Sports News Daily

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)   Last offseason, the Minnesota Vikings chose not to pay Kirk Cousins. Now, they might want to reconsider that stance with another quarterback. Sam Darnold has been an absolute stud for them this season, and with him set to become a free agent, he’s going to make a lot of money in the foreseeable future. According to a report by MLFootball on X, he likely will demand a four-year contract worth $210 million. NEW: #Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold is currently projected to sign a four-year, 210 MILLION DOLLAR contract this offseason. That is an average annual value of $52.5 million per year. Darnold’s salary this season is only 10 million dollars. pic.twitter.com/ay3NHvlNfs — MLFootball (@_MLFootball) December 30, 2024 He’s making just $10 million this season. The Vikings seemed to have a plan, but plans change all the time. Darnold was supposed to be either a backup or a stopgap. Then, with J.J. McCarthy sustaining a season-en...

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)   LeBron James turned 40 years old on Monday, marking a big milestone in his life and a huge reminder of just how special an NBA player he is. Few people have done what James has, and no one has played as well as he has at this age. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is one of the many people blown away by James’ epic, historic career. Speaking with AP, per Legion Hoops, Silver said, “In some ways he’s a freak of nature.” That is a very accurate way to describe James. Adam Silver on LeBron James turning 40 years old today: “In some ways he’s a freak of nature.” (via @AP ) pic.twitter.com/blBAzrQF9D — Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) December 30, 2024 Even though he’s 40, James is still putting up numbers that a 30-year-old would be jealous of. So far in 2024-25, he has averaged 23.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 9.0 assists. He’s shooting 49.6 percent from the field and is still a vital member of the Lakers’ lineup. 20 All-Star appear...

(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)   We haven’t seen Lonnie Walker IV in the NBA this season and he’s been spending his time playing overseas. But he could be back in the league soon and there are a few teams eyeing the 26-year-old guard. According to Marc Stein, per NBACentral, the Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets, and Boston Celtics are “potential suitors” for Walker if he comes back from playing in the EuroLeague. The Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets, and Boston Celtics are said to be potential suitors for Lonnie Walker, per @TheSteinLine pic.twitter.com/sGE32I3DQN — NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 30, 2024 Before the 2024-25 season, Walker participated in the Celtics’ training camp but wasn’t able to secure a spot on the roster. He then declined a contract in the G-league and signed with a Lithuanian team in the EuroLeague. He has been doing quite well for that team, averaging 14.7 ...

(Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)   The Brooklyn Nets opened themselves up for business earlier this season when they dealt Dennis Schroder to the Golden State Warriors for multiple second-round picks. The Nets are far from competing, but they are doing the right thing by accumulating as many draft assets as possible to accelerate their rebuild. Brooklyn made another strong move, sending Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round picks. Multiple second-round picks seem to be the norm for established veteran role players, and the Lakers did well in acquiring two from the Nets. Several teams were in on Finney-Smith, namely the Memphis Grizzlies, who appeared close to trading for the wing before Los Angeles swooped in. While the Grizzlies were dangling a first-rounder, it appears the Nets were turned off by the protections proposed on the pick via NBA insider Marc Stein. “ The Nets ...

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)   The Los Angeles Lakers understood that selecting Bronny James with the No. 55 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft would cause some controversy. The Lakers made history by becoming the first team to have a father-son duo on its roster, which created some debate about whether Bronny was worthy of being selected. The young guard had a rough college season at USC, though that was largely due to a health incident before the season. Since then, Bronny has been quietly developing behind the scenes with the Lakers’ G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. This was always going to be the plan for Bronny because he’s still a raw prospect with the physical tools to contribute as a role player in the league. After a slow start to his professional career, Bronny appears to be finding his footing with South Bay. Fans have reacted to his recent string of games via BronnyMuse. “BRONNY JAMES LAST 7 GAMES 23 PTS – 9 REB – 5 AST, 15 PTS – 7 REB – 7 A...

(Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)   Entering the 2024-25 NBA season, it was clear that the Los Angeles Lakers would make at least one trade to improve their title odds. The Lakers stayed out of free agency and brought back their players, which left some in the fan base feeling like the team had given up on competing because of their lack of success the previous year. Los Angeles started the regular season strong, and after a rough stretch, they have finally found their footing on both ends of the floor. LeBron James and Anthony Davis have proven they can still carry a team in the postseason, so it was up to the front office to find an appropriate trade to get them help. General manager Rob Pelinka finally executed a trade, sending D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and draft compensation to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. While Finney-Smith and Milton are great additions, they aren’t considered needle-movers for bettors via Yahoo Spor...

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)   Before Mike Brown arrived in town, the Sacramento Kings had a league-worst playoff drought. The team wasn’t competitive at all for most of that stretch. Brown eventually led them to the playoffs and a myriad of late-season injuries prevented him from doing so again last season. Now, he’s out of a job. The Kings are 13-18 and they decided to pull the plug on Brown. According to NBA insider Vincent Goodwill, they did so because they didn’t like the direction the team was heading in. “The Kings fired Brown because they didn’t like the direction of the team over the last couple months,” Goodwill said. The Kings are hitting the coaching reset button again pic.twitter.com/bSL75fgpNu — Ball Don’t Lie (@Balldontlie) December 28, 2024 We’re talking about someone who became the first unanimous Coach of the Year just two seasons ago. The Kings now look closer to hitting the rest button than competing. They have three good, not great play...

(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)   With only two weeks left in the NFL regular season, things are getting tense and teams are fighting for playoff positioning before entering the gauntlet on the road to the Super Bowl. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are seeking to become the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowl titles, but one analyst said it’s time for Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens to win the championship. “When we watch him on Sundays now, he’s not underrated in any way. We all know who Lamar Jackson is. I believe what changes the entire narrative is … you gotta go win the championship,” Ryan Clark said on “First Take.” "When we watch him on Sundays now, he's not underrated in any way. We all know who Lamar Jackson is. I believe what changes the entire narrative is … you gotta go win a championship." — @Realrclark25 on Lamar Jackson pic.twitter.com/3uqceGnCXX — First Take (@FirstTake) December 27, 2024 ...

(Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)   Thursday was the day after Christmas, but Tyler Herro still had a huge present for Miami Heat fans. Herro sank a tough shot in the final seconds of the team’s game against the Orlando Magic, securing an 89-88 win and earning a ton of praise from fans, analysts, and his teammates. Herro’s coach, Erik Spoelstra, spoke about Herro after his incredible bucket. According to Anthony Chiang, Spoelstra said: “He has the guts.” Erik Spoelstra on Tyler Herro: "He has the guts." — Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) December 27, 2024 Herro definitely played with confidence during Thursday night’s game, scoring 20 points, three rebounds, and two assists. He obviously did more than just shoot the last points that sealed the deal. For 2024-25, Herro is posting 23.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.9 assists on 47.1 percent from the field. This could end up being his best, healthiest, and most productive season yet, which is music to the ears...

(Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)   The Detroit Lions are bringing back a familiar face in a very intriguing news story. According to NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is coming out of retirement and is now expected to sign with the Lions. Bridgewater retired after last season to coach high school football in Florida but is now back in the league. QB Teddy Bridgewater coming out of retirement, expected to sign with Lions. (via @rapsheet , @tompelissero , @MikeGarafolo ) pic.twitter.com/PK6ShszNKO — NFL (@NFL) December 26, 2024 The Lions were the last team that Bridgewater was with before he went to coach Miami Northwestern to an eventual state title. A former Pro-Bowler, Bridgewater now has a chance to likely provide the Lions with a veteran presence in the quarterback room behind starter Jared Goff. The 32-year-old Bridgewater was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round back in 2014. He ...

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)   The Detroit Lions have had their best season in franchise history. That’s a lot to say, considering how well they fared last season. Needless to say, Dan Campbell must be a very happy man right now. Everything’s going right for the former player. And on top of all his success on the field, he’s also thriving off of it. That showed again in his latest viral picture. As shown by Brad Galli on X, the Campbells starred in a hilarious Christmas photo, all wearing a knitted Christmas-themed sweater that read, “I have big beautiful balls.” Dan Campbell and his family win for Best Family Christmas photo ever pic.twitter.com/OH8Aj6UtgI — Brad Galli (@BradGalli) December 25, 2024 The fans have repeatedly joked about Campbell’s masculinity because of those decisions, so it was only fitting that he addressed it with his Christmas picture. The Lions have lived and died by Campbell’s uber-aggressive decision-making. Then again, some are ...

(Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)   Lamar Jackson has been viewed as something of a unicorn since he came into the NFL. His physical tools were noted, as his running game was impressive in college, but some people were worried that his play wouldn’t translate to the NFL. Fast forward a few seasons and a few MVPs later, Jackson has overcome the odds and become one of the best quarterbacks in the league. His rushing prowess has helped him rise to the top, and his passing skills continue to get better every season. Jackson has turned into much more than an athletic, rushing quarterback, and has set himself up to break several records. One of those records is the all-time quarterback rushing yards record, which he just broke, according to the NFL’s official X page. Lamar Jackson passes Michael Vick for the all-time QB rushing yards record pic.twitter.com/ED4EuQyaz9 — NFL (@NFL) December 25, 2024 Michael Vick held this record for well over a decade, and many analysts bel...

(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)   The Brady-Belichick era with the New England Patriots produced six Super Bowl championships and countless memorable moments. Yet when asked to pick just one standout play, Bill Belichick’s choice might surprise many – the first touchdown of Super Bowl XXXIX, when Tom Brady found David Givens for a four-yard score against the Philadelphia Eagles. Recently on SiriusXM’s “Let’s Go” with Jim Gray, Belichick opened up about this particular play, highlighting its significance in Patriots’ history. “Tom, one of your greatest plays ever was in the Super Bowl against the Eagles…. This comes down to fundamental execution that’s just so critical…. We gotta go to the third guy and make it a back-shoulder throw. That’s what great execution is under pressure in the most critical moments of the game. That’s how you win,” Belichick shared. Coach Belichick breaks down his favorite @TomBrady play (from 19 years ago) like it was yesterday With @JimG...

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)   The Green Bay Packers keep rolling. Matt LaFleur’s team just clinched a spot in the playoffs. They dominated the New Orleans Saints with a 34-0 masterpiece and look to be peaking at the right time. Considering that, former NFL player Emmanuel Acho claimed they have “championship DNA.” On Tuesday’s edition of “The Facility,” Acho explained why the Packers can get the job done this season. “The Packers have Super Bowl DNA.” — @EmmanuelAcho pic.twitter.com/0YAdf6EYCS — The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) December 24, 2024 For starters, he pointed out that they have a great coach, stating that Matt LaFleur has a 20-3 record in December. Moreover, they have a balanced offense and a strong defense. Acho thinks this team is deeper than most contenders, pointing out that they even have a backup quarterback with playing experience who has won games this season. The Packers have three legitimate running backs, four legitimate wide receivers...

(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)   Are the Brooklyn Nets on the verge of parting ways with Ben Simmons? It sure seems that way based on a new report from Evan Sidery. On Tuesday morning, Sidery wrote: “Ben Simmons is a player teams will be monitoring as a buyout candidate from the Nets before the trade deadline.” Simmon “holds no trade value” for the Nets with his $40.4 million expiring contract. With that being said, there is “intrigue” for a potential buyout for Simmons and the chance for him to join another team on a veteran’s minimum contract. Ben Simmons is a player teams will be monitoring as a buyout candidate from the Nets before the trade deadline. Simmons holds no trade value on a massive $40.4 million expiring contract, but there’s intrigue for a potential buyout to join a contender on the veteran’s minimum. pic.twitter.com/8LBjZUdyKL — Evan Sidery (@esidery) December 24, 2024 It’s been another season of diminished output for Simmons. So far, he has ...

(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)   There is a very good chance that Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs will participate in this season’s new-look All-Star Game. Like many other people, Wembanyama has his thoughts about the new format. Speaking to Yahoo Sports, the Spurs superstar opened up about his opinion of this year’s All-Star changes. Wembanyama said: “I’m personally wondering how to put competitiveness back into the All-Star game. When I set foot on that court though, I’m gonna be competitive for sure. But I don’t think nothing beats the old-school East/West format.” Wemby is the latest star to weigh in on NBA All-Star pic.twitter.com/0LDbICIslA — Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) December 23, 2024 Under the new rules, four teams will compete at first, before two squads square off in the last match. Wembanyama will probably be part of the Rising Stars team, along with other first- and second-year players. There are other changes too, including who will...

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)   After some productive time away in the G-League, Bronny James is coming back. On Monday morning, Marc Stein reported, via Legion Hoops, that the Los Angeles Lakers have called up Bronny James for Monday night’s game against the Detroit Pistons. Stein wrote: “The unanimous view I heard from watching scouts at the Showcase is that James needs as much time as he can get in the G League to improve all aspects of his point guard play, from his floor game to (especially) his ability to make shots.” The Lakers have called up Bronny James for tonight’s game vs. Pistons, per @TheSteinLine . “The unanimous view I heard from watching scouts at the Showcase is that James needs as much time as he can get in the G League to improve all aspects of his point guard play, from his… pic.twitter.com/kJ2ZJmhu0Q — Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) December 23, 2024 It’s not clear if James will actually play in Monday’s game, but the fact that he will at...

(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)   Legendary NFL wide receiver and current Sunday NFL Countdown host Randy Moss has rallied the football world behind him in recent weeks ever since he took a leave of absence from his role with ESPN to take care of his unfortunate cancer diagnosis. According to Moss, he is already cancer-free after a recent surgery and six days in the hospital where doctors removed the cancer found in the bile duct “right between the pancreas and the liver,” as he told fans on an Instagram Live stream. Everyone is glad things are going well, but he is still missing in his Sunday NFL Countdown role. He shared a message with the fans watching ahead of Sunday’s slate of NFL games. Moss took to X on Sunday morning and said, “Sunday NFL Countdown…I MISS U TOO!! My guys keeping it going. UGM segment was great!!” @espn sunday nfl countdown……I MISS U TOO!!My guys keeping it going.UGM segment was great!! — Randy Moss (@RandyMoss) December 22, 2024 It ha...

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)   The Sacramento Kings are up to something before the upcoming NBA trade deadline, but it’s not entirely clear what they’re doing. The team isn’t performing as fans want, and they are contemplating ways to improve their situation. Who will they pursue, and who could make the team better? According to Sam Amick and Anthony Slater of The Athletic, a few names are being considered by the Kings. Their piece said they are looking at Kyle Kuzma of the Washington Wizards, among others, via Legion Hoops: “There are some familiar names who appear to be back on their radar, league sources said. Among them: Portland’s Jerami Grant, Utah’s John Collins or Washington’s Jonas Valanciunas and Kyle Kuzma. Brooklyn’s Cam Johnson is known to be of significant interest, as is — to a lesser degree — the Nets’ Dorian Finney-Smith.” Kyle Kuzma is reportedly back on the Kings radar, per @sam_amick & @anthonyVslater . “There are some familiar names who ...

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)   Kevin Durant has achieved so much during his NBA career but still doesn’t get the respect some people feel he deserves. There are a lot of people who call him a bad leader or a ring chaser, and it’s not entirely clear why. Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors has an idea about why some fans don’t respect Durant. Speaking with Melissa Rohlin of FOX Sports, Green said it’s all about the vibes that Durant gives off. “He just gives you the bro next door vibes. I think that automatically makes everybody else comfortable, which also makes people disrespect him. They think, ‘Oh, he’s the bro next door.’ ‘No I’m not. I’m Kevin Durant,’” Green said, via Legion Hoops. Draymond Green on Kevin Durant: “He just gives you the bro next door vibes. I think that automatically makes everybody else comfortable, which also makes people disrespect him. They think, 'Oh, he's the bro next door.' No I'm not. I'm Kevin Durant.’” (via ...

(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)   The Detroit Lions have one of the best running back tandems in the league right now. Unfortunately, David Montgomery fell with a season-ending injury. Still, they can trust Jahmyr Gibbs to complete the task and lead them through the rest of the journey. Notably, Gibbs didn’t even want to be there in the first place. In a recent appearance on Kay Adams’ “Up & Adams” show, the Alabama product admitted that he didn’t want to play for a cold weather team. Jahmyr Gibbs said during the draft process he DIDN'T wanna go to a cold weather team AND the Cowboys were a real possibility to draft him… "Imagine if I was a Cowboy right now? I'd be so sick." In hindsight, he's VERY happy how things played out @heykayadams @Lions pic.twitter.com/GUrwTOYocD — Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) December 19, 2024 He reportedly didn’t want to live in cold weather, and he thought he would end up playing for the Dallas Cowboys. I...

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)   The Milwaukee Bucks made a statement on Tuesday night when they beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup championship. With their 97-81 victory, the Bucks warned the rest of the league that they are back and should be taken seriously. On Wednesday’s “First Take,” Stephen A. Smith spoke about what this win means for Milwaukee’s postseason chances. “They did what they did last night against the top defensive team in the NBA,” Smith remarked, before adding, “If you’re shooting the basketball like that, you got a chance to win it all.” It’s been a rough couple of years for the Bucks, but was their NBA Cup success a turning point for the team? . @stephenasmith on the Bucks after beating the Thunder in the NBA Cup Final "They did what they did last night against the top defensive team in the NBA. … If you're shooting the basketball like that, you got a chance to win it all." pic.twitter.com/0Khkp8OIvy — First Take (@Firs...

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)   The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup championship on Tuesday night in a fairly one-sided 97-81 victory. Following the game, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers spoke about the effort of his team, and their secret weapon. That weapon was assistant coach Darvin Ham, who led the Los Angeles Lakers to an NBA Cup championship last year. According to ClutchPoints, Rivers said: “We brought our secret weapon. Darvin Ham is now an undefeated coach in two years in this Cup and then when I said it, TP [Taurean Prince], he was like, what about me? And TP is an undefeated player. So that’s pretty cool for them.” Bucks head coach Doc Rivers on Darvin Ham and Taurean Prince being 14-0 in the NBA Cup: "We brought our secret weapon. Darvin Ham is now an undefeated coach in two years in this Cup and then when I said it, TP, he was like, what about me? And TP is an undefeated player. So… https://t.co/3LvL2rVlur pic.twitt...

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)   The Denver Nuggets might be one of the most talked-about teams in the NBA but on Tuesday morning, they were being talked about for all the wrong reasons. BasketNews shared an image of the Nuggets’ G-League jerseys, via Legion Hoops, and the reviews weren’t very kind. This uniform, a mix of green, white, and gold, was something to behold and truly unlike any other recent jersey. These Nuggets G-League jersey’s are pretty interesting… (via @BasketNews_com ) pic.twitter.com/gfHt7FJxZ7 — Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) December 17, 2024 Most people agreed that these jerseys made all players look like Santa’s elves. While these are clearly Christmas-related, perhaps they leaned too heavily on the theme. they got elf uniforms?? — ⁷⁷ (@mavsbetterr) December 17, 2024 I thought elves were supposed to be short? — lol (@Lolzeefaf) December 17, 2024 Other people were trying to think of why these jerseys were given the green light. Cer...

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)   It’s been a tough season for the Portland Trail Blazers, especially because one of their biggest stars hasn’t been performing well lately. According to NBACentral, Scoot Henderson has gone ice cold during his last two games. He scored four points, two rebounds, and five assists a few days ago during a game against the San Antonio Spurs and posted just two points, one rebound, and four assists against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night. One word was used repeatedly online by disappointed fans: “bust.” Scoot Henderson over his last 2 games: 2 PTS – 0/4 FG – 0/2 3PT 4 PTS – 2/9 FG – 0/6 3PT He’s now averaging 10.8 PPG, 40% FG, 28% 3PT, 49.5% TS on the season (Via @realapp_ ) pic.twitter.com/jtn4bjQCV2 — NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 16, 2024 Many people came out and said that Henderson was a complete bust just two years into his NBA career. So far this season, he is averaging 10.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 5.1 assists. Durin...