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  • Vikings sign Anthony Barr to active roster

    Vikings sign Anthony Barr to active roster

    The Vikings signed veteran linebacker Anthony Barr to their active roster from their practice squad Friday, the team announced.

    Barr, whom the Vikings selected in the first round of the 2014 draft, joined the team’s practice squad in November.

    The Vikings elevated Barr from the practice squad to the active roster for Week 11 at Denver and Week 12 against the Bears. In 26 defensive snaps, Barr has one tackle and a fumble recovery.

    The team had an open roster spot after placing outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum on injured reserve. Wonnum required surgery to repair a quadriceps muscle.

    In addition to signing Barr to the 53-player roster, the Vikings re-signed linebacker Nick Vigil to the practice squad.

    The Vikings ruled out four players for Sunday’s game against the Packers. Safety Theo Jackson (toe), cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (knee), receiver Jalen Nailor (concussion) and defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy (ankle) won’t dress out.

    Receiver Jordan Addison (ankle), cornerback Mekhi Blackmon (shoulder/illness) and linebacker Troy Dye (wrist) are questionable.

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  • Jim Harbaugh is just like all of us

    Jim Harbaugh is just like all of us

    LOS ANGELES — If you just watch the national media, you would think that Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh is an icy character, albeit a quirky one. But his players see him much differently than public perception.

    On Friday, senior wide receiver Roman Wilson shared that he wished that more people knew what kind of person his head coach actually is.

    “I wish I would be asked more about how good of a guy Coach Harbaugh is — I feel like I’ve never ever really got asked that,” Wilson said. “Is Coach Harbaugh really like his players? And is he really like a team guy? I think he really is.“

    So what does that mean? What does Harbaugh look like behind the scenes?

    Well, despite turning 60 on December 23, the ninth-year Michigan football head coach acts more like his players’ age than his own.

    “He’s like a kid for real. He be cracking jokes like trying to get us with Deez Nuts jokes. He is out there having a good time,” Wilson said. “He really is a player, like one of us deep down.

    “I told them out there, I went to his house for Christmas, and I thought he would just be inside chilling on the couch. He was just outside working on the chicken coop, chickens following him around. His actual kids were following him, and then chickens were just following him, and he was working on the chicken coop. I was, like, man, this is the most Coach Harbaugh thing I’ve ever seen.”

    Harbaugh has found a way to relate more to his team in recent years than when he first came to Ann Arbor. Before 2021, it was rare to hear players discuss how much they loved their head coach. He started making a concerted effort to relate more to the Wolverine players in 2017, but it didn’t really catch on until the culture changed following the COVID year.

    Story originally appeared on Wolverines Wire

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  • These six NFL teams can clinch a playoff spot in Week 17: How Bills, Chiefs and these four others can get in

    These six NFL teams can clinch a playoff spot in Week 17: How Bills, Chiefs and these four others can get in

    With just 31 games left in the regular-season, the NFL playoff picture is starting to take shape. 

    With their 37-20 win over the Jets on Thursday night, the Cleveland Browns became the seventh team to punch their playoff ticket this year. Although the Browns were the first team to clinch a spot in Week 17, there’s a good chance they won’t be the last. As a matter of fact, by the time Week 17 is in the books, we could see six more spots clinched. 

    Here are the the playoff-clinching scenarios for Week 17, starting with the AFC:

    Can clinch AFC South and playoff berth with: 
    1. Jaguars win over Panthers combined with Colts loss to Raiders AND Texans loss to Titans. 

    Can clinch AFC West and playoff berth with: 
    1. Chiefs win or tie vs. Bengals OR
    2. Raiders loss or tie to Colts combined with Broncos loss or tie to Chargers

    The Bills have 14 SCENARIOS where they could clinch a playoff berth this weekend, so let’s take a look at them. 

    Can clinch a playoff berth with: 

    Bills win over Patriots + Steelers loss or tie to Seahawks + Bengals loss or tie to Chiefs ORBills win + Steelers loss or tie + Jaguars loss or tie to Panthers ORBills win + Steelers loss or tie + Texans loss or tie to Titans + Colts loss or tie to Raiders ORBills win + Bengals loss or tie + Jaguars loss or tie ORBills win + Bengals loss or tie + Texans loss or tie + Colts loss or tie ORBills tie + Steelers loss + Bengals loss + Jaguars loss ORBills tie + Steelers loss + Bengals loss + Texans loss or tie ORBills tie + Steelers loss + Bengals loss + Colts loss or tie ORBills tie + Steelers loss + Jaguars loss + Texans loss or tie ORBills tie + Steeles loss + Jaguars loss + Colts loss or tie ORBills tie + Steelers loss + Texans loss + Colts loss ORBills tie + Bengals loss + Jaguars loss + Texans loss or tie ORBills tie + Bengals loss + Jaguars loss + Colts loss or tie ORBills tie + Bengals loss + Texans loss + Colts loss

    The…

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  • WATCH: Kansas State devours the ‘first edible mascot’ after Pop-Tarts Bowl win over NC State

    WATCH: Kansas State devours the ‘first edible mascot’ after Pop-Tarts Bowl win over NC State

    Getty Images

    College football’s Bowl Season has reached peak absurdity. Kansas State earned the right to devour the first edible mascot in sports history following its 28-19 win against NC State in Thursday’s Pop-Tarts Bowl. Just minutes before the feast, Kansas State coach Chris Klieman’s players dumped a bucket of mini Pop-Tarts on his head following the victory. 

    He was covered in Pop-Tart dust when another group of Wildcats surprised their coach with a more traditional Gatorade bath. Klieman and true freshman quarterback Avery Johnson, who was named the Pop-Tarts Bowl MVP, got first dibs on the giant strawberry frosted Pop-Tart emerged from an even larger toaster.

    In addition the postgame victory meal, the Wildcats were also awarded a sweet trophy that has two slots at the top to hold Pop-Tarts, creating an ersatz football-shaped toaster . 

    Thursday marks Kansas State’s second bowl win in the last three years and second straight season with at least nine wins. The Wildcats entered last year’s Sugar Bowl with a 10-3 record fresh off a Big 12 Championship Game win against national runner-up TCU. 

    Kansas State leaned on its ground attack with Johnson — making his first start for the Wildcats — to secure the win against NC State. K-State rushed for a total of 258 yards, paced by sophomore running back DJ Giddens and his 28 carries for 152 yards and a touchdown. Johnson contributed 71 yards — averaging a game-high 10.1 yards per carry — and a touchdown on the ground while throwing for 178 yards and two touchdowns. 

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  • Tua Tagovailoa again limited in practice

    Tua Tagovailoa again limited in practice

    Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa remained limited on Thursday’s practice report.

    Tagovailoa has injuries to his left thumb and a quadriceps, with Wednesday marking the first time this season he has not had a full practice.

    The only injury he had listed on the practice report over the first 16 weeks was a right arm laceration, though he had full practices during that entire week and no injury designation.

    Offensive coordinator Frank Smith didn’t express concern about Tagovailoa before practice Thursday.

    “Yeah, I think it was something on one of the throws or something like that in the game [where Tagovailoa hurt his thumb]. I’m not 100 percent sure. I can’t remember exactly what it was,” Smith said, via a transcript from the team. “But like everything, I think the big thing is as you go through it, it’s the last week of December. I mean, I’ve got a paper cut in my hand, too, that I’m working through. I’m trying to push through. But ultimately, it’s just for us, it’s worrying about today, making sure that we’re getting ourselves ready for Baltimore this Sunday.”

    The Dolphins got running back De’Von Achane (toe), left tackle Terron Armstead (knee/ankle/back), receiver Robbie Chosen (concussion) and receiver Tyreek Hill (rest) back to practice on a limited basis after they missed Wednesday’s session.

    Offensive lineman Lester Cotton was added to the report that a hip injury that limited him.

    Receiver Jaylen Waddle, who is not expected to play with his ankle injury, and running back Raheem Mostert, who is expected to play despite knee and ankle issues, were the only players who didn’t practice.

    Offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg (calf/ankle), safety Jevon Holland (knees), cornerback Xavien Howard (hip/thumb), offensive lineman Austin Jackson (oblique) and linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (wrist) again were limited.

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  • Latest updates on Lance Heard situation

    Latest updates on Lance Heard situation

    LSU was expected to be at full strength aside from quarterback Jayden Daniels, who opted out, in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Wisconsin on New Year’s Day.

    However, new broke on Wednesday that true freshman offensive tackle and former five-star recruit Lance Heard did not make the trip to Tampa, leaving his status with the team unclear.

    On3’s Billy Embody provided some updates on The Jordy Culotta Show Thursday after speaking to Heard. While he didn’t get into specifics, he said Heard is still evaluating his future, which is currently in “limbo,” though he is considering a return to LSU next season.

    Yesterday news broke that star freshman OT Lance Heard did not travel with #LSU for the bowl game on Monday and left many fans confused. @BillyEmbody got Lance on the phone yesterday to discuss his current situation⬇️ pic.twitter.com/705arE7Kfo

    — The Jordy Culotta Show (@CulottaShow) December 28, 2023

    Embody didn’t know the specifics of Heard’s situation and whether his absence had to do with an intention to enter the portal, grades, NIL money or something else entirely.

    Regardless, it will be one of the biggest stories to watch as LSU prepares for its postseason matchup against the Badgers.

    Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

    Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

    Story originally appeared on LSU Tigers Wire

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  • 2024 NFL Draft: Jim Harbaugh’s return to the NFL and other scenarios that could lead to first-round drama

    2024 NFL Draft: Jim Harbaugh’s return to the NFL and other scenarios that could lead to first-round drama

    The NFL Draft is three days of entertainment. It produces blockbuster trades of players and picks such as Philadelphia acquiring A.J. Brown or Carolina trading up to No. 1 overall. Some scenarios would add even more intrigue.

    Here are some of those scenarios: 

    Bears picking top 2 overall

    If Chicago gets a top-2 overall selection, then something entertaining is going to happen. The Bears will either trade out of the pick or select a quarterback, which would set the trade of former first-round pick Justin Fields in motion. In a separate article, I dove deeper into the franchise’s potential decision. It is highly unlikely that they would stick at No. 1 overall and then take a non-quarterback. 

    Fields has played better over the second half of the season but has just two years remaining on his rookie contract. The coaching staff could restart the financial clock at quarterback by making the change. 

    Cardinals picking top 2 overall

    Arizona is currently in position to pick No. 2 overall. The Cardinals’ situation is similar to Chicago’s, but they have already made the financial investment in starting quarterback Kyler Murray. Murray’s dead cap hit in 2024 is north of $81 million so taking a quarterback would be a surprise. It does put them in a position to potentially trade out of the pick for a team looking to move up for USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, LSU’s Jayden Daniels or Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy. 

    Matthew Stafford abruptly retires

    No one expects Stafford to retire at 35 years old, but weirder events have occurred. If he were to pick up and move on, it would put Los Angeles in a precarious position at quarterback. An Aaron Rodgers retirement would be unexpected because of how much time and energy he put toward rehabbing this season. 

    This section initially included Russell Wilson as well, but it has since been learned that he has been benched by Denver. The Broncos…

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  • WATCH: West Virginia coach Neal Brown drenched in mayonnaise after Mountaineers get win in Duke’s Mayo Bowl

    WATCH: West Virginia coach Neal Brown drenched in mayonnaise after Mountaineers get win in Duke’s Mayo Bowl

    USATSI

    To the victor go the spills. In what is quickly becoming one of bowl season’s most entertaining traditions, West Virginia coach Neal Brown was bathed in mayo following his team’s 30-10 win against North Carolina in Wednesday’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Brown is the third coach to receive the honor, following South Carolina’s Shane Beamer and Maryland’s Mike Locksley. 

    Bowl organizers instituted the mayo bath in 2021, though the first Duke’s Mayo Bowl was played in 2020 with Paul Chryst’s Wisconsin squad picking up a win against Wake Forest. West Virginia is actually the first Big 12 program to both play in and win the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in its current iteration. 

    As the final score may indicate, Wednesday’s result was rarely in question. The Mountaineers jumped out to a 14-3 lead late in the second quarter and the two teams traded a pair of scores in the final minute to give West Virginia a 17-10 lead at halftime. It dominated from there, holding the Tar Heels scoreless over the final 30 minutes while gradually padding its own lead. WVU’s defense completely took over in the second half, holding North Carolina to just 131 total yards. 

    This is West Virginia’s first bowl victory since 2020 and its first 9-win season since 2016 when Dana Holgorsen was the coach. This is also the first time that Brown has led the Mountaineers to more than six wins since he took the job in 2019. 

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