NFL has a short break before it's time for the combine, free agency and the draft
Now that the Seattle Seahawks have been crowned Super Bowl champions, it’s on to the 2026 season. That’ll kick off with the annual scouting combine in Indianapolis from Feb. 23-March 2. Free agency follows on March 9 with the two-day negotiating period. The annual league meeting begins on March 29 in Phoenix. The NFL draft is in Pittsburgh from April 23-25.
Super Bowl averages 124.9M viewers in US, Bad Bunny's halftime 128.2 million, both short of records
Seattle's Super Bowl victory over New England on Sunday night didn't break viewership records. The game averaged 124.9 million viewers across NBC, Peacock, Telemundo, NBC Sports Digital, and NFL+, according to Nielsen. This is less than the 127.7 million who watched Philadelphia beat Kansas City last year. Bad Bunny's halftime show also fell short of records. It averaged 128.2 million viewers, making it the fourth-most watched halftime show. Kendrick Lamar, Michael Jackson, and Usher hold the top three spots. Global viewership numbers for the halftime show are expected next week.
Victor Wembanyama scores 37 of 40 in 1st half, leading Spurs to 136-108 win over short-handed Lakers
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Victor Wembanyama scored 37 of his season high-tying 40 points in the first half and the San Antonio Spurs beat the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers 136-108 for their fifth straight victory. Wembanyama had the highest-scoring first half in the NBA this season while going 12 of 17 from the field with three 3-pointers against a Lakers lineup missing Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves. Wembanyama played only the first eight minutes of the second half with the Spurs far ahead in their 10th win in 13 games. Carter Bryant scored a career-high 16 points for the Spurs.
US skating star Ilia Malinin leads after near-perfect short program at the Milan Cortina Olympics
MILAN (AP) — Ilia Malinin has silenced any doubters of the self-styled “Quad God.” The American wunderkind threw down a near-perfect short program filled with high-flying jumps and a jaw-dropping backflip to take a big lead at the Milan Cortina Olympics. The two-time reigning world champion was rewarded with 108.16 points for his program. Yuma Kagiyama of Japan was second with 103.07 points, but that five-point difference going into the free skate is enormous given the huge technical advantage Malinin has over a longer program. Adam Siao Him Fa of France, the last skater to beat Malinin more than two years ago, was third with 102.55 points.
At the Winter Olympics, athletes share the stage with nature. That's just how they want it
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Athletes at the Winter Olympics find themselves meeting Mother Nature on her own terms while trying to conquer her at the same time. Many of the competitors who fling themselves off the sides of mountains were first drawn to their sport simply by the love of being outside. Freestyle skier Eileen Gu describes trying to find a “oneness” with nature when she competes while at the same time trying to push the boundaries of what's possible. It is a fundamental part of the Winter Games that often is not seen in the Summer Olympics.
Cardi B's cameo in Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show leads to dispute on prediction markets
CHICAGO (AP) — Cardi B was part of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show. What she did exactly, well, that turned into a perplexing question for two major prediction markets. At least one Kalshi trader filed a complaint with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission over how the prediction market handled Sunday’s appearance by the Grammy-winning rapper. The result of a similar event contract on Polymarket also drew the ire of some users on that platform. There was some ambiguity surrounding whether Cardi B's halftime appearance constituted a performance, leading to the dispute.
Justin Verlander returns to the Detroit Tigers on a $13 million, 1-year contract
LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Justin Verlander is going back to his first big league team, agreeing to a $13 million, one-year contract with the Detroit Tigers. Verlander, who turns 43 on Feb. 20, is looking to rebound from a frustrating year with San Francisco. The deal for the three-time AL Cy Young Award winner includes $11 million in deferred payments starting in 2030. Verlander’s 266 victories are tied with Bob Feller and Eppa Rixey for 34th on baseball’s career list, while his 3,553 career strikeouts are eighth and just behind Don Sutton's 3,574.
Raiders introduce new coach Klint Kubiak with a nod to their storied past
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — The Las Vegas Raiders introduced Klint Kubiak as their new head coach. Kubiak is fresh off a Super Bowl win with the Seahawks. He faces the challenge of reviving a team that hasn't won a playoff game since 2002. On Tuesday, he was joined by former Raiders stars such as Marcus Allen and Charles Woodson as he took the stage. Kubiak plans to hire new coordinators and decide on the No. 1 draft pick. Owner Mark Davis hinted at interest in quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Meanwhile, star player Maxx Crosby reportedly wants out, but Kubiak hopes to keep him in Las Vegas.
Making transition from SEC to MLB, new Giants manager Tony Vitello enters 1st season ready to learn
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Tony Vitello walked up the dugout stairs to meet with reporters about 15 minutes later than expected because of a team meeting that went longer than planned. The new San Francisco Giants manager had a lot to say on the first day of spring training. He also knows he’s got a lot to learn. The 47-year-old is one of the more fascinating stories in baseball this spring. Vitello is making the rare jump straight from a college dugout to Major League Baseball. Before coming to the Bay Area, he built the Tennessee Volunteers into a national powerhouse. The Giants are trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
Robert Wright III answers the boos in his return to Baylor and helps No. 22 BYU end its 4-game skid
WACO, Texas (AP) — Robert Wright III answered the boos in his return to Baylor, posting the first 30-point game of his career as No. 22 BYU ended a four-game losing streak with a 99-94 victory over the Bears. Wright backed out on a deal to return to Baylor for his sophomore season. He chose the Cougars, whose skid had sent them tumbling in the AP Top 25. Wright scored 30 points and top NBA prospect AJ Dybantsa had 36 for BYU. Wright said he was expecting the boos. Cougars coach Kevin Young praised the Baylor crowd for keeping it “classy.”
