s uncle, also named Peter, and Ron Fowler were a part of the group, too.
The name of the group derives from Seidler’s grandfather, Walter O’Malley, who owned the Dodgers from 1950, when they first relocated from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, until 1979. Fowler transferred the role of chairman to Seidler in 2020, and then Seidler purchased part of Fowler’s stake in the organization to become the team’s largest stakeholder.
Prior to his death, he dealt out a series of high-cost contracts to superstar players in an effort to compete with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West division and win a World Series.
These contracts include Manny Machado's $350 million, deal, Fernando Tatis Jr.'s $340 million deal, Xander Bogaertz $280 million deal, and Yu Darvish's $108 million deal.
The Athletic reported in November 2023 that the team took out a $50 loan to help pay for the costs of the contracts.
Longtime Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bob Veale, who helped the franchise win a World Series championship in 1971, died over the weekend at 89 years old.
The Pirates released a statement on Veale, who spent 11 of his 13 seasons with Pittsburgh.
"Bob was an integral member of the Pirates who helped our team capture back-to-back division titles as well as the 1971 World Series," team owner Bob Nutting said in a statement. "He was one of the most dominant left-handed pitchers in all of Major League Baseball during his remarkable big league career that he proudly spent a majority of as a member of the Pirates. He was a great man who will be missed."
Veale earned himself back-to-back All-Star nods in 1965 and 1966 during his Pirates career, which began in 1962 as a 26-year-old left-hander.
Pitching in just 11 games that year, Veale earned a 3.74 ERA before making his name known with a 1.04 ERA over 34 games (seven starts) during the 1963 season. It came over just 77.2 innings of work, but the Pirates saw a starter they could utilize for years to come.
In 1964, Veale took on an even bigger workload on the mound, pitching 279.2 innings (40 games) to a 2.74 ERA. He went 18-12 that season, striking out 250 hitters to lead the league.
Veale would rack up 1,703 strikeouts over 1,926 innings in his career. And during the 1971 World Series, Veale helped his Pirates take down the Baltimore Orioles to win the title.
Veale was traded midway through the 1972 season to Boston, but not before he made MLB history as part of the Pirates’ lineup that became the first-ever all-Black or Afro-Latino lineup, per AL.com.
When Veale’s playing days were over, he eventually moved into the scouting department for the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees. He would go on to be inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2006, while also helping launch the Negro Southern League Museum in his hometown of Birmingham in 2015.
After his draft stock skyrocketed thanks to a once-in-a-generation type of season, Ashton Jeanty is going pro.
The Boise State running back, fresh off of coming up just short of rewriting the record books, has announced that he will declare for the NFL Draft.
"The opportunity to play in the NFL is a dream of mine, and I'm proud to represent Boise State and all of those who have helped me along the way at the next level," Jeanty wrote in a social media post.
As a sophomore in 2023, Jeanty ran for 1,347 yards — this past season, he almost doubled that.
Jeanty ran for 2,601 yards, 28 shy of surpassing Barry Sanders for the most in a college season. His epic campaign, though, put him second on the all-time list, as he surpassed both Melvin Gordon and Kevin Smith during his lone College Football Playoff game against a stout Penn State defense.
Jeanty's performance propelled the Broncos to winning the Mountain West and earning a bye into the CFP quarterfinals. However, Jeanty ran for just 104 yards, his lowest of the season, as the Nittany Lions moved on to the semifinals. Entering the Fiesta Bowl, Jeanty had rushed for over 125 yards in each of his previous 13 games of the season.
The running back figures to be a first-round pick this season, and it's hard to see why he wouldn't be. The 2024 season saw a revitalization of the running back position, and Jeanty is without a doubt the best on the board this year.
It is rather rare to see running backs taken in the first round, although there were two such cases in 2023 — but again, with his skillset and how the position regained its value this year, some mock drafts Jeanty being picked in the teens.
Jeanty finished in second place in the Heisman Trophy voting, falling to Travis Hunter in the closest vote since 2009.
More than 13,000 buildings and 26,000 people are in the evacuation zone, which has been labeled "under immediate threat," according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Redick said members of his and his wife's family are among those that have evacuated.
The head coach offered his thoughts ahead of his team's game against the Mavericks in Dallas.
"I just want to acknowledge and send thoughts and prayers to everyone in the Palisades right now. That's where I live. Our family, my wife's family, my wife's twin sister, they've evacuated," Redick told the media on Tuesday. "I know a lot of people are freaking out right now, including my family. From the sound of things, I know a lot of people are scared. So I just want to acknowledge that. Thoughts and prayers for sure, and hope everybody stays safe."
Over 250 LAFD firefighters were battling the blaze, in addition to firefighters from neighboring agencies. Approximately 30 vehicles left abandoned on Sunset and Palisades will be moved by the county to provide clear access, the fire department said.
LA Mayor Karen Bass is currently out of town attending the inauguration of John Dramani Mahama in Accra, Ghana, according to a statement from the White House.
Los Angeles County Lifeguards said elevated fire weather conditions with dry offshore winds were expected to persist through Wednesday.
"Residents should remain prepared to evacuate and stay clear of the area to allow emergency responders to operate safely," the agency said.
Fox News' Alexandra Koch and Louis Casano contributed to this report.
Elon Musk has already made his mark on the political landscape — now he may be turning his eyes to the sports world.
The tech billionaire and notorious Trump ally is reportedly interested in buying the English Premier League soccer club Liverpool. Liverpool, nicknamed "The Reds" is one of the flagship teams in English soccer, having won 19 league titles, eight FA Cups, a record 10 League Cups and sixteen FA Community Shields.
In international competitions, Liverpool has won six European Cups, three UEFA Cups, four UEFA Super Cups — all English records — and one FIFA Club World Cup.
As of May 2024, Liverpool is valued at $5.37 billion, making it the fourth most valuable football team in the world, according to Forbes.
He also said: "I can’t comment on that. They’ll raise the price."
A spokesperson for Fenway Sports Group told The Associated Press there was "no truth to these rumors."
In September 2023, the group sold a minority stake to U.S. investment firm Dynasty Equity.
At that time, Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon said: "Our long-term commitment to Liverpool remains as strong as ever. We have always said that if there is an investment partner that is right for Liverpool then we would pursue the opportunity to help ensure the club’s long-term financial resiliency and future growth."
Errol Musk said they have relatives in Liverpool and that "we were fortunate enough to know quite a few of the Beatles because they grew up with us — my family."
Elon has gotten himself involved in British politics since the center-left Labour Party was elected in July. Musk has used his social network, X, to call for a new election.
Miami Dolphins star receiver Tyreek Hill made it pretty clear after Sunday’s loss to the New York Jets that he was ready to move on, but according to general manager Chris Grier, that wasn’t the case the following day.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Grier addressed Hill’s comments, adding that he and head coach Mike McDaniel met with the veteran wideout on Monday to discuss his postgame remarks and the fact that he appeared to leave the game early.
"I will say Mike and I both had conversations with Tyreek here yesterday, productive conversations. I will keep those between us," he said, according to the team’s transcript.
"The one thing I would say is in a frustrating season, he was very emotional in a game where we had a chance coming back from 2-6. I would say that’s probably the thing I’m most proud of the players and Mike and the coaching staff; that we were 2-6 and were playing Week 18 to potentially sneak in the playoffs. And I think all of that with him playing through his injury just kind of bubbled to a point and from our conversations – again, we’ll keep that private – but we had productive conversations."
Grier said that while Hill did not "backtrack" on his comments, he did not specifically request a trade.
"No, I would say, but he never asked for a trade with me."
The Dolphins’ slim chances of making the playoffs were taken away by a 30-22 loss to the already-eliminated Jets on Sunday. Hill was not available in the fourth quarter and after the game he indicated that he was ready to move on.
"This is the first time I haven’t been in the playoffs," he said. "For me, I have to do what’s best for me and my family, if that’s here or wherever the case may be. I’m (going to) open that door for myself. I’m opening the door.
"I’m out, bro. It was great playing here, but at the end of the day, I've got to do what's best for my career.... I'm too much of a competitor to be just out there."
McDaniel echoed Grier’s perspective of Monday’s meeting, adding that he also leveled with Hill over his decision to pull himself out of the game early.
"I was very direct with him. He was very honest and it was great terms that we were discussing. Discussed multiple things, including, without wavering, that it’s not acceptable to leave a game and won’t be tolerated in the future, and he embraced accountability."
Of their relationship, McDaniel added, "I wouldn’t say there’s anything necessarily to fix as much as we had to clear the air in a rough and tumultuous situation."
The racket hit the woman in the front row, and Norrie was assessed a warning.
The woman was not hurt and actually played it off quite well.
"[The fan] was laughing, and I just said, ‘So sorry, I didn’t mean to do that.’ And she said, ‘Yeah, I’m completely OK.’ That was not a big deal," Norrie said after the match. "But as we saw with some other players, you can easily be defaulted if it catches them in the wrong spot or they’re not looking or something."
The racket throw occurred while Norrie was trailing 6-2, 5-3. He would lose that game shortly afterward to drop the match.
"It is completely not me to do something like that. I apologized very quickly, and I want to apologize in general. I’m not happy with how I behaved," Norrie said.
The first-round exit for Norrie comes two years after he made the final in the tournament.
At the 2020 U.S. Open, with the stands empty due to COVID-19 restrictions, Novak Djokovic was disqualified after accidentally hitting a line judge with a ball. At the 2023 French Open, Miyu Kato and Aldila Sutjiadi were defaulted from the women's doubles after a ball hit by Kato struck a ball girl.
The Auckland tournament gives players one final warm-up before the Australian Open. The singles draw will be revealed on Thursday, with the first round beginning Sunday.
Scottie Scheffler withdrew from The American Express on Monday, missing his second consecutive tournament due to injury.
Scheffler, 28, underwent minor surgery to repair a glass puncture in his right hand suffered on Christmas.
The world’s No. 1 player was preparing for Christmas dinner when he hurt his hand, which forced him to miss the beginning of the PGA Tour season at The Sentry in Hawaii, a signature event.
"After consulting with my medical team, I have made the decision to withdraw from next week's American Express tournament to give my injury more time to heal," Scheffler said in an Instagram post.
Scheffler is hopeful of making his 2025 PGA Tour debut at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, a signature event that starts Jan. 30.
The star American golfer is coming off an historic season, where he won nine times worldwide.
Scheffler won seven PGA Tour titles, while winning The Masters for a second time in his career. He also represented the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and won a gold medal after a late surge.
With his strong showing in 2024, he became the first player since Tiger Woods to win PGA Tour player of the year in three consecutive seasons, since Woods did in 2005-2007.
Scheffler also became the first player since Woods in 2009 to hold the No. 1 ranking for an entire calendar year.
With Scheffler dominating the competition, he set a record for prize money won in one season. He won $25 million for winning the FedEx Cup, making his total prize money for the 2024 season over $54 million.
The American Express tournament is in Palm Desert, California, and is scheduled for Jan. 16-19.
Fox News’ Ryan Morik and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The man charged with killing NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, with his vehicle while they were biking pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, turning down the prosecution's offer of 35 years in prison.
Just one day before their sister's wedding, the Gaudreau brothers were riding bikes near their childhood home when they were struck and killed by a vehicle on Aug. 29, 2024.
Sean Higgins, 44, was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated manslaughter, two counts of vehicular homicide, evidence tampering and leaving the scene of an accident.
Police noted that Higgins had a blood alcohol level of .087, above New Jersey's legal limit to drive, and he failed a field sobriety test. Police also said Higgins was driving aggressively, which included speeding up to drive around multiple vehicles, when he hit the Gaudreaus.
Higgins' lawyers said in a statement in New Jersey court that they hope to prove the incident didn't occur due to "malfeasance" but instead "a combination of uniquely unfortunate circumstances unlikely to ever occur again."
It's not yet been determined when Higgins is due next in court, though a trial is upcoming.
Johnny spent 11 seasons in the NHL, tallying 743 points (243 goals, 500 assists) over nine seasons with the Calgary Flames and two with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Johnny was set to begin his third season in Columbus.
The Blue Jackets held a remembrance for Gaudreau in their home opener this season, raising a banner with members of the Gaudreau family attending the game and participating in a ceremonial puck drop.
The Flames followed suit but waited until the Blue Jackets were in town for their game in December for an emotional pregame ceremony that included members of the Gaudreau family as well.
Matthew was a Boston College standout during his four years with the program. He played for several teams after his college days were over, including the New York Islanders' AHL squad, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
A Dallas Cowboys cheerleader has shared the apology she received from kicker Brandon Aubrey after he drilled her in the back of the head with a ball during the first half of Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders.
Michelle Siemienowski was standing on the sidelines when Aubrey’s kick went out of bounds near the 10-yard line at AT&T Stadium.
Despite a cameraman’s attempts to deflect the ball, it hit Siemienowski in the back of the head, knocking her over.
She quickly stood up as her teammates checked on her. The broadcast caught Siemienowski smiling after the incident.
She took to social media Monday to share that she was "fine," and to thank everyone for checking in. She also shared with fans a note that Aubrey wrote to her apologizing.
"This past 24 hours has been a whirlwind! I got a ton of messages and I wanted to thank you all for checking in and for your kind words. I am all okay, so no need to worry," she wrote in a post on her Instagram Stories.
"Also… Thank you [Aubrey] for this apology note! I was told he wanted to come find me on the field after the incident, but unfortunately I kept moving around on the field. He was so kind to write me a note anyways! No hard feelings here! And now I have a souvenir for my last game of my rookie season!"
The note from Aubrey read, "Michelle, so sorry about hitting you on (kickoff)! Hope you are doing well! Love watching y’all!"
Despite Sunday’s loss to the Commanders and the mishap on kickoff, Aubrey set a record with 40 field goals this season to become just the fifth kicker in NFL history with at least 40 field goals.
Former Washington State head football coach Nick Rolovich lost his lawsuit against the university after he was fired for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine during the 2021 season.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Rice, who was appointed by President Barack Obama in June 2011, ruled Monday that Washington State could not accommodate Rolovich without undue hardship, including increased travel costs and hindered recruitment and fundraising efforts. The university also claimed damage to its reputation.
The university fired Rolovich, along with four assistant coaches, in October 2021 for refusing to comply with a mandate that required all state employees to be vaccinated. Rolovich filed his lawsuit soon after, claiming the university made an illegal termination in part because of "discriminatory and vindictive behavior" by athletic director Pat Chun.
Rolovich claimed that, as a Catholic, he was exempted from the state's vaccine mandate, but his exemption request had been denied.
However, Rice found no basis for Rolovich's objection to the vaccine on religious grounds.
"[Rolovich] frequently expressed secular concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine to friends, family members and coworkers," Rice wrote. "In the thousands of pages of discovery, Plaintiff does not invoke a religious objection to the vaccine. This alone is a basis for denying Plaintiff's claimed religious objection."
After his firing, many of Rolovich's players spoke out in support of their head coach and the impact he had on their lives.
Former Washington State player and current Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson released an emotional statement in support of Rolovich shortly after the coach's firing in October 2021.
"This man changed my life in so many ways.. A real stand up dude that always stands on what he believes in heart was so pure and a true role model to me and my teammates. Was always bigger than a dollar sign which is the only thing you wrap your fingers around," Watson wrote on X (then known as Twitter). "Everyone bashes this man day in and day out like he is not human or has feelings. Forcing him to have no friends all he had was us and all we had was him."
Former Washington State punter Nick Haberer spoke about the transformative impact Rolovich had on his life that same month.
"Crazy to think that a year ago I was back in Australia not knowing what to do with my life and Coach Rolo took a chance on me. He was my Coach, my mate and most importantly my mentor and taught me valuable life lessons that will always be with me!" Haberer wrote on X.
During a November 2022 episode of "The Jason Rantz Show," Rolovich alleged that around the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021, the Washington State athletic director suggested he receive a COVID-19 vaccine in front of the entire football team.
"The AD said, 'Hey, let’s put you on the 50-yard line, we’ll have the team all around you and the doctor will give you the vaccine in front of everybody,'" Rolovich said.
"I said, ‘Absolutely not. I have no desire to do that.’ I wasn't going to make it a circus."
Meanwhile, Rice previously made a ruling that made abortion medication more accessible. In April 2023, Rice ordered U.S. authorities not to make any changes that would restrict access to the abortion medication mifepristone in 17 Democrat-led states that sued over the issue.
While the states sued in an effort to expand access to the pill, Rice did not go that far. Instead, he blocked the FDA from making any changes to the drug’s access in the states that sued.
California State Assemblymember Kate Sanchez announced on Monday that she is introducing a bill to ban trans athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports.
Sanchez will propose the Protect Girls’ Sports Act to the state legislature. Currently, 25 states have similar laws in effect. But California has had a state law in effect since 2014 that has enabled trans athletes to participate in women's and girls' sports, and it even requires public institutions to protect trans athletes at the expense of biological female competitors.
"Young women who have spent years training and sacrificing to compete at the highest level are now forced to compete against individuals with undeniable biological advantages. It’s not just unfair – it’s disheartening and dangerous," Sanchez said in a statement announcing the bill.
California's law, AB 1266, which has been in effect since 2014, gives California students at scholastic and collegiate levels the right to "participate in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, and use facilities consistent with his or her gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil’s records."
California's Code of Regulations section 4910(k) defines gender as: "A person’s actual sex or perceived sex and includes a person’s perceived identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that identity, appearance, or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with a person’s sex at birth."
California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Bylaw 300.D. mirrors the Education Code, stating, "All students should have the opportunity to participate in CIF activities in a manner that is consistent with their gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on a student’s records."
These current laws in the Golden Start have resulted in multiple scandals and national controversies involving trans athletes in women's sports in 2024 alone.
Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, California, is currently embroiled in one of the most contentious local controversies on the issue.
A recent school board meeting by the Riverside Unified School District on Dec. 19 featured a parade of parents berating the board for allowing a trans athlete on the Martin Luther King girls' cross-country team. A lawsuit filed by two girls on the team alleges that their T-shirts in protest of that player were compared to swastikas simply because they say "Save Girls Sports."
The father of a girl who lost her varsity spot to the trans athlete recently told Fox News Digital that his daughter and other girls at the school were told "transgenders have more rights than cisgender[s]" by school administrators when they protested the athlete's participation.
Stone Ridge Christian High School's girls' volleyball team was scheduled to face San Francisco Waldorf in the Northern California Division 6 tournament but forfeited in an announcement just before the match over the presence of a trans athlete on the team.
A transgender volleyball player was booed and harassed at an Oct. 12 match between Notre Dame Belmont in Belmont, California, against Half Moon Bay High School, according to ABC 7. Half Moon Bay rostered the transgender athlete.
At the college level, San Jose State university's volleyball team was hampered by, arguably, the biggest scandal involving transgenderism in women's sports in recent history in 2024.
SJSU co-captain Brooke Slusser is engaged in multiple lawsuits against the university, the Mountain West conference and the NCAA, alleging the school had her share a team, changing spaces and even bedrooms with teammate Blaire Fleming without ever informing her or other players that Fleming was a biological male.
The team was the target of national attention this past season amid the controversy, as President-elect Trump even called out Fleming for how hard the trans athlete spiked the ball at an opposing player during a Fox News town hall event in October.
The team saw eight matches forfeited amid the scandal, including the semifinal round of the Mountain West Tournament after Boise State refused to face the Spartans for the third time. Slusser, Fleming and the rest of the team all ended up playing in the championship game, where they lost to Colorado State to end their season and the two players' respective college careers.
Slusser has told Fox News Digital that the entire experience involving Fleming was "traumatizing."
"This season has been so traumatizing that I don't even have a proudest moment," Slusser said.
Trump has pledged to instill a full-on ban on trans athletes in women's sports to the near unanimous support of Republican allies.
The new Republican-controlled Congress will hear arguments on a bill that would prohibit transgender athletes from competing in women's sports in its first 100 days after voting yes on a new rules package Friday.
Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., celebrated Friday's vote and will reintroduce the bill included in the rules package, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., told Fox News Digital he is also reintroducing that measure in the Senate, and with the approval of leadership, it's expected to get a floor vote.
The Tennessee Titans earlier Tuesday fired their general manager roughly three months before the team is slated to make the top pick in the NFL Draft.
The organization announced that Ran Carthon was relieved of his duties following a 3-14 campaign despite the team going on a free-agent shopping spree in the previous offseason.
With Tennessee owning the No. 1 pick in the draft, the move certainly caught the eye of Deion Sanders, whose son, Shedeur, is very much in the conversation to be the first name off the board.
Sanders took to X when he saw the news, simply writing, "WOW" with eyeball emojis.
Shedeur or Cam Ward figure to be the top selection, as the Titans seem to be in the quarterback market. They drafted Will Levis early in the second round of the 2023 draft, but it's been a roller-coaster for the Kentucky alum. However, franchise legend Chris Johnson did say the team would be "absolute fools" if they did not take Shedeur's teammate, Travis Hunter.
Titans team owner Amy Adams Strunk informed Carthon that the team would be making a change on Tuesday morning.
"I've loved the time I've spent with Ran. He's a talented football mind, a great man, and friend to everyone along his path. It's impossible to ignore that our football team hasn't improved over the past two years. I am deeply disappointed in our poor win-loss record during this period, of course, but my decision also speaks to my concern about our long-term future should we stay the course," Strunk said in a statement.
"I love this team more than you can imagine. To our fans: we know this level of performance isn't acceptable. We're humbled by your support as we continue to work towards building the team you expect and deserve."
Despite the firing of Carthon, head coach Brian Callahan will return next season.
The Cleveland Browns and New York Giants pick second and third overall, respectively, and while the Browns seem to be a wild card with Deshaun Watson still around, the G-Men desperately need to find their franchise quarterback. The question for them, though, is, will one be around by the time they are on the clock.
Fox News' Ryan Canfield contributed to this report.
"Knuckles" seems to be pairing up with "Sonic" right away in the NFL playoffs.
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell told reporters on Tuesday that he expects David Montgomery to be available in the backfield for the team’s divisional round playoff game.
The Lions get a bye as the No. 1 seed in the NFC and will host the lowest seed of wild-card round winners. Those teams would either be the Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, Washington Commanders or Green Bay Packers.
This is a huge development for the Lions, a team ravaged by injuries all season long, as Montgomery suffered an MCL injury in Week 15.
There was an initial fear that he would be out the remainder of the season, which would’ve been a crushing blow for the squad, even with the talent Jahmyr Gibbs possesses at the position.
But Montgomery didn’t take surgery as the only option, seeking different opinions from doctors on how he could rehab his knee and be available for his team in the playoffs. That decision appears to have worked.
While Montgomery has been rehabbing, Gibbs has been thriving with the heavier workload, which includes a four-touchdown game that clinched the No. 1 seed in Week 18 against the Vikings.
Gibbs has tallied three straight 100-plus rushing yard games since becoming the true lead running back. He has totaled 365 yards on the ground on 64 carries while hauling in 13 passes for 122 yards with a score.
But the Lions’ offense has benefited from using both Montgomery and Gibbs this season, with the former owning 775 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns while also having 341 receiving yards.
Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson’s luxury of having two bruising running backs that can get the job done no matter the down and distance has done wonders for his scheme, which also features a dynamic passing game led by quarterback Jared Goff.
While the Lions will still be without key players, including star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who fractured his leg in Week 6 and is considered a long shot to be available at all the rest of the way, they’ll take all the healthy players they can get, especially one who has had such an offensive impact.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell is entirely focused on his wild-card round matchup against the Los Angeles Rams this week, but he did respond to a surprising report that revolves around him.
During "Fox NFL Sunday," Jay Glazer reported that multiple teams are interested in trading for O'Connell, one of the league's "Coach of the Year" frontrunners, heading into this offseason.
It's rare, but yes, teams can trade for coaches, and the offensive-minded O'Connell is someone that is piquing the interest of teams in need of filling that void in their organization.
However, when asked on Monday about the report, O'Connell expressed his desire to stay put in Minneapolis.
"I’m not really interested in kind of, I guess I should say, addressing the rumors or speculation," O’Connell told reporters, via the New York Post. "What I can tell you is I love this team. I love everything about this organization. This is where I want to be. This is where I want to keep coaching and leading."
While O'Connell clearly has a preference of where he wants to be, the Wilf family, owners of the Vikings, have "no interest" in trading their head coach, according to ESPN.
O'Connell's priority is handling the Rams this upcoming Monday, a team that handed the Vikings one of their three losses this season. Los Angeles took care of business on their home turf in a 30-20 win over Minnesota in Week 8.
O'Connell is also looking to win his first playoff game with the Vikings, as that didn't happen in 2022 when his squad went 13-4 but lost to the New York Giants in the wild-card round.
A 7-10 season, which included Kirk Cousins tearing his Achilles midway through, followed in 2023 before O'Connell's squad bounced back under Sam Darnold's leadership on offense.
This matchup against Rams head coach Sean McVay is a familiar one considering O'Connell was Los Angeles' offensive coordinator before being hired by Minnesota.
The Vikings open up the weekend as slight favorites against the Rams, but a battle between two teams and two coaches who know each other very well is expected to be a thriller.
And until the Vikings' Super Bowl run comes to an end, O'Connell's sole focus will be on the team he wants to remain with either way.
The Las Vegas Raiders will be searching for another head coach this offseason, as they have reportedly let Antonio Pierce go after one full season, the team confirmed in a statement.
Pierce was retained as the team's full-time head coach after taking over in an interim role for Josh McDaniels, who was fired midway through the 2023 campaign.
Raiders players showed more fight when he took over, and owner Mark Davis took that into account when conducting his head coaching search last offseason.
However, after going 4-13 in a tumultuous season, the Raiders will be back on the hunt to find the right coach to continue the team's rebuild.
"The Las Vegas Raiders have relieved Antonio Pierce of his duties as head coach," the Raiders' statement read. "We appreciate Antonio's leadership, first as an interim head coach and this past season as the head coach.
"Antonio grew up a Raiders fan and his Silver and Black roots run deep. We are grateful for his ability to reignite what it means to be a Raider throughout the entire organization. We wish nothing but the best for Antonio and his family."
Pierce spoke with reporters on Monday after the regular season came to an end, saying he hadn’t "heard anything different" about his status. He said his focus would be on improving as a head coach.
"What I need to do a better job of, I need to go with my gut," Pierce said. "I was better at that last year. This year I didn't do what I wanted to do as much as I wanted to do it."
The Raiders have been a revolving door at head coach in recent seasons, with Jon Gruden resigning in 2021, followed by McDaniels getting fired after a season and a half.
Now, Pierce, who players like Maxx Crosby and Davante Adams (who was traded this past season to the New York Jets) gave the thumbs up to, will search for his next coaching opportunity.
Las Vegas joins a head coaching search with teams like the Chicago Bears, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots, who have already placed numerous requests for interviews to get the ball rolling on that front.
Top candidates that have been named are Detroit Lions OC Ben Johnson and DC Aaron Glenn, Pittsburgh Steelers OC Arthur Smith, former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel and Tampa Bay Buccaneers OC Liam Coen.
Pierce's coaching journey began in high school at Long Beach Poly (CA) before making the jump to college with Arizona State in 2018 as a linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator. He would work his way up to defensive coordinator and associate head coach with the Sun Devils before returning to the NFL to the Raiders.
Pierce, a Super Bowl champion linebacker in his playing days with the New York Giants, was the Raiders' linebackers coach in 2022 and held the same position before serving in his interim head coach role in 2023.
While most fans may not agree with the New York Giants’ decision to stick with head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen following another disappointing season, the announcement was met with praise by one of the organization’s greats.
Former quarterback Eli Manning said in an interview with USA Today on Monday that Giants co-owner John Mara made "the right decision" in maintaining the organization’s leadership despite the 3-14 record because he believes the vicious coaching cycle can often work against a team.
"You've got to have that continuity," Manning said. "To change things up has not worked. It has not worked for the Giants these last 10 years of changing every two or three years.
"I think Brian Daboll has showed that he has won, two years ago in the playoffs. So I think the opportunity for them to go in, they've got to figure out the quarterback situation this year, but they have talent," he continued.
"They have guys around that are playing at a high level. It's just building that great team culture. That just takes time, and I think it's the right move to give him that time to do that."
Mara released a statement Monday acknowledging that the season was "disappointing," but added that he remains "confident" in Schoen and Daboll.
"Now that our season is over, we felt it necessary to make this statement. Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll will continue in their respective roles with the organization. As disappointing as the results of the season have been, Steve (Tisch) and I remain confident in the process that Joe and Brian have implemented and their vision for our team. We look forward to the future and achieving the results we all desire."
Speaking to reporters from the practice facility on Monday, Mara expressed his desire for the two to turn things around quickly.
"It better not take too long," he said, "because I’ve just about run out of patience."
There was little that went right for the Giants this season which was highlighted by their struggles with the quarterback position. After releasing Daniel Jones and failing to find consistency in their current quarterback room, Mara said it will be their top priority in the offseason.
"That's obviously the number one issue for us going into this offseason, is to find our quarterback of the future," he said. "Whether that be via the draft or acquiring a veteran, it's going to be up to [Schoen and Daboll] to decide, ultimately."
The Tennessee Titans secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after a loss in Week 18. However, general manager Ran Carthon will not be making that selection.
The team announced on Tuesday that, after two seasons, they have parted ways with Carthon.
The Titans were 3-14 this season, and 9-25 over the past two years with Carthon at the helm.
Titans team owner Amy Adams Strunk informed Carthon that the team would be making a change on Tuesday morning.
"I've loved the time I've spent with Ran. He's a talented football mind, a great man, and friend to everyone along his path. It's impossible to ignore that our football team hasn't improved over the past two years. I am deeply disappointed in our poor win-loss record during this period, of course, but my decision also speaks to my concern about our long-term future should we stay the course," Strunk said in a statement.
"I love this team more than you can imagine. To our fans: we know this level of performance isn't acceptable. We're humbled by your support as we continue to work towards building the team you expect and deserve."
Despite the firing of Carthon, head coach Brian Callahan will return next season.
President of Football Operations Chad Brinker will lead the search for their new general manager.
In the Titans statement, Brinker listed what he will be looking for.
"I think the general manager position is unique to their respective organizations. This particular job, what we'll be looking for is someone who has spent their career as a scout, is a top-flight, top-level evaluator who has spent the majority of their career projecting college players to the National Football League, they've had a major hand in setting the draft board in preferably a consistent, winning organization, and you can see their fingerprints all over the roster," Brinker said.
"It is someone who wakes up every single day and the only thing they think about is building a roster, evaluating players, watching tape, working with the coaching staff. And, not just someone who knows how to collect talent, but someone who really understands how to build a team and how all the pieces fit together that I can work with not only in the short term, winning today, but building for the future, the long term, and understanding how all those pieces fit together. If you make a decision here, how it impacts a decision down the road, and really understand the full puzzle.
"At the end of the day, this person is going to be all ball, all day. They are going to focus on the roster and the coaching staff, and I'll continue in my role with handling all the other areas that surround the center of our program, scouting and coaches. So, I will support that person. But we are looking for a general manager who wakes up every day and is focused on building the team."
Whoever the new general manager is, they are armed with the top pick in the draft, and a little over $61 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap.
The big question for their new general manager is what they want to do at the quarterback position, after second-year quarterback Will Levis struggled this season.
