MIAMI GARDENS, FL - OCTOBER 30: Minkah Fitzpatrick #29 of the Miami Dolphins lines up before the snap during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens at Hard Rock Stadium on October 30, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Miami Dolphins have plenty of roster decision to make this coming offseason and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick could be one of those players. Fitzpatrick was solid for the Dolphins last season on defense and would be a great piece for Jeff Hafley to work with. But the Dolphins have to find ways to become cap compliant which means Fitzpatrick could be a trade candidate or perhaps the team can keep him and reward him with a contract extension that would not effect the cap situation too much.
You can check out that story here, and the rest of the day’s round-up below.
The snow is finally melting, and that means March — and the accompanying madness — is right around the corner.
The 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament begins in Dayton with the First Four and ends two hours to the west with the Final Four and the national championship game in Indianapolis.
Below are the dates and venues for the entire tournament, with links to buy tickets.
Here’s a rundown of the schedule for the 2026 NCAA men's tournament:
First Four: March 17-18
First round: March 19-20
Second round: March 21-22
Sweet 16: March 26-27
Elite Eight: March 28-29
Final Four: April 4 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis
National championship game: April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis
March Madness 2026 game locations, venues, tickets
First- and second-round games will be held at eight cities spanning across four time zones. Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games will be held at regional sites before the final four teams converge on Indianapolis in early April.
Here’s a look at where 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament games will take place:
In his first season as Patriots head coach, Mike Vrabel took over a team that had gone 4-13 two years in a row and took them to the Super Bowl. He's undoubtably off to a good start.
But after a disappointing performance in Super Bowl LX, Vrabel said his team still has work to do.
Vrabel noted that every team makes changes, and sometimes those changes mean moving on from players who contributed to them making the Super Bowl.
"There'll be some difficult decisions that we'll have to make, and we'll try to do them with the team's best interest in mind. As always, that'll never change," Vrabel said.
Those changes will likely revolve around older, more expensive players.
"As I was taught, we talk about the business of the NFL, we're looking for the better, younger, cheaper player every day, and the players that we have are trying to not let that happen," Vrabel said. "And that's the dynamic. That's the business of the National Football League."
The Patriots are in good salary cap shape, but that doesn't mean they'll pay a player more than they think he'll be worth in 2026 just because they appreciate the contributions he made in 2025. If they think they can improve the roster by moving on from some of the players who helped them get to the Super Bowl, they'll do so.
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Controversy is swirling in curling at the Winter Olympics and it’s all centering on whether the mighty Canadian team is cheating.
Both men's and women's teams have now been accused of the same infraction: double-touching the curling stone after it is released.
Here's a look at the whole controversy and why it has exploded:
What happened at the curling center in Cortina
On Friday, Swedish curler Oskar Eriksson accused Canadian curler Marc Kennedy of breaking the rules by touching the rock again after initially releasing it down the sheet of ice. Kennedy blew up, launching an expletive-laden outburst.
That was before video appearing to show a clear double-touch by Kennedy circulated on social media, taken by Swedish public broadcaster SVT. Still, he maintained his innocence. The Canadians won the match, 8-6.
Late Saturday, an umpire accused acclaimed Canadian skip Rachel Homan of the same infraction in Canada's match against Switzerland. The umpire stopped play and the stone was removed from play. Homan looked shocked and denied the allegation.
Again, video spread on social media appearing to show her double-touch. The Canadians lost to the Swiss, 8-7.
There are rules against double-touching
After the uproar, World Curling clarified that double-tapping is not allowed, issuing a statement: “During forward motion, touching the granite of the stone is not allowed. This will result in the stone being removed from play."
Here is what the Canadians say
Asked about the footage, Kennedy said: "If somebody said to you, ‘Hey, do you double-touch all the time?’ I honestly, in that split second of a moment, I couldn’t even tell you if I do or not.”
He then suggested the whole thing might have been “premeditated planning to try to catch us.”
“They’ve come up with a plan to catch teams in the act,” Kennedy said.
Homan, meanwhile, postulated that she was being unfairly targeted because of the controversy on the men’s side.
“I don’t understand the call. I’ll never understand it. We’ve never done that,” she said. “It has nothing to do with us.”
Why this is such a big story
As fierce as the competition can be, curling has a quiet camaraderie to it even though there have been scandals (see: Broomgate, a sweeping-related headache that World Curling believes it solved last June). So it sticks out when there are allegations of cheating.
Canada is also the top nation in curling, easily its biggest market and where the biggest non-Olympic competitions tend to take place. They are taking it personally that their integrity is coming under attack in front of a global audience at the Olympics, which touts the values of respect and friendship.
The athletes playing for Canada and Sweden used to be close off the ice – huge rivals, sure, but admiring of each other’s curling skills. Now there’s clear animosity between the teams, which is intriguing for the casual viewer but a sad blow to the curling community.
What is next
Canada’s curlers are where they don’t want to be in the middle of a Winter Olympics: on the back foot, not just questioning their technique – “We’ll make some adjustments, release-wise, if we have to,” Kennedy said – but also srambling to be in the mix for medals at the end of the week.
Kennedy had the worst shot success of Canada’s four players in its only game Saturday, according to tournament statistics. Canada lost 9-5 to Switzerland, a team it was expected to beat.
All eyes are on both teams now. The Canadian men would not face Sweden again before the semifinals, should both teams make it, and that would be must-see TV whether you’re a curling fan or not.
Byron Murphy II and the Seahawks took the crown in a competitive NFC West, then followed up with a Super Bowl win.Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters
It doesn’t take long for the egg the start dripping from our faces. The early September headline accompanying our 2025 NFL predictions – Will it be Mahomes, Jackson or Allen in the Super Bowl? – was the ultimate hedge. After all, what were the odds that one of them wouldn’t emerge from the AFC?
Then there was the reality. Mike Vrabel’s dramatic turnaround of New England. The Bears transforming from worst-to-first in the NFC North under Ben Johnson. The first-half magic of Daniel Jones. The successful pairing of Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Sam Darnold.
Aside from foreseeing the annual disaster that is the New York Jets, our crystal balls largely failed us. The good news is that we weren’t alone in faceplanting on our predictions. Seriously, who saw MVP contender Drake Maye coming?
Time to take a few deep breaths, grab a security blanket, and revisit our 2025 NFL predictions. (You can read them in full here.)
Best team whowon’t make the playoffs
What we said before the season: We thought the Rams would miss out due to Matthew Stafford’s herniated disc being a “case of when, not if, he is replaced by Jimmy Garoppolo”. We also believed Washington would thrive under “phenom” Jayden Daniels and that Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, the NFL’s “top quarterback-wide receiver duo”, would get the Bengals close. (Yes, we assumed Burrow would remain healthy for an entire season.) We thought Minnesotawould narrowly miss out because JJ McCarthy is no Darnold, We believed the Bears offense would take a leap under Johnson but still miss out.
What actually happened:Burrow lasted two weeks before turf toe erased most of his season. Cincinnati finished 6-11. Daniels was riddled with a litany of injures and completed only four full games. Washington was eliminated after Week 14. Meanwhile, 37-year-old Stafford was named MVP after the best season of his career. The 12-5 Rams reached the NFC championship game, a thrilling battle many will consider the real Super Bowl.
MVP
What we said before the season: Three of us were firm believers in the Lamar Jackson revenge tour. We believed that Jackson’s mightiest MVP challengers, aside from Josh Allen, would be “Mahomes, Hurts, Daniels, Stroud, Purdy and Jordan Love”. Earning one vote each were Patrick Mahomes, who “won’t turn the ball over and he will have the comeback narrative on his side”, and Daniels, who would confirm he is a “legit superstar”.
What actually happened: Stafford. Maye. Stafford. Maye. Stafford prevailed in the closest MVP vote since 2003. Of the names we bandied about, including Jackson and his seven contenders, only one (Allen) finished in the top five in MVP voting.
Rookie to watch
What we said before the season: Two of us loved Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty, believing he “has all the tools to transform a franchise”. Another two believed that the addition of Abdul Carter would help the New York Giants “quietly have one of the most fearsome pass-rushs in the league”, and that Carter could “flirt” with the 13 sacks Micah Parsons attained as a rookie. Also receiving a nod was No 1 overall pick Cam Ward, who we said has “better targets than one might expect for a guy taking over a 3-14 team”.
What actually happened: Carolina’s Tetairoa McMillan was the runaway winner for Offensive Rookie of the Year after collecting 1,014 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger, a constant nuisance, took defensive rookie honors. Carter started slow, finishing the season with four sacks, though the Giants still had one of the league’s better pass rushes. Ward’s season was forgetable. He was sacked a league-high 55 times and Tennessee again finished 3-14. Fellow rookie quarterbacks Tyler Shough and Jaxson Dart were far more impactful. Productive as Jeanty was (1,300-plus yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns), it turns out the Raiders need far more than a rookie rusher to transform their franchise.
AFC East
What we said before the season: Five prognosticators. Five votes for Buffalo. We called the Bills “the biggest division lock across the NFL”, though we pointed out “serious concerns” about the Bills defense. A few of us all acknowledged that the Patriots were “up-and-coming”. Still, we thought Buffalo would “waltz through the division.”
What actually happened: Buffalo’s five-year hold on the division was snatched by New England, who miraculously finished 14-3 after a 4-13 campaign in 2024. Buffalo earned a wildcard berth despite many gaps in their defense, especially against the run. Allen had the highest completion percentage of his career, though was only the second-best quarterback in the division. Maye narrowly lost out on MVP after his breakout season. Meanwhile, the Jets became the first team in modern NFL history not to collect a single interception over the course of a season.
What we said before the season: It was another sweep, this time in favor of the Ravens with their “top-tier defense” and “most stacked roster in the NFL”. We called Jackson “the best player in the NFL” and while we acknowledged the Steelers’ improvement, we considered Cincinnati the most legitimate contender.
What actually happened: TheRavens missed the playoffs. Jackson was inconsistent and riddled with a litany of injuries. Baltimore’s defense was a disappointment. Jaire Alexander, thought to be a key addition, was traded to Philadelphia after two games. It was Pittsburgh whotook the division at 10-7 thanks to some gutsy wins. Their defense was brilliant at times, and Aaron Rodgers did enough to keep them in games. More importantly, Rodgers kept the drama away. Myles Garrett set the NFL’s season-sack record, and that’s all worth mentioning about Cleveland.
AFC South
What we said before the season: More group-think as we unanimously picked the Texans thanks to their “top-five defense”. We didn’t sleep on Jacksonville, noting that “no team has a higher floor or ceiling given the weapons on offense and the new coaching staff,” but thought them “too green”. One of us thought the Titans would be entertaining with Ward but couldn’t say the same about the Colts since they were “rolling out Daniel Jones as their win-now option”.
What actually happened: A hot start from the quite entertaining Danny Dimes – with a wee assist from Jonathan Taylor – put the Colts in the driver’s seat until they petered out in the second half. Jacksonville and Houston ended the regular season as two of the hottest teams in football. Both earned a postseason berth, but it was Jacksonville under first-year coach Liam Coenwho took the title. Trevor Lawrence took the next step, defensive end Josh Hines-Allen was a standout, and the Jags appear to be a force to reckoned with for the near future.
AFC West
What we said before the season: Only three of us took the Chiefs, while two picked Denver. We were enamored with the Broncos defense and believed “Bo Nix doesn’t need to take a major leap forward for Denver to be a force”. No one who picked Kansas City was exactly confident, acknowledging the Broncos and Chargers’ potential but ultimately said “it’s the Chiefs until it ain’t”.
What actually happened:Denver happened. Their defense was a force, collecting 68 sacks. Bo Nix worked perfectly in Sean Payton’s system. And the Broncos ended the Chiefs’ nine-year rule of the division. Kansas City missed the playoffs amid a disappointing campaign from Mahomes that ended with the star QB tearing his ACL in Week 15.
NFC East
What we said before the season: It was an Eagles sweep. “Is there a more foolproof roster in the NFL?”, we asked rhetorically. We did consider the Commanders a threat given how they “strengthened the offense around Daniels”.
What actually happened:Philadelphia easily took the division thanks to the no one else topping .500. The 11-6 Eagles fell flat on offense, finishing just 21st in points per game. Dallas at 7-9 finished as division runner-up, while Washington went 5-12 and rolled out an offense that was anything but fortified.
NFC North
What we said before the season: Another unanimous vote, this time for Green Bay. We said the acquisition of Parsons would be “division altering” and thought the Packers had entered the season with all the ingredients of a contender. We thought the Lions and Vikings would duke it out for a wildcard spot, though one of predicted Minnesota would miss Darnold. Only one of us even mentioned the Bears and it was just to say they are “improved but not quite there yet”.
What actually happened: None of us saw the immediate impact of Ben Johnson coming. Chicago took the title as Johnson turned Caleb Williams into a star who proved clutch as they come. The NFC North was the tightest of divisions with the Vikings and Lions, both at 9-8, narrowly missing out on the postseason. And yes, the Vikings did miss Darnold.
NFC South
What we said before the season: Three of us believed the Buccaneers would take the title thanks to “the most well-rounded roster in the division” and “best offensive line in the league – when Tristan Wirfs is healthy”. One writer picked the Falcons due to their “high-powered offense” while the another opted for Panthers deeming the division up for grabs.
What actually happened: What the division lacked in quality, it made up in late season intrigue – namely who of these uninspired teams would spark the playoff-seeding debate. The Bucs and Panthers entered Week 18 with the division up for grabs. Despite finishing 8-9 and scoring fewer points than all but one NFC team, the Panthers took the title. The Bucs and Falcons also finished 8-9.
NFC West
What we said before the season: We made a case for all four teams – yes, even the Cardinals. Two of us thought the 49ers would rebound from a nightmare 2024 season with “MVP caliber” Brock Purdy and the return of Robert Saleh. One of us thought Klint Kubiak “making the most of Sam Darnold” would lead Seattle to the division title. Another gave the nod to the Rams, believing Stafford’s back would stay in one piece. Our last writer picked Arizona somewhat by fault.
What actually happened: Aside from the Cardinals, the division was insanely competitive with the Seahawks taking the crown – and at 14-3 the No 1 seed. Los Angeles and San Francisco both finished 12-5 and were also in the running for the division and home-field heading in the final month of the regular season. For LA, Stafford’s back not only remained intact but he had the best season of his career and was named league MVP. And San Francisco, despite their usual slew of injuries to star players (headlined by Nick Bosa and Fred Warner), found ways to win as Purdy settled in.
What we said before the season: Ravens over Packers. Broncos over Packers. Eagles over Bills. Ravens over Lions. Eagles over Ravens.
What actually happened:Seattle over New England. The Super Bowl none of us came close to predicting. In fact, neither team was mentioned in our championship round picks. We didn’t see Seattle’s smothering defense being that smothering. Or Darnold playing the best game of his career in the NFC championship battle for the ages against the Rams. Or Kenneth Walker III being such a force. We didn’t see New England’s defensive trajectory in the playoffs. No one saw Maye being that good in the regular season and that bad in the Super Bowl.
Seattle’s 29-13 Super BowlLX domination may not have been everyone’s cup of tea, but at least we’re not afraid to roll back the clock and admit that we never saw it coming. Literally.
Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel (right) talks to quarterback Drake Maye (10) during the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
A special season for the New England Patriots ended in disappointment Sunday night as they dropped Super Bowl LX 29-13 to the Seattle Seahawks. Now, attention quickly turns to the offseason where the Patriots will look to remodel the roster in hopes of getting over the final hurdle next season.
It’s been a busy week here on Pats Pulpit, with our focus on the conclusion of the Super Bowl loss and locker room clean out day as the Patriots break for the offseason. For anything else not covered previously, let’s clean out the notebook. Welcome to this week’s edition of our Sunday Patriots Notes.
Belief in Maye
Drake Maye sat roughly 10 feet to Mike Vrabel’s right. Both at their post-game podiums inside a makeshift tent on the 49ers’ practice fields in Santa Clara.
Maye began to choke up while talking about his head coach. Vrabel, meanwhile, spoke about his quarterback with equal emotion and conviction.
“I’m sure he’s over there talking about all the things he has to do to improve and what he could’ve done better,” Vrabel said. “I care deeply about him. I’m confident they’ll be back and they’ll do everything they can to help this team. We won a lot of football games with the guys we have. Drake’s a big reason why we’re here. I can’t wait to get back and coach him again.”
It was a special sophomore season for the 23-year-old quarterback.
Maye finished second in MVP voting and earned second-team All-Pro honors as he led the NFL in completion percentage (72.0), yards per attempt (8.9), and passer rating (113.5) among many other metrics.
But on sport’s biggest stage Sunday night, he wasn’t at his best.
Facing the Seahawks’ top-ranked defense, Maye was sacked six times and turned the ball over three times. A majority of his 295 passing yards came in the fourth quarter after the Patriots had already punted on their first eight possessions (excluding an end-of-half kneel-down).
Despite the struggles in his Super Bowl debut, Maye’s teammates offered nothing but support for their quarterback afterward.
“Keep going. Steph Curry. Keep going, keep shooting,” veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs said. “He’s 23 years old. It’s a team effort. Come from my standpoint, I wish I could’ve done more. It’s hard playing quarterback. It’s not a one-man band. He has a supporting cast. We needed to do a better job supporting him.
“He’s young, he did what he could, fought long, fought hard… I’m just super proud of him.”
“We riding behind him, win or loss,” safety Craig Woodson added. “That’s the QB1. Man, we gonna rally behind him. He got all our love, support. This is just the beginning. I got full trust in him.”
Maye told his teammates to remember the feeling of Sunday night and use the loss as fuel moving forward — fuel they hope will carry them back to this stage sooner rather than later.
With Maye under center, there is plenty of reason to believe that return will come sooner.
“I love Drake, man,” veteran offensive tackle Morgan Moses said. “Drake is an amazing human being outside of just being a great quarterback, man. He’s literally been our MVP the whole season. As a young player, in year two, it’s undeniable what he’s been able to do this season.
“He put the league on notice that there’s a new quarterback in the AFC that you’ve got to worry about. That’s who he is, man.”
Diggs’ future
Among the top storylines to follow this offseason will be the future of wide receiver Stefon Diggs in New England — one that the veteran acknowledged will not totally be up to him.
“Unless they opt out of the contract, I anticipate being here,” he said following the Super Bowl. “I hope so. Love my guys. Hell of a year playing with them. We built some real family-like bonds, so I hope so. I don’t control it.”
Diggs made a remarkable impact on and off the field in his first season as a Patriot, becoming the team’s first receiver to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark since 2019 while also being a key leadership piece in Mike Vrabel’s locker room. But, a quiet playoff stretch in which he averaged just 27.5 yards per game coupled with a rising cap hit ($26.5 million) could led to New England looking elsewhere next season.
A key date in the process will be Mar. 13, as Diggs has $6 million on his deal become guaranteed.
Difficult decisions
In his final press conference of the season, Vrabel alluded to the difficult decisions the team will have to make this offseason. Diggs’ case likely tops that list.
“There’ll be some difficult decisions that we’ll have to make, and we’ll try to do them with the team’s best interest in mind. As always, that’ll never change,” Vrabel said. “I appreciate what they did and how they came together, all the guys that came in from other places that maybe didn’t start the year with us, and the different path and a different journey that each guy took.”
Beyond Diggs, other tough decisions may have to be made in the wide receiver room as Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, and DeMario Douglas all enter the last years of their contracts. Center Garrett Bradbury, who became another key veteran voice in a special locker room, also falls on that list as he has no guaranteed money remaining on his deal.
Kuhr’s job?
Among the decisions New England will make in the upcoming days and/or weeks is officially naming a defensive coordinator. This one might not fall under the “difficult” category, however, as current defensive play-caller Zak Kuhr is considered a heavy favorite to earn the role after growing in the position this season.
That said, the Patriots will have to go through the league’s process and satisfy the Rooney Rule to officially name a defensive coordinator.
QB continuity
Since Drake Maye became the North Carolina Tar Heels full-time starting quarterback in 2022, he has gone on to have four different offensive coordinators in his next four seasons. So, entering year two with Josh McDaniels in New England is some welcomed continuity for the 23-year-old.
“There’s so much more we can take with this offense and give me more tools and more answers at the line of scrimmage. With my capability to play the position, use my knowledge of the game and learn it from Coach [McDaniels] to get us in the best spot is only going to help us down the road,“ Maye said.
“I’m looking forward to it, getting a chance to be in the – Lord-willing and knock on wood, the same offense for the second year. I’m looking forward to that, and the sky’s the limit for us.”
Armstead’s offer
There has been plenty of discussion about rookie left tackle Will Campbell’s performance in the Super Bowl last Sunday. Several former NFL linemen and offensive tackles have weighed in, with a common theme emerging: the 22-year-old has a bright future but needs to clean up his technique in certain areas.
That group includes former Saints and Dolphins Pro Bowl tackle Terron Armstead. According to NFL Network’s Cam Wolfe, Armstead has volunteered to work out with Campbell in Dallas this offseason.
A convo about Patriots LT Will Campbell Super Bowl struggles including my chat with former Pro Bowl LT Terron Armstead on why arm length isn’t the issue, what is the problem + @T_Armstead72 offer to help Will in Dallas this offseason.
A strong athlete at the position, Armstead was known for his aggressive pass sets — an area that could benefit Campbell, particularly given his narrower build for the tackle spot.
Offseason goals
Third-round wide receiver Kyle Williams finished his rookie season with just 12 receptions for 225 yards and three touchdowns. The rookie showcased explosive speed and big-play ability, but a group of veteran receivers ahead of him on the depth chart limited both his opportunities and the chemistry he could build with quarterback Drake Maye.
Entering year two, Williams understands how important the upcoming offseason will be and already has a clear plan. At the top of the list is adding muscle to his 5-foot-11, 190-pound frame to improve his play strength. He also wants to sharpen his work at the top of his routes to complement a strong release package off the line of scrimmage.
Message from Jaylen
Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown knows what it’s like to be in Drake Maye’s shoes. Brown was on the losing end of the 2022 NBA Finals as the Celtics dropped the series to the Golden State Warriors. That led to him sending Maye a message while on a Twitch livestream.
“Turn all that hurt into fuel, and I promise you, you’ll be better for it,” Brown said. “Level up, come back even better. Could have been an MVP year, should have been an MVP Year for Drake Maye. I stand on that.”
Brown and the Celtics eventually bounced back, winning the NBA Finals in 2024 — a similar script Maye and the Patriots now hope to follow.
Episode four
The New England Patriots’ in-house content team debuted “Forged in Foxboro” this offseason, a three-part series offering a behind-the-scenes look at Mike Vrabel’s first months in charge — spanning free agency, the NFL Draft, the offseason program and training camp.
With the season now complete, a fourth episode is expected to drop, featuring exclusive footage from the team’s postseason run.
Setting up the week ahead
The offseason begins for the New England Patriots, and as Bill Belichick infamously said after winning Super Bowl LI: the Patriots are “five weeks behind” in preparation for next season. It will be a quick transition for the coaching staff and front office, as Mike Vrabel and Co. are expected to be at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis next week.
New England will also begin the process of filling out current/future holes on their coaching staff — perhaps starting with defensive coordinator — and getting to work on any player contracts that need attention.
BORMIO, Italy (AP) — Brazilian ski racer Lucas Pinheiro Braathen leads the Olympic giant slalom Saturday after the first of two runs and is in position to win South America’s first medal at a Winter Games.
There are a host of lower-tier racers still to finish the first run in a field that includes 81 competitors, with many representing nontraditional ski nations. The final run will be held later Saturday. The top 30 will go in reverse order based on time, meaning Pinheiro Braathen races at No. 30.
The first skier on the Stelvio course, Pinheiro Braathen took advantage of the smooth surface to finish in a time of 1 minute, 13.92 seconds. His fast run resulted in a 0.95-second lead over Swiss racer Marco Odermatt, who’s the defending Olympic champion in the event.
