Kemba Walker isn't going back to the bench any time soon, and his trade value may be on the rise - CBS Sports

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Kemba Walker has made it clear he was not happy about being planted on the Knicks' bench, and if he continues to play like this, he shouldn't have to worry about going back there any time soon. 

On Thursday night, albeit in a tight loss to the Wizards, Walker went crazy with 44 points, nine rebounds and eight assists on 14-of-27 shooting, including 7-of-14 from 3-point land. He scored 23 points in the second quarter. The 44 is the most a Knicks player has scored this season and Walker's highest output since 2019. 

Walker was banished from the rotation starting on November 30th. Over the next nine games, the Knicks went 2-7 without Walker and their defense got even worse. Less than a week ago, on December 18th, with six Knicks in health and safety protocols and Derrick Rose out with an ankle injury that has since required surgery, Tom Thibodeau was forced to put Walker back into action against the Celtics. 

That night, Walker responded with 29 points, hitting five of his 11 3-pointers as a team-high plus-five in his 37 minutes. Three nights later, Walker scored 21 in a win over the Pistons. Add in Thursday's 44, and Walker is averaging 31.3 points  on 44-percent 3-point shooting. 

In the seven-point loss to the Wizards, Walker was a plus-four in 43 minutes. Do the math, and the Knicks lost the five non-Walker minutes by 11. Their defense got sliced apart, and Walker wasn't any help in this regard. Kyle Kuzma hit two monster 3-pointers in crunch time for Washington. Julius Randle was 0-for-5 from 3 while Alec Burks and Evan Fournier combined to shoot 8-for-29. Walker didn't get enough help.

With Rose now out at least eight weeks, Walker is certain to at least remain in the Knicks' rotation. Whether he will continue to start when Immanuel Quickley returns from his COVID absence remains to be seen (Thibs could go with a Quickley-Alec Burks starting backcourt and bring Walker off the bench in the Rose role), but either way, Walker is not going to be riding the pine any time soon. 

Beyond that, might this past week of performances have raised Walker's trade value across the league? It's certainly plausible. It's not to suggest Walker isn't still a flawed player; his defense is a huge problem, and that might not be a road Thibodeau wants to go down any longer than he has to. Teams are still going to look at the whole picture. 

But Walker can still score. He's shooting 42 percent from 3 for the season, and he remains a legit pull-up threat. Per Synergy Sports tracking, Walker entered Thursday in the 80th percentile or higher as a pick-and-roll, isolation and dribble-handoff scorer, and his 1.05 points per shot off the dribble registers as elite as well. 

How might he fit as a supporting player on a better team rather than having control of the offense? Small samples notwithstanding, he ranks in the 93rd percentile as a spot-up shooter with better than a 61 adjusted field goal percentage, per Synergy, and the 99th percentile with a 75 aFG on catch-and-shoots. If the Knicks continue to struggle, we'll see how much stock a potential trade partner puts in those numbers. 

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Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors out of Hawai'i Bowl due to COVID-19 issues - ESPN

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The EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl was canceled after Hawai'i announced Thursday that it was pulling out of the game, citing COVID-19 issues within the program in addition to injuries and transfers.

The game was scheduled to be played Friday in Honolulu.

"The health and safety of our student-athletes is the most important part of this decision," Hawai'i athletic director David Matlin said in a statement. "The recent surge in COVID-19 cases has forced us to not participate in the game.

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"We are disappointed for our players, coaches, and fans. ESPN and the EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl staff did everything they could for us and we appreciate their valiant effort throughout the week. We want to thank the Memphis Tigers for making the long trip to Hawai'i. We are disappointed we can't compete on the football field."

Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield expressed disappointment as well.

"We hope that Hawai'i players and staff get healthy soon," he said in a statement. "I'm upset for our seniors and the rest of the team that battled this season to earn this opportunity. We've had [a] terrific time here in Hawai'i as a program and we are sad our trip ended this way."

Hawai'i joins Texas A&M as teams unable to compete in bowls this season as a result of COVID-19 issues.

"While we are disappointed that the bowl will not be played despite considerable efforts from our many stakeholders, sponsors, supporters, and volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this game a reality," ESPN said in a statement, "we thank the University of Memphis program and its fans for making the long trip, and we hope they were able to enjoy the unique experience that this event offers in the Aloha state."

ESPN's Adam Rittenberg contributed to this report.

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Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors out of Hawai'i Bowl due to COVID-19 issues - ESPN India

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The EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl was canceled after Hawai'i announced Thursday that it was pulling out of the game, citing COVID-19 issues within the program in addition to injuries and transfers.

The game was scheduled to be played Friday in Honolulu.

"The health and safety of our student-athletes is the most important part of this decision," Hawai'i athletic director David Matlin said in a statement. "The recent surge in COVID-19 cases has forced us to not participate in the game.

• 

"We are disappointed for our players, coaches, and fans. ESPN and the EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl staff did everything they could for us and we appreciate their valiant effort throughout the week. We want to thank the Memphis Tigers for making the long trip to Hawai'i. We are disappointed we can't compete on the football field."

Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield expressed disappointment as well.

"We hope that Hawai'i players and staff get healthy soon," he said in a statement. "I'm upset for our seniors and the rest of the team that battled this season to earn this opportunity. We've had [a] terrific time here in Hawai'i as a program and we are sad our trip ended this way."

Hawai'i joins Texas A&M as teams unable to compete in bowls this season as a result of COVID-19 issues.

"While we are disappointed that the bowl will not be played despite considerable efforts from our many stakeholders, sponsors, supporters, and volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this game a reality," ESPN said in a statement, "we thank the University of Memphis program and its fans for making the long trip, and we hope they were able to enjoy the unique experience that this event offers in the Aloha state."

ESPN's Adam Rittenberg contributed to this report.

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Rutgers accepts invite as replacement team for Gator Bowl, to play Wake Forest - ESPN

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Rutgers will replace Texas A&M as the opponent for Wake Forest in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, it was announced Thursday.

"This is an exciting time for Rutgers," Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said in a statement. "I'm so happy for our players to be able to experience a great bowl game atmosphere. Anytime you can go out and test yourself against the country's top talent, it creates a tremendous opportunity for our players to grow and develop."

The Gator Bowl is still scheduled to be played Dec. 31 in Jacksonville, Florida (11 a.m. ET, ESPN).

"Our outstanding group of seniors deserves this proper send off as we compete for a championship next week," Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said in a statement. "[Rutgers] coach Greg Schiano does a great job and I have tremendous respect for him and his staff. We expect a very tough game against a talented and well-coached team."

Earlier Thursday, the NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee decided that the previous guidelines for selecting 5-7 teams to fill bowl openings would remain, with the highest multiyear Academic Progress Rate being the greatest determining factor.

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That meant Rutgers had the first opportunity among the 5-7 teams eligible to be the replacement.

Texas A&M withdrew from the game Wednesday because of COVID-19 cases and other issues that affected its roster of available players. Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork told ESPN that the program was down to 38 scholarship position players, of which 20 were offensive and defensive linemen.

The NCAA football oversight committee also announced on Thursday that any bowl game can be moved to as late as Jan. 10 if the schools involved need additional time to prepare.

The Scarlet Knights last played Nov. 27 against Maryland and were eliminated from bowl consideration a week later when eligible teams filled every spot.

Rutgers last appeared in a bowl game in 2014, the second-longest postseason drought among Power 5 teams, behind Kansas. It will be the Scarlet Knights' seventh bowl appearance with Schiano as coach.

Illinois (5-7) on Wednesday had communicated its desire to replace Texas A&M, sources told ESPN.

ESPN's Andrea Adelson, Adam Rittenberg, Mark Schlabach and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh tests positive for COVID-19 - ESPN

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FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York Jets coach Robert Saleh has tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday morning, the team announced.

Saleh, 42, was tested for the virus after reporting symptoms, according to the team. Tight ends coach Ron Middleton is leading practice on Wednesday.

If Saleh doesn't clear protocols by Sunday, Middleton will coach the team Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars at MetLife Stadium. Middleton, 56, spent the previous eight seasons as the Jaguars' tight ends coach.

It's possible, under the new protocols, that Saleh could be cleared to return Thursday. He became the third NFL head coach to test positive, joining the Cleveland Browns' Kevin Stefanski and the New Orleans Saints' Sean Payton (twice).

The Jets have 14 players on the reserve/COVID-19 list, including four practice-squad players.

Saleh, in his first season as the Jets' coach, is 3-11. The team is mired in its third three-game losing streak of the season.

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Tom Brady on hit that cost Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin rest of season: 'Ought to take out of the game' - USA TODAY

Cleveland Browns fall to last place in AFC North with heartbreaking loss to Las Vegas Raiders - USA TODAY

NFL Week 15 winners and losers: Cardinals, Bucs look terrible; Patriots, Titans give Chiefs a boost - USA TODAY

Ravens fall to Packers on controversial two-point try: Why another John Harbaugh decision was the real culprit - CBS Sports

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The Ravens fell to the Packers 31-30 on Sunday night after failing to convert a two-point try with 42 seconds left. Fans and media alike went into an instant uproar over coach John Harbaugh's decision-making that sealed the game -- both his call to go for two and the play selection for the crucial go-ahead attempt. But simple math suggests Harbaugh's real error came earlier in the fourth quarter, when Tyler Huntley scored his first rushing touchdown to pull the Ravens within one score.

Before Huntley scored with 4:47 left, the Ravens trailed 31-17. The quarterback's rushing TD brought Baltimore within one score -- specifically, eight points. At that moment, Harbaugh elected to kick the extra point, and Justin Tucker converted, making it a seven-point ballgame. Reasonable enough, right? Not if Harbaugh was always planning to go for two with the game on the line.

Former Eagles coach Doug Pederson, another aggressive decision-maker of the Andy Reid coaching tree, made it a habit during his stint in Philadelphia to rationalize going for two when trailing by two scores late in a game: that way, if down by 14 you fail to convert, you can still try a two-pointer to tie later in the contest. Put it this way: had the Ravens gone for two after Huntley's first rushing TD and failed, they would've been down 31-23, with the opportunity to tie things up with a future score and two-pointer.

Had they gone for two and made it, they would've been down 31-25 with an opportunity to win the game with just a future score and extra point. Instead, by saving the two-point try for later, they boxed themselves in: one more TD drive was never going to win them the game in regulation unless it included a successful two-point try.

Harbaugh still deserves credit -- and will get plenty of internal support -- for his aggression in the final minute; what player doesn't love a coach who will put the game in his own team's hands? The Ravens surely had a better chance of winning on the two-point try than by stopping Aaron Rodgers in overtime. But by kicking the extra point to ensure they'd trail by eight points earlier in the fourth, the Ravens basically guaranteed they'd be in a pressure situation, when in reality, they might not have needed to be. 

"I thought our chances of winning there was better than overtime," the veteran coach explained during a postgame news conference.

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NFC playoff picture remains blurry following stunning Sunday - NFL.com

No result Sunday – no upset, no injury -- affected the playoff picture as much as what happened in the testing facilities and laboratories earlier in the week.

The Omicron variant exploded upon the NFL starting on Monday, sending 163 players into quarantine by Saturday, emptying rosters of dozens of starters, precipitating an overhaul of the league's protocol on testing and return to action, forcing the rescheduling of three games – including two with huge NFC implications -- and stripping away the feeling of certainty that the postseason field would be mostly determined during games.

Only one thing compared to the impact of the pandemic on the playoffs this week.

The Detroit Lions.

Their 30-12 stunner over the Arizona Cardinals caused tumult at the top of the playoff field and of the draft order. The Lions might have ruined their chance to get the first overall pick in notching their second victory of the season, but the damage they did to the Cardinals was nearly as great.

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The Cardinals entered last week's games as the NFC's top seed. After two straight losses, though, they are now the fourth seed and are at risk of falling even further by losing the NFC West to the Rams, to whom they lost last week.

The Green Bay Packers held onto the top seed after beating the Baltimore Ravens Sunday to win the NFC North, becoming the first team to clinch a playoff spot. With the COVID-ravaged Browns, Vikings and Lions left on the schedule, the Packers, who have won their division three years in a row, are in excellent position to be the NFC's No. 1 seed. The first-round bye would be especially useful for the Packers – and bad news for everyone else -- because it would give Aaron Rodgers time to rest the fractured toe that has been keeping him out of practice. Inactivity wasn't a problem for Rodgers this week. He was 23 of 31 for 268 yards and three touchdowns, albeit against an injury- and COVID-19-depleted Ravens pass defense.

Rodgers, whose future is the story that will hover over the playoffs, said he would savor the division title before discussing how much he cares for his teammates. He also said he thought his offensive teammates could win no matter what the defense or special teams do.

"These last two games, we've played some pretty damn good football on offense," Rodgers said.

At 10-4, the Cardinals can't say the same about their offense right now, but they will still make the playoffs even if they are caught by the Rams. The NFC West remains the best division in the NFL, with a good chance to put three teams in the playoffs. On Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers beat the Atlanta Falcons, their fourth victory in the last five games. At 8-6, the 49ers are currently the sixth seed.

Of all of those teams -- of all the teams in the NFL, perhaps -- the biggest enigma is the Cardinals, whose level of play has sagged in recent weeks, calling into question how much of a threat they will be in the postseason. They allowed the Lions -- the Lions! -- to go on a 15-play opening drive that took 8:50 off the clock. They gave up 248 yards in the first half. Kyler Murray, who admitted the team lacked "juice" on Sunday, was shaky, missing throws high and wide, and could not escape from the Lions when he tried to run. His quarterback rating is 78.7 with three touchdowns and five interceptions in the four games since he injured his ankle late in the Week 8 loss to the Packers.

Against the Lions, the offense gained just 84 yards in the first half. The absence of DeAndre Hopkins surely has something to do with the lack of explosion, but in the fourth quarter, when the Cardinals were trailing by three touchdowns, they were oddly somnolent, letting precious seconds drift off the clock when they had the ball. Over the last two weeks, the offense has managed just three touchdowns and they are 2 of 8 in the red zone. Only the Cowboys, whose offense still looked out of sync even against the Giants' COVID-depleted defense, gave air to as many questions in a victory as the Cardinals did.

It feels familiar to last season, when the Cardinals started strong, only to fade in the second half of the season and miss the playoffs. That won't happen this season, but with games against the Colts (bad news for the struggling Cardinals run defense), Cowboys and Seahawks remaining, going into the postseason on an upswing is no given and continuing struggles, particularly for the offense, will raise questions about Kliff Kingsbury's ability to push a team into a deep playoff run.

"This is nowhere near where we were last year, and we're not going to allow it to be," Murray said.

What might help save the Cardinals from their slide? The Rams are one of the teams struggling with a wave of players with COVID-19. Last week, they had more than 25 players out, and their game against the Seahawks was one of those postponed to Tuesday, along with the Washington-Philadelphia game because the Football Team had more than 20 players on the COVID list.

Rams Coach Sean McVay said Saturday he was contemplating multiple game plans given the roster uncertainty -- one for the players they know will be available on Tuesday, and one for players who have a chance to be cleared from the COVID list before the game.

Not surprisingly, the Seahawks and Eagles were not happy with the postponements and, on Sunday, they had good reason to be even angrier. While the Rams and Washington are starting to get players back from the COVID list thanks to a quicker return-to-play timeline under the new protocols, the Seahawks and Eagles -- who had not suffered the massive outbreaks the Rams and WFT did -- put players on the COVID list on Sunday. The domino effect of the postponements can't be ignored either. All four teams – with the Rams, Eagles and Washington all in the playoff mix -- are scheduled to play next Sunday on a short week, a potential competitive disadvantage.

That was certainly the New Orleans Saints' situation Sunday night in their 9-0 victory over the Bucs, the shocker that provided the other bookend to Sunday.

The Saints, who are now 7-7 and the NFC's seventh seed, were without head coach Sean Payton, who had COVID, and the Bucs entered the game with a four-game lead over the Saints in the NFC South. The Bucs will almost certainly win the division despite Sunday's result. But the Saints have beaten the Bucs in the last seven regular season games and they hit Tom Brady over and over Sunday, inducing a fumble and an interception. The Saints had almost no offense of their own, but it didn't matter. The Bucs were shut out for the first time in the Brady era -- the Saints held the Bucs to their previous Brady low (three points) last season -- and injuries to receivers Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (knee), and running back Leonard Fournette (hamstring) left Brady to attempt a comeback with only Rob Gronkowski as a reliable weapon.

The potential absences of so many targets from what had been the league's top scoring offense pose problems for the final three games of the regular season, with playoff position still very much in flux – the Bucs are 10-4, the same record as the Cardinals and Cowboys. Receiver Antonio Brown, who served a three-game suspension for misrepresenting his vaccination status, is expected to return to the active roster on Monday and the sputtering offense and Brady's frustration explain why the Bucs are so quick to forgive Brown's fake vaccination card. The Bucs have two games against the Panthers and one against the Jets remaining – entirely winnable if the offense is even partially intact.

Like the Cardinals, the Bucs missed an opportunity Sunday to seize some certainty in what looks likely to become a very uncertain final month of the regular season. With the pandemic a significant factor for the first time this season, only the Packers got what everyone wants now – a guarantee they're in the playoffs no matter when the games get played and who is available to play them.

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Jonathan Taylor's 67-yard, fourth-quarter TD run halts Patriots' comeback: 'We're not going to let up' - NFL.com

The Colts left the door open for a Patriots comeback on Saturday night. But that was until Jonathan Taylor closed the show.

Needing a first down or two with a three-point lead and a little over two minutes to play, Taylor instead ripped off a 67-yard touchdown run to help put the game out of reach and secure a 27-17 victory over the Patriots.

"I think it just says that we're a team that's gonna come in, wherever we're at -- home or away -- we're going to play 60 minutes, four quarters of hard-nosed football," Taylor said in the postgame interview on NFL Network. "And we're not going to let up, we're going to continue pressing until the clock strikes zero."

Taylor's final run of the night concluded a 170-yard rushing night for the stellar second-year back, who averaged 5.9 yards per carry off 29 attempts.

The late-inning home run also kept Indianapolis in the AFC South chase with the Tennessee Titans and moved the Colts up one spot within the playoff picture, where they currently sit at the No. 5 seed.

The Colts put it on the Patriots in the first half, going into the locker room with a 20-0 lead having dominated on defense and scoring a TD on a blocked punt. Patriots quarterback Mac Jones made several miscues early on but rallied back in the second half thanks to mistakes by his contemporary Carson Wentz, who's second half interception helped spur a comeback.

Wentz completed just 5 of 12 pass attempts for 57 yards (TD, INT) on the night, but the scare of what would've been a harrowing letdown was quickly forgotten by virtue of Taylor's 67-yard scamper.

Said Taylor: "It was just an all-out effort -- offense, defense, special teams -- being able to come together and play a complete game."

Taylor leads the league with 1,518 rushing yards and 18 total TDs (16 rushing, two receiving), and is closer to achieving Colts history with three games remaining. Taylor now needs just 192 rushing yards to eclipse the single-season franchise record of 1,709 yards set by Edgerrin James, who applied that mark in his second season (2000).

Chants of "MVP" resonated in Lucas Oil Stadium as Taylor walked off the field. But all the 22-year-old could really think of was getting the Colts into the playoffs as they approach the final three-game stretch that begins in Arizona on Christmas Day.

"It's just a blessing that people feel as though my name should be in that conversation," Taylor said. "The only thing that's on my mind is to continuously be available for my team each and every single week. Because it's going to take our best every week in order to win these games."

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Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley 2 Results: Live updates of the undercard and main event - MMA Fighting

MMA Fighting has Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley 2 results live for the Paul vs. Woodley 2 fight card at the Amelie Arena on Saturday in Tampa, Fla.

When the main event begins, likely around 11:30 p.m. ET, check out our Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley 2 live round-by-round updates on our live blog. Prior to the main event, we’ll have live updates and results on all the undercard fights below.

Check out the Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley 2 undercard live blog for the pay-per-view portion that will begin at 9 p.m. ET below:

Prelims:

Anthony Taylor vs. Chris Avila

J’Leon Love vs. Marcus Oliveira

Undercard:

Liam Paro vs. Yomar Alamo

Round 1:

Round 2:

Round 3:

Round 4:

Round 5:

Round 6:

Round 7:

Round 8:

Round 9:

Round 10:

Deron Williams vs. Frank Gore

Deron Williams vs. Frank Gore live round-by-round updates

Amanda Serrano vs. Miriam Gutierrez

Round 1:

Round 2:

Round 3:

Round 4:

Round 5:

Round 6:

Round 7:

Round 8:

Round 9:

Round 10:

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Tiger Woods describes 'awesome' day at PNC Championship with his son | Golf Central | Golf Channel - Golf Channel

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Lakers Rumors: Isaiah Thomas to Sign 10-Day Contract After 42-Point Debut in G League - Bleacher Report

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Veteran point guard Isaiah Thomas had 42 points in his G League debut on Wednesday, and that performance reportedly was enough to impress the Los Angeles Lakers.

According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, Thomas signed a 10-day contract with Los Angeles on Thursday.

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JUST IN — Isaiah Thomas is signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShamsCharania</a>. <br><br>He will join the team on a 10-day contract under the hardship exemption. <a href="https://t.co/AiCHTObuQg">pic.twitter.com/AiCHTObuQg</a>

Thomas was last in the NBA near the end of last season, playing three games for the New Orleans Pelicans in the month of April. After he was unable to land with another team through the first two months of this season, Thomas signed a G League deal with the Grand Rapids Gold, the affiliate of the Denver Nuggets.

Thomas has played for eight teams during his 11-year career. This will be his second run with the Lakers after he was traded to Los Angeles midway through the 2017-18 season. Thomas was limited to 17 games during his first stint with the team because of hip surgery.

Thomas is best known for his time with the Boston Celtics, when he was a two-time All-Star in three seasons with the team. After averaging a career-high 28.9 points in 2016-17, Thomas earned second-team All-NBA honors. 

The 32-year-old has dealt with hip issues throughout his career, playing in just 87 NBA games since the 2017-18 season. Thomas has said he is healthy now, and he certainly looked that way on Wednesday.

The Lakers have a 16-13 record following Wednesday night's overtime win over the Dallas Mavericks, which was their third consecutive victory.

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How will rain affect Saturday’s BYU-UAB matchup in Independence Bowl? - Deseret News

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana — BYU football players and coaches have been enjoying unseasonably warm weather, sunshine and plenty of Cajun cuisine such as bacon-wrapped alligator and other delicacies here in the Ratchet City this week.

One of those elements that has made their participation in the Independence Bowl changes on Saturday, however.

Weather forecasts call for a 90% chance of rain in the Shreveport-Bossier City area when the No. 13 Cougars face UAB at 1:30 p.m. MST at Independence Stadium. Daytime high temperatures will drop from the mid-70s to low-60s, meteorologists say.

‘That’s all we have been talking about, is being ready to play. Bowl games have distractions; You have a pretty long period of time between your last game and bowl game and usually the team that is most ready to play wins.” — BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick.

That’s not great news for a BYU offense that struggled a bit in the rare times it played in the rain this season. The Cougars lost 26-17 to Boise State on a semi-rainy day in Provo and defeated Washington State 21-19 in Pullman when it rained on and off throughout the game.

Those were 10-2 BYU’s two lowest-scoring games of the year.

“Throughout the week, we have practiced getting ready for a wet ball, over-emphasizing ball security, making sure we take care of it,” BYU running back Lopini Katoa said Thursday before practice at the Loyola College Prep school’s Flyer Field. “That’s (definitely) an issue for us in this game.”

Linebacker Ben Bywater said that attitude carries over to the defensive side as well.

“We are preparing for rain, so ball security is going to be huge,” Bywater said. “Punching the ball out on defense is going to be big, as well as fundamentals like stopping the run. We know with tougher weather they are gonna run it. Stopping it is going to be a big goal of ours.”

Assistant head coach Ed Lamb said coaches have been walking around practice and squirting the players’ hands and feet with water to get them ready for Saturday’s expected downpour. They’ve also made quarterbacks Jaren Hall, Baylor Romney and Jacob Conover throw a wet football.

“You just try to simulate that heavy, slippery ball,” Lamb said. “Really, it is about awareness. As coaches, you get what you emphasize. We are emphasizing the ball security phase of the game.”

Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said everything about the bowl has been top-shelf so far, and the team that best handles the weather and is most excited about playing will probably prevail.

‘That’s all we have been talking about, is being ready to play,” Roderick said. “Bowl games have distractions; You have a pretty long period of time between your last game and bowl game and usually the team that is most ready to play wins.

“The other thing is being excited to play,” Roderick continued. “I think that’s a big factor in bowl games, is the team that is most excited to be there usually is the one that has a better chance to win.”

No matter the weather, or how good the food is.

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Los Angeles Lakers rookie Austin Reaves 'lost for words' after overtime heroics vs. Mavericks - ESPN

1:47 AM ET

DALLAS -- The odds of Los Angeles Lakers rookie Austin Reaves even being in an NBA uniform on Wednesday night, let alone on the court in overtime and trusted to hit the game-winning 3 to beat the Mavericks 107-104, were astronomical.

All 30 teams passed on him on draft night, and the two-way contract he signed with L.A. was only converted to a full-fledged roster spot after the Lakers suffered injuries during training camp.

And while he'd earned coach Frank Vogel's trust up to this point in the season, the main reason Reaves was logging 9½ minutes in the fourth quarter on Wednesday plus the entire five minutes of overtime was because L.A. had little other choice. Over the past 48 hours, the team was depleted from a string of players and staff members entering into the league's health and safety protocols.

When Reaves received the pass from Russell Westbrook and let it fly from the right wing with 1.0 second left in the extra session, however, the context was inconsequential. He was a basketball player doing what he has done for as long as he has played the game.

"I mean, it's basically been the story of my life," Reaves said afterward. "I've always been underrated. Didn't go to a big high school, so didn't get recruited much, but at the end of the day, you got to produce on the basketball court and for me to hit that shot, for my teammates to have the trust in me to take that shot is very, very special."

The shot gave Reaves 15 points for the game, setting a new career high in scoring, and was his fifth made 3-pointer in six attempts. It prompted his teammates, future Hall of Famers and All-Stars among them, to mob the 23-year-old from Arkansas near midcourt after Dallas' Reggie Bullock couldn't get his desperation 3 off before the final buzzer.

Anthony Davis put Reaves in a headlock. Westbrook tussled his hair. When the group made it back to the locker room, LeBron James presented him with the game ball, and DeAndre Jordan snuck up behind Reaves to dump a bucket of ice water on the rookie to celebrate.

"Just the genuine nature of the guys," Reaves said when asked what stuck out about the moment. "You don't see that much, especially with the type of guys that we have on this team -- six Hall of Famers and then all the guys that have been in the league for 10-12 years. So, really just the genuineness of it is just special.

"I'm lost for words. I mean, I've grown up watching all of these guys play, so for them to ... for me to even just be teammates with them is special."

It was an outright exhibit of exuberance for a Lakers team that hasn't had much to feel great about this season. The rash of positive COVID-19 tests that hit the team this week -- making Dwight Howard, Talen Horton-Tucker and Malik Monk, as well as assistant coach Phil Handy and play-by-play broadcaster Bill Macdonald unavailable -- only seemed to fit that trend.

But with the flick of the wrist, Reaves kept some momentum alive for the Lakers, who have now won six of their past eight games.

"It hasn't gone as everyone else has hoped it would," James said of the Lakers' season, now 16-13 and No. 6 in the West. "It's gone as how it's gone. You go out and you play the game and you want to be better. You want to be better every single day. We want to continue to work our habits, continue do what we got to do to be great every night. So, we are who we are as a team. We got a lot of injuries, a lot of mixed lineups. Obviously guys in protocols and false protocols, things of that nature.

"So, we are what we are as a team right now and we like where we're at."

James' answer took on the same matter-of-fact tone that Reaves' did when asked about James lighting into him in a timeout when the Mavs hit a 3 shortly before his big-time shot.

"The discussion was that I messed up on defense," Reaves said of the intense conversation. "I didn't get to the shooter, or whatever. He made the shot. But, I mean, it's basketball. The other team is trying to achieve something, too. So, things go wrong, things go right, but I don't think so. I try to just stay level-headed throughout everything regardless of who I'm playing or what teammate I'm playing with. I think it's kind of just my nature and my mentality is just even-keeled. Never too high, never too low."

If there has been one high point to this Lakers season so far though, it has been their performance in crunch time. Reaves shot pushed their record in overtime to 5-1.

"Throughout the year, there will be ups and downs, but ultimately, when the game's on the line, we have guys in the locker room that can make plays at the end of the game," said Westbrook. "It's a good feeling to know that, looking to the left and looking to the right, that guys can close and finish games when we need to."

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Travis Hunter to Jackson State: In all-time stunner, Deion Sanders steals No. 1 prospect from Florida State - CBS Sports

Travis Hunter, the No. 1 overall prospect in the Class of 2022, pulled an all-time stunner Wednesday during the first day of the early signing period when he flipped from his Florida State commitment to sign with Jackson State, led by Seminoles legend Deion Sanders. Jackson State is an HBCU that competes in the SWAC at the FCS level, and Hunter's decision to spurn a longstanding commitment to an FBS power in order to sign with JSU will reverberate throughout college football and sports world as a whole.

"This is the biggest signing day moment in the history of college football," said Steve Wiltfong, director of national recruiting for 247Sports, who first reported that Hunter's flip was possible.

Hunter committed to Florida State in March 2020 and remained steadfast in his commitment to the 'Noles over more than a year and a half, even as the program has struggled to gain traction under coach Mike Norvell. But Hunter's flip amounts to a last-second gutting of the best thing Norvell had going for him.

Hunter, who is projected to play cornerback in college, is regarded as a generational talent and was viewed as a potential building block for an FSU team that is just 8-13 over Norvell's first two seasons as coach.

On the flip side, his move is a boost of historic proportions for HBCU football. Sanders has breathed life into the Jackson State program, leading it to an 11-1 record this season and an appearance in Saturday's Celebration Bowl. The Tigers finished 4-8 in 2019, the season before Sanders arrived.

The fact that Sanders poached Hunter from FSU's class is even more stunning considering that Sanders starred at Florida State and remained heavily connected to the university throughout his career.

Hunter is a talented corner, but much like Sanders did during his playing career, he could see action both ways at the next level. Hunter helped Collins Hill High School from Suwanee, Georgia, to a state title victory this month by catching 10 passes for 148 yards and forcing a fumble in a 24-8 win.

Coach Prime called his shot

Sanders is a bit of a showman known to talk a big game. So, perhaps that's why his remarks Tuesday on a Barstool Sports show went somewhat overlooked. In retrospect, his statement was a clear omen of this possibility. It seems "Coach Prime" called his shot.

"Signing day is tomorrow," Sanders said. "I'm going on record to tell you guys we're going to shock the country. I'm telling you right now. You've heard it from me. We're going to shock the country."

Sanders takes out his alma mater

Sanders didn't just play for Florida State; he was a three-time All-American in Tallahassee, Florida, and is one of the program's most iconic players. He helped transform the Noles into a national power under legendary coach Bobby Bowden in the late 1980s. His uniform was retired by the school, and he also played baseball for FSU before going on to a storied pro career in both sports.

Pulling a prospect of this magnitude from the school where he played is a fascinating dynamic. To what extent will it imperil his relationship with Florida State, if at all? Or will the fury of the fanbase merely be directed to Norvell and his staff for failing to finish the job with Hunter?

Time will tell. For now, it's easy to see how Sanders connected with Hunter. Much like Sanders was in his heyday, Hunter is a dynamic athlete capable of playing on both sides of the football. Given that Sanders excelled as a great NFL defensive back, he'll presumably receive a great deal of insight into the position under Sanders at JSU.

Florida State's concerning trajectory

Amid Florida State's struggles during Norvell's first two seasons, the signing of Hunter emerged as a source of hope for the program. He was the lynchpin of a class ranked No. 12 nationally and second in the ACC. Those rankings will fall following his defection and could put Norvell's rocky tenure in even more peril. Following the unsuccessful tenure of Willie Taggart and the unceremonious ending to the Jimbo Fisher era, the Noles needed a player of his caliber to reverse the program's fortunes. It appeared that Norvell had locked in Hunter. Now that he doesn't, where does FSU go from here?

HBCU recruiting could get a major boost

Hunter's pledge to Jackson State unquestionably serves as the most important signing by an HBCU in the modern recruiting era. As such, it could drastically change how HBCUs and FCS programs see themselves in the landscape of the sport. If snagging the No. 1 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite is possible for Jackson State, why can't Tennessee State sign two top 100 players? Why can't HBCU football get the attention and television rights deals it has long deserved?

If Hunter lives up to the hype, he could become the first Jackson State player to be taken in the first round of the NFL Draft since Rashard Anderson and Sylvester Morris in 2000. There were no players from HBCU's taken in the 2021 NFL Draft. If Sanders can make Jackson State -- as well as the SWAC and HBCU football -- a destination for high-caliber prospects, he could shift the power dynamics within the sport considerably.

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‘They’ll be ready. That’s what they do.’ Cleveland Browns Stefanski speaks out about COVID outbreak - WJW FOX 8 News Cleveland

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1. ‘They’ll be ready. That’s what they do.’ Cleveland Browns Stefanski speaks out about COVID outbreak  WJW FOX 8 News Cleveland
2. Baker Mayfield & Kevin Stefanski test positive for COVID-19 | First Take  ESPN
3. Browns place 6 on reserve/COVID lists, make additional roster moves  clevelandbrowns.com
4. What does the Browns’ depth chart look like with all the COVID players out?  Dawgs By Nature
5. Jarvis Landry, Wyatt Teller among 8 players added to reserve/COVID-19 list by Cleveland Browns  ESPN
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

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NFL's COVID-19 numbers keep growing - New York Post

The NFL is facing mounting COVID chaos. A day after 37 players tested positive, nearly another three dozen — including Odell Beckham Jr. and Chiefs Pro Bowl defensive tackle Chris Jones — were placed in the NFL’s COVID protocols with the Rams and Browns being hit particularly hard.

For the Browns, it is the second straight season they are dealing with a major COVID-19 outbreak during their playoff push.

Cleveland’s postseason hopes took a hit Tuesday when the team placed eight players, including top wide receiver Jarvis Landry, tight end Austin Hooper and starting offensive linemen Wyatt Teller and Jedrick Wills Jr. on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Those players will all likely miss Saturday’s crucial game against the Raiders (6-7).

Odell Beckham became the biggest name adding to the Rams’ growing list of players in COVID-19 protocol.

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With Cleveland playing Saturday, it’s going to be difficult for any of the affected players to be available. To be eligible, any vaccinated player on the COVID-19 list must be asymptomatic and have two negative tests in a 24-hour period. An unvaccinated player must sit out 10 days.

For the Rams, Beckham, safety Jordan Fuller and eight teammates went on the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday, giving the Rams 13 total players on the list.

Coach Sean McVay said the Rams have shut down their training complex in Thousand Oaks for at least two days under the NFL’s intensive protocols. They will conduct meetings virtually Wednesday and won’t hold a practice, although they were unlikely to hold a significant workout anyway on a short week of preparation to host Seattle on Sunday.

The Rams also activated tight end Tyler Higbee from the reserve/COVID-19 list, indicating he missed Monday night’s 30-23 win at the Cardinals due to a false positive.

Jones’ Chiefs, who saw wide receiver Josh Gordon test positive on Monday, face the Chargers in a critical AFC West game on Thursday night in Southern California. 

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Champions League redraw sees PSG vs. Real Madrid, Atletico vs. Man United, Inter vs. Liverpool - ESPN

9:29 AM ET

The Champions League round-of-16 draw was redone on Monday, with Paris Saint-Germain to face Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid paired with Manchester United.

UEFA confirmed that a "clerical error" occurred where United were mistakenly omitted as potential opponents for Atletico in the original draw.

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UEFA director Giorgio Marchetti said ahead of the redraw: "I apologise we have had to redraw to do the round-of-16 draw. There were some errors made in the original draw."

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi had appeared set for another Champions League showdown during Monday's initial draw, when United were eventually paired with PSG, having earlier erroneously been placed as opponents for Villarreal, whom they could not have met, having been in the same group as Unai Emery's side.

Atletico will now face United. Atletico had been matched up against Bayern Munich in the voided draw. The German champions will now face FC Salzburg.

Inter, who first had been drawn against Ajax, will now face Liverpool. Chelsea and Lille were paired together in both draws.

Juventus will face Villarreal, Manchester City are up against Sporting CP and Benfica were paired with Ajax.

Group winners will be away in the first leg, with ties to be played on Feb. 15-16 and Feb. 22-23. Return legs will be played on March 8-9 and March 15-16.

The away goals rule has also been abolished in European tournament knockout ties this season.

The rule, which had been in place since 1965, was used to determine a winner when teams were level on aggregate after a two-legged match. The team that had scored more goals as the away side were awarded the victory. But from now, this will be replaced by extra time and penalties.

UEFA will draw the quarterfinal and semifinal ties on the same day for this season, scheduled for March 18.

The final will take place on Saturday, May 28, at Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Round-of-16 draw

FC Salzburg vs.Bayern Munich
Sporting CP vs. Manchester City
Benfica vs. Ajax
Chelsea vs. Lille
Atletico Madrid vs. Manchester United
Villarreal vs. Juventus
Inter vs. Liverpool
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Real Madrid

Initial round-of-16 draw, declared void

Benfica vs. Real Madrid
Villarreal vs. Manchester City
Atletico Madrid vs. Bayern Munich
FC Salzburg vs. Liverpool
Inter Milan vs. Ajax
Sporting CP vs. Juventus
Chelsea vs. Lille
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Manchester United

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