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Southwest Airlines and its pilots’ union have reached a new preliminary labor agreement, ending months of tense negotiations and becoming the last of the largest U.S. airlines to strike a deal that is set to give aviators big raises.

The five-year deal is worth about $12 billion, Casey Murray, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, told CNBC on Tuesday. The union didn’t immediately provide details about pilot pay increases.

The company’s pilots will need to approve the preliminary contract. CNBC reported earlier this month that the two sides were close to a deal.

American, United and Delta pilots finalized deals earlier this year that were worth billions and gave aviators double-digit pay hikes. The Covid-19 pandemic derailed negotiations across the industry.

As travel demand snapped back, pilots, flight attendants and other aviation workers have pushed for not just higher pay, but also better working conditions such as more predictable schedules.

Labor unions have flexed their power throughout the year, yielding a string of big labor deals including agreements between Hollywood studios and actors, and the studios and writers, as well as between automakers and the United Auto Workers union. Those agreements followed prolonged strikes.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

The Internal Revenue Service announced Tuesday that some tax filers who faced late-pay penalties for tax years 2020 and 2021 will have those penalties waived.

The waiver will apply to filers with assessed tax bills of less than $100,000 and who were in the IRS collection notice process, or were issued an initial balance due notice between Feb. 5, 2022, and Dec. 7, 2023.

The waivers will be automatically applied, meaning those who qualify will not have to take any action on their own to benefit from the relief.

The IRS said its decision to grant the waiver is due to the agency having suspended late payment reminders in February 2022 because of the pandemic. Taxpayers who owed money for the 2020 and 2021 tax years would have received an initial notice of their bill, but no follow-up reminder. Even though no follow-up collection notice was sent, the tax penalty continued accruing, the IRS said.

The agency plans to start sending out special reminder letters in January 2024 to alert filers of their current liabilities, ways to pay and the amount of penalty relief, if applied.

‘As the IRS has been preparing to return to normal collection mailings, we have been concerned about taxpayers who haven’t heard from us in a while suddenly getting a larger tax bill,’ IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said in an agency release.

‘The IRS should be looking out for taxpayers, and this penalty relief is a common-sense approach to help people in this situation.’

The agency estimates 4.7 million individuals, businesses, trusts, estates and tax-exempt organizations are eligible for the penalty relief, representing $1 billion in savings to taxpayers, or about $206 per return.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

Toyota Motor said on Wednesday it will recall 1.12 million vehicles worldwide because a short circuit in a sensor could cause air bags not to deploy as designed.

The recall covers 2020 through 2022 model year vehicles including various Avalon, Camry, Corolla, RAV4, Lexus ES250, ES300H, ES350, RX350 Highlander and Sienna Hybrid vehicles and could result in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensors not working. It includes 1 million vehicles in the United States.

The sensors ensure air bags do not deploy if a small adult or child is sitting in the front seat. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the sensors. The automaker plans to begin notifying owners in February about the recall.

Toyota in July 2022 issued a recall for 3,500 RAV4 vehicles in the United states that because of potential interference between internal parts that could cause the OCS sensor to incorrectly detect the occupant.

Frontal air bags have saved more than 50,000 lives in the United States over 30 years, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says.

The new sensors were prompted because older air bags deployed the same way for all driver and passengers, causing some injuries and in rare cases even death to children, small adults, and unbelted passengers who were too close to the air bag as it deployed, the agency says

Reuters reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Nick Zieminski

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

How did the first round of your fantasy playoffs go? Did you win? What am I talking about? Of course you did! If you lost, you wouldn’t be frantically Googling who to start or sit next week, right? So, congratulations! You’ve done well to get this far. However, the celebration can’t last long. There’s still more work to do.

Week 16 of the NFL season brings a myriad of lineup questions. With so many tough matchups to think about, there will certainly be championships won or lost based on the decisions made this week. Here is what we say you should do with some of the more questionable players on your rosters.

Fantasy football quarterbacks to start in Week 16

Whoever ends up starting for the New York Jets

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Who is going to get the starting nod for the Jets this weekend? No idea. It could be Zach Wilson, although he was just forced to leave the Dolphins game with a concussion. It could be Trevor Siemian, although he just played horribly in Wilson’s absence. It could even be Aaron Rodgers.

The four-time NFL MVP could come back from his Achilles injury this weekend, which won’t help the Jets playoff chances, but will absolutely mean the world to people who lost Justin Herbert to injury a few weeks ago.

It really doesn’t matter who ends up under center though, because whoever it is will have a juicy matchup against the Washington Commanders’ defense. That defense has given up at least 19 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in all but two games this season. While some of those quarterbacks are fantasy studs like Dak Prescott, Jalen Hurts, and Tua Tagovailoa, there are other names like Tommy DeVito and Desmond Ridder on this list. In fact, the only quarterbacks not to score at least 19 points against the Commanders defense this year are Mac Jones and Joshua Dobbs.

Wilson may not be the sexiest pick if he ends up getting the start, but he has put up 19 points twice this year. This is the best matchup he’s had all season. Oh, and the Commanders defense hasn’t forced an interception since Week 9.

Justin Fields, Chicago Bears

Sure, Fields didn’t look great last week in the Bears’ 20-17 loss to the Cleveland Browns, but the Browns have been one of the toughest defenses in the league all season. The Arizona Cardinals have been the opposite. They’ve allowed opposing quarterbacks to score at least 19 points in five of their last six games, and most of that success has come through the air.

Justin Fields has been no slouch as a passer lately, but combining his floor as a rusher with the upside of passing against Arizona makes for a deadly fusion that will instill terror in your opponents.

Fantasy football quarterbacks to sit in Week 16

Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

Fresh off a 5-TD performance, Jared Goff is a trap play in Week 16. Not only does he play the tough Minnesota Vikings defense this week, but Goff will be on the road. Historically, Goff does far worse away from home.

The Lions have played seven games on the road and seven games at home this season. Goff has nine touchdowns on the road compared to 17 at home. Goff also has two rushing touchdowns on the season. Both came at home.

CJ Stroud, Houston Texans

Stroud did not play in Week 15, nursing a concussion he suffered the week prior. If he returns in Week 16, he will get to face the Cleveland Browns. That’s not a good matchup. Furthermore, there is a chance that Stroud is without each of his top two receivers. We already know Tank Dell is out for the season, but Nico Collins did not practice at all last week. There’s still a chance he returns in Week 16, but even if he does, he may not be at full strength. Stroud has been great this year, but the matchup and availability of his best receivers makes starting him very questionable this week.

Fantasy football running backs to start in Week 16

Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

Arthur Smith is back to Arthur Smith-ing, but a matchup against the Indianapolis Colts is too much to pass up. Prior to his 0.4 point performance in Week 15, Robinson had scored 14 or more points in three of his last four.

The Colts did well against the Pittsburgh Steelers backfield last week, but still surrendered five receptions to Jaylen Warren. Robinson is the best pass-catching back the Falcons have. Even if Robinson does not do well as a rusher, the Falcons should be behind early in this game, giving Arthur Smith another reason to leave Robinson on the field more often than he’d like.

Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers

Finally, after weeks of wondering whether or not Jones was actually healthy and would receive a full workload, Jones finally looked like himself. He did only put up 11 PPR points, but he dominated touches in the backfield, all while averaging over four yards a carry.

Now, Jones and the Packers take on the Carolina Panthers. Although the Panthers did just hold Bijan Robinson to 0.4 points, there were factors that contributed to that. Namely, the weather and Arthur Smith’s incompetency. There is no rain on the forecast for Sunday in Charlotte. Jones should feast against a defense that has allowed at least 80 yards and a touchdown to opposing running backs in five of their last six games.

Fantasy football running backs to sit in Week 16

De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins

Last week was a fluke for the Dallas Cowboys defense. This is the same unit that had surrendered more than 20 non-PPR points to running backs only once prior to Week 15. The Cowboys are still a stout defense against the run, and Achane doesn’t appear to have the same role he had prior to his injury. Mostert is the goal-line back, and out-carried Achane 15 to 9 in the Dolphins’ 30-0 victory. That’s a score that would incentivize using your backup running backs more often. They didn’t though. They were fine enough using Mostert more than Achane. Why would that change this weekend?

Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos

Williams is the victim of a brutal playoff schedule. A matchup against the Detroit Lions was always going to be tough, but Williams still disappointed with just four PPR points. Now he gets a Patriots defense that hasn’t allowed 75 yards on the ground since Week 9.

While the Chiefs running backs did just score 30 non-PPR points against the Patriots, most of that damage came through the air. Williams hasn’t had more than three receptions since Week 10. He hasn’t scored through the air since Week 10. The streak won’t break in Week 16.

Fantasy football wide receivers to start in Week 16

Gabe Davis, Buffalo Bills

We are all anxiously waiting for the annual Gabe Davis fantasy playoff game. It didn’t happen in Week 15, but it could very well happen in Week 16 as the Bills take on a Chargers defense that just surrendered 63 points to the Las Vegas Raiders. In that game, Davante Adams got his fill, but the Raiders’ deep threat, Tre Tucker, also caught two long balls for touchdowns. Davis will have the same opportunity.

DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks

The Tennessee Titans are fresh off a game where they allowed opposing wide receivers to record 113 yards and a touchdown. That’s not bad, right? Wrong! Case Keenum was the quarterback and the Texans’ two best wide receivers were both out.

Not only should Geno Smith return next week, but the Titans have been abysmal against wide receivers this year. In fact, they’ve allowed at least one touchdown to opposing wide receivers in seven of their last nine games. Of every Seattle receiver, Metcalf has been getting the most looks from Smith as of late. He really started to pick things up before Smith got hurt. Hopefully he can pick up right where he left off.

Fantasy football wide receivers to sit in Week 16

Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders

Off the heels of his best game of the season, it will be hard to move McLaurin to your bench, but the strongest wills always prevail in fantasy. The New York Jets are a great pass defense. Don’t let Week 15 fool you. They may have allowed a massive performance from Jaylen Waddle, but they’d allowed just three non-PPR points to opposing wide receivers over the two weeks prior.

DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans

The Seattle Seahawks have not been good against wide receivers the last month. However, the offenses they’ve faced in that span are the 49ers, Cowboys, 49ers, and Eagles. The Titans are not on the same stratosphere offensively as the teams just listed.

Hopkins will likely draw a matchup against either Tariq Woolen or Devon Witherspoon. Either one will be tough, and it’s hard to feel confident in a receiver that could only corral two of his nine targets in Week 15 when he’s going up against corners like Seattle has.

Fantasy football tight ends to start in Week 16

Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Cincinnati Bengals cannot cover tight ends. They’ve allowed at least double-digit PPR points to tight ends in four straight games. One of those games was against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Freiermuth put up over 100 yards in that game. While you shouldn’t expect such a performance again, odds are the ball will find Freiermuth early and often. Even if he doesn’t gain many yards, he should be a PPR monster this weekend.

David Njoku, Cleveland Browns

Not only has Njoku recorded two straight games with 20-plus PPR points, but he draws a tremendous matchup against the Houston Texans this week. Houston has allowed at least 50 receiving yards to tight ends in five of their last seven games, and not one of those tight ends is a superstar at the position. In fact, the only two who could even be considered solid fantasy options were Evan Engram and Trey McBride.

Njoku is the most talented tight end the Texans have faced in a long, long time. With how he’s been playing, there’s no reason he should be on your bench this weekend.

Tight ends to sit in Week 16

Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens

While the 49ers defense has allowed tight ends to score in two straight games, they hadn’t allowed a single tight end to score double digit non-PPR points all season prior. While Likely has seen consistent targets in each of his last three games, the 49ers are just too tough in the middle of the field to have any faith in a strong performance from Likely.

Darren Waller, New York Giants

While the Philadelphia Eagles were a horrendous defense against tight ends earlier in the season, they haven’t allowed more than eight non-PPR points to opposing tight ends in three straight weeks. Waller did earn six targets in his first game back from injury this week, but it’s clear that the Giants are more than happy to lean on the run at this point of the season. Waller is too touchdown-dependent to have faith in him in Week 16.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

The UCLA women’s gymnastics program has been known to be the home of the some of the most viral floor routines in college sports, and it has another star in senior Chae Campbell.

UCLA held its annual ‘Meet the Bruins’ meet ahead of the 2024 season, where fans could see what routines and moves the seven-time national championship program will have in the upcoming year. Campbell has been a star for the Bruins on the floor, as she’s been named an All-American, was the 2021 Pac-12 floor exercise co-champion and recorded two perfect 10s on floor exercise in 2022.

But Campbell delivered a unique routine for the intrasquad meet, as her floor exercise was inspired by the movie Marvel movie ‘Black Panther,’ and the senior dazzled in what will be her routine for her final year with the Bruins. Campbell’s leotard resembled the Black Panther suit, the music in the routine came from the hit movie and she ended the magnificent set with a ‘Wakanda Forever’ salute.

The routine drew rave reviews on social media and YouTube, as it gives the Bruins another star to watch when the 2024 season begins on Jan. 12. The senior from Texas was already named to the Pac-12 women’s gymnastics 2024 Preseason Watch List.

Campbell was also appreciative for her set after the meet.

‘Grateful for every moment. Wakanda Forever,’ she posted on social media.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Philadelphia Eagles fans were not happy that referees handed Jason Kelce a false start penalty on third-and-inches in the Monday night matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. But the All-Pro center took accountability for the second quarter miscue where he moved the ball forward as he took his stance.

‘They’ve been warning me of that for years,’ Kelce told reporters after the game in Seattle. ‘I think when you’re trying to get a forward lean and you really do that, I think I had a tendency to do that in the past, so they’ve definitely warned me before. I think that I just got to be smarter. Especially in that situation.’

Kelce, who is a key component of Philadelphia’s signature Tush Push play, said that the distance to the first down probably affected the referees decision to flag him.

‘I think if that’s a full yard to gain, probably not as much, but I think because it was so short, the fact that I moved it forward at all was gonna get called,’ he said. ‘Just gotta be smarter than that.’

After being pushed back to third-and-six, the Eagles scored a field goal on the drive. They lost the game 20-17 after Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock threw a last-minute touchdown.

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Quarterback Jalen Hurts, who battled flu-like symptoms in the game, pointed out fouls as something that the team has to address. He was also flagged for false start in the first quarter.

‘We just have to be better,’ he said. ‘I have to be better, minimizing the mistakes, the penalties, the mental errors and just playing team football and it starts with me leading that.’

He emphasized consistency as Philadelphia is now riding a three-game losing streak with its playoff seeding on the line.

‘We’ve been talking about execution all year, being on the same page, everyone being on the same page and we didn’t execute,’ he said. ‘I don’t think we’re committed enough. Just gotta turn it around. It’s a challenge that we have to embrace and just continue to see it through.’

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Lipscomb University forward Tyrese Spicer was the first pick in Major League Soccer’s SuperDraft on Tuesday by Toronto FC.

This is the second time that Toronto FC has made the No. 1 overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft. The last time came before Toronto’s inaugural season in 2007, when the club took Maurice Edu, a forward out of Maryland. Edu earned MLS rookie of the year honors in 2007, made his U.S. national team debut that same year, and three years later played in his first and only World Cup.

After Toronto selected Spicer at No. 1, the Colorado Rapids used the first of their two first-round selections on Duke midfielder Wayne Frederick. Washington defender Nate Jones, who was initially selected by Austin FC with the No. 5 overall pick, later had his rights traded to the Colorado Rapids.

There were three rounds in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft. Among the 87 overall selections, 48 different colleges and universities were represented. Five colleges had multiple players selected in the first round, led by West Virginia with three. Lipscomb was the only university with two top-10 selections.

2024 MLS SuperDraft first-round picks

Toronto FC — Tyrese Spicer, forward, LipscombColorado Rapids — Wayne Frederick, midfielder, DukeFC Dallas (from Inter Miami CF) — Logan Farrington, forward, Oregon StateColorado Rapids (from Los Angeles Galaxy) — Kimani Stewart-Baynes, forward, MarylandAustin FC — Nate Jones, defender, WashingtonChicago Fire FC — Bryan Dowd, goalkeeper, Notre DameD.C. United — Jacob Murrell, forward, GeorgetownNew York City FC — Malachi Jones, forward, LipscombMinnesota United FC — Hugo Bacharach, defender, IndianaCF Montréal — Grayson Doody, defender, UCLANashville SC (from Portland Timbers) — Wyatt Meyer, defender, CaliforniaNew York Red Bulls (from Charlotte FC through Colorado Rapids) — Aidan O’Connor, defender, VirginiaSan Jose Earthquakes — Jamar Ricketts, defender, Cal State NorthridgeCharlotte FC (from New York Red Bulls through Colorado Rapids) — Tyger Smalls, forward, Loyola MarymountInter Miami CF (from FC Dallas) — Yannick Bright, midfielder, New HampshireReal Salt Lake (from Vancouver Whitecaps FC) — Matthew Bell, forward, MarshallSt. Louis City SC (from Nashville SC) — Hosei Kijima, midfielder, Wake ForestReal Salt Lake — Kevin Bonilla, defender, PortlandAtlanta United FC — Jayden Hibbert, goalkeeper, ConnecticutMinnesota United FC (from New England Revolution) — Marcus Caldeira, forward, West VirginiaOrlando City SC (from St. Louis City SC through Colorado Rapids) — Jeorgio Kocevski, midfielder, SyracuseSporting Kansas City — Ryan Schewe, goalkeeper, GeorgetownSeattle Sounders FC — Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, defender, WashingtonInter Miami CF (from Philadelphia Union) — Ryan Carmichael, forward, HofstraOrlando City SC — Yutaro Tsukada, forward, West VirginiaHouston Dynamo FC — Stephen Annor Gyamfi, forward, VirginiaFC Cincinnati — Brian Schaefer, defender, South FloridaLos Angeles FC — Jackson Lee, goalkeeper, West VirginiaColumbus Crew — Jayden Da, forward, Duquesne

2024 MLS SuperDraft second-round picks

Toronto FC — Joey Maher, defender, IndianaAustin FC (from Colorado Rapids) — Bryant Farkarlun, midfielder, Texas-Rio Grande ValleyInter Miami CF — Leo Afonso, forward, VirginiaChicago Fire FC (from Los Angeles Galaxy through Atlanta United FC) — Olu Oyegunle, defender, SyracuseColorado Rapids (from Austin FC) — Palmer Ault, midfielder, ButlerChicago Fire FC — Jason Shokalook, forward, AkronD.C. United — Brandon Parrish, midfielder, ClemsonReal Salt Lake (from New York City FC) — Damien Barker John, forward, LouisvilleCharlotte FC (from Minnesota United FC) — Jahlane Forbes, defender, Wake ForestCF Montréal — Malik Henry, midfielder, AkronPortland Timbers — Kyle Linhares, midfielder, GeorgetownCharlotte FC — Jacob Babalai, forward, PortlandSan Jose Earthquakes — Beau Leroux, midfielder, San Jose StateColorado Rapids (from New York Red Bulls) — Anderson Rosa, defender, Central FloridaFC Dallas — Turner Humphrey, defender, Oregon StateVancouver Whitecaps FC — Eliot Goldthorp, defender, HofstraLos Angeles Galaxy (from Nashville SC) — Ethan Brandt, goalkeeper, Western MichiganReal Salt Lake — Josh Jones, defender, LouisvilleAtlanta United FC — Javier Armas, defender, Oregon StateD.C. United (from New England Revolution) — Aldair Sanchez, defender, North Carolina (via Sacramento Republic FC)Nashville SC (from St. Louis City SC) — Kevin Carmichael, defender, CaliforniaSporting Kansas City — Dyson Clapier, defender, DukeSeattle Sounders FC — Antino Lopez, defender, DukePhiladelphia Union — Stas Korzeniowski, forward, PennsylvaniaOrlando City SC — Filip Mirkovic, midfielder, PittsburghHouston Dynamo FC — Ousmane Sylla, midfielder, ClemsonFC Cincinnati — Kenji Mboma Dem, forward, DaytonLos Angeles FC — Kenny Nielson, defender, GeorgetownColumbus Crew — Zach Zengue, midfielder, Georgetown

2024 MLS SuperDraft third-round picks

Toronto FC — Patrick McDonald, midfielder, IndianaColorado Rapids — Gunnar Studenhofft, forward, ManhattanInter Miami CF — Pep Casas, midfielder, UNC WilmingtonLos Angeles Galaxy — Tucker Lepley, midfielder, UCLAPhiladelphia Union (from Austin FC) — Zachary Bohane, forward, StanfordChicago Fire FC — Laurence Wootton, midfielder, Ohio StateD.C. United — Nathan Crockford, goalkeeper, WisconsinNew York City FC — Taylor Calheira, forward, Maryland-Baltimore CountyMinnesota United FC — Morris Duggan, defender, MarshallCF Montréal — Eli Conway, forward, ConnecticutPortland Timbers — Gage Guerra, forward, LouisvilleCharlotte FC — Nathan Richmond, midfielder, ClemsonSan Jose Earthquakes — Riley Lynch, forward, Saint Mary’sChicago Fire FC (from New York Red Bulls through Atlanta United FC) — Shane de Flores, midfielder, StanfordFC Dallas — Mads Westergren, defender, SMUVancouver Whitecaps FC — Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau, forward, St. John’sNashville SC — Bryce Boneau, midfielder, Notre DameReal Salt Lake — Maximus Jennings, defender, GeorgetownAtlanta United FC — Casper Mols, goalkeeper, KentuckyMinnesota United FC (from New England Revolution) — Babacar Niang, midfielder, Wake ForestSt. Louis City SC — Brendan McSorley, midfielder, ProvidenceSporting Kansas City — Jonathan Robinson, defender, Western MichiganSeattle Sounders FC — Buba Fofanah, forward, PortlandPhiladelphia Union — Francesco Montali, goalkeeper, Boston UniversityOrlando City SC — Riyon Tori, midfielder, UNC CharlotteReal Salt Lake (from Houston Dynamo FC) — Ruben Mesalles, defender, DukeToronto FC (from FC Cincinnati) — Fletcher Bank, midfielder, StanfordCF Montréal (from Los Angeles FC) — Carson Hodgson, midfielder, Western MichiganColumbus Crew — Luke Pruter, goalkeeper, UC Irvine

Past MLS No. 1 overall draft picks

Here is every No. 1 MLS draft pick:

2023: Hamady Diop (defender, Clemson), Charlotte FC2022: Ben Bender (midfielder, Maryland), Charlotte FC2021: Dani Pereira (midfielder, Virginia Tech), Austin FC2020: Robbie Robinson (forward, Clemson), Inter Miami CF2019: Frankie Almaya (midfielder, UCLA), FC Cincinnati2018: João Moutinho (defender, Akron), Los Angeles FC2017: Abu Danladi (forward, UCLA), Minnesota United FC2016: Jack Harrison (midfielder, Wake Forest), Chicago Fire2015: Cyle Larin (forward, Connecticut), Orlando City SC2014: Andre Blake (forward, Connecticut), Philadelphia Union2013: Andrew Farrell (defender, Louisville), New England Revolution2012: Andrew Wenger (forward, Duke), Montreal Impact2011: Omar Salgado (forward, no college), Vancouver Whitecaps FC2010: Danny Mwanga (forward, Oregon State), Philadelphia Union2009: Steve Zakuani (forward, Akron), Seattle Sounders FC2008: Chance Myers (defender, UCLA), Kansas City Wizards2007: Maurice Edu (midfielder, Maryland), Toronto FC2006: Marvell Wynne (defender, UCLA), MetroStars2005: Nikolas Besagno (midfielder, no college), Real Salt Lake2004: Freddy Adu (midfielder, no college), D.C. United2003: Alecko Eskandarian (forward Virginia), D.C. United2002: Chris Gbandi (defender, Connecticut), Dallas Burn2001: Chris Carrieri (midfielder, North Carolina), San Jose Earthquakes2000: Steve Shak (midfielder, UCLA), MetroStars1999: Jason Moore (midfielder, Virginia), D.C. United1998: Leo Cullen (defender, Maryland), Miami Fusion1997: Tahj Jakins (defender, UCLA), Colorado Rapids1996: Matt McKeon (midfielder, St. Louis), Kansas City Wiz

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Peyton Manning might need a refresher on the rules of his son’s youth football league.

During ‘Monday Night Football,’ the ManningCast aired a clip of Manning’s son, Marshall, scoring on a version of the ‘Tush Push’ during a Colorado youth football game. Fittingly, the clip was shown moments after the Philadelphia Eagles executed their patented – and controversial – ‘Tush Push,’ in an eventual 20-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

‘We were told after that play, the refs were like, ‘Hey, you can’t do that,” said Manning, who coaches his son’s team, the Cherry Creek Bruins, in suburban Denver. ‘I’m like, ‘The Eagles do that in the NFL.’ He’s like, ‘This is not the NFL.’

‘That was the last time we did it. They banned it in our league.’

Not so, according to Heath Dorris, the vice president of the Arapahoe Youth League, who said he’s already gone over the rule with Manning.

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‘We had that conversation over the course of the summer,’ Dorris told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday. ‘ … It is allowed as long as they’re technically pushing him from the back, not trying to lift him into it where he could possibly leave the ground.

‘Basically, the rule that we play by in our rule book is we just don’t allow other players to help lift a player. It’s more kind of a safety type thing.’

Peyton Manning questions about ‘Tush Push’

Manning, the retired Hall of Fame quarterback, sought to clarify the league’s rules on the tush push this summer, Dorris said.

‘Peyton is very detailed and has a lot of questions,’ Dorris said with a chuckle. ‘Let’s leave it at that. But it’s good. It’s a good thing, not a bad thing.’

Dorris said the referee may have misspoke during the reported on-field exchange with Manning.

‘Watching that play last night, it wasn’t a tush push,’ Dorris said. “It was a more of a, let’s just push the pile. …

‘If they’re pushing the ball from behind, we’re OK with that, because a kid’s not leaving the ground. What we don’t want is a kid getting lifted up and thrown over and we don’t want to promote that. That’s basically the integrity of the rule.’

What kind of coach is Peyton Manning?

Manning is in his third year as head coach of the Cherry Creek Bruins, and this year the team won the Super Bowl for the seventh-grade division, according to Dorris. Of course, part of that success stems from the ringer at quarterback – Manning’s son, Marshall.

‘The kid’s got an arm,’ Dorris said. ‘He can read a field and he’s doing pretty good.’

Peyton Manning gets high marks too.

‘You run into certain pro athletes and they can be a little over the top sometime,’ Dorris said. ‘But he’s pretty even-keeled down-to-earth guy.

‘It’s not that he doesn’t ask for clarifications from the refs, but I’ve never seen him not go out there with the best integrity and just be the best role model. I mean, he gets excited when they score, he gets excited when they’re in tough games, but I’ve never seen him not be the ultimate role model. Ever.’

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

When buying a new home, one thing to consider is who the next door neighbors are, and a new home listed on Zillow would give someone a rather unique neighbor: the Green Bay Packers and 81,000 other people.

A four-bedroom, two-bathroom listing on Zillow has drawn attention since it was recently posted on the website, as photos of the property show that the home is right next to Lambeau Field. The home, which also comes with a hot tub and pool, is at an asking price of $699,900.

‘Packer fans dream! Great rental income or a place to call home and over look the Packer Stadium! Must see 4 bed, 2 bath, hot tub, inground pool, GREAT for entertaining! Don’t let this opportunity slip away!’ a description of the listing reads on Zillow.

It’s common around the country for homes to be near NFL stadiums, but the situation in Green Bay in unique since there are several homes that are literal neighbors to the iconic stadium, or just a few minutes walk away.

The price of the home might be a steal, as the prices of homes around the stadium have steadily risen in recent years, the Green Bay Press Gazette, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported in 2017. A trend in the area has been to buy houses and use them as vacation rentals, or turn them into ‘Packers party houses.’

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Still, owning the house could give the ultimate Packers fan the chance to bask in the legendary stadium, walk to games or hear the crowd roar on gamedays. And possibly, use the home to charge for parking too.

Social media users were shocked about the home price, and many people had the same idea of how to turn that home into profit:

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It was a banner 2023 season for Baltimore Orioles prospect Jackson Holliday. He tore it up across four levels, won the Class AAA championship – and now is being named USA TODAY’s Minor League Player of the Year.

The No. 1 pick in the 2022 draft, Holliday hit .323 with 12 homers, 75 RBI and 24 steals as a 19-year-old, playing at Single-A Delmarva, high-A Aberdeen and Double-A Bowie before reaching Triple-A with Norfolk.

‘It was kind of a whirlwind, to be honest with you,’ Holliday told MLB.com. “Shoot, Aberdeen and Delmarva don’t even feel real. It’s been pretty crazy, a lot of baseball, but I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve had a lot of really great teammates who made it easy.’

The son of All-Star outfielder Matt Holliday, Jackson Holliday posted a .442 OBP, 113 runs and 154 hits in 125 games, playing shortstop and second base.

“If you were to sit there and not know that a number one prospect was on the field, before you left the game you would say, ‘that’s the guy right there,’ ‘ Bowie manager Kyle Moore told USA TODAY Sports this summer.

HOT STOVE UPDATES: MLB free agency: Ranking and tracking the top players available.

USA TODAY has been handing out the Minor League Player of the Year award annually since 1988, honoring that year’s top minor league player as voted on by the staff’s MLB writers and editors.

Of 14 winners since 2008, 12 have become All-Stars and that group has combined for three MVP awards, three Cy Young awards and five Rookie of the Year wins.

The big-league Orioles won 101 games and the American League East title in 2023, leaning on up-and-comers like Rookie of the Year Gunnar Henderson and second-year catcher Adley Rutschman, the No. 1 overall pick in 2019.

Holliday should be joining up at Camden Yards soon.

“I’m very blessed to be a part of such an amazing organization, especially right now with all this young talent,’ Holliday said.

Now 20, Holliday is expected to get an opportunity in spring training to play his way onto the major-league roster. General manager Mike Elias said at MLB’s winter meetings that Holliday would have a ‘chance’ to break camp with the Orioles.

“He’s going to be treated in this major league camp not like a prospect, where we’re kind of having fun and having him in camp for the experience of it, but like a guy trying to make the team,” Elias said.

Holliday had two homers and nine RBI in 18 games for Triple-A Norfolk and the Tides defeated the Oklahoma City Dodgers in the Triple-A championship game.

“I don’t want to put the cart before the horse, but he had a historic first full season in the minors,” Elias said. “You’d probably have to go back to the 80s or 90s to find something similar to that in my opinion for an American kid out of high school.”

‘The thing that (Jackson) has always done, since he was 2 or 3 years old, he’s always loved to practice, he’s always loved to be at the field,’ Matt Holliday told MLB.com. ‘From an early age, I knew he had a passion and love for baseball. I didn’t know he’d be a prospect and get drafted first overall, but I always knew that this is what he wanted to do for his career and in his life.’

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde echoed Elias about the possibility of Holliday forcing his way onto the roster in February and March.

“I’ve never seen a kid that young go that fast, have that much success this fast, especially at a high level like Triple-A at 19,” Hyde said. “The numbers he’s put up through his short minor league career, especially for his age, are really incredible. I think we’re going to give him every look — as much looks as possible — at spring training, give him every opportunity.’

USA TODAY Sports Minor League Player of the Year winners

2022: Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks (2023 NL Rookie of the Year)2021: Bobby Witt Jr., Royals2020: No season due to COVID-192019: Luis Robert, White Sox2018: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays2017: Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves (2018 NL RoY, 2023 NL MVP)2016: Alex Bregman, Astros2015: Blake Snell, Rays (2018 AL Cy Young, 2023 NL Cy Young)2014: Kris Bryant, Cubs (2015 NL RoY, 2016 NL MVP)2013: Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox2012: Wil Myers, Royals (2013 AL RoY)2011: Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks (2022 NL MVP)2010: Jeremy Hellickson, Rays (2011 AL RoY)2009: Jason Heyward, Braves2008: David Price, Rays (2012 AL Cy Young)2007: Justin Upton, Diamondbacks2006: Matt Garza, Twins2005: Francisco Liriano, Twins2004: Jeff Francis, Rockies2003: Prince Fielder, Brewers2002: Jose Reyes, Mets2001: Josh Beckett, Marlins2000: Josh Hamilton, Devil Rays (2010 AL MVP)1999: Rick Ankiel, Cardinals1998: Gabe Kapler, Tigers1997: Ben Grieve, Athletics (1998 AL RoY)1996: Andruw Jones, Braves1995: Andruw Jones, Braves1994: Billy Ashley, Dodgers1993: Cliff Floyd, Expos1992: Carlos Delgado, Blue Jays1991: Mark Wohlers, Braves1990: Tino Martinez, Mariners1989: Todd Zeile, Cardinals1988: Mike Harkey, Cubs

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