Luke Littler’s surprising friendship with David Beckham didn’t start off smoothly when the young darts star accidentally ignored him.
The 17-year-old world champion, who is a big Manchester United fan, looks up to Beckham as one of his idols, along with darts legends Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld.
When Beckham, 49, tried to reach out to Littler during the 2023/2024 PDC World Championships, where Littler lost in the final, the teenager didn’t even notice Beckham’s request to follow him on Instagram and left him waiting for several days.
Littler explained, “It was during the world championships but I didn’t even see it in my requests. I follow him but I didn’t see it. My sister was checking everything to see if anyone had got in contact during the worlds and she found it.”
When they finally got in touch, Littler said Beckham simply said, “Once a Red, always a Red.”
Littler teased Beckham about this at the Sports Personality of the Year ceremony, joking that the former Real Madrid star still hadn’t followed him, even though his sister had found the request months before.
Tom Brady, David Beckham, and his son Romeo in the stands before the match
Since then, Littler, who recently defeated Michael van Gerwen to win the PDC World Championship and avenge his loss from last year to Luke Humphries, is now in regular contact with Beckham, who congratulated him again after his latest victory.
Beckham isn’t the only Manchester United legend to offer Littler encouragement. He also received a pep talk from former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, 83, who led the club to 13 Premier League titles.
However, Littler admitted that Ferguson’s advice didn’t have quite the same impact as Beckham’s. Speaking on the Sky Max show A League of Their Own, Littler said, “If I’m honest, I didn’t really understand him.”
Littler, who hails from Warrington, is also celebrating another milestone. After his World Championship win, it was revealed that ITV would be commissioning a full series of Bullseye. Littler appeared in a Christmas special alongside former Ashes hero Freddie Flintoff, 47. The special was a huge hit, drawing nearly 7 million viewers, and a new batch of episodes is expected to be filmed later this year.
Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods attended the inaugural TGL match at SoFi Center
Shane Lowry’s Mistake at TGL’s First Event
When the first season of TGL began at the SoFi Center last week, Shane Lowry from Ireland forgot to bring a tee to the hitting area, missing the chance to hit the first drive in the history of the new tech-focused golf league.
This was one of the lighter moments of TGL’s opening night, which mostly delivered on its promises: team golf played on the biggest simulator in the world, set in a cutting-edge facility.
TGL is expected to draw even more attention on Tuesday night when Tiger Woods and his Jupiter Links GC team face off against Collin Morikawa and the Los Angeles Golf Club (7 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+).
The opening night marked the result of more than eight years of work by TMRW Sports CEO Mike McCarley, Woods, Rory McIlroy, and others who helped get TGL started.
McCarley spent over 20 years at NBC Sports, starting with “Sunday Night Football” and the Olympics, then becoming president of Golf Channel and leading its golf coverage from 2011 to 2021.
It was during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro that McCarley first came up with the idea of making golf a team sport.
“What you found yourself doing in the four years in between Olympics is spending a lot of time with various sports because they want to find out how they could better present themselves on TV four years later,” McCarley said. “You’re helping them find little things that a sport can do better on TV.”
While in charge of NBC’s golf coverage, McCarley noticed that U.S. Open broadcasts on the West Coast, which aired in prime time on the East Coast, had huge TV ratings. He also saw that team events like the Presidents Cup, Solheim Cup, and Ryder Cup created more excitement and drama than individual tournaments.
“They’re on a team, so they’re having more conversations with each other,” McCarley said. “They’re having real reactions with each other that they wouldn’t have in an individual event. The team nature of it and the prime-time piece of it intensifies the drama.”
In 2020, McCarley wanted to create a golf environment that “feels a little bit like gladiators walking into the Coliseum, and a little bit more of a pressure cooker because there’s a shot clock.”
Rory McIlroy of the PGA Tour talks before The Showdown
How TGL Got Its Start
McCarley’s first pitch for TGL was made to the biggest name in men’s professional golf, 15-time major champion Tiger Woods, in December 2020. McCarley had discussed the idea with Woods’ agent, Mark Steinberg, and longtime business partner Rob McNamara.
McCarley knew that Woods had used a golf simulator at his home to prepare for tournaments throughout his PGA Tour career, so he was familiar with the technology.
Another advantage was that Woods had played in the PGA Tour’s Skins Game six times and had appeared in the first two versions of The Match, another made-for-TV competition.
“There was definitely an order to it,” McCarley said. “First go to Tiger, then Rory, then the PGA Tour, and that was kind of always in my mind.”
With Woods on board, McCarley called Rory McIlroy in January 2021. A few years earlier, they had worked together to launch GolfPass, a program combining instruction, entertainment, and digital media.
McCarley had often discussed with McIlroy and his manager, Sean O’Flaherty, the idea of “embracing technology to kind of create this digital future for golf.”
“I knew that Rory was halfway there in his mind,” McCarley said. “In the phone call, we weren’t even very far into it, and he’s like, ‘I don’t even know what this is yet, and I’m ready to say yes, because it’s kind of hitting on so many themes.'”
McCarley’s Final Challenge: Getting PGA Tour Approval
McCarley’s last major challenge was getting approval from the PGA Tour to allow its members to compete in TGL. In April 2021, he met with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan. At that time, there were rumors that two-time Open Championship winner Greg Norman was trying to create a competing breakaway league. It wouldn’t be until 14 months later that LIV Golf would hold its first tournament in London, with Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and other former PGA Tour members playing.
McCarley assured Monahan that TGL events would take place early in the week and wouldn’t conflict with PGA Tour events. The PGA Tour agreed to allow its members to participate in TGL, something it did not do for LIV Golf, and became a TGL partner.
How the PGA Tour Helped TGL’s Technology
According to McCarley, the PGA Tour’s support was crucial in developing TGL’s technology because it provided his company with historical Shotlink data. This data helped “make sure that we’re one standard deviation away from all the most common misses.”
“Using a lot of the historical data helped us develop some of the very basic early renderings and schematics that we could hand off to architects and other technologists,” McCarley explained.
Building TGL’s Technology
By October 2022, TMRW Sports had installed a full swing simulator and virtual green in a warehouse at its headquarters in Winter Park, Florida. A trip to Stockholm, Sweden, the following month helped move TGL into the next phase.
Andrew Macaulay, who was then the chief technology officer at Topgolf Entertainment Group, set up a temporary screen at an indoor golf range in Stockholm and rented a projector for the week. McCarley and other TGL employees watched the event on Zoom as a Swedish long-drive champion hit shots into the screen from 35 yards away. The video call included people from 16 different time zones, from New Zealand to Hawai’i.
Afterward, McCarley and Scott Armstrong, TMRW Sports’ vice president for competition technology and operations, flew to Sweden to see the setup in person. Macaulay even arranged for sand to be dumped in the middle of the driving range so McCarley and Armstrong could see how bunker shots would be tracked on the simulator.
“There were a lot of discussions, PowerPoint slides, back-of-the-napkin [ideas] and all the usual stuff,” Macaulay said. “But no one up to that point had actually created a really quick prototype in real life for him, which is what we did to try to convince him that our idea was the way to go.”
Tiger Woods hits his tee shot on the fifth hole during the final round of the Chevron World Challenge at Sherwood Country
Macaulay Joins TMRW Sports
Macaulay was hired as TMRW Sports’ chief technology officer in December 2022. He and others began working on developing the technology for the world’s largest golf simulator and a state-of-the-art short game course to go with it.
Challenges and Innovations with TGL’s GreenZone
TGL went through many trials early on. Initially, the plan was to use natural grass on the GreenZone short game area. The goal was ambitious: nearly 600 actuators would change the green’s shape between holes, ensuring that each putting surface was unique. TGL brought in a truckload of Tahoma 31 Bermuda grass, which was developed by scientists at Oklahoma State University, from a sod farm that supplies playing fields to teams like the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs.
“We were concerned about water penetration to the electronics,” said Tanner Coffman, TGL’s director of turf management. “The turf for a football field we were using was fine, but I think when we got down to a really closely mown putting green, it would have cracked over time.”
Instead of using natural grass, TGL decided to use synthetic turf for the GreenZone, which presented its own challenges. The goal was to make sure the golf balls would still bounce and spin like they would on real grass. TGL designers eventually placed the green on a moving turntable, which added variety for each match.
Developing the Short Game Course
Armstrong spent time at short-game instructor Dave Pelz’s backyard in Austin, Texas, where synthetic grass covers his practice area, including reproductions of famous holes like the 12th green at Augusta National, the Road Hole at St. Andrews in Scotland, and the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass.
TGL developers tested hundreds of combinations of materials that could replace the dirt and organic matter found under real putting greens. They eventually settled on seven layers of foam, rubber, and plexiglass. Macaulay wouldn’t share the exact materials under the synthetic turf because TGL has a pending patent on it.
“We’ve created something that didn’t exist before, which is a green that is both receptive to pitch and chip shots,” Macaulay said. “When that ball bounces and rolls, it behaves very similarly to a real green and it putts true. If you were to want a putting green for your backyard, chances are you’d only get one or the other.”
TGL’s New Stadium
TGL broke ground on a new stadium with a domed roof at Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, in February 2023.
Tom Brady’s move into commentary has not been smooth, and it seems to be facing more challenges.
While covering the NFC wild-card game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers, Brady made a noticeable mistake that angered fans, who quickly criticized him for the error.
Some fans even suggested that Brady should be removed from his broadcasting role, saying he’s not suited for it.
Brady Mixes Up Names
Brady came under fire again for his commentary during an NFL game, this time for mixing up player names in his first-ever playoff broadcast.
The former NFL player joined Kevin Burkhardt to commentate the NFC Wild Card game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
Everything seemed fine until halftime, when the Eagles were leading 10-0. That’s when Brady made a mistake that fans didn’t miss.
While trying to praise a play call from Philadelphia, he mistakenly mentioned the city’s baseball team instead of the football team, confusing fans with his error.
“[You have] three timeouts, so you’d have a couple plays. But I like this call by the Phillies… excuse me, by Philly,” Brady said, according to the Daily Mail.
As if that wasn’t enough, Brady made another mistake when he called Packers running back Josh Jacobs, “Brandon Jacobs”—the name of a retired NFL player who hasn’t played in years.
Tom Brady in an sports event
Fans Want Brady to Quit Commentary
On social media, fans quickly pointed out Brady’s mistakes, with many saying he wasn’t fit for the commentary job.
“Maybe Brady’s not cut out for broadcasting,” one user criticized, while another said, “TB is the GOAT, but he is brutal at this.”
Other users added, “Just more Tomfoolery,” “he’s so bad,” and “He’s absolutely atrocious on the microphone!”
Some fans also criticized Brady’s salary for doing commentary, with one writing, “$375 million for stuff like this. @foxsports,” and another saying, “They’re giving this man the GDP of Lithuania to do this.”
Other fans suggested replacing Brady with Gregory Olsen, a former tight end and sportscaster.
One user said, “Get this a-shole out of here and bring back Greg Olsen!” Another added, “Can’t wait for Greg Olsen to be back on the A team next year!”
Tom Brady Forgot Important Team Information During Commentary
Brady’s latest mistake comes after another slip-up late last year when the former football player forgot some important details about the Green Bay Packers during their game against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Fox Sports analyst was talking about the three teams that beat the Packers that season but couldn’t remember their names.
“Two of them to the (Detroit) Lions — they’re a good team,” Brady said, according to Talk Sport. “The (Philadelphia) Eagles, they lost to them. They’re a good team.”
Instead of admitting he couldn’t remember the names of the teams, Brady let an awkward silence fill the air. When he finally spoke, it became even clearer that he didn’t know which teams he was talking about.
“And they lost to the uh …,” Brady said, adding, “Who’d they lose to, the other one?”
In an attempt to cover up his mistake, Brady quickly moved on and started talking about the game itself.
“Anyway,” he said. “They’ve got a big opportunity today to go on the road, and really a litmus test for what they’re going to face in two weeks.”
Tom Brady (NFL)
Tom Brady’s Fox Sports Contract
Tom Brady made his NFL broadcasting debut on September 8 during Fox Sports’ coverage of the Dallas Cowboys’ 33-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
This was the start of his $375 million contract with Fox to become an analyst for NFL games. The deal lasts for 10 years, with Brady set to receive about $37.5 million each year.
With this contract, the seven-time Super Bowl winner is now one of the highest-paid NFL broadcasters, earning more than CBS’ Tony Romo and ESPN’s Troy Aikman.
He Shared a Thoughtful New Year’s Message
On January 2nd, Tom Brady posted a message on his Instagram to reflect on 2024, admitting that the year didn’t go the way he expected.
Along with his message, he shared several photos of himself celebrating the arrival of 2025 with his children. Brady has a 17-year-old son, Jack, with his ex-partner Bridget Moynahan, and two other children, son Benjamin and daughter Vivian, with his ex-wife Gisele Bündchen.
“I couldn’t have imagined a better way to ring in the new year than with the loves of my life,” Brady told his 15.1 million followers. “Reflecting on last year and thinking about the year ahead, there’s no better perspective than looking at these three and always trying to be better for them each day and helping to guide them in whatever way possible.”
He also shared his gratitude, saying he was “so grateful for the experiences, blessings, family, friends, and everyone else who has impacted me along the way” and felt “blessed to have joy and gratitude in my life.”
“No year ever goes exactly the way we want, but when I think about 2024, I could not have imagined anything better,” Brady explained. “So many new experiences that I got to share with amazing people, especially the three beautiful angels in these photos.”
He finished his note by wishing his followers a “happy, healthy 2025” and shared one of his well-known quotes: “The best is yet to come.”
Jude Bellingham celebrates after scoring (Real Madrid)
Deflation is when prices drop instead of rise over time, which is the opposite of inflation.
Most economists agree that while too much inflation is harmful, deflation is usually much worse. If people expect something to cost less next month than it does now, they may decide to wait before buying it. This delays spending, which slows down the economy, reduces tax revenue for the government, causes job cuts due to less spending, and makes everyone worse off.
This is how deflation affects the real world. But what about in the world of football?
People don’t like to talk about it because the situation can look bleak. When clubs need to cut back, they often complain about needing to follow Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), even though they were the ones who decided to put those rules in place.
An analysis of the Premier League—the wealthiest football league—during the last transfer window shows a clear picture of the effects of reduced spending. In that window, net spending dropped by 40%, reaching its lowest level in inflation-adjusted terms since 2014, except for the years affected by COVID. Conversations with club officials, owners, and intermediaries also suggest tough times.
This may not be immediately clear in the current January transfer window, as winter transfers often have a “domino effect.” For example, if Club A buys Player X from Club B, Club B then spends some of that money to buy Player Y from Club C, and so on.
Big clubs like Manchester City may still spend a lot because their ownership isn’t focused on making a profit, and their past profits mean they can afford to lose up to £369 million ($450m) this year and still follow PSR rules.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
But you can also see signs of deflation in other ways. Take Adrien Rabiot, for example. He became a free agent last summer. At 29 years old, he has 50 caps for France (starting all three group stage matches in Euro 2024), and he has experience with big clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus.
You would think he’d have a lot of interest as a free transfer. But no. The summer transfer window ended, and he didn’t find a club until mid-September, joining Marseille for a two-year deal that paid him less than half of what he was making at Juventus.
Then there’s Victor Osimhen. Napoli wanted more than €100m for the 25-year-old Nigerian striker, who scored 48 goals in 71 games over the previous two seasons. They dropped the price to €80m, then €60m, but still didn’t get any buyers. In the end, Osimhen moved to Galatasaray in Turkey on loan in September.
You can also see it in the cases of players at other top clubs. Bayern Munich, who lead the Bundesliga, have players like Joshua Kimmich and Alphonso Davies, who are both set to become free agents at the end of the season.
Kimmich is 29, a possible future captain, and one of the best midfielders in the league. Davies is 24, a top left-side player. Both have been key to Bayern’s success in recent years.
Even Jamal Musiala, a talented attacking midfielder at Bayern, has his contract expiring in 2026. He’s only 21, and some might consider him the club’s best player right now. It would have been almost unthinkable not long ago to let someone of his quality get this close to the end of their contract.
The situation with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (32 and the Premier League’s top scorer), Virgil van Dijk (33 and club captain), and Trent Alexander-Arnold (26 and from Liverpool) has been well discussed. Contract talks are “ongoing,” and everyone is “relaxed” (a word often used in stories like this), and it’s not affecting their performance.
However, it’s hard to recall a time when two major, well-managed, financially stable clubs like Bayern and Liverpool waited so long to extend the contracts of key players, especially in such a successful season.
Everyone is being secretive, but it seems that the reason it’s taking so long is that these contract extensions are not simple. The players and their agents have their own idea of what they’re worth, while the clubs are dealing with a new economic reality.
Virgil van Dijk walks off the field after the game
Real Madrid has said they won’t be making moves in the January transfer window, even though injuries have left them with a 33-year-old winger (Lucas Vázquez) playing right back and a 6-foot-1 central midfielder (Aurélien Tchouaméni) playing center back.
Manchester United is trying to get rid of salaries (not just the one from forward Marcus Rashford), and Manchester City is looking to part ways with club captain Kyle Walker, just a few months after giving him an extension through 2026.
According to Transfermarkt, there have been 16 transfers in history that cost over €100m. If you look closely, you’ll see that more than half of these deals turned out to be failures or moves that clubs wouldn’t make again if they had the chance.
There was a time when you could take a chance on a high-priced transfer, knowing that even if it didn’t work out and you had to sell the player at a loss, you could still find a buyer and manage the financial hit. That’s not the case now. Look at PSG, who are trying to find a new club for forward Randal Kolo Muani, whom they paid €80m for just 18 months ago.
They’ll be lucky to get more than half of what they paid for him, if they ever find a permanent deal. He is set to join Juventus on loan for the rest of the season.
Why? Partly because there aren’t many jobs for center forwards, partly because there aren’t many clubs willing to spend €40m or more on a striker, but mostly because the situation has changed. Clubs are now much more careful with their spending.
This doesn’t only affect the biggest clubs. Teams that have relied on player trading as part of their business model—such as Brighton or Brentford in England, Borussia Dortmund in Germany, Atalanta or Udinese in Italy, Monaco in France, or Sevilla in Spain—are also facing difficulties.
Mohamed Salah celebrates after a goal
You’re less likely to spend €20m or €30m on a promising young winger if you think you won’t be able to sell him for much more than that once he develops.
Take Dortmund’s Donyell Malen. They paid €30m for him from PSV Eindhoven as a 22-year-old in 2021. He didn’t become a superstar like Lionel Messi, but he scored 15 goals as a winger last year and is a regular for the Netherlands. Just 3½ years later, he moved to Aston Villa for €25m.
Perhaps this deflation is just a correction that was overdue, one that was delayed by the huge spending in Saudi Arabia two summers ago. Maybe clubs are realizing that revenue won’t keep growing as it has in the past. Maybe they understand that regulators—like UEFA, the Premier League, or LaLiga (just ask Barcelona)—are serious about enforcing rules.
Maybe they’ve realized that what was once called “investment in the squad” was actually a mix of ego-driven moves and unsustainable financial schemes, which can get very expensive.
Maybe they’ve simply accepted that transfer fees and wages have risen to such high levels that once revenue stops increasing, these costs can only be justified if there are enough buyers willing to take on mistakes. And there are fewer and fewer of those buyers.
Maybe we’ve reached a point where things are becoming more reasonable. Maybe this will eventually turn into a sustainable, mature business.
Hard as it might be to believe, the 2024-25 NHL season is already more than halfway over. The average team has played 53% of the regular season, which equals 43.1 out of 82 games. This means struggling teams don’t have much time left to turn things around, with the March 7 trade deadline just 52 days away.
There’s a hierarchy within the teams feeling the pressure: Some, like the Boston Bruins, are still in the playoff mix despite a rough start. Some, like the Pittsburgh Penguins, are hanging on and hoping their rivals slip up.
Others, like the Buffalo Sabres, are in a position where only a miracle can save their playoff hopes (or they may need to accept the reality that their playoff dreams are over).
Let’s look at 12 teams that hoped to make the playoffs this season but now have a playoff probability of 50% or lower. We’ll break them down into categories based on their current playoff chances and the level of panic within each group.
Can fix this
These teams have playoff odds around 50%, so they still have a chance, but they need to improve in the coming months.
Boston Bruins (22-19)
Playoff odds: 41%
After their record-setting 2022-23 season, the Bruins have taken a step back. They lost key players like Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci but still managed to do well last season. They entered this season with a young roster, but things have not gone as expected.
They fired former NHL Coach of the Year Jim Montgomery six weeks into the season. Under new coach Joe Sacco, the team showed signs of improvement but recently hit another slump that puts their playoff chances in danger.
Must improve: The power play. The Bruins are ranked third-to-last in power-play scoring (13.2%). Only David Pastrnak is in the top 60 for power-play goals. The team has been struggling to score overall, with many forwards performing below their usual levels, and their defensemen aren’t contributing much either. Even Charlie McAvoy is struggling, so they need to capitalize on power-play opportunities.
Special panic factor: They’ve already made a coaching change, which is often a sign that a team is running out of solutions.
New York Rangers (20-20)
Playoff odds: 47%
The Rangers are the biggest example of panic this season. They were looking good in mid-November, but a series of losing streaks and injuries caused their playoff odds to drop significantly.
A few recent wins and the return of star goalie Igor Shesterkin offer hope, but the Rangers are still well below the wild-card cut line. Their playoff odds are this high mainly because the team’s talent suggests they can bounce back in the second half.
Must improve: Big-name production. A team with players like Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, and Adam Fox should not be ranked 20th in scoring with a negative goal differential. Except for Shesterkin, none of the key players have performed at their expected levels this season.
Special panic factor: The market size. Playing in New York, their struggles are under intense scrutiny.
Ottawa Senators (22-18)
Playoff odds: 48%
The Senators are a bit of an odd case. They haven’t made the playoffs since 2017, but they’ve spent a lot in recent offseasons to try to change that. They are currently outside the playoff picture and have been hurt by the absence of key goalie Linus Ullmark due to injury.
The frustration is real, but the team still has a lot of potential, with a positive goal differential on the season. Ottawa has a young core, and there’s still hope they could break through.
Ottawa Senators (NHL)
Must improve: Scoring output. The Senators’ offense ranks 20th in goals per game and 26th in goals per minute at 5-on-5. Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, and Drake Batherson have been solid, but the team needs more scoring from their forwards and defensemen. Ottawa is tied for 29th in points from defensemen, and Jake Sanderson is the only one on track to hit 40 points.
Special panic factor: Another stalled rebuild. Since making the 2017 conference finals, the Senators have gone through several cycles of rebuilding. Will they fall short of the playoffs again?
Vancouver Canucks (19-14)
Playoff odds: 53%
After spending most of last season looking like a potential Stanley Cup contender and playing well against the eventual Western Conference champion Oilers, the Canucks seemed to have a bright future in 2024-25. However, an inconsistent start to the season from everyone except Quinn Hughes led to a slump, with Vancouver losing 12 of 16 games at one point.
Now, they are barely holding onto the final wild-card spot in the conference. There are even reports of the Canucks considering trade offers for key players like J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson. The good news is that Vancouver is still more likely to make the playoffs than not, and they’re a better team than their negative goal differential suggests, but they need to get back to form.
Must improve: Goaltending. Vancouver has fallen from sixth in save percentage last season to 22nd this season. Much of this drop is due to star goalie Thatcher Demko missing time, but even when he’s been available, he hasn’t been playing well with an .883 save percentage.
Special panic factor: The long slump. Spending about a month in a losing streak can cause teams to lose focus on the bigger picture.
Other teams that fall into this category:
Calgary Flames (21-15)
Playoff odds: 35%
Hanging on by a thread
This group has lower playoff odds than the first one. These teams might still have a chance to turn things around, but none of them has shown much movement up the standings yet.
Pittsburgh Penguins (18-20)
Playoff odds: 9%
The Penguins have missed the playoffs the past two seasons despite having veteran stars like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson. They hoped to reignite the old magic with their aging core, and Crosby even signed a two-year extension in September. However, the results have been disappointing.
Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
While Pittsburgh’s power play has improved (ranking fifth after dropping to 30th last season), the team is ranked 16th in scoring and 29th in goal differential, with Malkin currently on injured reserve. The Penguins are still close to a wild-card spot, but they haven’t shown enough to look like a playoff team.
Must improve: Goal prevention. The biggest priority for the Penguins is to improve their defense and goaltending. They’ve allowed fewer than three goals just once since December 17. Their defense is one of the worst in the league, and the goaltending duo of Alex Nedeljkovic and Tristan Jarry has been shaky. Without improvement here, they won’t make the playoffs.
Special panic factor: The end of an era. Pittsburgh is the oldest team in the league by average age, and they’ll eventually have to face the reality of closing the Crosby era.
New York Islanders (17-19)
Playoff odds: 14%
The Islanders have been a consistent playoff team under both former coach Lane Lambert and current coach Patrick Roy in recent years. However, their current playoff odds suggest that streak may come to an end.
They’re right behind their metro rival Rangers in the standings, well below the playoff cutoff. Unlike the Rangers, the Islanders don’t have as much talent outside of goalie Ilya Sorokin, whose performance has been more average this season.
Must improve: Scoring. With Mathew Barzal missing a lot of the early season due to injury, the Islanders are ranked 26th in goals per game and have the league’s worst power play (10.6%). While Anders Lee has had some success scoring, and Barzal has been back for about a month, the team’s scoring hasn’t improved much.
The Islanders had success in the late 2010s and early 2020s with weak offense, but this version of the team isn’t strong enough defensively to sustain that style.
Special panic factor: Running out of time. The Islanders have the fourth-oldest roster in the league, and some key players like Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri will be free agents soon.
St. Louis Blues (21-20)
Playoff odds: 17%
After their surprising Stanley Cup win in 2019, the Blues will always be remembered for their incredible second-half comeback. This season, the Blues are not a bad team, but they are struggling. Since Jim Montgomery took over as coach in late November, the team has been 11-11, which is just average. Staying at .500 won’t be enough to secure a wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
St. Louis Blues (NHL)
Must improve: Special teams. Like the Minnesota Wild, Islanders, Bruins, and Ducks, the Blues are ranked 23rd or worse on both power play and penalty kill. Despite having solid offensive players like Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, Dylan Holloway, and Pavel Buchnevich, only two players have more than two power-play goals. Goalie Jordan Binnington, while decent, has the seventh-worst save percentage on the penalty kill.
Special panic factor: Franchise expectations. The Blues are a proud team, and if they miss the playoffs this year, it will be their second three-year playoff drought in team history.
Detroit Red Wings (20-19)
Playoff odds: 21%
The Red Wings used to make the playoffs for 25 straight seasons, but they haven’t made it in the last eight years. This season, their chances have slowly decreased, and they are currently around a 20% chance of making it. It’s surprising that a team with players like Lucas Raymond, Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Larkin, and Moritz Seider is fighting for a playoff spot.
Must improve: Depth. While the Red Wings have strong players, their depth outside the top five players is lacking. They have the 10th-fewest goals from players outside their top five of any team.
Special panic factor: Impatience. Fans and team management are getting frustrated, especially after general manager Steve Yzerman’s recent outburst when asked about the team’s long rebuild. The Red Wings have been rebuilding for years, and it’s surprising they haven’t broken through yet under the “Yzerplan.”
Other teams in this category:
Utah Hockey Club (18-18)
Playoff odds: 13%
Philadelphia Flyers (19-20)
Playoff odds: 6%
Resigned to their fate
These teams had some hope before the season started but have since accepted that making the playoffs is unlikely.
Chicago Blackhawks (14-28)
Playoff odds: < 1%
The Blackhawks didn’t have high playoff odds to start the season, but there was hope that with Connor Bedard, the team could outperform expectations. Unfortunately, coach Luke Richardson was fired in December, the new players haven’t lived up to expectations, and Bedard has faced unfair criticism as the team continues to struggle.
Must improve: Driving play. One of the main problems for the Blackhawks is that they haven’t been able to control the game. They have ranked last in their share of total shot attempts at 5-on-5 for two straight seasons.
Special panic factor: Bust worries. Much of the criticism of Bedard comes from impatience, with some fearing he might not live up to his “generational prospect” status. However, Bedard is performing well, currently on pace for the eighth-most adjusted points as a teenager in NHL history.
Seattle Kraken (19-23)
Playoff odds: 1%
The Kraken have been compared to their older expansion team brothers, the Golden Knights, who had an immediate success. Seattle tried to follow in their footsteps by making it to the second round in their second season, but they have struggled in their third season under new coach Dan Bylsma. Recently, they went through a tough stretch of three wins in 13 games, which has almost completely ruined their playoff chances.
Must improve: Talent development. The Kraken made some early moves to compete right away, bringing in prime-aged players, but that hasn’t worked out as planned. Some of their younger talents, like 2023 Calder Trophy winner Matty Beniers, haven’t developed as expected. Seattle might need a new strategy for building their team in the future.
Seattle Kraken (NHL)
Special panic factor: Return to expansion woes. Back in 2021, people wondered if the success of Vegas was a fluke or if future expansion teams could be just as competitive. Right now, Seattle is struggling, and it raises concerns that the Vegas model might not be something other expansion teams can replicate.
Nashville Predators (14-22)
Playoff odds: 3%
Nashville had high hopes after adding big-name players in the offseason, including future Hall of Famer Steven Stamkos. On paper, the team looked like a contender, but the decision to bring in several older players and form one of the oldest rosters in the league has not worked out. Aside from solid play from goalie Juuse Saros, the Predators have not met expectations.
Must improve: Approach for 2025-26. Unless there’s an incredible turnaround, the Predators are unlikely to make the playoffs this season. However, they still have many of the same players under contract for the next few years. Nashville will need to figure out how to use its salary cap effectively or make a better plan to get more out of their talent moving forward.
Special panic factor: Fear of the washed vet. Steven Stamkos, at 34 years old, is having one of the worst seasons of his career, and there’s a real concern when a team gives a four-year, $32 million contract to a veteran whose performance drops off.
Buffalo Sabres (16-22)
Playoff odds: 3%
The Sabres have had a long playoff drought, now looking likely to reach 14 years without a postseason appearance. They were in good shape for a while and seemed ready to end the streak, but a shocking 13-game losing streak has almost completely ruined their chances.
Must improve: Defense and goaltending. The Sabres have some talented forwards like Tage Thompson, Jason Zucker, and Alex Tuch, and skilled young defensemen like Rasmus Dahlin, Bowen Byram, and Owen Power. However, the team needs to improve on defense.
They rank 27th in goals allowed per game, 26th in scoring chances allowed per minute, and 28th in save percentage. This lack of defense has been a major reason why Buffalo hasn’t made the playoffs in years.
Special panic factor: Will it ever end?? The longer a playoff drought goes on, the more pressure builds to end it. This can lead to poor decision-making and weigh heavily on the franchise, as seen with teams in the past. The Sabres may need a special group of players to overcome this history, like the 2004 Boston Red Sox or the 2016 Chicago Cubs did.
3 observations after severely undermanned Sixers fall to Thunder originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Sixers couldn’t overcome a huge difference in player availability on Tuesday night against the Western Conference-leading Thunder.
They lost 118-102 at Wells Fargo Center, falling to 15-23 with their third straight defeat. Oklahoma City improved to 33-6.
Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 32 points and nine assists.
For the Sixers, rookie Justin Edwards scored 25 points. Jeff Dowtin Jr. set a career-high with 18 points, and Guerschon Yabusele added 17.
The Sixers will face the Knicks on Wednesday. For their first game in this back-to-back, they were missing several key players. The following players missed the game against OKC:
Tyrese Maxey (left hand sprain)
Joel Embiid (left foot sprain)
Paul George (right ankle soreness)
Caleb Martin (right groin soreness)
KJ Martin (left foot stress reaction)
Andre Drummond (left toe sprain)
Kyle Lowry (right hip sprain)
Jared McCain (left lateral meniscus surgery)
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said before the game that Embiid is “day-to-day.”
Drummond is also day-to-day. He and KJ Martin have recently resumed on-court workouts, according to a team official.
Here are some key takeaways from the Sixers’ undermanned loss on Tuesday:
An early OKC blitz
Ricky Council IV made his first career start, and Reggie Jackson also started his first game as a Sixer.
Council scored on an and-one layup to bring the Thunder’s lead to 10-9. But after that, the Sixers’ deficit grew quickly, and the talent gap between the teams was clear.
The Sixers allowed a 22-2 run. Gilgeous-Alexander seemed to easily get wherever he wanted. He scored a layup along the baseline, cut through the defense for an easy basket, and ended the first quarter with 14 points and three assists. He started 10 for 10 from the floor and didn’t miss a shot until the 8:01 mark of the third quarter.
On the other side, the Sixers saw why OKC has the best defensive rating in the NBA by a wide margin. The Sixers had trouble creating space on their drives. Even when they got into the paint, they struggled to get good shots against the Thunder’s long, athletic, and anticipatory defense.
Shai Gilgeous Alexander reacts in the game
Two-ways and rookies off the bench
The Sixers had only four bench players available on Tuesday, and they used all of them.
The second unit consisted of the team’s two-way players—Dowtin, Edwards, and Pete Nance—and rookie center Adem Bona. Nance got his first chance to play, moving between power forward and center, and finished 18 scoreless minutes.
Edwards was more aggressive on offense than usual and made an immediate impact, scoring nine points on 4-for-5 shooting in his first eight minutes. The Sixers cut OKC’s lead to nine points in the second quarter after an Eric Gordon three-pointer, and they had some defensive success. Of course, it’s easier to defend OKC when Gilgeous-Alexander is on the bench.
Oubre was the Sixers’ main defender on Gilgeous-Alexander and also handled the ball at times. He struggled offensively in the first half, missing all seven of his shots.
On the last possession of the second quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander stole an Edwards pass intended for the baseline and turned the Sixers’ 13th turnover into a dunk just before halftime. This gave OKC a 58-43 lead going into the break.
Nothing stunning in the cards
Nurse called a timeout just 95 seconds into the second half after a Gilgeous-Alexander layup. He subbed out Gordon and put Edwards in.
Dowtin and Edwards kept the game from slipping further away in the third quarter. Dowtin has shown he can score in the G League with the Delaware Blue Coats. Edwards exceeded 17 points only once during his one college season at Kentucky, but he made the most of his opportunity against OKC.
Yabusele came alive in the final part of the third quarter, scoring nine points in the last minute and four seconds. He capped the period with a buzzer-beating put-back layup.
The Sixers kept their comeback attempt going early in the fourth. Long-range shots from Edwards and Gordon cut OKC’s lead to 91-87.
Despite this, the Sixers’ chances of catching up to the Thunder were slim.
Even with Edwards and Dowtin scoring, and OKC showing some lapses in focus, the Sixers didn’t have enough defense to slow down the Thunder. As often happens when Embiid is missing, the Sixers lacked rim protection and couldn’t pull off an upset against a healthier, stronger team.
Steph, Draymond, Kerr have discussed Warriors’ reality together originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
If the Warriors can figure things out and make a run for the playoffs, it would be a great thing. But three key figures in the team’s foundation aren’t willing to sacrifice the team’s future for the sake of immediate playoff success.
After Golden State stars Steph Curry and Draymond Green recently explained why they don’t think the Warriors, who are currently one game below .500, should make a desperate trade, Steve Kerr shared that this has been a topic of conversation among the three of them.
“We’ve talked about this,” Kerr told 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs” on Tuesday. “The three of us have been together for so long. We have these types of conversations, and so, yes, we’ve discussed it. I’m really impressed with these guys and how much they care about the Warriors and the team’s future.
And you’re right, a lot of players in their situation might say, ‘Forget the future, let’s trade everything and see what happens.’
“That’s not who they are, and part of that is because they’re Warriors for life. It’s like how Dirk Nowitzki watches Dallas games from the sidelines like a fan, and that’s really cool. I think that’s how Steph and Draymond will be once they retire. They’ll be Warriors fans. They want the best for the team’s future, and they’re thinking clearly about this.”
After the Warriors gave the Toronto Raptors their second win in 18 games on Monday night, Curry told reporters the Warriors shouldn’t make a “desperate” trade. Last week in Detroit, Green told Yahoo Sports’ Vince Goodwill that trading away the future for one last shot at a championship is something “bad teams” do.
Stephen Curry in the 2nd half
Curry, Green, and Kerr are all on the same page.
“We’re in a very unique and tough situation, but it’s no one’s fault,” Kerr said. “This is just the reality of sports and life. We had this amazing run, and now we’re at the end of it, trying to hold on. And we know it’s a young man’s game.
We were the rising team 10 years ago, like Oklahoma City and Houston. Now, we’re on the decline. We know that. We’ve all talked about it. It would be so irresponsible for the franchise to trade everything for one last shot at a title.
“You have to know your position as a team. You have to understand where the rest of the league stands. And in my opinion, and I think Mike’s, Steph’s, and Draymond’s, now is not the time to bet everything on one big gamble.
That would be irresponsible. So, we know where we stand, which is in the middle of the pack, with a bunch of teams who are either good enough or not good enough. We need to figure out if we are. And being good enough means can we make it to the playoffs and give ourselves a chance? That’s what we’re trying to do.”
As the 2024-25 NBA season reaches its halfway point, the Warriors are still searching for a winning formula. Kerr took responsibility for the team’s struggles after their loss in Toronto on Monday, and the on-court results show that only a major trade would likely push the Warriors back to the top.
However, Curry, Green, and Kerr have been in this position before. They would rather give the next generation of Warriors stars a fair chance to reach the top too, instead of risking everything for one last shot at glory.
Steph Curry thinks the Warriors should be careful when considering trades for players that could improve their struggling team.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith strongly disagrees.
After the Warriors lost 104-101 to the Toronto Raptors on Monday at Scotiabank Arena, Curry spoke to reporters about his teammate Draymond Green’s comments on the team possibly sacrificing its future to make moves for winning now. Curry agreed with Green, saying the front office should be cautious when making trades before the NBA’s February 6 trade deadline.
“Desperate trades or desperate moves that deplete the future, there is a responsibility on allowing or keeping the franchise in a good space and good spot when it comes to where we leave this thing when we’re done,” Curry said.
“Doesn’t mean that you’re not trying to get better. It doesn’t mean that you’re not active in any type of search to, if you have an opportunity where a trade makes sense or even in the summer free agency [move] makes sense. You want to continue to get better.
“Nobody wants to be stale or be in a situation where you’re passing up opportunities. But it doesn’t mean that you’re desperate, just flinging assets all around the place just because you want to do something.”
Steve Kerr talks with Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry courtside during a break in the first half
Smith talked about Curry’s comments on Tuesday’s episode of “First Take,” where he disagreed with Curry’s view that the team doesn’t need to make desperate moves and possibly sacrifice its future to win now.
“I was surprised at what Steph Curry said, and I got to admit to you, I don’t know how to feel about it,” Smith said. “Because on one hand, I really really appreciate the selflessness on Steph Curry’s part. But in the same breath, I’m saying he is still great. He is still the greatest shooter god ever created. He is still made of that championship armor.
“… You can’t stop where you are at this pace when you’ve got a guy like Steph Curry. You’re wasting away. So even though I appreciate what he said, it’s hard to believe that he believes that. And if he does believe that, god bless him, but I don’t give a damn.
If I’m Joe Lacob, I’m like, ‘what’s the chances of at any time in the remainder of my lifetime as owner of the Golden State Warriors that I’m going to find me another Steph Curry?’ What’s the chances of me pulling that off? I’ve got to capitalize and max this out.”
While Smith makes a valid point about maximizing Curry’s remaining time in his NBA career, that’s not what Curry is saying.
Curry absolutely wants the team to work toward winning another championship, but he doesn’t want that to come at the cost of trading away all of the team’s young talent and leaving the Warriors in a worse situation than when he joined in 2009.
Sam Darnold reacts after being sacked in the 2nd half
Just two weeks ago, Sam Darnold was having an incredible season and was set to earn a big contract.
But after two poor performances in the most important games of his career, his future in football is now uncertain.
Darnold struggled on Monday night in his first playoff game. The Los Angeles Rams beat his Minnesota Vikings 27-9, knocking them out of the playoffs. This loss ended the Vikings’ 14-win season with a disappointing result and no playoff victory.
The Rams came into the game with a clear plan: put pressure on Darnold early and see how he would handle it. They succeeded right from the Vikings’ first drive. Darnold was unsure of himself all night and often missed his targets when he did manage to throw the ball.
With everything on the line, Sam Darnold didn’t rise to the occasion on Monday night. (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
Rams pass rush sets tone early
The Rams sacked Darnold on the Vikings’ second play, setting up a third-and-21 and forcing a quick three-and-out. Another sack on the Vikings’ second drive slowed them down and limited them to just a field goal.
On Minnesota’s third possession, Darnold threw an interception. Rams cornerback Cobie Durant read Darnold’s pass to Jordan Addison and jumped in front of it near midfield.
Minnesota’s next drive was even worse. Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon blitzed from the left side and hit Darnold, causing a strip-sack. Darnold didn’t see him coming. Rookie linebacker Jared Verse picked up the fumble and ran down the sideline untouched for a 57-yard touchdown, giving the Rams a 17-3 lead.
Minnesota Vikings players celebrate in the 2nd half
By halftime, the Vikings had sacked Darnold two more times, making a total of six sacks. According to ESPN, that’s the most first-half sacks in a playoff game since Washington did it to the Vikings in the 1988 NFC Championship game.
The sixth sack, by Rams player Kobie Turner, resulted in a turnover on downs in the Vikings’ territory. The Rams took advantage with a 39-yard touchdown drive, extending their lead to 24-3 before halftime.
Another disappointing high-pressure performance
Darnold played a little better in the second half and led the Vikings to a touchdown drive in the third quarter. However, it was too little too late. The deficit from the first half was too large to overcome. A sack in the fourth quarter ended any hope of a comeback, and the Rams won easily.
Darnold finished the game completing 25 of 40 passes for 245 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He was sacked nine times, losing 82 yards, and he also lost a fumble. This was the second straight poor performance for Darnold in critical games.
The Vikings had a chance to skip the wild-card round and secure the NFC North and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs in a winner-take-all regular-season finale against the Lions. They lost 31-9, and Darnold struggled with his accuracy, completing only 18 of 41 passes (41.9%) for 166 yards and no touchdowns.
J.J. McCarthy (NFL)
What do the Vikings do now?
After these disappointing performances, the Vikings now face a tough decision in the offseason about their most important position. Should they re-sign Darnold, or let him go as a free agent and give the starting role to J.J. McCarthy?
Darnold was never supposed to be in this position. The Vikings had drafted McCarthy in the first round last year as their quarterback for the future. They signed Darnold as a veteran backup to help until McCarthy was ready to start.
A meniscus injury ended McCarthy’s rookie season before it even began, and Darnold was forced into the starting role. He had struggled in past starting chances with the Panthers and Jets after being selected by the Jets as the No. 3 overall pick in 2018.
But this time, in his third chance as a starter in his seventh NFL season, Darnold played well. He led the Vikings to a 14-3 record, the third-best in the league, and made his first Pro Bowl, completing 66.2% of his passes for 254.1 yards per game, with 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
It was a redemption story for Darnold in a sport that loves those kinds of stories. But the 2024 season ends with a big question mark that the Vikings can’t ignore. That question mark will likely cost Darnold money and could even cost him another year as the Vikings’ starting quarterback.
There’s a solid point to be made that if you’re a first-year NFL quarterback and your team makes the playoffs, you’re no longer really a rookie. By the time your first postseason game arrives, the other team has a whole season of your game tape to study, and the pressure of the game is much higher, making the experience very different from the regular season.
For Washington Commanders’ quarterback Jayden Daniels, this point might need to be reconsidered. As the second overall pick in the 2024 draft, Daniels rarely looked like a rookie during the regular season.
He completed 69.0% of his passes for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns, nine interceptions, and a passer rating of 100.1, ranking 10th among starting quarterbacks. On top of that, Daniels rushed 148 times for 891 yards (6.0 yards per carry) and six touchdowns, showing that he far exceeded what we would typically expect from a first-year quarterback.
In Washington’s 23-20 wildcard victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Daniels showed even more of his skills. He completed 24 of 35 passes for 268 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 110.2. He also ran 13 times for 36 yards and helped convert several crucial plays against a Buccaneers defense that tried to attack him both as a passer with blitzes and as a runner with stacked defensive fronts.
But despite these efforts, it didn’t work. As a passer, Daniels was able to handle Tampa Bay’s frequent blitzes because of his ability to read defenses before the play even starts, with everything he does coming from his deep understanding of the game.
A perfect example of this came on Daniels’ second passing attempt of the game, a 35-yard completion to Terry McLaurin. Tampa Bay’s defense had set up a complicated blitz, but Daniels recognized it, adjusted, and made a smooth downfield throw as if he were just playing a casual game.
Daniels was pressured on 15 of his 40 dropbacks, completing seven of 12 passes for 97 yards, both of his touchdown passes, and a passer rating of 123.1. As the game went on, Daniels was also asked to extend drives by running when the score was close. The most important moment came on a four-yard run on third-and-two from the Tampa Bay 19-yard line with 55 seconds left.
Detroit Lions players celebrate after an interception
With the score tied at 20-20, getting the first down was essential because the Commanders needed to run the clock down before kicking the game-winning field goal. Tampa Bay defensive lineman Calijah Kancey managed to break through Washington’s offensive line and almost caused a negative play.
However, after a clever fake handoff to running back Brian Robinson, Daniels avoided Kancey’s tackle, and Kancey was left frustrated. Daniels’ ability to pick up the first down in that moment showed how defenders had felt all season when trying to stop him. After a kneeldown, the Commanders secured their first playoff win since 2005, also against the Buccaneers.
The Commanders converted eight of their 15 third-down attempts and three of their five fourth-down attempts, with Daniels playing a major role in those successes. “We were going to be bold but not reckless,” said Commanders head coach Dan Quinn after the game. “And I think that’s who we [have been] the whole season.
You just have to stay the course knowing that, ‘Hey, keep your chin tucked and keep swinging,’ knowing that this is going to be a game that’s going to go all the way down to the end.” You don’t take those kinds of risks unless you’re fully confident in your quarterback’s ability to read the defense. Now, Daniels has even had a Hall of Fame quarterback compare him, in some ways, to Patrick Mahomes.
Daniels will have another chance to prove himself when the Commanders face the Detroit Lions, the top team in the NFC. Washington’s defense isn’t strong, which is bad news against Detroit’s excellent offense, but from a tendency perspective, the Lions aren’t well-prepared to handle Daniels. The Lions have played man coverage the most in the NFL this season, covering 44.9% of their defensive snaps.
Washington Commanders players celebrate after the win
Daniels has excelled against man coverage, completing 75 of 134 passes for 987 yards, nine touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 98.7. The Lions also blitz a lot, bringing five or more pass-rushers on 36% of their snaps, the fifth-highest rate in the league.
Daniels has been great against the blitz, completing 39 of 67 passes for 565 yards, five touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 110.6. Daniels’ running ability also works in his favor, especially against the Lions’ defense, which has struggled with injuries. Detroit’s defense has allowed 449 rushing yards, 167 yards after contact, and six touchdowns on 68 quarterback runs this season.
Their yards per carry allowed is the second-worst in the NFL at 6.6 yards, and their first down percentage allowed is also one of the worst. In simple terms, it’s hard to stop Daniels on a regular basis, and the Lions will have to change their approach to limit his impact.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell is fully aware of Daniels’ abilities. “He is dangerous,” Campbell said of Daniels. “He’s dangerous; he poses a major threat. He does not play the position like a rookie quarterback.
He’s composed, he understands how to progress, he sees the field well, he can buy time with his legs, he’s a dangerous runner, he’s smart, you can tell he understands how to run that offense and what they’re asking him to do, and then he’s got weapons.
I mean, they’ve got weapons, [The] O-line plays hard. But he’s a difference-maker.” On Saturday, we’ll see just how much of a difference Daniels can make once again. It will not be an ordinary game plan for a rookie quarterback because Daniels has already moved past that stage.
Jordan Love will need to continue growing as the Green Bay Packers’ starting quarterback without his respected position coach, Tom Clements.
The Packers announced that Clements, 71, is retiring, and head coach Matt LaFleur said that the next step for Love’s development is to take on a stronger vocal leadership role within the team.
“I think the next step is just to continue to evolve as a vocal leader,” LaFleur said of Love during his season wrap-up press conference on Tuesday.
Clements will be remembered as the only coach to have worked with Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and Jordan Love.
This marks Clements’ second or third retirement, depending on how he views it. He first joined Green Bay as quarterbacks coach in 2006 under Mike McCarthy and left after the 2016 season. He took two years off before the Arizona Cardinals hired him to work with Kyler Murray, who was named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2019.
Clements also coached for the Saints, Chiefs, Steelers, and Bills.
In 2023, Clements told ESPN that if he had retired after his first stint with Green Bay, then he would have been “retired, retired” after the 2020 season in Arizona. However, Rodgers convinced him to return to Green Bay in 2022 after Luke Getsy left to become the offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears.
“Man, it’s been a cool ride with him for the last three years,” LaFleur said about Clements, a former star quarterback in the Canadian Football League after his college career at Notre Dame.
Green Bay Packers players in the practice
“Talk about Favre, Rodgers, and then the development of Jordan Love. I mean, that’s pretty cool. I know he’s meant a lot to this organization — his contributions — and he will definitely be missed. I can’t say enough great things about him. I really appreciate him.”
Clements had two stints with the Packers, coaching quarterbacks Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and Jordan Love during his 14 seasons with the team.
The Packers have several in-house candidates to replace Clements, including assistant quarterbacks coach Connor Lewis and former NFL quarterback Sean Mannion, who joined the Packers’ staff this season as an offensive assistant. Getsy also spent part of this season as a consultant after he was fired as the Raiders’ offensive coordinator.
The next coach for Love will be responsible for helping him grow as a starting quarterback. LaFleur called Love “an ascending player that is going to get better and better and better,” adding that he believes Love’s leadership role will keep growing.
“I think that just kind of comes with the position naturally,” LaFleur said. “I think he’s taken steps to get there, but I think he can really demand a lot because the locker room respects him. And they respect him not only as a person but by the work he puts in. He’s a grinder. He’s one of the guys; I think that’s one of his best qualities is he is one of the guys.”
“They all respect him, but I think, when things aren’t quite right, I think he can voice that as well. When guys aren’t quite doing what they’re supposed to be doing, and he’s one of the guys to talk to [them] about that. I just think it means more when it comes from your quarterback than it does from me or one of our other coaches.”
Matt LaFleur and Jordan love to celebrate after a touchdown
After a strong finish to his first season as a starter in 2023, which led to a four-year, $220 million contract extension, Love missed two games early in the season because of a knee injury and dealt with a groin injury midseason.
He threw 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions during the regular season, but went the last seven regular-season games without an interception, only to throw three in the playoff loss to the Eagles on Sunday.
The Packers finished the season with 11 wins but ended with a three-game losing streak, including the playoffs, during which the offense struggled.
“Do I think he can play better? Absolutely,” LaFleur said. “Do I think I can help him out and be better? Absolutely. Do I think we can play better around him? Absolutely.”
“I just think it’s too much to put it on one person. I really do. I think collectively, we have to be better, and I expect better. We performed at a pretty high level a majority of the season and then took a dive. That’s why it feels, I’d say, different than a year ago.”
Mike Tomlin has a clear message for any team thinking about asking the Steelers about a possible trade for him.
“Save your time,” the head coach said during his season-ending press conference on Tuesday.
After the Steelers’ fifth consecutive playoff appearance that ended with a quick exit, there has been much debate about Tomlin’s future with the team. Tomlin, who signed a three-year extension last offseason and just completed his 18th season as head coach, understands the frustration of the fans.
“I understand the nature of what it is that we do, the attention and criticism that comes with it,” he said. “As a matter of fact, I embrace it, to be quite honest with you. I enjoy the urgency that comes with what I do and what we do.”
“I don’t make excuses for failure. I own it, but I also feel like I’m capable and so as long as I’m afforded an opportunity to do that, I will continue, but I certainly understand their frustrations and probably more importantly than that, I share it because that’s how I’m wired.”
Tomlin expressed his disappointment with how the season ended but admitted that the five-game losing streak to finish the season, including a 28-14 wild-card loss to the Ravens, was “football justice.”
“I don’t view it as misfortune, to be quite honest with you,” Tomlin said. “Particularly at this level in this business and game, there’s football justice. You get what you deserve, and so we are here and we’re here for really tangible reasons.
We didn’t involve in the right ways. We didn’t strike the right chords at the right time, particularly down the stretch.”
Pittsburgh Steelers players celebrate after kicking a field goal
Tomlin said there would be “changes” within the organization, but he didn’t go into specifics, saying the postseason review process was just beginning. He had met with the players as a group on Monday and started individual exit meetings. He also spoke with owner Art Rooney II and general manager Omar Khan.
“Certainly, there’s change that comes when we don’t have the desired outcome, and so those are just the realities of the business,” Tomlin said. “I would imagine there’s going to be some things that change around here on a lot of levels, but that’s this game as I’ve mentioned, and so I understand that.
I’m open to that really just beginning the processes of some of the decision-making that has to transpire.”
One possible change is in the quarterback position. Both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are on expiring contracts, and the team signed quarterback Skylar Thompson on Tuesday afternoon, according to Thompson’s agency.
Thompson, who was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft, played in 10 games with three starts over two seasons for Miami, recording one touchdown and three interceptions.
Wilson said Monday that “the plan” is to be in Pittsburgh in 2025, but he admitted he hasn’t yet met with the Steelers to discuss it.
Tomlin said he believes both Wilson and Fields can help the Steelers move forward and reach their goals.
“Just their professionalism, approach to business, their relationship with the game was an encouragement in that regard,” Tomlin said when explaining his belief.
Sean Payton shake hands with Mike Tomlin after the game
Tomlin also expressed confidence in Fields, who went 4-2 as a starter to begin the season, saying he could be a full-time starter if Wilson leaves in free agency.
“I thought that the way that he managed his professional circumstance was really impressive,” Tomlin said. “I thought he brought an urgency to his day-to-day work regardless of his role. I thought he got continually better within our system of ball throughout the process. I thought the way he conducted himself makes that a legitimate thought or idea at this juncture.”
Even though Tomlin doesn’t think the organization is stuck, despite the six playoff losses in eight years, he was not quick to offer hope for the future.
“I’m certainly disappointed that I’m not working to prepare to play this week,” he said. “And I’ve certainly felt that in recent years, but stuck is kind of a helpless feeling, and I don’t know that I feel helpless.”
He added: “I don’t know that I’m ready to be overly optimistic or sell optimism to you either. I’m just acknowledging what transpired and what has to happen and what is beginning to happen and acknowledging the complexity and the amount of work that’s ahead of us.
Certainly feel capable, but definitely don’t feel in the mood for optimism or the selling of optimism. I don’t know that that’s appropriate. It is disappointing not to be working and so that’s where we are.”
