Minnesota Vikings first round pick J.J. McCarthy posted a cryptic message on social media after the Minnesota Vikings suffered a crushing defeat to the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round on Monday night.
The post comes amid speculation about Sam Darnold’s future in Minnesota.
The Vikings went 14-3 during the regular season with Darnold at the helm. He had seemingly resurrected his career after a tumultuous start with the New York Jets and several backup roles following.
Battling for the top seed in the NFC, the Vikings were blown out by the Detroit Lions in Week 18. Darnold completed just 19 of 41 for 166 yards and no touchdowns. He was also sacked twice. Fast-forward to Monday night, and the former first round draft pick didn’t show any signs of improvement.
He finished the 27-9 loss going 25 of 39 for 245 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He was also sacked nine times.
"I clearly didn't play well enough the past couple weeks," Darnold said after the game.
But more interesting than Darnold’s postgame admission were the comments made by backup quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
The former Michigan quarterback, who won a national championship before being drafted by the Vikings with the No. 10 overall pick, posted a cryptic message on X after Minnesota’s loss.
"Amor fati," he wrote.
The Latin phrase, meaning "love of fate," refers to the mindset applied to how someone views life, in both the good and bad.
The post, which went viral on social media, could have several meanings for McCarthy.
He missed his entire rookie season due to injury and could return for the 2025 season as the Vikings’ new starter as Darnold becomes a free agent following back-to-back losses to end the year.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed its first bill of the 119th Congress on Tuesday, voting in favor of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.
Every Republican representative voted in favor of the bill, but only two Democrats, Reps. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, and Vicente Gonzales, D-Texas, voted to pass it. The remaining 206 House Democrats all voted against. Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C., voted "present."
After the bill was passed, Republican congressional representatives and women's rights advocates condemned the Democrats who voted against it in a press conference on Capitol Hill.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said it was "shameful" that only two Democrats voted to pass the bill.
"We had two Democrats join us, but it's shameful, there should be many, many more. In fact, I argue that every member of this body voted for common sense and to protect women. But for some reason, for politics I guess, they chose not to," Johnson said.
"The American people sent a clear message in November, they want us to return to common sense, but it seems that some of our friends in the other party are ignoring that plea."
Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines, a prominent advocate for women athletes' rights who leads a lawsuit against the NCAA for its stance in allowing trans athletes to compete as women, also lambasted the 206 Democrats who voted against the bill.
Gaines took aim at the Democrats who argued against the new law on the basis that it would result in young girls being examined for sports eligibility.
"We heard of things like genital exams, we heard that girls would be asked to show what's in their underwear, we heard that they would have to show internal and external anatomy, inspections, Taliban-like enforcers, hire predators to peak at enforcers on and on and on, weird fearmongering about predators, but that's what Democrats do best," Gaines said.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., sent a post on Bluesky criticizing the legislation on Tuesday, making unsubstantiated claims that the law would "unleash horrific child predators on girls and young women."
Jeffries' office has not offered a substantial explanation as to how the law would do this. When asked for comment by Fox News Digital, a spokesperson only said, "The post speaks for itself."
Gaines also criticized those who said the bill was "a waste of time."-
"I heard that this bill is a waste of time, and let me tell you the message I received when I heard that, it's that I am a waste of time. Girls around the country, just like me, are a waste of time. Your daughters are a waste of time to all House Democrats except for two."
Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., who re-introduced the bill in the House after a failed attempt to pass it in 2023, pointed out Democrats' track record of enabling and celebrating trans inclusion in women's sports.
"The Democrats have, for years, tried to allow biological [men] to compete in our nation's women's collegiate activities," Steube said.
"It's absolutely absurd that we actually have to pass a bill that says only women can be in women's sports!"
The Biden administration, alongside other Democrats, has taken sweeping actions over the last four years to enable trans athletes in women's and girls' sports.
On Jan. 20, 2021, just hours after President Biden assumed office, he issued an executive order on "Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation."
This order included a section that read, "Children should be able to learn without worrying about whether they will be denied access to the restroom, the locker room, or school sports."
Biden issued a sweeping rule that clarified that Title IX’s ban on "sex" discrimination in schools covers discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation and "pregnancy or related conditions," in April. The administration insisted the regulation does not address athletic eligibility. However, multiple experts presented evidence to Fox News Digital in June that it would ultimately put more biological men in women's sports.
Democrats have proposed other federal legislation that would allow for more transgender inclusion in women's sports. These include the Equality Act, which was proposed in 2019 and has seen revisions that "would force public schools to allow biologically male athletes who identify as transgender on girls’ sports teams."
In March 2023, Democrats advocated for a transgender bill of rights, proposing a resolution "recognizing that it is the duty of the Federal Government to develop and implement a Transgender Bill of Rights." The resolution specifically called for federal law to ensure that biological men can "participate in sports on teams and in programs that best align with their gender identity; [and] use school facilities that best align with their gender identity."
However, those stances appeared to backfire in the November election, as Trump and Republicans pounded Democratic opponents with TV advertisements about their support for trans inclusion.
A national exit poll conducted by the Concerned Women for America (CW) 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. And 6% said it was the most important issue of all, while 44% said it was "very important."
"This was an opportunity to turn a new leaf, leave party politics behind to finally prioritize people over Washington politics. But unfortunately, it remained nearly a complete party vote, with only two Democrats willing to affirm and protect Title IX’s protections," CWA legislative strategist Macy Petty told Fox News Digital.
"This vote was not about some complicated policy issue, but a self-evident truth that civilization has recognized since Creation. When abandoned, as we’ve witnessed, women and girls face devastating consequences that require moral clarity to correct. And that’s been harder and harder to come by here in Washington."
The Dallas Cowboys' search for the franchise's next head coach is underway.
On Monday, longtime Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones confirmed that the organization and coach Mike McCarthy mutually agreed to part ways.
"Prior to reaching the point of contract negotiations, though, it became mutually clear that it would be better for each of us to head in a different direction. I thank Mike and wish him, his wife Jessica and their family the best. They have been a wonderful part of our community here," Jones said in a statement.
After news of McCarthy's departure surfaced, speculation about his possible replacement ensued. During pregame coverage of Monday's wild-card round game between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings, ESPN reported that a former Cowboys star tight end was under consideration for the head coaching position.
"They can and will conduct a search here to try and find the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys," Adam Schefter said during ESPN's "Monday Night Countdown" broadcast.
"Obviously it’s new, it’s just beginning. We’ll see what that brings them. A lot of names floating around out there. I think at some point in time they could have some level in the Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Potentially even Jason Witten, an all-time franchise great. But this is very early on. Very preliminary. And we’ll see ultimately where Jerry Jones goes with his search. But the Cowboys are in the market for a new head coach."
Witten was drafted by the Cowboys in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He spent all but one of his NFL seasons with the franchise. Witten initially retired after the 2017 season, and spent some time in the ESPN broadcast booth. But he ultimately returned to the Cowboys in 2019.
He remains the franchise's all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards. Witten last appeared in an NFL game with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020.
Since parting ways with McCarthy, another former Cowboys star player has also been linked to the coaching vacancy – Deion Sanders.
Sanders, who won a Super Bowl with the Cowboys during his five-year stint with the franchise, is currently the head football coach at Colorado.
If Sanders does ultimately land in the Dallas-Forth Worth Metroplex, his arrival would fall in line with one of Jones' recent coaching hires. Jason Garrett was the Cowboys' head coach from 2010-19. He was primarily Troy Aikman's backup quarterback from 1993-99.
The Cowboys are looking to reset after finishing this past regular season with a 7-10 record. Starting quarterback Dak Prescott missed the final nine games due to a hamstring injury.
McCarthy went 84-49 over five seasons as the Cowboys' head coach, including three consecutive 12-5 seasons.
Despite the regular season success, McCarthy only had one playoff win over his five years with Dallas.
The Cowboys went 7-10 last season despite many key players missing significant time with injuries, including Prescott.
Prescott spoke in December about his belief in McCarthy.
"Your coach seems like he's playing on his last contract and [I’m] almost feeling helpless like I can’t help him in this situation, especially a guy you believe in so much and you believe in being your head coach," Prescott told Yahoo Sports. "Control what I can control, help and support Mike to every extent that I can."
Prescott only played in eight games due to season-ending surgery on his hamstring.
"I believe in him wholeheartedly. I don't want to necessarily get into the nuts and the screws of it all obviously, but I think he definitely deserves a chance – another contract and a chance to coach this team among more influence. ‘On his terms’ may be a good way to say it," Prescott said.
In Jerry Jones’ statement about not bringing McCarthy back, he talked about how complimentary he was of McCarthy.
"Throughout Mike McCarthy’s tenure here, including the last several weeks, I have been very complimentary of the job he has done," the statement read.
Jones cited a joint review that led to the team parting ways with McCarthy.
"Over the past week, Mike and I had the opportunity to conduct a joint review of all aspects of the past season, our players and staff, and also spent considerable time discussing the road forward for the team."
"Prior to reaching the point of contact negotiations, though, it became mutually clear that it would be better for each of us to head in a different direction."
Once the Cowboys hire a new head coach, Prescott will be entering his 10th season with the third head coach of his career.
Top-ranked tennis pro Daniil Medvedev destroyed a camera and his tennis racket as he faced what could have been a monumental upset in the Australian Open by a wild-card entry ranked 418th in the first round of the Grand Slam tournament on Tuesday.
Medvedev’s outburst came during the third set when he lost a 13-stroke back-and-forth with Thailand’s Kasidit Samrej to fall behind 40-15. With Medvedev up at the net, Samrej’s shot clipped the net to go beyond Medvedev’s reach in a direction he clearly could not have anticipated.
Then Medvedev, a three-time Australian Open finalist, unleashed his anger on the net, smashing his racket several times.
In the process, Medvedev destroyed his racket and a camera that was situated directly in his path of destruction.
Staff quickly rushed to replace the broken camera and clean up the debris on the court. Medvedev was given a code violation warning for racket abuse from the chair umpire.
Medvedev dropped the set to trail 2-1, and it looked as though the No. 5 ranked player would face elimination. But Medvedev quickly turned things around to win the following two sets 6-1, 6-2, and advanced to the second round.
"In the end of last year, this match, I probably would have lost it," Medvedev said after the match. "New year, new energy."
Medvedev is hoping to start out the 2025 season with a win in Melbourne. A three-time finalist, including in last year’s tournament, Medvedev has never won the Australian Open. His biggest challenger will be Novak Djokovic, who has won the most Australian Open titles than any other men’s player with 10.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., sent a post on Bluesky criticizing the proposed Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act on Tuesday, making unsubstantiated claims that the law would "unleash horrific child predators on girls and young women."
"The House Republican Child Predator Empowerment Act does not promote fairness and safety in sports. It will unleash horrific child predators on girls and young women throughout America. Unacceptable," Jeffries wrote.
Jeffries' office has not offered a substantial explanation as to how the law would do this when asked for comment by Fox News Digital.
"The post speaks for itself," a spokesperson from Jeffries' office told Fox News Digital when asked for an elaboration of the comments.
The proposed Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act has been re-introduced in the Senate by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and by Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., in the House, where it will be voted on Tuesday.
This bill generally aims to prohibit school athletic programs from allowing individuals whose biological sex at birth was male to participate in programs that are for women or girls.
Specifically, the bill provides that it is a violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 for federally funded education programs or activities to operate, sponsor, or facilitate athletic programs or activities that allow individuals of the male sex to participate in programs or activities that are designated for women or girls.
Under the bill,sex is based on an individual's reproductive biology and genetics at birth.
The bill is only one page long, and clarifies that it will not be a violation for "males to train or practice with an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls so long as no female is deprived of a roster spot on a team or sport, opportunity to participate in a practice or competition, scholarship, admission to an educational institution, or any other benefit that accompanies participating in the athletic program or activity."
Currently, 25 states already have their own similar statewide laws to prevent trans athletes from competing against girls and women.
Jeffries is not the only prominent Democrat to brand the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act as the Child Predator Empowerment Act.
Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., spoke out against the bill during a press conference on Tuesday. Aguilar suggested that the fact that the bill doesn't establish an age limit for girls' sports could "lead to inspections and individuals raising concerns."
"What is most offensive about the legislation is that it doesn't distinguish girls' sports at what age. It doesn't distinguish whether you want an Olympic athlete, an NCAA player, high school sports player regulated by your state, or whether you're just playing soccer as a 4-year-old or 5-year-old down the street," Aguilar said.
"It potentially could lead to inspections and individuals raising concerns. And how you proceed with that is something that is concerning to the House Democratic Caucus. And so that's why, you know, we felt that this is the GOP child predator empowerment act."
Jeffries and Aguilar have each previously co-sponsored a piece of legislation that would allow trans athletes to compete in women's and girls' sports – The Equality Act.
That bill would "amend Federal education laws to ensure that they protect students from discrimination based on sex, including gender identity and sex characteristics, and guarantee students’ right to participate in sports on teams and in programs that best align with their gender identity."
However, the Democrats' push to enable trans inclusion in women's sports became a party-wide vulnerability in the recent election cycle.
A national exit poll conducted by the CWA 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.
And 6% said it was the most important issue of all, while 44% said it was "very important."
In June, a survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago asked respondents to weigh in on whether transgender athletes of both sexes should be permitted to participate in sports leagues that correspond to their preferred gender identity instead of their biological sex.
Sixty-five percent answered that it should either be never or rarely allowed. When those polled were asked specifically about adult transgender female athletes competing on women’s sports teams, 69% opposed it.
Multiple Democrats have publicly pulled back on their support for trans inclusion, including Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, and Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y.
Biden's Education Department was even forced to withdraw a proposed rule that would outlaw states from banning trans inclusion in December.
Tim Tebow and his wife Demi-Leigh Tebow announced on Tuesday they are expecting their first child.
The Tebows shared a video on social media announcing their child. Demi-Leigh dressed in white as Tim showed off the ultrasound photos of their impending child. The couple was extremely happy in the clip and appeared ready to start the next chapter of their lives.
"We are just so excited and so over the moon to be having a baby together," Demi-Leigh told People magazine in an interview published Tuesday.
"I'm so grateful because I just couldn't imagine a better life partner to do life with first and foremost," she added. "To be able to raise a little tiny human being together. I'm so grateful that Tim is my husband... that we get to do parenting together."
She told People she is 16 weeks pregnant.
The two added that it was "surreal" to think about becoming parents. They each spoke glowingly of one another when talking about why their partner would become great parents.
"She will be extremely loyal and loving. Demi is someone that is extremely determined," he said. "When she sets her mind to something, she goes all the way in — and I know that she will do that as a mom, too."
Demi-Leigh called her husband "extremely gracious" and "one of the most thoughtful people."
"I just think that he's one of the wisest people I have met — and I know that's a bold statement to make, but I truly believe it. Just in the way that he approaches every single day," she said.
The former NFL star married the former Miss Universe in 2020 after being engaged for three years.
Bettman said in addition to players competing in the 2026 Olympics, they will play in a World Cup in 2028, go back to the Olympics in 2030, and then two years after that, have another World Cup to set the cycle of international play.
Bettman called the 4 Nations Face-Off an "appetizer" for what looks to be a packed international slate for the sport of hockey in the coming years.
The tournament will be the first time since 2016 that NHL players were in a best-on-best international tournament. It was the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, and there were eight teams in that tournament.
Because of the 4 Nations Face-Off, there will not be an All-Star Game this season.
Here is what you need to know about the upcoming tournament.
The tournament is a round-robin tournament, and each team will play three games.
For each regulation win, the winning team will receive three points. For each overtime or shootout win, the team will receive two points.
For each overtime or shootout loss, the team will receive one point. For a regulation loss, the team will not be awarded a point.
Overtime is a 10-minute, 3-on-3 sudden death period. If the overtime is scoreless, the game will be decided by a three-round shootout.
The top two teams will play in a winner-take-all final.
If overtime is needed in the championship game, it will be traditional 5-on-5 hockey with consecutive 20-minute periods, like how overtime works in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The tournament will be held in North America, with games being held at the Bell Centre in Montreal and the TD Garden in Boston.
There are two practice days, on February 10 and 11, and then the games begin.
There are four games being played at the Bell Centre, and three at the TD Garden.
Here are the games being played at the Bell Centre:
Saturday, Feb. 15, is a doubleheader at the Bell Centre. Finland plays Sweden at 1 p.m. ET, while Sweden will play the United States at 8 p.m. ET
The TD Garden will also host a doubleheader. On Monday, Feb. 17, Canada will play Finland at 1 p.m. ET, while Sweden will play the United States at 8 p.m. ET.
The championship game is on Thursday, Feb. 20, at 8 p.m. ET.
Each roster will consist of 13 forwards, seven defensemen and three goalies.
Forwards (listed alphabetically by last name):
Sam Bennett, Florida Panthers Anthony Cirelli, Tampa Bay Lightning Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins Brandon Hagel, Tampa Bay Lightning Seth Jarvis, Carolina Hurricanes Travis Konecny, Philadelphia Flyers Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights
Defensemen:
Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets Colton Parayko, St. Louis Blues Alex Pietrangelo, Vegas Golden Knights Travis Sanheim, Philadelphia Flyers Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights Devon Toews, Colorado Avalanche
Goalies:
Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues Adin Hill, Vegas Golden Knights Sam Montembeault, Montreal Canadiens
Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay Lightning Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils Chris Kreider, New York Rangers Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs J.T. Miller, Vancouver Canucks Brock Nelson, New York Islanders Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers Vincent Trocheck, New York Rangers
Defensemen:
Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild Adam Fox, New York Rangers Noah Hanifin, Vegas Golden Knights Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
Goalies:
Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins
Forwards:
Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes Joel Armia, Montreal Canadiens Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers Mikael Granlund, San Jose Sharks Erik Haula, New Jersey Devils Roope Hintz, Dallas Stars Kaapo Kakko, Seattle Kraken Patrik Laine, Montreal Canadiens Artturi Lehkonen, Colorado Avalanche Anton Lundell, Florida Panthers Eetu Luostarinen, Florida Panthers Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche Teuvo Teravainen, Chicago Blackhawks
Defensemen: Jani Hakanpaa, Toronto Maple Leafs Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars Esa Lindell, Dallas Stars Olli Maatta, Utah Hockey Club Niko Mikkola, Florida Panthers Rasmus Ristolainen, Philadelphia Flyers Juuso Valimaki, Utah Hockey Club
Goalies: Kevin Lankinen, Vancouver Canucks Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Buffalo Sabres Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators
Forwards: Viktor Arvidsson, Edmonton Oilers Jesper Bratt, New Jersey Devils Leo Carlsson, Anaheim Ducks Joel Eriksson Ek, Minnesota Wild Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators William Karlsson, Vegas Golden Knights Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings Elias Lindholm, Boston Bruins William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs Gustav Nyquist, Nashville Predators Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings Mika Zibanejad, New York Rangers
Defensemen: Rasmus Andersson, Calgary Flames Jonas Brodin, Minnesota Wild Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres Mattias Ekholm, Edmonton Oilers Gustav Forsling, Florida Panthers Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh Penguins
Goalies: Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota Wild Jacob Markstrom, New Jersey Devils Linus Ullmark, Ottawa Senators
There was only really one way for Miami Heat veteran Kevin Love to describe the team’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night.
Miami led Los Angeles 48-43 at the half and then allowed 66 points in the second half to eventually lose 109-98. The loss snapped Miami’s three-game winning streak. The team had a three-game losing streak before that.
Love played 15 minutes and scored nine points and grabbed three rebounds. He used OnlyFans model Bonnie Blue to describe the team’s performance. He posted a photo of her holding a sign with the number 1,000 on it.
For Blue, it signified how many men she slept with. For Love, it described the Heat’s defense.
"When someone asks me how f---ed our 2nd half was last night…" he captioned the photo.
Love has been using his Instagram to joke about some of the Heat’s issues over the last few weeks. Most notably, the team has been dealing with Jimmy Butler’s trade request and team president Pat Riley’s unwillingness to deal the star forward.
Miami has been able to stay above water in tumultuous times. The Heat dropped to 20-18 with the loss.
The Heat sit in the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference – only a half-game behind the Milwaukee Bucks to avoid the play-in tournament.
A Texas man who was arrested for allegedly stalking and sending sexually violent messages to Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark had a disruptive hearing on Wednesday as he pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Michael Lewis entered Marion County Superior Court, leaned back in his chair and told Judge Angela Davis he was "guilty as charged," according to ESPN.
Davis suggested to Lewis that he exercised his right to remain silent and entered a not guilty plea on his behalf as she wasn’t going to accept anything else in an initial hearing, according to the report.
Lewis was ordered held on $50,000 bail and to stay away from the Gainbridge Fieldhouse and the Hinkle Fieldhouse – where the Fever and the Butler Bulldogs play, respectively. Clark’s boyfriend, Connor McCaffrey, is an assistant on Butler’s men’s basketball team.
Lewis, 55, was charged with stalking threatening sexual battery or death, FOX 59 reported, citing court documents. The charge is considered to be a Level 5 felony. He could face up to six years in prison if convicted.
Lewis allegedly sent Clark sexually violent messages through his X account. One message said he had been driving around her house multiple times and encouraged her "not to call the law just yet." He also allegedly spoke of going to a Fever game and sitting behind the bench.
Authorities talked to Lewis about the messages on Jan. 8, according to the station. He reportedly told authorities he was going to Indianapolis for vacation and downplayed the number of messages he sent to the WNBA sharpshooter.
Lewis told authorities the messages weren’t threatening and called it a "fantasy-type thing" and a "joke."
Clark reportedly alerted authorities to the messages and said she had become fearful over the words sent to her.
"t takes a lot of courage for women to come forward in these cases, which is why many don’t," Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said, via FOX 59. "In doing so, the victim is setting an example for all women who deserve to live and work in Indy without the threat of sexual violence."
The arrest of Lewis came nearly a month after an Oregon man pleaded guilty to stalking UConn Huskies women’s basketball star Paige Bueckers.
Robert Cole Parmalee, 40, was arrested in August and was found with an engagement ring and lingerie while walking near Bradley International Airport in Connecticut. He said he intended to marry Bueckers.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford acknowledged how important Monday night’s playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings was in the midst of a natural disaster back home.
The Rams-Vikings matchup was moved from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, because of wildfires that struck the Los Angeles area. The Rams practiced once at their facility before heading to Arizona to prepare for the game.
Rams fans still showed up to the stadium and supported their team as they won the game, 27-9.
"There was definitely every excuse in the book to come out here and be lethargic and woe is me and all that, but we knew we weren’t playing just for us," he told reporters, via Pro Football Talk. "Playing for people back home that needed something to watch and enjoy and I’m glad we could give that to them."
Stafford was among the players and coaches who supported the Los Angeles Fire Department before and during the game, wearing shirts that said "LAFD."
"What the people in Los Angeles are going through, the devastation, the loss, the heartache all of us feel for them, we knew the game couldn’t be played there by Thursday," he said on ESPN. "The public safety and compromising any of that was not something we do. And we wanted to make sure the focus for the first responders was taking care of the people that are struggling out there so much.
"When we made that decision, the league comes together. We have preparations or what we call contingency plans that includes two stadiums every week, and this was a perfect fit as far as the location for the Los Angeles Rams’ fans, and I’m proud to say 45,000 of them made the trip over here, which is just extraordinary. Everybody came together and Michael Bidwell and the Cardinals are at the top of that list."
Before the game, the Rams were among the 12 Los Angeles and Anaheim area teams that announced a combined $8 million donation to those affected by the wildfires.
The money will go to support victims and those fighting the fires. The American Red Cross, Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, California Fire Foundation, Eaton Canyon Fire Relief and Recovery Fund, World Central Kitchen, California Community Foundation Wildlife Recovery Fund, Team Rubicon and several other local animal rescue organizations were named as the beneficiaries of the donations.
Former Team USA swimmer Gary Hall Jr., who earned 10 Olympic medals during his career, will be provided with replicas of those medals after he lost them in the deadly California wildfires, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Sunday.
The IOC released a statement over the weekend in response to the multiple wildfires burning in Southern California which have claimed at least 24 lives and destroyed more than 12,000 structures.
"We are in full solidarity with the citizens of Los Angeles and full of admiration for the tireless work of the firefighters and the security forces," the statement read. "Currently the full focus must be on the fight against the fires and the protection of the people and property."
The IOC also confirmed that Hall, a five-time Olympic gold medalist, would receive replicas of his medals, which he lost in the Pacific Palisades Fire.
"We have also learned that a great Olympian, Gary Hall Jr., has lost his medals in the fire. The IOC will provide him with replicas."
In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald last week, Hall recalled first seeing the fires in his neighborhood.
"I saw the flames erupt and houses start popping. There were explosions. I didn’t have a lot of time," he said. "Sunset Boulevard was a complete logjam. People abandoned cars and were running for their lives. Police were telling them to do that. My girlfriend was trapped in her car around smoke."
Hall said he only had enough time to grab the essentials, leaving his medals behind.
"I did think about the medals. I did not have time to get them," he told the outlet. "Everyone wants to know did the medals burn? Yeah, everything burnt. It’s something I can live without. I guess everything is just stuff. It’ll take some hard work to start over. What can you do?"
Hall, 50, won four medals, including two gold, in his first Summer Games in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Four years later, he brought home four more medals and in his final Games, the 2004 Athens Olympics, two more.
In 2012, Hall was inducted into the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell appeared to slam the door shut on Sam Darnold returning to the team following their playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night.
Darnold was sacked nine times and was 25-of-40 for 245 yards with a touchdown pass and an interception in the 27-9 loss. It was one of Darnold’s worst performances of the season.
However, with J.J. McCarthy waiting in the wings, it appeared Darnold would not be back with the Vikings for the 2025 season.
"I just want to say it’s very important we all think about Sam’s body of work, what he was able to do this year, when not many people thought he would be able to lead a team to 14 wins," O’Connell said, via Pro Football Talk. "It did not work out in the end, and I think Sam would be the first one to tell you, could he have played better tonight? I’m sure he would tell you he could have. Could I have coached better? I’m positive I could have."
The Vikings signed Darnold in March before they drafted McCarthy. However, the former Michigan standout suffered a torn Achilles in training camp and missed the season.
Darnold won the starting job and surprised almost everyone in the league with a strong season. Known for "seeing ghosts" while with the New York Jets, he passed for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns – both of which were career highs.
The last two weeks of Darnold’s season were the toughest. The team lost the NFC North division title to the Detroit Lions, 31-9, and then suffered another blowout on Monday.
Ultimately, the Vikings only lost to two teams over the course of the season. Detroit defeated Minnesota in Week 7, and Los Angeles picked up the win over them in Week 8.
O’Connell lamented the lack of offense in the final two weeks of the season.
Going into the offseason, the Vikings will have to choose whether to go with McCarthy and a veteran backup or keep Darnold around until McCarthy develops.
Seattle Kraken right-winger Kaapo Kakko is starting to find his groove with his new team.
Kakko was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft by the New York Rangers, but he never broke out to become the superstar executives thought he would become.
During his Rangers career, he never scored more than 40 points (18 goals, 22 assists in 2022-2023) in a season.
This season with the Rangers, Kakko had just four goals and 10 assists over 30 games this season, averaging just 13:17 minutes of ice time per game. The Finnish forward was playing on the third line and not receiving regular power play minutes.
On Dec. 15, Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette made Kakko a healthy scratch, and then Kakko was traded to the Kraken a few days later. The Kraken acquired Kakko in exchange for defenseman Will Borgen and their third and sixth-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft. With the Kraken, Kakko is finally receiving consistent first-line minutes and producing.
Playing alongside left-winger Jaden Schwartz and center Matty Beniers, Kakko has eight points (three goals, five assists) in 11 games.
Kakko is getting more consistent power play minutes and is averaging 15:58 seconds of ice team per game, nearly three minutes more than he was getting with the Rangers. The 23-year-old has especially played better of late, with seven points (two goals, five assists) in his past seven games.
Kakko will also be playing for Team Finland in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off, which will give him a chance to showcase his skills in the best-on-best international tournament. As a teenager, Kakko had a lot of success on the international stage. Kakko won gold at the IIHF U18 World Championship in 2018, and won gold in both the World Junior Championship and World Championship in 2019, when he was 17 and 18 years old.
In those three tournaments combined, Kakko had 22 points (12 goals, 10 assists) in 24 games.
Finland will compete against Canada, Sweden and the United States in the 4 Nations Face-Off from Feb. 12-20.
Until the tournament begins, Kakko will look to continue to settle in and produce for his new team.
The Kraken’s next game is against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. ET.
On Sunday, police arrested a man accused of stalking WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark. The details of the alleged stalking are disturbing.
As OutKick reported Monday, "the Marion County Prosecutor's office alleged the man sent the Indiana Fever star numerous threats and sexually explicit messages via his social media accounts'" before eventually trying to physically contact Clark by traveling to Indianapolis.
So, how does Jemele Hill fit into all of this? Well, in September, Hill posted a lengthy message on X where she said, essentially, that Clark doesn't face the same "hate" that black women in the WNBA face.
Except, no other WNBA player has seen a man arrested because they were "very concerned for [their] safety." Clark did.
Now, several Chicago Sky players, including Angel Reese, claimed that a man "harassed" them and used racial slurs during an alleged incident in June. But there's no evidence that occurred, especially as the Sky players claimed.
And while Reese and the rest of the Chicago WNBA players couldn't wait to take to social media and claim that they were victims of harassment that may or may not have occurred, Clark never publicly mentioned that she had a man travel from Texas to Indianapolis to try and confront her.
It sure seems like Clark faced harassment unlike anything any other WNBA player had to endure. And, remember, this is just the one man that we know about because he took it to an extreme and had to be arrested. Who knows how many other people are badgering Clark on social media?
Certainly, we won't hear about it from Clark, who never talks about the "hate" she receives, even though many of her WNBA colleagues love constantly talking about their "haters."
So, Jemele Hill issued an apology and an acknowledgment that she was wrong, right? Well, not quite.
Instead, Hill tried to quietly delete the post and pretend she never sent it. Fortunately, social media and the Internet never forget.
But did anyone ask Clark about the "hate" that she faces on a daily basis? No. They were much more concerned with the black and LGBTQ players and their feelings than Clark's physical safety.
Hill had a chance to stand out among the crowd and issue an apology to correct her previous statement.
Unfortunately, she's just like the rest of the sports media; they have decided that Caitlin Clark is incapable of being a victim – even when she literally is the victim of a crime – because she's white and the black women of the WNBA are perpetual victims – even when they aren't actually victims of anything.
Heading into this 2024 NFL season, all eyes were on the Kansas City Chiefs.
Winners of back-to-back Super Bowls. Stars bigger than the game itself on the roster. Most importantly, NFL history on the line as the potential first team to ever win three straight Super Bowls.
The pressure was immense for this Kansas City squad, but when the regular season came to an end, the Chiefs came out as the No. 1 seed in the AFC, co-owning the best record in the NFL at 15-2.
But throughout the season, there was a large contingent of fans that scoffed as the wins piled up, minimized the team's success because of how close the wins were, and the ol' "refs were on their side" conspiracy theory was amply used.
So, as the Chiefs get ready for their divisional round matchup this week against the Houston Texans, Fox News Digital wondered what the players themselves thought about their regular season amid this massive pressure and scrutiny, even with the record speaking for itself in the end.
"I’d say the resiliency of this team," three-time Pro Bowl center Creed Humphrey told Fox News Digital while also discussing his role, alongside teammates Chris Jones and Xaviery Worthy, in Doritos' "Crash the Super Bowl" ad campaign. "Battling close games, one-score games, two-minute drives to win games. Defensive stops to win games. All those situations where we’ve shown up and played our best ball. That comes with the work you put in through the offseason, through training camp, all those things.
"That resiliency you building through those dog days of camp and stuff. It’s shown week after week for us, and it’s something we practice a lot – those critical situations. I’m glad we’ve been able to step up."
Jones, the Chiefs' defensive captain and game-wrecking defensive tackle, agreed wholeheartedly with Humphrey, especially because of the injury bug forcing so many to step up during the season.
"We had a lot of players go down, a lot of important players go down throughout the season," Jones explained, touching on the offense with Rashee Rice, Marquise "Hollywood" Brown, and Isiah Pacheco all suffering serious injuries.
"We’ve been able to adjust and continue to build off that, and that’s not an easy task. When your best wide receiver goes down, your starting running back goes down. There’s a lot factors that can play within that. We’ve been able to continue to build, and we’ve faced a lot of adversity this season."
One of those players is Worthy, the Chiefs' first-round draft pick who set a new NFL Scouting Combine record in the 40-yard dash. Worthy's speed has been a weapon for head coach Andy Reid in his offense, and though it took some time to get acclimated to the NFL, his chemistry with star quarterback Patrick Mahomes has gotten better by the week leading into this latest playoff.
Battling adversity in the NFL, specifically when a key player goes down, means the next man has to step up. That's been Worthy, who is ready to continue building off a successful regular season.
"I’m just looking to be myself," Worthy said of his first playoff trip. "Continue to build and grow as a player in this league. I feel like that’s the biggest thing, where guys get in trouble with it is [when] they look at the end goal versus their own journey. I just want to take it week by week and do what I do."
Worthy is a prime example of what Jones pointed out about this group of Chiefs: Strong character.
Character has been built by winning 15 straight one-score games like the Chiefs had, dating back to last season. When the naysayers were viewing Kansas City's games in a negative light, the team was the exact opposite.
The blocked field goal against the Denver Broncos to remain undefeated wasn't a fluke. Nick Bolton crashing down on fourth-and-short against the Atlanta Falcons to ice a victory wasn't because he knew what play was coming.
Sure, there is luck that has come the Chiefs' way this season. Isaiah Likely's toe out-of-bounds in Week 1 on a game-tying touchdown on the final play of the game? Yeah, it was a bit of luck that rolled the Chiefs way, but sometimes that's just what happens in this crazy game.
The pressure, the naysayers and anything else that may be looking the Chiefs' way in a negative light will only be heightened as they chase history.
But these Chiefs players will continue looking past what's become a New England Patriots level villain role.
"I think it gives us a competitive edge, knowing everybody is against us. Knowing that nobody wants us to win," Jones said. "…. For me personally, it feels like it gives us an edge against everybody else because it feels like us against the world."
HELPING DORITOS CHANGE A FAN'S LIFE FOR SUPER BOWL LIX
While Super Bowl commercials are always a highlight of the "Big Game," Jones, Humphrey and Worthy can all agree they don't want to see them until after they air. That means they were playing for the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
But these Chiefs got to view some fan-created ads that are part of Doritos' iconic Crash the Super Bowl campaign, which is a competition that challenges the fans to make better commercials than the advertisers because millions believe they can.
These Chiefs got to preview the semifinalists, including the three ads that were chosen as the finalists for this $1 million competition.
"There were multiple ads that I actually completely enjoyed.… I think all of them had their own special uniqueness about it," Jones said. "It was a fun environment that we were able to pick them out as a team, laugh about it, critique each one of them. But also feel heavily involved in the process."
Humphrey added: "Each person in the room likes different pieces of each commercial. So that’s the cool part about it. The fans did a great job this year making these commercials."
Former MLB pitcher Brian Matusz reportedly died of a drug overdose in Arizona earlier this month.
The former Baltimore Orioles player was found dead in his home by his mother with a white substance in his mouth and drug paraphernalia near him on the floor, the Baltimore Banner reported, citing a Phoenix police report.
Matusz’s mother, Elizabeth, told authorities that the former athlete was battling drug issues and had made remarks like "there’s nothing left for me" and he "used to have it all."
She told police he had been clean for eight months, according to the Baltimore Banner. Two days before his death, on Jan. 4, Matusz was taken to the emergency room for reasons unclear. He was reportedly discharged that day and was advised to seek a mental health professional. He was taken to a facility but was not admitted.
He died on Jan. 6.
The Orioles announced Matusz’s death last week.
"A staple in our clubhouse from 2009-2016, Brian was beloved throughout Birdland, and his passion for baseball and our community was unmatched. He dedicated his time to connecting with any fan he could, was a cherished teammate, and always had a smile on his face," the team said.
"Brian’s family and loved ones are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time."
The Orioles selected the Colorado native in the first round of the 2008 MLB Draft out of the University of San Diego. He made his major league debut in August 2009 against the Detroit Tigers, going five innings with five strikeouts and getting the win.
He became a full-time starter in 2010 and finished fifth in American League Rookie of the Year voting after he recorded 143 strikeouts and a 10-12 record in 32 starts.
He missed two months of the 2011 regular season, and by 2012, he was demoted to the bullpen.
Matusz played well in his bullpen role, lowering his ERA to under 4.00 in the 2013 season. He had an ERA of 2.94 during the 2015 season.
He was traded to the Atlanta Braves in May 2016 but never appeared for them. He signed with the Chicago Cubs and appeared in only one game for them as they snapped the Curse of the Billy Goat and won the World Series.
Eli Manning was named one of the semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s modern era ballot two weeks ago as he tries to get to Canton, Ohio, in his first year.
The former New York Giants star has a Hall of Fame worthy resume with two Super Bowl championships – both over Tom Brady and an undefeated New England Patriots team – as well as 57,023 passing yards and 366 touchdown passes. Those statistics were among the highest in the NFL ever when he retired from the sport after the 2019 season.
However, getting into the Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot is an uphill climb as he will have to last as long as Antonio Gates, Torry Holt, Reggie Wayne, Darren Woodson, Fred Taylor and a handful of others who have been on the ballot longer.
Former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick appeared on ESPN’s "ManningCast" on Monday during the Los Angeles Rams’ playoff win over the Minnesota Vikings and threw his support behind the four-time Pro Bowl quarterback.
"Eli, you don’t look that good in that hoodie, but you're going to look great in a gold jacket," Belichick told Manning. "I'm sure that's going to happen, and you deserve it so much to join Peyton in a gold jacket too."
Manning told the New York Post last week he was not exactly so sure.
"I guess it's different just because it's all out of your hands, you're not campaigning for it, you're not trying to talk to people about it or prove your point," he said. "If I get in, it will be an awesome, unbelievable few days down in New Orleans, and if I don't, it's not going to ruin it for me. I'm not going to be in a bad mood, I'm not going to be sulking around.
"Just to be included in the top 15 this year is a great honor, and so I look at all of this as positive and a fun experience."
If he does get in, the announcement ceremony would take place in New Orleans – Manning’s hometown.
It seemed like a wild dream that Deion Sanders could possibly become the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, but something appeared to be percolating on Monday night.
Sanders and Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones have talked about the possibility of Coach Prime jumping from the collegiate ranks to the NFL, FOX Sports reported, citing multiple sources. The talks were reportedly expected to continue as Dallas begins its search for a new head coach.
The NFL Network reported Sanders has "some interest" in the Cowboys job, and Dallas also has "some interest" in possibly bringing him in.
"To hear from Jerry Jones is truly delightful, and it’s intriguing," Sanders later told ESPN. "I love Jerry and believe in Jerry. After you hang up, and process it, and think about it, it’s intriguing. But I love Boulder and everything there is about our team, the coaches, our student body and the community."
Sanders had long been resistant to talking about leaving the Colorado Buffaloes for the NFL. However, he recently offered an ultimatum about whether he would take an NFL job – if he had a chance to coach his sons.
It may be difficult for the Cowboys to select quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the first round. Sanders is expected to be one of the first few players taken off the board. Dallas has the No. 12 pick of the draft and would need to make a major move to move up the board. The Cowboys could potentially take Shilo Sanders later in the draft.
Deion Sanders played for the Cowboys from 1995 to 1999. He was a part of the organization’s last Super Bowl run – in 1995. He was a Pro Bowler in four of those five seasons.
The Cowboys parted ways with Mike McCarthy earlier Monday after five seasons.
"Throughout Mike McCarthy's tenure here, including the last several weeks, I have been very complimentary of the job he has done," Jones said in a statement. "That has applied to our record over that time period, our team unity and culture, Mike's qualifications and track record of success, and on a personal level as a tremendous human being.
"I have great respect for Mike, and he has led the team through some very unique and challenging times during his tenure."
Pro Football Hall of Famer Troy Aikman had some harsh words for the Dallas Cowboys after the team parted ways with head coach Mike McCarthy on Monday.
McCarthy and the Cowboys split after the two sides failed to come to an agreement on contract length, according to multiple reports. McCarthy’s deal was set to expire on Tuesday, and the Cowboys will have gotten into the head-coaching carousel a little later than expected.
"I thought Mike McCarthy would be the head coach, so this is a bit of a surprise for me today that he’s not going to be … It suggests that there's not a real plan," he said before calling the playoff game between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings.
"I do think the Cowboys are obviously a high-profile team. Whoever is the head coach of that team is certainly going to draw a lot of attention, but I think most football people that take over as a head coach they want to do it on their terms and that’s hard to do.
"I love the Dallas Cowboys. I played there for 12 years. I wish them well. To say that it’s a coveted job, I’m not sure I would necessarily agree with that."
Aikman said it seemed "logical" that former offensive coordinator Kellen Moore would be a candidate for the head-coaching job. However, he made clear that anyone who came into the position may not be themselves exactly.
McCarthy became the head coach of the Cowboys before the 2020 season, taking over for Jason Garrett, who had spent 10 years at the helm. Though McCarthy went 6-10 in his first season, he saw some success when the team was healthy.
Dallas was 12-5 and won two division titles from 2021 to 2023. The team made the playoffs each year but failed to get back to the NFC Championship, which has eluded them since they last won the Super Bowl in 1995.
The Cowboys saw Dak Prescott’s 2024 season end early, and the team could not recover. The Cowboys were 7-10.
