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After the record-setting signing of free agent Kyle Tucker by the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the New York Mets following a day later by scooping up former Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette, there was only one big-name hitter left on the market. That was New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger. With the Dodgers and Mets likely maxed out on their free agent spending, there was only one landing spot left for the former National League Rookie of the Year and MVP — a reunion with the Yankees. Or so it seemed. The Yankees reportedly put an offer on the table that would pay Bellinger $160 million over five years, giving the two-time All-Star two chances to opt out along the way. But Bellinger and his agent, Scott Boras, have yet to agree to what the Yankees are said to consider an eminently fair offer. Bellinger and Boras, as reported by Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, are holding out for a seven-year deal with an average annual salary higher than the $32 million the Yankees are offering. Now, according to a report Sunday by a veteran New York sportswriter, the Yankees have made a final decision and have a definitive message for Bellinger and Boras. Read More From Heavy Yankees Lose Former Top-5 Prospect to Seattle as Bellinger Talks Hit ‘Impasse’ Yankees Offer is Final Longtime Yankees insider Bob Klapisch, author of the 2019 bestselling book Inside the Empire: The True Power Behind the New York Yankees, reported on Sunday that the Yankees consider their offer to Bellinger to be final, and if he wants a better one, he will need to look elsewhere. “Yankees have made an internal decision not to engage in a bidding war for Cody Bellinger if Mets or anyone else swoops in with a blow-away offer,” Klapisch reported on his social media account. “Yankees believe they’ve made a fair proposal — five years, $160 million, two opt-outs. They’re prepared to let Bellinger walk.” In a report for NJ Advanced Media on Sunday, Klapisch said that his information came from “a person with knowledge of the situation” who had “requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.” Read More From Heavy Yankees, Cody Bellinger at ‘Impasse’ But There’s a ‘Safety Net,’ Insider Says Yankees Message to Boras and Bellinger Klapisch wrote that the Yankees’ message to Bellinger and his high-powered agent was crystal clear. “While the door remains open for further talks with agent Scott Boras, the message to Bellinger’s camp is unmistakable: Take it or leave it,” the veteran sportswriter stated. A New York Post editor, Dan Bartels, reported on Sunday that the talks between the Yankees and the Bellinger-Boras camp are ongoing — but not going anywhere. “The talks between Cody Bellinger and the Yankees have reached another stalemate. Both sides don’t seem willing to budge,” Bartels wrote. “The Mets could swoop in the same way they did with Bo Bichette to get a deal done. If any of that is likely taking place, odds are it’s happening soon.” Read More From Heavy Yankees Free Agent Cody Bellinger Just Upped His Contract Demand: Report How Bellinger Compares to Tucker Tucker signed with the Dodgers for four years at an average annual value of $60 million. Bellinger is telling the Yankees that $32 million per year is not enough. So how does Bellinger stack up against Tucker in terms of offensive productivity? Measured by bWAR — wins above replacement as calculated by Baseball Reference — Tucker has been considerably better. In 3,158 plate appearances through his career, Tucker has compiled a bWAR of 27.3, an average of 4.3 bWAR per every 500 trips to the plate. Bellinger averages 3.2 bWAR per 500 plate appearances, with 30.5 in 4,765 trips. Tucker also boasts a significantly higher career OPS — .865 to Bellinger’s .817. Read More From Heavy Blue Jays Sign 17-Year-Old 20/20 OF Prospect on Day Kyle Tucker Chooses Dodgers Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy…

The Denver Broncos dealt with the unthinkable when starting quarterback Bo Nix broke his ankle in an AFC Divisional Round overtime win over the Buffalo Bills.Now, they’re going to ask backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham to do the unthinkable — lead the Broncos to the Super Bowl despite not throwing a pass in an actual game for over 2 years.An even crazier twist? Stidham will face the team that drafted him, the New England Patriots, in the AFC Championship Game. It’s also the team that tried to get him to come back and be the backup for NFL MVP candidate Drake Maye this season.Instead, Stidham signed a 2-year, $12 million contract extension with the Broncos.“Before the Broncos re-signed Jarrett Stidham this past offseason to back up Bo Nix, he had interest and an offer on the table from another team: The New England Patriots,” The Athletic’s Diana Russini wrote on X on Monday. “Sunday, he faces the team that drafted him in the AFC title game, the biggest start of his career … Stidham has acquitted himself well in four career starts, averaging over 250 yards per game and throwing six TDs. But in 7 seasons, he hasn’t had much opportunity. Those starts have come after Derek Carr and Russell Wilson were benched for the final weeks of the 2022 and 2023 seasons.”Noise on Stidham vs. Pats Will Get LouderExpect the storylines about Stidham facing his old team to get more pronounced as kickoff approaches.The Patriots ultimately ended up with Joshua Dobbs and Tommy DeVito as their backups to Maye.“The Patriots ‘did a lot of work’ on potentially signing Jarrett Stidham this past offseason, per Mike Vrabel,” DNVR’s Zac Stevens wrote on X. “The Broncos re-signed Stidham a day before free agency opened. Now Stidham will go against his former team with a chance to get to the Super Bowl this week.”Pats Selected Stidham in Fourth Round in 2019Stidham hasn’t played in a regular season game since he started the final 2 games of the 2023 regular season for the Broncos after Payton benched Russell Wilson.In 7 NFL seasons with the Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders and Broncos, Stidham is 1-3 in 4 starts. The Patriots selected Stidham in the fourth round (No. 133 overall) of the 2019 NFL draft out of Auburn.Stidham’s last extended action was in the Broncos‘ 30-9 preseason opener win over the San Francisco 49ers on August 9 — 14-of-15 passing for 136 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions to go with 3 carries for 36 yards in just 2 quarters.Stidham’s ability to scramble and run the ball had fans and media buzzing almost as much or more than his brilliant performance throwing the ball, and he walked away with a 144.0 passer rating.“It’s good for us to just get out there and play together and put up some points,” Stidham told 9 News Denver. “(When I’m running) it’s more like just trying get down and not make a mistake.”“I’ll be telling my kids about the Jarrett Stidham legacy 2nd quarter,” NFL reporter Bryce DeGroat wrote on his official X account. “Unreal.” Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post QB Jarrett Stidham Chose Broncos Over Patriots in Free Agency appeared first on Heavy Sports.

The Atlanta Falcons, despite a change at head coach, are retaining former New York Jets defensive coordinator and interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich as their defensive coordinator. We have retained Jeff Ulbrich as defensive coordinatorhttps://t.co/fTV4eOUuOM pic.twitter.com/uUJ9gpkjdG — Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) January 19, 2026 Raheem Morris was let go after two underwhelming seasons on the job in Atlanta, and two-time Coach of the Year winner Kevin Stefanski has been hired to replace him.Stefanski is keeping Ulbrich on to coordinate his defense, which was one of the better units in the NFL this past season.The Falcons set a franchise record in quarterback sacks this past season, recording 57, led by first-round picks James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker.Falcons Keeping Defensive ContinuityWhen Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank addressed the media after firing Morris, he said he would not mandate the next head coach to keep Ulbrich as defensive coordinator, but recommended it.“Jeff Ulbrich, in my view, he did a really fine job for us this year. Certainly look at the record of sacks. And just the overall performance of defense was definitely better than it’s been in the past,” Blank said, via the team website.Stefanski is clearly taking his new owner’s advice, and Ulbrich will coordinate the defense in 2026.The Falcons’ defense was one of the worst in the league in 2024, the first year of Morris’ tenure. They ranked 28th in Sumer Sports’ EPA/play and were 31st in sacks with just 31 as a team.After bringing Ulbrich into the fold and mortgaging their 2026 draft capital on two first-round edge rushers in the 2025 NFL Draft, Atlanta improved to 15th in defensive EPA/play and second in the league in total sacks behind only the Denver Broncos.It’s no wonder that Blank wanted to keep Ulbrich around. The work he’s done with the defense is incredible, and if Stefanski can get the offense functioning properly, the Falcons can be a real threat in the NFC for 2026.Jeff Ulbrich’s Unfortunate Jets TenureWhen the New York Jets hired Robert Saleh to be their head coach in early 2021, one of the first hires he made was Ulbrich as his defensive coordinator.After a lackluster first year, the Jets’ defense transformed into one of the best units in the league, ranking in the top-10 for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.Heading into a do-or-die 2024 season, Ulbrich was thrust into the interim head coach role after Saleh was fired for a slow start.“I feel that we had to go in a different direction and that’s why I did that today. The change that we made today, that I made, I believe will bring new energy and positivity that will lead to more wins starting now,” owner Woody Johnson said in a statement after firing Saleh.“I just felt that the best way to go forward with a new direction and taking Jeff Ulbrich and making him the interim head coach, I thought that would get the most out of this team and give us the best chance to do what we all want to, which is going to the playoffs.”The Jets would not make the playoffs under the guidance of Ulbrich and would finish 3-9 down the stretch of the season.Ulbrich later admitted regret in retaining defensive play-calling duties, wishing he hadn’t divided his attention in his first chance as a head coach.“There is an element of a failure for myself in that way because I didn’t delegate,” Ulbrich told reporters at his Atlanta Falcons introductory press conference.“I didn’t. I just took it all on myself. In my mind’s eye, I was trying to create continuity and I didn’t want a fractious staff.”If Ulbrich can put together another season of elite defense, he may get another shot at being a head coach.After all, he received head coaching interview requests for helping turn the Jets’ defense around. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Kevin Stefanski Retains Former Jets Coach as Falcons DC appeared first on Heavy Sports.

The Seattle Seahawks entered the NFL playoffs relatively healthy, but the team is dealing with some significant injury challenges despite being one game away from the Super Bowl. Seattle was able to survive Sam Darnold’s late oblique injury scare to make short work of the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round. The Seahawks were not as fortunate with one of the team’s key playmakers. If the Seahawks win the Super Bowl, it will be without one of their standout running backs. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald revealed that Zach Charbonnet will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a knee injury. Charbonnet sustained the injury against the Niners. "Zach Charbonnet has a torn ACL"@AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/WVyVBSjwpm — Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 19, 2026 “Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet suffered a season-ending knee injury that will require surgery, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said on Seattle Sports. Macdonald called it ‘a significant knee injury, unfortunately. Breaks your heart. He’s going to need surgery, so he’s got a good long road to come back,'” ESPN’s Adam Schefter detailed in a January 19, 2026, message on X. Here’s a look at the latest Seahawks news ahead of the team’s NFC Championship matchup against the Rams. The Seahawks Are Expected to Lean on Ken Walker Amid Zach Charbonnet’s Season-Ending InjuryThe good news is Ken Walker is playing at a high level and will likely get the majority of the carries against the Rams as a result of Charbonnet’s injury. In addition to Walker, the Seahawks have running back Velus Jones Jr. on the roster. It would not be a surprise if Seattle made a late practice squad addition at running back. Seattle is a 2.5-point favorite versus Los Angeles in the NFC Championship odds, per FanDuel. The Seahawks are also listed a +145 favorite to win the Super Bowl ahead of the conference championship matchups. Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet Sustained a Torn ACL vs. 49ers: Report View this post on Instagram It is brutal news for Charbonnet who not only will miss the rest of the playoffs but faces a long journey back ahead of the 2026 season. Charbonnet sustained a torn ACL, per Schefter.Following the Seahawks’ win over the 49ers, Macdonald sounded optimistic that Charbonnet’s injury was not considered serious. Clearly things changed after Charbonnet underwent further evaluation. Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald on Improved Rushing Attack Led by Ken Walker: ‘It’s Great to See It Come to Life’After a slow start to the season, Seattle’s rushing attack has been potent in recent weeks, especially against the 49ers. Walker also had success against the Rams, posting 11 carries for 100 rushing yards and one touchdown in the December 28, matchup. The playmaker added three receptions for 64 yards in the previous game. “It’s everybody,” Macdonald said of the Seahawks’ improved rushing attack during a January 17, press conference, per Seahawks.com. “Our coaches deserve a ton of credit. K9 (Ken Walker) obviously had a great game. “A lot of it is coming on wide zone, you know that’s something that we’ve been having to work all year and that’s where we hang our hat on, so it’s great to see it come to life.” Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Seahawks Brutally Dealt Unfortunate News Days Before NFC Championship vs. Rams appeared first on Heavy Sports.