Andrew Luck returns to Stanford as the GM of the football programRichard Parsons, prominent Black executive who led Time Warner and Citigroup, dies at 76

No. 17 Iowa St beats Wildcats 29-21 for first 10-win season, moves to cusp of Big 12 title gameDevin Booker scores 27, Suns win 113-105 as Warriors lose their 4th straight gameAlfardan Premier Motors continues Range Rover display at MDD

The Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Hon Mobolaji Ogunlende, and Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, along with other invited dignitaries will be in attendance to watch the inaugural edition of the Mainland Unity Cup scheduled to kick off today at the Ojoniyu Sports Center, Ebute-Metta, Lagos. The competition is being organised by the Damilola Taylor Foundation and sponsored by cup donor, Hon Adekunle Adebanjo, popularly known as Froggie. All the nine wards in Mainland Local Government are expected to partake in the competition and only footballers who are 40 years above are eligible to play in the tournament. The opening match would be played between the Ward A football team and the Ward B football team. Adebanjo in his welcome address at the draw ceremony announced that Commissioner For Youth and Social Development, Hon Ogunlende and Hon Lekan Fatodu had promised to be in attendance and declare the tournament open. He said the purpose of the tournament is to empower the youths through football in the community and also give back to society as a way of contributing to the football development in the state. “This tournament is only organised for footballers who are 40 years above in the Mainland LG and secondly this competition would foster unity among youths in the East and West in Mainland. “People are saying that both East and West cannot do things together but we are using this medium to say the Mainland Unity Cup would bring both of them together for the progress and peace of Mainland,” he said.

It's rivalry week in college football and some of the participants are willing to bleed for their respective teams, literally. Senior defensive assistant coach Chuck Cecil of the Arizona Wildcats is the current leader in the clubhouse in terms of blood shed for his squad on Saturday, Nov. 30, after a perplexing interaction with one of his players on the sideline. Cecil, who played defensive back for the university between 1984-87, was so pumped up before the game that he headbutted current Wildcats defensive back Owen Gross several times before the game. In a video captured by Fox Sports and posted to social media, Cecil can be seen banging his bare forehead into Gross's helmet until he begins to bleed profusely. Unfortunately for everyone involved, Arizona allowed rival Arizona State to score 35 points in the first half of the in-state rivalry game, which led to some jokes made at Cecil's expense. If I made myself bleed by repeatedly mashing my head into a helmet and my defense proceeded to give up 35 in the first half I’m not sure I’m on the sideline for the second half https://t.co/EdNk6olDNj "If I made myself bleed by repeatedly mashing my head into a helmet and my defense proceeded to give up 35 in the first half, I'm not sure I'm on the sideline for the second half," Brad Spielberger, formerly of Pro Football Focus, posted to X . The Wildcats entered the contest 4-7 on the season and won't play in a bowl game this year. What was left for Arizona was to play spoiler to the 9-2 Sun Devils, who have a chance to make the 12-team field for the College Football Playoffs , though an upset doesn't appear likely now after a 35-0 first half score. Related: Fan Handcuffed by Police After Wild Arizona State-BYU FinishLionel Messi wins MLS MVP award, the latest trophy on a long list of honors for the Inter Miami star FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi is the MVP of Major League Soccer for 2024. The award comes after a season where he missed 15 of Inter Miami’s 34 regular-season matches with injuries or commitments to Argentina’s national team. He still factored into a league-high 36 goals by scoring 20 and assisting on 16 others. His 2.1 goal contributions per 90 minutes played is the best by any player in any season in MLS history. MLS revealed the voting results Friday. Messi edged out Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernández for the award, which is determined by a poll of players, club technical staff and select media members. NFL ends investigation into sexual assault allegations against Browns QB Deshaun Watson CLEVELAND (AP) — The NFL has closed an investigation into sexual assault allegations against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. The league has been reviewing the case for months, trying to determine whether Watson should be punished. League spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email that "there was insufficient evidence to support a finding of a violation of the personal conduct policy.” Watson, who served an 11-game suspension in 2022, was accused of assault by a woman in September. She was seeking more than $1 million in damage before the sides reached a confidential settlement. Watson has played in just 19 games over three seasons for the Browns. NBA returning to China for pair of Suns-Nets preseason games in 2025 The NBA is returning to China next season. The league has struck a deal to play preseason games there more than five years after the league was effectively banned for Commissioner Adam Silver not punishing Daryl Morey for tweeting support of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong. Brooklyn and Phoenix will play games in China’s gambling hub of Macao on Oct. 10, 2025, and again two days later. There are more games planned for China in 2026, a source told The Associated Press. American ski racer Lindsey Vonn is picking up speed in her comeback bid at 40 years old COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. (AP) — American ski racer Lindsey Vonn darted through the shadows on the speed course at Copper Mountain on a frigid morning. She was on the hill Friday as she tries to make a comeback to skiing nearly six years after her last race. Vonn plans to enter a series of lower-tier FIS downhill and super-G races this weekend at Copper Mountain, Colorado. It could be the first step toward seeing her on the World Cup circuit again. NFL's next coaching cycle will feature an impressive list of candidates: Analysis The next NFL coaching cycle will feature an impressive list of candidates ranging from proven champions to up-and-coming coordinators. Six-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick heads the list of recognizable names that includes 2021 AP Coach of the Year Mike Vrabel. Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Buccaneers OC Liam Cohen, Bills OC Joe Brady and Eagles OC Kellen Moore are among a lengthy list of young offensive-minded coaches who will garner plenty of interest. Hall of Famer Randy Moss is stepping away from ESPN for an extended time to deal with health issue Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss is stepping away from his ESPN analyst role for an extended time to focus on a personal health challenge, the network said in a statement. Moss revealed last week that he’s dealing with a health issue and asked fans to pray for him and his family. The 47-year-old ESPN football analyst made his announcement on Instagram from the set of the network’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” show. He directed his message to men and urged them to get checkups and bloodwork done, without specifying any particular illness. No Bevo? SEC tells Texas there's no room for its 1,700-pound longhorn at title game vs. Georgia ATLANTA (AP) — The Southeastern Conference championship game will not feature another mascot showdown. The league says there's not enough space on the sideline at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for No. 2 Texas to bring along its 1,700-pound longhorn Bevo XV for the game against No. 5 Georgia. The teams have two of college football’s most famous mascots. There should be enough sideline space for Georgia’s pure white English bulldog, Uga XI. Before the 2019 Sugar Bowl at the Superdome in New Orleans, Bevo XV toppled his barrier and began to charge at Uga X. Texas handlers were able to pull Bevo back before any harm. The Big Ten and SEC are set to gobble up CFP bids. That could squeeze the ACC and other leagues The Big Ten and Southeastern conferences are set to gobble up the majority of the bids to the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. That could squeeze the Atlantic Coast Conference and other leagues trying to maintain their footing. ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips told The Associated Press he wants clarity on the process that put two-loss Miami behind three-loss Alabama in the latest rankings. Mountain West Conference Commissioner Gloria Nevarez said she wouldn't support future changes for guaranteed numbers of bids to power conferences. The Mountain West is set to have its champion in the playoff as a Group of Five winner. F1 champion Max Verstappen to become first-time father with girlfriend Kelly Piquet ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen is set to become a father for the first time with his girlfriend Kelly Piquet. There’s racing heritage on both sides of the family. Verstappen secured his fourth F1 title last month and Kelly’s father Nelson Piquet was a three-time champion in the 1980s. Verstappen says on Instagram that "we couldn’t be happier with our little miracle.” Verstappen is aiming to win his 10th F1 race of the year at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday. Practice gets underway later. Anaheim Ducks acquire Rangers captain Jacob Trouba in trade for Vaakanainen, draft pick ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Anaheim Ducks have acquired New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba in a trade for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a future fourth-round pick. The trade ends Trouba’s tenure with the Rangers, who acquired the 30-year-old defenseman in a trade with Winnipeg in 2019. He became New York’s captain before the 2022-23 season. Trouba will immediately become a key contributor on the blue line for the Ducks, who are in last place in the Pacific Division. He will also play alongside Anaheim forwards Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano, his teammates with the Rangers during the club’s run to the Eastern Conference finals in 2022.Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Jedward have warmed hearts as they opened up about spending the festive season with showbiz pal Gemma Collins , after revealing a poignant family situation. Chatting to The Mirror at Tulleys Christmas Light Festival just last Friday, John and Edward Grimes shared how they find comfort in their friendship with Gemma during a time when most of their relatives are no longer here . The twins said: "Christmas is really sad, this year we're going to be spending it with Gemma because most of our family have sadly passed. Gemma's a real one, you know, having someone like Gemma in our lives has definitely been hugely uplifting. We spent Christmas with Gemma last year." They noted the absence of their grandparents makes the holiday season bittersweet, reflecting on the nostalgia of past Christmases: "I feel like Christmas is sad because we don't have our grandparents but we have all our memories so at Christmas time, those feelings come rushing in and you hold that during the holidays." Jedward also spoke candidly about the struggle they face during what should be a cheerful time, touching on their personal losses: "It's very hard. I feel like as much as people think we bring the energy, we do find ourselves in low moments." Their mum sadly died in 2019 . They elaborated on the emptiness felt during the festivities, saying: "It's a hard time, our mum's not around, our granny and grandad and people that meant a lot to us aren't around, so that alone hits you hard during the holidays when everyone is complaining about their family members or whoever, at least they have them around", reports the Mirror . Jedward are getting into the festive spirit with their BFF Gemma, sharing how they plan to spend Christmas together and offering tips on tackling the winter blues. The dynamic duo advised fans, "You've got to keep living until the sunlight gets back." Their holiday season will be full of joy and companionship, as they revealed, "We're going to be spending it with Gemma, she's already invited us. She got us Christmas decorations for our tree. During the festive season, she'll literally be staying at ours. She got us customised stockings. It's really sweet, it's nice that Gemma's able to rise to the occasion and be such a great friend." Holiday cheer is in the air with Jedward's new Christmas anthem, LOVEmas, which they'd happily perform at any festive wedding or engagement—throwing in Kerry Katona's name as a potential wedding to serenade. Gemma and Jedward are practically family, enjoying their past Christmases together, including a memorable one where Gemma showcased the twins crooning 'Feliz Navidad' on Instagram and expressed her affection for them: "It's OFFICIALLY CHRISTMAS when @jepicpics (the twins' Instagram page) come to stay for the whole time. The kindest people to me and real friends."

Trump wants pardoned real estate developer Charles Kushner to be ambassador to France

Today inour Daily Dose of Social Media , we review the most significant activities and Entertainment from ATP and WTA players. Novak Djokovic stole the spotlightupon his arrival in Argentina with a warm reception from Juan Martin Del Potroand an unexpected appearance at the Copa Libertadores trophy presentation. While thedoping saga involving Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner continues, Russian Hall ofFamer Kafelnikov shared his thoughts on the influence these cases have onjuniors, while Nick Kyrgios backed the former French Open champion in a newcriticism of the multi-Grand Slam champions. Djokovicwelcomed by Del Potro, surprises with trophy presentation at CopaLibertadores final NovakDjokovic continues his busy off-season schedule and was warmly welcomed byformer US Open champion Juan Martín del Potro upon arriving in Buenos Aires,Argentina. The Serbian star and the Argentine shared a heartfelt embrace asDjokovic stepped off the plane. The World No. 7 later attended a special SouthAmerican football event, presenting the Copa Libertadores trophy ahead of thefinal match between Atlético Mineiro and Botafogo at River Plate's EstadioMonumental. A dayearlier, the 24-time Grand Slam champion was in Qatar with Ferrari’s Formula 1team, quickly traveling to Argentina for Del Potro’s farewell exhibition matchset for December 1. However, his surprise appearance at the international clubtournament final stole the show, with Djokovic receiving a roaring ovation ashe carried the trophy during the opening ceremony. Thehead-to-head record between the two legends stands at 16-4 in favour ofDjokovic, with their last meeting taking place at the Rome Masters, whereDjokovic edged out Del Potro in a tight match, 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-4, on his way tothe final. Del Potro embracing Djokovic as Novak arrives in Argentina for Delpo’s farewell exhibition match pic.twitter.com/cf1mo2d8rj Novak Djokovic makes an appearance at Conmebol Libertadores. He’s everywhere this off-season. pic.twitter.com/Oo8iONKl2A BarboraKrejcikova stuns in fuchsia at Czech music awards event BarboraKrejcikova made an appearance at a Czech music awards event during her returnto the country. The 2-time Grand Slam champion was welcomed like a star topresent one of the awards at the Český slavík ("Czech Nightingale")poll, which honours the most popular performers based on audience reception oftheir songs and music videos. This year,Krejcikova was one of the guests of honour at the ceremony for the traditionalpopular music poll held at the Forum Karlín. The 2024 Wimbledon championpresented the evening's first award, the Bronze Nightingale, to singer MonikaAbsolonová. The 28-year-old tennis player later shared photos of her elegantfuchsia outfit. Krejcikovahad a rollercoaster season, enduring a tough first half of the year withseveral early exits and barely staying in the top 30 for months. However, herWimbledon title gave her a significant boost, and she finished the seasonstrong by reaching the semifinals of the WTA Finals. This included victoriesover Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff in the round-robin stage, ultimatelysecuring her year-end World No. 10 ranking. ✨ pic.twitter.com/zHB5cujF0C Bára Krejčíková včera předala bronzového slavíka zpěvačce Monice Absolonové. pic.twitter.com/9Ql48g4U7q Kafelnikovwarns of doping's influence on juniors as Kyrgios joins the debate NickKyrgios weighs in again on the doping cases of his peers Iga Swiatek and JannikSinner after sharing a post from former French Open champion YevgenyKafelnikov. The Russian ex-tennis player expressed particular concern about thepotential impact these cases might have on junior players, who see two oftoday’s most prominent athletes involved in doping controversies. “And thesad part to all of this is that young and upcoming players (12-16 years old)look at their idols and think maybe it’s normal to use steroids in the futureand get away with this ‍♂️! Current players setting bad examples foryoung generations,” Kafelnikov wrote. TheAustralian player responded to the post with a brief “Yup,” expressing hisagreement with Kafelnikov. The 2022 Australian Open doubles champion has beenone of Sinner’s most vocal critics in recent months, and Swiatek’s case didn’tgo unnoticed. Just days earlier, Kyrgios tweeted: “The excuse that we can alluse is that we didn’t know. Simply didn’t know. Professionals at the highestlevel of sport can now just say, ‘we didn’t know.’” Yup https://t.co/z9MCgCPH2N Kostyukrobbed in Milan but shares heartfelt message MartaKostyuk is visiting Milan during her off-season but suffered an unfortunateincident after being the victim of a robbery in the Italian city. The UkrainianWorld No. 18 revealed that her car was broken into while she was traveling withher husband, George Kyzymenko. "YesterdayI was robbed for the first time in my life (hopefully, the last). But it taughtme way more than it took," she posted on Instagram. "I attended twoamazing concerts with my team, met my favourite artist, and experienced so manyemotions that nobody will ever be able to take away from me. We are moving on.Thank you everyone for the messages, we are safe ❤️." Una publicación compartida de Marta Kostyuk / Марта Костюк (@martakostyuk) Tsitsipas stunnedby horse named after him in racing victory StefanosTsitsipas was surprised on social media after realizing that a horse is named"Tsitsipas in his honor." The Greek tennis player shared a post from"Racing.com," a website specialized in horse racing, showing thevictory of "Tsitsipas" in the Busuttin Racing, alongside Australianjockey Craig Newitt, who won. The worldNo. 11 had a mixed season, where although he won his third Monte-Carlo Masters,he finished the season outside the top 10, after five consecutive years offinishing in the top 6. Tsitsipas also made notable appearances this year as arunner-up at the Barcelona Open and a semifinalist at the ATP 250 Los CabosOpen and Gstaad. The26-year-old player shared on social media his impression of the winning horsenamed after him: “Is this horse actually named after me?! ”he posted, generating reactions from his fans. Is this horse actually named after me?! https://t.co/AcdDMSfijP This article first appeared on TennisUpToDate.com and was syndicated with permission.India's former prime minister Manmohan Singh, architect of economic reforms, dies at 92

Trump calls meeting with Trudeau on border, drug crisis 'very productive'Victoria Police has announced it's treating the Melbourne synagogue fire as a terrorist attack. The blaze at the Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea soon appeared to many, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, to be motivated by terror, but it took authorities four days to declare it. To the casual onlooker, this might seem odd. On December 6, masked men were seen pouring liquid on the floor while people were inside, before the building burst into flames. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, among others, was adamant it was clearly an act of terror. But whether or not something is terrorism isn't always easy to determine, nor is the current political argument about it very useful. If holding those responsible is the goal, careful investigation from the outset is the only way to achieve it, even if it means waiting longer. À lire aussi : Albanese announces antisemitism taskforce, as synagogue firebombing investigation upgraded What have police said? In a press conference, Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett outlined how the investigation has been upgraded from arson to counter-terrorism, based on investigations over the weekend. The main thing that changes operationally is unlocking more resources: more people with specific expertise, more federal and state cooperation and more agencies involved, including ASIO. Legally, it means those responsible potentially face harsher penalties. Any charges laid would likely be related to terrorism rather than regular arson or property destruction. Police have identified three suspects, but have said little about them. This is usual practice in these sorts of investigations as they don't want to alert the perpetrators that authorities are onto them. While police haven't explicitly said so, it's likely they've found evidence of the suspects' motivations. This could include finding their online footprints, social media posts and communications with...

Skattebo and Arizona State to the playoff after 45-19 win over Iowa State in Big 12 title game ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Big 12 newcomer Arizona State will represent the conference in the 12-team College Football Playoff. Cam Skattebo ran for 170 yards and two scores while adding a touchdown catch the 12th-ranked Sun Devils beat No. 16 Iowa State 45-19 in the Big 12 championship game. The Sun Devils with 34-year-old head coach Kenny Dillingham are 11-2 after being the preseason pick to finish at the bottom of their new 16-team league. They have won six games in a row. Iowa State is 10-3, already the first 10-win season in the program's 133-year history. Boise State makes the College Football Playoff as Big 12's 1st-round bye chances dim INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The first big win in college football’s postseason goes to Boise State. The have Broncos captured the Mountain West Conference title and earned their spot in the sport’s first 12-team playoff. As for the losers, there was UNLV, which fell 21-7 to Heisman hopeful Ashton Jeanty and the Broncos in the conference title game. But more than that, it was the Big 12, which saw one path to a first-round bye in those playoffs blocked off by Jeanty and Company. Lindsey Vonn competes in a pair of downhills, another step on her comeback trail at the age of 40 COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. (AP) — Lindsey Vonn finished in the middle of the pack in a pair of lower-level downhill events as she competed for the first time in nearly six years. The 40-year-old Vonn is on the comeback trail after stepping away from the sport because of injuries. Vonn wasn't concerned with times and places in the races so much as getting used to the speed again and gaining the necessary points to compete on the World Cup circuit. Vonn accomplished both, finishing 24th in the first downhill race of the day and 27th in the second. She posted on social media after the FIS races she had enough points to enter World Cup events. Man City drops more points after draw with Crystal Palace and Man United loses again Manchester City’s Premier League title defense has taken another blow after a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. Four-time defending champion City ended a seven-game winless run on Wednesday by beating Nottingham Forest. But City has dropped more points on Saturday after the draw at Selhurst Park. It could have been worse for City after Palace led twice. Pep Guardiola’s team is fourth in the standings and eight points behind leader Liverpool. Liverpool has a game in hand after its derby with Everton was postponed due to a storm. Amber Glenn becomes first US woman in 14 years to win figure skating Grand Prix Final GRENOBLE, France (AP) — Amber Glenn has become the first American to win the women’s Grand Prix Final competition since Alissa Czisny 14 years ago. Glenn landed a triple axel on her way to a total score of 212.07 points to beat Japan's Mone Chiba and triple world champion Kaori Sakamoto. That continues a stunning breakout season at the age of 25 for Glenn. The U.S. could win two more titles later Saturday. Ilia Malinin leads the men’s event ahead of the free skate and Madison Chock and Evan Bates lead the ice dance. Norris takes pole for season-ending Abu Dhabi GP and Hamilton 18th in Mercedes farewell ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Lando Norris took pole position for the last Formula 1 race of the season alongside teammate Oscar Piastri to put McLaren on the verge of a first constructors’ title in 26 years. Norris’ last lap put him .209 of a second faster than Piastri, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. .020 further back. Seven-time F1 champion Hamilton qualified 18th for his last race with Mercedes after a bizarre incident wrecked his final qualifying lap. A plastic pole marking the inside of a corner was knocked loose by Kevin Magnussen’s Haas and Hamilton drove over it. Big 12's Yormark brings up hard choices for fans before sparsely attended title game ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — College football fans are facing some hard choices in the expanded playoff system with some teams set to play away from home multiple times. Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark raised that point before the sparsely attended title game between No. 12 Arizona State and 16th-ranked Iowa State. There were thousands of empty seats at the home of the Dallas Cowboys. Yormark says he remains committed to having a Big 12 title game. Besides the issues of fans, there have been suggestions that some leagues might be better off without title games as it relates to playoff hopes. Everton vs. Liverpool postponed because of Storm Darragh. Other Premier League games remain on LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — The Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool has been postponed because of Storm Darragh's dangerous winds and heavy rain on the west coast. The Met office says parts of Wales have experienced wind gusts of over 90 mph. The four other Premier League games Saturday remained on as planned. Manchester United will host Nottingham Forest at 5:30 p.m. local time at Old Trafford. The remaining games start at 3 p.m. local time. Aston Villa hosts Southampton and urged fans to use extra time to get to Villa Park in Birmingham. In London, Brentford will host Newcastle, and Crystal Palace will host Manchester City. Ashton Jeanty lets his play do the talking for CFP-bound Boise State BOISE, Idaho (AP) — After Ashton Jeanty streaked through the middle of UNLV’s defense on his way to a 75-yard touchdown run Friday night in the Mountain West Conference title game, he didn’t strike the Heisman pose. He didn’t even lobby for it after the game, instead letting his play do the talking in No. 10 Boise State's 21-7 victory over No. 19 UNLV 21-7. Jeanty added another 209 yards — his sixth game over 200 yards this season — to push his total to 2,497 — just 132 yards short of passing Barry Sanders’ FBS season rushing record. The Broncos earned a spot in the College Football Playoff with the victory. No. 24 Army wins AAC championship in first attempt as Daily runs for 4 TDs in 35-14 win over Tulane WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) — Bryson Daily rushed for four touchdowns to tie the American Athletic Conference championship game record, and No. 24 Army completed a perfect first season in the league by beating Tulane 35-14. Kanye Udoh rushed for 158 yards, including a 72-yarder to set up a Daily TD, and a score. Daily added 126 yards on the ground for the Black Knights, who overwhelmed AAC opponents with their bruising, clock-eating rushing attack during their first around the league, then ran it to perfection in the championship game. Army moved to 11-1. Daily had runs of 5, 3, 4 and 7 yards.

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — If Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi has any definite ideas about who'll play quarterback for New Orleans against Washington on Sunday, he's not ready to share that information. Rizzi maintained on Wednesday that there's still a chance that Derek Carr could clear the concussion protocol and function well enough with his injured, non-throwing left hand to return against the Commanders. Meanwhile, reserve QBs Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler split first-team snaps during Wednesday's practice, which Carr missed, Rizzi said. “We're not going to name a starter right now,” said Rizzi, who also made a point of noting that Carr would not be placed on the club's injured reserve list and would not need surgery. “We're going to see how that progression plays out, first with Derek and then obviously with Jake and Spencer.” Carr, whose latest injury occurred when he tried to dive for a first down during Sunday's 14-11 victory over the New York Giants , has already missed three starts this season because of a separate, oblique injury. New Orleans lost all three of those games, with Rattler, a rookie, starting and Haener, a second-year pro, serving as the backup. In his three starts, Rattler completed 59 of 99 passes (59.6%) for 571 yards, one TD and two interceptions. Haener has gotten sporadic work this season in relief of both Carr and Rattler, completing 14 of 29 passes (48.3%) for 177 yards and one TD without an interception. Rizzi said he finds the 6-foot-1 Haener and 6-foot Rattler “very similar in a lot of ways," adding that whichever of those two might play “doesn't change a whole bunch" in terms of game-planning. “They're both similar-size guys. Their athletic ability is very similar,” Rizzi said. “They're similar-style quarterbacks. We're not dealing with opposites on the spectrum.” The Saints also signed another QB this week — Ben DiNucci — to help take scout team snaps at practice, now that Rattler and Haener are not as available to do that while competing to possibly start if Carr is indeed unable to play. The Saints (5-8) have won three of four games since Rizzi took over following the firing of coach Dennis Allen. That allowed New Orleans to remain alive in the NFC South Division, currently led by Tampa Bay (7-6). Rizzi said Carr has not had any setbacks this week in terms of progressing through the NFL's concussion protocol. “By the end of the week, if's he's not able to get any reps in any form or fashion, then obviously we'll go with one of the other guys,” Rizzi said. NOTES: RB Alvin Kamara did not practice on Wednesday because of an illness. ... WR Chris Olave, who is out indefinitely because of concussions this season, has returned to meetings at Saints headquarters. He as not, however, made plans to return to practice yet because he still plans to meet first with neurological specialists to try to assess the risks of returning to action during what's left of this season. Rizzi said the possibility of Olave playing again this season remains “on the table” for now. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLUCLA 2025 football schedule: Bruins will see Big Ten talent, former Pac-12 foes

Richard Parsons, Prominent Black Executive Who Led Time Warner and Citigroup, Dies at 76The general manager of the Montreal Canadiens, Kent Hughes, was recently called to an important meeting. This has gone relatively unnoticed due to the Christmas break, but we were still waiting for details regarding this meeting between the Canadiens' management and Roman Rotenberg (SKA). There were supposed to be negotiations regarding young Ivan Demidov. Rotenberg shared his version of events and a summary of the meeting.. But we are still waiting for Kent Hughes' side of the story. A meeting that continues to spark discussion for Kent Hughes This is a file we will closely monitor for you. However, let's recall that before the Christmas break, Hughes was called to an important meeting overseas. This was reportedly an extremely important meeting for the future of Ivan Demidov, and we eagerly await impressions from the Montreal Canadiens' management. We're always happy to welcome our guests! Furthermore, they embarked on a long and challenging journey to visit the SKA Arena and talk in person. I have a lot of respect for their highly professional approach. Montreal is the oldest and most successful NHL club in history, and their stadium was previously the world's largest ice hockey venue before the SKA Arena opened. When I visited Montreal, I appreciated the brilliant atmosphere and the fantastic fans. The city truly lives for hockey and the team. The opinion of the leaders of such an historic and large organisation is incredibly valuable to us. It's pleasing that both Hughes and Lecavalier were pleasantly surprised by the SKA Arena, namely its scale, capacity, comfort and the wonderful atmosphere which is created by our supporters. Today we discussed the development of young players, the club's infrastructure and possible cooperation in the field of youth ice hockey, while also walking around the SKA Arena again and visiting the areas under the rink, the dressing room, the medical centre, the gym, the hotel, the training arena and other spaces. We engaged in interesting and useful conversations, our opinions coincide on many issues. The most important thing is that we have a common view with regard to the importance of our country's return to the international arena, because hockey is unthinkable without matches between Russia and Canada. Earlier on in the summer, we had held a productive conversation via video link. It's vital to maintain international ties, follow trends and exchange experiences, as this is the only way in which we can achieve progress. - SKA coach Roman Rotenberg Let's remember that, under normal circumstances, unless there's a major twist, Demidov should be coming here next fall and is expected to play in the National Hockey League as early as next season. Ivan Demidov, 19 years old, is a forward standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 167 pounds. He was the 5th overall pick by the Montreal Canadiens in 2024 (1st round) and has an excellent 24 points in 37 games this season, including 9 goals, despite extremely limited ice time (plus/minus +18). This player is going to be something special! We'll keep a close eye on him for you! This article first appeared on Habs Fanatics and was syndicated with permission.WASHINGTON — FBI Director Chris Wray on Wednesday became the latest part of institutionalist Washington to act in the interest of the institution he led even as incoming President-elect Donald Trump makes clear he intends to burn them all to the ground. Like parents modeling good behavior to a toddler, President Joe Biden and members of his administration have been performing the rituals of a democracy going through a normal transfer of power to benefit a man who tried to end that democracy just four years earlier. Vice President Kamala Harris conceded her election loss and congratulated Trump. Biden invited him to the White House in the following days and pledged a smooth transition. Special counsel Jack Smith last month dismissed dozens of felony charges that could have put Trump in prison for decades because of standing Department of Justice policy that doesn’t allow it to prosecute a sitting president. And, Wednesday, Wray — who was appointed by Trump in 2017 and has more than two years to go in his 10-year term ― told his colleagues that he would resign before Trump takes office in January, given Trump’s desire to install loyalist and fellow conspiracy theorist Kash Patel in that job. “This is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important in how we do our work,” Wray said in a video released by the FBI of his remarks. “This is not easy for me. I love this place, I love our mission and I love our people.” Whether the strategy of teaching the value of American institutions by example will work with Trump remains to be seen. Bradley Moss, a lawyer in Washington who specializes in national security work, has his doubts, and said Wray should have forced Trump to fire him, given the man Trump wants to replace him with. “Utterly spineless. By doing this, Director Wray has guaranteed the very thing he was supposed to avoid: the FBI becoming a politicized institution,” Moss said. “If there was any question that going forward the position of director will change every time the party in power changes, something the Watergate statutory reforms were supposed to prevent, that idea is dead.” FBI directors serve 10-year terms as a result of a post-Watergate reform implemented after President Richard Nixon tried to use both the FBI and the CIA to cover up his attempts to cheat in the 1972 election by spying on the Democratic Party. Not long afterWray announced his decision, Trump — a convicted criminal who eluded federal charges by winning back the presidency — continued lying about his prosecutions and the FBI’s role in them. “Under the leadership of Christopher Wray, the FBI illegally raided my home, without cause, worked diligently on illegally impeaching and indicting me, and has done everything else to interfere with the success and future of America,” Trump posted on social media. In fact, the search of Trump’s South Florida country club was approved by a federal judge. Agents who executed the warrant found dozens of secret documents that Trump had refused to turn over despite a subpoena demanding that he do so. Further, Wray had nothing to do with either of Trump’s impeachments — the first in 2020 for his attempt to extort Ukraine into smearing Biden; the second for his Jan. 6, 2021, coup attempt. Both impeachments were carried out by the House of Representatives. In May 2017, Trump fired then-FBI director James Comey after he refused to pledge Trump his personal loyalty. Trump replaced him with Wray, who at the time was in the private sector after having served in the Justice Department under President George W. Bush. Mark Warner, a Democratic senator from Virginia who will soon go from chair to ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he was sorry to see Wray step down. “I understand that Director Wray is simply trying to do what he has always done – which is act with integrity – and I thank him for the principled leadership he brought to the FBI and for his service to the country,” Warner said in a statement. Patel, who worked in Trump’s first administration in various roles but seemed most interested in undermining evidence that Russia had helped Trump win in 2016, said in an interview last year that he would go after Trump’s critics if Trump returned to the White House. “We will go out and find the conspirators, not just in the government, but in the media,” Patel . “Yes, we’re going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens, who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections. We’re going to come after you. Whether it’s criminally or civilly, we’ll figure that out, but yeah, we’re putting you all on notice.” In fact, no one helped Biden “rig” any election. Biden beat Trump by 7 million votes in 2020. Nonetheless, in a book he wrote called “Government Gangsters,” Patel laid out in an appendix who may need going after. They include former Trump Attorney General Bill Barr, former Trump press secretary Stephanie Grisham, former Trump Defense Secretary Mark Esper as well as Biden, Harris, and Trump’s 2016 opponent, Hillary Clinton. Patel made clear that his list “was not exhaustive.” Moss said that if Wray had stayed on and Trump had fired him, the courts likely would have backed Trump. “But it would have come with a political cost. And the legal fight over the ability to fire Wray given the statutory protection instituted post-Watergate would have been bloody,” he said. Mike Davis, a former Senate lawyer who has been working on Trump’s transition team, said Wray was smart to step down. “My best guess: Chris Wray would have been fired, publicly humiliated and legally defeated.” Related...

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