The NFL and NFL Players Association have approved the use of a helmet specifically for quarterbacks to use to reduce concussions for the 2023 NFL season, they announced Wednesday.

The Vicis Zero2 Matrix QB helmet has a deformable outer shell that absorbs force at the point of contact before reaching the athlete’s head. It has been considered the top-ranked helmet by NFL and NFLPA laboratory testing, the company’s website says in its helmet product description.

The hope is the helmet reduces the severity of helmet-to-ground impacts, which NFL says accounts for half of quarterback concussions, including the one suffered by Miami Dolphins starter Tua Tagovailoa during a Thursday night game against the Cincinnati Bengals last October.

‘We’ve now analyzed with our engineers and with the Players’ Association more than a thousand concussions on field, we have a pretty good database of how these injuries occur,’ NFL executive Jeff Miller told the Associated Press about the helmet-to-ground impacts.

‘This helmet performs better in laboratory testing than any helmets we have ever seen for those sorts of impacts.’

The AP said NFL executives received a league memo Thursday, which stated the helmet performed 7% better than the most popular helmet worn by quarterbacks last season.

Miller told the AP seven helmets the league highly recommended in 2020 have now been downgraded to prohibited as a result of new testing.

‘That’s a great sign,’ Miller said. ‘Hopefully we can continue to stimulate that either with position-specific helmets designed for each position group or for a general all-purpose helmet to be able to say to players: ‘Work with us, be willing to change helmets, because better and better products are coming online every year.”

Jason Neubauer, an executive for Vicis, told AP the company began designing its Zero2 Matrix QB helmet in early 2022.

It’s unknown how many quarterbacks will switch to the new QB-specific helmet.

According to the NFL’s news release, position-specific helmet designs take into account the unique locations and speeds of head impacts for each position group to offer players more customized protection.

The only other position-specific helmet already approved is the Vicis Zero2-R Trench for offensive and defensive linemen.

AP contributed to this report.

The USFL returns this weekend and will feature a new voice in the broadcast booth. Arizona Cardinals quarterback Colt McCoy will join the NBC team as a color analyst.

McCoy, who enters his 14th NFL season, expects to offer his insights during live coverage. He mentioned his excitement for the new challenge and what he’s learned so far.

‘I’ve never really called a live game, but I have done a lot of behind-the-scenes work,’ McCoy said Wednesday, via the Cardinals’ team website. ‘I’ve enjoyed that process. I love the game. I have to study up on the rules — their rules are a little bit different — and I have to learn the players, the coaches, the teams. It’s a little bit different than what we do in the NFL, but I’m excited and I think it’s a great opportunity working with some great people at NBC.’

McCoy is expected to join the NBC telecasts in either late May or early June. He will still be available for offseason activities with the Cardinals.

This season, McCoy could enter as the Cardinals’ starter as teammate Kyler Murray recovers from ACL surgery. McCoy made three starts last season and led the Cardinals to a victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 10.

McCoy threw for 780 yards and completed 68.18% of his passes. He also tossed one touchdown and three interceptions.

There is a chance McCoy could venture into the NFL booth after retirement. He looks at the USFL opportunity as a way to explore that career path.

‘I have thought a lot about it,’ McCoy said. ‘I’m not saying this is what I’m going to do because I don’t know how good I’m going to be. It’s an art. In saying that, I’m thankful they chose me to get some practice and do this and see where it goes.’

The reincarnated USFL begins its second season on Saturday. There are eight teams that will play in four hub cities during the campaign.

A fuller picture of Angel Reese has come into view.

Of course there’s the unapologetic trash talker, the self-proclaimed ‘Bayou Barbie” and the All-American basketball player who gained national attention with her inimitable style –mocking Iowa’s Caitlin Clark and logging yet another double-double while helping lead LSU to the women’s NCAA championship. 

But a different facet of her personality was on display last week.

Reese, 20, announced she will join her teammates at the White House after rejecting Jill Biden’s explanation for suggesting runner-up Iowa should come, too. She offered no apology for having criticized the First Lady. Nor did Reese inflame the situation.

“She’s gotten more mature on and off the court,’’ said Nia Clouden, a first-round WNBA pick last year who played high school basketball with Reese at Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore. “She’s definitely grown a lot.’’

How Reese handled the matter – Biden, who attended the NCAA championship game, drew criticism for inviting the loser to the White House in a step outside tradition –came at a time when high school basketball coach Kelli Cofield also was reflecting on Reese’s growth.

Reese was a junior at Saint Francis Academy in 2018 when she punched an opposing player in the face during a preseason scrimmage with Cofield’s team at Long Reach High School.  After Reese landed the first punch, the two players got tangled up and exchanged several punches before they were separated.

Reese missed the season opener as part of the school’s disciplinary action, which also required her to apologize in front of the student body, her mother told Andscape.com.

Arianna Briggs-Hall, the player Reese struck in the face, declined to comment when reached by USA TODAY Sports.

Cofield said no charges were filed after the fight and of Reese added, “I’ve seen amazing growth from that time to where she is now.”

The maturity has continued since Reese transferred to LSU before the 2022-23 season after two years at Maryland, according to LSU coach Kim Mulkey.

‘She came to LSU for a new start,” Mulkey told reporters at the Final Four. ‘Get away from some things that she’s not proud of in her past. Not bad things, but things that a lot of people tend to dwell on. …

‘I think Angel has grown up a lot. Angel can handle tough love.’ 

Family link to trash talk

Personal growth has not dulled Reese’s killer instinct, according to her cousin Jordan Hawkins, who helped lead Connecticut to the men’s NCAA championship.

‘She’s a killer, absolute killer,” Hawkins said. ‘Don’t care how you feel. Will stomp on your neck … and she doesn’t care.”

If there was a Trash Talker’s Hall of Fame, Reese would be a first-ballot inductee with in-your-face moments like the ones she delivered against Ohio State (chirping at the free throw lane), against Tennessee (a finger-licking good layup) and against Florida (a swat and a technical foul).

But the issue took on a more charged tone after LSU won the championship game.

Reese, who is Black, broached the issue of race after being asked about her taunting Clark, who is white and had done her own trash talking and taunting during the tournament. Clark had not faced any serious backlash.

“All year, I was critiqued about who I was,’ Reese said. ‘… I don’t fit the narrative. I don’t fit the box that y’all want me to be in. I’m too ’hood. I’m too ghetto. Y’all told me that all year. But when other people do it, y’all don’t say nothing.

“So, this is for the girls that look like me,” she continued. “For those that want to speak up for what they believe in.”

But Reese mocking Clark by pointing to her ring finger and doing the John Cena ‘You Can’t See Me” gesture – which Clark had done in earlier tournament games –  overshadowed  moments of grace, such as the resolution of the White House flap.

Reese has said trash talking was simply part of the game growing up in her hometown of Baltimore. But there’s a family link, too.

Her father, Michael, was a 6-8 forward from Washington, D.C., who played one season at Boston College and two seasons at Loyola Maryland.

“He was a D.C. brother, do you understand?’’ said Mike Herrin, who played with Michael Reese at Boston College during the 1989-90 season. “That’s what they did (talk trash). Because they were the baddest (expletive) on the planet.

“But it was a healthy energy and a good energy. Michael was just a cool dude, man.’’

Like his daughter, Michael Reese backed up the trash talk. He was the leading scorer at Loyola in 1993-94, when the team reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. (He sat out the 1992-93 season because of academic and disciplinary problems, according to a 1994 report in the Washington Post.) 

Angel Reese was raised by her mother, also named Angel. Her mother was a fierce rebounder who played at the University of Maryland Baltimore County and has been inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame.

‘Racial overtones’

Criticism linked with race is nothing new for Reese.

As a high school senior, attending the oldest operating predominantly Black Catholic High School in the country, she discovered disparaging remarks made about her on Instagram. The author was a high school girls basketball coach in Maryland.

“Celebrating a player (w god given height and talent) and zero humility or impulse control. As a female coach of female high school ballers, I find this behavior repulsive, unacceptable, unflattering and unnecessary. You can have swag while not acting like a punk. Highlight some other girls in the conference who aren’t as genetically gifted …”

Reese’s mother told Andscape.com that the coach – Lisa Smith, fired by Archbishop Spalding High School after the comments surfaced – sent her an apology via Instagram and added, “I felt like she was slandering my daughter’s name, and by using words like ‘genetically’ and ‘God-given talent,’ I feel like there were racial overtones in what she said.’’

A day after LSU’s victory in the NCAA championship game, Reese’s mother declined comment to USA TODAY Sports on her daughter’s taunting and the reaction it had generated. She did not respond to subsequent interview requests made by voicemail and text message. 

Ironically, the criticism on Instagram surfaced about a month after a melee involving Reese’s team at Saint Frances Academy. It erupted after Saint Frances lost to Riverdale Baptist, 57-53. This time, rather than getting involved, Reese quickly removed herself from the situation.

‘She was nowhere to be found,” said Riverdale Baptist coach Shawn Wright, adding that one of his players triggered the incident. “She had gone back in the locker room while everybody was running around the court.’’

‘Thinking bigger than herself’

Clouden and others reflected on the White House flap and what has made Reese authentic.

“For her to speak up about that was really cool to see, especially since that’s how she felt and she wasn’t scared to talk about it,’’ Clouden said. “But she’s definitely grown a lot.’’

Endyia Rogers, a guard at Oregon and Reese’s best friend, said Reese agreeing to go to the White House was an example of her putting the team ahead of herself.

“I think it’s more her being a bigger person,’’ Rogers said. “Thinking bigger than herself.’’

Cheryl Miller, the Hall of Famer who famously blew kisses to rival fans and pointed at scoreboards during her career, took notice of Reese backing down after first saying she would refuse to go to the White House.

“The fact she was able to walk it back, I like that,’’ Miller said.

Reese’s admirers now include retired Olympic track star Allyson Felix, who said, ‘I love how she’s unapologetically herself.”

Chase Elliott expects challenges as he returns to NASCAR Cup Series competition this weekend at Martinsville Speedway but said he wouldn’t get back behind the wheel if he didn’t feel ready.

The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion missed the last six races after surgery on his tibia following a snowboarding accident in Colorado, prior the March 5 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It was an “unfortunate accident,” said Elliott, an experienced snowboarder. The former series champion does not have plans to change how he approaches extracurricular activities.

“I had surgery on my tibia in a couple of different places,” Elliott said. “I have a few screws in the top of my tibia. It’s really knee-located (more) than it is lower leg.”

Josh Berry drove the car in Elliott’s place on the oval tracks in his absence while Jordan Taylor got behind the wheel for the road-course race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

Elliott said the injury is not uncommon and could have been worse. There were no ACL tears or meniscus injuries. Physical therapy has been standard, and Elliott does not anticipate any additional surgeries if he does not injure it again.

“I don’t anticipate it being any different really from a comfort standpoint,” Elliott said of his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. “The way you sit in the car and the way I like to sit as it revolves around my leg and knee, all that stuff is really stable and tightly packed in there between the seat, the leg board, the knee knocker. All those things already have your left leg pretty tight, so if I was going to change anything, I would really want that. And that was something the doctors and I talked about, too, coming back in. I think that’s a really positive thing, and that was already the case.

“I feel like things are already like I would want them if they weren’t. Nothing really special (was done) from the interior standpoint that we worked on this week.”

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Elliott will continue to work his strength back up, but his bone has healed enough that he won’t hurt it returning to competition. With Elliott’s doctors comfortable with where he is in his rehabilitation, it was Elliott’s decision to return.

Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway will be 400 laps. Elliott has gone through simulator work this week and felt good.

“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t going to be tough. It’ll be tough,” Elliott said. “I sat around and was non-weight baring for a number of weeks, so when you’re not using a muscle on your body, you lose a large percentage of your muscle mass in just the first couple of weeks. All those things are very normal.

“So, it’s going to be tough, for sure, but I feel like I’m at the point where I’m comfortable to go do it.”

Elliott knew immediately that something was wrong when he got injured the Friday before the Las Vegas race. While in the emergency room, Elliott said he was “super honest” with team owner Rick Hendrick and crew chief Alan Gustafson about what was happening and telling them they should prepare for someone else to drive the car.

The three-hour surgery took place the same night. Elliott stayed in Colorado for his recovery, where he was when he joined the FOX Sports broadcast remotely for the Circuit of The Americas race on March 26.

NASCAR officials have granted Elliott a waiver for the playoffs should he win a race in the regular season. Winning is Elliott’s easiest and likely only path to the postseason, and is what he assumed he’d have to do from the beginning.

Elliott said he hasn’t looked at the point standings (he is 34th going to Martinsville). However, a win is all he needs as NASCAR officials changed the playoff waiver eligibility in the offseason, removing the requirement that a driver be in the top 30 in the standings.

“I don’t really have the answer to that, honestly, but I think it’s going to be tough,” Elliott said of getting back into a competitive rhythm off the bat. “What challenges are going to be presented this weekend, I don’t 100% know until I get there and get going through it. But anytime you miss a period and your competitors are sharpening their skills, and you’re not, yeah, I do think you’ve missed out for sure.

“The good news is, as Josh (Berry) alluded to, our team is really talented and we’ve got a great group. I think if we have our ducks in a row and we’re prepared, I think we can go and jump in and have a really solid run. That’s obviously my goal. We’ll just have to get up there and see what the challenges are, what they bring, and whatever it is, we’re going to work through it and continue to fight and make the most out of not only this weekend but the weeks to come.

“We’re going to have (18 races) to get a win, so we’ve got plenty of time. We’ve just got to get after it and execute at a high level, and I think we’re very capable of doing that.”

Berry will be on standby for Elliott this weekend should he need to get out of the No. 9 Chevrolet.

Jonathan Toews is set for his final game with the Chicago Blackhawks. He will suit up in the regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night.

Toews, who has spent 15 seasons with the organization, will not be re-signed this offseason.

‘I’ve had a number of conversations with Jonathan throughout the season about his future with the Blackhawks, and recently, we had the difficult conversation that we won’t be re-signing him this offseason,’ Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said in a statement. ‘Tonight, will be his final game as a Blackhawk, and it was very important to us to be able to provide the proper send-off for Jonathan and our fans.’

Toews has earned his place in Blackhawks history. He led the organization to three Stanley Cup titles and became a six-time NHL All-Star. Toews also won the 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP and was recognized as one of the 100 greatest NHL players.

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This season, Toews has battled with symptoms of long COVID and chronic immune response syndrome. He missed 27 games and briefly considered retirement before returning earlier this month. Toews has played in six games since his return.

The Blackhawks are heading in a new direction this offseason. They are expected to overhaul the roster and rebuild with young talent. Chicago owns a 26-49-6 record and are in contention for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft.

Toews, 34, has not decided whether he will retire or play next season. However, the Blackhawks have made it clear they want to honor him one final time.

‘He has done so much for this organization, and no matter where he plays next, we’re excited our fans get the chance to show Jonathan exactly how much he means to them,’ Davidson said.

Toews is indeed a fan favorite. He developed a special connection with the fan base after being selected third overall in the 2006 NHL draft. He later became team captain after just 64 career games and held the position since.

Fans are expected to support No. 19 at the United Center. He represents the last pillar of the championship dynasty that included Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook.

‘We can’t thank him enough for everything he’s done,’ Davidson said.

New York Red Bulls forward Dante Vanzeir has been suspended six games for using a racial epithet during league play.

Following an investigation, MLS has announced that Vanzeir will also be barred from playing in the U.S. Open Cup, MLS Next Pro games, or exhibition matches until he completes the full suspension.

San Jose head coach Luchi Gonzalez was among those calling on Red Bulls’ boss Gerhard Struber to remove Vanzeir from the game, a situation Struber admitted on Thursday that he mishandled. MLS’s statement did not address any punitive action for Struber.

In the days following the incident, Vanzeir released a statement admitting his use of an epithet, adding that he would accept whatever punishment that MLS and the Red Bulls deemed appropriate.

‘MLS is working with both clubs and the MLSPA to provide impacted players and staff with support and resources and is committed to continuing to review and improve its in-game protocol,’ concluded the league’s announcement.

Vanzeir will be eligible to return to play for RBNY’s home game against CF Montréal on May 20.

In the NBA’s Western Conference, there are more questions than answers at the start of the first round.

While Denver and Memphis have been 1-2 for much of the season – and they have earned it, without question – the landscape of the conference surrounding thoseteams changed before and after the February trade deadline.

Phoenix acquired Kevin Durant in a blockbuster deal. While Dallas traded for Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks fell out of postseason contention, meaning no Luka Doncic in the playoffs. The Los Angeles Lakers made several moves before the trade deadline, and Golden State’s Andrew Wiggins is expected to make his return after sitting out since Feb. 13 due to a personal matter.

The Los Angeles Clippers have dealt with the availability/unavailability of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George all season, and George is questionable for the first round. Memphis’ Ja Morant was suspended for showing off a gun at a Colorado strip club, putting his season in jeopardy.

Let’s take a look at five pressing questions in the West:

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Are the Nuggets for real?

Denver has been building for this moment for the past couple of seasons – putting a healthy team on the court led by two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon. The Nuggets have depth, the fifth-best offense and are eager to see how that plays out in the postseason. However, it still seems like Denver is still an overlooked, underappreciated No. 1 seed. The Nuggets stumbled in the final two weeks of the regular season but don’t forget, they have been atop the West since December. The Nuggets had the best winning percentage in the West against teams .500 or better.

Are the Suns really favored to win the West?

Four seeds normally aren’t favored to win the conference and reach the NBA Finals. Four seeds normally don’t have Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton. The Suns are 8-0 when all four play and have an explosive offense that posted 122.3 points per 100 possessions. Phoenix will need stops, and that is an area to watch. But the Suns will outscore most teams regardless of their defense. The Suns acquired Durant at the trade deadline and gave up significant assets. The reason you (specifically new Suns owner Mat Ishbia) make that trade is to win a championship.

Can the Warriors repeat – again?

That woeful 11-30 road record for the Warriors is an eyesore and hard to ignore when mapping out the playoffs. You know what else is difficult to ignore? A roster that features Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins and coach Steve Kerr. With four titles in the previous eight seasons, including last season’s championship, the Warriors have too much experience – too much playoff wisdom – to discount, no matter who they are playing. The Warriors, a scary sixth seed, are reminiscent of LeBron James’ Cavaliers: until someone beats Golden State, it is a contender.

Have the Lakers hit their stride?

OK, so the Lakers didn’t exactly secure the seventh seed with a convincing play-in game victory. But they won, and it’s part of a larger trend: the Lakers had the third-most victories and No. 2 defense in the final two months of the regular season. That all happened amid a roster makeover as the Lakers added Rui Hachimura, D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt before the trade deadline. Alongside James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers have a deeper, more talented roster that also includes Austin Reaves, Dennis Schroder and Troy Brown Jr. It’s not a perfect rotation, but it’s one that has pieces to compete.

Are the Grizzlies ready for what awaits?

For the most part, Memphis was rolling along this season, near the top of the West standings, including at 31-13, a ½ game behind Denver on Jan. 18. They weathered Desmond Bane’s injury, Morant was having an All-NBA season and Jaren Jackson was making his case for Defensive Player of the Year. But then the Morant gun incident interrupted all the good on the court. Memphis still finished with the No. 2 seed. Yet, with the focus on Morant, the trash-talking the Grizzlies do and an injury to Steven Adams, the Grizzlies are about to find out what they’re made of. Dillon Brooks said he wanted to send the Lakers and LeBron packing. Let’s see if Memphis can.

Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt