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Mets owner feared he’d lose Soto to Yankees: ‘Tough to beat’ Judge

The Juan Soto sweepstakes ultimately – and perhaps predictably – came down to the New York Mets vs. the New York Yankees.

Mets owner Steve Cohen was determined to prevail, but had no idea what the final result would be until he heard it directly from Soto.

‘I was being logical. When you have (Aaron) Judge, it’s tough to beat that,’ Cohen told the New York Post. ‘Juan was great. But what they had … I didn’t know how to solve that.’

Judge and Soto combined for 99 home runs last season, finishing first and third in the American League MVP balloting as the Yankees advanced to their first World Series since 2009. But the Mets had a great season as well, reaching the National League championship series in what was originally thought to be a rebuilding year.

Cohen acknowledged there was very little difference between what the two teams had to offer.

All things Mets: Latest New York Mets news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

‘There was a lot of emotion and a lot of ups and down, not knowing where you stood,’ Cohen said. 

In the end, Soto chose the Mets’ 15-year, $765 million bid, which was only $5 million more than the Yankees offered, a high-ranking Yankees executive told USA TODAY Sports.

Soto’s decision to pick up and come to Queens, perhaps adds even more fuel to the Mets-Yankees rivalry.

‘The Yankees are the Yankees. I respect that,’ Cohen said. ‘This is not about the Yankees versus the Mets. It’s about competing for a player. We both can exist in New York. There’s plenty of room.’

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Four finalists revealed for college football’s Heisman Trophy

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Colorado’s two-way star Travis Hunter, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and Miami quarterback Cam Ward were named finalists for the Heisman Trophy on Monday.

The winner will be announced Saturday during a ceremony at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City starting at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Last year, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels won the award, making 20 of the 23 winners this century having played the position. While the result wasn’t close in 2023 (Daniels beat Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. by 328 total points), this year’s vote is expected to come down to Hunter and Jeanty and might challenge the 2009 results when Alabama’s Mark Ingram beat Stanford’s Toby Gerhart by just 28 points.

Who are Heisman Trophy finalists?

Dillon Gabriel, senior quarterback, Oregon

Hometown: Mililani, Hawai’i
Height, weight: 6-0, 200
2024 stats: 73.2% completion percentage, 3,558 yards, 28 touchdowns, six interceptions; 192 rush yards, seven touchdowns
Gabriel, the Big Ten offensive player of the year and the FBS career holder with 187 total touchdowns and second with 18,423 passing yards, led the way for the Ducks, who climbed to No. 1 in late October and held on to that ranking, earning the top seed in the College Football Playoff. Gabriel is seeking to become Oregon’s second Heisman winner, following Marcus Mariota in 2014.

Travis Hunter, junior wide receiver/cornerback, Colorado

Hometown: Suwanee, Georgia
Height, weight: 6-1, 185
2024 stats: 92 receptions, 1,152 yards, 15 total touchdowns; 32 total tackles, four interceptions, seven pass breakups
Hunter did things never seen before, playing almost every snap on offense and defense. He is a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s best receiver and a finalist for numerous others, including the Maxwell Award (best all-around player), Bednarik Award (best defensive player), Hornung Award (most versatile player) and Walter Camp Award (most outstanding player).

Ashton Jeanty, junior running back, Boise State

Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
Height, weight: 5-9, 215
2024 stats: 344 carries, 2,497 yards, 29 touchdowns; 20 receptions, 116 yards, one touchdown
Jeanty is the best running back in the nation, and it’s not particularly close. Whether purists acknowledge if he breaks Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record is a discussion for another day, but Boise State doesn’t even sniff the CFP without him. No Boise State player has ever won the Heisman. Ian Johnson in 2006 (eighth) and Kellen Moore (fourth) in 2010 are the only Broncos players to finish in the top 10 in Heisman voting.

Cam Ward, senior quarterback, Miami (Fla.)

Hometown: West Columbia, Texas
Height, weight: 6-2, 223
2024 stats: 67.4% completion percentage, 4,123 yards, 36 touchdowns, seven interceptions; four rushing touchdowns
Ward, a transfer from Washington State and Incarnate Word, led the nation’s most prolific offense. The Hurricanes were first in total and scoring offense, and Ward, who is a finalist for the 2024 Manning Award, led the NCAA in touchdown passes and set school records for touchdowns and passing yards.

When is Heisman Trophy winner announced?

Saturday, Dec. 14, 8 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Live stream: ESPN

(This story has been updated to add a photo gallery)

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Does $765M for Juan Soto even matter? ‘Judge Judy was making $47M’

DALLAS — There was certainly envy and jealousy, but the 29 teams who didn’t dip into their banking account to land Juan Soto, declined Monday to lash out at the New York Mets, criticize owner Steve Cohen or mock the massive paychecks coming Soto’s way the next 15 years.

But, oh, about that record 15-year, $765 million contract, the largest in sports history?

“I was shocked when I just saw the bonus,’ Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said of Soto’s $75 million signing bonus. “My goodness.’

San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt, who was on the Padres coaching staff when Soto played 1 ½ years in San Diego before being traded last year to the New York Yankees, took a different view.

“To her credit, Judge Judy (Sheindlin) was making $47 million,’ Shildt said. “Forty-seven million a year!

Follow every MLB game: Latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.

“I don’t think she throws a really good curveball or can hit a good slider.

“She’s making way more than anybody before Juan has made in our industry. So, it’s all perspective. Good for Juan. I’m happy for him.’

Even Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who understandably was disappointed that the Red Sox lost out in the bidding despite offering about $700 million, said he still was thrilled for Soto.

“From my end,’ Cora said, “it was fun. It was fun in a way, you know, to get to know people and players of that status. It’s amazing.

“The kid, he gets it. He gets it. Let me put it that way. It was a good experience, and I learned a lot.’

Cora was eating dinner at a nearby restaurant Sunday night with Red Sox president Sam Kennedy and executive vice president Eddie Romero when their cell phones buzzed with the news. The next thing they knew, agent Scott Boras and his staff were walking in to the restaurant to celebrate.

“It was kind of like the Gladiator with him walking in,’ Cora said.

“It’s good for baseball. That’s the way I see it. I think everybody was waiting for this to happen. Obviously, it was interesting the way everybody reacted when we were in the restaurant.’

Instead of lamenting what could have been, the Red Sox kept working the phones Monday in hopes of spending that money pm other free agents. They’ve got their sights set on starters Max Fried and Corbin Burnes, along with third baseman Alex Bregman, who played for Cora when he was the Houston Astros bench coach. Bregman is expected to meet with the Red Sox this week.

“Alex is a good player, man,’ Cora said. “He’s a complete player. He’s a player that’s been on winning teams his whole career. Good defender. Offensively he’s really good. He’s a guy that a lot of people are talking about, and I do believe he can impact a big-league team, a championship-caliber team.

“He’s that type of player.’

And if the Astros can’t land Bregman, who has been offered a six-year, $156 million contract from the Houston Astros, they’ll move onto the next group of hitters.

“We have plan A, plan A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4,’ Cora said. “There’s a lot of ways to accomplish what we set to do. We’ve been talking about winning the division and making it to the playoffs. There’s different avenues, different ways. They’re going to attack them and hopefully we can execute.’

Soto’s contract is worth more than original price 22 owners paid for their teams, according to The Athletic, and his $51 million annual salary is nearly the total of the Athletics’ entire payroll of a year ago.

“Is it daunting?’ Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “Of course. There’s curiosity about where the next free agents are going, we have to embrace it. … We know what the groundrules are. We know what the landscape is, and we embrace that challenge.

“Personally, I love watching good baseball players. When you have them in one dugout at one time, I hate that we play against them. I enjoy the game, but it forces us to do better. I don’t mind that at all.’

“We know we’re challenged financially. Things have been different for us than the Mets and Yankees and Dodgers and some other clubs. We’re OK with that. We love that challenge.’

And, oh, is it ever a nightmare trying to knock off the Dodgers – who have won the NL West 11 of the last 12 seasons.

“Look, they’re a challenge,’ San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “They’re always going to be a challenge. They have some of the best players in the game. They have a high payroll. It’s a really good team for a reason.

“But you have to like the competition part of it, and you have to look forward to hopefully beating a team like that.’

It’s no different for the Kansas City Royals who, playing in the AL’s smallest market, till found a way to win 86 games last season and reach the playoffs.

“We have to be creative,’ Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “We have to put the best 26 guys on a roster or the best 40 guys on a roster, not the best one or two.

“I still think at the end of the day, you have a chance to compete against those guys. Soto is going to hit four to five times a night. Those are impactful at-bats, but there’s other ways to combat that with a full 26-man roster.’

Besides, if baseball has proven anything, it’s that money doesn’t guarantee a darn thing. The Yankees haven’t won the World Series since 2009. The Mets haven’t won it since 1986. The Dodgers’ championship last season was their first in a full season since 1988. And there hasn’t been a repeat World Series champion since 1998-2000.

So we’re going to blame Cohen and the Mets for simply doing everything possible to try to end their championship drought?

“We want to win,’ Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said, “and we have an owner that is willing to do whatever it takes.’

Really, that’s all any fan can ask for, right?

The challenge may be greater for the small markets, but certainly, baseball has proven it’s not impossible to still overcome the financial disparity.

“I think it makes it harder,’ Francona says, “but I certainly don’t begrudge teams for doing it if they can. They’re not breaking the rules. We’re going to have to make really good decisions, and we’re not going to be able to out-spend on mistakes, so we have to limit those.’

Besides, the Mets have spent plenty of money on stars before and haven’t won. The Philadelphia Phillies haven’t won the World Series with Bryce Harper and Trea Turner on $300 million contracts. So, a team like Atlanta isn’t about to throw in the towel now, still believing there’s no reason why they won’t be returning to the postseason for an eighth consecutive year.

“Our goal is still going to be the same thing,’ Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “It’s going to be to win the division.’’

There just happens to be a certain $765 million who makes the path a little more difficult.

“I’ve just kind of been numb to things like that,’ Snitker said. “I don’t really care who signs who, what teams put together, things like that because we still have to play for six months.

‘I’m happy for the individuals that are rewarded for what they’ve done. It’s great. We’re in a great business.’

And for some, well, a little more lucrative than for others.

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

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In season marred by misfortune, ball finally bounces Bengals’ way

In a season marred by fourth-quarter misfortune and one-score losses, the Cincinnati Bengals (5-8) finally had the football bounce their way in a wild 27-20 win against the Dallas Cowboys (5-8).

“I guess I can say luck went our way on this one,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor told reporters postgame. “We’re gonna enjoy this. It’s a short week but I’m just so proud of our guys for sticking together through a lot of adversity over the last month. Hadn’t had this feeling in a while.”

With two minutes left in the fourth quarter, Cowboys linebacker Nick Vigil — who spent the first four years of his career in a Bengals uniform — broke through Cincinnati’s offensive line and blocked Ryan Rehkow’s punt. The football bounced near the Bengals’ 40-yard line before Cowboys cornerback Amani Oruwariye inexplicably touched the ball. The football went through Oruwariye’s grasp and was recovered by Bengals linebacker Maema Njongmeta.

Three plays later, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow found star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase on an out-breaking route and he raced to the end zone for what wound up being the game-winning touchdown in front a stunned Dallas crowd.

It was the type of sequence that went against the Bengals for most of the season. Coming into Monday night, the Bengals had lost seven one-score games, including the past three. The team lamented its one-possession losses after Week 13’s frustrating defeat.  

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Yet, the Bengals finally had a change in fortune.

“That was crazy,” Burrow told reporters postgame. “We could’ve used that luck all year, but it’s nice to get one tonight.”

Burrow connected with Chase 14 times for 177 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

Burrow leads the league in passing yards (3,706) and touchdown passes (33). Chase, who is on pace for the receiving triple crown, tops the NFL in receptions (93), receiving yards (1,319) and touchdown receptions (15).

The duo’s heroics still have the Bengals mathematically alive in the AFC playoff race. The Bengals are currently 10th in the AFC. Three games behind the seventh-seeded Denver Broncos in the loss column for the final wild-card spot. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the Bengals currently have a 3% chance to reach the postseason.

NFL PLAYOFF PICTURE: Where things stand after Monday night’s game

No matter how the Bengals’ season ends, the team’s top priority should be to keep the Burrow and Chase tandem together for the foreseeable future. The Bengals already secured Burrow to a long-term deal. They were unable to sign Chase to an extension this past offseason. But Chase has unequivocally proven to be worth a mega-contract extension that could reset the wide receiver market — and Cincinnati’s franchise quarterback concurs.

“He’s a special player. He continues to make plays after the catch, before the catch. Any way that you get him the ball, he makes plays,” Burrow said. “He deserves all he is going to get and more.”

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Trump taunts Trudeau with new title as he continues tariffs push: ‘Great State of Canada’

President-elect Trump took another jab at the Canadian prime minister on his Truth Social account just after midnight on Tuesday, saying ‘it was a pleasure’ to meet with ‘Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.’

‘It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada,’ Trump wrote. ‘I look forward to seeing the Governor again soon so that we may continue our in depth talks on Tariffs and Trade, the results of which will be truly spectacular for all!’

Trump and Trudeau met at the president-elect’s luxurious Mar-a-Lago property in West Palm Beach, Florida, last week, calling it a ‘very productive meeting.’ Trudeau flew to Florida just days after Trump threatened to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian and Mexican products.

Trump has proposed 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, citing what he describes as both nations’ failures to stem the flow of illegal immigration and illicit drugs into the United States.

Trump’s slight on Tuesday comes after sources previously told Fox News that the president-elect told the prime minister during the meeting that if a tariff for failing to address trade and immigration issues would kill the neighbor to the north’s economy, maybe it should become the 51st state.

‘We discussed many important topics that will require both countries to work together to address, like the fentanyl and drug crisis that has decimated so many lives as a result of illegal immigration, fair trade deals that do not jeopardize American workers and the massive trade deficit the U.S. has with Canada,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social last week.

‘I made it very clear that the United States will no longer sit idly by as our citizens become victims to the scourge of this drug epidemic, caused mainly by the drug cartels, and fentanyl pouring in from China. Too much death and hardship!’

The pair also discussed energy, trade and the Arctic, although Trump didn’t disclose other details about the conversation.

‘All are vital issues that I will be addressing on my first days back in office, and before,’ Trump said, without saying whether tariffs were still on or off the table. 

Late last month, Trump said on Truth Social he would impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico on his first day in office.

‘Right now a Caravan coming from Mexico, composed of thousands of people, seems to be unstoppable in its quest to come through our currently Open Border,’ he wrote. ‘On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders.’

During his first term, Trump renegotiated the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), replacing it with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which went into effect July 2020. The USMCA aimed to modernize and address issues in the original NAFTA, particularly concerning labor rights, environmental standards and digital trade.

‘I’m going to inform her [Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum] on day one, or sooner, that if they don’t stop this onslaught of criminals and drugs coming into our country, I’m going to immediately impose a 25% tariff on everything they send in to the United States of America,’ Trump said during his last North Carolina campaign stop before the election.

Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.

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Speaker Johnson says ‘still some concern’ about Elon Musk-backed online safety bill

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said he still has lingering doubts about a children’s online safety bill that Elon Musk threw support behind this weekend.

‘There’s still some concern about the free speech components of that, and whether it might lead to further censorship by the government of valid, you know, conservative voices, for example. So we’re working through all that,’ Johnson told reporters at his weekly press conference Tuesday.

The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) is the most significant social media reform pushed by the Senate in decades. 

It breezed through Congress’ upper chamber in a 91 to 3 vote but hit a snag in the House of Representatives, where leaders have expressed concern about possible censorship and about the power it bestows on the Federal Trade Commission.

Linda Yaccarino, CEO of the Musk-owned social media platform X, announced over the weekend that they have worked with the Senate sponsors of the bill to alleviate some of those issues.

‘We’ve heard the pleas of parents and youth advocates who seek sensible guardrails across online platforms, and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) addresses that need. After working with the bill authors, I’m proud to share that we’ve made progress to further protect freedom of speech while maintaining safety for minors online,’ Yaccarino wrote on the platform this weekend. ‘We urge Congress and the House to pass the Kids Online Safety Act this year.’

It precipitated a pressure campaign over the weekend by allies of President-elect Donald Trump pushing the House to take up the bill. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders and Donald Trump Jr., were among those who sounded off, as well as Musk himself, who posted on X, ‘Protecting kids should always be priority #1.’

Johnson said Tuesday that he appreciated the efforts behind the legislation. He also suggested the effort could be renewed next year, with only two weeks left in the current congressional term.

‘I’m grateful for the hard work that’s been done. I’m grateful for the support behind it. Certainly, I think all of us, 100% of us, support the principle behind it,’ the speaker said.

‘But you’ve got to get this one right when you’re dealing with the regulation of free speech. You can’t go too far and have it be overbroad, but you want to achieve those objectives. So it’s essential that we get this issue right.

‘We are very optimistic that if it’s not done this year, that we can do that early next year with our Republican majorities, because it’s the Republican Party that has been working aggressively to protect children online.’

The bill’s leaders, Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., thanked Musk and Yaccarino for their work over the weekend.

‘These changes should eliminate once and for all the false narrative that this bill would be weaponized by unelected bureaucrats to censor Americans,’ Blackburn and Blumenthal said. ‘We appreciate that this endorsement and revised text reflects their publicly stated goal of furthering free speech without fear of censorship. We reiterate X’s call to pass KOSA by the end of the year – it is clear that this legislation has overwhelming support from Congress.’

KOSA would put the onus on social media companies to prevent and mitigate potential harm that could be caused to users under age 17.

The bill would also force platforms to block addictive components for minor users and make it easier for minors to protect their information, among other measures.

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Tokyo government to introduce four-day workweek for its employees

The Tokyo government plans to introduce a four-day workweek for its employees in an attempt to support young families and boost record-low fertility rates nationwide.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike announced that starting in April, employees of the metropolitan government will have the option to take three days off each week.

“We will review work styles … with flexibility, ensuring no one has to give up their career due to life events such as childbirth or child care,” she said in a policy speech at the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly’s fourth regular session.

The new policy is designed to encourage Japanese couples to have children at a time when the country’s fertility rate is at a record low. Last year, it dipped to a mere 1.2 children expected per woman during her lifetime, even with the government’s increased efforts to motivate young people to start families, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. That number should be at least 2.1 for a population to remain stable.

Koike announced an additional policy allowing parents with children in elementary schools to trade off a bit of their salaries for the option to clock out early.

“Now is the time for Tokyo to take the initiative to protect and enhance the lives, livelihoods and economy of our people during these challenging times for the nation,” she said.

Only 727,277 births were recorded in Japan last year, according to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry. That may be in part because of Japan’s overtime work culture, which often pressures women to choose between having careers or families. The gender gap in the country’s labor force participation is higher than in other high-income nations, at 55% for women and 72% for men last year, according to the World Bank.

However, implementing a four-day workweek may provide government employees with more time to dedicate to raising their families.

In a 2022 series of global trials coordinated by 4 Day Week Global, a nonprofit organization, various companies took part in a four-day workweek pilot program.

More than 9 out of 10 employees who participated in the trials wanted to continue with the four-day workweek. They reported that it gave them improved physical and mental health and work-life balance and increased general life satisfaction. Measures of their stress, burnout, fatigue and work-family conflict all declined. Those participants rated their experience 9.1 out of 10.

Another Asian country put a shortened work week to the test this year.

Singapore introduced new guidelines requiring all firms to consider employee requests for flexible working arrangements, including four-day workweeks or staggered hours.

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Cowboys block, then muff punt in wild play vs. Bengals on ‘MNF’

For much of the 2024 season, the Cincinnati Bengals couldn’t seem to catch a break. On Monday night, things finally swung their way, and it helped them take down the Dallas Cowboys during the Week 14 edition of ‘Monday Night Football.’

Coming out of the two-minute warning, the Bengals were set to punt the ball away after their drive stalled within their own territory. The Cowboys brought pressure, and linebacker Nick Vigil managed to get a hand on Ryan Rehkow’s punt.

As the ball bounced just more than 10 yards downfield, Cowboys cornerback Amani Oruwariye attempted to field it. The football glanced off of his left arm and right into the hands of Bengals linebacker Maema Njongmeta, who recovered the blocked-then-muffed punt to retain Cincinnati possession.

Three plays later, quarterback Joe Burrow hit wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase on a short pass that Chase then took 40 yards to the house. It ended up being the game-winner.

All things Bengals: Latest Cincinnati Bengals news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Here are the full highlights from the final, wild five and a half minutes of the game:

The Bengals (5-8) snapped their three-game losing streak with the prime-time win, while the Cowboys (5-8) fell just short of securing a third straight victory.

Cincinnati will remain on the road when it takes on the Tennessee Titans in Nashville in Week 15. Dallas will hit the road for a matchup with the Carolina Panthers next Sunday.

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NFL playoff picture: Where does Cowboys’ latest loss leave them?

Every week for the duration of the 2024 NFL regular season, USA TODAY Sports will provide timely updates to the league’s ever-evolving playoff picture − typically starting after Sunday afternoon’s late games and then moving forward for the remainder of the week (through Monday’s and Thursday’s games or Saturday’s, if applicable).

What just happened? What does it mean? What are the pertinent factors (and, perhaps, tiebreakers) prominently in play as each conference’s seven-team bracket begins to crystallize? All will be explained and analyzed up to the point when the postseason field is finalized on Sunday, Jan. 5.

Here’s where things stand with Week 14 of the 2024 season complete:

NFC playoff picture

x – 1. Detroit Lions (12-1), NFC North leaders: For the first time in their 95-season history, they’ve won 12 games in successive seasons – and snatching Thursday night’s nail biter over the Packers officially qualifies the Lions for the 2024 postseason. Big game with Buffalo in Week 15, but – given its interconference nature – one that shouldn’t necessarily be crucial in the tiebreaker department if Detroit and its depleted defense stumble. Remaining schedule: vs. Bills, at Bears, at 49ers, vs. Vikings

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

x – 2. Philadelphia Eagles (11-2), NFC East leaders: It took a surprising effort to overcome the lowly Panthers on Sunday, but the Eagles prevailed for their ninth straight win – remaining right behind the Lions before officially locking up a playoff spot later in the day when Arizona lost. Philly can sew up the division title in Week 15 with a win plus a Washington loss. Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers, at Commanders, vs. Cowboys, vs. Giants

3. Seattle Seahawks (8-5), NFC West leaders: They completed a season sweep of the Cardinals on Sunday, effectively giving them a three-game lead over Arizona in the division. However the Rams are very much lurking just a game back – and with a win over Seattle already in hand. Remaining schedule: vs. Packers, vs. Vikings, at Bears, at Rams

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6), NFC South leaders: Their weak schedule down the stretch plus Atlanta’s ongoing collapse has finally done what many saw coming – the Bucs vaulting into first place Sunday by beating the Raiders as the Falcons crumbled in Minneapolis. Atlanta’s season sweep of Tampa Bay does mean the Buccaneers, who last finished out of first place in 2020, need to remain plus one in the win column moving forward. Remaining schedule: at Chargers, at Cowboys, vs. Panthers, vs. Saints

5. Minnesota Vikings (11-2), wild card No. 1: Beating old friend Kirk Cousins and the Falcons keeps the Vikes, winners of six straight, hot on the Lions’ heels in the NFC North and conference at large. Minnesota can clinch a spot next week with a win. Remaining schedule: vs. Bears, at Seahawks, vs. Packers, at Lions

6. Green Bay Packers (9-4), wild card No. 2: Valiant effort at Ford Field on Thursday night, but getting swept by the Lions pretty much relegates the Pack to wild-card status. Remaining schedule: at Seahawks, vs. Saints, at Vikings, vs. Bears

7. Washington Commanders (8-5), wild card No. 3: A week off, good as it should be for the roster’s health, didn’t help Washington’s prospects elsewhere – Philadelphia pulling away in the division while the Rams drew closer in the wild-card race. Remaining schedule: at Saints, vs. Eagles, vs. Falcons, at Cowboys

8. Los Angeles Rams (7-6), in the hunt: They got into a shootout with the Bills … and prevailed? LA is now one game behind Seattle, a team they’ve already beaten once. Win out, and the Rams are NFC West champs. Remaining schedule: at 49ers, at Jets, vs. Cardinals, vs. Seahawks

9. Atlanta Falcons (6-7), in the hunt: Their margin for error is gone and so is first place in the NFC South after their losing streak extended to four Sunday in Minnesota. The Falcons fell five spots in the conference standings. Remaining schedule: at Raiders, vs. Giants, at Commanders, vs. Panthers

10. Arizona Cardinals (6-7), in the hunt: They could have moved back atop the NFC West on Sunday by defeating Seattle. Instead, the Cards lost their third straight and have just about played themselves out of contention for anything. They also fell behind the Falcons, who have three more conference victories than Arizona. Remaining schedule: vs. Patriots, at Panthers, at Rams, vs. 49ers

11. San Francisco 49ers (6-7), in the hunt: Resounding rebound Sunday as they steamrolled Chicago – but it hasn’t helped Niners climb in conference standings … yet. Remaining schedule: vs. Rams, at Dolphins, vs. Lions, at Cardinals

12. New Orleans Saints (5-8), in the hunt: Their best shot is to somehow win the NFC South … tough as that’s probably going to be without injured QB Derek Carr. Remaining schedule: vs. Commanders, at Packers, vs. Raiders, at Buccaneers

13. Dallas Cowboys (5-8), in the hunt: Another devastating home loss Monday night to Cincinnati just about extinguishes their flickering postseason hopes – now less than a 1% chance, per NFL.com – especially given the teams Dallas will see down the stretch. The Cowboys even dropped below the Saints, who beat them in Week 2, after their latest defeat. Remaining schedule: at Panthers, vs. Buccaneers, at Eagles, vs. Commanders

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AFC playoff picture

y – 1. Kansas City Chiefs (12-1), AFC West champions: The Chiefs swept away the Chargers on Sunday night to win this division for the ninth consecutive season. Buffalo’s loss earlier in the day was a huge bonus, giving the reigning champs breathing room as they try to steer the road to Super Bowl 59 through Arrowhead yet again. Remaining schedule: at Browns, vs. Texans, at Steelers, at Broncos

y – 2. Buffalo Bills (10-3), AFC East champions: That potentially pivotal tiebreaker against the Chiefs isn’t worth a whole heckuva lot if the Bills can’t keep up with the reigning champs. Remaining schedule: at Lions, vs. Patriots, vs. Jets, at Patriots

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3), AFC North leaders: They remain relevant in the discussion for home-field advantage while taking a two-game lead over the idle Ravens, whom the Steelers have already beaten once, in the division. The strength-of-victory tiebreaker currently keeps them looking up at Buffalo. Remaining schedule: at Eagles, at Ravens, vs. Chiefs, vs. Bengals

4. Houston Texans (8-5), AFC South leaders: Despite their struggles, they effectively own a three-game lead over Indy in the division due to Houston’s season sweep of the Colts. A win next week coupled with another Indianapolis loss would sew up the lackluster division for the Texans. Remaining schedule: vs. Dolphins, at Chiefs, vs. Ravens, at Titans

5. Baltimore Ravens (8-5), wild card No. 1: Good to get a week off … though it cost them further position in the AFC North, further diminishing any shot they have at hosting a postseason game this season. Remaining schedule: at Giants, vs. Steelers, at Texans, vs. Browns

6. Los Angeles Chargers (8-5), wild card No. 2: Despite getting dunked (and doinked) by the Chiefs again, they’ll have to do a lot of ‘Charger-ing’ to cough up a golden opportunity in Year 1 under HC Jim Harbaugh … though they will face additional playoff-caliber squads the next two weeks. A win over Denver keeps them above the Broncos, though the Bolts fall behind the Ravens due to their loss to Baltimore. Remaining schedule: vs. Buccaneers, vs. Broncos, at Patriots, at Raiders

7. Denver Broncos (8-5), wild card No. 3: They’ve got a great shot – 77%, per NFL.com – at their first postseason trip since winning Super Bowl 50 nine years ago. But messing around with Indianapolis in Week 15 would get them into trouble. Losses to the Ravens and Chargers currently keep them suppressed as the seventh seed. Remaining schedule: vs. Colts, at Chargers, at Bengals, vs. Chiefs

8. Indianapolis Colts (6-7), in the hunt: Win in Denver in Week 15, and they’d be one game out of a postseason slot. Remaining schedule: at Broncos, vs. Titans, at Giants, vs. Jaguars

9. Miami Dolphins (6-7), in the hunt: They barely survived the Jets to barely remain relevant on the periphery of the playoff discussion. A Week 7 loss at Indianapolis keeps Fins behind the Colts. Remaining schedule: at Texans, vs. 49ers, at Browns, at Jets

NFL playoff clinching scenarios for Week 15 (incomplete)

Philadelphia clinches NFC East division title with:

Win + Commanders loss

Houston clinches AFC South division title with:

Win + Colts loss

Pittsburgh clinches playoff berth with:

Win

Minnesota clinches playoff berth with:

Win OR Rams loss

NFL teams eliminated from playoff contention in 2024

x – clinched playoff berth

y – clinched division

***

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Politics

Trump’s Defense pick goes on offense as support grows for Hegseth confirmation

What a difference a week makes.

As Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s defense secretary nominee, returns to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to meet with more Republican senators, his once apparently teetering nomination now seems to be on much firmer ground.

While Hegseth’s confirmation is still far from a sure bet, a very public pronouncement of support from Trump, behind-the-scenes efforts by Vice President-elect Sen. JD Vance, and Hegseth’s own determination seem to have resuscitated a nomination that appeared to be headed toward life support.

‘We look forward to earning these confirmation votes,’ a confident Hegseth said Monday night in an interview on Fox News’ ‘Hannity.’

In the wake of former Rep. Matt Gaetz,  the president-elect’s first attorney general nominee, ending his confirmation bid amid controversy, there has been a full-court press by Trump’s political orbit to bolster Hegseth in order to protect him and other controversial Cabinet picks.

‘If Trump world allowed a couple of establishment senators to veto a second nominee, it would have led to a feeding frenzy on Trump’s other nominees, and so the thinking in Trump world was we have to defend Pete not just for the sake of defending Pete, but also for the sake of defending our other nominees,’ a longtime Trump world adviser, who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely, told Fox News.

Hegseth, an Army National Guard officer who deployed to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and who until last month was a longtime Fox News host, has been the focus of a slew of reports spotlighting a series of drinking and sexual misconduct allegations, as well as a report alleging he mismanaged a veterans nonprofit organization that he once led.

Hegseth has denied allegations that he mistreated women but did reach a financial settlement with an accuser from a 2017 incident to avoid a lawsuit. He has vowed that he won’t drink ‘a drop of alcohol’ if confirmed as defense secretary.

Trump’s defense secretary nominee was interviewed hours after meeting a second time with Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, the first female combat veteran elected to the Senate and a member of the Armed Services Committee, which will hold Hegseth’s confirmation hearings.

Ernst, a conservative lawmaker first elected to the Senate in 2014, is considered a pivotal vote in the confirmation battle over Hegseth, who in the past has questioned the role of women in combat.

The senator is also a survivor of sexual assault who has a strong legislative record of addressing sexual assault and harassment in the military.

After meeting with Hegseth, Ernst wrote in a statement Monday that ‘as I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources.’

Ernst emphasized that ‘following our encouraging conversations, Pete committed to completing a full audit of the Pentagon and selecting a senior official who will uphold the roles and value of our servicemen and women – based on quality and standards, not quotas – and who will prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks.’

Hegseth, speaking with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, noted that ‘it was a great meeting. People don’t really know this. I’ve known Sen. Ernst for over 10 years. 

‘You get into these meetings, and you listen to senators – it’s an amazing advise and consent process – and you hear how thoughtful, serious, substantive they are on these key issues that pertain to our Defense Department,’ he continued. ‘And Joni Ernst is front and center on that. So to be able to have phone calls and meetings time and time again to talk over the issues is really, really important. The fact that she’s willing to support me through this process means a lot.’

Last week, after her first meeting with Hegseth, Ernst said in a social media post that she and Trump’s defense secretary nominee had a ‘frank and thorough’ conversation. 

A day later, when asked in an interview on Fox News’ ‘America’s Newsroom’ if she wasn’t ready to vote to confirm Hegseth, the senator replied, ‘I think you are right.’

Even Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a longtime Trump ally in the Senate, was expressing serious concerns about Hegseth’s nomination.

Fox News and other news organizations late last week reported that Trump was potentially considering nominating Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as defense secretary as a possible replacement should Hegseth’s nomination falter.

But on Friday, Trump took to social media to praise Hegseth.

‘Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News,’ the president-elect wrote. And he praised Hegseth in a high-profile network TV interview over this past weekend.

Vance, who remains a senator from Ohio until he steps down to assume the vice presidency, has been working behind the scenes to consolidate support for Hegseth among his Republican colleagues in the Senate.

‘It’s fair to say that JD has been Pete’s biggest champion internally in Trump world and has spent a lot of time over the last two weeks helping shore up support for Pete among his colleagues in the Senate,’ a source in Vance’s political orbit told Fox News.

Meanwhile, Trump’s political team and allies – fueled by grassroots support for Hegseth – turned up the volume.

‘There will be no resource that we won’t use to go after those U.S. senators that vote against Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks or his other nominees,’ longtime Trump outside adviser Corey Lewandowski told Fox News.

Donald Trump Jr., the president-elect’s oldest son and MAGA powerhouse, took to social media to target wavering Republican senators.

‘If you’re a GOP Senator who voted for Lloyd Austin [President Biden’s defense secretary], but criticize @PeteHegseth, then maybe you’re in the wrong political party!’ Don Trump Jr. wrote in a social media post.

MAGA allies quickly targeted Ernst, with talk of a primary challenge when the senator faces re-election in 2026.

‘This is the red line. This is not a joke.… The funding is already being put together. Donors are calling like crazy. Primaries are going to be launched,’ said Charlie Kirk, an influential conservative activist and radio and TV host who co-founded and steers Turning Point USA.

Kirk, on his radio program, warned that ‘if you support the president’s agenda, you’re good. You’re marked safe from a primary. You go up against Pete Hegseth, the president repeatedly, then don’t be surprised, Joni Ernst, if all of a sudden you have a primary challenge in Iowa.’

State Attorney General Brenna Bird, a top Trump supporter in last January’s Iowa presidential caucuses, wrote a column on Breitbart urging Hegseth’s confirmation.

While she didn’t mention Ernst by name, Bird took aim at ‘D.C. politicians’ who ‘think they can ignore the voices of their constituents and entertain smears from the same outlets that have pushed out lies for years.’

And longtime Iowa-based conservative commentator and media personality Steve Deace took to social media and used his radio program to highlight that he would consider launching a primary challenge against Ernst.

Deace, who supported DeSantis in the Iowa caucuses, said, ‘I am willing to primary her for the good of the cause if I’m assured I have Trump’s support going in. Or I am willing to throw my support and network behind someone else President Trump prefers to primary Joni Ernst instead.’

Also helping Hegseth is his defiance.

Hegseth told reporters on Thursday that ‘this will not be a process tried in the media. I don’t answer to anyone in this group. None of you, not to that camera at all. I answer to President Trump, who received 76 million votes on behalf… and a mandate for change. I answer to the 100 senators who are part of this process and those in the committee. And I answer to my Lord and Savior and my wife and my family.’

And on Fox News’ ‘Hannity,’ Hegseth charged that ‘the left is trying to turn this into a trial in the media, a show trial. And we’re not going to let that happen.’

Fox News’ Emma Colton, Cameron Cawthorne, Tyler Olson, and Chad Pergram contributed to this story

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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