The defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers will be without second-leading scorer Matthew Tkachuk down the stretch because of the lower-body injury he suffered at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

General manager Bill Zito told reporters Monday that Tkachuk has been placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) and would be out ‘for an extended period of time.’ He added: ‘We hope to get him back for the playoffs.’

Tkachuk, who starred for Team USA, has missed four games since the end of the tournament.

He went on LTIR to create cap space so the Panthers could call up goalie Chris Driedger after dealing Spencer Knight to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Seth Jones trade. Players can’t go on LTIR unless they’re expected to miss at least 10 games and 24 days.

Here’s what to know about Matthew Tkachuk’s injury:

All things Panthers: Latest Florida Panthers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

When was Matthew Tkachuk injured?

Tkachuk had scored two goals in the USA’s 4 Nations Face-Off opener against Finland and set a tone in the next game when he and his brother Brady started fights with Canadian players in the opening seconds. But his time was limited after that.

He didn’t finish the Canada game, missed the Sweden game and started in the championship game. But the winger sat on the U.S. bench, unable to play, toward the end of the second period. He was on the bench at the start of the third and never returned to action.

Tkachuk went on ‘The Tonight Show’ last week and told host Jimmy Fallon that he was ‘feeing better, just recovering right now.’

Zito said Monday that Tkachuk’s status was up in the air.

‘You have a projection, you have a diagnosis and a rehab course of action,’ he said. ‘But how and where and in what manner the progress of that rehab is still yet to be determined.’

Other NHL players also came home with injuries from the high-intensity tournament.

Brady Tkachuk, who suffered a lower-body injury in the Sweden game but played and scored a goal in the final, returned after missing the Ottawa Senators’ first two games after the break.

Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy (USA) hurt his shoulder and Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (Canada) hurt his arm. They’re expected out long term.

Matthew Tkachuk statistics

Tkachuk ranks second on the Panthers with 57 points in 52 games. He had a six-game goal streak before the break and played a key role in the Panthers’ back-to-back run to the Stanley Cup Final, including last season’s championship.

Matthew Stafford’s name was bandied about as a potential trade candidate early in the 2025 NFL offseason.

The reason? Stafford was set to make just $27 million in 2025, well below the market value for starting quarterbacks in the NFL. As a result, he and the Los Angeles Rams needed to negotiate a restructured contract for both parties to continue their partnership happily.

It took some time for the two sides to agree to a deal. The Rams let Stafford gauge his market value with other teams before ultimately inking him to a restructured pact during the 2025 NFL combine.

Despite the back-and-forth, Rams coach Sean McVay never doubted Stafford would be his quarterback for the 2025 season.

‘That was never something that I ever thought would occur,’ McVay said at a Monday news conference when asked whether he believed Stafford would leave the Rams.

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Why was McVay so confident Stafford would return? The Rams coach explained there was a mutual understanding early on the veteran wouldn’t play for the amount he was due in 2025. Essentially, that had been a placeholder number stemming from last offseason’s contract restructure.

‘That was something that we always knew was coming down,’ McVay said of Stafford’s newest deal. ‘And when he felt good with the way the season ended, and obviously we were all ecstatic about him wanting to continue to play and play at a high level. Now it’s just figuring out the semantics of, all right, there’s no way to put an actual value on what he means, but what does it look like to be able to fit it for the landscape of our football team, where we’re at, knowing how many years you want to play, and what does that look like for the short and for the long term?

‘And [I] think, fortunately, we were able to come to a compromise and a conclusion that everybody feels really good about, and I think it’s a great reflection of him and our group.’

Had things fallen apart with Stafford, the Rams would have been thin at quarterback. Stetson Bennett IV is the only other quarterback currently on the team’s roster, as backup Jimmy Garoppolo is set to be a free agent during the 2025 offseason.

As such, McVay is grateful that he and general manager Les Snead won’t be left scrambling to find a new starting quarterback ahead of the 2025 NFL season.

‘There was always going to have to be a decision on our part if he wasn’t going to be here,’ McVay said. ‘And that was never something that felt like ever got close, and it was never something that I allowed my mind to go to.’

(This story has been updated.)

As the regular season winds down, the top teams in men’s college basketball are fairly well established. The upper tier of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll was scrambled a bit, but the top two teams remain unchanged.

Auburn holds the No. 1 spot for another week, picking up all but one of 31 first-place votes. Duke remains at No. 2, claiming the last top nod.

The rest of the teams in last week’s top 10 are still there, but the order has shuffled. Big 12 leader Houston moves up to No. 3 after defeats of Texas Tech and Cincinnati. Tennessee jumps a spot to No. 4 on the heels of its last-second win against Alabama. Florida falls two places to No. 5, and Big East leader St. John’s continues its climb to No. 6, its highest position since the close of the 1998-99 season.

TOP 25: Complete USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball poll

Michigan State, now alone atop the Big Ten, is back up to No. 7 as Alabama falls to No. 8. Texas Tech and Iowa State swap positions to round out the top 10. A couple of ACC squads move up as Clemson and Louisville check in at No. 11 and No. 13, respectively. Texas A&M takes a 10-spot tumble to No. 21 after two losses last week.

Joining the rankings this week are No. 22 Brigham Young, its first Top 25 appearance of the season, and No. 25 Virginia Commonwealth. Its the first time in the poll for the Rams since Dec. 16, 2019. On the negative side, Mississippi State and Creighton drop out of the rankings.

We’ve reached what can often the most meaningful stretch of the NBA’s 82-game regular season ‒ after the NBA trade deadline and NBA All-Star Game but before the NBA playoffs seeding has been settled.

Teams are simultaneously getting their postseason rotations in order and jockeying for position, hoping for home-court advantage or to avoid the play-in tournament or salvage the season in the play-in tournament. The tanking, or load management, that often overwhelms the final few games on the schedule is still on the periphery.

But a clear pecking order at top of the NBA standings has already emerged with only about six weeks left until the NBA playoffs begin. The betting experts view the defending champion Boston Celtics and Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder as the two favorites to win the NBA title, with the East-leading Cleveland Cavaliers not far behind. The Denver Nuggets and new-look Los Angeles Lakers lurk as dark horses, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, and the Golden State Warriors have also seen their odds improve of late.

Here’s a breakdown of the latest NBA championship odds, with each team ranked in descending order by their likelihood of winning the title this year:

NBA power rankings by championship odds

Odds courtesy FanDuel Sportsbook as of Monday, March 3

T-30. Washington Wizards (+100,000)

Record: 11-48 (15th in East)

T-30. Charlotte Hornets (+100,000)

Record: 14-45 (14th in East)

T-30. Utah Jazz (+100,000)

Record: 15-45 (15th in West)

T-30. New Orleans Pelicans (+100,000)

Record: 17-44 (14th in West)

T-30. Toronto Raptors (+100,000)

Record: 19-42 (13th in East)

T-30. Brooklyn Nets (+100,000)

Record: 21-39 (12th in East)

T-30. Philadelphia 76ers (+100,000)

Record: 21-38 (11th in East)

T-30. Chicago Bulls (+100,000)

Record: 24-37 (10th in East)

T-30. San Antonio Spurs (+100,000)

Record: 25-34 (13th in West)

T-30. Portland Trail Blazers (+100,000)

Record: 27-34 (12th in West)

T-30. Atlanta Hawks (+100,000)

Record: 27-33 (9th in East)

T-19. Phoenix Suns (+50,000)

Record: 28-33 (11th in West)

T-19. Orlando Magic (+50,000)

Record: 29-33 (8th in East)

T-19. Miami Heat (+50,000)

Record: 28-31 (7th in East)

T-19. Sacramento Kings (+50,000)

Record: 31-28 (9th in West)

15. Detroit Pistons (+35,000)

Record: 34-27 (6th in East)

14. Houston Rockets (+15,000)

Record: 37-23 (5th in West)

T-13. Minnesota Timberwolves (+13,000)

Record: 33-29 (8th in West)

T-13. Indiana Pacers (+13,000)

Record: 34-25 (5th in East)

11. Dallas Mavericks (+12,000)

Record: 32-29 (10th in West)

10. Los Angeles Clippers (+8000)

Record: 32-28 (6th in West)

9. Milwaukee Bucks (+5000)

Record: 34-25 (4th in East)

8. Memphis Grizzlies (+4000)

Record: 38-22 (4th in West)

7. Golden State Warriors (+2500)

Record: 32-28 (7th in West)

6. New York Knicks (+2200)

Record: 40-20 (3rd in East)

5. Los Angeles Lakers (+1500)

Record: 38-21 (2nd in West)

4. Denver Nuggets (+1400)

Record: 39-22 (3rd in West)

3. Cleveland Cavaliers (+700)

Record: 50-10 (1st in East)

2. Oklahoma City Thunder (+190)

Record: 49-11 (1st in West)

1. Boston Celtics (+170)

Record: 43-18 (2nd in East)

MESA, Ariz. — Sammy Sosa, wearing a Chicago Cubs uniform for the first time in 21 years, is smiling and laughing during the morning conversation, but the subject changes and his mood suddenly switches gears.

His expansive smile vanishes.

He’s still pleasant, but now seems uncomfortable. He shuffles his feet, lowers his head and temporarily looks away.

“Man, I don’t really want to go that route,’ Sosa softly says to USA TODAY Sports, “not now.’

Sosa’s voice halts, he pauses and then slowly starts speaking again.

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“That’s a very delicate route,’ Sosa says, “you know what I mean? But come on, nobody was blind.’

Steroids and performance-enhancing drugs.

The PED ties and suspicions have prevented Sosa from being voted into the Hall of Fame, just like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.

The positive drug tests and suspensions will always keep Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez out of the Hall of Fame. They were caught, and later acknowledged PED use.

The mere suspicions of PEDs delayed Mike Piazza and Jeff Bagwell’s elections.

Now, the Hall of Fame’s Contemporary Baseball Era committee will meet in December and vote on whether the likes of Bonds, Clemens and Sosa will be elected into Cooperstown in 2026 – or if their waits will continue.

Sosa is hopeful, but hardly optimistic.

“I believe in time,’ Sosa says. “Nobody’s perfect. Time will heal all wounds. I really believe that one day the door will be open for us.’

Sosa, along with Mark McGwire will forever be cherished for saving baseball with their great home run race in 1998, captivating the entire country. They each broke Roger Maris’ record with McGwire hitting a record-setting 70 homers while Sosa wound up with 66.

McGwire publicly apologized for steroid use in 2010, nine years after his retirement. He talked again about steroid use with USA TODAY Sports in 2023 on the 25-year anniversary of the home run chase.

“There was nothing illegal about it,’ McGwire said. “There was no testing at that time. It was a widespread thing in the game. It wasn’t like you’re feeling guilty. The mentality was to keep yourself healthy on the field. 

“Looking back now, yeah, I feel horrible about that. I wish there were testing. I wish there were some regulations. If there was rules and regulations, that would have never even crossed my mind to do something like that. But there was nothing back in the day. 

“Believe me, if there was, this never would have happened.’

Sosa has never admitted to steroid use – only for past ‘mistakes’ – apologizing to the Cubs in December and the club welcomed back him into the organization. He was elected into their Hall of Fame in January.

“I read Mark’s interview,’ Sosa says, “and I agree with what he said. There was no testing. There were no rules. We didn’t break any laws.’

If truth be told, PEDs were nearly as common as chewing tobacco. There were a few front office executives and managers who actually encouraged some players to take PEDs. And if you traded or signed a free agent who was using PEDs, you certainly didn’t want him to suddenly stop.

“That was the worst,’ one former GM said. “I signed a guy that I knew was on the stuff, and once we got him, he stopped using. It helped cost me my job.’

Wild, wild west of baseball

While Bonds, Clemens and Sosa never once tested positive for PEDs, were suspended a day or fined a nickel, they’re going to need assistance if they ever are going to enter the Hall of Fame without buying a ticket.

Perhaps the best way to pave their entrance into Cooperstown, it was suggested to Sosa, would be for a current Hall of Famer to admit to PED use. The Hall of Fame can’t strip them of their honor. The writers can’t re-vote. Those players are enshrined forever.

If just one person who’s already enshrined speaks out, maybe then voters will acknowledge that it was just part of the fabric of that era of baseball. Hitters faced plenty of pitchers who were juiced and pitchers faced hitters who were taking PEDs. It was the wild, wild west of baseball.

“I’m still proud of what I did,’ Sosa says. “I had great years, I never tested positive. And anyways, there were no rules. No rules back then. None.’

“I played hard and I made a lot of people happy.’

MLB did not begin testing for PEDs until 2004, began banning amphetamines in 2006, and started testing for HGH with blood samples in 2013.

Sosa, who had 609 career home runs, remains the only player in baseball history with three seasons of at least 60. He also led the league in games played in three different seasons, playing at least 159 games in six seasons.

“I used to fight with the manager because they wanted to give me the day off,’ Sosa says, laughing. “I kept saying, ‘I don’t need a day off.’ It’s a day I could hit three home runs.

“I prepared myself mentally and physically to play the whole year. The more I was out there, the more damage I could. I was excited to be out there there, every day.’

Besides, Sosa was the main attraction. He was the primary reason Cubs fans packed the place.  The Cubs made the playoffs only twice during Sosa’s stay, but beginning in 1998, they drew between 2.6 million and 3.1 million fans each year until his departure after the 2004 season.

“I know we’re losing games,’ Sosa says, “but at least they were there to see me and hope I’d do something special. I had a lot of tremendous years. I gave the Cubs everything I had. The fans loved that.

“And, on top of that, I did great.’

‘Feels great making people happy again’

Now, 21 years later, he’s back again. Fans at Sloan Park have been cheering at the mere sight of him. Players have gravitated toward him. Hitters listen to his tips as a guest instructor at the batter’s cage.

Really, it’s like he never left this place.

“Baseball has been my life, and will always be my life,’ Sosa says. “I grew up in baseball. I spent my career in baseball. This means everything to me.

“This is the team that gave me the opportunity to put up my numbers.

“This is my house.’

There hasn’t been a Cubs player to hit hit 50 homers in a single season since Sosa’s departure. Derrek Lee, who was elected into the Cubs’ Hall of Fame with Sosa, is the only other player to even hit 40 homers.

And the only players in all of baseball to hit at least 60 homers since Sosa’s retirement in 2005 was Aaron Judge of the Yankees when he hit an AL-record 62 homers in 2022.

Can anyone ever break Bonds’ single-season record of 73 homers?

“No, I don’t think so, not the way the game is now,’ Sosa says. “I think 73 is crazy. Barry was the best in the world. When they made a mistake, he didn’t miss it.’

Will anyone break Sosa’s record of three seasons hitting at least 60 homers?

“In this day and age, I don’t know it that can happen, either,’ Sosa says. “If it happens, great. It’s just not that easy. Fortunately, I’m the lucky one to do it.

“Hopefully, that will stay forever, too.’

And will we ever have another 700-home run hitter again – with Albert Pujols the last to accomplish the feat?

“You never say no in this game, but I don’t know,’ Sosa says. ‘Hopefully, someone will do it. But look at Albert. Oh, my God, what an unbelievable hitter. I don’t know if we’ll ever see someone hit like Albert again. He can do it all.’’

Then again, who knows if we’ll see Sosa again in a Cubs uniform.

He doesn’t know if he ever wants to coach, or even be a full-time instructor, but for now, just being back with the Cubs in his limited role for a week has made everyone happy.

“It’s been great,’ Cubs manager Craig Counsell says. “It’s so hard to believe it’s been 20 years, but his name is never that far away. I think just for him, not being around players for the last 20 years, that’s kind of the challenging part about coming in.

“But he’s been great. It’s been great. I tell the guys, you don’t know what you’re going to pick up. Just keep your ears open.’

Several players, like Vidal Bruján and Kevin Alcántara are already raving about Sosa’s impact, with Alcántara calling him a mentor.

“Just being back here and helping with what I can,’ Sosa says, “I feel like a little boy again. This is there I belong.

“It feels great to be back. And it feels great making people happy again.’

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Tennis great Serena Williams has joined the WNBA expansion team Toronto Tempo’s ownership group, the franchise announced Monday in a news release.

‘I am thrilled to announce my ownership role in the first Canadian WNBA team, the Toronto Tempo,’ Williams said in a statement. ‘This moment is not just about basketball; it is about showcasing the true value and potential of female athletes – I have always said that women’s sports are an incredible investment opportunity. I am excited to partner with Larry (Tanenbaum) and all of Canada in creating this new WNBA franchise and legacy.’

The team is owned by Kilmer Sports Ventures, and Tanenbaum is the chairman of the group. He is also the chairman of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Toronto Raptors and Toronto Maple Leafs among other pro sports franchises. Tanenbaum also wields influence as the chairman of the NBA’s board of governors.

The team said Williams, who won 23 Grand Slam women’s single titles, will ‘contribute to bringing the Tempo to life visually. She’ll play an active role in future jersey designs and will help forge unique merchandise collaborations with the team.’

Said Tanenbaum: ‘Serena Williams is an icon, a role model and a force for change in the world. She’s earned every bit of her incredible success with hard work, tenacity and determination in the face of countless challenges. She exemplifies the very best of what the Tempo stand for – we couldn’t be more honored to have Serena in our court.’

WOMEN’S SPORTS: The latest news and insider insights from USA TODAY Studio IX.

The Tempo, which will begin play in 2026, said Williams’ ownership investment is pending league approval. The WNBA awarded Toronto an expansion team in May, and the league is looking to add a 16th team.

‘Serena is a champion,’ Tempo president Teresa Resch said. ‘She’s the greatest athlete of all time, and her impact on this team and this country is going to be incredible. She’s set the bar for women in sport, business and the world – and her commitment to using that success to create opportunities for other women is inspiring. We’re thrilled to be marking the lead-up to International Women’s Day with this announcement.’

There are less than two months until the 2025 NFL draft. The scouting combine in Indianapolis this past weekend gave lots of teams and their fans a chance to see some of the top talent in the draft class.

The four days of on-field action confirmed this draft has deep classes at running back, defensive line (both interior and at edge), tight end and interior offensive line. Each group had their time to shine in drills and testing to show why they should be part of the next crop of NFL stars.

Unfortunately, the weekend was thin on consensus top-five players and the top quarterbacks did not compete. For many teams, they’ll have to catch them at their pro days in March ahead of the draft. But that did give other players farther down the draft board a chance to show off with a bigger spotlight.

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

Some players exceeded expectations in a showing that will boost their draft stock come April. Others did not and may see less positivity coming out of the weekend. Here are 10 players whose stock is up after the weekend and 10 whose stock is down for the 2025 NFL draft.

2025 NFL combine: Stock up/stock down

Stock up: Texas WR Matthew Golden

Golden gained steam over the final months of the college football season with two 100-yard games in his final four contests. His skill set fits in with most offenses with very good route running and great contested catch ability.

He wasn’t known as a burner but went out and had the second-best 40-yard dash time of the weekend. At 4.29 seconds, he was the fastest wide receiver in Indianapolis. He was already viewed as a late first-round wide receiver. Now, he could be one of the first few off the board.

Stock down: Texas WR Isaiah Bond

As Golden rises, his teammate falls. Bond boasted he’d contend with fellow Longhorn Xavier Worthy’s record time in the 40-yard dash and fell well short of that with a 4.39-second time. His mixed production over the last two seasons caused some concern for evaluators but his speed was one of the best parts of his scouting report. Now that’s come into some question.

Stock up: Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten

Tuten entered the weekend as a likely Day 3 pick following a productive career at Virginia Tech. It was not for lack of talent; this year’s running back class is one of the deepest of the last 20 years.

He then went out and was the most athletic running back in the field. At 5-foot-9 and 206 pounds, Tuten had the best 40-yard dash time (4.32 seconds) and vertical jump (40 1/2 inches) of the position at the combine. He was tied for second in the broad jump at 10 feet, 10 inches as a fast and explosive back. He might remain a Day 3 pick but will probably hear his name called earlier than expected, potentially in Round 4 or 5.

Stock down: Missouri WR Luther Burden III

Burden III was considered one of the top three wide receivers in the draft entering the combine alongside Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona) and Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State). He was the only of the three to participate in on-field drills and ran an average 4.41 seconds in the 40-yard dash with a 1.54-second 10-yard split. For a player who was thought of as an explosive yards-after-catch threat, he didn’t run quite as well as hoped.

Stock up: Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel

Noel more than made his case as one of the top slot wide receivers in the class with his showing in Indianapolis. He ran a 4.39 40-yard dash with one of the best 10-yard splits in the class at 1.51 seconds. It wasn’t just speed, though. Noel tied for the best vertical jump in the group at 41 1/2 inches and set the best broad jump mark at 11 feet, 2 inches and the most bench press reps with 23. That mix of speed, explosion and strength could move him well into the top 50 players.

Stock down: Oregon WR Tez Johnson

Johnson had a confusing combine. He weighed in as the lightest wide receiver in the last 25 years of the combine at 154 pounds, and ran a pedestrian 4.51 seconds in the 40-yard dash. But he then ran the fastest 3-cone of any wide receiver at the combine at 6.65 seconds and had the fourth-best shuttle at 4.15 seconds.

The mixed results might give some teams pause about selecting Johnson. Many likely have him off the board entirely due to his historically small frame.

Stock up: Georgia C Jared Wilson

There aren’t many true centers in this draft class. Most of them are projections at this point with players who could translate well on the interior but haven’t played much there in college.

Wilson made the most of that with the fastest 40-yard dash among all offensive linemen. His 4.84-second mark is in the 98th percentile among all offensive linemen since 1999. He has good size at 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds with big hands and solid arm length. He has just one season of tape from his time with the Bulldogs so this showing should improve his standing.

Stock down: Oregon RB Jordan James

In a crowded class with lots of talent, running backs at the combine needed to separate themselves from the rest of the group. James built a reputation as a powerful runner with the Ducks but could’ve caught more attention from teams with a quicker-than-expected 40-yard time. Instead, he was one of the slower prospects and tied for the worst broad jump of the group.

Stock up: Oregon OL Josh Conerly Jr.

He had a better-than-average 40-yard dash at 5.05 seconds but importantly had the best 10-yard split among all offensive linemen at 1.71 seconds, putting him in the 91st percentile among all offensive linemen since 1999. He posted the third-best vertical jump at 34 1/2 inches and measured in bigger than anticipated at 6-foot-5 and 311 pounds with 33 1/2 inch arms. That size and speed could see him potentially stick at tackle in the NFL.

Stock down: Bowling Green TE Harold Fannin Jr.

Fannin Jr. is a unique talent in a good tight end class who was used all over the formation at Bowling Green. There were some size questions but he measured in at a solid 6-foot-3 and 241 pounds. He posted one of the fastest 10-yard splits at the position but overall had an average 40-yard dash at 4.71 seconds. He was middle-of-the-pack as well in the vertical jump (34 inches) and broad jump (9 feet, 10 inches) but was one of the best in the 3-cone and shuttle. It’s a mixed performance that could see him drop in a competitive class.

Stock up: Georgia Tech DT Zeek Biggers

Biggers measured in as one of the biggest defensive tackles at the combine at a massive 6-foot-6 and 321 pounds with 34 7/8 inch arms. At that size, he still managed one of the fastest 10-yard splits at the position. Players of his size just don’t move that quickly. He entered the weekend as a late Day 3 prospect given his lack of production but could easily move up a round thanks to his performance.

Stock down: Alabama G Tyler Booker

Booker is considered the top pure guard prospect in the class whose game relies on play strength and attitude to bully defenders at 6-foot-5 and 321 pounds. His game in college wasn’t reliant on athleticism and he had a tough day on Sunday in Indianapolis.

He had the second-slowest 40-yard dash among all offensive linemen at 5.38 seconds but had by far the slowest 10-yard split at 1.96 seconds. No other prospect was slower than 1.90 seconds. He was the only offensive lineman not to clear eight feet in the broad jump. He’s still considered a plug-and-play starter at guard but that lack of athleticism may limit which teams would consider using a first- or second-round pick on him.

Stock up: Georgia DT Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Ingram-Dawkins was viewed as an athletic but inexperienced player on the inside. He didn’t start until his final year in Athens but played well with three sacks and eight tackles for loss in 2024. He’s a bit on the lighter side at 276 pounds but measured in at 6-foot-5 with long arms. He finished first among all defensive tackles in the vertical jump (36 inches), broad jump (10 feet, 4 inches), 3-cone (7.28 seconds) and shuttle (4.34 seconds). That’s a great tool kit for a team to develop.

Stock down: West Virginia OL Wyatt Milum

Milum spent his college career at tackle but concerns over his arm length would likely move him inside at the next level despite his athleticism. Those concerns panned out as Milum measured in with 32 1/8 inch arms but his athletic ability was slightly disappointing. He was the fifth-slowest offensive lineman in the 40-yard dash at 5.27 seconds. His 10-yard split was one of the slowest as well at 1.84 seconds. He’s now a lock to move inside and those numbers could move him down to Round 3.

Stock up: Cal LB Teddye Buchanan

Buchanan was seen as a late-round pick entering the combine, but showed out in a solid linebacker class. He measured in at 6-foot-2 and 233 pounds, roughly the standard size for a modern linebacker, with one of the faster 40-yard dash times at 4.60 seconds. He backed that up with a position-best vertical (40 inches) and tied for third in the broad jump (10 feet, 5 inches). That type of explosiveness could move him up on Day 3.

Stock down: Ole Miss DT JJ Pegues

Pegues was considered a raw but athletic prospect after transitioning from tight end to defensive tackle in college. That background led teams to request seeing him run fullback/tight end drills. He ran routes and caught the ball well for a 6-foot-2, 309-pound lineman but didn’t run as well as expected. He had one of the worst 10-yard splits at the position and a below-average vertical jump. Unless he runs better at his pro day, Pegues could fall down a round on Day 3.

Stock up: Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston

Hairston missed time in 2024 due to a shoulder injury and, in a deep but not top-heavy cornerback class, had a chance to improve his stock in Indianapolis. He did so by posting the fastest 40-yard dash at the combine, the second-best vertical among cornerbacks and the third-best broad jump. Those speed and explosiveness numbers could quell concerns about his size at 5-foot-11 and 183 pounds.

Stock down: Boise State Edge Ahmed Hassanein

Hassanein was considered a Day 3 pick as a developmental edge player who could be a rotational pass rusher as he develops. That might still be the case but he could fall down the order after how he did in Indianapolis.

He measured in at 6-foot-2 and 267 pounds with shorter arms at 32 1/4 inches. He had a solid 40-yard dash at 4.77 seconds but the slowest 10-yard split among edge rushers. He also had one of the worst broad jumps at the position at 9 feet, 5 inches and a subpar vertical at 32 1/2 inches. Those numbers don’t translate well to tools for a developmental rusher off the edge.

Stock up: Tulane CB Caleb Ransaw

Hairston took the headlines with the fastest in the 40-yard dash but Ransaw wasn’t far behind. He hit 4.33 seconds in the 40-yard dash, 40 inches in the vertical (first at the position) and 10 feet, 9 inches in the broad jump (tied for third). He was considered an undrafted free agent but after that elite athletic performance could easily go on Day 3.

Stock down: LSU CB Zy Alexander

Alexander is a taller prospect at 6-foot-1 but measured in with shorter arms for his size at 31 inches. He finished tied for second-slowest among cornerbacks in the 40-yard dash at 4.56 seconds and second-worst in the vertical jump at 31 1/2 inches. His 10-yard split was better but teams may have concerns about his recovery speed given his shorter arms and slighter build (187 pounds). Teams may opt for a cornerback with more physical tools or ball skills late on Day 2 instead of going with Alexander.

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Major League Baseball on Monday announced a settlement in the dispute between the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals regarding the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, an entity created to facilitate the Nationals’ move to D.C. yet one that hamstrung its ability to maximize revenues.

In announcing an end to the dispute, played out in courts and in MLB negotiations for the majority of the Nationals’ stint in the nation’s capital that began in 2005, MLB says the Nationals are free to pursue their own TV rights beginning with the 2026 season – a key development that may eventually facilitate the sale of the franchise.

MLB awarded the former Montreal Expos franchise to the Lerner family, which paid $450 million for it in 2006; the Nationals are now worth an estimated $2 billion, according to Forbes.

In 2022, the team said it would entertain offers to purchase the club, only for owner Mark Lerner to announce in February 2024, after tepid interest from potential buyers, that the club was no longer for sale.

Now, a significant hurdle to any sale has been removed. A potential suitor for both the team and its TV rights would be Washington Wizards, Capitals and Mystics owner Ted Leonsis, whose Monumental Sports and Entertainment broadcasts games on its regional sports network.

WOMEN’S SPORTS: The latest news and insider insights from USA TODAY Studio IX.

The MASN dispute, which involved more than a decade of litigation, took another twist in January when an MLB committee announced the Orioles would pay the Nationals $320 million for rights between 2022 and 2026. While financial terms were not disclosed, it would appear the final year of that agreement has been terminated.

MASN was created to mollify then-Orioles owner Peter Angelos, who forfeited territorial rights to the D.C. area in exchange for control of the Nationals’ TV rights. MASN is owned and operated by the Orioles, and disputes between the clubs over rights fee payments began almost immediately after the arrangement was in place.

Angelos’s family reached an agreement to sell the club to private equity baron David Rubenstein in January 2024; the elder Angelos died in March 2024.

Mark Lerner recently told the Washington Post that, after another winter with no major investments to the active roster, his family was ‘in it for the long haul’ now with the Nationals, ‘unless something different happens along the way.’

We’ll eventually find out if Monday’s settlement qualifies.

INDIANAPOLIS – Just hours before the Oscars were awarded Sunday night, the curtain came down on the 2025 NFL scouting combine. And while there may be more supporting actors than leading men among this year’s crop of incoming rookies, they will bring an undeniable infusion of talent and personality into the league later this year.

Not everyone tested during on-field drills at Lucas Oil Stadium over the preceding four days. But then again, such rehearsals are not necessary or beneficial for some of these players – many of whom may yet go through their paces during their pro days in the coming months and/or may have more important things to prove behind closed-door interviews with NFL teams.

With that in mind, here are the 32 things we learned from the 2025 NFL scouting combine:

1. As in who’s the No. 1 player in the 2025 NFL draft? If you were hoping the combine would shed some light on that answer … welp. Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter, Colorado CB/WR (and 2024 Heisman Trophy winner) Travis Hunter, Miami (Fla.) QB Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders all attended – and seem most in the running to potentially hear their name called first next month in Green Bay – but none worked out (Carter was injured, more so than he realized).

2. But Ward did have an especially nice podium session with a horde of NFL media members on Friday and apparently replicated his impressive interviewing skills with the teams that are likely to strongly consider drafting him – namely the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets …

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3. … assuming, that is, that the Titans retain the draft’s No. 1 overall selection, which rookie GM Mike Borgonzi seems to be signaling is for sale. Asked if other teams are interested in the pick, Borgonzi said Tuesday, “seems to be.”

4(.39). The very fine 40-yard dash time posted by Texas WR Isaiah Bond. And we love a little combine confidence, but buddy … If you’re going to vow to break the event record with a run of 4.20 (or better), let’s not call your shot but effectively fly out well shy of the warning track.

5. Bond’s burst will doubtless be a boon to an NFL team somewhere in 2025. But the Longhorns wideout who seems destined to make the real impact at the NFL level is Matthew Golden, a far more productive and polished target than Bond was in college – not to mention a faster one over 40 yards (Golden clocked in at 4.29, tops among all offensive players this year).

6. With something of a running back renaissance underway, spotlit by the Philadelphia Eagles’ Saquon Barkley in 2024, how good is this year’s draft class? Led by Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, the rare stud at the position who might command a top-10 draft pick investment, multiple could be selected in Round 1 for the third time in the past five drafts. Led by Virginia Tech’s Bhayshul Tuten (4.32 seconds), the group’s average 40-time Saturday was 4.48 seconds, the fastest since NFL Network began covering the event in depth 22 years ago.

7. But amid what’s otherwise something of a dearth of offensive star and firepower, it appears the real talent and depth of the 2025 draft is on the defensive line – where a dozen players, give or take, could hear their names called in Round 1 based on merit … assuming the quantity of such quality doesn’t push some down the board if too many teams wind up over-drafting players at positions of scarcity.

8. The number of former Michigan players invited to this year’s combine – 10 fewer than 2024, when the then-national champions invaded Indy en masse. However up to four Wolverines – DTs Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, CB Will Johnson and TE Colston Loveland – are expected be first-rounders in 2025 (only QB J.J. McCarthy was last year).

9. For those keeping score (USA TODAY Sports’ Jarrett Bell), that’s 26 Wolverines, one Michigan State Spartan – no Sparties this year, unless we’re counting former ones (like hyper-talented Oregon DT Derrick Harmon) – and one member (Charles Grant) of William & Mary’s Tribe invited over the past two combines.

10. And if the NFL thing doesn’t pan out for Loveland, maybe he still has time to be a rodeo clown.

11. Inspirational quote of the week? ‘Never let your circumstances change your standard, let your standard change your circumstances.’ Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard gleaned that from his high school coach, not a fortune cookie. We liked it.

12. St. Elmo Steak House, Prime 47, High Velocity … if you want to tread the beaten path in Indy on a nightly basis during combine week, those are all fine establishments. If you’re a little more adventurous – or just want to talk about something other than the NFL for one meal – then branch out to the Massachusetts Avenue sector of the city, where the food, drink and ambience bring a welcome dose of refreshment, literally and figuratively. My colleague Chris Bumbaca and I recommend BODHI if you fancy Thai food. (No, we are not on their NIL payroll.)

13. The Kansas City Chiefs, version 13.0, are already in process – the 2025 season set to be coach Andy Reid’s 13th in K.C. And there was a lot of news emanating from the perennial AFC champions during the combine, from TE Travis Kelce’s decision to come back for a 13th NFL season to the club’s decision to franchise Trey Smith at a pricey figure more frequently associated with left tackles than right guards. Still, more work to do here to add another Lombardi feather to what’s already a dynastic cap.

WR14. I.e. the combine number assigned to Maryland’s Tai Felton, who pulled off one of the weekend’s most impressive athletic feats … which had nothing to do with football or even combine testing.

15. The number of national champion Ohio State players invited to this year’s combine, most of any school in 2025.

15a. Also the number of quarterbacks invited to this year’s combine. Three ran the 40-yard dash.

16. Maybe the wide receivers aren’t quite the caliber of last year’s blue ribbon cluster – Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr., Ladd McConkey, Marvin Harrison Jr., Rome Odunze, et al. – but boy did this year’s pass catchers fly. Golden and Bond were among a group of 10 who ran sub-4.4 40s, a combine record at the position.

17. But if you’re looking for a receiver to root for this year, the obvious choice is Texas Christian’s Jack Bech. He’s showcased his impressive skill set both at the Senior Bowl and combine after a breakout season with the Horned Frogs … and has done it while mourning (and honoring) his older brother, Tiger, who was killed in the New Orleans terrorist attack earlier this year.

18. Note to self: If a name brand hotel that you generally trust is only charging $135 per night during the combine … there’s probably a very good reason. No dimes will be dropped here, but glad I and USA TODAY Sports Network’s Martin Frank, our capable Eagles writer, made it through the week, if barely.

19. If you guessed an offensive lineman or run-stuffing defender was the combine’s strongest player this year, then no soup for you. Interestingly, Alabama TE CJ Dippre and Oklahoma pass rusher Ethan Downs tied for the most bench-press repetitions of 225 pounds, pushing the plates 32 times apiece – three clear of anyone else who tested in Indy.

20. Bummer that Ward and Sanders didn’t throw Saturday, though that’s pretty much the norm for top-tier quarterback prospects, who typically opt to work out at their schools’ far more personally customized pro days.

20a. But props to Leonard, Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, Texas’ Quinn Ewers, Ohio State’s Will Howard and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, each of them doing a nice job showing off their arms Saturday – while throwing to unfamiliar receivers – after all of them provided strong and engaging interviews earlier in the week.21. Also would have been cool to see Hunter work out at wide receiver and/or corner, if understandable that there was little for him to gain and plenty to lose by doing so. It’s just mostly disappointing that Hunter didn’t seem open to returning kicks, either, based on his negative response to the notion earlier in the week. (Remember, Trav, your coach at Colorado, Deion Sanders, famously deemed himself a four-down player, a nod to his special teams role in the NFL.)

22. With the door left open while so many of this year’s projected top picks watched drills in their sweats, it was South Carolina S Nick Emmanwori who assumed the role of combine workout warrior – his 43-inch vertical jump and 11-foot, 6-inch broad jump both tops among all players in 2025 and rendering his 4.38 40 almost pedestrian by comparison. Emmanwori models his game after Baltimore Ravens All-Pro Kyle Hamilton and has a similar build at 6-3 and 220 pounds. Matching Hamilton’s jack-of-all-trades skills will be a challenge, but Emmanwori seems ticketed for a first-round slot and has already tested much better than Hamilton, who was no combine slouch three years ago.

23. If you don’t want to deride and risk fisticuffs with the dude at The Athletic who probably merely learned 13 things at the combine – looking at you, Mike Jones – then I suggest using the perfectly tidy Starbucks at the Hyatt Regency while avoiding the octagon that is the JW Marriott location.

24. QB Matthew Stafford’s decision Friday to remain with the Los Angeles Rams, for at least one more year anyway, is sure to have a significant ripple effect on the draft. Not only do the reigning NFC West champs retain their Super Bowl-winning triggerman, but the Giants and Raiders, among others, may have to pivot toward free agency if not make an aggressive move up the draft board for a player like Ward or Sanders.

25. However the next quarterbacking domino that seems likeliest to fall is Sam Darnold’s – the question being whether the Minnesota Vikings tag him in order to keep him, tag him in order to trade him, or let him go free entirely. The latter possibility would also likely have cascading consequences come April.

26. Filling hours and hours of combine airtime can doubtless be a challenge for NFL Network, especially when linemen are battling heavy bags or rolling on the ground. But do we need to detract from a landmark moment for these young players in order to listen to David Spade or Pat McAfee or Joey Mulinaro?

26a. And some of Mulinaro’s impressions can be spot on – he’s a Nick Saban master – but he might want to polish up a few he tried Saturday and try again at his impersonator’s pro day. Cris Collinsworth landed, though.

27. Regardless of where Darnold or WR Tee Higgins or Hunter or Ward go, the truly big fish this offseason could be All-Pro DE Myles Garrett. The Browns (currently) maintain that the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year isn’t going anywhere … but plenty of time between now and the draft for Cleveland’s position to change given it doesn’t seem Garrett’s desire to leave and pursue a ring will.

28. And plenty of percolating fear among the league’s 30 other teams that Philadelphia EVP/GM Howie Roseman will find a way to pry Garrett out of Cleveland in his bid to keep the Eagles’ Super Bowl window wide open for years to come.

29.Tired of the “Tush Push,” as the Green Bay Packers apparently are? (And let us never forget how inept the Pack are at running their version of it.) Then learn how to perfect it or figure out how to stop it rather than penalizing Philadelphia for expertly leveraging it as a weapon.

30. If you’re under the misguided impression that the NFL will now gear down for a while ahead of April’s draft, think again. Tuesday is the deadline for teams to use the franchise tag, and free agency begins in earnest next week – which means you can probably expect a lot of players to be released or restructuring or extending contracts in the coming days, which might even bring a few more trades.

31. In this penultimate spot, a word on the San Francisco 49ers, who finished as the league’s penultimate team – barely – one year ago. But Saturday night’s agreement to trade WR Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders for only a fifth-round draft pick in return was a reminder of why Roseman’s reigning champion Eagles are often one of the league’s best-run franchises – given they almost always make this type of move with an incumbent star a year too early rather than a year too late …

31a. … which certainly seems to be the approach the Rams are taking with WR Cooper Kupp, who’s apparently on his way out of LA.

32. Finally, an interesting note as the evaluation of incoming college players pivots to pro days and, ultimately, the draft. All 32 teams currently possess their first-round choice. But since the league expanded to 32 clubs in 2002, when the Houston Texans were added, there’s never been a draft where every club has selected in Round 1 – and hardly a guarantee it happens this year, either.

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