Top News:
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Mets close to offering Joey Cora third base coach job — While most of the league is quiet in MLB lockout mode, the Mets have started the new year actively engaged in interviews. — Joey Cora, the older brother of Red Sox manager Alex Cora, is close to being named the Mets third base coach under …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Rum Bunter, Call to the Pen, Amazin' Avenue and Sports Illustrated
RELATED:
Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
Angels unable to finalize coaching staff as lockout blocks potential hiring of Adam Eaton — The Angels have yet to finalize their coaching staff, in part because one of their candidates is a member of the players' union who currently is locked out by the league.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Amazin' Avenue, Halos Heaven, MLB Baseball News …, NBCSports.com and Cup of Coffee
Hub Arkush / Shaw Media Local:
An open apology for my Aaron Rodgers comments — So in case you haven't heard, I've spent the better part of the last 24 hours making a pretty nasty mess. — Actually, and much to my surprise, that may be the understatement of the year. There is absolutely nothing clever or remotely entertaining about it.
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk, Bleacher Nation, Chicago Tribune and NESN.com
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Michael David Smith / ProFootballTalk:
One MVP voter says he won't vote for Aaron Rodgers, calling him “the biggest jerk in the league”
One MVP voter says he won't vote for Aaron Rodgers, calling him “the biggest jerk in the league”
Discussion:
New York Post, Insider, The Ringer, Chicago Sun-Times, Deadline, NESN.com, Packers Wire, CBS Boston and Sports Illustrated
Chicago Tribune:
Major changes seem imminent at Halas Hall. But what exactly will the Chicago Bears do with Matt Nagy, Ryan Pace, Ted Phillips and others? — The Chicago Bears have one final game Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium that will close the book on another disappointing season.
Discussion:
Mercury News and Bleacher Nation
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Chicago Tribune:
Justin Fields is slated to start for the first time in 3 weeks as he returns from an ankle injury. Here's what else we heard from the Chicago Bears as they prepare for their season finale. — Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy, quarterback Justin Fields and other players spoke …
Discussion:
Windy City Gridiron
David Furones / Sun-Sentinel:
Tua Tagovailoa not worried about Dolphins' offseason trade possibilities, looks to rebound in finale — MIAMI GARDENS — When the Nov. 2 trade deadline came and went, it assured Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa that the team was his for the final two months of the NFL season.
Discussion:
Denver Post, Daily Herald and Sports Illustrated
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David Furones / Sun-Sentinel:
Dolphins' Jaylen Waddle on verge of rookie record; Malcolm Brown's season over on IR — MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is on the verge of the NFL rookie receptions record. — With one game remaining, he has 99 receptions. He's two away from tying and three away …
Discussion:
Mercury News
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Why MLB's labor negotiations have gone nowhere — and baseball's path back — MORE THAN A month into Major League Baseball's lockout, well aware that the league and players haven't had a single substantive negotiating session since the work stoppage began and that spring training …
USA Today:
Wizards announcer apologizes to Kevin Porter Jr. for mistaken allusion to player's dead father — A Washington Wizards announcer apologized for a questionable reference to Kevin Porter Jr.'s dead father, who was killed in a shooting, after the Houston Rockets guard hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer Wednesday against Washington.
Discussion:
New York Post, Daily Herald, The Athletic, Press Enterprise, Sports Illustrated, Los Angeles Times, The Big Lead and Bullets Forever
Mary Kay Cabot / Plain Dealer:
Browns QB Baker Mayfield must resolve differences with Kevin Stefanski to co-exist next season — CLEVELAND, Ohio — Baker Mayfield must resolve his differences with Kevin Stefanski in case they need to co-exist next season.Even if Mayfield does mend the fences, he might not be back if the Browns decide …
Discussion:
Akron Beacon Journal, ProFootballTalk, Factory of Sadness, The Big Lead, Browns Wire and Sports Illustrated
TMZ.com:
NFL's Sterling Shepard Files For Divorce From Chanel Iman — NFL'S STERLING SHEPARD SPLITS FROM MODEL CHANEL IMAN ... Files For Divorce — Sterling Shepard and Chanel Iman are dunzo — the NFL receiver has filed for divorce from the Victoria's Secret model, TMZ Sports has confirmed.
Discussion:
Denver Post and UPI
Andrew Marchand / New York Post:
Michael Kay will team up with Alex Rodriguez for ESPN ‘Manningcast’ — MORE FROM: — Kay-Rod! — The complete shake-up of “Sunday Night Baseball” will end with the TV voice of the Yankees, Michael Kay, being a part of the Alex Rodriguez “Manningcast” on ESPN, according to sources.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, MLB Baseball News …, Yanks Go Yard, Elite Sports NY, BoSox Injection, Cincinnati.com and Bleacher Nation