Two women sued Patrick Beverley, claiming they suffered injuries after the former Milwaukee Bucks guard rocketed a basketball toward their faces from almost point-blank range.

During his team's playoff loss to the Indiana Pacers that ended their season, Beverley was sitting on the bench when he stood up and launched a basketball at a female Pacers fan sitting behind the team’s bench, hitting the fan directly in the head. 

He appeared to motion to have the ball back, and when it was returned, he again threw the ball at another fan, who was able to deflect it. 

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Coaches and other players stepped into the fray and attempted to defuse the situation, but Beverley appeared to continue to exchange words with the fans sitting behind him. 

The women claim they are still experiencing medical expenses, mental anguish, humiliation and lost wages from the incident in which they both say they suffered immediate injuries.

Less than a week later, Beverley showed regret, saying it was an "unfortunate situation that should have never happened."

"What I did was bad, and that should have never happened. I have to be better, and I will be better. And that should have never happened," Beverley said on his podcast. "Regardless of what was said, that should have never happened. Simple as that."

Initial reports say it came after a fan said "Cancun on three," but Beverley said it was "more than that" and was called a name that apparently is NSFW.

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"I’ve been called a lot of stuff in this league, I haven’t been called that one," he said. "Still inexcusable. It doesn’t matter what was said. I have to be better, and I will be better."

Beverley said security had come up to him earlier in the game and asked if he wanted certain fans ejected, but he declined, saying he actually doesn't even want fans kicked out for simple trash talk.

"I’m not getting no fans kicked out. People who spend money to watch us play. I’m not getting them kicked out," Beverley said.

However, this certain fan "crossed the line."

"We in layup line. I’m on the bench with the ball. Fan to the right of me say something crazy. I get up to him, ‘Hey, man, you can boo me but don’t call me that.’ I go shake (Pacers coach) Rick Carlisle's hand, fan say something crazy to me," Beverley recalled. "I’m looking like, ‘Man, you can say anything, just don’t be disrespectful.’ He apologized too. Everyone who stepped out of line and said something like too crazy, all of them apologized. It was just some people crossed the line a little bit."

The NBA suspended him for the incident, but he is currently playing in Israel.

Fox News' Paulina Dedaj and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., took aim at Maine Gov. Janet Mills for refusing to ban trans athletes in girls' sports on Wednesday. 

During an interview on OutKick's "Don't @ Me With Dan Dakich," Tuberville laid heavy criticism on Mills after a week of national controversy for her feud with President Donald Trump over his "No Men in Women's Sports" executive order, and her state's refusal to comply with it. 

"With that governor of Maine, just being a total a-- to be honest with you to the president of the United States, when he's already said, ‘This is not going to happen,' and she said, ‘Well I’ll take you to court,' and he said, ‘Well I’ll see you in court, because I happen to run the federal government,'" Tuberville said.  

"It just shows you how egotistical these people are, and it's just common sense that you don't do this." 

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Maine came under national scrutiny for allowing trans athletes in girls' sports amid the state's refusal to comply with Trump's order and a recent incident involving a trans pole vaulter. 

The spat between Trump and Mills started last Thursday when Trump vowed to cut funding to the state for refusing to follow his order during a gathering of governors in Washington. 

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

"Are you not going to comply with that?" Trump asked Mills.

"I'm complying with state and federal laws," she responded, before Trump said "Well, we are the federal law" and "You better do it, you better do it because you're not going to get any federal funding at all if you don't. And by the way, your population, even though it's somewhat liberal, although I did very well there, your population doesn't want men playing in women's sports, so you better comply because otherwise you're not getting any federal funding."

MAINE LEGISLATURE CENSURES REP. LAUREL LIBBY FOR POINTING OUT TRANS ATHLETE WHO WON GIRLS' COMPETITION

"We'll see you in court," Mills responded. 

Just hours after that interaction, the U.S. Department of Education announced it will be investigating the state for allowing trans athletes to compete in girls' sports and potential Title IX violations. Maine is the fourth state to have a Title IX investigation launched against it for defying Trump's order since it was signed on Feb. 5. 

California, Minnesota and Massachusetts are facing similar investigations, while several other Democratic-run states have also refused to comply with Trump's order thus far. 

Meanwhile, Tuberville is also co-sponsoring a bill with similar ramifications to Trump's order in the U.S. Congress. The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act has already passed in the House of Representatives, but has not received a Senate vote yet. 

Tuberville hopes the country can address the issue of trans inclusion in time for the 2028 Olympics. 

"What worries me is the Olympics are coming up here in our country in Los Angeles in a few years and we do not need this to turn this into a nightmare, it's got to be men vs. men, women vs. women," Tuberville said. "But you know what, this radical left is going to try and make this like it's a disaster that transitioned boys are not able to participate against women. It just makes no sense, and under this president, it's not going to happen." 

When Trump signed the executive order on Feb. 5, he vowed that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem would prohibit any transgender athletes attempting to compete as women from entering the country for the Olympics in 2028. 

Trump said he will instruct Noem "to deny any and all visa applications made by men attempting to fraudulently enter the United States while identifying themselves as women athletes try and get into the Games." 

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One of the NFL’s best tight ends is not coming out of retirement, despite rumors this week that there was interest in a potential return, and possibly with the Denver Broncos.

Four-time Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski quickly dispelled the rumors on Wednesday that he was eyeing a potential return to the NFL, telling FOX Sports that "now it’s time to relax a little." 

"Crazy bro," the former New England Patriots star told Schultz when asked about the report.  

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"They must know something about me that I don’t. I wish I still had those powers, because that would be cool if I did. But I was just in Australia for a few days. Now it’s time to relax a little. No football."

Denver Sports 104.3 The Fan reported Tuesday that Gronkowski was "considering" coming out of retirement, adding that he was told "he loves Denver & [quarterback] Bo Nix."

NFL LEGEND ROB GRONKOWSKI 'CONSIDERING' RETURN TO LEAGUE: REPORT

Gronkowski has previously come out of retirement. 

After announcing in 2019 that he was finally hanging up his cleats following nearly a decade in New England, Gronkowski returned in 2020 to reunite with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay, where they again became Super Bowl champions. 

He announced his retirement again in 2022 after two seasons with the Buccaneers, and has since served as an NFL analyst for FOX Sports. 

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Team USA star Matthew Tkachuk said he wanted to show how proud they were to be Americans during the 4 Nations tournament. 

Matthew and Brady Tkachuk joined Travis and Jason Kelce's podcast, where Jason asked the Tkachuk brothers if they knew from the moment the national anthems happened they were going to get into fights with team Canada off of the puck drop. 

"I think that, USA, that team was such a proud group of Americans and wanted to show how united we were and how proud we were to be Americans," Matthew responded. 

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"I mean, let’s face it, the last bunch of years you really haven’t seen that from Americans in general, like to show off how proud they are to be a part of the United States. I think that our team did a great job of making a big impact on people from the whole tournament, but especially that game against Canada. Going into a hostile environment and wanting to set the tone in a very tough place against a very great team."

Prior to the now-infamous fights, the Canadian fans booed the United States national anthem, setting up a backdrop for what took place after the puck drop. 

The booing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" began with President Donald Trump’s threat to issue tariffs on Canada and even saying that the country could become the "51st state." It has been common for boos to be heard during the USA’s national anthem. 

Both Toronto Raptors and Ottawa Senators fans have booed the USA’s national anthem, since the tariffs were set to begin. 

NHL STAR MATTHEW TKACHUK REFLECTS ON 4 NATIONS FINAL: ‘WE’RE SO LUCKY TO BE FROM THIS GREAT COUNTRY’

The tariffs have since paused.

Adding the political backdrop to what was already a highly anticipated matchup, Matthew said Brady and fellow forward JT Miller talked about fighting right away to set the tone pregame.

"It made me very proud to be playing for that team during that moment. You know to see how united we were in like I said, a hostile environment. At the end of the day, a fight’s a fight, you’re going there to beat the other guy up, but I think it was more than that. It was more to show your teammates we got this. We’re together in this, we all come from different parts of the country, different backgrounds, different teams, and you know we’re in this, and we’re going to fight together," Matthew said during his appearance on "New Heights."

"That made me really proud to be honest with you and even people since the tournament, that’s all their talking about. How proud they were of our team and how united we were and how we were an inspiration to them and I think that’s coming from the whole tournament, but that’s what makes me most proud."

Matthew previously talked about how grateful he is to be an American during a trip to the White House, as he was part of the Florida Panthers Stanley Cup-winning team last season. 

"Thank you, Mr. President, for having us today. We greatly appreciate it. Being one of the few Americans, who loves this country so much, it’s such an incredible day for myself. You wake up every day really grateful to be an American. So, thank you," Tkachuk said.

The next time team USA will have a chance to show off its pride on the ice will come at the 2026 Olympic Games, where they will look to avenge their 4 Nations loss to Canada. 

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Fox News' Louis Casano contributed to this report.

Northwestern's women's basketball team will have to forfeit two of the games on its schedule after not traveling to Los Angeles during the devastating wildfires in January. 

The Big Ten Conference announced Wednesday that Northwestern's games against UCLA on Jan. 12 and USC on Jan. 15 won't be rescheduled and instead will count as losses for the Wildcats and wins for the Southern California-based programs. 

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Northwestern athletics director Mark Jackson released a statement supporting his team's decision not to travel during the fires, and accepted the decision by the Big Ten.

"Northwestern Athletics accepts the decision by the Big Ten Conference to strictly apply the Conference bylaws as written, in issuing forfeits for missed competitions by Northwestern’s Women’s Basketball after the team’s decision not to travel to Los Angeles during the tragic wildfires in Southern California," Jackson wrote, per On3.

"While we acknowledge that bylaws and rules are in place for a reason and we will abide by them, it does not diminish this team’s sound reasoning for not participating during this natural disaster. We will continue to support our Women’s Basketball student-athletes and hope for a strong recovery for the Southern California region."

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UCLA and USC, led by phenom JuJu Watkins, were already the two winningest teams in the conference so far this season. USC is in first place in the Big Ten with a 15-1 conference record as UCLA is in second at 14-1. 

Meanwhile, Northwestern sits in 15th place with a 2-13 conference record, and is battling Purdue, Rutgers and Penn State for the final spot in the Big 10 tournament. 

The fires impacted multiple sporting events in the Los Angeles and Anaheim area during the month of January, including a playoff game between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings, and Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers NBA games. 

The city's local sports teams donated more than $8 million to support victims of the wildfires. Those teams included the Anaheim Ducks, Angel City FC, LAFC, LA Galaxy, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Sparks.

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Travis Kelce’s podcast returned on Wednesday after taking a break last week, but the Kansas City Chiefs' star tight end did not bring up his playing future amid retirement rumors. 

Kelce, 35, said he was "kicking every can I can down the road" regarding his decision to retire in the episode shortly after the Chiefs’ Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. 

With no comment on his NFL future in his latest episode, Kelce is still kicking the can down the road.

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Travis and Jason Kelce were brainstorming potential guests for upcoming shows this offseason, and Travis brought up Tom Brady as someone he would like to talk to and also ask for advice. 

"Gosh, that’d be fun to talk to Tom," Travis said on "New Heights." "I’d like to talk to Tom about how he dealt with not winning Super Bowls. F---. Multiple Super Bowls."

Brady was 7-3 in Super Bowls in his legendary career, and Kelce is now 3-2 in the game in his career, dealing with multiple defeats in the big game. 

Travis, just a couple of weeks removed from the 40-22 defeat in Super Bowl LIX, said that the "Eagles broke my heart."

CHIEFS GM TALKS TRAVIS KELCE'S FUTURE AMID RETIREMENT RUMORS

Kelce’s longtime Chiefs teammate, Chris Jones, posted, "My dawg got to come back we got unfinished business," seemingly alluding to the tight end’s retirement decision.

Kelce said the podcast episode was recorded on Sunday despite being released on Wednesday. Chiefs general manager Brett Veach commented on Kelce’s future at the NFL combine on Tuesday.

"How we left at the end of the season is that he was fired up. He has one more year under contract," Veach said, speaking to reporters at a press conference. 

The three-time Super Bowl champion signed a two-year, $34.25 million contract extension prior to last season that runs through the 2025-2026 season, and Veach said he thinks Kelce still has more to give. 

"Still think he has that fire and desire to play and, as far as I’m concerned, there is no deadline. I think we left as he’d be back, and we’re excited to get him back and get him going."

Kelce was still productive this season, but his yards (823) and touchdowns (3) in the regular season this year were the lowest he has had in the full season. 

Should Kelce decide to return, he would be coming back for his 13th season in the NFL and would turn 36 years old during the season. 

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Former Pittsburgh Steelers star Le’Veon Bell once again put critics of billionaire Elon Musk on blast in a post on social media.

Musk has come under fire as he was tapped to be the key advisor for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The DOGE team has been instructed to find ways to cut government spending, among other tasks.

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Bell, who had already defended Musk and President Donald Trump earlier in the week, had more to write on the CEO of X, SpaceX and Tesla.

"Imagine coming to this app to call Elon Musk ‘stupid,’" the former NFL running back wrote in his post. "The same guy that owns this app, and who is actually putting rockets into the sky... but we really have ppl who sit on the app and do NOTHING all day, but complain about Elon Musk... lol this world is fried bro, FRIED."

DOGE reported on Tuesday it saved around $65 billion. DOGE said the savings estimate came from a "combination of fraud detection/deletion, contract/lease cancelations, contract/lease re-negotiations, asset sales, grant cancelations, workforce reductions, programmatic changes, and regulatory savings."

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"We are working to upload all of this data in a digestible and fully transparent manner with clear assumptions, consistent with applicable rules and regulations," DOGE said on its website.

But Musk had drawn the ire of federal workers over an email request about the work they’ve done.

Trump was asked about the email request on Tuesday.

"It’s somewhat voluntary," he said, adding that, "if you don’t answer, I guess you’re fired."

The issue continued into a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing in which one Democrat referred to Musk as the president and Trump as the "grifter in chief."

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Maine high school athletics were embroiled in another trans-athlete controversy as state lawmakers have fought against President Donald Trump’s executive order banning biological males from girls and women’s sports.

The latest issue came at the State Nordic Skiing Championships. Soren Stark-Chessa finished in third and fourth place in Class C Freestyle and Class C Classical competitions, respectively, according to the Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS).

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The athlete helped Maine Coast Waldorf to third place in the women’s competition. Stark-Chessa has been one of the top skiers in the state, earning All-Western Maine Conferee honors in girls Nordic skiing during the 2023-24 season, according to the Sun-Journal.

The school’s athletic director, Susan Sonntag, defended Stark-Chessa’s participation against high schools in 2023 in a statement to The Daily Mail. However, Trump’s executive order and his public spat with Maine Gov. Janet Mills put the state’s gender-participation policy under the microscope.

Trump threatened to take away federal funding from Maine schools if the policy of allowing boys to participate in girls’ sports stands. Mills replied that she would see Trump in court over the ruling.

The Maine Principals’ Association’s (MPA) rules stated that a prospective student athlete must "declare their gender identity to their member school if their gender identity differs from the student’s sex assigned at birth." The rules stated that the school has "sole authority to determine gender identity assignment for the purposes of athletic registration and participation in MPA sponsored events."

NCAA'S NEW TRANS-PARTICIPATION POLICY IS 'AS CLEAR AS MUD,' RILEY GAINES SAYS

Furthermore, "no medical records or official documents shall be requested for required to establish a student’s gender identity."

The Department of Education launched a Title IX investigation into Maine.

Republican state Rep. Laurel Libby appeared on OutKick’s "The Ricky Cobb Show" earlier this week and called the state’s rules "extreme."

"That is the policy that Governor Mills is defending against President Trump," Libby said. "It is so extreme. It is an outlier even among other states that have similar policies. And it’s an extreme position that Mainers don’t support. 

"Not only is she supporting this extreme policy, her stance could cost the state $250 million for Maine’s schools and that is money that we need to provide education for Maine kids. It’s a two-for as far as how this hits our state. And it seems like she’s pretty dug in, and President Trump is gonna have to take this all the way through the courts."

Libby called the policy "incredibly broad" and pointed to an issue the state has seen recently over a transgender athlete winning a state title in girls' pole vaulting.

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Amid mounting accusations of sexual misconduct alleged against veteran NFL kicker Justin Tucker, the Baltimore Ravens begin the new season on the hunt for a new kicker. 

Head coach John Harabaugh confirmed as much during a press conference at the 2025 NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, clarifying that the position was always going to be looked at given Tucker’s age. 

"Every position is important, we’re going to look at every single position. But certainly different years you look at different positions. We’re looking at kicker," Harabugh told reporters Tuesday. 

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"The kicker position would’ve been a priority no matter what because – Justin’s our kicker, we love him and I would’ve always expected him to keep going forever, but nobody goes forever. So, we’ve gotta look at every position like we do." 

Tucker, 35, is facing more than a dozen accusations of sexual misconduct. 

The Baltimore Banner reported that 16 massage therapists from several different spas and wellness centers in the Baltimore area have accused the NFL kicker of inappropriate behavior during sessions.

RAVENS GM CALLS JUSTIN TUCKER ALLEGATIONS 'SERIOUS AND CONCERNING'

The NFL has begun an investigation into the accusations. 

According to the outlet, the league has spoken to at least three accusers. 

"It’s not what you want to wake up and read," Harbaugh said Tuesday of the accusations against Tucker. "You don’t want to read about it, it’s not something you want to see. I don’t care what it is in terms of things that are hurtful and harmful to people – it’s too many headlines like that, too many stories that you hear that make you just sad, disappointed."

Harbaugh said the Ravens will determine what actions to take pending the league’s findings. 

"The NFL is looking into it, they’re gonna review it. They’re gonna try and gather all the facts and hopefully we’ll have a – I’m sure we’ll have an understanding of it at that time. And once there’s an understanding of it, then you have a chance to make some decisions and determinations and things like that and that’s where we’re at right now."

Tucker has spent the entirety of his 13-year career with the Ravens and has established himself as one of the most reliable kickers in the league. His 1,775 career points rank 16th all-time, and his career field-goal percentage of 89.1% is the best in league history. 

Tucker has denied all allegations, calling them "unequivocally false."

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Women’s sports activists called on the NCAA to clear up the alleged issues in the organization's new transgender-athlete policy in the wake of President Donald Trump's executive order.

The current and former collegiate athletes were featured in an XX-XY Athletics video.

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"We see you, NCAA," the clip began. "You announced a new policy after Trump’s executive order. This policy does not protect females. It sets no clear boundaries. The new policy does nothing to ensure women’s sports are for women only.

"You said you were going to comply with federal law but you didn’t. Your policy is based on a birth certificate – that’s the ‘proof’ required. But it’s no proof of sex."

The female athletes point out that, in all but six states, a birth certificate can be altered. It has been the main point of the argument against the new policy the NCAA released a day after Trump’s executive order prohibiting biological males from competing in women’s sports. The activists also said the NCAA policy would still allow males on women’s teams and in locker rooms.

"We see you Charlie Baker. We see you NCAA. We see you," the video continued. "We’ve been spit on. We’ve been yelled at. Called terrible names. We’ve been shot at. They’ve tried to silence us. But we are not going away. Young athletes are depending on us. They’re depending on you.

"And if you won’t stand up for female athletes, we will. We demand fair sports. We deserve safe sports. We aren’t backing down. NCAA women’s teams are for female athletes only. That means those born female. XX only, no substitutes."

NCAA'S NEW TRANS-PARTICIPATION POLICY IS 'AS CLEAR AS MUD,' RILEY GAINES SAYS

The group then implored the NCAA to "test for sex."

Riley Gaines, Neely Gaines, Kaitlynn Wheeler, Reka Gyorgy, Lauren Miller, Melissa Batie-Smoose, Sia Liilii and Macey Boggs were among the sports figures featured in the video.

The NCAA had no new comment on its policy change.

The NCAA’s new policy for student-athletes "assigned male at birth" and their participation on women’s teams stated that athletes may not compete on the women’s team, but they "may practice on the team consistent with their gender identity and receive all other benefits applicable to student-athletes who are otherwise eligible for practice."

An NCAA spokesperson told Fox News Digital earlier this month that the governing body will not allow trans athletes to compete in the women's category based on changed birth certificates.

"The policy is clear that there are no waivers available, and athletes assigned male at birth may not compete on a women’s team with amended birth certificates or other forms of ID," the spokesperson said. 

Regarding trans athletes practicing on a women's team, the NCAA considers male practice players a "staple" of women's sports. 

"Male practice players have been a staple in college sports for decades, particularly in women’s basketball and the association will continue to account for that in the policy," the spokesperson said.

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Carson Beck made the surprise decision to forgo an NFL pursuit and play at least one more year of college football when he decided to transfer from Georgia to Miami.

On the surface, the transfer made sense. Beck is dating Miami Hurricanes women’s basketball star Hanna Cavinder, and being closer to the person he is involved with seemed to be a no-brainer. However, Cavinder was adamant that she played no role in bringing Beck to "The U."

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"Obviously, the University of Miami is an amazing campus. And, I think it was the best decision for him. I think he’s gonna love the university," she told ESPN. "Obviously, I love Miami, so I will stay here. … I’m super excited for him and to be able to watch him play."

Cavinder said she did not really need to convince Beck to fly south and added she would not have any NCAA eligibility left when Beck begins to play football.

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"Honestly, I was not involved at all. I know that a lot of people probably think that. But no, I was not involved at all. It was honestly what was the best decision for him and where he was gonna fit and be able to be successful. I’m super excited for him. It’s very convenient. Obviously, you can’t beat Miami and the people here."

Beck will be a replacement for Cam Ward, who had one of the best seasons any quarterback has had at the program.

The ex-Bulldogs star was on the team when they won back-to-back national titles.

He had 3,485 passing yards and 28 touchdown passes in 2024. The Bulldogs lost in the Sugar Bowl to Notre Dame.

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Inter Miami star Lionel Messi was fined on Tuesday over a startling incident with an assistant coach from New York City FC after their match to open the Major League Soccer season ended.

The amount Messi was fined was not disclosed.

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Messi was leaving the field following the 2-2 draw. He had received a yellow card following a verbal exchange with referee Alexis Da Silva. He then exchanged words with NYCFC assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy.

Messi began to walk away from the fracas when he turned back toward the coach and put his right hand on the back of his neck and squeezed. It is unclear what the two said to each other, but it appeared to be enough for MLS to issue the fine.

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"The MLS Disciplinary Committee has fined Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi an undisclosed amount for violating the hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent policy following the conclusion of Inter Miami’s match against New York City FC on February 22," the league said.

Luis Suarez, Messi’s Miami teammate, was also fined an undisclosed amount "for violating the hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent policy during halftime" in the same match. He grabbed NYCFC Birk Risa by the back of the neck.

Inter Miami followed the controversy with a 3-1 win over Sporting Kansas City later Tuesday to advance to the next round of the CONCACAF Championship Cup.

Messi and Suarez both scored.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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President Donald Trump talked Tuesday about the negotiations to bring golf back together as representatives from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf have met with him in recent weeks.

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

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

The president said he was playing the role of mediator between the two leagues and was trying to help expedite the situation. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, Tiger Woods, Adam Scott and LIV Golf’s Yasir Al-Rumayyan met last week about the possibility of unifying the sport again.

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

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The president was asked what was more challenging: the PGA-LIV deal or the Russia-Ukraine deal.

"I think the PGA deal is much more complicated," he said with a smile and laughs from those around him.

Last week was the second time in a month the PGA and LIV have had talks.

"I think that things are going to heal quickly," Woods said at the Genesis Invitational. "We’re going to get this game going in the right direction. It’s been heading in the wrong direction for a number of years and the fans want all of us to play together, all the top players playing together, and we’re going to make that happen."

Golf splintered in 2022 with the emergence of LIV Golf, which came with the backing of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm all play in the league.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The Philadelphia Eagles possibly going to the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl LIX win with President Donald Trump is still up in the air.

Trump said Tuesday the White House would send an invitation to the Super Bowl-winning team very soon. However, as rumors swirled about the possibility of the Eagles declining the invite, former NFL star Adam "Pacman" Jones wondered why the team would not go.

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The Eagles did not go after winning the Super Bowl title over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. At the time, tensions between NFL players and Trump were at a fever pitch. The president attended Super Bowl LIX and did not receive any outward criticism from any player.

"There’s a lot of people that have jobs who don’t like their CEO but go to work every day," Jones told TMZ Sports. "There’s a lot of people who don’t agree with how their preacher, or whoever they’re going to read (God’s) message from, with what he does. So, I think it’s kind of ludicrous that you win the championship and don’t want to go to the f---ing White House."

CHARGERS' JIM HARBAUGH ON CONTROVERSIAL TUSH PUSH: 'GET GOOD AT IT OR STOP IT'

Eagles captain Lane Johnson said after the team’s win it would be up to a player vote.

"I’d be honored to go, regardless of who the president is, but we’ll see," Johnson said via Sportico. "It’s ultimately a team decision. I’ll do what’s best for the team."

Jones added that it is a once in a lifetime experience for anyone to get to go to the White House and celebrate the title.

"I’ve always said, in the locker room, politics don’t have nothing to do with us bonding together to get to one thing, which is winning the Super Bowl," he added. "But I think it's an experience you get once in a lifetime. Wait five years from now and see if a motherf---er invites you to the White House. No. So, that's my take."

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It was a short-lived dream for the New York Jets.

The arrival of four-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers in April 2023 brought with it the hopes of not just breaking a historic playoff drought – but also the possibility of bringing home the Lombardi Trophy. 

But just two seasons later, the Jets are again on the hunt for a new quarterback. 

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The offseason brought major changes to the coaching staff and earlier this month, the organization informed Rodgers that they would be moving in a different direction at the quarterback position as well. 

Rodgers, 41, has not confirmed whether he will return for another season or finally hang up his cleats. But if he does decide to return for his 21st season in the NFL, there are a few teams that could be the perfect landing spot for the veteran's long-awaited comeback. 

Speculation surrounding Matthew Stafford’s future with the Rams has opened a new door for Rodgers to make his return to the West Coast. 

According to multiple reports, Stafford is seeking a robust extension that Los Angeles appears unwilling to meet. It was reported that the Rams gave Stafford permission to seek a trade, fueling speculation that the quarterback-needy Giants would go after the Super Bowl champion. 

Enter Rodgers. 

The Rams hired former New England Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt on Monday. He was Rodgers’ quarterbacks coach in Green Bay from 2014-2017 – one of his MVP seasons. Rodgers would appear more likely to sign a deal that would free up more cash for the Rams than any deal Stafford would agree to. 

AARON RODGERS TALKS 'FACTORS' THAT WILL PLAY INTO HIS DECISION ON CHOOSING NEW TEAM

Rodgers could find himself a starting role in Pittsburgh amid the commotion surrounding Art Rooney II’s noncommittal remarks this month on Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. 

The duo split time at the helm, with neither fully taking off this season with their performances. With both due to become free agents, Rooney said he would like to keep one of them for a multi-year deal. 

He didn’t clarify which, although he did indicate age could be a factor.

Speculation has linked Wilson to the Raiders, where he could reunite with former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll – a rumor Wilson has sidestepped. 

Deshaun Watson’s time in Cleveland has likely come to an end after the embattled quarterback ruptured his Achilles tendon for the second time in three months and underwent another operation earlier this year. 

With the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft, the Browns are likely to pursue Colorado's Shedeur Sanders or Miami's Cam Ward, but a veteran signal caller could serve an important role in allowing a young quarterback time to adjust. 

Rodgers already has experience fulfilling such a role, as he did with Jordan Love, who led the Packers to back-to-back playoff appearances in his first two seasons as a starter. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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At 61 years old, the drive for Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh remains ever energetic, ready to attack each day. 

On Tuesday morning, it was the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis that had Harbaugh alert, attentive and all smiles as he spoke with Fox News Digital on behalf of Invivyd. 

"Blessed to be here and be able to wake up today," Harbaugh said. "[To] be 61 years old, be in the middle of the competition, be in the Indianapolis at the Scouting Combine, and watch guys go through just some of the best times of their lives.

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"Very thankful and much gratitude for that."

Blessed has a profound meaning for Harbaugh, someone who has been very open about his Christian values. 

Harbaugh used the timeless saying, "faith, family, football," to describe his life. It is something he truly lives by, with his faith being the guiding force to the two pillars that comes after it. 

CHARGERS' JIM HARBAUGH ON CONTROVERSIAL TUSH PUSH: ‘GET GOOD AT IT OR STOP IT’

"Those priorities, I can keep things straight in my mind if I can make sure I’m keeping those three," he explained. "It’s just the best advice I’ve ever gotten, it comes from the Bible: ‘Seek first the kingdom of God, and all else will be added onto you.’

"So, that’s the priority. That’s the gameplan, and nobody pays better interest than the Lord."

Harbaugh is not the only athlete in the NFL who has tapped into their faith, and furthermore, been very open about speaking about it. 

Take Houston Texans second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud for instance. Harbaugh's Chargers lost to Stroud and the Texans in the Wild Card Round last month, and during his postgame interview, like many before, he thanked God for the opportunity to play the game he loves. 

"First and foremost, all glory has to go to my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ," Stroud said. "I feel so unqualified, but the Lord has qualified me to play in this great city, this great state and I’m just so grateful for who I serve."

Philadelphia Eagles' Saquon Barkley, Washington Commanders' Jayden Daniels, Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes, Atlanta Falcons' Kirk Cousins and so many others have also publicly tapped into their faith, and let it be known how much it drives them on and off the gridiron. 

"It's inspiring," Harbaugh simply said when asked how great it is to see players openly discussing their faith.

In the Chargers' locker room, Harbaugh explained how, in all faiths, his team is strong. He mentioned punter J.K. Scott as someone who truly embodies the three-word mantra he lives by. 

"He’s our punter, and he’s one of the best punters in the game. But he’s also a brother in Christ, and he’s our team chaplain, if you will," Harbaugh said of Scott. "We get that on a daily basis, and just to watch him be the kind of person he is, dad that he is, husband that he is, and teammate that he is. 

"Gosh, nobody has it better than us at the Chargers to have him and others – strong Christians like that. It’s pretty awesome."

HARBAUGH HERE TO HELP

This offseason, Harbaugh’s coaching involves spreading information about a multilayered prevention approach to fighting COVID-19, which remains a serious health issue, even if the world is no longer in a pandemic. 

From Oct. 7, 2023, through Sept. 8, 2024, Invivyd found there were over 656,000 hospitalizations, 112,302 of which were intensive care unit admissions, and over 58,000 deaths due to COVID-19. 

"As a coach, you want to see people not sidelined in the game, at the game and gathering without having that fear," he said. "Proud to have partnered with Invivyd. People think COVID is old news, don’t really like talking about it as much. But facts are it’s still around, and [we] don’t know the long-term effects. 

"People are still getting sick, still being hospitalized, some still dying, especially those who are immunocompromised. It could be yourself, could be somebody you know, somebody that’s a friend or family. And there are options, so talk to your doctor — bottom line."

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Legendary college basketball coach Jim Boeheim had high praise, and a lofty comparison, for Duke star Cooper Flagg.

Boeheim, 80, was asked how good Flagg is when compared to some of the NBA’s greats. 

"I think he is almost – to me, he’s [Larry] Bird-like, a little bit. Except he is quicker, faster, more athletic, doesn’t shoot it as well, but his shot’s coming," Boeheim said during a recent appearance on OutKick’s "Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich."

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In 27 games played, Flagg is averaging 19.5 points per game while averaging nearly eight rebounds and four assists per game. 

The 18-year-old Maine native is the catalyst for a 24-3 Duke team that is currently ranked second in the nation behind Auburn. 

To Boeheim, it’s clear that Flagg is the best player in the college game. 

"People that say other people are better than him just don’t know anything about basketball. I mean it’s just crazy.  I mean they’ve got to be – I don’t know what they’re watching. Maybe they are just trying to be contrarian or something, I don’t know," Boeheim said. 

DUKE STAR COOPER FLAGG, PROJECTED TO BE NO 1 PICK IN NBA DRAFT, MAKES SURPRISE ADMISSION ABOUT FUTURE

"Cooper Flagg, he’s the best all-around player in terms of doing all the things in college basketball that I’ve seen. I mean there’s better shooters, better rebounders, better passers, but he’s a defender."

There is something else Boeheim says Flagg brings to the table in addition to being one of the best all-around players.

"I’ve talked to [former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski] about this. He’s got an edge to him. He’s not backing down from nobody, and in a good way," he said.

Boeheim has seen a lot of great basketball players throughout his long coaching career, including Carmelo Anthony, who helped lead Syracuse to a National Championship in 2003. 

Boeheim was Syracuse’s head coach from 1976 to 2023 and amassed a career record of 1,015-441.

Boeheim led Syracuse to the Final Four five times and was the Big East regular champion 10 times while winning the Big East tournament five times. 

If Boeheim is right, and Flagg turns out to have a career like Larry Bird's, whichever team that drafts him will be thrilled.

Bird is in the Basketball Hall of Fame. He was a three-time MVP and three-time NBA Champion while making 12 All-Star games.

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President Donald Trump became the first president to attend the Daytona 500 twice when he visited the racetrack earlier this month.

He met with some drivers on pit lane before he rode in the presidential limousine, "The Beast," as it took a pace lap before the green flag flew. 

He also gave drivers a speech before the race.

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Trump’s day was cut short because the race was delayed for a few hours due to inclement weather that rolled through Daytona Beach, Florida, over the course of that afternoon. William Byron won the race for the second straight season.

He talked to Fox News Digital about what it meant for the sport to have the president attend the biggest race of the season.

"It was pretty neat," Byron said. "I think anytime you can have a sitting president come and see your sporting event, it is very special. And for him to take the time to do that was really cool. Just to be able to see the motorcade go across the track and just the various things that he did when he was there was pretty cool. 

NASCAR STAR WILLIAM BYRON FUELS UP WITH CELSIUS

"Brought a lot of energy and excitement to the race before it started."

Byron picked up the 14th Cup Series win of his career and entered the club of multiple Daytona 500 winners.

He told Fox News Digital the feeling of being a multi-time winner of the race finally sunk in over the last week or so.

"I feel like it took a few days to really set in, but ever since, I guess last Friday or so, I’ve been able to have a bit more time to think about it," he said. "It’s definitely been special, and I want to try to win more races this year. But it was definitely a great start and something that means a lot to our team." 

Byron became a brand ambassador for Celsius.

"It’s a pretty natural fit for me just working out pretty often and training for the races, and Celsius encourages all of us to live fit," he said. "So, I feel like it’s a really important partnership for me because I use the product a lot, and so I think it fits really well."

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The Maine House of Representatives voted to censure Rep. Laurel Libby Tuesday night for a recent social media post pointing out that a transgender high school athlete won a girls' competition. 

The Maine House's Democratic majority, led by Speaker Ryan Fecteau, passed the censure resolution Tuesday night in a 75-70 vote. Libby is now no longer allowed to speak on the house floor or vote until she issues an apology. 

Libby told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview after the vote that she does not plan to apologize for her recent post. 

After the censure had been determined, Fecteau told Libby that the House members would take a break while Libby considered her apology. 

"I told him, ‘We do not need to take ease’ as I was going to continue speaking up for Maine girls," Libby said. 

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Libby's post came last Sunday when she pointed out that a transgender track and field athlete had taken first place at a Maine girls' pole vault competition after competing as a boy just one year earlier. The premise of Libby's censure by the Maine House was focused on the fact that she posted a photo of a minor and provided that minor's name.

"It's a remarkable double standard as there are public photos of this individual in many places, on social media and even some posted by his school, and so yes, this post went viral, but this was an individual who participated in a public event, who publicly stood on a podium and accepted a championship medal that rightfully belonged to the girls standing on the second-place spot," Libby said. 

House Majority Leader Matt Moonen condemned Libby in a statement on the House floor. 

"She has irreparably broken the trust that has been placed in her as an elected official serving in this House of Representatives," Moonen said. "This institution and all of Maine deserve better."

House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham spoke out against the censure, pointing out that the state legislature’s ethics code does not mention online posts that members make.

During Tuesday's vote, Libby came to the house floor with a prepared seven-page speech on the importance of protecting girls' and women's sports from trans inclusion. However, throughout the night, her microphone was consistently turned off when she was trying to deliver that speech. 

"I was completely unable, from my first sentence, to get a word out, before the other side was shutting me down," Libby said, adding that she had never seen anything like that happen during her tenure in the Maine legislature. 

Libby later posted a video of her giving the speech on Facebook after the hearing. 

HOW TRANSGENDERISM IN SPORTS SHIFTED THE 2024 ELECTION AND IGNITED A NATIONAL COUNTERCULTURE

Libby says that while she doesn't plan to apologize, she does have another course of action she plans on taking to regain her voting and speaking privileges, but did not disclose any details of that plan. 

Maine Republicans and Libby's constituents will now lose a vote and a voice for other issues in the state's legislative process amid a busy month. 

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

"It's look like I will not be able to speak on that or vote on that," she said. 

Libby's revelation of the trans athlete ignited national conversation and coverage of the state's policy on trans inclusion after Maine announced it would not comply with President Donald Trump's recent "No Men in Women's Sports" executive order. 

Trump then vowed to cut funding to the state for refusing to follow his order during a gathering of governors at the White House last Thursday. 

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

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

Police protection has since been assigned to the high school that is attended by the trans athlete who Libby identified in her Facebook post, amid concerns over safety. 

A recent New York Times/Ipsos survey found the vast majority of Americans, including a majority of Democrats, don't think transgender athletes should be permitted to compete in women's sports. 

Of the 2,128 people who participated, 79% said biological males who identify as women should not be allowed to participate in women's sports. Of the 1,025 people who identified as Democrats or leaning Democrat, 67% said transgender athletes should not be allowed to compete with women. 

For Libby, she has her own hypothesis about why Democrat lawmakers in her state, and many across the country, are fighting so hard to protect trans inclusion in girls' sports, despite most Americans, and even most Democrats, being opposed to it. 

"I think Maine Democrats' stance is, they haven't gone hard enough, and they need to dig in," Libby said.

But she expects that Democrats fighting for their current stance, and censuring her Tuesday night, will backfire on them moving forward. 

"I think this was a tremendous misstep on the part of the Democrats, and they are completely misjudging this issue, and they do not understand how vigorously Maine people disagree with them on this policy, and they will at some point regret this action from tonight," she said. 

Libby added that she believes her Republican colleagues have her back as she fights the censure. 

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The New York Jets have already made it known Aaron Rodgers won’t be their starting quarterback heading into the 2025 season. 

So, the four-time MVP will have to search for his third team in the NFL, his second since the Green Bay Packers traded him to New York before the 2023 season. 

And it appears he has a preference. 

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The New York Daily News reports Rodgers prefers to play for the Los Angeles Rams. 

On top of that, Rodgers might take one of his favorite targets, Davante Adams, with him out west once he becomes a free agent. Adams has made it clear he wants to play with Rodgers, and his contract’s hefty $35.65 million cap hit for each of the next two seasons makes him a likely candidate to be cut by New York, which wouldn't come as a shock to the Pro Bowler. 

But there’s another big hurdle to get over. Los Angeles has a quarterback on its roster. 

MATTHEW STAFFORD WANTS $50 MILLION TO PLAY IN 2025 AS RAMS TRADE LOOMS: REPORT

The Matthew Stafford trade rumors are swirling this offseason, and Rodgers’ wishes are on the back burner because the Rams would have to move Stafford before a replacement is acquired. 

NFL Network’s Peter Schrager said Stafford and the Rams have a "fine relationship," but he reports the Super Bowl-winning quarterback wants $50 million or more to play in 2025. That would put him among the top 10 highest-paid quarterbacks in the league, and only one of them — the Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts — has a Super Bowl ring.

The Rams did give Stafford permission to discuss a contract with other teams this offseason despite being under contract for another two seasons. 

According to Sports Illustrated, quarterback-needy teams like the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers have contacted Stafford. Giants GM Joe Schoen even noted at the NFL Scouting Combine he would be "taking swings" at the top quarterbacks on the market, including Stafford. 

For the 2025 season, Stafford carries a $49.67 million cap hit, according to Spotrac, and that cap hit rises to $53.67 million in 2026. 

The Rams also made it clear that veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp, long one of Stafford’s most trusted targets, is on the trade block. He isn’t expected to be at training camp with Los Angeles. 

So, if and when Stafford and Kupp are traded from Los Angeles, perhaps the new duo of Rodgers and Adams could team up with bright, young star Puka Nacua and the rest of the Rams’ squad that won a playoff game in 2024. 

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