Deshaun Watson will start again in Week 2.
Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken told reporters Monday that Watson will retain his job as starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Watson's status was unclear following a 34-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday in which Watson threw an interception on Cleveland's opening possession and the Browns didn't score a touchdown until the game was long decided with less than two minutes remaining.
This story will be updated.

#Browns #deshaun #monken #Monday

UCLA football looks to build on a strong showing from their Week 1 rout of Cal in their home opener when they host San Diego State at the Rose Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 12.
The Bob Chesney era in Westwood couldn't have started on a better note as the Bruins rode dominant performances from their run game and defense -- their two biggest weaknesses last season -- to pull away late from what had been a shootout with the Golden Bears through the first three quarters.
Senior running back Anthony Woods led the way on the ground with 118 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while JMU transfer Wayne Knight added three more scores on 71 yards. That opened up some opportunities for Nico Iamaleava to take shots downfield, which the quarterback converted for some big plays late in the first half.
The Aztecs -- now a member of the new-look Pac-12 -- are coming off a strong season debut of their own, a 53-20 blowout over Portland State.
Follow along for live coverage from USA TODAY Sports on UCLA vs. San Diego State:

#state #diego

There is a particular kind of quiet that follows a quarterback who hasn't needed to be loud. Marcus Washington Jr. throws touchdowns the way some kids collect grades—steadily, without much fuss, until one day the transcript is too good to ignore. The three-star, 2029 First Team MaxPreps All-American out of Cajon (Calif.), has spent this season quietly ******* embling one of the most productive stat lines in the country, and this weekend he trades the Southern California sun for the SEC's version of theater when he makes his way back to Lexington for Kentucky football's showdown with Alabama at Kroger Field.
Call it a homecoming, even if his mailing address says otherwise. Washington camped in the Bluegrass this past summer, and the visit left a mark. He is coming back not as a tourist, but as a young man doing due diligence on a decision that will shape the next four years of his life—and doing it the way the good ones always have, on his own clock, gathering information instead of chasing headlines.
THE NUMBERS DON'T WHISPER.
Whatever Washington is doing quietly, the box score is not. Last week alone he was 14 of 25 for 219 yards and a touchdown through the air, then shredded the edges for 138 yards and four more scores on the ground—the kind of two-way workload that makes opposing coordinators lose sleep and college recruiters lose their composure. Through three games this fall, he has piled up 1,176 total yards and 13 touchdowns, a pace that reads less like a high school box score and more like a mid-major Saturday.
Numbers like that don't need adjectives. They need context, and the context is this: Washington isn't just a runner who can throw or a thrower who can run. He is a West Coast problem that programs from four time zones away are now trying to solve, and Kentucky is convinced it has the answer.

#kentucky

Colorado high school football is back under the Friday Night Lights this week as the season starts to take shape.
Week 3 is highlighted by some regional rivalry action in Northern Colorado, including Colorado's Game of the Week with Timnath hosting Wellington.
Plus, a Loveland city rivalry renews and Windsor looks to avoid another early loss in a tough road game at Roosevelt.
Coloradoan reporter Chris Abshire will be posted up at PSD Stadium with live updates from the Cubs vs. Eagles showdown.
Follow here for live updates, scores from the Boxelder Cup battle and other Northern Colorado Week 3 action in CHSAA high school football:

#game

Ismail Kartal resigned as head coach of Fenerbahce just minutes after the Turkish side's 1-1 draw with Roma in the Champions League.
Kartal made the surprise announcement in his post-match news conference, stating he plans to never return to the club he also served as a player and **** istant coach.
He came back to Fenerbahce for a fourth spell as manager in June 2026, with the club returning to the Champions League for the first time in 18 years.
Now he departs with the team sitting ninth in the Turkish Super Lig after two wins and two defeats, and after only one Champions League match.
"I have been here three months. From the beginning of the season until today, the training sessions and camps we held with the players, and the efforts of our president, have been very helpful. Those were wonderful days," Kartal said.

#club #ismail #roma

PISCATAWAY – Quarterback was a major question mark throughout spring practice and training camp for Rutgers football as Dylan Lonergan battled AJ Surace for the starting job before ultimately winning it.
Now after just one game, it's a question mark once again.
Lonergan had an uneven performance in the Scarlet Knights' stunning 37-21 season-opening loss to UMass on Thursday, Sept. 3, but beyond that an injury he suffered in the fourth quarter has thrown more uncertainty onto his status for Rutgers' Friday game at Boston College – Lonergan's former team.
Lonergan finished 16-of-29 passing for 242 yards with two touchdowns against the Minutemen, but he also threw three interceptions and fumbled the ball away.
Rutgers' offensive line didn't make it easy on him either, too often getting pushed around by UMass' defensive front (the Minutemen finished with five sacks).

#lonergan #minutemen #game #finished

One of the biggest changes you're going to notice about new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon's scheme is his Penny package, which is essentially a 3-4 defense on the line of scrimmage with one true off-ball linebacker, split safeties and another deeper safety in the middle of the field. Green Bay Packers fans are familiar with the 3-4 base defense, which was run by Dom Capers, Mike Pettine and Joe Barry in the past, along with the typical 4-2-4 Nickel defense that is played for the majority of snaps league-wide.
This Penny wrinkle, though, is a little different than what you're used to seeing from most NFL teams. That's why we wrote about what it means for the secondary in an article two weeks ago.
Today, though, I want to focus on the line of scrimmage, particularly with how Gannon is deploying "off-ball" linebacker Edgerrin Cooper.
Generally, when 3-4 defenses play Penny, they take their Will linebacker off the field to add a slot defender. The Packers, as a baseline, don't play a slot defender, but a third safety.
The other change-up Green Bay has is that they aren't taking their Will linebacker (Cooper) off the field, at least with the first-team defense. Because Cooper is one of the team's better defenders, Gannon has actually played Cooper on the edge, displacing the edge defender opposite Lukas Van Ness (generally Barryn Sorrell) this preseason.

#penny #green #generally

Vitor Matos says there is more to come from Swansea City after they moved a point clear at the top of the early-season Championship table thanks to a goalless draw with Wrexham.
Swansea were short of their best in possession but maintained their unbeaten start to the 2026-27 league campaign thanks to Lawrence Vigouroux's fourth successive clean sheet.
The Swans have taken 11 points from five second-tier games in what has been an encouraging start to the season.
But Matos believes there is progress to be made as his new-look squad contend with the packed Championship fixture list.
"I think being consistent is massive, keeping the desire is massive. Not getting frustrated when the game gets a little bit different from what we want is massive as well," the Swansea head coach said.

#start #wrexham

The Colorado Buffaloes got the ending they needed Thursday night, even if the route to it was about as uncomfortable as any season opener can get.
Julian Lewis found Charlie Williams on a 20-yard touchdown pass with 37 seconds left, then Colorado's field-goal block by defensive back Boo Carter closed the door at the horn for a 14-13 win over Georgia Tech at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The Buffaloes were out of timeouts and down six points when they started the final possession at their own 25-yard line, which made the finish feel larger than a typical Week 1 play.
Lewis had not found much consistency through the air before that drive. Colorado had dropped passes, missed downfield opportunities and left yards on the field during a first half in which both teams struggled with the humid conditions. The freshman quarterback had a rough sequence late in the second quarter, losing his grip on the football before recovering it and taking a 15-yard sack. Colorado followed with three incompletions before punting to close the half.
Georgia Tech held a 10-7 lead at that point, and the game never settled into a normal rhythm after halftime. Colorado's rushing attack gave the Buffs control of the ball, but Georgia Tech stayed close because Colorado could not finish possessions.
When Georgia Tech's Aidan Birr hit a 29-yard field goal with 1:40 remaining, Colorado had one last chance and Lewis took it.

#found #left

Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith and several business partners are facing a civil fraud lawsuit over a $2.5 million loan that was supposed to help a joint venture acquire an interest in a planned Texas solar development.
Kituwah Energy Project #2 LLC, an affiliate of Kituwah LLC, the economic development arm of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, filed the lawsuit Aug. 31 in Delaware's Court of Chancery. It accuses Smith, longtime business partner David Mosley and others of inducing the company to participate in a renewable energy venture known as Project Exodus.
The proposed project was presented as a major solar development expected to begin operating by the end of 2024 and generate nearly $13.8 million in first-year net income. Kituwah says it ultimately provided a $2.5 million loan to the parties' newly created joint venture after being told the money would help acquire rights and ownership interests connected to the project.
The lawsuit alleges the money instead went to another business that had previously financed ventures involving Smith and Mosley's company. The loan matured Feb. 1, 2024, and Kituwah says none of the principal has been repaid. The allegations have not been proven in court, and NBC 5 DFW reported that the defendants had not responded to its requests for comment.
Smith and Mosley co-founded Dallas-based 4 13 Solutions Inc., a real estate and renewable energy company. According to the complaint, they approached Kituwah in early 2023 about participating in Project Exodus, a proposed solar development in Caldwell County, Texas.

#business

After a breakout freshman season returning punts and kicks Florida football sophomore wide receiver Vernell Brown III earned preseason All-SEC third team honors as a return specialist over the summer.
The 5-foot-11, 178-pound Brown is expecting another big year as a return man for the Florida Gators in 2026. Florida football coach Jon Sumrall has made special teams a priority since first arriving at UF, adding his former special teams from Tulane, Johnathan Galante and special teams **** yst Greg McMahon, a former special teams coordinator with the New Orleans Saints from 2008-16.
"I just want to take advantage of my opportunities," Brown said. "But as far as third team All SEC, you know, that's fuel to the fire for me. There are three teams and the third team isn't the best team. So that's just fuel to the fire."
Brown ranked sixth in the SEC in punt return yardage at 11.7 yards per return last season. Overall, Brown tallied 261 return yards across 18 kick and punt returns and was one of two freshmen and 18 players in the FBS to have five punt returns of 20-plus yards.
Entering 2026, Brown will mainly focus on punt returns, as cornerback J'Vari Flowers and running back London Montgomery are penciled in to return kickoffs. But Brown said he would return kickoffs again if he's needed.

#Florida #special #Third

With several days of roster cuts, waiver claims, and practice squad signings behind us, the dust is finally settling down for the New Orleans Saints. So what's to make of their team? How does the depth chart shake out now, and where do they still have room to improve? To find out, we're going through every position group on each side of the ball and looking at where everyone could be lining up when the season starts on Sept. 13
Of course it isn't over yet. There are still some players managing injuries who could go on a reserve list, waiver claims to sort through, and a few vacancies to fill on the practice squad. Here are our takeaways on every position group. We'll update each segment as more information is reported.
No. 6, Tyler Shough
No. 2, Spencer Rattler
No. 4, Zach Wilson

#group

With Liverpool already looking a little light in midfield following the sale of Curtis Jones to Inter Milan after the 25-year-old Scouser sought a move away from the club, a lot of fans would have been hoping for news of potential incomings before the transfer window slammed shut.
What they got instead Monday evening was word Nottingham Forest had submitted a £30M bid with £25M gaurunteed for talented 19-year-old midfielder Trey Nyoni, who impressed in pre-season for new head coach Andoni Iraola and was expected to be in his first team plans this season.
The upside is that almost immediately that news was followed up by confirmation that Liverpool had rejected the bid. More than that, the club have signalled that they won't consider any approach for Nyoni because he is in fact in Iraola's first team plans for the 2026-27 season.
Liverpool signed Nyoni out of Leicester City's academy in 2023, eventually paying around £1M after the case was sent to tribunal. The young midfielder has made 20 first team appearances to date over his three seasons at the club, with 14 of those (with six in the league) coming last season.
Nyoni was often deployed as the deepest midfielder, taking on the role Ryan Gravenberch will be expected to fill most often for the Reds this season, and with no further midfield signings expected at the moment it does seem likely he will see significant first team action over the next year.

#nyoni #midfielder

Roméo Lavia may finally be up and running at Chelsea as his promising start to the season continues.
The Belgium international has started both of the Blues' Premier League matches so far against Fulham and now Brighton.
With less than five minutes gone on the clock at Stamford Bridge, Lavia capitalised on a mishap at the back from the Seagulls and finally scored his first goal in a Chelsea shirt.
The 22-year-old joined the club from Southampton back in the summer of 2023, but seasons of torrid injuries have severely hampered his progress in West London.
But, he appears to have earned the trust of new head coach Xabi Alonso and he's already repaid him with a crucial goal.

#lavia #Chelsea #Belgium

A major part of No. 4 Maryland men's soccer's regular season success last season was their ability to win with a variety of play styles against stout opponents. The Terps went 5-0 against ranked opponents in 2025 and looked to replicate that success Saturday night against No. 9 High Point.
After a grueling 80 minutes, Rodrigo Neri became the hero for Terps, scoring his first goal of the season and the eventual game winner as the Terps outlasted the Panthers for a 1-0 victory.
"It was a well-played and hard fought game," said head coach Sasho Cirovski. "It was a game where you needed a special play to win it."
Franklin Affanyi cleared the ball deep into the Panthers half of the field where Neri was able to track down the ball and gain control with a chest touch. Neri then slid to his left past two defenders and found the bottom right corner of the net past the Panthers' Josh Caron. The freshman had been an offensive spark all game for the Terps, totaling six of the Terps' 18 shots.
"This is the best home crowd someone could ask for," said Neri. "Those last moments that are very hard… you hear them and you just want to push even harder."

#neri #opponents

With the 2026 NFL preseason behind us, the Atlanta Falcons have until Sunday at 6 p.m. ET to trim their roster down from 90 to 53 players. The Falcons, like most NFL teams, have some tough decisions to make, and their lack of overall depth makes these final cuts especially difficult.
Atlanta has seen a handful of undrafted free agents shine in training camp and the preseason. Quarterback Jack Strand, defensive tackle Carlos Allen and cornerback Malcolm DeWalt IV are among those in the mix for roster spots.
The Falcons closed out the preseason with a 17-12 win over the Miami Dolphins, and now the clock is ticking on head coach Kevin Stefanski to carve out his first 53-man roster in Atlanta. Follow each cut as the Falcons trim their way down to 53 players ahead of Sunday's roster deadline.
(No moves yet! Check back soon.)
Here's a look at the Falcons' current 90-man roster arranged by position group. We'll remove players once they are released so you can see where the team stands at each position.

#falcons #roster #down #quarterback

The Green Bay Packers remain in limbo regarding Josh Jacobs' status as the NFL determines whether he will face any disciplinary action. Jacobs was arrested in May following a reported physical altercation with his girlfriend and initially faced five charges. Those charges have since been reduced to two misdemeanors: battery and criminal damage to property.
The newly released police report offers additional details about the May incident involving Josh Jacobs and his girlfriend. The document alleges that the Packers running back was involved in a physical confrontation that ended with him throwing his girlfriend to the ground.
"Jacobs grabbed her and threw her to the ground and she struck her head, suffering an injury. Jacobs then took her phone from her while she was on the ground. ANM laid on the ground for a while and then struggled to walk back into the house," according to Matt Schneidman's post on X (formerly Twitter).
Packers Josh Jacobs (8) participates in mandatory minicamp Thursday, June 11, 2026, at the Don Hutson Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
The Packers running back remains available to Green Bay for the time being, with no NFL discipline handed down yet. However, a suspension remains possible as the league reviews the situation, particularly now that details from the incident report have become public. Until a decision is made, Jacobs can continue practicing and appearing in Green Bay's preseason games.

#physical

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki entered Wednesday's start against the star-studded Atlanta Braves offense in the midst of a heater. Since the All-Star break, the 24-year-old ******* anese phenom had posted a 2.31 ERA along with 34 strikeouts across 35 innings of work.
His start against Atlanta began strong, with the only blemish through the first three innings being a solo home run to first baseman Matt Olson. Unfortunately, in the fourth inning things began to unravel as he allowed three of the first four hitters to reach base.
MORE: Dave Roberts reveals when Shohei Ohtani can return to Dodgers as starting pitcher
Then, as he was set to face the top of the order, he received a visit from the training staff alongside manager Dave Roberts. After a brief discussion, Sasaki was removed from the game with Edgardo Henriquez taking over in relief. Shortly after, the Dodgers revealed an update during the game.
"Roki Sasaki left tonight's game with a blister on his middle finger," the team wrote on X.

#sasaki #first #dave

Is the football world still waiting for Aaron Donald to decide whether he'll return from retirement for 2026, while another Donald-Rams workout has taken place at the Woodland Hills facility?
Aug 27, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) during the second half of a preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Rams 17-9.
Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 27, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) during the second half of a preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Rams 17-9.
The Los Angeles Rams are waiting on pins and needles for the possible return of the retired defensive star, who announced his retirement on social media in March 2024.

#defensive #authority

Few programs in college football can match the wide receiver depth and talent of its true College Football Playoff contenders.
Ohio State, commonly referred to as "Wide Receiver U" for its pipeline to the NFL, certainly meets that bill. The Buckeyes, the top-ranked team in the US LBM Coaches Poll, enter the 2026 college football season with one of the nation's top receiving groups, headlined by All-American Jeremiah Smith.
In the SEC, Arch Manning has a pair of weapons at his disposal in Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo as Texas looks for its first SEC **** le and first college football championship since 2005.
Who's too high, too low? USA TODAY Sports' Top 100 College Football Players for 2026
College football Re-Rank: Where all 138 FBS teams sit ahead of 2026 season

#state

#1 – UNC || #2 – NC State || #3 – Wake Forest || #4 – Virginia || #5 – Clemson||#6 – Miami || #7 – Louisville || #8 – Pitt || #9 – Georgia Tech || #10 – Syracuse || #11 – Boston College || #12 – Virginia Tech || #13 – Florida State
Over the last eight months or so, there has been a conversation, mostly quiet but occasionally quite public, about whether the ACC should dump Notre Dame.
This first came up when both Notre Dame and Miami were candidates for the NCAA playoffs.
Since the Irish compete as an independent in football, it should come as no surprise that the ACC pushed full member Miami.
Apparently though, it was a surprise for Notre Dame, and A.D. Pete Bevacqua ripped the conference for it, saying it caused "permanent damage" to the partnership.

#notre #virginia #Tech

Aston Villa enquired about Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta this week, according to the Daily Mail.
The Villains are searching for attacking reinforcement with Ollie Watkins angling for a move away from the Birmingham-based club.
Mateta is on the Villa shortlist after earmarking himself as a capable scorer in the English top flight. He bagged 12 goals in the Premier League last season in 32 appearances.
The France international (seven caps, two goals) played a key role as his side won the Europa Conference League, scoring in the final.
Unai Emery could use another experienced, lethal forward in his line-up as Aston Villa prepare for a demanding season domestically and in Europe.

#villa #aston #league #season

Dorman senior running back Nick Means knows he will share more carries in 2026 with sophomore Carter Nash, one hottest young prospects in the country.
In the opening game, Means showed why it's his backfield to share.
He scored two of his three touchdowns in the first quarter and led the way as Dorman beat Hillcrest, 40-30, Aug. 21 in high school football Week 1 of the SCHSL season at Cavalier Stadium.
His third TD, a 42-yard run with 2:18 to play after a two-hour weather delay, put it out of reach. He finished at 1:15 a.m. with 127 yards on 16 carries and a 65-yard TD catch.
Means (5-foot-8, 175 pounds) rushed for 1,450 yards and scored 21 touchdowns in 2025. But there will be no holding off Nash. He's a four-star ranked as the No. 5 running back in the country for the Class of 2029.

#nash #carries #country #scored

The Pioneer Panthers graduated a senior class that led them to the Class 1A state championship game a year ago.
The question is after heavy losses to graduation, can the Panthers keep running like a well-oiled machine?
It appears the answer is yes when considering the amount of talent they have coming back and the upcoming players they have available.
The Panthers were a four-headed monster a year ago and they return two of the four members of the starting backfield: senior Shiloh Rine (6-1, 188) and junior Phillip McFatridge (5-9, 162). Both gained over 1,000 yards last year despite being the third and fourth options. They'll return to their wingback positions and will likely have bigger roles this year.
"They weren't necessarily our go-to guys with (Noah) Van Meter and Micah (Rans), but they definitely showed they had that play-making ability," Pioneer coach Adam Berry said. "They'll be more of that focal point for us this year being the upperclassmen, being the leaders of the team. Both were very committed to the offseason and are just that much stronger, that much quicker. And they can also show that they have good hands. So we are looking for them to definitely be the leaders of our offense this year."

#senior

Expect a much fresher "RDR."
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight contender Reinier de Ridder makes his Light Heavyweight debut against Roman Dolidze on the UFC Sacramento main card this weekend (Sat., Aug. 22, 2026) inside Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California.
And the move is probably long overdue.
Despite enjoying tremendous success at Middleweight — climbing within one victory of a potential ***** le shot — de Ridder destroyed his body in the process of making the 185-pound limit.
At 6'4," de Ridder was gigantic for the division. During his first year with UFC, the Dutch fighter successfully made Middleweight five times, which seems absolutely insane in hindsight.

#expect #ultimate #reinier

AS Monaco will have to cobble together a forward line this evening when they face Górnik Zabrze in their UEFA Europa Conference League qualifier in Poland.
Les Monégasques are without several key players in their attack. Folarin Balogun is not yet back to full fitness following the FIFA World Cup, which, as revealed by Filipe Luís, he played through despite a minor niggle. Matthis Abline is also out after sustaining a minor foot injury in the pre-season loss to Coventry City. Ansu Fati has not recovered from injury, is out, and will also miss the start of the Ligue 1 season.
In the supporting roles, Aleksandr Golovin is injured, whilst Takumi Minamino is still on the road to recovery from an ACL injury sustained in December. His return is nearing but he is not yet fit. There could, therefore, be a chance for Safouane Benzahra, who has yet to make his professional debut for his formative club, either from the start or from the bench.
Lukas Hradecky; **** nho, Christian Mawissa, Eric Dier, Vanderson; Stanis Idumbo, Lamine Camara, Denis Zakaria, Mathys Detourbet; Paris Brunner, Mika Biereth.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle

#injury #start #europa

In the build-up to the return of La Liga action, former Real Madrid winger turned La Liga ambassador and ESPN pundit Steve McManaman spoke at a press conference to address the changes at the Bernabéu this summer and the expectations on Jose Mourinho.
"He needs to win. It's as simple as that. He needs to beat Barcelona. He needs to win the league. I don't necessarily think he needs to win the Champions League, but I certainly think he needs to finish above Barcelona," McManaman said.
"He's been brought in because the last two years have been disappointing. Real Madrid can't go three years without winning anything. And your nearest and dearest rivals are in Barcelona winning everything. So Jose has to hit the ground running and he has to be successful straight away. That's what he's being brought in for."
"When we won all those ****** les with the names you mentioned, we had an incredible number six in Claude Makélélé who really helped the midfield… Real Madrid this year have tried to rectify that. I think they were weak defensively last year. He was the most important player in our team. Forget about Figo, Zidane, Raúl, Ronaldo. Zidane said the most important player was Makélélé."
"To be very honest, I never ever thought he would leave Real Madrid. I really didn't. I know there was a lot of stories in the English newspapers about ****** nal, but if you see Vinícius Júnior at Madrid, I thought most people think he was never going to leave. I don't think he was ever going to go to Saudi Arabia. That didn't make any sense at all for me. So his home is Madrid. I'm glad he signed a new six-year contract… The most important thing is for Vini and for Kylian to play in the same team, but each finds a role where they're very comfortable in, and drive Madrid forward."

#needs #mcmanaman

The Warren Central Vikings are coming off a 12-2 season and MHSAA 6A state championship. Head coach Josh Morgan says they have some key returners on the this years squad who know the standard of excellence and can pass it on the younger players.
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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV.

#Vikings

Chennai Super Kings are preparing for a significant transition after the end of Stephen Fleming's 18-year ***** ociation with the franchise, and former India opener K Srikkanth believes Michael Hussey could be the ideal man to take the team forward. Fleming's departure has left CSK searching for a new head coach for the first time in nearly two decades. The former New Zealand captain joined the franchise as a player in the inaugural IPL season in 2008 before taking over as head coach in 2009.

Over the next 17 years, Fleming became one of the central figures behind CSK's identity, guiding the franchise to five IPL ***** les and two Champions League T20 trophies. His exit comes after CSK missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons.

Fleming has since taken up a new challenge, being appointed England's Test head coach, replacing Brendon McCullum.
As speculation grows over Fleming's successor, former India and CSK player Ravichandran Ashwin recently suggested that former England white-ball captain Eoin Morgan could be among the names in contention. Srikkanth, however, has firmly rejected that possibility.

"I won't go for Eoin Morgan for sure. He was a good player and a good captain for England. But as a coach, I won't accept him as an option. Even for KKR as their captain, he didn't do anything great. It'll be best if he just sticks to commentary," said Srikkanth, speaking on his YouTube channel.

He also advised CSK against considering Brendon McCullum, who previously coached Kolkata Knight Riders and guided them to the IPL final in 2021.

"It'll be good for CSK if they don't appoint Brendon McCullum as the head coach. They should say no to both Morgan and McCullum," he added.
Instead, Srikkanth believes CSK already have a familiar figure within their ecosystem who could seamlessly step into the role. His choice is former CSK opener Michael Hussey, who has previously worked with the franchise as a batting coach.

"CSK don't need anyone from outside when they have Mr Cricket with him. Michael Hussey should be the automatic head coach. He will be the best choice," Srikkanth said.
The coaching vacancy is only one part of a much bigger transition facing CSK. The franchise's most successful era was built around the close partnership between Fleming and MS Dhoni, with the duo forming the tactical and cultural backbone of the team for years.

Dhoni's future is another major question for the franchise, particularly as CSK look to build around captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and a younger core. Srikkanth himself believes that issue needs to be settled before the franchise can properly determine its next coaching structure.

"But what will MS Dhoni's place in CSK be going forward? That arrangement has to be fixed first, and only then will everything else fall in place," he said.

That could prove to be the most important decision of CSK's transition.

#coach #franchise #fleming

New England Patriots QB Tommy DeVito Getty
The New England Patriots quarterbacks Getty
Not many backup quarterbacks have a well-known nickname. Then again, Tommy DeVito of the New England Patriots isn't your standard issue backup quarterback.
While with the New York Giants, DeVito briefly became a sensation. While playing in the NFL, he became known for living with his parents and being incredibly proud of his Italian heritage. It was also around that time when he earned the nickname Tommy Cutlets, for his love of the chicken cutlets his mom would make for him.
Now with the Patriots, head coach Mike Vrabel decided it was time for a new nickname. DeVito is now "Two Chains."

#getty